# The Cult of Scientology: Always Attack, Never Defend **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 22, 2006, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cult-of-scientology-always-attack-never-defend/365579 "2006-07-22T05:22:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cult-of-scientology-always-attack-never-defend/365579/41 "2006-07-23T03:29:28Z")
[QUOTE=Guinastasia] [Operation Snow White](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_snow_white) [/QUOTE] !!! Never heard of that before . . . **Hmm** mmmm . . . If **those** psychotic creeps can do all that and **almost** get away with it, then . . . . [shaft of light shines down from the heavens, choir of angels sings alleluia] 😃 ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cult-of-scientology-always-attack-never-defend/365579/42 "2006-07-23T04:01:42Z")
I’m probably one of the very few here who read L. Ron Hubbard’s article _Dianetics_ when it was published in _Astounding_. At the time I thought how sad to see a pretty good science fiction writer jump the tracks. Since then it’s become more scary than sad. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cult-of-scientology-always-attack-never-defend/365579/43 "2006-07-23T05:23:29Z")
[QUOTE=Enter the Flagon] Yep, those emotionally vulnerable people who get lured into the CoS deserve whatever fleecing they get. If they were born stupid or gullible, it’s their own fault. We have no obligation to protect them. Just like those Enron employees who lost their life savings. Serves 'em right. Free will and all that. [/sarcasm] [/QUOTE] I have no sympathy for those people who didn’t properly diversify their portofolio and had ‘all their life savings’ in Enron or any other single place. Diversify mutherfuckers! ---
**Author:** ![look\_ninjas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@look\_ninjas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/look_ninjas)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cult-of-scientology-always-attack-never-defend/365579/44 "2006-07-23T05:30:21Z")
**Constipated Mathematician** - Frankly, I see a huge problem with any organization, church or otherwise, that defends their beliefs by claiming that their critics are all liars, murders, rapists, etc. Furthermore, it is Scientology doctrine to engage in those kinds of ad hominem attacks. They don’t quote their religious texts, they don’t fall back on doctrines of faith, they don’t explain anything. They just bring up everything they can about their critics to discredit them, and they do it in public. If you want, I’ll try to find the website where they go into lengthy detail about a critic’s criminal record - traffic tickets and DUIs. You can engage pretty much any other member of another religion in some sort of debate about their beliefs. If you try to engage a Scientologist in debate, they’ll sputter “Oh yeah? Well… you … you jaywalked! CRIMINAL!” Also, most other religions don’t have Danny Masterson doing an interview in Spin magazine where he claims that whatever issues he’s having will be cleared up with a simple Scientology course. (again, I’ll dig for it and try to find the date and issue number if you want; I know I have it here somewhere) They’ll grab up any celebrity they can and turn them into a Scientology mouthpiece, and as much as I’d like to think that everyone knows that Tom Cruise, Kirstie Alley, and John Travolta are crackpots… I can’t really believe it. It is a powerful, persuasive thing. As far as deaths due to lack of medication and medical treatment go - you could say, I suppose, that Christianity is responsible for many more than Scientology would eer be. However, most of those instances occurred before we had any rudimentary understanding of illness, whether mental or physical. Scientology came into being in the 1950s. The science was much more advanced. Hubbard ignored all of it and touted Dianetics and Scientology as a cure-all. It’s quackery. Put it all together, and you have a very large, very influential group of people saying that medical science is a joke, auditing will cure your cancer, and if you don’t believe them, you’re insane and evil and don’t deserve human rights. To my way of thinking, that’s a hell of a lot more dangerous than Heaven’s Gate. That’s why I care about Scientology. It might get some people through the day today, but it’s going to wreck a lot of lives in the long run. And, on a personal note in the interests of full disclosure, I know a lot of people who work in psychiatric medicine, in one field or another. And it bothers the shit out of me when they’re accused of murdering people, raping women, and castrating men. They’re decent folks who try to help people to the best of their knowledge, skill, and ability. Anyone who claims that they’re evil and that I’m brainwashed is not someone I’m going to take very seriously, particularly when they refuse to pony up the proof. