I meant a member with a profile as high as Cruise’s. Travolta’s not as high as Cruise, profile-wise, in any way, shape or form, and of course neither are Alley, Presely, or Elfman.
As a Catholic, can the Church of Scientology help with my lysdexia? I really need help.
An aside: Tom Cruise, Babs Streisand, Danny Glover, Alec Baldwin, et.al., SHUT UP!
Why are these people who fake a persona for a living given such credence to everyday living?!?
Are they better than you? Form your own opinion.
Sorry common sense had to enter the debate.
I don’t know if I could base my religious beliefs on the theory of a sci fi writer. But then, these are people who are convinced that the man (dead for the past 15 years or so) cranks out a new version of “Dianetics” every year, too.
I thought Kirstie Alley left the CoS.
I’ve loathed Scientology since they killed anon.penet.fi
I would call that person an ass.
I understand that you probably don’t mean to portray your example in that simple of a light (for brevity’s sake, though, I can see why you did), but even so, if a person readily joined a religion just because his friends seem to be having a good time is an idiotic choice to make.
This isn’t a brand of salad dressing you waffle over, this is a religion you’re choosing; you research it, find out its followers’ tenets, beliefs, history (both recent and far past), people involved, etc… and then, after you’re informed, you make a decision. It’s all about accountability. And being responsible for your soul, spirit or voodoo rimjob (whatever you believe we’re full of) and however you may live your life after this decision is made, is a lot more important than trying Paul Newman’s lettuce sauce instead of your usual bottle of Hidden Valley simply because your friends claim they had a bang-up salad the night before.
And that goes for readily jumping into any religion (or cult) before finding out the facts.
Now, if that person joins up, finds out about the aliens, murders, nutjob founder, nutjob people in charge, history of harassment, etc… and still doesn’t leave?
Yeah. He’s an even bigger ass.
Am I judgemental, as you mentioned? Sure. But judging people by their actions ain’t always a bad thing; in fact, this whole H-U-G-E hijack of Shirley Ujest’s OP, started by my first post, is about whether the judgment is a correct one. There are many posters on the SDMB who clearly follow what they interpret to be as the “Thou Shalt Not Judge” command. Which is fine, I think, because it seems to work for them; but I’m not a subscriber to their beliefs, nor do I necessarily feel that command (if they do have the correct interpretation) is a good one to follow. At the very least not in cases such as this one involving Scientology.
Am I mean? Depends on who’s asking; however, I’d rather be labeled “mean” in this one instance of judgment than to realize, later on, how foolish I’d been by jumping into a religion for ephemeral, dubious reasons. Especially a religion in which you’ll be finding yourself bilked out of thousands of dollars; being blackmailed; being coerced; believing in alien warlord origins; and following L. Ron Hubbard’s faux-philosophical and religious drivel.
Yeah. Mean’s a whole lot better.
I think the bigger question is this: If Tom Cruise is indeed an ass, whose ass is he?
Is he the Robery Morley ass, or perhaps the svelte Pauly Shore ass? Or is he the toned Jake Steinfeld ass?
Nah. He’s more of a Francis.
Skip , religions are filled with people who want to believe. It’s a comfort level thing, I guess. These people just want to believe something a little…different. I guess.
Many people have signed their lives away (literally) for their religious beliefs. It never fails to amaze me. A co-worker of mine (not missing, thanks,) is getting married to a man who is greek orthodox. His father gave his entire fortune, which I understand was sizeable, to the church in his will. Because the priest told him God wanted him to help everyone find their way to him. ::shakes head::
It’s not that they believe, Maureen, it’s what they believe which makes them asses.
Oh, and I’m glad your co-worker isn’t missing. Hell, if he was and you posted about it, we’d NEVAH get anything done around here. 
It was more the fact that they are so boastful about the fact that they support their own programs and yet feel totally fine about asking permission to suckle the government teat that I was pointing out.
I loathed them before that, but damn, I’m glad someone else remembers that. For a while, I’d mention it and people would just look at me funny. Was beginning to wonder if it was all something I mis-remembered.
Thanks dantheman! 
I’d like to know more about this. Maybe you or Mockingbird could clue me in? I’d appreciate it.
Allright, thanks anyway. 
So that’s what happened to anon.penet.fi? I can see it happening… did they abuse it to death or just sue them? I went away from the net for one “summer” and it was gone when I got back.
E-Sabbath and cuauhtemoc,
Check out this site; I’m not sure about the veracity of the info given, but it does give you an idea of what went on.
Have fun!
Thanks, SkipMagic.
Wow.
My most successful pit thread to date.
I’ve been so busy reading Harry Potter that I thought this thing died and sank to the bottom like Jimmy Hoffa.
Thanks Guys, I feel like I am an actual Pitizen, except I contribute nothing of merit. I feel so cheap, yet so satisfied at the same time.
HEY!
I want an “assist” on my record. After all, I was the one wielding the original “generalization” brush.