Anderson Cooper Plans Latest Misguided Slam on Scientology

• really? did you even read what was written? how is this author a scientology sympathizer?

• Scientology tech itsself is USEFUL.. the ORGANIZATION has RUINED IT!!

• I want to talk to you.

• You see stuff on the web and other media about how bad Scientology is. TV documentaries, sites, blogs and feedback. From harshly critical to the mildly sarcastic. The redneck nabobs who can�t even define the word religion will tell you otherwise but as a student of philosophy, theology and comparative religions in the university before becoming a Scientologist I will firmly declare to you the truth: Scientology IS a religion. And here�s the deal about all those comments critical of Scientology (and Scientologists): they come from people who really don�t know what Scientology is. I doubt they have ever been to a Church. They certainly haven�t honestly studied it. They just pick up on everybody else�s stone throwing and add their own prejudicial inanities. Real rational enlightened thoughtful opinions! Or you get the ex-Scientologists, who never got anything out of it, with their rants. The media LOVES them. Never mind that they are small potatoes compared to the MILLIONS over the past 60 years whose lives have been made better by Scientology. That news, I assure you, rarely makes the news media because their modus operandi is to present a threatening dangerous world full of tragedy, loss and conflict. Their self-proclaimed doctrine of �objective reporting� obliges them to report the �controversy�, which they concentrate upon. So much for �fair and balanced!� The good news about Scientology? Heaven forbid that something like Scientology could actually HELP people. No. Scientology has to be �controversial�! Well, Christianity was �controversial� when the Roman authorities were feeding them to the lions. And so was Islam when the great prophet had to fee Mecca. Gautama Siddhartha, the founder of Buddhism, was nearly killed by opponents from the established religious orders. Joseph Smith WAS murdered. Martin Luther barely escaped the Inquisition. St Thomas Aquinas � kidnapped. On and on. So many great spiritual leaders have been pilloried for trying to help. Then you get the anti-Scientology �specialists.� The ones with websites who have made a tremendous effort to gather and present to you all the sordid details about the dangerous Scientology cult. They especially love to target ex-staff members who used to work for the Church. Taking their �testimonies� they embellish, omit and twist them to give you �the facts� of what goes on inside the Church. As Scientology continues to grow in acceptance around the world the past 60 years, you have to ask: why? Why is there a very tiny few who have appointed themselves vigilantes to protect you against Scientology, who yell and scream when Scientology has helped millions? The answer is BRUTALLY simple. THEY DON�T WANT YOU TO IMPROVE YOUR LIFE. Scientology is GOOD. It HELPS people. No matter how convincing the anti-Scientology �experts� may try to sound, all they do is twist and pervert, and there isn�t a shred of truth to any of their claims. The bottom line is: they don�t want you being helped. Look at it his way: if Scientology is SO BAD how come it hasn�t folded after more than 60 years. No religion in modern times has been so viciously and vociferously attacked since the Holocaust. Yet despite all the attacks by governments and all the black PR in the media, I see no sign that Scientology is folding up any time soon. For years they�ve been saying Scientology has been declining, losing its members. Year after year, they keep saying it. Well? Funny, because while they keep proclaiming how Scientology is shrinking and about ready to close its doors, the Church has been expanding and growing, opening up new churches monthly, country by country, winning adherents from all over the world. Yes, there were people who abused Scientology. And they�ve either been corrected or have left the fold. You certainly don�t condemn a good group or organization because of the actions of a few bad apples. Christianity has had its share of them the last 2000 years but that doesn�t mean the preaching�s of Jesus is any less valid. No matter how many bad deeds were committed �to protect and defend the Constitution�, it�s still a great document that has helped to make America a great land. There are no perfect sinless saints. Not on this planet of fallen angels. But there are plenty of GOOD people who have tried to help better the condition of mankind and this world we live in. L. Ron Hubbard was one of them. The dedicated stone-throwers, the naysayers, the ones who write all that anti-Scientology stuff: they don�t want you helped. They don�t want to see anybody�s lives bettered. They don�t want to see conditions improved. And they prey on your prejudices. But they are going nowhere. We ARE! That fact is driving them crazy. The question is: are they going to get you convinced to pick up a rock or are you sane and self-determined enough to discover the truths about Scientology for yourself? G.B. Randolph Scientologist

• I'm having trouble locating this information on the university websites. The only one I know for sure is King's, 8 places. I heard that Bristol offers the most places, but I haven't read anything that confirms this. Is there a set percentage of international students these universities must take out of all the dentistry places they offer?

• To Thomas R., I know what you mean. My family and marriage were wrecked by Scientology too. I can say it is true. No ruthless tactic is spared when it comes to removing any obstacle to the family bank accounts, retirement accounts, etc. I watched the AC360 series and think there are many more pressing topics on Scientology that should be addressed in the media besides whether DM slaps around his staff. Don't get me wrong, that's pretty bad, but there are far worse things that this "church" should be held accountable for.

• Am I the only one who gets that AC only prefaced his show with the "this isnt about the churches beliefs" statement because he knows how litigious Scientologists are? I love Tony but maybe the "billion dollar cotract" wasnt the only thing he rushed here. AC was clearly using the beatings as a cover just to run the piece. Dont you think CNN's legal bills would be much higher if he called the show "Scientology: a bunch of whacked out, self righteous wierdos looking to pay money for happiness and a fake salvation they never really get"

• the fact is you can't argue w/ the fool or crazy! we are in dif worlds, we don't share a common ground.. I have read all the comments, and it only underlines my first statement: Marge can't seem to be able to view the points from a dif perspective ( and the Scientologist lacks any trace of logic). Christianity can seem nuts: virgin birth, talking snake, horses in the sky, you name it. Islam can seem nuts too; Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, etc... that just tells us that religion is not a matter of substance but intensity! that being said, we need to tolerate the freedom others have, as they tolerate ours... but let�s not hide behind our freedom in order to abuse other humans! Scientology started as a science. it was dismissed of being a valid one and/so it became a religion. no other religion that I know of -I like to believe I did my share of study on religions- shares the same 'troubled' beginnings (1953) and no other religion reserves its right to excommunicate its members based on their criticism. anyone has the right to believe whatever... no one has the right to act based on that belief violating the rights of other humans; you can't have people sign contracts that give away ALL their freedoms/rights and call yourself a religion. a religious practice/act stops being a legitimate one at the point where the 'treated' has no control over the process and means... w/ or w/o a contract, it is a violation of human rights to isolate a 'sick' person w/o the consent of a specialized/accredited physician. scientology is something new and small in my country, but I got to read some of their internal papers, and I know for a fact that they do practice what I wrote about above. I do not understand by what means the COS got the tax exempt status in US, nor how it is possible to pretend monetary retribution for moral salvation. my best regards to the author, and pls excuse my english.

