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Sort of, I guess, but not really. Let me 'splain. No, let me sum up.
I've always said that I consider it a personal rule to respect other people's deeply-held beliefs (with the possible exception of Scientology, 'cause they're just WACK. Ha, ha).
I've decided to remove the Scientology caveat. I still think they're wack. I still think Scientology is a fanciful explanation for observable behaviors with no observable connection to truth in any form. I still think it probably started as an open-eyed, cynical attempt to separate people from their money. Of course, the same could be said of other religions I'm sure -- it's just that the older they are the less obvious it is. Plus, money is not always the motive. Sometimes it is power or sex.
I think most often, especially with the older religions, the root is something more sublime. Someone found enlightenment and tried their best to show others the way. Words are imperfect, and sometimes their meaning is lost. Things become codified and enforced, sometimes with violence, when those codes are threatened by new ideas. The new ideas themselves might not have been that far from the original intent of scriptures or whatever, but of course we mostly don't know and have no way of knowing for sure.
All I'm saying is that some people may in fact be able to actualize through Scientology, and more power to them if they do, It's an amazing thing when a person begins to express even of portion of their true inner potential, and who am I to say they aren't doing it right?
I still think the institution itself is probably evil, but I think that of most religious institutions. Anytime you get more than 50 people to agree to something, you have potential for evil or good, but it's just so darn easy to let ego take over.
So, Scientology? Still not a fan. (<-- understatement). Scientologists? Have as much right to think whatever they ant as anybody else. I'm not against speaking out against the institution, but I will probably not make any more references to Katie Holmes "riding the crazy train" or whatever. I've got enough to sort out in my own back yard - let other people's struggles be their struggles. Let me help when I can, but if I can't help, I will endeavor to STFU.
Sorry for the rant, but i figure, yanno, nobody HAS to read it. ;)
Namaste
I've always said that I consider it a personal rule to respect other people's deeply-held beliefs (with the possible exception of Scientology, 'cause they're just WACK. Ha, ha).
I've decided to remove the Scientology caveat. I still think they're wack. I still think Scientology is a fanciful explanation for observable behaviors with no observable connection to truth in any form. I still think it probably started as an open-eyed, cynical attempt to separate people from their money. Of course, the same could be said of other religions I'm sure -- it's just that the older they are the less obvious it is. Plus, money is not always the motive. Sometimes it is power or sex.
I think most often, especially with the older religions, the root is something more sublime. Someone found enlightenment and tried their best to show others the way. Words are imperfect, and sometimes their meaning is lost. Things become codified and enforced, sometimes with violence, when those codes are threatened by new ideas. The new ideas themselves might not have been that far from the original intent of scriptures or whatever, but of course we mostly don't know and have no way of knowing for sure.
All I'm saying is that some people may in fact be able to actualize through Scientology, and more power to them if they do, It's an amazing thing when a person begins to express even of portion of their true inner potential, and who am I to say they aren't doing it right?
I still think the institution itself is probably evil, but I think that of most religious institutions. Anytime you get more than 50 people to agree to something, you have potential for evil or good, but it's just so darn easy to let ego take over.
So, Scientology? Still not a fan. (<-- understatement). Scientologists? Have as much right to think whatever they ant as anybody else. I'm not against speaking out against the institution, but I will probably not make any more references to Katie Holmes "riding the crazy train" or whatever. I've got enough to sort out in my own back yard - let other people's struggles be their struggles. Let me help when I can, but if I can't help, I will endeavor to STFU.
Sorry for the rant, but i figure, yanno, nobody HAS to read it. ;)
Namaste
calm
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