digg

Join DiggAbout

Discover the best of the web!
Learn more about Digg by taking the tour.

See the original image at smh.com.au

Billionaire James Packer QUITS Scientology!

smh.com.au — 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 moved away from the cult. The cult has got to be VERY upset to lose this cash-cow.

Bury
show profanity settings
expand all
  • 00dontpanic00, on 05/09/2008, -0/+207Thank goodness another person realized he was being taken.
    • thereisnostate, on 05/09/2008, -18/+251 down, a billion religious people to go
      • 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.
        • omababy, on 05/09/2008, -1/+24Inheritance
        • spawnfree, on 05/10/2008, -0/+7they come to you when you are feeling weak, just like all diseases.
      • haydesigner, on 05/10/2008, -5/+9Scientology only has about 500 thousand... (estimated in 2005)
        Source: http://preview.tinyurl.com/o080
        • anachronaut, on 05/10/2008, -4/+10Yeah, well... they're far from being the only dubious religious organization full of delusional people who are getting bilked out of their cash. As you'll notice, the poster to whom you replied said "religious people" and didn't limit the comments specifically to "Scientologists".
          • ayeroxor, on 05/10/2008, -4/+16Yeah. There's all those other major religions that charge you tens of thousands of dollars for mandatory counseling and require you to purchase all your overpriced books and bibles from the same distributor.

            Oh wait, no, there's not.

            Easy definition of a cult: Requires you to pay money (different than just putting out an offering plate and not refusing you service if you refuse to donate) and expects you to disassociate from non-members. Scientology is, and, sorry, mainstream religions like Judaism, Islam, and Christianity aren't, even though Christianity is so trendy to bash.
          • Scoresheet, on 05/10/2008, -1/+5Religion is the Opiate of the masses. And only simpletons eat poppies.
          • deanoplex, on 05/10/2008, -0/+4In the 21st. century the Internet is the opiate of the masses. (pass me the poppies)
    • 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.
      • Dubbsacc, on 05/09/2008, -0/+16Be sure to buy our Scientology pencil! Kills thetans as you write. Only $1,000,000.
        • ayeroxor, on 05/10/2008, -0/+3*rubs eyes* Kills my wife? I'll take two!
    • plimpton777, on 05/09/2008, -2/+21ANONYMOUS SAVES
      • mikelieman, on 05/10/2008, -2/+7Passes to Jesus, Back to Anonymous, to Buddha, back to Jesus and to Anonymous...

        Anonymous drives to the crease, shoots, scores!


        GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!

    • FuckThaMeme, on 05/10/2008, -0/+4Wise beard is pleased
  • 3rdcoast, on 05/09/2008, -9/+70i smell caek bitches
  • RandomnessUK, on 05/09/2008, -9/+33CAEK GODDAMN
  • FLMomAnon, on 05/09/2008, -0/+91Not a good week for Scilons
    • 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.
      • threemagic, on 05/09/2008, -5/+3You know the old saying.. any publicity is good publicity. I'm guessing Scientology has GAINED membership (although I doubt their combined worth is anywhere near what they just lost). For every 5 of us trying to tell the world it sucks, there is 1 who's never heard of it and explores it.
        • haydesigner, on 05/10/2008, -3/+2Hardly.... if that were true, then why does Baha'i have over 14X the followers even though it has not been around as long as Scientology?
        • roboticrickshaw, on 05/10/2008, -1/+4Baha'i has been around since the19th century
          "The Bahá'í Faith is a religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are about six million Bahá'ís in more than 200 countries and territories around the world."
          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bah%C3%A1'%C3%AD_Fait ...
        • theviceroy, on 05/10/2008, -1/+4Exploring Scientology is not in itself a bad thing, autodidactism rarely leads to being won over by a hard sell... especially on the internet where you can't get very far without learning about the crazy/bad ***** the Co$ is associated with.
    • Magnus150, on 05/10/2008, -0/+6We must construct additional Scilons.
    • arizonabay, on 05/10/2008, -1/+1Yet 4 remain in secret

