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177 Comments
- 00dontpanic00, on 05/09/2008, -0/+207Thank goodness another person realized he was being taken.
- Hoshi101, on 05/09/2008, -0/+125Scientologists are leaving en masse now that they realize they're just being exploited. Except for Tom Cruise; he's crazy as a loon and has his goals set on being the next DM - in fact, scientologists are required to call him "sir" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTqsyOk3zdI&feature ...
I mean seriously, WTF? - FLMomAnon, on 05/09/2008, -0/+91Not a good week for Scilons
- 3rdcoast, on 05/09/2008, -9/+70i smell caek bitches
- nnemus, on 05/09/2008, -0/+58Packer probably got tired of scientology hitting him up for money. Salvation awaits, for $1000/hr!
- NoxAeternus, on 05/09/2008, -0/+55When will Isaac Hayes leave so we can get Chef back?
- SgtAl, on 05/09/2008, -0/+53This will hurt the cults expansion plans in Australia, Packer had a lot of money and influence to throw around in their support.
- felinonymous, on 05/09/2008, -0/+48This is certainly a pleasant way for the coS to begin a new week of stats. Oh no! Downstat already?
Get used to it. - Icouldbe, on 05/09/2008, -0/+45This is why they try to keep people from learning about what they "believe" and disconnected from people who disagree, they're scared that as people start to think for themselves they'll realize this is just a money making scheme and another false religion.
- picaflor999, on 05/09/2008, -1/+43Here's ANOTHER top Scilon defector, NEW! and very serious business:
http://digg.com/business_finance/The_Affidavit_of_ ... - anonymouschick2, on 05/09/2008, -2/+37I hope they have a cash Llama, cause their cash COW has just left the building!
- MarkayBayan, on 05/09/2008, -0/+33I think it's been more of a bad 2008 for scientology.
I thought the week of Kaja and Beghe was bad for them, but it was just another in a series of really bad weeks.
That aside, they targeted and recruited Packer at one of the lowest points in his life. The CoS tends to be a bit vulture-like in this respect when it comes to high-profile individuals. - inactive, on 05/09/2008, -0/+33They will kill him now.
- JoshuaLowe, on 05/09/2008, -2/+35The Exorcist IV: Never Gonna Give You Up
The power of Rick Astley compels you!
The power of Rick Astley compels you!
The power of Rick Astley compels you! - no12u, on 05/09/2008, -0/+30WOW! More good news today. The CoS has got to be ***** bricks but it smells like cake. I guess we'll find out if they have any dirt on Mr. Packer soon enough. Peaceful Protest = End Of Dangerous Cult
- Anubis114, on 05/09/2008, -1/+29The flood gates are opening, the entranced are awakening!
- mark076h, on 05/09/2008, -2/+30***** Scientology
- nard3456, on 05/09/2008, -0/+27Why do people buy into Scientology in the first place, I mean no religion has been proven but Scientology is obviously a scam.
- Farmer77, on 05/09/2008, -0/+27Awesome! Now we have to get Will Smith and the Bart Simpson voice person out. As for Tom Cruise...he can stay there.
- Runawaygerbil, on 05/09/2008, -0/+26i remain skeptical of stuff like this. what if they just want to put sleeper agents of sorts around the world that publicly wouldn't be connected to Scientology.
i mean brainwashing doesn't just go away when someone calls it quits. - omnithought, on 05/09/2008, -1/+26Good! One less moron. I can't believe Jason Lee is still of of them.
- fivo7, on 05/09/2008, -0/+25Mr Packer and his fortune were embraced at Scientology's highest levels.
gone wealthiest scientologist and media baron, down under is free of direct scientology censorship
chose cash over cult! - T8erT0T, on 05/09/2008, -0/+24At least he managed to leave with money
- RandomnessUK, on 05/09/2008, -9/+33CAEK GODDAMN
- omababy, on 05/09/2008, -1/+24Inheritance
- RcFromTwitter, on 10/10/2009, -7/+27In case of Digg effect:
THE Church of Scientology has lost its grip on James Packer.
The billionaire's closest friends have revealed that he has quietly distanced himself from Scientology, labelled a cult by some former members, as it faces international controversy about its anti-psychiatry stance.
Members of Mr Packer's inner circle have confirmed that the billionaire, who had ranked as Scientology's wealthiest member in the world, was no longer undertaking Scientology courses and had slowly moved away from the religion, telling his closest friends he no longer "needs it".
His office did not respond to the Herald's calls yesterday.
Mr Packer was introduced to Scientology by his friend Tom Cruise in 2002. Friends say they remain close. They were most recently photographed dining together with their wives in Germany.
The religion entered Mr Packer's realm at one of the lowest points in his personal and business life. He was overweight and depressed, his marriage to his first wife, Jodhi Meares, had ended and he was reeling from the humiliating and very public collapse of One.Tel, losing $350 million from the family business on the way.