• Trigger wrote: "No offense back Marge but it's sounds like you just raided a few hundred farms to build your bogus excuse for an argument." I think it's pretty clear that you aren't paying attention to what my argument actually is. Trigger wrote: "If all they had to do was read books, they wouldn't need to work there at all." Most Scientologists don't "work there" -- most of them simply live their lives and try desperately to make enough money to afford the Bridge. Which at current prices, is a pretty ridiculous situation. With any reform of Scientology, prices certainly need to be brought in line with what people can afford. But anyway, my main point is that the core ideas in Scientology are available in publicly available books. And yes "body thetans", the "role of earth" and "entities" are talked about in the publicly available "History of Man" (1952) as well as several publicly available lectures from the same time period. Trigger wrote: "They do NOT know about body thetans and how they're getting in the way of happiness" Tell me, if the cost was minimal, would this still be a problem for you? Trigger wrote: "The difference is, you don't have to pay a wad of cash to find out what they are, or to get the total spiritual benefit" The deeper issue for Scientologists is that they be spiritually prepared for the level, Trigger. Most Scientologists, once they've left the Church, and still wish to be Scientologists and practice independently, don't wish to read about the OT levels until they are at that stage of the Bridge (which costs a fraction outside the Church as it does inside). It's more a spiritual belief than anything else. Trigger wrote: "They know they have to escape to leave (You didn't address that tho did you?)" You think I'm defending the current CoS? Good lord. Pay attention.

• Read about "RPF'S RPF" on the internet. When Scientology staff are bad, they are sent to a camp called RPF. When they try to leave RPF, they are sent to "RPF'S RPF". People are chained to walls and die in there, among other horrible thing. Where is the government investigation?

• I don't know about weirder but there are certainly weird things in other religions. The difference is, you don't have to pay a wad of cash to find out what they are, or to get the total spiritual benefit (That's the "Bridge to Total Freedom", in case you've forgotten.)

• No offense back Marge but it's sounds like you just raided a few hundred farms to build your bogus excuse for an argument. If all they had to do was read books, they wouldn't need to work there at all. They do NOT know about body thetans and how they're getting in the way of happiness, and they're certainly not high enough in the church pecking-order to get rid of them. If that's not a tenent of the religion, what is it? They don't even know exactly how the earth/this sector of the galaxy is being imperiled, making the endless cycle of slave-labor / fake-crime and unjust-punishment necessary. But I'll give you this, they know if they question it, it means they MUST be hiding criminal acts, or thoughts. They know if anyone finds out, they're in big trouble. They know they have to escape to leave (You didn't address that tho did you?) After reading your post the smoke in this room is suffocating. But prove me wrong. Next time someone wants to know about Scientology, tell them it will only cost them the price of some books.

• Tigger wrote: "Most Scientologist Sea Org members, i.e. the ones that sign the billion year contract, never learn about the tenents of the "religion," EVER." No offense Tigger, but you've been misinformed. The core tenets of Scientology are not in the OT levels. They are in the books from 1951-1955, or more accurately, in the writings known as the "Scientology Axioms" and the "Factors". These are the metaphysical and spiritual core of Scientology. Further, in terms of the sci-fi aspects and xenu and all that, there are far weirder stories found in a couple publicly available Scientology books (History of Man, Whole Track tapes, etc.), openly sold by Scientology. The whole "Scientologists are kept in the dark about the REAL beliefs" is actually more of a smokescreen and strawman, dreamed up by critics of Scientology who haven't done a very good job of sorting through all the smoke, and understanding relative importances.

• I can't stand it. You guys, it's a cult. I wish I knew less about them than I do. Scientology wrecked my family and my marriage. Two of our children -- teens held against their will -- had to escape from it because their mother flaked. In my personal experience, Scientology is physically, emotionally, & sexually abusive. The church ordered the father of the groom in a family marriage not to attend his daughter's wedding and then not to have any contact with his grandchildren. My family. I was there. Do not be fooled by the grins. The leaders of Scientology, now and in the past, are a really nasty bunch.

• Most Scientologist Sea Org members, i.e. the ones that sign the billion year contract, never learn about the tenents of the "religion," EVER. Nor do a vast number of THEM ever go "clear." They nonetheless believe that Scientology is the way to salvation, for themselves as individuals, and for the planet earth itself. How? Often their parents are/were in the Sea Org or they were recruited as disenfranchised children who were desperate. They thought they were entering some sort of world peace organization. Through rigorous, repetitive training rituals (which should be explored in depth imo) and the game of granting and withholding approval, they get hooked. By the time they want out, it's too late. They have to risk a perilous escape, and if they're caught they face incarceration in the RPF camp. And of course disconnection from family and friends. So to the members that experience the most severe abuse, the specific dogma is irrelevant. They've never heard of body thetans and haven't a clue who Xenu is. They've never even had auditing councelling, much less started up the bridge to total freedom. For them, the e meter is just a tool for harsh interrogation. It's not really the dogma that most people object to anyway (silly as it sounds), it's the human rights abuse. However it might be helpful to get a closer look at some of the "TRs," to explore what components in them makes the public sector so malleable to "church" tactics, and then further down the road, to the Sci-fi dogma.

• shoanangreg wrote: "I fully imagine that we will look in that window and see more windows that also need opening and looking in." The window that Ortega and other irrational extremists need to look into ... and frankly is the large white elephant in the room ... is why the bulk of those who leave the Sea Org, and even the Church of Scientology altogether, remain believers in the underlying philosophy and even practicing Scientologists on their own ... even though completely divorced from group pressure to do so. It is because they find "the tech" to be useful, helpful and workable. And that is also why articles like the following are accused of really being due to mafia-like pressure, and of course -- in Ortega's mind -- could never be due to anything resembling something helpful and workable: http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_14767786 shonangreg says: "I think Mr. Ortega has gotten lost in his zeal to expose a bigger story." Ortega is ignoring the real elephant in the room: at the core of Scientology, there is indeed something useful, helpful and workable. It doesn't excuse the Scientology leadership's own zeal and indeed abusive behavior. But that workability IS the fire which is creating the smoke.

