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Tom Cruise's Wedding Cook Exposes Scientology's Scary Retention Practices
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MisterMustard
11/02/09

In reply to Tom Cruise's Wedding Cook Exposes Scientology's Scary Retention Practices
Nothing gets people to enslave themselves better then the promise of an afterlife filled with mystical wonders (72 virgins/heaven). The only requirement is that they spend their entire earthly life serving you and your needs, and they'll get their prize after they die. Brilliant for centuries. #scientology
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Perhaps Not
11/02/09

@MisterMustard: Yes, how silly of us not to all remember that every religion is alike. #scientology
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fauxscot
11/02/09

In reply to Tom Cruise's Wedding Cook Exposes Scientology's Scary Retention Practices
I live in a country where most folks can't find Mexico on a map, or accurately ballpark the population of the country. That's bad enough, and depressing.

I live 20 miles or so from where Joseph Smith, the 1800's equivalent of L. Ron Hubbard, was born. He invented his own fairy tale and profited (propheted?) nicely. I suspect that when LRH dreamed up COS, he used Mormonism as a model.

It absolutely amazes me, a citizen of the 21st century, that I live in a world where protection is given to adult fantasy and tax preference is handed out without question to such obvious frauds.

Thetans? Xenu? Volcanic atomic bombs? On second thought, it makes about as much sense as virgin birth, resurrection, miracles, communion, speaking in tongues. #scientology
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Island of Misfit Toys
11/02/09

In reply to Tom Cruise's Wedding Cook Exposes Scientology's Scary Retention Practices
I'm holding out hope that John Travolta will eventually walk away from these nuts. That event would blow them out of the water and I don't mind signing my real name to this comment...so bring on your investigations and intimidation tactics!

-MisterHippity (that's spelled with 2 p's) #scientology
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ArtfulSlinger
11/04/09

@Island of Misfit Toys: If it didn't happen after the death of his son, I don't think its happening. Maybe on his death bed or his autobiography at age 80, where he will finally come out, but not until then.

There's no point. Hes in it for too long to just walk away and if he defects, he'll have to come out and unleash so much of his personal baggage, it wont be worth it. #scientology
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maximillianchampion
11/02/09

In reply to Tom Cruise's Wedding Cook Exposes Scientology's Scary Retention Practices
Why hasn't law enforcement acted? I can think of a couple of reasons. One is because it sounds so far-fetched. Truly. And a second is that former Scientologists are so terrified (including of losing their eternity) that they don't go to law enforcement for help.

For example, see this Sheriff's Office report about Marc Headley's escape from the desert base of the CoS in 2004: [www.scribd.com]

Even though he was followed and assaulted by the security team trying to "recover" him, Headley didn't tell on them. Marc only discovered the existence of this report recently when researching for his book, "Blown For Good".
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PontiusPirate
11/02/09

In reply to Tom Cruise's Wedding Cook Exposes Scientology's Scary Retention Practices
Did the wedding chef serve flaming volcanoes? #scientology
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lobstr
11/02/09

In reply to Tom Cruise's Wedding Cook Exposes Scientology's Scary Retention Practices
all one must do is take a gander at a one Lisa McPherson -- the Scientology member who was found near Clearwater Florida in an empty row boat dead from hundreds of roach bites.. she was a dissenter of Co$ and was in a myriad of heated "talks" of them trying to rein her back in before this happened...

[www.lisamcpherson.org] #scientology
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Rosewater
11/01/09

In reply to Tom Cruise's Wedding Cook Exposes Scientology's Scary Retention Practices
Do people report these things to the FBI or anything? That seems like the appropriate entity maybe. #scientology
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Nancy001
11/01/09

In reply to Tom Cruise's Wedding Cook Exposes Scientology's Scary Retention Practices
They have crossed the lines numerous times, and I have written a no holds barred Memoir MY BILLION YEAR CONTRACT: Memoir of a Former Scientologists. It's my personal story but I worked with many celebrities, ran celebrity centres, worked as personal Aid to Hubbard, and was part of both their GO and RTC (newDM version) Intelligence operations, as well as other things. I have reached the Highest Levels of both their Administrative Training and Personal counseling (original OT7 - then back up through OT5. I am willing to be interviewed any time any place. People a literally dying.
Nancy@MyBillionYearContract.com
or just check out my website WWW.MYBILLIONYEARCONTRACT.COM
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JustCallMeMary
11/01/09

