Tuesday, July 20, 2010

New Scientology church in Pasadena

A glowing press release announces the opening of a new Scientology church in Pasadena:

A 25-piece marching band welcomed over 4,200 to the Grand Opening of the new Church of Scientology of Pasadena today. Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center and ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion, officiated, welcoming dignitaries, parishioners and guests to the Church’s new 58,000-square-foot facility.
Among religions, Scientology is a particular derision-magnet for several reasons.  Despite the name, there is no science at work in Scientology.  The teachings of the church are wisdom that it's founder, L. Ron Hubbard declared, apparently from his revelations.  Then there is the church's origin as a system of therapy that the founder converted into a religion, perhaps for the tax benefits and perhaps for the power.  And the business-oriented nature of the church is another point of contention, selling courses and materials for in exchange for enlightenment.  Finally, there is the incredible belief system.  At the low lever, removing En-grams through auditing is primitive, amateur psychotherapy.  At the high-level, the story of Xenu and Thetans is far-fetched.

But a humanist and a rationalist would say that Scientology exemplifies and exaggerates the negative points of all revelation-based belief systems.

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