• I think Mr. Ortega has gotten lost in his zeal to expose a bigger story. And there is great value in any kind of reporting that cuts through Scientology secrecy. It wouldn't matter if this story was about food sanitation at Scientology events, allegations of wife-swapping, or who likes peanut butter and who doesn't. It is critical of Scientology and it is opening a window on their hyper-secret, hyper-litigious organization. I fully imagine that we will look in that window and see more windows that also need opening and looking in.

• Kirk Reed: "Tony, you are so right. There is some real concern that Marty Rathbun is shilling for davey." Well, that's certainly one theory. A little too conspiratorial for my taste. How about this theory: Tony Ortega and the hardcore anti-Scientologists have been claiming for years that Scientology and OSA are literally guilty of killing people, of buying off governments and public groups with blackmail, and otherwise being an illegal Mafia-type crime syndicate. However, when Scientology's second, third and fourth in charge (Rathbun, Rinder and now Janela Webster) leave the Church and describe the details of life at the top (under Miscavige) -- we don't hear about these killings and these extreme illegal activities/blackmailings that Ortega and his ilk have been spewing. Instead we hear about what Ortega merely describes as "Miscavige getting slappy with his employees" and "treating them like animals". And so Ortega and the other extremists -- unwilling to admit that they were over-the-top and frankly wrong in their appraisal of Scientology -- resort to conspiracy theory. This time their theory is: well they really ARE mafia-like and evil and engaged in all sorts of illegalities, but Rathbun and Rinder and De Vocht and Hawkins and Webster and all the other former top Scientology leaders (still practicing the religion or not), must ALL be in on the conspiracy. Why? Because Ortega is unable to admit that he himself (and is co-conspiracy theorists) have simply been extremist morons all these years trying to fit a round peg into a square hole. In short, they are unable to apply Occam's Razor: The simplest explanation is usually the true or right one.

• Tony, you are so right. There is some real concern that Marty Rathbun is shilling for davey. The theory is that Marty is getting his ducks in a row so that he can be placed back in the cult as it's new leader. Meanwhile davey will be in the background really running the show. Marty is busily trying to keep his true believers from looking anywhere except at the midget. That way none of his present followers will put down the kool aid and will merrily return to the cult when the evil king is outed. By blaming davey for all that's evil in the cult it takes the focus away from LRH. He wrote the policy that allows all the abuse to happen. Without elron elray davey, Marty and Mike would all be washing cars in Lubbock or Blyth and the cult would never have happened.

• DISGUSTING ARTICLE ABOUT A TWISTED EVIL CULT

• WARNING: Do not feed the trolls!

• Anonymous, Bible thumper.

• Hello. I agree with the complaints about the corrupt managemant in the cos. I have been a Scientologist since 1975. I went through many battles with evil minded people who got into power in the cos only to hurt, disperse and destroy the subject. In all of these years I have used the subject to improve myself and various conditions in my life, all for the better. All religions through out history have been controversial. All have had their criminals who invaded their churchs to desroy it, openly or covertly(witness the recent pedophiles in the Catholic faith) Scientology churchs are not immune to this type of opertation. So it is with Scientology. Wheather one agrees with me or not, I frankly could careless. It is my 1st Amendment Right to practice my religion. People can say want they want. I would be the first in-line to see that justice is served on individuals who call themselves scientologists who harm others to see to it that justice is served on those criminals.I left the offical church years ago. But don't try and take my religious rights away or I will see whomever in court. Jay

• Hello. I agree with the complaints about the corrupt managemant in the cos. I have been a Scientologist since 1975. I went through many battles with evil minded people who got into power in the cos only to hurt, disperse and destroy the subject. In all of these years I have used the subject to improve myself and various conditions in my life, all for the better. All religions through out history have been controversial. All have had their criminals who invaded their churchs to desroy it, openly or covertly(witness the recent pedophiles in the Catholic faith) Scientology churchs are not immune to this type of opertation. So it is with Scientology. Wheather one agrees with me or not, I frankly could careless. It is my 1st Amendment Right to practice my religion. People can say want they want. I would be the first in-line to see that justice is served on individuals who call themselves scientologists who harm others to see to it that justice is served on those criminals.I left the offical church years ago. But don't try and take my religious rights away or I will see whomever in court. Jay

• Marge, Scientologist.

• Tony O: "Here's an analogy: writing only about how DM treated his underlings would be like doing an "expose" that John Gotti smacked his lieutenants around." So clearly ... using your argument ... we should be condemning the beliefs of all Italians. Your acumen for logic is stunning.

• What's wrong Tony, having a bad Glee week? Problem is, YOU are the moron? Why? Because you think Scientology beliefs are sooo much weirder than any other religion ... and THIS ALONE makes Scientology a target? Where, I don't know, a philandering fat jobless lazy "philosopher" (called the Buddha), has ideas that are somehow exempt from your rage against "real" religions? Or the virginful offspring who was skinny, longhaired, sword-weilding, self-doubting and prone to cannibalism (and later executed by his peers), has ideas that are somehow immune from your faunt of "true religion" wisdom? You know, thank the gods for Anderson Cooper. I have no doubt that the leadership of Scientology is corrupt and abusive, but your complete condemnation for all Scientologists -- and their beliefs -- is completely disgusting. Now go back to your re-runs of Ugly Betty and let the real thinkers and journalists do the reporting. Moron.

• But it is a Scientologist's BELIEF in holding KSW above all other "dynamics" that results in abuses? Isn't that the belief, and the reason Rathbun destroyed records about Lisa M? To KSW. That's what he believed at the time. As you know, I don't believe in the theory that Marty was a marionette, on the strings of the evil reverse-Dianetics practicing midget 24/7 until he woke up over the rainbow in Hubbardland. (Because his house was on stilts, it missed landing on the evil midget.) So, anyone protesting Scientology's abuses, is really protesting their HIGHEST dynamic, KSW. The only core belief I see in Scientology, is "Make money by getting other people to pay into, or work for Scientology."