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cult-of-scientology-always-attack-never-defend/365579/45 "2006-07-23T09:04:55Z")
[QUOTE=Constipated Mathematician] Good questions, **Miller**. I’ll address them the best I can. Of course I don’t believe the scam artists of this world should get a free pass. What happened at Enron was tragic on many levels (not the least of which the death of Kenneth Lay before he spent a day in jail). They should all be punished for perpetuating a fraud on their investors. But where does this stop? What about the brokers that knew this stock was going down the tubes and sold before the bottom fell out? What about the large brokerage houses that got out before the bottom fell? How many people are privvy to inside knowledge that the average Joe doesn’t even get a whiff of? Should they all get punished? I think so. But they don’t. Martha Stewart is a good example of this. She got what she deserved. But by no means was she the only one that benefited by a little inside information. Very few people have the access to even have a chance to make a bad decision like Martha did. So as much as I was happy to see Martha get convicted, I was not happy that she wasn’t joined by a bunch of other people who probably have done the same things in their stock trading lives. My quick answer is I don’t know what the “cutoff point” is. It’s a great question, though. [/quote] Great. And the point of all this is what, exactly? No, we can’t catch every single person who violates the law or behaves unethically. So what? We can catch _some_ of them, and we should do whatever we can to catch more of them. There’s been some pretty damning evidence brought up in this thread implicating the leadership of Scientology with everything from illegal harrassment, to espionage, to murder. I think it’s a good thing to disseminate this information. Maybe the people who join the cult do deserve to lose their money. But let’s at least try to prevent a gang of traitorous, murdering assholes from profiting from it. > [@](#): > > I’m not here to argue that Scientology is not a cult. By the definitions in this thread, it certainly qualifies. And by my limited readings provided by the links \*\*Equipoise \*\* posted (I have to admit, I haven’t read much. It gives me a headache, and I’m fascinated that anyone could read through all of that website). But by what definition do we judge a cult? Who cares? If you’re not trying to argue that Scientology isn’t a cult, what the fuck difference does it make how you define a cult? > [@](#): > > I’m also not here to argue that Catholicism is a cult. But some people believe that it qualifies, by definition. Again, who cares? People believe all sorts of stupid shit. Yeah, “some people” think Catholicism is a cult. You know who those people are? Rabidly xenophobic protestant extremists. Who gives a fuck what those people think? How does that have any bearing on this discussion? > [@](#): > > I wasn’t even intending on comparing Catholicism (or Judaism) or any other religion to Scientology. I’m not even trying to prove any particular point, other than to say that if you are trying to save the world from Scientology, then you have a mission. Carry on. Thank you for that deeply valuable insight. > [@](#): > > But to say things like PEOPLE HAVE DIED is a bit much to prove a point, no? I’m sure they have. But have you caught a screening of _Passion of the Christ_? Because let me tell you, that poor guy got the \*\*SHIT \*\* beat out of him before they crucified him. What the fuck are you even talking about? “A bit much?” It’s fucking _murder_, you asshole! If you’re trying to argue that Lisa McPherson wasn’t murdered, fucking argue it. But don’t come over like it’s in poor taste to point out that someone deliberately snuffed out the life of another human being. I don’t even want to know what sort of lunatic parrallel you’re trying to draw between that and _Passion of the Christ_. > [@](#): > > Piss off? Why would that do you a favor? Because I’ve not agreed with the point that Scientology is evil? Hmmm. Just trying to have some discussion on a message board about the topic. No, you aren’t. You aren’t discussing the topic, you’re babbling like a half-wit. > [@](#): > > Being as I have no axe to grind in any of the houses of religion, I just don’t see the point in getting in a snit over one that you find particularly nasty. Cult, commune, Jonestown, or your neighborhood church. From someone who is a non-believer (and there seem to be many on this board), they can all seem a bit “cultish”, wouldn’t you agree? No. As an atheist, I would not agree with you in the slightest. In fact, I’d say that you’d have to be remarkably stupid to not be able to tell the difference between the local Anglican church and Jonestown. > [@](#): > > Now if you want to kick the crap out of it because of Tom Cruise, I’m with you 100%! Shut up, you idiot. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cult-of-scientology-always-attack-never-defend/365579/46 "2006-07-23T13:20:49Z")
