Out pesky engram

[A'Sharad]

I think I made clear that Scientology is a wacked-out cult. The primary concern from my perspective as a doctor is their denialist position on psychiatric illness.

Given the toll mental illness takes on society, and the amount of influence exerted by Scientology, everyone should be shouting from the rooftops (in a perfectly calm and sane way), "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not gonna take it anymore!"

The Church of Scientology has a little friend called the "Citizens Commission on Human Rights". It's motto is "investigating and exposing psychiatric human rights abuse". Who is this "commission" and what is their beef?

A good place to start is on their info page. Hardly a paragraph goes by without a falsehood or logical fallacy.


First of all, I'll skip the cute SciFi-ish adds on the margins of the page with headlines like "Psychiatry: Industry of Death." Hyperbole of that degree should be, well, discouraged.

rest found here: http://scienceblogs.com/denialism/2008/03/out_pesky_engram.php

[Asshat]

I think I made clear that Scientology is a wacked-out cult. The primary concern from my perspective as a doctor is their denialist position on psychiatric illness.

C2, at first I was going to ask why you are singling this "faith" out. "God" knows, for every religion out there, we can find an entire website devoted to it's demise. :)

The point at hand however is one's personal belief on the subject of psychiatric illness. This is not a religious issue. No one forces anyone to believe anything.

A few years ago, a teen was sent to the psychiatric professionals by his father. When the doctor asked the teen where he was getting the drugs he was abusing from, the teen responded with; "from you." Not fully appreciating the irony of that honest answer, the professional called the hospital and requested a suicide watch be placed on the teen as an in-patient. The father refused. The doctor then notified the police who had the father arrested for "child endangerment."

Do you think this father (and now grown teen) might currently view psychiatric professionals with just a TAD of speculation?

[A'Sharad]

C2, at first I was going to ask why you are singling this "faith" out. "God" knows, for every religion out there, we can find an entire website devoted to it's demise. :)

I single out Scientology because it is not a religion. It is a corporation founded by an author who in his own quoted words "Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion".

These people live breath and eat LRH everday and then go nuts when you talk bad about them (Fair Game). How many Catholics or Baptists have you seen filing lawsuits to have the bible removed from a website. Or claim copywrite infringment everytime a new website opens to denounce them. Do you think the pope has his followers sign a BILLION year contract of service?

Oh wait...I want to become a better christian...it will cost me how much?

The average OT to reach OT 8 will pay $277,010.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_as_a_business

I was raised by a Southern Bapatist Family in Texas. My father is an ordained non-practicing preacher. I know religion....this aint it.:thumbdown:

[Asshat]

I was raised by a Southern Bapatist Family in Texas. My father is an ordained non-practicing preacher. I know religion....this aint it.:thumbdown:

You called it a cult. I have often heard Buddhism refered thus by Americans.

Getting past the semantics of terminology, either they are all religions, they are all philosophies, or they are all cults. Either way, I find it common for Americans to refer to anything non Judeo/Christian as "wacked."

And the psycho-drama I posted above was true, as it involved me. I have very little respect for the field now because of that one doctor, yet I belong to the Buddhist cult obviously. :)

[GODH8SU]

[QUOTE=uminchu;92721] Either way, I find it common for Americans to refer to anything non Judeo/Christian as "wacked."QUOTE]

No, I think all religion is wacked!

[Trail]

Religion is a personal choice and as long as their views are not being shoved in your face, it's best to leave well enough alone IMO.

[A'Sharad]

You called it a cult. I have often heard Buddhism refered thus by Americans.

Getting past the semantics of terminology, either they are all religions, they are all philosophies, or they are all cults. Either way, I find it common for Americans to refer to anything non Judeo/Christian as "wacked."

And the psycho-drama I posted above was true, as it involved me. I have very little respect for the field now because of that one doctor, yet I belong to the Buddhist cult obviously. :)

And I dont fault you for that. My mother is a head shrinker. Life sucked as a teen for me but I dont feel that all of them are bad. Here is a small example of what Scientology can do for the mentally ill.

Lisa McPherson

Scientologist Lisa McPherson was taken out of a psychiatric hospital because of her ties to Scientology, and later died in the care of Scientologists.


Jeremy Perkins

On 13 March 2003, Scientologist Jeremy Perkins killed his mother Elli Perkins by stabbing her 77 times. Jeremy, previously diagnosed with schizophrenia, never received treatment after previous incidents with violence and hallucinations. His mother, active in the Buffalo Church of Scientology, felt that vitamins and Scientology routines were better than psychological counseling and anti-psychotic medication.


Linda Waliki

On 5 July 2007, a 25-year-old Australian woman, Linda Waliki killed her 52 year old father Michael, 15 year old sister Kathryn, and injured her mother Sue with a knife. Her name was released in the print edition of the Sydney Morning Herald, on 7 July 2007. It was previously unreleased due to one of the victims being under age. She was diagnosed with a psychiatric illness, but her parents denied her continued psychiatric treatment due to their Scientology beliefs. Instead they replaced this medication with specially imported medications imported from Scientologists in the United States.

[Asshat]

C2, you posted three examples of wackjobs. We can choose absolutely anything and find three examples of wackyness.

But as I type this, I keep thinking of Christian cultists calling for the death penalty, while picketing abortion clinics. I think of Terry Shiavo brain dead for years, and the Pope and the President of the USA championing her remaining plugged in.

Here is where you and I differ: You refer to them as Scientologist Beliefs. I refer to them as Personal Choices.

[Trail]

I think of Terry Shiavo brain dead for years, and the Pope and the President of the USA championing her remaining plugged in.

Holy crud! I forgot about the Terry Shaivo brewha. :scared:

[westonmt]

Holy crud! I forgot about the Terry Shaivo brewha. :scared:


Personally, I'd rather not remember that fiasco! That's why I have a living will that reflects my wishes.

[Asshat]

Personally, I'd rather not remember that fiasco! That's why I have a living will that reflects my wishes.

That was a truely embarrasing time for Americans. That same year, I had to put my dog to sleep due to a painful and inoperable brain tumor. The vet looked at me and said, "at least you have a choice."

[Sif: wife of Thor]

I too have a living will that reflects my wishes! I've always told my family, if I can't feed myself, wash myself (unless there is a really cute male nurse), or wipe my own arse...UNPLUG ME!!!