• Dear Scientologist, I don't know why I'm bothering to reply, since your capacity for logic has been severely crippled and, from my experience over the years, you will not be able to grasp and compute any of the following, but here goes: <b>1. None of you have been in Scientology 2. None of you have been in the Sea Org 3. None of you were born and raised as a Scientologist.</b> How do you know? You can tell if a person is or has been a Scientologist by the way they type? <b>I have been in all of these fields and I can tell you regardless of what Anderson "exposes" Scientology has drastically improved my life, my income and stability as a person. I am happy, educated on how to live life to the fullest and to make sure I do well regardless. I am forever grateful to have that experience.</b> Good for you. But there are literally thousands of other Scientologists who do not share your positive experiences. Their stories count, too. <b>I've never been hit, punched or hurt while I was in the Sea Org.</b> While plenty of others have come forward stating that they have, along with many other forms of abuse. Your personal experience may differ from others. <b>So instead of assuming and outright attacking something you don't know, why don't you FIND OUT for yourself.</b> I do know. I have found out for myself. I've spent the last 15 years finding out. <b>Read a book, really talk to some Scientologists and Sea Org members and see how they are.</b> I have read many, many books. On both sides. I have talked to Scientologists, inside and out. I have seen how they are (how long before you being asking me "what are your crimes?" repeatedly with that blank stare?). <b>Why can't you just respect our/my beliefs. I don't tell you how to flush the toilet, live your life or what to ready or believe in so respect our beliefs and just live your life.</b> Again, going back to your capacity for logic, critics have said time and time and time and time again...this is not about Scientology's beliefs. It is about their actions. Two totally different things. Try to think about that for a minute. Belief. Action. TOTALLY. DIFFERENT. THINIGS. <b>You do better not to speak in anger about something you've never DONE OR BEEN APART OF.</b> Right. I've never been a part of the Nazi party, so I'd be better not to think that genocide or anti-Semitism is wrong. That is the logic you are employing here. You're only being a good Scientologist and blindly assuming all critics of the "church" are fueled by hate, bigotry, and intolerance when the truth is literally the exact opposite. You tell them to read a book and find out what your "religion" is about while you willfully ignore any of the details of the actual complaints people have about Scientology. I sincerely hope you remain happy in your relationship with Scientology, but if ever, LRH forbid, you find yourself the victim of the sorts of abuses that many ex-members have detailed over the years, I think you'll find that people such as Anonymous will be there to help you more than your "church" ever will.

• We love you Tony Ortega! You have been one of the most effective voices at the front lines of the critical investigations of this cult and I appreciate and share your valid frustrations. The fact is that I also have admiration for CNN & Anderson Cooper for their history in taking on Scientology. This CNN interview back in 2007 with the now defected Mike Rinder shows Rinder lying through his teeth http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sebd9TJH1Fo The SP Times interviewed Rinder, as documented here: Mike Rinder Finally Admits to the Violence, Sadism and Bloodshed of Cult Leader David Miscavige http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lN4d_j2O_4&NR=1 I'm looking forward to seeing Rinder speak up on camera and face Anderson's questioning now that he's out of scientology. I hope that Cooper's 4 part series starting Monday on CNN will include such an interview. I know what you would be doing if you were Anderson Cooper doing this story. But CNN runs that show and since we don't know the guidelines Cooper had to work around,it's better to wait out the show and then say what needs to be said.

• Correction: 2...controlled by the policies and beliefs of L. Ron Hubbard, not (s.b. NOW) being carried out by Miscavige.

• The problems in persecuting the cult for forced abortions, child labor, or Marty Rathbun covering up Lisa McPherson's death have to do with people involved (witnesses, participants) not coming forward AT THE TIME the crimes were committed. This is the problem being articulated in Australia, by Xenophon, that Scientology operates like a criminal organization, yet gets away with it because of a loophole in the system. That's why he wants a Senate investigation. The judiciary and the law enforcement system is not set up to deal effectively with cults, which have their own INTERNAL systems of policing and control. In Scientology, it is brainwashing. Repetitive drills that destroy a person's logic and will to resist. And why don't people come forward at the time they are forced to do these crimes? 1. Because of a policy/belief to KSW above all else, as set forth by Hubbard. 2. Because they are brainwashed and controlled by the policies AND beliefs of L. Ron Hubbard, not being carried out by Miscavige. And no super empowered OT in the whole cult has the power individually or as a collective to overthrow the midget! Instead toadies like Rinder and Rathbun hung on FOLLOWING for decades. Cult parents willingly sign their kids over for slave labor, women consent to abortions, Marty Rathbun destroys important records concerning Lisa's final weeks, BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE ARE BRAINWASHED, by a system that has policies AND BELIEFS (KSW overrides other "dynamics") as set forth by a paranoid megalomaniac and compulsive liar named L. Ron Hubbard. David Miscavige is only following Hubbard's behavior and policies. For example, in Scientology, "education" is considered to mean, "education in Scientology to KSW" the evidence being Hubbard flunked out of college and David Miscavige didn't bother to finish high school. Hubbard wouldn't allow Quentin to go to college or take flying lessons or do anything that wasn't KSW. Scientology would have collapsed under the leadership of some milquetoast/drunkard like Pat Broeker. Even Marty Wrathbuns has admitted as much. It needed someone with energy and the willingness to make a few changes to keep the scam going. It needed a dictator like Miscavige. Sorry to go overboard here with my comments, but I'm frustrated that my post, where I made a point similar to Tony's (before he posted his comment) didn't get posted on Anderson's blog. I think they got flooded by the cult mail. For me, it is show me a "clear" or show me a "super power" or shut about your IQ going up 20 points because of your participation in this abusive, totalitarian brainwashing cult. Hubbard fans...watch Tom Cruise in his video? Is that good communication? The writing ability of Marty Rathbun sucks! He'd made a good contestant in a bad writing contest. Hubbard's contradictions, bizarre theories, and bad science are laughable. Yes, right, all because I didn't allow myself to go through years of expensive Scientology brainwashing. I know. My bad. If Scientologists (independent or cult) would just keep this crap to themselves, I wouldn't care. But no! They have to hard sell it to the planet, or they won't be doing Hubbard's will. I protest for the dead, vulnerable people like Kaja Ballo who had the immense misfortune to be depressed, and live near a Scientology building. I protest, because of Tom Cruise, who is an uneducated nitwit, who influences a lot of people because of his position in popular culture, to want to "try Scientology, to see if it works for YOU." I don't protest because of Rinder or Wrathbuns and their thwarted mission to save the planet with Ron-tech, until they "realized," after decades, they'd been under the spell of a midget wielding "reverse Dianetics." Hitler wasn't even born that bad. Growing up he was a person people didn't even notice. Some of his WWI buddies couldn't remember they served in the same unit with him. He was forged by circumstances, specific talents, beliefs, people he came in contact with, things he read, and created a whole system of his own, that fooled an entire nation. I'm not going to ignore the system and beliefs in Scientology, and the importance of it in forming David Miscavige into the person he is, or the cult the way it is, in how they think and operate. Wake up! Hubbard wrote Fair Game. Hubbard wrote about disposing of the low toned quietly and without sorrow.

