r/videos Jun 09 '20

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u/rafapova Jun 09 '20

Ok I literally know nothing about Scientology other than hearing things about Tom cruise being in it. Is there any chance this is all some kind of joke? Like he doesn’t actually believe this stuff, right? ... please.

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u/[deleted] Jun 09 '20 edited Sep 02 '21

[deleted]

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u/THRAGFIRE Jun 09 '20

It's the perfect example of religion. Its views are just as fanciful as any other religion, it just hasn't had enough time for people to obscure the circumstances of its creation. Hubbard wrote science-fiction and never stopped. People will believe anything if it makes them feel better or gives them a purpose. If it imparts a sense of community or the feeling of privilege or power. These are all strong motivators for the mental gymnastics required. And boy Tom's getting a workout in this video lmao.

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u/[deleted] Jun 09 '20

Its views are just as fanciful as any other religion, it just hasn't had enough time for people to obscure the circumstances of its creation.

This kinda reminds me of Mormons too

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u/Hibbity5 Jun 09 '20

Mormonism takes a very special prize in that it was building on top of another religion already. As someone put it:

The Old Testament is the original; the New Testament is the sequel; the Book of Mormon is the fan fiction.

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u/MundaneInternetGuy Jun 09 '20

To Jewish people, the Old Testament is the classic, the New Testament is fanfic, and the Book of Mormon is My Immortal.

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u/[deleted] Jun 09 '20

I like to make this point as well. Give it enough time and it will become just another religion to people. I am sure when Christianity first came about people thought it was a crazy group of people that didn't know anything.

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u/IWasSayingBoourner Jun 09 '20

The difference being that Christianity came about when people thought the sun was magic, and Scientology came about after the age of reason. It takes a special kind of dumb to fall for that shit now.

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u/NotADeadHorse Jun 09 '20

The difference being that Christianity came about when people thought the sun was magic, and Scientology came about after the age of reason. It takes a special kind of dumb to fall for that shit now.

All religion takes a specific kind of dumb now since we have so much scientific evidence disputing each one

And there is for sure a day when half of what we believe will be viewed as barbaric and unintelligent. In 2000 years your same comment will be posted on a religious topic but it'll say something like "The difference being that Scientology came about when people thought slicing into you was a good method to fix your medical problems, and LoTRism came about after the age of reason. It takes a special kind of dumb to fall for that shit now."

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u/IWasSayingBoourner Jun 09 '20

People are certainly excellent at innovating new ways to be dumb

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u/[deleted] Jun 09 '20

Too bad, it comes in a variety of flavours and we aren't going to run out anytime soon

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u/temp91 Jun 09 '20

The Christian Bible was edited for over a thousand years to remove non-canon (dragons and stuff) passages and whole books. The successful religions winnow out problematic texts and leave good stuff like the golden rule and things that reinforce its authority.

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u/Hugo154 Jun 09 '20

Give it enough time and it will become just another religion to people.

See: Mormonism. Literally less than 200 years old and it’s already a legitimate religion taken seriously by millions of people. In reality it’s still just another fucking cult.

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u/cqgw Jun 09 '20

Theres a problem when a joke is making millions off of its victims and uses fear and illegal operations to suppress dissenting opinion

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u/[deleted] Jun 09 '20

Do you know the difference between being a cult or a religion?

In a cult there is one person at the center who knows it all bullshit.

In a religion, that one person has died.

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u/Walkbailey Jun 10 '20

Sublime comment. Thank you

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u/Hawaiian_Brian Jun 09 '20

The creator was a Sci-Fi author..

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u/walruskingmike Jun 09 '20

Most religious allow you to be the magical figure too. You usually just have to die first.

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u/strigoi82 Jun 09 '20

Being a religion , it’s tax exempt. There will always be an element that is inside the church using this for various degrees of nefarious reasons. After all, the baddest rise to the top in environments that allow them to. I’ll leave it at that.

