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Scientologist assaults peaceful protester

scientomogy.com — A man filming a documentary outside the Church of Scientology in Clearwater, Florida was attacked and assaulted by a Scientologist. Michael Fitzgerald was caught on camera attacking peaceful protester Shawn Lonsdale who was there in Clearwater filming a documentary on The Church of Scientology. Fellow Scientologists were quick to lie to the cops...

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  • FredDurks, on 10/12/2007, -2/+17Here's a message board where Shawn Lonsdale, aka Proflex, tells his story of picketing and the assault by the Scientologist Michael Fitzgerald.

    http://ocmb.xenu.net/ocmb/viewtopic.php?t=19371
    • ErrandboyOfDoom, on 10/12/2007, -11/+27I know we all hate Scientology, but have you seen the video clips this guy has taken?

      He goes there and sparks their curiousity by waiting outside filming the building. They come out and ask what he's doing, and he's a total ass to them. Then they leave him alone and he does it again, for days.

      I want a documentary exposing Scientology too, but settling for a documentary by this nutcase/provocateur is only going to make it harder to get the truth out, and it will only make the Scientologists look sympathetic to people who don't know anything about it in the meantime.
    • elephantdog, on 10/12/2007, -2/+13@ErrandBoyOfDoom

      How often do you ask people on the street what they are doing? It's about time someone showed Scientology for what it is, and ++ to this guy that risks being stalked and shot to death to do it.

      He's not being an ass either, what he is doing is peaceful and on public property. Scientology on the other hand has beaten him up and some other people that did similar things in the past.
    • Thuktun, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11In videos I've seen, a guy tries to photograph or videotape a Scientologist location from public property, sometimes across the street. Their security come out to harass him within seconds. Not sure if this is the same guy, but they're apparently very touchy about any kind of scrutiny.
    • ErrandboyOfDoom, on 10/12/2007, -9/+10"It's about time someone showed Scientology for what it is,"
      I completely agree, but this guy isn't the guy for that, he's apparently incompetent.

      "How often do you ask people on the street what they are doing?"
      If they've been following me for days or weeks filming me, I'd say EVERY TIME.

      "He's not being an ass,"
      I bet I can do lots of things peacefully and in public that still qualify as assholish. Not the least of which would be stalking you with a camera and having a jackass tone when you politely ask what I'm doing.

      "They come out and harass him"
      No, they come out and ask what's up, and then he responds flippantly. When they stop asking him questions, whenever there's a pause, he says something idiotic to provoke them again.

      Why don't we work on a documentary to expose Scientologists for what they are, instead of humanizing them through provocation? Stunts like this do more FOR scientology than AGAINST it.
    • olegk, on 10/12/2007, -6/+9ErrandboyOfDoom, it's none of their f***n business what he's filming, it's his right, and he doesn't have to explain anything to anybody. He can say whatever he wants to them, it's legal, there's such a thing as a freedom of speech, you know. Assaulting someone is illegal. So stop protecting that stupuid cult and their idiotic members.
    • hags2k, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7@Errandboy and others

      I agree that a documentary filmmaker should try to be unbiased and fair when trying to debunk something. I mean, just imagine if this guy were filming a Catholic church, a Lutheran Church, a Mosque, a Synagogue, or even an Atheist convention and acting in the same manner. I think more people would disapprove of his methods at that point.

      I think Scientology is creepy and very much a dangerous cult, but only by analyzing the situation with FAIRNESS can it be considered fair when other people come to that same conclusion. I mean, I could make my own sweet mother out to be a raving lunatic bitch if I provoked her enough while filming her.
    • TiCL, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4Lots of Xenu mother f***ers in this thread!
    • Desertphile, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The Scientology crime syndicate calls this type of assault "third partying." They use a third party, such as the police department, to attack and punish human rights activists who object to Scientogy Inc.'s crimes and human rights abuses. They use Scientology customers and salespeople, like Fitzgerald, who are on "lower conditions" because one of the "steps" a Scientology salesperson must perform to get out of a "lower condition" is to "strike a blow against the enemy without regard to ones' personal safety."

      Many Scientology salespeople have done the exact same thing Fitzgerald here did. For example, Mark Howd assaulted Bob Minton and then flug himself at Minton's feet and pretended to "pass out" unconscious. Amazingly, Minton was arrested for battery. Witnesses at the trial testified that they overheard other members of the crime syndicate "drill" Howd in how to throw himself to the ground.

