Re: The old days - Aboard the Apollo - 1973
I will be posting in my blog about the xenu v. Christ and also doing philosophical exegesis of why Dianetics/Scientology is a crude philosophy.
I really like what you have written here Gizmo. I'd do the sort of comparison you suggest myself, if I can pull it off, but not sure if it would fit the thread to do so. We will see what happens.
I think part of the problem is that the topic is so broad and it's easy to fall into abstractions. For example, if I was to compare Christianity to Scn, it would too huge for one post. So I'd have to start with smaller topics. A list could be the afterlife, our ethical being, what a soul is, what cause means in either thinking and why it is or is not a worthwhile goal, what an engram's counterpart would be in Christianity (or not at all and why), why the Freudian breakdown of the mind that Scn uses is wrong and fails in the Christian picture, in my opinion only of course, since I am a philosopher and NOT a theologian. My expertise is really the philosophical side of a question and NOT the theological side. And the list could be quite long of subtopics so those I listed are only a beginning suggestion. Then after taking up those sub topics, either as subtopics in one greater article or by writing these up as separate articles, I could then give an overview conclusion as to why Christianity is so superior to Scn or Dianetics. And I could do a comparable sort of analysis for Shamanism too. And of course of yet I have never explained what I believe and what form of Christianity I practice. I guess I never explained it because to date I have ever been asked directly with specific questions given in a collegial way, such as, what do you believe and why do you believe that, nicely of course, in a safe space. And also I have not discussed it because since this is an ex-Scientology forum I'd have to find the correct place to post that 'story' and I don't know if Lakey minds if I do that here. If I am not wrong Lakey, I am practically the second mod here by now? LOL. Or perhaps I am just a sort of talk show host #2 to Lakey, the Mod and senior producer/talk show host #1.
I also do want to thank the 9 persons who have pm'ed me here. Yes, I have only pm'ed with 9 persons, all of whom contacted me first. I never originated a pm except to the mod for the forum when I asked that my screen name be changed to use my real name. Of those who contacted me, three are exes from Miami, none are active scientologists, the rest are from places unknown. One we all know, Arnie, who has been banned. I won't reveal other names since there is no reason to and it would violate their privacy. The pms were one offs mostly, and not a continual activity anyway, mostly where I was asked specific questions or some private comment was made about what I have written somewhere. I also want to thank those who in the last few days pm'ed about the way I was massively attacked for no reason I can discern other than I spoke and had opinions and I was here. Thank you to all of you who did so! Or who thanked/liked my posts in this regard. The support is appreciated.
Gib, I still have not really answered the questions you asked. I want to but was very busy this past weekend and this week I will be catching up as much as I can.
Hugs and kisses to everyone!
Thank you for being so kind and caring here and giving me a chance to be myself and to explain myself without recrimination. Terril, that includes you, who I find charming as well as lucid in your explanations even when I don't always agree.
Maria
What I find of interest & will have to spend some time pondering is this :
A Christian can express doubts & talk about parts of the bible, God, organized religion, or anything else & do so WITHIN the Christianity community ( <- for lack of a better word ).
Xenu, on the other hand, is a 'secret' section of a (so-called -->) 'religion' (<-- damn I dislike saying that! ) scn (<-- barf) that does not tolerate anyone havings doubts, not believing, or discussing any aspect of it except to praise.
What I don't get - really need help with - is how the fuck can some posters make any kind of belief comparison in Jesus or God & Xenu.
That kind of comparison makes me feel crazy ! Like while discussing oranges ( or ornages, if you prefer ) & some one in all earnest throws the number 17 in the middle of the conversation as if it is revelant to the discussion of the topic. Yes, both are faith based But, god damn can't anyone look at the fucking differences !
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Long ago on another board a dear friend who was a real ( not imagined in their own head ) moderator used to say to me with great frequency " Read the post first then see who posted it ".
Disagreeing with a post is not necessarily an attack on the poster - but ( as is so often seen ) can be. ( and THAT is why there are mods ).
But, all in all, it is, to me, overall distressing to watch a lively discussion of Christianity & God then watch the heart of scientology get thrown in the mix - it sort of drives home the fact that scientology, L Ron Hubbard, the tech & all that is going to remain the focus of some people's lives even after they claim to have left it.
Looks like for some that scientology will always be like the flame for the moth. That fire is just not going to go out in the heart, mind, or soul of some.
( guess that could be my graduation speech from ESMB ).
Oooh, that's a good one! I've never even heard of this book before. Thanks, Terril.