      And one is yet to be revealed
  • 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?
    • BlackJackJester, on 05/10/2008, -7/+1I'm pretty sure they all knew what they were getting into. It may be a scam, but it really isn't a hard one to see though.
      • megarobotguy, on 05/10/2008, -0/+9That's not how a cult operates. These people were scammed into joining the cult. Most of them have nothing to their name, unless you are a celeb and pretty high up in the ranks. The homeless have more freedom than these people.
    • dOOBiEx213, on 05/10/2008, -0/+7Actually, Tom Cruise is trying to do some damage control on Oprah: http://youtube.com/watch?v=NhDpfUrKTxQ . Too little, too late once the internet hates you.
      • megarobotguy, on 05/10/2008, -0/+6From the video either Katie is getting shorter or Tom is wearing heels/platforms or camera tricks to make him seem taller.
    • megarobotguy, on 05/10/2008, -0/+4#19 - "afraid to leave because 90% in the sea org have no high school diploma." wft?
    • keozen, on 05/10/2008, -0/+2Tom Cruise is "Tom Cruise Crazy" just be glad it's him not you
  • 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.
    • Berkana, on 05/09/2008, -0/+9Apparently, a lot of scienos have been "Out 2D", causing them to be downstat, according to their doctrine. OGC.
      ("Out 2D" is Scientologist-speak for masturbating: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btAcg62CF8A )
      • theviceroy, on 05/10/2008, -0/+7lol, can't be gay, can't masturbate, can't read the news, can't hang out with your family... how DYNAMIC! what FREEDOM!!
  • 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.
    • robbiedo, on 05/10/2008, -4/+11Sadly, all religions are probably just human constructs with no basis in an objective reality
      • dash1185, on 05/10/2008, -0/+1It's easy to say that when you know how the lightning works, or what an atom is, or why women have boobs.
        • Scoresheet, on 05/10/2008, -1/+5Exactly. Religion is nothing more than the remnants of ancient civilization trying to explain what they couldn't understand.
        • deanoplex, on 05/10/2008, -0/+1Yes and many ancient concepts are quite rational. For instance Noahs' arc and the great flood. The flood explains why there are seashells (fossils) on mountain tops and the arc explains how men and animals survived such a deluge. The ancients knew that water levels could rise and fall and can be forgiven for not knowing that mountains rise and fall as well.
      • dealseeker, on 05/10/2008, -0/+2You think you know, but you have no idea. ®
  • nnemus, on 05/09/2008, -0/+58Packer probably got tired of scientology hitting him up for money. Salvation awaits, for $1000/hr!
    • HeDiggMe, on 05/10/2008, -0/+3Not to mention the opportunity cost of having your cult denouncing your casino business.
    • SharkyTech, on 05/10/2008, -0/+1If I were Kerry Packer I would have written a condition into the will that he wouldn't have gotten a cent until he quit the church of scientology.
  • 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_ ...
    • specialK16, on 05/10/2008, -0/+3Anon delivers?

      Well, I guess all that publicity must have somehow influenced on lately events.
  • 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.
    • passedoutghost, on 05/10/2008, -0/+9Glad to hear it. I hate that ***** cult. I remember me and my friends went into the 'church' for ***** and giggle one time, signing in with false names. Granted the facade looked impressive, but the we could barely contain our laughter when our 'guide' went into a spiel about Hubbard.
      • specialK16, on 05/10/2008, -0/+10Good thing you are still alive though.
    • Yibbon, on 05/10/2008, -0/+5I pass it on the way to lunch sometimes, makes me sick. Hopefully they'll ***** off out of the country.
  • anonymouschick2, on 05/09/2008, -2/+37I hope they have a cash Llama, cause their cash COW has just left the building!
  • Anubis114, on 05/09/2008, -1/+29The flood gates are opening, the entranced are awakening!
  • 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!
  • 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
    • theviceroy, on 05/10/2008, -0/+8correction: we get to find out what kind of ***** they'll make up about Mr. Packer soon enough.
  • DiggDugglas, on 05/09/2008, -10/+22James Packer is a /b/tard
  • crystalblue69, on 05/09/2008, -0/+18oh hot damn
  • DarkANon, on 05/09/2008, -4/+13This is epic!
    Lets eat some caek nao :3
    • FuckThaMeme, on 05/10/2008, -2/+0You're the type of person on the internet I hate the most
  • 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!
  • 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.
    • ggfobster, on 05/10/2008, -2/+2WTF ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? HE QUIT!
  • omnithought, on 05/09/2008, -1/+26Good! One less moron. I can't believe Jason Lee is still of of them.
    • zephyr42, on 05/10/2008, -0/+11and beck
    • AptToMiss, on 05/10/2008, -0/+2and Chick Corea
    • farsonic, on 05/10/2008, -0/+4Strange how I stopped watching Earl when I found out he was one of them.....lost all respect for him
      • mikelieman, on 05/10/2008, -0/+6As if the Underdog/Alvin and the Chipmunks double feature wasn't enough.
  • eminiguy, on 05/09/2008, -1/+15Now hurry up and join another cult, quick...
    • PolarBearCa, on 05/09/2008, -0/+10He's a billionaire?

      Let's start the cult of Digg and invite him.
    • Wakuko, on 05/10/2008, -2/+2Ceiling cat got him first!

      I fur onez, welcum our noo cheezburger overlord.
  • 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!
  • 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.
    • 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
    • keviniskool, on 05/10/2008, -1/+9Will Smith isn't Scientologist, he just supports some of their ideas and donates from time to time.
      • mikelieman, on 05/10/2008, -1/+5That's sort of like buying arms occasionally for terrorists, but not being one?
    • FuckThaMeme, on 05/10/2008, -0/+3"Cartwright was awarded Scientology's Patron Laureate Award after she donated $10 million, almost twice her annual salary, to the organization in 2007."