• Guess I don't get the rage, Tony. Fraud, assault, forced abortions, fair game(slander, libel, stalking, privacy invasion,trying to "destroy someone utterly") and slave labor are crimes, crimes the "church" has yet to be held accountable for. Yes the FBI should get involved. The real question is why they haven't. Something like Operation Snow White II anyone...? <b>Instead of making excuses for federal law enforcements bizarre hands off policy, call more attention to the obvious crimes and force them to do their job.</b> That's the media's job, fyi. And you're wrong about the core beliefs being the problem. Just look at the Freezone. Same core beliefs, but no Mafia racket. You can believe anything you want, but it's what you do that matters. <b> And from a strategy angle you play into scilon hands when you agree its about beliefs. Then they get to say you're a religious bigot and serve you a big plate of FAIL.</b> All the abuses of Scientology are CRIMES. Treat them as CRIMES and WIN will be epic. There is no counter argument to CRIMES. Should there be more done? Or is there a better way to do it? Hell yeah, but this isn't the only thing ever that is being done to fight Co$ so chill. Every bit helps. At this point any anti scilon publicity...based on the facts of Scientology's criminal actions... is win.

• Tony, your article doesn't state anything valuable or true. I just love to yawn because I can tell you've fabricated every line. And for all those people who love to be critics and state what they FEEL as opposed to what they know to be factual. 1. None of you have been in Scientology 2. None of you have been in the Sea Org 3. None of you were born and raised as a Scientologist. I have been in all of these fields and I can tell you regardless of what Anderson "exposes" Scientology has drastically improved my life, my income and stability as a person. I am happy, educated on how to live life to the fullest and to make sure I do well regardless. I am forever grateful to have that experience. I've never been hit, punched or hurt while I was in the Sea Org. I have some of the best moments of HELPING others while I was in the Sea Org and remain a Scientologist. So instead of assuming and outright attacking something you don't know, why don't you FIND OUT for yourself. Read a book, really talk to some Scientologists and Sea Org members and see how they are. Why can't you just respect our/my beliefs. I don't tell you how to flush the toilet, live your life or what to ready or believe in so respect our beliefs and just live your life. You do better not to speak in anger about something you've never DONE OR BEEN APART OF.

• Ortega is far from being a scieno Rhino. He just thinks that there needs to be an all out investigation and that somebody needs to have the balls to say yes this is about the core beliefs. LCon invented the abuses and the fraud that is being run today.

• Dawn - I guess it was the "before they were silly, but now they are dangerous" statement that threw me. A lot of people don't know how long some of us have been screaming on deaf ears long before Anonymous came along - not to say they aren't a welcome relief to the chorus. I apologize if my comment came off harsh. You've done great things in helping expose the abuses perpetrated by the "church." As you can imagine, a decade-and-a-half of enduring their BS has left me a little emotional about the subject.

• Anon in LA, I wasn't stating that Scientology was a silly joke in literal sense, I was referring to the public's perception. The general consensus was that Scientology was kooky religion for celebs, but now, with all the publicity and information which has surfaced, people are much more aware of the dangers behind the facade. I thought I was pretty straight forward in my comment, but apparently not.

• We are parents from the UK , We are fighting to get our daughter and her future husband out of this CULT, The church continues to attract controversy over claims that it separates members from their families and indoctrinates followers. We have had a Death threat and recently our Dog was about to be stolen, these are only a few to mention, is this FAIRGAME ? THIS IS ONLY A PART OF OUR STORY; MAKE UP YOUR OWN MIND. WE HAVE Our daughter Rebecca says she will never disconnect from the family as she would tell them where to go, but we know its only a matter of time We have always been a close loving family with no secrets. Rebecca has a boy friend David been 29 years of age and he RECRUITED Becky into the Church of Scientology, about 6 years ago. We were not made clear at the time that she had joined a Cult, I undertook massive research on the Church of Scientology and to our horror we did not like what we found. We sat down and gave Rebecca our views in a very calm manor but to no avail. Last year she went on the Freewinds this been the second trip in a period of Six Months, where she got engaged. Rebecca has paid over 7k to the COS for services since her involvement they call it Donations. In October 07 Rebecca agreed to leave the org at Manchester and not to set foot in the place again, this was promised for the love of the family and even though her boy friend remains in it we had to believe in her. We asked her to hand write to the org in Manchester and St hill and a copy to Clearwater, I took photo copies of the letters and I personally posted them, The content as follows the same for each address. Dear - I have decided not to do any more courses and will not be renewing my membership. Please make sure that all future mail to me is stopped. I would like to thank the staff at Manchester for the help I have received over the past years. Yours sincerely Becky. We thought this would be her last involvement; even knowing her boyfriend (MENTOR) is a massive member and still dependent on Scientology. To date we have written over 10 letters to the COS and still no reply. We have done a number of interviews with Anonymous at Manchester and recently an independent freelace journalist, most of the interviews are available on youtube . We have also been on the BBC Radio 2 program with Jeremy Vine in 2008 We have never had one reply from any of there staff, or even an assurance from there Mr. Brinkman or even there head of communications Graeme Wilson that they will leave her alone, we have bank documentation that in Feb o8 they still took her money for there services. Her Boy friend is her Scientology mentor and soon to be her future husband. The COS rules are if she cant handle us, i.e. get us to accept Scientology then she will have to Disconnect or her boyfriend has to end there relationship, Rebecca has been hypnotized in the very early stages by the COS she has a mindset not to accept any negative / critical information, if we attempt then Becky closes down like a closed book, this is the COS training. Please note we are in contact with our daughter at all times. Becky was only with her mum the other day, I inform people of this due to some people have stated in the past that she has been Kidnapped by the Cos. Tony and Sue

• Here's what I don't get: there is nothing to "believe in" vis-a-vis Scientology. There is a bunch of crap to "practice," but no theology or religious ideology whatsoever. That's why the frickin' organization IS NOT A RELIGION. (An analogy: lawyers learn how to practice law by familiarizing themselves with rules and principles and implementing them over and over; but there is no Law God, and, thus, nothing to "believe" in. Same goes for Scientology.) If it's not a religion, then we can stop pretending they have "core beliefs" and treating this ridiculous organization with kid gloves on the theory that there is some sort of First Amendment issue where they're concerned.

