Director Publicly Quits Church of Scientology Over Their Support For Calif's Prop 8
Yeah, it's a Hollywood mixed with Scientology story, which I normally avoid like the plague, but director Paul Haggis's very public and damning resignation from the Church of Scientology because he couldn't reconcile his belief in the fundamental unfairness of banning gay marriage and his church's support for it is definitely worth a read:
In what may prove to be an earth-shaking rupture for the organization, Oscar-winning writer and director Paul Haggis has broken publicly with the Church of Scientology, the Hollywood-centric religion that has recently come under renewed scrutiny for its political positions.
In a scathing letter to the church's celebrity contact, Tommy Davis, Haggis accused the church of hypocrisy and lies, especially regarding its decision to support the anti-gay-marriage proposition on the California ballot last year, Proposition 8.
"I told you I could not, in good conscience, be a member of an organization where gay-bashing was tolerated," Haggis wrote, referring to support for Prop. 8 in the church's San Diego branch. "You promised action. Ten months passed. No action was forthcoming."
He added: "The church's refusal to denounce the actions of these bigots, hypocrites and homophobes is cowardly. I can think of no other word. Silence is consent, Tommy. I refuse to consent."
The church has officially denied that it supported Proposition 8, however, Haggis felt that the denial was weak at best, and not the only troubling thing about Scientology:
He accused Davis of lying in a CNN interview about church policy regarding the requirement that members distance themselves from any family members who oppose Scientology.
"I saw you deny the church's policy of disconnection," he said. "I was shocked. We all know this policy exists."
Haggis said his own wife "was ordered" to break relations with her parents because of the policy, "because of something absolutely trivial they supposedly did 25 years ago when they resigned from the church. ... For a year and a half, despite her protestations, my wife did not speak to her parents, and they had limited access to their grandchild. It was a terrible time.
"To see you lie so easily, I am afraid I had to ask myself: What else are you lying about?" Haggis wrote.
Haggis's letter is available here. In it, Haggis acknowledges that the hardball tactics the Church of Scientology employs to smear those who have left the fold will be used on him as well. The Church of Scientology isn't having the best of weeks, either. They were convicted in France of fraud and the country just stopped short of banning the church altogether.
like every other religion.... brainwashing.
Haggis and his wife, finally had enough!
They will be better off.
When are some big name types going to publicly leave that other big crazy cult - the Catholic Church?
The Catholic Church is bland, uninteresting, and relatively harmless when compared to Scientology or your standard "Christian."
I think the (who really knows how many, could be millions) of molested children throughout the centuries, by pedophillic priests, might have a different opinion on that.
And what, exactly, is a "standard" Christian? I've known (some loved, some not) many Christians, and I've yet to discover a "standard." I'd really like to know what it is.
There is no such thing as a "standard" Christian. Such an expression shows that the speaker has accepted the right-wing fundie takeover of the word. They are no more "standard" or "real" Christians than are Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Lutherans, Methodists, Coptics, or for that matter, Gnostic Christians, and using the word as if they were only validates their lie.
There's always free cheddar in the mousetrap, baby. - Tom Waits
I wonder if L Ron ever had a chance to speak with the guy who started the bigfoot hoax? They got it all over bubble boy.
I live not far from Willow Creek, CA., Bigfoot Country.
Tell the CHP and the Sheriff's Dept. that Bigfoot's a 'hoax'.
http://www.willowcreekchamber.com/about-willo...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5a9ge8LKb4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ_g-uqc580
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMvqPffzDMQ
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Apparently they consider it a sect and not a church. Scientology would like to be a church, of course.
I maintain that the word "sect" is a mistranslation, since Scientology is not a sect of anything. The Methodists are a sect of Christianity, just as Sunni is a sect of Islam. Since there is no original religion of which Scientology can be a sect, the word doesn't apply. The correct word in English is "cult."
There's always free cheddar in the mousetrap, baby. - Tom Waits
I believe the phrase 'organized criminal enterprise' is a better description than either.
Why include this cult story on your fine site??
http://www.subgenius.com/pam1/pamphlet_p1.html
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Crooks and Liars. I would say that the Church of Scientology is both. Would you not agree?
Well it's certainly oxymoronic.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Because Scientology is a corporation of crooks and liars. See the title on the masthead?
There's always free cheddar in the mousetrap, baby. - Tom Waits
Including video interviews with former members.
http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2009/reports...
Hubbard created something called "Fair Game" policy stating that church enemies may "be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist without any discipline of the Scientologist. May be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed."
The gov't could begin by revoking (again!) its tax exempt status. Imagine the teabagers reaction to that!
Isn't it in the Koran that infidels are not due the same treatment as the faithful? They can be lied to, stolen from, murdered, etc., and Allah will be ok with that?
