what a lot of garbage

F*** scientology. That's my two cents.

-Fred

I think the guys on South Park said it best when they made fun of Scientology. That's one of the few episodes of the show I don't think is stupid.

It annoys me they use the word science. It's a flagrant misuse of the word which I find offensive as one of the science community.

Didn't L. Ron come clean during his life time and officially state that the best way to make money was to invent your own religion..?

And people follow the words of a guy who says that?

-Fred

I agree with your sentiments.

And, Fred, I, too, have heard that before.

They are all a bunch of wack jobs!

And Battlefield Earth Sucks.

This religion strikes me as a cult. It is way to similar to what the Heaven's Gate cult believed. Whatever works for them though.

Well everyone has their own right to do things how they please...

I certainly don't buy none of the mumbo jumbo, but that's just me...

totally agree,

Well, one things is certain: keeping a birth area free from unnecessary noise is a good idea. However, talking to the unborn child is a form of bonding that will carry over to the newborn child. And, loving attention along with loving words will most certainly help in those very early formative days, weeks and years. THAT my dear friends has been medically and scientifically proven.

Also at 48 years old, I hope Preston and the baby come through this birth healthy... I don't care how they choose to raise their child, I just wish them health bringing it into this world...

Scientology killed his son, so I don't know why he still holds onto the values. It's a stupid cult, almost an organized crime syndicate and its foolish to treat it as some "alternative" to seeing a shrink.. no wonder Tom Cruise is so fucked in the head, get that man some help ffs!.

Shame there's so many great religions that are dead, and yet this $#it is still going on.

How did it kill his son exactly?

I just know he died, but I didn't know the details.

And yes, talking to a child is extremely important! They aren't a dog (they recommend not talking to dogs, due to their communication being through body language.) Children need to be held and talked to.

Me, I don't believe in organized religion really.

I feel religion is a personal thing and should be kept that way.
It always seems when religions try to organize themselves, the establishment eventually becomes corrupt, and the true focus of the religion is lost.

Please note, I also believe in agreeing to disagree. I know a lot of people find religion to be a touchy subject. I am not trying to step on any ones toes.

I've always felt that religion was just a way to create a kingdom without borders, to unite as many people under a deity as they can, as opposed to uniting them under, say, a flag.

It's a means to an end. It just got out of hand and now the indoctrinators have become the indoctrinated. It's probably been left unchecked and recycled itself many times over during the last centuries.

What's left is a whole heap of mess for us modern-day humans to have to deal with.

The only texts written on the subject that I see any logic to, is those old indian holy texts. The ones that state that when you've ascended as a human being, you will no longer be bound to the birth-death-rebirth cycle.

And if that's all we do, then that sounds horrible. Live, die, be born again, live new lives, croak, start over, fall over, rinse, repeat... An eternity of walking around in the dark, like children in a corn field at night, stumbling about, never getting anywhere... And always going back to zero.

That sounds much like my vision of hell: Realizing there is no point to existence, and being unable to end it whenever you realize it anew. You just... forget. Start over.

I once read a poster that said "He who dies with the most toys win." Even that's not true. Amassing wealth and/or power... It's of no consequence, because at some point, you'll go back to zero.

Imagine with me a step further: Let's say we could prove this scientifically - that nobody ever truly dies, they merely start over... That would put a whole new spin on the legal system. Life in prison would be worse than the death penalty, all of a sudden.

But the upside would be that people, in general, would be a lot less afraid.

And I do believe, in earnest, that if anything, the world could do with less fear in it.

Of course, I could be wrong. And if so - I'm kind of hoping the good lord'll forgive the error of my ways.

-Fred

That's why they say friends should never discuss 3 things: Money, Politics, and Religion... No matter how civil you try to be, if you have different views even the slightest ones, someone is going to get bent out of shape eventually and feelings will end up hurt and grudges will be started...

I don't see why anyone should be bent out of shape unless someone is specifically attacking their religion and stating that what they believe is wrong.

That is when there are problems. When people say their belief is the only right one and then take an us against them mentality. Or when people try to change others beliefs.

As long as everyone keeps the attitude that what you belief is okay even if it isn't the same as mine and nobody judges others, there shouldn't be a problem.

Unfortunately, too many people become ridiculously self righteous when talking about it, which is why it is avoided. I find this forum very good at not imposing judgments on others like most forums. That is why I love this place and keep coming back.

And Fred, I think what you described is even more terrifying than death. Living in today's world sucks. People have families to give their lives meaning and enjoy it. But most people pulling the strings are corrupt and too many people are mindless zombies that do the m-f meaningless job to feed their family and provide shelter, and to consume to grow the gdp and put money in the pockets of these people.

Some people actually look forward to leaving this place to go to somewhere better. Whether this exists no one knows, but to think that we just go through it over and over as the world continues to fall apart would be absolutely torturous.

Sorry for the rant.