waffle

Gawker posts an internal Scientology propaganda clip, heavily featuring Tom Cruise.

I am honestly frightened that Scientology has not been declassified as a religion in most places yet; not because I find most religions all that sane either, but because the Church of Scientology is one of the worst entities in the world. It’s not about people paying money to sit down and be taught ridiculous “facts” — people are free to do with their money as they like. It’s not about this developing, somehow, into an addiction. It’s the relentless benevolence about everyone involved, like in any cult, to nail down everyone who leaves or opposes, to pose every piece even remotely critical as flawed and to kick off a witch hunt for the author’s head. Scientology differentiates itself from less dangerous cults by its terrifying abuse of the local legal infrastructure and by its size.

I’m hoping that in my lifetime, we will see some political leader — or, hell, a rioting population of common sense people that’s had enough — completely kick Scientology’s ass, dismantle it, and make sure something like it can never form again. There are few more deserving entities of that kind of treatment.