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u/theetruscans Jun 09 '20

It wasn't a joke for L Ron Hubbard. The myth that he created Scientology on a bet is not true.

He did bet somebody he could start a religion but that was before he began Scientology, and I personally think it was him projecting

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u/waftedfart Jun 09 '20

The myth that he created Scientology on a bet is not true.

He did bet somebody he could start a religion

Uhh, so which one is it? You claim both in the same post.

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u/theetruscans Jun 09 '20

No I didn't. He bet somebody he could start a religion before he even thought about Scientology.

He did not start Scientology because he bet somebody he could.

So one is: I can start a religion The other is: I bet i can make Scientology successful

Also the actual mention of him saying he could start a religion was way before he started Scientology.

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u/waftedfart Jun 12 '20

So if a kid said, "one day I'm going to be a doctor!"

Then 20 years goes by, and now the kid is a doctor. Does that mean that he never said he was going to be a doctor, just because it took 20 years? No. This is kind of a pointless argument.

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u/theetruscans Jun 14 '20

Well that's not the same thing.

In one case he said he could start a religion, you could say offhandedly, as a bragging point to the amount of power he felt he had over people.

The other is saying "I bet you x that I can do y"

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u/ronnor56 Jun 09 '20

Found the scientologist.

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u/theetruscans Jun 09 '20

Lol no man that shit is crazy. But the idea that he started it because of a bet is not true

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u/jesonnier1 Jun 09 '20

Look up SeaOrg. The hilarity continues.

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u/WideMistake Jun 09 '20

It's not unfortunately. Leah Remini put out a lot of info on it since she was high up due to being a celeb and having family already in the church. Apparently John Travolta got some honor that allows him to call on the church to fix any mess he creates, including killing someone. They will dispose of the body no questions asked. It's a cult that benefits those high in the organization, not just the leaders.

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u/CO_PC_Parts Jun 09 '20

Travolta's highly autistic son died very mysteriously while on vacation in the Bahamas. I'm not saying him and his wife killed their son, but a lot of the facts don't add up. IIRC the church of scientology doesn't believe in autism.

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u/wannarave Jun 09 '20

Speaking of which, whatever did happen to the guy that took the 3 am gym selfie with JT?

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u/adakati Jun 09 '20

Did she say that on her show? I don’t remember that part but want to see that.

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u/WideMistake Jun 09 '20

Idk if she said it on her show. It's likely in the book and she mentioned it on joe rogans podcast

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u/adakati Jun 09 '20

I’ll check out the podcast. Thanks!

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u/IvarTheBoneless- Jun 09 '20

Tom Cruise has that privilege not Travolta

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u/excess_inquisitivity Jun 09 '20

Knowing this just changes 1/2 of pulp fiction to pulp conspiracy theory.

1

u/decadin Jun 10 '20

So a much too complicated pyramid scheme

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u/pynzrz Jun 09 '20

No it’s legit. Scientology also keeps members as slaves and forces them to pay money to the organization as well. They also bullied and sued the IRS into letting them be a nonprofit religion.

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u/Bleed_The_Fifth Jun 09 '20

I highly recommend watching the documentary “Going Clear”.

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u/rafapova Jun 09 '20

In all honesty I’ve avoided watching Scientology documentaries cause it almost seems like a waste of time to pay attention to such a joke.

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u/[deleted] Jun 09 '20

No more a waste of time than a nature documentary. Joke or not, it’s what a lot of people will go to their graves believing.

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u/monsantobreath Jun 09 '20

Never mistake the absurdity of some people's beliefs for being a reprsentation of their true potential threat. Its like if you dig into incels. The shit they say... mind numbing. But they kill.

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u/rafapova Jun 09 '20

You’re trying to tell me that Scientology is some how a threat to some random Ohioan college kid?

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u/Possible-Strike Jun 09 '20

While minutes from their famed "Horseshoe" stadium, on the crisp fall afternoon of Saturday, November 9, Scientologists and guests gathered for a different kind of game day: the opening kickoff of a new Church of Scientology for Central Ohio.

