tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37589721331585843.post1090124128499573893..comments2024-03-01T11:17:49.152-07:00Comments on Religion in American History: Summer Reading: Going ClearPaul Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13881964303772343114noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37589721331585843.post-31618646519468817282014-08-09T22:52:15.643-06:002014-08-09T22:52:15.643-06:00As a denizen of LA, my experience with Scientologi...As a denizen of LA, my experience with Scientologists doesn't really fit into the formal boxes we've prepared for religion. <br /><br />Many or most I've known are probably like today's nominal Christians--neither willing to defend it chapter or verse in any vulnerable respect but not disposed to speak ill of it either--and when push comes to shove, think of it not just as a positive influence, but a sustaining one.<br /><br />As for the True Believers [Sea Org, etc.] and their tactics against Suppressive Persons, the Fair Game principle, etc., that's all quite sensational and I don't doubt it's true, but in my experience the rank and file tend to take the good and leave the bad, and ignore the rest.<br /><br />BTW, I once worked in a place where the owner also stored his Scientology texts, up to quite a high level including the esoteric Xenu stuff.<br /><br />All rather banal, actually, and I've never met a Scientologist who bought into it, just like I imagine there are few NoI folks who actually believe white people were created by the evil scientist Yakub.<br /><br />In fact,<br /><br />http://www.newrepublic.com/article/politics/magazine/108205/scientology-joins-forces-with-nation-of-islamTom Van Dykehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07121072404143877596noreply@blogger.com