Watching tonight's episode. I have a 2 year old grandson. My son and baby momma have broke up. All I can think about is seeing him less and it terrifies me. How can folks ignore their grandchildren?

We need to train canine double agents to infiltrate the homes of Scientologists and to encourage them to leave.

Tonight was the best/worst episode of the series so far. It did a really good job of showing how insane the church is and unfortunately it took the death of that guys brother to illustrate how far they are willing to go.

The only thing I can hope and pray for is that this opens the eyes of the authorities and the IRS to do something about Scientology. That's the most frustrating thing to me, is that there is so much testimony and nobody has done a thorough investigation, undercover or otherwise, so really nail these. *******s.

I know it's way more complicated than that, but how can you not get a witness who is teetering on leaving to be a confidential informant from the inside.

TresPuertas said:

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Tonight was the best/worst episode of the series so far. It did a really good job of showing how insane the church is and unfortunately it took the death of that guys brother to illustrate how far they are willing to go.

The only thing I can hope and pray for is that this opens the eyes of the authorities and the IRS to do something about Scientology. That's the most frustrating thing to me, is that there is so much testimony and nobody has done a thorough investigation, undercover or otherwise, so really nail these. *******s.

I know it's way more complicated than that, but how can you not get a witness who is teetering on leaving to be a confidential informant from the inside.

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Seems like Miscavige would try his hardest to get people into the FBI and the IRS. Dude may not be formally educated but he aint stupid.

mazzag said:

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But the folks he'd try to get into the FBI or IRS would have to be educated. Scientology and actual education aren't compatible. That's what I don't understand. How do these people make a living once they leave? What's on their resumes? Sea Org from the time your 10-27? Top auditor of the year?

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I said the exact same thing to my wife.

Most of the people they've visited live in nice houses. How?

They leave with the clothes on their back, dont have formal education, and have nothing on their resume's but 'Scientology Sea Org'. How do they get their feet on the ground, much less carve out a nice career for themselves?...especially when they don't really know how the real world outside of the compound works (ie. job hunting, interviewing, etc).

The insanity of this thing now almost pales in comparison with what Hubbard was thinking when he dreamt Scientology up. Holy smokes.

Agreed, last night's show was tough to watch. My mom has an identical twin sister. The thought of them distancing themselves from each other over ANYTHING is beyond comprehension.

I found an article about the guy last night and his family. If I recall he has started his own company that researches investments for companies to check potential fraud and has been very successful. Basically all of the training and education he received from this was during his time in Scientology and he does his best to not make that well known. His twin died in a drunk driving crash and the publisher had done an article on him a few years earlier but didn't make the connection they were brothers until they were in the interview process.

http://tonyortega.org/2014/04/18/the-rising-business-star-his-mother-and-scientologys-attempt-to-rip-them-apart/

There are also some that live in shoddy apartments. The older dude is one. I mean, these people have no 401K or even education and the church pays them like $50/week.

How does anyone over the age of 18 get sucked into this stuff?

This show is fascinating. It's just amazing that these people turn their life, money and time to this bizarre "religion". Fortunately I think this show helps shed a lot of light on the issues. Seeing kids indoctrinated at such a young age is so sad.

I'm wondering why they don't go after all these B list celebs who are in it and have a little more "freedom" when they are out on locations. It just seems so odd to matter of factly turn in your own brother or other family member and hear these people admit now how "easy' it was. All that indoctrination early on and separation of families really is effective.

So, the bulk of their people are providing work (sounds like damn near 100+ hour work weeks) for food and shelter? Are the celebs / rich people the ones fully funding the operation? Are they taking advantage of government benefits somehow like Mormom fundamentalists do?

It's all the average Joe's funding it. The hours holding the cans are $800ish per hour, they're required to attend the events, they're required to continually buy books/videos that cost thousands (not just for themselves but to give away to other and to the library, etc). All the workshops, etc.

They were 1 billion in the hole with taxes, in 1992. Think about how much $$ that means they take in.

Like Mike Rinder mentioned, that's why they own so many properties, and have such lavish places...they are a non-profit organization, so they have to put their money somewhere.

I guess I didn't understand how folks make $ to purchase all of their crap, but I suppose that's just the people in the specialty groups who are essentially providing slave labor to the org. Others work normal jobs and plow all of their money into Scientology. I am not all the way through this - just about 5 episodes into it.

CJS4715 said:

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Are they taking advantage of government benefits somehow like Mormom fundamentalists do?

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I wondered this too. Also, if you've worked for them for 15+ years and only made $25k in that span, can you file with the state workforce once you leave?

They have to be using some kind of exception that deems them as volunteers for a majority of their time spent working.

Quote:

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I guess I didn't understand how folks make $ to purchase all of their crap, but I suppose that's just the people in the specialty groups who are essentially providing slave labor to the org. Others work normal jobs and plow all of their money into Scientology. I am not all the way through this - just about 5 episodes into it.

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For those in the organization, that's a good question. Though they discuss a 'freeloader' fee, if you try to leave...so I guess they keep a running tab.

How many episodes are left?

There's just one more episode to air this season. 7 total.

AgGrad99 said:

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Quote:

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I guess I didn't understand how folks make $ to purchase all of their crap, but I suppose that's just the people in the specialty groups who are essentially providing slave labor to the org. Others work normal jobs and plow all of their money into Scientology. I am not all the way through this - just about 5 episodes into it.

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For those in the organization, that's a good question. Though they discuss a 'freeloader' fee, if you try to leave...so I guess they keep a running tab.

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that was my understanding of it. they mentioned that some peoples fees after leaving could be into the 100s of thousands so i assumed that goes for sea org and other members who are making $5 a day. its considered an ecclesiastical matter though and isnt enforced through litigation.

One of the episodes talked about how they train people to use credit cards to buy more books and classes. Insane.

Big Al 1992 said:

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One of the episodes talked about how they train people to use credit cards to buy more books and classes. Insane.

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Even take out their 401K, borrow against their mortgage, etc...

20/20 tonight about scientology. the church (their attorney) finally responds to leah in an interview.

YESSSS.

The lawyer has a really sweaty/greasy face. I hate that.

Wifey said she was sitting under a pretty big light that they showed when she sat down. I figured if she is a top notch cult lawyer, she would have told them no way jose, back that light off. What got me was the non-stop machine gun blinking and looking all over the place when talking. If that's one of the best they got, then they surely do win with massive numbers. Didn't seem polished at all like I expected.

Plus I thought Rinder's daughter said something like him not really being a father figure in her brief quote.

Well hell woman, they separate parents and kids as much as possible and work them 15 hours a day, what do you expect? That Miscavage turd has really got the system figured out for now.

Not gonna lie...Miscavige's niece ain't bad.

The tone of the 20/20 episode was interesting. It seemed like it was tilted slightly towards the church. They were going so far out of their way to be unbiased that it almost seemed supportive

Solid episode. Hope to see more from them in the future. Next week is Ask Me Anything part 2 so that should be fun.

aTmAg said:

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While we are at it:

Avatar is crappy movie

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Agree

Skip ahead to 7:00 mark. Classic.