Dear Katie,

I agree with the assessment that CS has developed into a cult.

I don't hold much hope for the world to sit up and take too much notice though. CS is a relatively minor wart amongst warts when you consider the powerful Scientology cult which I think is the closest to CS in terms of attracting intelligent, sincere people with a combination of ancient truth and psychological manipulation.

Despite the negative press that Scientology has gotten over the years, they still thrive, TAX EXEMPT attracting new followers daily.

There will always be a percentage of people who kid themselves they are being mavericks when they are really being led.

Sometimes people with the tendency to question traditional thinking and buck society are the most vulnerable to cult thinking because they don't rely on society for approval. It is easy for them to risk loosing the approval of the world it they think the payoff is worth it in the end.

I think many people that are attracted to Lazaris fit that description. Their hunger for information and above average curiosity allow them to overlook what others would be hung up on. It is a wonderful trait but one that hucksters can exploit.

What makes CS unique is that it does not position itself as a text driven religion. There is no proclaimed scripture or church hierarchy. It looks to the world like some crack headed new age publishing company.

Of course, we know they are as dogmatic and hierarchical as any old time religion. Pope Peny, Cardinals North and North inhabit their own little "Vatican City" replete with all the political games on a much smaller scale.

The fact remains unless you have seen them operate in the forum the fangs of this operation are well hidden.

What I think is so valuable about this is that so many people who have really invested themselves in this material and find themselves worse and not better after years of “love and magic” have a place to sort it out.

Thanks again to you and Ted for putting this together,

Jeremiah

You wrote:

[[I don't know how Scientology is still running, but I think that having a bunch of loyal celebrities probably helps. I don't believe that if any of those celebs saw people being treated like in the Forum, etc. they would remain so loyal. I may be wrong. But call it a strong hunch]]

Damn, it is a head scratcher isn't it? After all the exposure and well documented stories of the worst kinds of assaults.

I just took a look at the Scientolgy web page and it is masterfully put together.

They have cleverly positioned themselves as a humanitarian organization dedicated to free thought and free expression. LOL

Reading this site you would think it is the noblest group of idealists on the planet.

As for the celebrities, my belief is that they are aware of the accusations made against the Church of Scientology and they either do not believe them or they are afraid to speak out.

The Scientology web page cleverly states it will not list its celebrity members because they feel it is inappropriate..LOL..noble huh? Nevermind it is completely unecessary to list them because the celebrities speaking on their own are probably what draw most people to the site in the first place.

It could be the church has compromising information about celebrities that would damage their public images and they keep them in line with the threat of exposure.

That is the rumor anyway, don't know if its true.

I do hope as you write that Concept Synergy [even the title was lifted from Buckminster Fuller wasn't it?] will be exposed one step at a time.

Interesting most of the celebrities that have associated with CS seem to have distanced themselves.

I wouldn't be surprised if CS moved to LA to court celbrities and found it much more difficult than they imagined. I believe this is what is the grinding motivation behind all of their anti-show rant.

Cheers,

quote:

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You gotta admit -- as bad as Scientology is rumored to be -- Tom Cruise and John Travolta are one hell of a lot more together, successful, and centered than most est cult victims or wet diaper Lazaris "adult" infants.

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Scientology is different if you are well known. Those two are too valuable to be exploited seriously... If you want to see what Scientology is like for an ordinary member, read Monica Pignotti's story. It's really frightening what went on.