> [@Constipated Mathematician](#): > > I’m not saying that cults don’t exist. But what defines a cult? Some people think Catholics are a cult. People who don’t have a usable definition of the term cult think mainstream Catholicism is a cult. A cult is defined by its actions. A cult is to religious groups in general what an abusive spouse is to spouses in general: A pathological example of a general case marked by an extreme need for control over the other people involved in the relationship and the use of coercive behaviors to maintain that control. It has nothing to do with belief systems, number of members, age, origin, or whether most adherents have blonde hair or red. No faith is immune to having a cult created in terms of it, just as no kind of relationship is proof against abusive people using it to their own ends. > [@](#): > > And I’ve heard stories of pedophilia priests being moved around the country and the church covering it up. I’ve also heard they used money given to them by their followers to hire lawyers and/or buy off the victims of these crimes. This is another difference between the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Scientology. (Note well that I am contrasting _organizations_, not _religions_. A religion is separable from the organization that promotes it.) The RCC _did_ employ pedophiles it knew were pedophiles and _did_ act to keep them from being brought to justice. However, it _did not_ orchestrate the molestations, it _did not_ use the molestations as part of a larger strategy, and it _did not_ work to increase the number of molestations. There is plenty of evidence that the Church of Scientology did all of those things relative to the illegal actions of its membership. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cult-of-scientology-always-attack-never-defend/365579/47 "2006-07-23T13:23:52Z")
Just to make it painfully clear: Only a specific organization can be a cult, just like only a specific person can be abusive. Saying a belief system is a cult is meaningless: A belief system cannot behave in any fashion whatsoever. ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cult-of-scientology-always-attack-never-defend/365579/48 "2006-07-23T14:42:59Z")
This is usually how it goes. An anti-Scientology thread will always attract an anonymous clam or two. These guests will avoid chewing on the meat of the thread, and not unlike an attorney without a solid case, begin nibbling at the fringes in order to distract and divert. When we see airbubbles in the damp sand, can’t we all just silently agree, “yup, that’s a clam,” and either ignore it or toss it on the grill? ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cult-of-scientology-always-attack-never-defend/365579/49 "2006-07-23T15:20:34Z")
**Waverly** : Meh. I replied to him because his post was a convenient jumping-off point for saying what needs to be said on this topic. Whether he’s a Scientologist (FTR, I doubt it) or a troll (likely) or both is irrelevant. ---
**Author:** ![Constipated\_Mathematician](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5fc32e/32.png) [@Constipated\_Mathematician](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Constipated_Mathematician)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cult-of-scientology-always-attack-never-defend/365579/50 "2006-07-23T15:25:56Z")
If the CoS is guilty of all of the acts as is alleged in the links I’ve read (and believe it or not, I’ve read a few now), then let the legal system take action. Put them out of business. Throw the leaders in jail and shut the doors. Why has this been so hard? Money from Hollywood? The Catholic Church had a major scandal in Boston a while ago (no cite, not going to dig one up). It was in all the papers. The law was brought in. The legal system took action. In this thread, many have accused the CoS of murder. It’s not my job to argue that Lisa McPherson wasn’t murdered. It’s your job to prove that she was. And if she was, I agree wholeheartedly that her killers should be brought to justice. But how are you going to accomplish this on a message board? Print your fliers, pass them out, do what you can to keep the sad, lost souls from the CoS. But until they are put out of business, they have a right to exist. It doesn’t matter if you, I, or a thousand people out here \*think \* anything about the