Getting some answers

I didn't intend for this blog to be so Scientology oriented, but once I started looking into the religion/cult, it just started taking over. It's so hard to get a real handle on it that it makes it difficult to let go.

I always want to know more. My basic problem is not figuring out why people would be Scientologists in the first place. I can understand a person's quest to improve their life and try on different belief systems. What I can't quite get, is what Scientology offers that keeps people interested and engaged -- two things that seem to mark religion, no matter a person's beliefs.

Still, can thousands of members be wrong? They must be getting something out of it, aren't they? Can that many people be brainwashed, as detractors contend?

My research so far has painted a pretty ugly picture of the Church of Scientology, or at least of its leadership and it's actual organization, as separate from believes.

I hope to get some understanding later this month when I join a group of former Scientologists at an annual weekend gathering I've been fortunate enough to be invited to. As a journalist it's a great chance to talk to a lot of people from different locales in the same setting -- and what a boon to talk to people face to face rather than through e-mail and social media.

I'm guessing some of these people abhor Scientology while others honor all or parts of it. Their stories will be fascinating, and I hope to share a few here. Something made them join, something made them stay and, then, something made them leave.

I hope to be enlightened. I long to know the attraction and substance that keeps people involved in this controversial religion/cult.

Anything that defies logic -- or at least my logic! -- moves me to desire a greater understanding. I want to know why people believe what they believe.

Stay tuned.

Scientology. What's the attraction?

I've seen the blogs, news stories, Tweets and all manner of opinion on Scientology and throughout have wondered what would be the attraction in the first place. That story doesn't seem to have been written. I hope to one day.

Meanwhile, I've come across on Marty Rathbun's blog (http://markrathbun.wordpress.com/31-factors/) and on the www.scientology-cult.com site something called 31 factors. Within telling what some claim David Miscavige is doing wrong, is a glimmer of what could be right about this religion, what would attract people to it's teachings and ways. Makes for fascinating reading.

Cults and cons

Take a look at this: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/italy/090717/vatican-investigates-legionaries-christ.

It's about a Catholic Church sect under fire for corruption, including abusing and brainwashing followers.

I saw this today. Coincidentally yesterday I watched a video of actor Jason Beghe talking about his experiences with Scientology and why he left.

Seems Scientology and the Legionaries of Christ have something in common. Beghe wold use the word "con."

My mind is boggled by what I've read about these two religions/cults. I wonder how people can be so fooled. I also wonder if I could be conned. Mostly I wonder, though, how can you figure out who to believe.

A search into people's beliefs doesn't necessarily make things more clear.

Today's flower children?

I'm working on a couple of stories from eco-Judaism to a Life in Abundance book traveling to 50 churches before being sent to Africa to Scientology. Scientology? I've been fascinated since I discovered earlier this year that in a house in the Arcadia neighborhood of Phoenix, L. Ron Hubbard
wrote out his new religion: Scientology.

The St. Peterburg Times' recent series on the leadership in the church was eye opening. Closer to home, though, I'm talking to Phoenix Chanology, a group of dedicated, self-proclaimed computer geeks who are loosely associated with a global group call Anonymous in protesting what they consider to be human rights violations by the church.

The group protests monthly wearing V for Vendetta masks and holding a big arrow-shaped sign with the word "CULT" on it, pointing it directly behind them at Phoenix's Church of Scientology headquarters. They are orderly, mannerly and have an impressive collection of documents and backup material.

I remember flower children, sit-ins, tear gas and bullets from when I was young and in high school and then college. Protests were against the Vietnam War -- which always gave me a queasy feeling because my older brother was there and I needed to support him -- no matter what.

The war today's group is fighting is one against information -- lack of information, misinformation and distorted information.

They want people to know all there is to know about Scientology. They want to give potential congregants the skinny on the religion/cult.

In the battle of information, the troops that command the greatest computer skills will win. I can't help but think these cyberspace cadets have an edge.

I wanted to know ...

I was attending a neighborhood meeting in the Arcadia area of Phoenix recently and got to wondering why people are okay with speaking out about something they don't like, but don't seem okay about finding out more about it from the horse's mouth.

District 6 Councilman Sal DiCiccio held a neighborhood forum on the Phoenix Goddess Temple http://www.phoenixgoddesstemple.org because neighbors were concerned this group would be disruptive to the neighborhood. Whispered throughout the audience were accusations of prostitution. Whether the Female Goddess-centered group is a religion or not is for others to decide, but when one of the goddesses stood up and said she would be happy to explain what goes on at the temple and explain that it isn't prostitution, no one wanted to know.

Hmmm. Here's someone openly confronting what people are whispering about, yet no one took her up on her offer of explanation. Why?

I'm looking to do a story on NIMBY's and what power they have in bringing things into their neighborhood or kicking them out. Earlier in the year, not too far from the temporary Goddess Temple site, neighbors were up in arms when they thought the Church of Scientology was turning a one-time home of L. Ron Hubbard's into a museum.

Wonder what else neighbors in that particular area have objected to? Will be looking into that story.

Stay tuned.