      Sickening
  • username484767, on 05/09/2008, -0/+33They will kill him now.
    • mark076h, on 05/09/2008, -0/+8it will be pretty interesting and i will not be surprised with all these defections from the cult that we will start to see news stories about shady killings that have connections to the cult
    • megarobotguy, on 05/10/2008, -0/+12He's a billionaire. I'm sure he can afford to hire armed guards and a bullet proof spaceship. :-)
  • ElBeh, on 05/09/2008, -0/+9***** yeah!
  • RcHer, on 05/09/2008, -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.
    • Pogojoe, on 05/10/2008, -1/+15The submission linked to the Sydney Morning Herald. I doubt the Digg effect applies...
  • soot, on 05/09/2008, -1/+19bitches dont know bout my thetans
  • 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.
    • mark076h, on 05/09/2008, -0/+9When you have some bad thetans what else can you do?
    • DeusMachina, on 05/09/2008, -0/+13/ monty burns voice
      Because people are idiots
      / monty burns voice
    • 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.
    • zephyr42, on 05/10/2008, -0/+8Honestly it's a pretty damn brilliant scam.... I know it's evil and cruel and terrible with brainwashing and I could go on..... But think about it requires very little over head and HUGE profits for the very top tier of organizers, at the same time seems to stay out of the news very well.
    • Azerael, on 05/10/2008, -4/+3The same reason people believe there's a giant invisible man in the sky who loves them so much he's going to make them burn for eternity if they don't abide by his ten crazy rules?
  • T8erT0T, on 05/09/2008, -0/+24At least he managed to leave with money
    • casualgod, on 05/10/2008, -0/+2But he's no longer the richest person in Australia.
  • mark076h, on 05/09/2008, -2/+30***** Scientology
  • Djjcj, on 05/09/2008, -10/+4James packer is anonymous
  • coresnake, on 05/09/2008, -1/+16Middle name 'Fudge'
  • plopper, on 05/09/2008, -6/+4What an infidel!
  • NoxAeternus, on 05/09/2008, -0/+55When will Isaac Hayes leave so we can get Chef back?
    • zephyr42, on 05/10/2008, -0/+18I miss Chef :'-(
    • LeeMaple, on 05/10/2008, -0/+7The Super Adventure Club relinquishes NO ONE!!!!
    • Synapse84, on 05/10/2008, -0/+5in the event Isaac Hayes left; would he come back as normal chef... or would they make him Darth-Chef?.. or maybe a "Blue Glowie Chef"?

      "Meditate on this, I will" - Yoda
  • 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.
  • mark076h, on 05/09/2008, -0/+12Now if you are already OT-9 or declared clean or whatever the hell those clowns call it are you still safe from thetans after you leave the cult?
    • McSpy, on 05/10/2008, -0/+4Technically yes, but they'll try to convince you otherwise.
  • DarthDiabetes, on 05/09/2008, -7/+0I wonder if he's still a billionaire...
    Maybe they "released" him so that he can go out and make some more money for them to steal.
  • JoshuaLowe, on 05/09/2008, -1/+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!
  • 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…
  • FeargusMcDuff, on 05/09/2008, -11/+4Even though this has zero affect on me that a person has left a legal organisation, as a person on digg i must assume this is A GOOD THING!
  • 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.
  • NelsonR, on 05/09/2008, -15/+1"If" there is a GOD, the requirement for attendance at religious institutions is not a requirement.
    "If" there is a GOD, you will be judged by your acts within this present world and not upon the amount of times you repented.
    "If" there is a GOD, I hope he is a righteous individual that realizes that present humanity does not exemplify the good and righteous explained within written scriptures nor what was envisioned by him.
    In other words humanity does not show any signs of being the chosen lot that equate to piety.
    In conclusion, Mr. Packer is attempting to reach Nirvana without knowing how and If.
    • offput, on 05/10/2008, -0/+2If there is a God, you shouldn't be ***** speaking on his behalf like you're better than any of the other people who've tried to define, describe, and understand God over the last 10 000 years.
  • AgmLauncher, on 05/09/2008, -1/+7I thought you had to sacrifice your family in order to quit the Scientology cult/religious mafia...

    Someone should call the police and tell them to start looking for bodies.
  • 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.
  • pershingdriver, on 05/09/2008, -1/+13There is nothing wrong with CoS that cannot be fixed with the liberal use of High Explosives.
  • cfuse, on 05/09/2008, -0/+7Unfortunately, he still has his mother's brain and his father's looks.
  • MrESaulved, on 05/10/2008, -1/+16Well done anonymous, your next target, Empire USA. We would like our Constitutional Republic back please.
  • mrmorris, on 05/10/2008, -0/+14Welcome James, to the REAL world!
    • thenumber8, on 05/10/2008, -0/+7welcome to the desert of the real.
  • LiveFromVegas, on 05/10/2008, -0/+1Odd
  • Fetching more discussions...
    Show 51 - 76 of 76 discussions
  •  

    Login or register to add a comment

    Create a new account or login to join in the conversation on Digg. You'll also be able to Digg stories to help promote things you like.


© Digg Inc. 2008 — Content posted by Digg users is dedicated to the public domain.
DIGG, DIGG IT, DUGG, DIGG THIS, Digg graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, scripts, and other service names are the trademarks of Digg Inc.