Captain John Travolta wears his uniform out on the town!!

[DrewBlows]

Well, for starters, my religion isn't based off of a failed screenplay called "Revolt in the Stars" written by a science fiction author who once said "you don't get rich by writing science fiction. If you want to get rich, you start a religion." A couple of years later, Scientology was born. If it was just a bunch of rich actors, I probably wouldn't care. The problem is that the rich actors are just the ones that get the media attention. This a large organization with many members from the lower and middle classes that fork out virtual fortuned to this "church" for auditing, courses, and various other products and services. These people can barely afford to get by, but they've been brainwashed by this group to believe that they need to give as much money as possible to the COS so they can achieve some higher "operating thetan level" to become happier and healthier. This organization is dangerous, and it most certainly is not victimless.

Step back for a minute and read what you wrote. If you take out the Scientology references you could be talking about any religion in the world.

 

[PCL_128]

Step back for a minute and read what you wrote. If you take out the Scientology references you could be talking about any religion in the world.

I think you need to do some more Scientology research. If you really look into this, you'll realize that there is really no comparison. Scientology isn't a religion, it's a cult.

 

[goodgig]

Anyone know if the Rolling Stone article about these quacks is on line? It was a great cliff notes to the whole thing, and actually made me lmao as I read it.
To call it anything but a cult is laughable. However, I consider just about any religion a cult. But this "religion" is even more so.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

No differerent than the exagerated claims made by the other various religions. Some of you mock the Muslim religion and their afterlife expectations. Is not heaven and hell just as absurd? Is turning water into wine and conjuring up limitless bread and fish, rising from the dead, parting the sea, large boats with jungle animals, etc. more believeable to you?

Truth is, the bible was written from anecdotes told many many years ago. No one who existed during those "times" were around when it can time to pen the good book.

Look, religion has it's purpose in a civilization. Religion isn't about a mystical person called god residing in an intangible world, but rather a way to live ones life.It is a doctrine one chooses to follow.

 

[say again]

I just saw a Comair knuckle head the other day in Cincinnati at a Walmart with the leather coat on and the hat shopping for deodorant. I even snapped a pic with my celly. Thinking of posting it.

hahaha, you really have to for all to see!!!!:laugh: great thinking getting the pic.:beer:

 

[JFReservist]

Amish Rake... You say that religion is a good thing, yet you assert all religions to be based on lies. So lying is a good thing for society as a whole?

 

[PCL_128]

No differerent than the exagerated claims made by the other various religions. Some of you mock the Muslim religion and their afterlife expectations. Is not heaven and hell just as absurd? Is turning water into wine and conjuring up limitless bread and fish, rising from the dead, parting the sea, large boats with jungle animals, etc. more believeable to you?

Truth is, the bible was written from anecdotes told many many years ago. No one who existed during those "times" were around when it can time to pen the good book.

Look, religion has it's purpose in a civilization. Religion isn't about a mystical person called god residing in an intangible world, but rather a way to live ones life.It is a doctrine one chooses to follow.

I don't mock the Muslim religion. I attack Muslim extremists, but that's completely different. I have no problem with people of any other legitimate religion: practicing Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Catholics, etc... All are legitimate religions; COS is a cult. You can't even get into the "church" without handing over a check for "auditing." It's a huge money-making machine based on a science-fiction author's fantasies and lust for money and fame. To compare this cult to a real religion is ridiculous.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Amish Rake... You say that religion is a good thing, yet you assert all religions to be based on lies. So lying is a good thing for society as a whole?

I hate getting into religious debate, especially over a message board. There is just too much to discuss to really convey a truly formidable and lucid explanation.

Most if not all organized religion is based on exagerated claims which lead to followers or disciples willing to believe and support a particular doctrine. A true believer of a religion will believe and not question the absurdity of what is being preached or stated. This is an ideal individual for a particular religious outfit.

Religion has it's purpose. It is sociological and spritual in nature. It has it's place in society.

An episode of South Park had exemplifed this to a degree. A new Mormon boy moved to SP and was taunted by the other boys about his "ridiculous" religion and absurd claims.

Here is how the show ended:

"Look, maybe us Mormons do believe in crazy stories that make absolutely no sense, and maybe Joseph Smith did make it all up, but I have a great life. and a great family, and I have the Book of Mormon to thank for that. The truth is, I don't care if Joseph Smith made it all up, because what the church teaches now is loving your family, being nice and helping people. And even though people in this town might think that's stupid, I still choose to believe in it. All I ever did was try to be your friend, Stan, but you're so high and mighty you couldn't look past my religion and just be my friend back. You've got a lot of growing up to do, buddy. Suck my balls. [turns around and walks off. All four boys just look at him in wonder, even Cartman.]"