• Scientology was not a "silly joke" before Anonymous. They have always been dangerous; just because fewer people were aware of it, doesn't mean this hasn't been the way they've operated from the start. As someone who's been suffering the wrath of "Fair Game" for <i>fifteen years</i> now, you can take my word for it. It's a safer route to lure people in by assuring them you are not attacking their beliefs, but rather their behavior. Most people are too lazy or complacent to dig beneath the surface and for far, far too long it's that ignorant "it's a free country/they're no kookier than any religion/people have the right" attitude that has allowed this crime syndicate to thrive. Whatever gets people to wake up and see this "religion" for what it really is, I'll take it.

• Coop has mentioned he got blitzed by outraged cult members, with a letter that was similar. Cult members are NOT allowed to watch this program. They aren't even allowed to have their own thoughts about it. Freedumb Mag will tell them WHAT to think, and how to express the the cult's outrage. You know, it is KSW. It is ALL KSW.

• Tony's motives? For Xenu's sake, he's a sharp, intelligent, witty, informed critic of the Scientology scam. And there's no undermining of Cooper here. That's absurd! If anything Coop could do very well to read Tony's criticism and take it into consideration in the next piece he does on Scientology. Tony's not going to influence whether people watch this, or what they get out of it, or what it accomplishes. Networks and newspapers will do whatever they do, for the ratings and out of professional responsibility. The more I think about it, the focus of this piece being on Miscavige could help collapse the cult from the inside. Even cult members like Paul Haggis didn't give a crap about what went down with Lisa McPherson, Paulette Cooper, Jeremy Perkins etc., but some cult members care about what is being said about Miscavige, and can't help but be curious about Rathbun and Rinder, and why not Scobee too, if they can forgive her for her being The Adulteress. (LOL) This cult is too much! Anything with Tommy Davis, cult spokesliar, can't be missed! All his "obstications." The way he "twists and turns things," just like the internet. A drinking game is in order for how many times he says "ecclesiastical."

• After reading the majority of these comments, I can only assume that A) People are enormous fans of Anderson Cooper and cannot deal with criticisms of AC's reporting. B) People cannot/do not read. C) People are morons. D) All of the above. This article is clearly an attack on AC for not addressing the real issue here. Often, under a blanket a political correctness, the media fears exposing religion (or cults) for the brainwashing, money laundering machines that they are. This four (?) part series should do all it can to highlight the real damage which Scientology inflicts on its followers. After all, a smack in the face pales in comparison to convincing someone that science fiction is fact.

• Clearly Anderson Cooper and CNN cannot come out and blatantly attack any "religion" no matter how heinous it may be. Seems to me that was the point that Anderson was trying to make. As other commenters have pointed out, Anderson and CNN are getting all sorts of hate mail and the story has no even aired. Oh, the premature screaming attacks of religious zealots. Stunning! I can see Tony's point to a degree, but it does rather makes me wonder what his motives are. Hmmm...he chose a most unflattering photo of Mr. Cooper to accompany his article. In my experience, bad photos of Anderson are quite hard to come by.

• I agree that the author of this article is bound and determined to undermine Cooper. Look, it doesn't matter whether he exempts some Scientologists or not. Brainwashing is bad for children as well as adults and fraud is illegal...so Tony, again, what's your point?

• For me, the Xenu story always deserves inclusion. It is evidence of how Hubbard constructed a trap. Manipulate by bait and switch (engrams for BTs), threaten (illness from pneumonia, possible death), extort money (high cost of reaching OTIII), and deceive (withholding the core belief of WHY Scientology is necessary) EVERY one of their members. The beliefs and process (brainwashing) of Scientology are integral to understanding anything about the organization. The how and why, a person reaches the executive level, and allows a leader to beat them, yet still continue lying (like Mike Rinder) is more important than the beating itself. We know how totalitarian systems work, but people need to understand how it works in Scientology. With their upcoming series, UNTIL NOTHING REMAINS, a drama of a family torn apart by Scientology, the Germans are doing something that could be much more effective at awakening the public to Scientology's abusive trap. I understand how people IGNORE things about Scientology, because I was one myself, until I saw the Tom Cruise video, which is the first thing that alerted me to the fact Scientologists, Marty Rathbun and Mike Rinder included, think they are destined to run the world, with Hubbard's draconian ideas and simplistic solutions for the world's problems. I have personal reasons for being more clued in to how totalitarianism works, compared to other people. Anyway, I think the message gets confused, when there is too much nice talk about the nobility of Scientology to help someone, when contrasted to slapping incidents, and an executive like Marty Rathbun's mission to save the planet being thwarted. The sole "hook" of the Miscavige tale, is that he is supposed to be the leader of a "religion," and that he slaps people. A secondary hook is that he is tiny. No one has been hospitalized for being beaten by him? Thousands of battered women end up at an ER, just in mainstream society. No reporter is going to ask Mike Rinder why he's selling cars, when as an executive, head of the OSA, and with super powers, he should be as half as successful as Tom Cruise by now. Again, I think the way to reach people, is with a dramatized story of a person or whole family's experience in Scientology, beginning to end. It is up to a TV journalist like Cooper to nail Scientology on their "millions of members" claim so the public will understand how they lie. "Isn't it true you are expanding in square footage, and that your membership is shrinking...and with the exorbitant prices for courses, some packages going for $50,000...why is it you can't give an accurate number of people now currently taking Scientology courses." Likewise, I think it would "scientific" for a journalist to ask about use of the DC8 airplane design for a space vehicle to other star systems, 75 million years ago. We aren't talking about a story that was told thousands of years ago, when most people couldn't read or write, like Noah's Ark, we are talking about a religion that started as a pseudo-science in the 1950's, heavy on the "pseudo" and nil on scientific evidence or plausibility. The problem with Scientology is that few people are able to conceive of themselves getting involved with it, so that's why a well done drama, about how someone gets involved with it, will attract more attention than a news story about Slappy Miscavige and his submissive underlings. I'll give Coop a chance though. They've spent months on this...maybe it will be as good as the FOUR CORNERS program.

• "The beliefs of these morons are crucial because it's their beliefs that allow the perpetuation of what is essentially a criminal business enterprise, a fact that has been established over and over in courts around the world." You prefer the belief become illegal and the believers labelled morons, rather than the criminal business enterprise itself face prosecution? Revoke tax exemption for proven illegal activity; don't abridge the individual's freedom of religion or belief. If scientology has been established as a criminal enterprise over and over in courts around the world, aren't the courts allowing this perpetuation, not the beliefs or the believers?

