# Everything in Scientology is based on logic **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 12, 2015, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-in-scientology-is-based-on-logic/712510 "2015-02-12T21:23:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Askthepizzaguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askthepizzaguy/32/9405_2.png) [@Askthepizzaguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askthepizzaguy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-in-scientology-is-based-on-logic/712510/1 "2015-02-12T21:23:01Z")
I’ve opened two other pit threads in the past few days, but I couldn’t resist, this one’s a mini. Then I’ll restrain myself for a little bit. **Danny Masterson: ‘Everything in Scientology Is Based on Logic’** Wait, did you just say… _logic?_ **[Danny Masterson: 'Everything in Scientology Is Based on Logic'](https://celebrity.yahoo.com/blogs/celeb-news/danny-masterson-scientology-182855630.html)** It’s based on logic, just like\*\* [hollywood movies](http://www.cracked.com/article_16478_7-movies-based-true-story-that-are-complete-bullshit.html) are [based on true stories.](http://www.cracked.com/photoplasty_1072_24-movies-based-true-story-that-are-full-shit/) \*\* The christian creation museum where you can ride a dinosaur with a saddle is based on actual science, too. After all, science agrees there were dinosaurs at one time. And Danny Masterson’s career is based on actual talent. I imagine it took some very talented writers to get America to swallow his acting ability, with the kind of dramatic range he brings, but then again, we’re the same folks who sit around watching the Kardashians and guys jumping off of rooftops to try to land in shopping carts, so in retrospect, nah, not really. Hold on, I’ll be right back, I have to go fuck myself for being a Scientology critic. With gusto, mister Masterson, with gusto. It would be a far more productive use of one’s time than studying Hubbard’s universally discredited mental masturbation. I mean, you can study TimeCube, but does that count as actually studying anything? P.S. Don’t forget to donate all your excessive earnings to the church, I’m sure it will help all the poor, suffering Miscaviges of the world. Don’t forget to renew when your billion-year contract is up, if it seems like the logical thing to do. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-in-scientology-is-based-on-logic/712510/2 "2015-02-12T21:34:10Z")
“There’s books and lectures and whatnot, and then there’s the stuff in Dianetics, which is the auditing, which is basically going through painful incidents in one’s life and erasing them so that they don’t upset you.” I would call that denial and bottling up explosive materials under pressure and hoping it doesn’t explode someday. Wait, I mean it sounds perfectly logical. And healthy, for sure! ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-in-scientology-is-based-on-logic/712510/3 "2015-02-12T21:47:06Z")
What’s the real deal on what he’s talking about regarding why the book wasn’t published in the UK? He cites libel laws and that the book was all lies, but I suspect there is more to this story. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-in-scientology-is-based-on-logic/712510/4 "2015-02-12T21:47:10Z")
Everything in Aristotle is based on logic, and modern philosophers and scientists reject almost every bit of it. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-in-scientology-is-based-on-logic/712510/5 "2015-02-12T21:47:57Z")
And the books are printed on, like, real paper. I mean, these books are _real_, man, you can touch them and the words inside are actual, like _words_. Woahhhh! ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Norse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/big_norse/32/9954_2.png) [@Big\_Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Norse)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-in-scientology-is-based-on-logic/712510/6 "2015-02-12T21:57:02Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > What’s the real deal on what he’s talking about regarding why the book wasn’t published in the UK? He cites libel laws and that the book was all lies, but I suspect there is more to this story. It’s because Scientology is highly litigious and the libel laws in the UK put the burden of proof on the [defendant](http://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2013/jan/14/cant-read-scientology-book-uk). Wright could be sued into oblivion for libeling the church, even if everything he said was factual. If you aren’t familiar with it and have any interest in the shit show that is Scientology, I recommend Tony Ortega’s [blog](http://tonyortega.org/) he’s been following them for a long time (and has a book coming out on one of their more unpleasant escapades). ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-in-scientology-is-based-on-logic/712510/7 "2015-02-12T22:03:59Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > “There’s books and lectures and whatnot, and then there’s the stuff in Dianetics, which is the auditing, which is basically going through painful incidents in one’s life and erasing them so that they don’t upset you.” > > I would call that denial and bottling up explosive materials under pressure and hoping it doesn’t explode someday. > > Wait, I mean it sounds perfectly logical. And healthy, for sure! [Serenity now, serenity now.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow_9MglZrhs) ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-in-scientology-is-based-on-logic/712510/8 "2015-02-12T22:17:43Z")
I am recalling Sylvester Stallone talking about his mother’s astrology: “It’s really scientific, with these big books and a lot of math and stuff.” ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-in-scientology-is-based-on-logic/712510/9 "2015-02-13T14:41:37Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > I am recalling Sylvester Stallone talking about his mother’s astrology: “It’s really scientific, with these big books and a lot of math and stuff.” I recently read that she’s doing ass readings now. She calls is “rumpology”. I can’t believe it’s not called “Asstrology”. ---