CoS. If they are behaving in an illegal fashion, prove it, and take them out. After all, they were able to receive a church exemption from the IRS, correct? How exactly did that happen? Do cults usually get that exemption? I can understand your anger, but it’s misplaced. The CoS exists because the law permits it. > [@Derleth](#): > > This is another difference between the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Scientology. (Note well that I am contrasting organizations, not religions. A religion is separable from the organization that promotes it.) The RCC did employ pedophiles it knew were pedophiles and did act to keep them from being brought to justice. However, it did not orchestrate the molestations, it did not use the molestations as part of a larger strategy, and it did not work to increase the number of molestations. There is plenty of evidence that the Church of Scientology did all of those things relative to the illegal actions of its membership. I understand your difference between religion and organization. But to state “There is plenty of evidence that the Church of Scientology did all of those things relative to the illegal actions of its membership” and to know they still exist doesn’t make much sense, does it? Why have these crimes been so hard to prove? If the evidence is there, why can’t the government shut them down? Are we all to believe that these people are \*that \* clever? Look, I’m not interested in getting into a debate about the CoS. From what I’ve read, I wouldn’t want my sister in there. But if she decided to enter, and the law considers it a legal church (which to some extent validates it as a religion, doesn’t it?) that would be her right. Or, isn’t it a church by legal standards? **Miller** , I really don’t know how to respond to your words. Your anger blinds your “logic”. I’m not trying to prove you wrong. What are your views on Amway? (just kidding. No need to respond) **Derleth** , I didn’t mean to derail your pit thread. My apologies. But your OP raises the real question, doesn’t it? i.e. > [@Derleth](#): > > Isn’t the Cult afraid of what might happen to them in court? Until the courts put an end to the practices that are being used (allegedly, of course), this will continue. If the courts are powerless to put murderers behind bars, then we do have a problem. Please carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enter_the_Flagon)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cult-of-scientology-always-attack-never-defend/365579/51 "2006-07-23T16:11:32Z")
[QUOTE=Constipated Mathematician] I can understand your anger, but it’s misplaced. [/QUOTE] Not at all. If the result of this thread is that even one person is dissuaded from joining this cult, then this thread might well be considered a storming success by an apparent majority of participants. Would you deny these people so much as a voice, or would you rather they be silenced for taking a position you disagree with? Likewise, a more modest goal might simply be to help educate people generally about the dangers of a religion that enourages people with treatable mental illness to shun psychiatry; it can be reasonably hoped that this thread might accomplish that mission. What’s not to like about that? ---
**Author:** ![Star\_Female](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19b73/32.png) [@Star\_Female](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Star_Female)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cult-of-scientology-always-attack-never-defend/365579/52 "2006-07-23T16:41:26Z")
[QUOTE=elucidator] Phillip Jose Farmer once kicked his ass in a bar in Encino. True story. [/QUOTE] [hijack]I met him once. He was a pretty nice guy. He signed my book.[/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cult-of-scientology-always-attack-never-defend/365579/53 "2006-07-23T17:05:16Z")
[QUOTE=Constipated Mathematician] If the CoS is guilty of all of the acts as is alleged in the links I’ve read (and believe it or not, I’ve read a few now), then let the legal system take action. Put them out of business. Throw the leaders in jail and shut the doors. Why has this been so hard? Money from Hollywood? [/quote] I suppose that is part of it. Another part is that they have enough indivdual members to harass the critics, legally and not, without being ‘officially’ part of the CoS legal effort that critics get pounded into submission. A DDoS, if you will. A final, large part is that the US Government is _very_ circumspect when it comes to religion. Look how long the Roman Catholic Church was able to keep a lid on things. Proving murder is intentionally very hard in this country, and if the defendant is not only a religious group but very experienced at dirty tricks it becomes even harder. [This