Mark Lansing wrote:I have a hard time accepting much of the Old or New Testament at face value, but I think you can still read it as metaphor or fables and get something out of it (maybe a lot of Christians are assholes, but Jesus's teachings by themselves are reasonable and worthy). No matter how you look at Hubbard's stuff, though, the guy was simply a bullshit artist who preyed on the wealthy and stupid, with his followers keeping up that tradition today.

I think Christians and Scientologists are fundamentally as stupid as each other. Subscribing to Scientology seems more wilfully dumb on the face of it, because a lot of Christians are so because of family tradition and the weight of the wider historical culture beefing up the system.

But when you get down to it they're both exactly as stupid as each other.

Mark Lansing wrote:I have a hard time accepting much of the Old or New Testament at face value, but I think you can still read it as metaphor or fables and get something out of it (maybe a lot of Christians are assholes, but Jesus's teachings by themselves are reasonable and worthy).

Shows what you know. Hubbard sets you RIGHT 'bout JC:

For those of you whose Christian toes I may have stepped on, let me take the opportunity to disabuse you of some lovely myths. For instance, the historic Jesus was not nearly the sainted figure has been made out to be. In addition to being a lover of young boys and men, he was given to uncontrollable bursts of temper and hatred that belied the general message of love, understanding and other typical Marcab PR.

HA HA HA! "[A] lover of young boys and men"! Awesome!

I can't get enough of this guy. Really, he's tops. Plus, he'll miss you:

By the time you read this I will no longer be occupying the body and identity that you have known as Ron.

"[A]s Ron." Ron. Doesn't that goodbye call for a name with a bit more gravitas? Like Billy? or Chet?

I will soon leave this world only to return and complete my mission with another identity. Although I long to stretch my arms back in repose on some distant star in some distant galaxy, it appears that is one dream that will have to wait.
...
The rundown follows. Again I say, do it thoroughly and completely, for it is your ticket to the stars. And beyond!

And beyond. And beyond, indeed.

I can no longer hold back the tears and stomach quakes of hilarity. Thanks for the gillion chuckles, L. Ron! You batshit crazy Thetan-Diver!

http://www.xs4all.nl/~kspaink/fishman/ot8b.html





Edit: You can find lots of fun information here: http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Secrets/index.html

run joe, run wrote:But when you get down to it they're both exactly as stupid as each other.

Virgin Birth

vs.

Alien Overlords killing their fellow beings and trapping their energy-thingies ("thetans"), then freezing the energy-thingies in a frozen gaseous mixture, sending that to Earth (note: NOT its real name), putting those energy-thingies in volcanoes, blowing THOSE up with H-bombs, then using some electrical ribbon (totally analog, natch) to trap whatever the fuck remained after the whole killing THEN freezing THEN transporting to Earth THEN blowing up with atomic weapons thing, THEN "implanting" a bunch of these energy-thingies in each of us.

But I mean, whatever.

bumble wrote:Edit: You can find lots of fun information here: http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Secrets/index.html

Cheers, Bumble. This link has loads of hilarious info.



Check out: Secrets of the E-meter



Can any you electronics buffs tell us what this circuit is?

I don't need to know the history of psychiatry to realize that Dianetics is the biggest load of crap ever penned.

Wait, maybe it's not... hold on while I hook my brain up to my tube amp.

ironyengine wrote:

Rimbaud III wrote:Those garages are quite obviously too small for those planes. Stupid celebrities.

Where do you suppose their runway is?

And why in the hell do you need TWO? Is there ever going to be an instance when one of those planes is not enough?

the runway is on his property. that's his joint in florida, right? the reason he needs two planes is because one of them, the huge one, is a FUCKING 707!!! it's illegal to fly that plane in the US, because of noise restrictions. so guess what happens? he flies it anyways, and just pays the fines.

http://www.google.com/search?biw=1445&hl=en&q=N707JT

so it makes perfect sense for him to have the smaller bizjet. which he can fly all over the place without problem.

the 707 is flown quite rarely. the bizjet, i'm not sure about, but i'd guess he flies it plenty.

wow... the aviation photo link (in the link) in my previous post, has all kinda pictures and indicates that his plane is being flown all over the place, all the time... weird. that's very different from the info i had seen previously... interesting...

Cranius wrote:Cheers, Bumble. This link has loads of hilarious info.

like this!

bumble wrote:

run joe, run wrote:But when you get down to it they're both exactly as stupid as each other.

Virgin Birth

vs.

Alien Overlords killing their fellow beings and trapping their energy-thingies ("thetans"), then freezing the energy-thingies in a frozen gaseous mixture, sending that to Earth (note: NOT its real name), putting those energy-thingies in volcanoes, blowing THOSE up with H-bombs, then using some electrical ribbon (totally analog, natch) to trap whatever the fuck remained after the whole killing THEN freezing THEN transporting to Earth THEN blowing up with atomic weapons thing, THEN "implanting" a bunch of these energy-thingies in each of us.

But I mean, whatever.

Add to the virgin birth the removal of dinosaurs from the history of the planet, the earth being created in seven days, Noah doing that boat stunt, a bloke coming back from the fucking dead after walking on water and feeding lots of people with magic food, the sea getting parted and all other high flown tales of fantasy, and "heaven" to boot, and you got yourself a deal.

But this was not my point. A Christian and a Scientologist both bypass logic, reason, and common sense in favour of a man made myth which dehumanises them. They both support the abusive power structure of organised religion. They both support the idea of believing in something for which there is at best no proof, at worst damning evidence of what a comical sham their chosen system is. In doing so they both contribute to making the world a more stupid, fucked up and dangerous place than it needs to be.

They are both exactly as stupid as each other, when you get down to it.

But yeah, whatever.

Scientology = super crap.

L. Ron Hubbard is the fucking worst science fiction writer I've ever read.

(I was in a bookstore and bored.)

Crap.