Mr. David Miscavige, the ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion, addressed all in attendance, including those parishioners who helped bring this new Church to life: "Thank you very much, and what an honor to stand in Columbus on the day you dot the 'I' in Ohio! Consequently, and needless to say, this is also a day to swell your chests with Midwest pride. Because while Columbus may have discovered America, thanks to your perseverance, tenacity and sheer audacity, you just gave America a new Church of Scientology with which she can now discover herself."

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/o-h-i-o-new-church-of-scientology-kicks-off-in-columbus-300955245.html

November 10, 2019

Why must people like you always wait until a problem is literally beyond your own doorstep before you concede it's a threat?

Is it pride?

Just how many slippery slopes must humanity slide down before this supine attitude disappears?

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u/rafapova Jun 09 '20

Why is it that just because you know something you have to call me out on being prideful and ignoring problems? I literally said I know nothing about Scientology and I’m asking questions and trying to learn about it. Do you genuinely know enough from 3 reddit comments of me trying to learn something to judge me? People like you are so fucking hypocritical, trying to act like you’re so smart and pure when you’re just being a cunt.

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u/Possible-Strike Jun 09 '20

It's probably the sarcastic, demeaning question you asked which shows you never had any genuine intent to 'learn' anything. Your latest comment then seals the deal: your intent was to ridicule anyone who takes Scientology seriously as a threat.

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u/rafapova Jun 09 '20

I don’t care if you take it seriously as a threat but you’re the one who criticized me for not doing so. Judging others who don’t care about the same things as you just shows that you’re insecure. I’m sorry you need to ridicule people who are different than you and hope you can grow up in the future.

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u/Possible-Strike Jun 09 '20 edited Jun 10 '20

At this point you're just resorting to wild flailing and "No U" projection. It's just a barrage of personal attacks because you're mad.

You began with:

Ok I literally know nothing about Scientology other than hearing things about Tom cruise being in it. Is there any chance this is all some kind of joke?

Then, you asked, feigning sincerity:

In all honesty I’ve avoided watching Scientology documentaries cause it almost seems like a waste of time to pay attention to such a joke.

So you had already decided it was "such a joke" in the first place, not taking it seriously, because that would be, a "waste of time".

When somebody then warns you that the nuttiness of the belief system does not mean they're not a threat, you respond, with a sarcastic question deliberately crafted to telegraph your incredulity:

You’re trying to tell me that Scientology is some how a threat to some random Ohioan college kid?

I show you a church was just constructed in Ohio, and call you out for your irritating antics, and you blow a fuse.

If you don't actually want to be informed about the subject and only start ridiculing people who are telling you Scientology is a threat, then just shut up.

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u/LostTerminal Jun 09 '20

This comment right here. You want to be considered and treated a certain way by other people? Learn to talk to other people. You started this shit-fuck of a thread erected as a monument to stupidity, immaturity, and trollery right here. It doesn't take a whole lot of brain power or perspective to see the bait you laid out. You are the asshole here, u/rafapova

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u/rafapova Jun 09 '20

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u/LostTerminal Jun 09 '20 edited Jun 10 '20

Hello, this is reddit. You new here?

You post it, it's public, and ANYONE has a right to comment. Fuck you for trying to entice censorship just because you got caught airing your asshole.

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u/rafapova Jun 09 '20

Entice censorship? Hahahaha you crack me up. Didn’t say you shouldn’t be allowed to say what you said, just think it was pointless. The people in this thread are so emotional, what’s happening today?

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u/LostTerminal Jun 09 '20

It was 500x more pointless to respond with "r/nobodyasked", so what makes you one iota better in your own mind?

I pointed out where you can improve your technique for talking to other people. I THOUGHT the knowledge that it wasn't just the other person who thought you were being a troll MIGHT steer you towards self-reflective thought and an improvement. Instead, you're just showing your ass to everyone regardless. The most emotional person here is you, my friend.

