Recap:
It was interesting. I think it is educational when you listen to other's religions, and recognize that you have a personal bias based on how you were raised, and make an effort, an educational evaluation, and an open mind.
With that said - the Scientologists are full of SH*T.
Some thoughts in no particular order -
I think Leah Remini has an ax to grind. She does. I don't doubt her honesty. Listening with that awareness. I think some of of the letter responses from Scientology were very telling. I'm sure they read and re-read their statements many times before mailing them.
I can't count how many 100 of times I heard the words "Church" and "religion". I don't ever remember a single time I heard the word God. Church, Church, Church, religion, religion, religion - no God. (they have transcended the WT and have dispensed with any pretext of religion or God - and go straight for money and enslaved labor)
Kirstie Alley quote "When you decide to blanket statement that Scientology is evil - you are my enemy", So if the WT rails with hate speech about Christian Churches, forbidding anyone from every attending one as they evil. That would pretty much say that each and every JW/WT has 2.2 billion bitter enemies.
The Scientologist are as far from an Armageddon cult as possible. The firmly believe in reincarnation. The sign a "billion year" contract - so you can serve them for your next 1000000 reincarnations.
"Disfellowshipped = Disconnect". Disconnect also comes between spouses.
I think a good moment was when everything hit the fan - she left - but here entire family went with her in unison - many who were in Scientology their whole lives. Way to take a stand!
I remember L.R. Hubbard lived for many years on his boat, just outside of US coastal water, because he was charge with very serious tax evasion charges. He couldn't come within 15 miles of shore or he would be arrested.
The highlight of the ENTIRE show was that as Leah reached higher levels, she was increasing able to access more internal private "Church" documents. S h e r e a d h i g h l e v e l "Church Documents" t h a t s a i d Xune t h e galactic overlord took enemies and smote them by throwing them into a volcano, where they were exploded in to bits, and those individual bits re-incarnated and separately all became each member of the human race. (remember L R Hubbard was a science fiction writer) The news interview people asked Scientolgy to confirm Xenu - the formal response was "every religion has it's own internal practices and private beliefs".
HFS/WTF - Tom Cruise, Kirstie Alley, John Travolta, and every one else honestly believe that Xune the Galactic Overlord is who they worship. All hail Xune. Really?
Not to be rude - but that is how 2.2 billion Catholic/Protestants have the same view of the JW/WT.