• I share your opinions on the Scientology "religion" and tax matter but I think you may be misguided on what the show is going to document. Sometimes actions speak louder than words. I suspect that the reason Cooper isn't delving onto the religion part is that he wanted to get the stories of those who left but still subscribe to the beliefs, along with others who broke free and regard it as a cult. Perhaps there would have been less cooperation if the beliefs were extensively examined and ridiculed.This is my suspicion. As you know, there are people like Marty Rathbun who have left after being subjected to and being a part of the culture of violence that David Miscavige took his cues from Hubbard on before his exodus from the management scene. Any old timer will tell you of the the overboarding while at sea and Hubbard's cruel and inhuman acts against Sea Org members who had the misfortune to cross his path. Rathbun has been rallying those who have escaped the church into his corner for some time now, doing damage control to keep them in the beliefs of the church while targeting Miscavige as the WHY for all things wrong with scientology. He even used your friend Jason Beghe as a lure to getting others to come get fixed up and stop talking bad about this cult. Rathbun held the strings to some of the interviewees because he himself is a former top exec of the church. Because of this, I can see why Cooper made the choice to just look at the culture of the church management. Never the less, there are those who don't subscribe to the beliefs any longer and they along with members will be speaking up and describing the totalitarian tactics inherent within the policies of the church that are used to keep members from leaving or making life miserable becaue they escaped. The press release stated that much. So the deeper subjects of the practices of the churvch are going to be looked at indepth. Better to wait and see what the show is about before we second guess what it's going to result in. Any media attention on the wrongs of Scientology is better than none.

• Side note: When we bought our house in 89, the previous owners were members were Scientology. We began to get their "mail" from Scientology. This groups programs "started" at $30,000 in '89! We learned from neighbors that their split was over the church of Scientology. He was in, and she wasn't,that kind of thing. Apparently they had huge fights every night. To this day, we get their literature even though I have complained to the post office. Their lexicon is extremely hard to understand. Cults are dangerous.

• Hey Tony, why doesn't someone try to find out what DM did with his wife after she caught him making time with an underling.

• Tony, you best be trollin, bro. You know you know better. This isn't about the sweet innocent believers who have never ever seen such abuses. Sure, they outnumber the pitiful victims of the Sea Org, but this isn't about them. It's about the crimes and abuses of Scientology, Incorporated, and you know that as well as anyone. So wtf is up with this piece? Professional butthurt? Cuz c'mon, Anderson Cooper's 4 part series is going to educate people who somehow missed the SP Times articles, the NY Times front page Sunday spread, the Today show, the MSNine show, all the other shows that perhaps only a few people interested in fighting Scientology have seen. Sup, Tony? Really, you used to be cool, man!

• Tony you and I both know (as we've both been covering the CoS for a while now) that you are right that the tech is complete and utter bullshit, however, attacking the tech and the tenets of the religion aren't going to help bring down the CoS. Exposing their fraud, their hypocrisy, violence and abuse of our laws will certainly eat away at their credibility and if they continue to bleed members, eventually they will run out of the lifeblood which keeps them going: money. The best way to unravel Scientology is bit by bit. They were a silly joke before the whole Anonymous movement, but now they are a dangerous joke and people are catching on. While I agree with your core assertions, I worry that the tone and cynicism of you article and blatant swipes at Anderson Cooper will undermine the overall effort. As this stage in the fight, we can't afford to knock down anyone willing to take them on. I talked to Cooper's PR people and when I pressed them about whether they were being harassed, it was clear they were under attack by the legion of lawyers at CoS' disposal. I deeply understand your frustration, and perhaps even resentment, over having done a brutal amount of work trying to get the attention of the authorities and public to see the truth, but we aren't there yet. Rome wasn't built in a day, and Scientology won't be destroyed by one reporter's investigation. However, it all adds up, and the dominoes continue to fall. Chin up Tony, CNN reporting is a good thing, even if they don't really understand the big picture. Yet.

• Don't worry, Tommy Davis will be on the show and save it.

• It's perfectly legitimate for Anderson Cooper to pick his own particular focus when doing his own story on Scientology. If you would personally prefer to see a piece with a different focus, I suggest you create one yourself, Mr. Ortega. It is also misguided to start attacking a piece you haven't even seen yet. Any critical and factual piece on Scientology has value regardless of whether if conforms to your whims. Creating one and making it public also requires some bravery, and there have already been reports that Anderson and his producer have been enduring harassment in a number of forms. Let's not add to that harassment by attacking them for not approaching the topic like you would, especially when complaints are this premature.

• Tony, You call this slam misguided I see. It's not misguided. The problem here is that YOU don't know about the history of scientology. I DO! Watch the show before you critize it please as it will be important information for people to hear. It doesn't cover all the issues that you would like addressed. But it is just the beginning. And it is critical to get the general public interested in the abuses and criminality so that they put pressure on their government officials, as is happening in Australia presently.

• I understand your point Mr. Ortega. One of the things that always gets to me about most of these high-level defectors is that they think all the problems with the cult have to do with the Tiny Terror. They wear rose tinted spectacles when it comes to the megalomaniacal Hubbard who's policies Miscavige carries out with ruthless precision. Li'l Davy's problem is that Hubbard at least had some kind of charisma (when he wasn't on a rage), whereas Mr. Miscavige is just a horrible little martinet who nobody likes. Nobody. Not even his family from what I've read. I suspect that Rathbun, Rinder and their ilk want to keep Hubbard's legend and the "tech" alive so they can swoop in and take over the cult when the statcrash gets too great and it collapses under the weight of its overvalued real estate portfolio.

• So because Anderson Cooper is not reporting exactly as Tony Ortega wants, he is a "jackass." Sounds like something the religious right would do.

• Thanks, Gerard. I've been writing about Scientology's scams for 15 years, and I've never had more than a minimum of trouble from their attorneys. Journalists who work for more nervous organizations tend to exaggerate that part of it. Tony O

• Tony, Yep. Anderson could indeed cover much more than mere physical abuse. And the public would yawn if he did. And the church's lawyers would have a field day. The real sad part here is that the general public (CNN's audience), eat up the violence thing. It gets ratings. Period. Obviously you know that. Going after Hubbard's philosophy, no matter how bizarre, is a dead end for any journalist. You want to talk about weird beliefs? Look at the prospect of a God who would actually burn your loved ones in a fiery pit, forever, because they didn't believe in Jesus. I'm not making fun, I'm proving a point. Settle down Christians. Now, what do you think would happen to any journalist who went after Christianity's belief system and claimed that tithing or donating toward a new and bigger church is just a scam? That would be one unemployed journalist. It falls under the category of religious intolerance and in this politically correct world, it's utterly taboo. Anderson knows EXACTLY what he's doing. Hey, why don't YOU do a piece on the scam aspect of the church? Seriously. Go for it. It seems to be a real source of frustration for you. Then, grab yourself the best legal defense team on earth because you're gonna need them! Trust me.