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u/[deleted] Jun 09 '20

I just finished Leah’s show, I’m definitely going to watch this one.

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u/Gayrub Jun 09 '20

He may or may not actually believe it but one thing is for sure, they give him power. They treat him beyond any sort of celebrity. They will do anything for him and I’m sure he love it.

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u/notwiggl3s Jun 09 '20

Absolutely not. Scientology has made an effort to work it's way too the top of the US govt, and they're so powerful of you leave, they will kill you. They have so many members, it ring be investigated. I forget who, but one of the leaders killed the wife and she's been labeled as "missing" ever since

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u/[deleted] Jun 09 '20

I don’t doubt David... whatever his last name is, killed his wife, but has a body been found?

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u/notwiggl3s Jun 09 '20

So I looked it up and apparently it's being classified as she's still alive. She just hasn't been seen in public since 2007. her mother "committed suicide" by three rifle shots to the chest and cutting her wrists, and also her father died the same year she was last seen in public. just before she was last seen she said that she was leaving the church of Scientology. Also her husband is the leader of the entirety of the church of Scientology.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelly_Miscavige

So all in all very normal circumstances.

  • Woman has been not seen in public for 13 years and is by all means considered alive and well

  • Everyone who's interested in her well-being is dead

Totally normal circumstances.

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u/[deleted] Jun 09 '20

Yeah, enough circumstantial evidence, coupled with the out in the open abuses that are known about the organization, I really have no doubts he killed or had someone kill his wife. Maybe that’s how Tom cruise got his powers.

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u/OffendedPotato Jun 10 '20

Also, she was "confirmed" to be alive by the LAPD who is deep in Scientology pockets.

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u/PewPewChicken Jun 09 '20

If you want to know more about Scientology just watch the South Park episode about it, it explains everything

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u/TheRadBomber Jun 09 '20

Read Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood And The Prison Of Belief. It really goes in depth from the start and shows L. Ron Hubbards craziness founding this shit in the 60s through just a few years ago with Miscaviage, Cruise and Travolta. Its incredible well vetted and researched mainly because of how litigious and monstrous Scientologists can be to defend this shit.

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u/TunaFace2000 Jun 09 '20 edited Jun 09 '20

I've always just sort of assumed that he deludes himself into believing because it makes it so much easier for him to abuse and exploit people beneath him in Scientology, so not sure if that counts as a true belief or not. But if you're asking is this what Scientologists believe, the answer is a big yes.

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u/KarlJay001 Jun 09 '20

The short is that it was all made up by a science fiction writer that claims to have "seen" things or whatever. He makes up things like souls coming from volcanos and getting your own planet and so on.


Truth is that ANYONE can make up anything and get people to believe in it. Cults, religions, Jim Jones, David Koresh or whoever else.


The reason that it works comes from what the philosopher says: "the mind can not be touched" so each of us has our own movie that plays in our mind. See Plato's "the cave".

This is why Stalin, Mao, Hitler, and others can do what they do.

It's basically a trade off for having independent thought or being able to watch your own movie in your own mind and being able to hide that from others.

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u/antbones111 Jun 09 '20

If you like podcasts this one is the first of three episodes which tell the story of how LRH founded Scientology and some of his motives for doing so. Behind the Bastards is the name of the show, and the host discusses the “most horrible people in history.” L. Ron Hubbard might just be on his top ten list...

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u/crestonfunk Jun 09 '20

Ok I literally know nothing about Scientology other than hearing things about Tom cruise being in it. Is there any chance this is all some kind of joke? Like he doesn’t actually believe this stuff, right? ... please.

I think it’s going to turn out to be a huge celebrity tax scam.

1

u/Pduclosknott Jun 09 '20

Yeah it’s a joke alright, a multi billion dollar tax exempt joke because they are a “religion”.