news article explains why the Lisa McPherson criminal case was dropped.](http://www.lisamcpherson.org/tt6-13.htm) One person’s erratic behavior caused the state to no longer feel it had enough evidence to prove murder beyond a reasonable doubt. I think it’s reasonable to assume the CoS caused Joan Wood to flake out and throw the case, but it’s possible she was simply flaky to begin with and chose this case to crap out. Point being, the state’s attorneys got seriously spooked by an opponent orders of magnitude tougher than the average street punk or neighborhood gang. [They weren’t even afraid of harassing the local police.](http://www.lisamcpherson.org/spt2-26.htm) [Nor do they have much respect for the robes](http://home.snafu.de/tilman/bu/wol_vs_cos.html): > [@](#): > > California superior court judge Ronald Swearinger, who presided over the Wollersheim trial, describes the case itself as anything but normal: [snip] But Swearinger’s recollections of the oddities of the Wollersheim case go beyond court filings: ‘I was followed [at various times] throughout the trial . . . and during the motions for a new trial,’ the judge claims. ‘All kinds of things were done to intimidate me, and there were a number of unusual occurrences during that trial. My car tires were slashed. My collie drowned in my pool. But there was nothing overtly threatening, and I didn’t pay attention to the funny stuff.’ The judge deserves a medal. The fact is, taking them to court for _those_ misdeeds would only provoke even more of the same, as the CoS tries to get its opponents so tied up in litigation they can’t live their lives. The only people who would put up with this for the duration of a trial are the crusaders you seem so dismissive of. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cult-of-scientology-always-attack-never-defend/365579/54 "2006-07-23T17:09:15Z")
[QUOTE=Star Female] [hijack]I met him once. He was a pretty nice guy. He signed my book.[/hijack] [/QUOTE] Farmer, or Hubbard? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cult-of-scientology-always-attack-never-defend/365579/55 "2006-07-23T17:10:31Z")
[QUOTE=Guinastasia] Why WOULDN’T anyone hate Tom Cruise? [/QUOTE] ::raising hand:: **I** don’t hate Tom Cruise. Not even a little bit. The only reason I have dispatched my minions to assassinate him is because his death is a vital cog in my plans for world domination. Of course, I’m evil. On a completely unreleated note, any of you who happen to find yourselves standing within sight of Mr. Cruise anytime this coming Wednesday may want to move to about, oh, two miles away. No particular reason. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cult-of-scientology-always-attack-never-defend/365579/56 "2006-07-23T17:11:58Z")
Asking the government to shut down the CoS is kind of like asking the government to shut down the Mafia-it’s not easy and near impossible. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cult-of-scientology-always-attack-never-defend/365579/57 "2006-07-23T17:12:57Z")
Scientology. I need do very little more than look at their vile work during September 11th to know what regard I should have for this tumor on the body of humanity. > [@Wikipedia](#): > > The Church of Scientology was roundly criticized in the media for opportunism at the Ground Zero site, sending Scientologist Volunteer Ministers to intercept victims and their families from getting to mental health workers at Ground Zero. The American Red Cross issued statements denying any Scientologist’s claim of cooperation with them. [1] > > Scientology was also criticized for exploiting media coverage; Fox News publicized for two hours a toll-free “crisis hotline” number they had received in a press release before a caller alerted them that the hotline was not run by the National Mental Health Association, a noted non-profit, but by “National Mental Health Assistance”, a Scientology organization. In issuing a statement denying that the similarity of the two names was intended to create confusion, Scientology spokespeople referred to “NMHA” several times, meaning the National Mental Health Association and not their own organization by that acronym.