In reply to Tom Cruise's Wedding Cook Exposes Scientology's Scary Retention Practices
I'm reminded of the ABC investigative show on Scientology's harassment of it's enemies, including former staff and non members of the public considered enemies of the church. It's not just the Scientology Sea Org members who to leave having to endure this type of harassment.

Some one put together a video of clips from the multitude of media available on the harassment. It's a must see. #scientology
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adiam7
11/01/09

In reply to Tom Cruise's Wedding Cook Exposes Scientology's Scary Retention Practices
So in reading the link two things really bothered me:
Parman later cooked for celebrity parishioners who visited the church's base camp.He made chicken noodle soup the way Kirstie Alley's grandmother did, and the actor sent him flowers. John Travolta gave him a carton of Camels for his birthday. Cruise brought him a jacket from the set of Days of Thunder and would hand him Cuban cigars.

REALLY JOHN? I don't care what year this was. We are talking an American on American gift giving, not some Iron Curtain moment this sucks.

Before flying to the wedding, everybody drew names for a gift exchange. Wolff drew Cruise and got him a Hubbard novelette. It cost $50, a week's pay.

Once again, I could care less about the year. $50 a week's pay!!!! #scientology
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saa
11/01/09

In reply to Tom Cruise's Wedding Cook Exposes Scientology's Scary Retention Practices
I will be surprised if Scientology's next generation continues this kind of conduct. Kids these days are too lazy to go to that much trouble -- either to join such a demanding cult, or to keep it going.

Eventually they'll kill someone (again) and it will end their 'church' status. Too many people are watching now.

On the other hand, anyone joining Scientology today after all is known, kinda deserves what they get. #scientology
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Xinnix
11/01/09

@saa: There are lots of kids that have been born into the cult. Many have left (with no mainstream education, and limited real-world skills). In the LA Santa Monica area there is a group and web effort for the exscientologykids. Beck was born into the cult and so was Lisa Marie. Celebrity membership, OSA membership and public/consumer membership are very different experiences. #scientology
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adiam7
11/01/09

@Xinnix: I did not know Lisa Marie was born into it, I thought her mother converted. There are so many second generation ones in Hollywood it seems like a fast track program. It might have been a great way to promote the group if they did not have so many public fuck ups and of course the nasty, evil internet. I feel bad for the kids, but hopefully those who got out are able to reach them #scientology
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saa
11/01/09

@Xinnix: As you said, 'many have left'.

Regarding escapees, I'll change 'lazy' to 'wised up'.

I have read some of their stories. I think it's just a matter of time before the whole thing collapses under it's own decrepitness. (That is a word, I looked it up!) #scientology
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Bunsy
11/01/09

@adiam7: Lisa Marie (if we are talking about Presley) was not born into Scientology, her mother converted years later. There is NO WAY Elvis (as a good Southern boy) would have allowed such a thing.

However, Scientology helped Lisa Marie kick her nascent drug habit, so that is a good thing.

In the early 1960s, L. Ron Hubbard invited Elvis and the boys to a lecture, teaching. EP left after a few minutes, saying: "The god I worship don't ask for no money..." He thought the whole thing was a scam and wanted nothing to do with it. But interesting that early on, LRH recognized the importance of attracting celebs.

Also, I think it is pretty obvious that celebs are treated differently than civilians in Scientology... #scientology
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adiam7
11/02/09

@Bunsy: EP might have been high as a kite but he knew a scam when he saw one. It is obvious that celebs are treated differently, since they do not have to do a lot of the labor. On the other hand, they are or at least were a great recruiting tool. they have fallen fast, I mean it wasn't long ago that they were doing rally's on Capitol Hill and winning lawsuits left and right. #scientology
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JDavis3057
11/01/09

In reply to Tom Cruise's Wedding Cook Exposes Scientology's Scary Retention Practices
I've been a scientologist since 1971. I've seen people come and go in Scientology but in all that time I've never seen or heard anything like what Foster writes. This is pure fiction. By the way, I do not work for the Church. I'm a happy user.