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Chew on this:

Physicist and Nobel prizewinner Stephen Weinberg describes religion as an insult to human dignity. 'Without it,' he says, 'you'd have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, it takes religion.' Dawkins agrees. It is more moral, he says, to do good for its own sake than out of fear. Morality, he says, is older than religion, and kindness and generosity are innate in human beings, as they are in other social animals. The irony is that science recognises the majesty and complexity of the universe while religions lead to easy, closed answers.

 

[PCL_128]

As usual, Dawkins says something that is unprovable (strange for a supposed scientist): that morality predates religion. How can he know this? Every ancient civilization had some form of religion. As best we can tell, religion dates back to the beginnings of human civilization. Human beings have always believed in some form of higher power and religious ideals of right and wrong. He says that a basic sense of morality is innate in human beings. Again, this is unproven. No scientific evidence backs up this claim. Dawkin's own brand of anti-religious fervor is in itself a form of religion. Dawkin's hatred of all religion is his own religion.

 

[goodgig]

Human beings have always believed in some form of higher power .

Because, human beings needed a crutch. To answer all those questions that boggle the minds. Even more so back when. Now, in the age of scientific enlightenment the crutch is falling apart to some extent.

But anyway, discussion of religion really does no good in these places. We all have our beliefs, and no post here is going to sway anyone one iota.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Because, human beings needed a crutch. To answer all those questions that boggle the minds. Even more so back when. Now, in the age of scientific enlightenment the crutch is falling apart to some extent.

Some might say religion is for the weak minded. One thing you might notice is that the lower class poor seem to be almost invariably religiously devout compared to the upper echelons of society and wealth. The poor entrust their fate more to a higher power because they feel powerless in their position. Think about when you are really in a fix - you rely on prayer, hoping that it will hope. Same thing here. The poor are unable to extract themselves from their condition and seek some spritual guidance, support and belief. Since many of them feel they can not help their own destiny they rely on a god to get them through tough times.

Sometimes it's easier to believe a god will help you out then to help yourself out. It makes it easier to deal with if you feel a god will take mercy on you and show some leniency.

"God helps those who help themselves."

 

[G100driver]

Amish, you are making way too much sence .... I do not believe that you are a pilot

 

[Benhuntn]

Amish well said, but ....a load of crap!

 

[goodgig]

Hey man, whatever flips your flopper.

 

[USMC319]

Mr. Rake, you are too logical. Religion operates on a different plane than logic. Whatever.

Though I don't agree in the tenets of Scientology, I can tell you that John Travolta is a classy person. I have met and have flown with John and find him to be very respectful and competent for his experience level. He is an aviation enthusiast and has given much more back to the aviation community than most of us "professionals" have. He is an "Honorary Captain" for Quantas Airlines and serves in some sort of Ambassador role for them. He also is a spokesperson for many aviation interests and has hosted a documentary for Airbus on the Discovery channel (wearing his uniform). So give the guy a break. He is on our side. Let him wear his Quantas uniform around if he wants.

 

[waveflyer]

If you believe in cause and effect which is the basis for all scientific discovery- then you believe in a higher power of some kind. Otherwise you run into problems of Infinite Regress...

Where did you come from? Mom& dad. Where did life come from? Evolution through to the primordial soup? Where did the universe come from? Big Bang

Bottom line if you take it back through the course of history- at some point you must have an Uncaused Cause, an Unmoved Prime Mover- or else every discovery since is invalid.

Now- each person's definition/"understanding" of God is very different. We all live in the same world- each religion has it's own take. Noone and certainly no organization can do your spiritual work for you. That's the fallacy of organized religion and the power that comes with it. God gave you a mind for a reason. And i'm pretty sure that he gave it to you to use it.

 

[BSkin]

How 'bout them Giants!

 

[Deadalus]

I'd consider it a compliment he wants to be an airline pilot. He's doing the profession a better service than those dorks I see in the airport with an i-pod and backpack.

 

[LearLove]

Punky Brewster is a Scientologist - man if that doesn't convert you then i don't know what will.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKGX8GZ3BV0

damn - if that show aired today the old man would go to jail for suspicion of child molestaion and pet abuse.