Carter

• M
• United Kingdom

Hi fellow Sodaheads!
I'm Carter. I enjoy a good reasonable debate, am not easily offended and am happy to respond to any questions you might ask of me. I am a committed and active Christian, converting as an adult years ago after many years of ardent atheism. If you have any questions about the Christian faith, want to hear how a Christian would respond to difficult or controversial questions, or even want to try and convert me to some other faith (or lack of it) then feel free to ask away.

I originally came on Sodahead when a friend alerted me to some of the posts made here by members of the 'church of scientology'. Having studied this organisation in great detail I was eager to correct some of the false and misleading information about this secretive group.

I believe in freedom of religious belief, but not in freedom of action. Though the beliefs of scientology make little sense to me, I support any human being's right to follow them should they choose. I oppose the well documented crimes of members of the CoS, as well as the lies put out by its members as to their actual beliefs.

- Scientologists publicly deny the "Xenu" story (use google or search on wikipedia for more information) and accuse anyone of making this story available publicly of being liars. The Xenu story only becomes available after rising to (and paying a LOT of money for) the 'upper levels' of scientology. Every high level scientologist who spoke out after leaving the organisation over decades has told exactly the same story. A representative of the CoS admitted the the Xenu story is part of the copyrighted beliefs of scientology in a court of law (google 'Fishman affidavit' for more info). If they lie about this what else do they lie about?

- Scientologists deny that there is what sounds like weird UFO sci-fi in their religious beliefs (See wikipedia 'space opera in scientology scripture'). Documents and recordings of the founder, L Ron Hubbard lecturing on these beliefs are easily found on the internet. Official scientology books "History of Man" and "Have you lived before this life?" reveal some details about their beliefs in alien civilisations, ray guns, invader forces etc. If they lie about this what else do they lie about?

- Scientology claims to be the 'fastest growing religion on the planet', having about 20 million members and claims to have its techniques used by numerous governments in combatting crime, drugs and illiteracy. BUT religious survey information suggests a significant decrease in the number of scientologists, now numbering less than those who claim to be "Jedi" on their census form. The only documents claiming scientology success are from official scientology sources, press release websites (send them any document and a small fee and they'll publish it), scientology front groups and a few websites that claim to be independent but are run by scientologists (like scientologymyths.info) and only give official scientology spin. If every claim made by scientology management at scientology events were true then they would have already taken over the world by now. If they lie about this what else do they lie about?

- The scientology "Fair Game" policy declares any scientologist can "attack, sue, lie to or destroy" any critic of scientology. They claim that the policy was cancelled but the scientology policy letter supposedly cancelling "Fair Game" only cancels documenting any fair game action, it even specifically states that it doesn't change anything about handling critics. Google "Fair game" to read (and view on Youtube) active scientologists harassing critics up to present day. Scientologists also attempt to handle criticism by a process they call "dead-agent"ing. This means don't respond rationally to the criticism, but go on the attack and accuse the critic of anything that will deflect attention away from the criticism. Look on almost any scientology related poll on Sodahead and you'll usually find the same four or five sodahead profiles (that were created around the same time, all logon around the same time, say pretty much the same things and post huge pictures to push negative posts down the page... a little suspicious if you ask me), accusing any critic of being a "bigot" a "terrorist", "racist", "nazi" etc. The best attempt at 'evidence' they get from this is a couple of links to weirdos posting on blogs and forums of individuals making racist or threatening remarks while criticising scientology. This would be like saying all musicians are drug addicts because I can show you two references to drug using musicians. Scientologists lie about their critics to deflect attention away from them. If they lie about this what else are they lying about?

Any questions? Feel free to ask.
Thinking of joining the CoS? That's your choice, but please do your research before you do. Look at both sides and make your own mind up, Then ask yourself why scientologists will never ask you to do the same.