John Davis
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adiam7
11/01/09

@JDavis3057 a real live one ! I have a few questions:
How much are those auditing classes?
Do you sign paperwork authorizing the reading of your mail?
Did you sign a billion year contract?
Have you been on that boat?
Can you associate with family members who have left the Church?
Did you buy the e-meter that is the holiday catalog? If yes, which color?
How much do you thin you have on Scientology related books and classes? #scientology
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BunnySkull
11/01/09

@adiam7: Don't get your hopes up for a response. The only real "Scienos" who are allowed to read media about $cientology are OSA agents. Any regular $cieno either already has software on their computer that blocks stories about $cientology or would immediately click off anything that could be a PTS. (Potential Trouble Source) The only genuine active $cienos you will meet online is a cross between PR flak & a Nazi spy - its their job to defend & deflect for the cult online and hunt down any leaks.
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Edited by BunnySkull at 11/01/09 7:55 PM BunnySkull was starred BunnySkull was unstarred

adiam7
11/01/09

@BunnySkull: . I hope you are happy with yourself, dashing my hopes and dreams. I knew the answers I would get would be BS, but I was going to counter with Paul's letter to the Corinthians, I mean to Tommie Davis. I can't believe there is such software but then again they do own earthlink. I remember the story about that kid that committed suicide at MIT that developed the earthlink software. The CEO and others went to jail and they were all Scientologist. Worst of all for them, the "Church" had to pay a lot of money back to the government. #scientology
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BunnySkull
11/01/09

@adiam7: Yes, it's known lovingly known as the "Scieno Sitter" among critics. The nanny software was helpfully installed on your computer when you popped in the CD to make your mandatory "scientology" homepage. They tried to make every scientologist do a boilerplate "I am a $cieno" webpage thinking it would fuck up search engines and make critic sites impossible to find. This is how fucking stupid they are. The internet was $cientology's Watergate.
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adiam7
11/01/09

@BunnySkull: I dont need them to get any smarter. #scientology
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entasser
11/01/09

In reply to Tom Cruise's Wedding Cook Exposes Scientology's Scary Retention Practices
This isn't as likely to come out, since it isn't a sexy story with celebs and defections and beatings, but Scientology group Applied Scholastics is contracted for tutoring in eleven states by the State Education Dept.
Scary indeed.
[www.studytech.org]
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pmarble
11/01/09

In reply to Tom Cruise's Wedding Cook Exposes Scientology's Scary Retention Practices
Kidnapping is certainly illegal, and the whole thing sounds like it could qualify as a criminal enterprise under RICO. #scientology
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Xinnix
11/01/09

@pmarble: Si and that's a prob in LA, HQ for law & order, because there are Scilons in charge of those depts, say, hypothetically, RICO and city attorney office. Their lawyers, experienced in REAL RATTY SHIT, for discussion. They have cops and sheriffs too and it's true. LA + San Ber/Riverside where their Hemet compound and implicit prison is. They OWN a lot of Hollywood and the kids and students suffer with a sqewed tax base where the biggest chunk of business is "C"oS.
Though some operations are now in Commerce (still LA County).
Colorful trial promised soon in Riverside when public critic Angry Gay Pope's pansy stomping comes up on the court's agenda. #scientology
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Adah
11/01/09

In reply to Tom Cruise's Wedding Cook Exposes Scientology's Scary Retention Practices
I still say those intimidation tactics pale when compared to the WMD-level guilt trip laid on you by a Catholic parent when they find out you didn't make it to church this Sunday. #scientology
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adiam7
11/01/09

@Adah: Is it so hard for you to make it to Latin service at least? What is that, 25 minutes, shake a hand and roll out #scientology
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Adah
11/01/09

@adiam7: Halloween was on a Saturday, for Pete's sake. I was sleeping off an epic hangover. #scientology
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