Daughter and this classmate of hers have been dating since August. She told us him & his whole family are Scientologists. I’m not going to lie, I didn’t know anything about it until she mentioned it, my first thought was “oh, they believe in science? That’s cool”. Then I looked it up online… and I still don’t understand anything. Most sources say it’s a bad thing, but I don’t get what it’s all actually about, as in doctrine, beliefs, activities, etc. I don’t even understand if it’s an actual religion or one of those pay-to-level-up self-care courses. One of the most confusing things I’ve ever read about. So if anyone could explain it straight to the point, I’d be very grateful.

  • curbstickle@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    3 hours ago

    There are parts of it where he explicitly has the aliens talking about how stupid humans are for following dumbass religions, and how easily religious leaders - of any religion - can be bribed with power, money, and sex.

    Its definitely not in support of any religion

      • curbstickle@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        2 hours ago

        The sheer number of different religions and the general talk about any religion, as well as the laughter at the idea of a god other than power, would have me disagree on that.

        But that’s the fun thing about books - everyone gets their own interpretation of the message!

        • HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com
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          40 minutes ago

          oh books. I only saw the movie thing and I may even be mixing it up. I saw battlfield earth but honestly it was not good and I did not pay great attention so you are likely right on this. Honesly I geeked out on the whole scientology thing at one point as it was so wierd but like now I am hard pressed to put any effort into looking into it. Maybe in the cult sense as I geeked out on cults when I realized how mlms seem to run like one.

            • HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com
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              30 minutes ago

              yeah. I don’t even read good authors anymore. If I was I would not go for him. Heck I still have not finished wheel of time. I read all the jordan but not the wrapup by the other guy. I don’t want to spoil but when the main character did that whole significant thing. I swear that book was like 10 mins long as it jumped between like two dozen different groups.

              • curbstickle@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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                19 minutes ago

                Oh he is not a good author by any stretch. The sci-fi equivalent of eating sugar - technically reading, has that fun sci-fi bits, but nothing of real value underneath.

                C.S. Friedman is a highly undervalued SciFi/Fantasy writer IMO, I think she played in a lot of the same themes as Hubbard but with way better writing and much more interesting stories.

                Hubbard was good at churn and rock solid as a swindler, and Mission Earth IMO was just him throwing his last "screw you"s to the people he conned.

                A stupid but moderately entertaining read, with insane alien sex scenes, mostly from the perspective of a (I swear I’m not joking) small dicked trickster alien who keeps screwing up his own plans. I think its Hubbard’s self insert.

                I wouldn’t bother with it though.