**Author:** ![Paranoid\_Randroid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paranoid_randroid/32/18_2.png) [@Paranoid\_Randroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paranoid_Randroid)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-in-scientology-is-based-on-logic/712510/10 "2015-02-13T15:05:32Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Everything in Aristotle is based on logic, and modern philosophers and scientists reject almost every bit of it. That’s pretty facile. Aristotelian biology and physical science aren’t accepted, but Aristotelian philosophy is taken seriously (and in some respects van even be considered in revival). [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-in-scientology-is-based-on-logic/712510/11 "2015-02-13T15:54:23Z")
> [@Paranoid\_Randroid](#): > > That’s pretty facile. Aristotelian biology and physical science aren’t accepted, but Aristotelian philosophy is taken seriously (and in some respects van even be considered in revival). [/hijack] Well, I’m getting that from Bertrand Russell’s _History of Western Philosophy._ He conclusively demonstrates that almost everything in Aristotle’s philosophy – including even his system of logic – is either wrong or trivial or morally repellent to modern minds. He also notes the existence (in 1945) of philosophers who cling to Aristotle – Roman Catholic philosophers in the Thomist school – but to the extent they do so, they are not modern philosophers. The chapter “Aristotle’s Logic” concludes: > [@](#): > > I conclude that the Aristotelian doctrines with which we have been concerned in this chapter are wholly false, with the exception of the formal theory of the syllogism, which is unimportant. Any person in the present day who wishes to learn logic will be wasting his time if he reads Aristotle or any of his disciples. None the less, Aristotle’s logical writings show great ability, and would have been useful to mankind if they had appeared at a time when intellectual originality was still active. Unfortunately, they appeared at the very end of the creative period in Greek thought, and therefore came to be accepted as authoritative. By the time that logical originality revived, a reign of two thousand years had made Aristotle very difficult to dethrone. Throughout modern times, practically every advance in science, in logic, or in philosophy has had to be made in the teeth of the opposition from Aristotle’s disciples. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-in-scientology-is-based-on-logic/712510/12 "2015-02-13T16:52:42Z")
It’s science. It’s right there in the name. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-in-scientology-is-based-on-logic/712510/13 "2015-02-13T17:19:29Z")
if I were having a serious debate about Scientology with one of its believers, I’d ask why Scientology has so many secrets. If they have this information that would help so many people, why don’t they release it? Wouldn’t everyone benefit from knowing the true history of the world and useful processes for reducing human suffering? The fact that Scientology claims to have this information but is withholding it hurts their reputation. It makes it look like they have something to hide. Or, if you accept that everything they say is true, it makes it look like they are hoarding this information out of greed. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-in-scientology-is-based-on-logic/712510/14 "2015-02-13T17:34:25Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Well, I’m getting that from Bertrand Russell’s _History of Western Philosophy._ He conclusively demonstrates that almost everything in Aristotle’s philosophy – including even his system of logic – is either wrong or trivial or morally repellent to modern minds. He also notes the existence (in 1945) of philosophers who cling to Aristotle – Roman Catholic philosophers in the Thomist school – but to the extent they do so, they are not modern philosophers. The chapter “Aristotle’s Logic” concludes: Russell’s history is entertaining and well written. It’s worth reading as a smart guys opinion and even enlightining at times. It is absolutely worthless as an objective history of philosophy, unless read with other calmer writers who actually take the time to understand schools they might disagree with. I could have sworn people have tried to explain this to you before. In any event try [this](http://www.amazon.com/Short-History-Philosophy-Robert-Solomon/dp/0195086473/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423848787&sr=8-1&keywords=short+history+of+philosophy+solomon) instead. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-in-scientology-is-based-on-logic/712510/15 "2015-02-13T17:47:35Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > Russell’s history is entertaining and well written. It’s worth reading as a smart guys opinion and even enlightining at times. It is absolutely worthless as an objective history of philosophy, unless read with other calmer writers who actually take the time to understand schools they might disagree with. > > I could have sworn people have tried to explain this to you before. **Olentzero** did once, but he was defending Marxism, so I did not take it all that seriously. Aristotle I studied some in college, and have never found any reason to disagree with Russell’s take on him. ---
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-in-scientology-is-based-on-logic/712510/16 "2015-02-13T18:56:16Z")
OK, I absolutely love that he said this: [QUOTE=Danny Masterson] But you know, my religion’s fair game, I guess, 'cause it’s new. [/QUOTE] I wonder why he had that [particular term](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Game_%28Scientology%29) on the tip of his tongue? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-in-scientology-is-based-on-logic/712510/17 "2015-02-13T19:08:23Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > Russell’s history is entertaining and well written. It’s worth reading as a smart guys opinion and even enlightining at times. It is absolutely worthless as an objective history of philosophy, unless read with other calmer writers who actually take the time to understand schools they might disagree with. > > I could have sworn people have tried to explain this to you before. In any event try [this](http://www.amazon.com/Short-History-Philosophy-Robert-Solomon/dp/0195086473/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423848787&sr=8-1&keywords=short+history+of+philosophy+solomon) instead. Come to think of it, you seem to be saying that no actual philosopher can write an objective history of philosophy, because he is too engaged, will have a partisan (if the word applies) take on any philosophical (as distinct from historical) question that is in any way controversial. Are Solomon and Higgins philosophers? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-in-scientology-is-based-on-logic/712510/18 "2015-02-13T19:16:33Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > I could have sworn people have tried to explain this to you before. **Subterraneus** did, in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=708662) (Post #14, and maybe also #21). And you yourself ( **Larry Borgia** ) weighed in on Russell’s _History_ in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=528944) (Posts #45 and #47). ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-in-scientology-is-based-on-logic/712510/19 "2015-02-13T19:21:51Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > **Subterraneus** did, in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=708662) (Post #14, and maybe also #21). > > And you yourself ( **Larry Borgia** ) weighed in on Russell’s _History_ in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=528944) (Posts #45 and #47). Huh. I honestly didn’t remember that was me. I feel like a reverse Brian Williams here. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-in-scientology-is-based-on-logic/712510/20 "2015-02-13T20:04:27Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > Huh. I honestly didn’t remember that was me. I feel like a reverse Brian Williams here. Would that be a William Brians? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-in-scientology-is-based-on-logic/712510.md?page=2)