He has spoken publicly of his involvement in the religion only once, telling The Australian Financial Review Magazine in 2006 that he spent an hour or so "every couple of days" practising Scientology. "I think it has been very good for me," he said. "It has been helpful. I have some friends in Scientology that have been very supportive. But I think it's just helped me have a better outlook on life."
Thanks to his Hollywood confidant Cruise, Mr Packer and his fortune were embraced at Scientology's highest levels.
A video from 2004 shows Mr Packer in the front row with the world's most senior Scientologist at a convention in Los Angeles at which Tom Cruise was awarded a large medal before a roaring crowd.
However, Scientology caused discomfort within Mr Packer's old circle of Sydney friends. When his lifelong friend David Gyngell quit Channel Nine in May 2005, it was Mr Packer who called in Scientologists to counsel the TV executive.
Out of respect for his friend, Mr Gyngell listened to them but politely said he did not need their help. In a blaze of negative publicity, he left the network his father, Bruce, had launched. Mr Gyngell has since returned to Nine and resumed his friendship with Mr Packer.
However, observers suggest Mr Packer's expanding casino empire has presented issues difficult to reconcile with Scientologist beliefs.
Scientology's founder, the science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard, denounced gambling. "An obsessive gambler is a psychotic just like a drug addict or an alcoholic," Hubbard wrote in 1977. - falafelkiosken, on 05/09/2008, -0/+19since when are former members of Scientology allowed to be friend with members of the "church"?
Oh, right, celebrity members… - inactive, on 05/09/2008, -2/+21ANONYMOUS SAVES
- tommyquinn, on 05/09/2008, -2/+20From what I read, they got this guy in their tentacles during a particularly hard and down time of his life, when he was weak. Good for him waking up and smelling the caek!
- mithrasinvictus, on 05/09/2008, -0/+18They use cheap psychological tricks to make it feel like a profound revelation. Emotion is stronger than reason and they know it
They wage war on psychiatry because that's where they stole their best tricks and psychiatrists are most likely to expose the sham. - crystalblue69, on 05/09/2008, -0/+18oh hot damn
- relaxeder, on 04/17/2009, -1/+19bitches dont know bout my thetans
- fredmv, on 05/09/2008, -0/+17Good stuff. Mark Bunker (aka `Wise Beard Man') should interview him too to get the word out. The cult is one step closer to being condemned. Don't forget the picket tomorrow guys.
- AshamedAmerican, on 05/09/2008, -0/+17If this is for real then good for him.
- moomeep, on 05/09/2008, -0/+17i hope more people will come to their ***** minds!
- zephyr42, on 05/10/2008, -0/+18I miss Chef :'-(
- falafelkiosken, on 05/09/2008, -0/+16Nancy Cartwright was doing the voice for Bart in an episode mocking CoS (The Joy of Sect), props to her for not being such a bitch like Tom or Isaac
- inactive, on 05/10/2008, -1/+17Well done anonymous, your next target, Empire USA. We would like our Constitutional Republic back please.
- Devilboy666, on 05/09/2008, -0/+16It's better if you don't know.
Trust me on this one - Dubbsacc, on 05/09/2008, -0/+16Be sure to buy our Scientology pencil! Kills thetans as you write. Only $1,000,000.
- Radan, on 05/09/2008, -2/+17Really, how the freaking hell do you manage to become a bloody billionaire and still be retarded enough to join the Church of Scientology.
On a second thought, scratch that. - inactive, on 05/09/2008, -1/+16Middle name 'Fudge'
- mrmorris, on 05/10/2008, -0/+15Welcome James, to the REAL world!
- Elderon, on 05/09/2008, -0/+15How many of these people are leaving because they realize that they are being had and how many are leaving simply to save face to make themselves merely look like the victims. distancing yourself from the sinking ship that is Scientology seems like a good plan for a billionaire.
- inactive, on 05/09/2008, -1/+15Now hurry up and join another cult, quick...
- fanclerks, on 05/09/2008, -0/+14It's good that he finally realized this, but you still gotta wonder just how much they took him for. I be they were milking him at any chance they could.
- Pogojoe, on 05/10/2008, -1/+15The submission linked to the Sydney Morning Herald. I doubt the Digg effect applies...
- DeusMachina, on 05/09/2008, -0/+13/ monty burns voice
Because people are idiots
/ monty burns voice - megarobotguy, on 05/10/2008, -0/+13He's a billionaire. I'm sure he can afford to hire armed guards and a bullet proof spaceship. :-)
- Marinium, on 05/09/2008, -0/+13Ahhh, good times, I remember those stupid Dianetics commercials on TV. I tried to read it once a long time ago. It truly was coma inducing.
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