• right on the money Tony AS USUAL. And to all you morons thinking he's a scientologist or sci-apologist read what he wrote last fall: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2009/10/in_france_scien.php or how 'bout this from May 08: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2008/05/jason_beghe_to.php and a whole bunch more google is your friend

• Oops, did I say billion dollar? Well, that's what I get for rushing... No, I'm not suggesting that Anderson's will be a puff piece. Even if he only rehashes what the St. Pete Times does, it will be a worthwhile show. But by announcing up front that he won't even get into the tech, the payments, the deception, he misses the opportunity educate the millions about Scientology's underlying scam. Here's an analogy: writing only about how DM treated his underlings would be like doing an "expose" that John Gotti smacked his lieutenants around. Interesting, sure. But without context that this is a criminal exercise that exists only through extortion, you get a piece that, ultimately, isn't very helpful. That kind of admission from Anderson, that he'll have one hand tied behind his back, really sets me off (as you can tell). Still, I will be watching every episode with interest, and I hope the larger public's interest is aroused. Tony O.

• "billion-dollar contracts"? Do you mean billion-YEAR contracts? I hope so. You should proofread a little.

• Right on Tony! Of course it is their beliefs and most of them lead right into the abuse. Consider the Tom Cruise, Scientologist video: "We are the authorities...a Scilon just does...KSW...all Scilon planet in 100 years...no SPs (insert maniac laugh)." Tom Cruise is the first Scilon to reveal to masses of the public the goals and real beliefs of this cult, and some people just dismiss it as enthusiasm, without reading the nutty totalitarian policies behind it, and what all these crazy acronyms mean. None of these news people even mention that Tom Cruise, John Travolta and David Miscavige are all high school dropouts, yet Scientology wants to reform the country's educational system with APPLIED SCHOLASTICS. Everything from you have to lie to control people, to Fair Game. Then there's all these drills that seemingly have the power to turn some half intelligent people into Ronbots, who KSW as programmed. In or out of the cult, try discussing DC8 airplanes 75 million years ago with a Scilon. According to their POLICIES, they have an imperative to rule the world, lie about everything while trying to take over education, business, medicine, other religions and the government. Hubbard said "become the law" and he meant that literally. On the other side, any publicity is better than no publicity. During Hubbard's life, much of his personal habits and behavior, such as pill popping, tirades, wife hopping, driving son Quentin to suicide, over-boarding middle-aged ladies etc., even recordings of his voice, were kept private. So, at least they are getting into some of Miscavige's personality and abuses, something to counteract Tommy Davis saying "ecclesiastical" in every fourth sentence. Even if Miscavige weren't violent, there's the issue of how Scientology has condemned itself by allowing these executives like Marty Rathbun to run amok, beating on people during 50 incidents. No one went to the police, ever? Hardly anyone reported this in the cult, and why? That means something is seriously wrong with these brainwashed, submissive cult members. Also, I'm sure Anderson Cooper will bring to light the RPF. This will do a lot to dry up new membership. Any potential new member who doesn't have thousands to blow, is going to think twice about signing a billion year contract, if it means they'll end up doing hard labor punishment and making $14 to $50/week. Tax payers should know what they are footing part of the bill for here, with Scientology's "religious devices" like the treadmill, sauna, e-meter, and astronaut training gyroscope to come. Someone needs to expose the fraud in Scientology claiming their sauna raises IQ, and that it is "scientific" as was recently said by the head of Scientology Australia.

• Okay Tony. Ball's in your court. You go ahead and get more exposure about Scientology than what Cooper's report will.

• You sound a bit jealous Tony. Did CNN turn you down for a job?

• Mr Ortega needs to loosen his backwards cap as it is obviously choking needed nutrients. The abuses are real and Anderson Cooper's work is a welcome addition to the ever growing exposure of the diminutive tyrant.

• "some people sign billion-dollar contracts in Scientology"? Hmm. That's news to me. Thanks Tony! (jackass)

• "The author of this story is obviously a scientologist or a scientology sympathizer." Tony a scilon? LOL, wut? Lurk Moar. Nice take Tony, as usual. Crack that whip on the main stream press, they deserve it. However, I still like the fact AC360 is doing this show-- lots of what you want to come out may well seep through the cracks.

• "This somewhat amusing sideshow, that the church's highest member allegedly gets rough with his underlings, and that Scientology is also ruthless with the tiny number of Sea Org members around the world, is hardly as important as the basics of the "religion" itself and how Scientology has manipulated the U.S. government into subsidizing their mafia scheme with tax-exempt status." YES. Thank you, Tony, for pointing out the great whitewashing that's going on. Scientology is an organized crime syndicate. THIS is the issue, not that Miscavige hits people.

• How exactly does one act as a 'sympathizer' by calling it an "abomination of a 'church'"? His point it clear to anyone with any comprehension of the English language that what Cooper is doing is puffery and doesn't go far enough towards exposing the cult for what it it. Read past the headline next time.

• (or a scientologist sympathizer) which he clearly is by attempting to discredit Cooper in this article

• lol at the idiot who thinks that Tony Ortega is a scientologist. Sir, please lurk moar, for your own good. I agree with Tony. The tech is the problem here. It is what perpetrated the abuses during both Hubbard AND Miscavige. Let's not fool ourselves here please.

• So does the physical violence make it a cult and child molestation make it a religion? this poll so far says cult: http://www.livecitizen.com/2010/03/scientology-religion-cult/

• The author of this story is obviously a scientologist or a scientology sympathizer. Anderson Cooper is doing a great thing here by raising awareness of the cult. People need to know about the organization so they know NEVER to get involved with them. It's a slippery slope to their rpf, which is basically a labor camp.

• The author of this story is obviously a scientologist or a scientology sympathizer. Anderson Cooper is doing a great thing here by raising awareness of the cult. People need to know about the organization so they know NEVER to get involved with them. It's a slippery slope to their rpf, which is basically a labor camp.

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