[2] An official of the Association stated bluntly, “the Scientologists are using this tragedy to recruit new members.” [3] [4] > > In 2003 a Scientologist clinic, “Downtown Medical”, opened and claimed to specialize in treating people for toxins inhaled from the 9/11 smoke, drawing further criticism. In December 2005, Scientology celebrity spokesman Tom Cruise was severely criticized after urging NYC firefighters to abandon their medication and switch to the Scientology clinic’s Purification Rundown. [5] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September\_11,\_2001\_attack\_opportunists](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11,_2001_attack_opportunists) [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/911/catalog/2523.html](http://lcweb2.loc.gov/911/catalog/2523.html) > **[Operation Clambake present: Scientology at Ground Zero](https://www.xenu.net/archive/events/20010911-tragedy/)** > > Please consider supporting these organisations and individuals in their fight against the Cult of Scientology. [http://www.cultnews.com/archives/000619.html](http://www.cultnews.com/archives/000619.html) [http://www.hollywood.com/news/detail/id/3472160](http://www.hollywood.com/news/detail/id/3472160) [http://wasearch.loc.gov/sep11/20010920002934/http://www.lisamcpherson.org/cos-wtc.htm](http://wasearch.loc.gov/sep11/20010920002934/http://www.lisamcpherson.org/cos-wtc.htm) Thank you, Scientologists, for sneaking into ground zero, interfering with health professionals, and causing people to miss help they may otherwise need. Thank you for faking identification, taking medical equipment that might otherwise be used, such as oxygen tanks, to promote your own spurious goals. Thank you for attempting to convert people in the middle of a national tragedy. Oh, yes. Thank you very much, ghouls. And thank you for your current recruiting efforts. I see them weekly, you know, in Times Square Subway, or on 34th street, giving free E-Meter tests to people in the guise of stress tests. The yellow shirts are quite noticable. I do ask them if they know what they did, now and again. I ask them if that behavior was beyond acceptable. They always try to defend it. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cult-of-scientology-always-attack-never-defend/365579/58 "2006-07-23T17:20:24Z")
[QUOTE=Guinastasia] Asking the government to shut down the CoS is kind of like asking the government to shut down the Mafia-it’s not easy and near impossible. [/QUOTE] Like hell. Step 1: Wait for annual meeting of scientology’s top leaders. Step 2: Arm nuclear warhead. Step 3: Aim at Target. Step 4: Okay, you’re kidding, right? Step 5: Go to Disneyland to celebrate. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cult-of-scientology-always-attack-never-defend/365579/59 "2006-07-23T19:37:50Z")
Thank you E-Sabbath, and Derlith too, for the cites. What’s been posted here is but the tiniest fraction of the nastiness The Cult of $cientology has pulled. You (anyone interested) could start reading and come up gasping for air in a month (eyes bleeding and foam coming out your nose), and you still wouldn’t have made much of a dent in the harrassment campaigns, the dirty dealings (that sweet IRS deal, for instance), the lies, the corruption, the ruining of people’s lives. Just about the only thing they haven’t been accused of is child porn and cannabalism. That I know of, anyway. [QUOTE=E-Sabbath] Scientology. I need do very little more than look at their vile work during September 11th to know what regard I should have for this tumor on the body of humanity. [/QUOTE] Yeah, they pulled that shit with Katrina too. I was furious when that blonde bimbo that comes on after Kieth Olberman on MSNBC went all fawny and kiss-ass to Kirsty Alley and her orange-shirted zombie crew during prime-time. See, that’s another reason they love celebrities (besides their money and sucking in their fans), the ability to get on air and get publicity. You think Joe Blow $cieno could have gotten an interview? I love these threads. Constipated Mathematician has performed a valuable service by getting people to respond much better than I’m able. I just get mad. I’ve been an anti-$cieno since the early '70’s, and I still can’t control my temper at these scumbags. Other people give reasonable answers and cites. THANK YOU! ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cult-of-scientology-always-attack-never-defend/365579/60 "2006-07-23T19:55:33Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer] Like hell. Step 1: Wait for annual meeting of scientology’s top leaders. Step 2: Arm nuclear warhead. Step 3: Aim at Target. Step 4: Okay, you’re kidding, right? Step 5: Go to Disneyland to celebrate. [/QUOTE] Step 6: Watch $cieno executives smirk at yet another successful attempt to make critics look like dangerous loonballs. You’re kidding? Of course, but they’d have this kind of thing printed out and used in a random court case if they needed it. (Not that critics haven’t made themselves look like loonballs in the past, which is one reason I distanced myself from alt.relgion.scientology. The end never justifies the means. Ever.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cult-of-scientology-always-attack-never-defend/365579.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cult-of-scientology-always-attack-never-defend/365579.md?page=4)