Jehovah's Witnesses are the same. Jim Jones did the same thing. So did David Koresh.
I'm not sure why Scientology is even considered a religion....
In fact - this is pretty much standard practice cult behavior, isn't it? First convince people you have the Only Truth, then abuse that truth and do whatever you want to anyone, and blame God - or the aliens.
Scientology is based on a book of fiction. So is every other religion. I see no problem there. I only see a problem when those books are treated as nonfiction and the groups get tax exempt status in any nation.
regarding the koran and the traditions of the prophet, you couldnt be further from the truth.
The Koran says nothing of the sort. You've been listening to agendas.
There's always free cheddar in the mousetrap, baby. - Tom Waits
in a remake of the Guyana Tragedy? Powers Booth was fucking AMAZING in that but i think tom could top it. i really do. because dude would not really be acting.
"I could not, in good conscience, be a member of an organization where gay-bashing was tolerated"
ANOTHER simple truth!
Good for those watching and listening.
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
The real question is what took so long to bail out?
He could only find one reason to quit Scientology?
It would be wise to not lay any laurel wreaths at this guys feet......he is still part of the problem.
'We, the People'............rimshot................hahahahahaha!
Tom Cruise is a member. Anyone who has to jump on a couch on national television while professing his love for a female as some deep seaded homosexual tendencies in my book.
Does Scientology profess to "cure" people of homosexuality? That could explain a lot, Celebrity-Center-wise.
Scientology, where people who've already made it go to be convinced that they deserved to.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
the 'Tologists own lots of property in Hollywood and have recruiters on the street roping in young kids trying to make it in Hwood and they listen to the 'Tologists because they think if they join it will open doors to success like Cruise and Travolta.
It's just evil
You're sadly mistaken, and you've been fooled by the Scientology PR machine. The vast majority of the people who've been sucked into that cult are neither rich nor famous. They're plain ol' folks who've been duped into giving up their lives to a mind-sucking vampire ideology. They have to give up their families (if they can't get them to join), their friends (ditto), their livelihoods, their minds. There's nothing glamorous about being a Scientologist, dude.
I live a few blocks from the headquarters (NOT the Celebrity Center), and I see these people all the time. They're absolutely run-of-the-mill folks. You or I could be one of them - all it takes to get pulled into something like this is one weakness exposed within their sight, one thing they can hook into, and they can reel you in like a fish on a line. I've seen it happen, and it ain't pretty.
There's always free cheddar in the mousetrap, baby. - Tom Waits
They should hire Dana Perrino as their spokesperson, if she can get some time off from running the "Pirates of Wall Street" ride at Disney World.
While she's not going back in her time pod to do her 1940's gig as Tokyo Rose.
as our very own Baghdad Bob - Baghdad Barbie!
Really, though, I can't watch her without thinking of "The Boys From Brazil". If we found out tomorrow that she was some Aryan clone experiment placed in the upper echelons of the most powerful government in the world - I'm not sure how surprised I would be.
Here's a conspiracy theory to go with morning coffee: Bush's grandpa supported Hitler, Karl Rove's grandfather allegedly helped run the Nazi Party, and helped build the Birkenau Death Camp, Dana looks like she was lifted straight off of a Nazi propaganda poster, and when she speaks, it's always propaganda.
Just sayin'.....
Fembots - a la Austin Powers. Think about it: Dana Perino, Laura Ingrham, Ann Coulter, Betsy McCoughy, that Tracy chick on Fox, Mika Whatever-her-name-is. Fembots all. Watch out for the machine guns.
L.Ron Hubbard -- A Science fiction author-
A message from Xenu /Galactic Confederacy… -we have come to take your money.
Do not resist-we have populated the planet with 747 type spaceships and hydrogen bombs.
LOL
LuLu
What really goes on in The Church of Scientology?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLcRPBlcSSw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGuIioHhLMs
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
I'll make it easy on you, Paul: They're lying about everything.
That said, it sure sounds like somebody's engrams are going to need some readjusting
it is not a religion, it is a cult. you can't have a church or a religion that is founded a few years ago by a bad science fiction writer.
Religions = cults. Even intelligent theists will tell you that. But honestly, just because scientology was 'founded' more recently, doesn't mean religions founded in the bronze age deserts of the Middle East are any more genuine.
Romans didn't consider Xianity to be a religion, because it was too new.
And it glorified an executed criminal they had no record of.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
They considered Christians to be the atheists because they didn't believe in the Roman gods.
Unfortunately for them, time doesn't make silly fairy tales any less silly.
Looks like you need this more than me:
http://www.candywrappermuseum.com/03_classics...
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
They actually called the Christians "atheists" because they denied the power of the gods. That's where the word comes from. Just like the claims that Jews ate babies, and that so-called "witches" copulated with demons, the term "atheist" was something that was originally said about the Christians. They've always been masters of co-opting other people's ideas. Hell, half their religion consists of stuff they stole from other faiths. It's how they managed to take over the world the way they have. They're anything but original.
There's always free cheddar in the mousetrap, baby. - Tom Waits
A matter of real estate.
Mor(m)on church founded a few decades ago by a guy named Joe Smith, who had a tendency to tell whoppers.
Xian church founded a couple millenia ago by folks who "had visions."
They're ALL delusional.
Christianity was founded by committee...
The main format was decided in a series of board meetings and administered by an ancient version of a corporation. No wonder America puts it at the top of the food chain as far as worldviews go.
There's always free cheddar in the mousetrap, baby. - Tom Waits
Whack-job cults whose sole reason for existence is to bilk people of their money and control those people have way more rights than gays in this country. And most of those cults don't even pay taxes regardless of how involved they are in politics.
there's probably going to be more hacks and protests. anonymous doesn't forgive, anonymous doesn't forget, bla bla bla .. good riddance. this church isn't a church its an evil cult.
http://richarddawkins.net/article,3931,Sapols...
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
"Church" of Scientology? Really now.
.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
considering the state of our economy, taxing the real estate of this so-called "Church" and all others would go a long way toward paying down our national debt....!!
project always says, "republicanism is a mental illness."
I think we can expand that to include Religion....
"Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of Stupidity" - Frank Leahy
I still don't understand why churches and religions are tax-exempt. How is expecting an organization that takes in money to pay taxes in any way infringing on their right to operate? Everybody else is expected to find a way to pay their taxes and stay open at the same time. Why do churches get a free ride?
There's always free cheddar in the mousetrap, baby. - Tom Waits
Why would you grace them with the moniker of church, when they are nothing more than a business designed to shake down true idiots. I am sorry, but I remember dear Mary Ellen Walton on the set trying to get people into her new meat cult of scientology in the 70's. She was told to stop it or they would find a replacement. They told her to keep the crap off the set and leave others alone.
Now it's a church according to some, and you give them meat cult status by continuing such a farce. It is no more a church than any of the other idiotic businesses that steal from the infirm.
It was started by a pedophile and pervert and it is inhabited by such. Let's try to remind people what bullshit is. You can start with the smell.
who've dubbed themselves a "church." Nobody GAVE them that title; they took it themselves. That's all you have to do in this country.
There's always free cheddar in the mousetrap, baby. - Tom Waits
Just like with Republicans, it is best to stay away if you know a Scientologist.
I cannot remember whether it was National Lampoon or Spy, but I remeber the "church" being described as:
"For the price of a new Buick you will get your astral windshield cleaned and a spiritual valve job."
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
It wasn't their "space aliens created evil" theories, it wasn't the fact that $cientology is a $hakedown racket preying on uneducated magical-thinkers. They had to go to homophobia (something personal) before he'd question things and leave.
Ugh, people are so frickin stupid.
…but I do hear laughter, and it’s coming from L. Ron’s grave. It’s not a religion, a cult or a club. It’s a game, and the only way to win is to level up.
He did it for the money, he said so himself, and anyone who believes differently has been taken in by a hustler.
There's always free cheddar in the mousetrap, baby. - Tom Waits
I love reading the comments of people ridiculing Scientology while being followers of all the other nutty, divisive, fairy-tale religions out there. I include myself, a faithful and dedicated member of the Church of the Rings Lord...all honor to Gandalf.
Frodo is the only true messiah to rule them all...
Repent!
Frodo is the only true messiah
And Samwise is his messenger!
There's always free cheddar in the mousetrap, baby. - Tom Waits
You call yourself a follower of the Ring Lord and yet you invoke the name of that Maian ponce GANDALF??
Olorin is the enemy! SAURON IS THE ONLY LORD OF THE RINGS!!!
(Get your references straight if you wanna go up against the geeks, Sparky.)
There's always free cheddar in the mousetrap, baby. - Tom Waits
Impressive, most impressive. ;)
...James Packer, Quietly Sneaks Out Of Cult
Snip - James Packer, a close friend of Tom Cruise, was recruited into the organization during a vulnerable time in his life. Recently divorced from his first wife, humbled by some bad financial deals in his family’s multi-million dollar media company, Packer was ripe for the Cruise picking, but like any decent mogul, Packer and his money have seen the light.
Study the symptoms not the virus...
This is almost enough to forgive Haggis for "Crash". Almost.
Paul has the tiger by the tail and not tooth.
You think you know who you are. You have no idea.
If any group ever asks you to break ties with your mother and father because they left the group...
THEY'RE A CULT!!!
Jesus, Jehovah and Xenu, didn't your mother and father ever warn you about cults?
Luke 14:26 (King James Version)
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Plain and simple.
NOBODY 2012
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