      Amusingly, when Howd was pretending to have been battered into unconsciousness by Minton, a police officer walked over to Howd, who was laying on his back on the ground, and ordered Howd to produce an identification document. Howd promptly "came to" long enough to extract his wallet and hand over a driver's license; he put his wallet away and promply "passed out" unconscious again.

      For another example, Mark Bunker was filming news documentaries about Scientology in Los Angeles. A gang of Scientology salespeople surrounded Bunker and assaulted him. One grabbed his camera and held the lense pointed to the ground while another stood off a few feet away yelling "Oww! Mark quit hitting me! OWWW! Quit hitting me Mark! *OWWWW!* Mark, quit hitting me!" This audio was intended to invalidate the video of the assault and battery on Mark if Mark were to show to the police the video of himself being surrounded and assaulted.

      It is the crime syndiacte's policy to pretend to be victims.
  • FredDurks, on 10/12/2007, -1/+17Bay News 9 article
    http://www.baynews9.com

    http://scientologyattacks.ytmnd.com
    Dedicated to proflex and his marathon picket - a rough-sketch tale of his assaulter.

    http://scientologyonthenews.ytmnd.com
  • secretpuding, on 10/12/2007, -2/+44those crazy scientologists. what a crazy cult
    • FredDurks, on 10/12/2007, -3/+30It's funny how the word "crazy" is the word %50 of the time or more that people use to describe Scientologists or The Church of Scientology. Good times :)
    • Chestnut3499, on 10/12/2007, -0/+20It's because the word fits them very well.
    • Thuktun, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12Since "crazy" is often the domain of psychology, it's interesting to note that they're very much anti-psychology.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_and_psychiatry
    • shakeyshakey, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3Craziness is what religions are all about.
  • xenubarb, on 10/12/2007, -0/+83Here's how it was supposed to work. Here's a guy, out there in downtown Clearwater (aka Xenu City) videotaping every day. And every day, he's surrounded by Scientologists, yammering at him, until the day of the assault. In his account of the incident, he noted that, on this day, he was left alone, until Fitzgerald comes up and attacks him. Of course, the police are called, and all the good little culties are eager to share the story of how poor Mike Fitzgerald gets his fist hurt on Shawn's camera. At this point, Shawn was to be the one taken away in handcuffs.

    It wouldn't be the first time; around 2000, a critic named Bob Minton was attacked by a Scientologist in downtown Clearwater during a picket. The attacker then laid on the ground, as if injured and unconcious. Except, people noticed something...the stupid bugger PEEKED to see if the coast was clear! Still, Bob was the one arrested, and the police paid no attention to the videotaped record of the assault.

    I think the Clearwater PD are still embarrassed about that. If not, they should be! Still, the fact that this time, the perpetrator was arrested shows that they are at least trying to do their job under difficult conditions. The cult friggin OWNS Clearwater! And, I am sure that they fully expected that Shawn would be arrested. It must have been quite a shock to see their fellow Scientologist being taken away instead. For providing yet more negative publicity, the person who birthed this abortive attempt to set Shawn up is probably scraping grease out of the cult kitchen's grease traps...with his tongue! Someone probably got sent to the RPF, Scientology's "reeducation" camp. By all accounts, a horrible place; forced to wear a grey armband, forbidden to talk, running everywhere, eating scraps and leftovers, and doing hard labor.
    Google the 'Rehabilitation Project Force.' It's real, and happening right here, right now, in Scientology's very own concentration camps in Cali and Florida!
    Some "church," huh?
  • Footbullet, on 10/12/2007, -1/+26$cientology shoots itself in its foot once again! *FOOTBULLET ALERT!!!* :-) The fact that they attack free speech is finally not going unnoticed. Hats off to Proflex for his bravery! Stand tall!
  • mecole21, on 10/12/2007, -20/+7the daily scientology frontpage article...
    • Phyltre, on 10/12/2007, -0/+35Well, with Scientologists being what they are and believing what they do, the stories are pretty much writing themselves.
  • aresef, on 10/12/2007, -9/+5The attacker's mugshot reminds me of Goodwin on Lost (the Other who infiltrated the Tailies).
  • smolakian, on 10/12/2007, -12/+8Too bad Scientology doesn't prohibit its members to vote. It's scary to think that anybody involved in this scam has the ability to affect out country's political process. ::sarcasm:: I'm sure glad that most Americans today are smarter than THAT!!::sarcasm::
    • zweben, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11Well, most of them are. It's a pretty low standard.
  • dunezone, on 10/12/2007, -4/+44Reading this made my thetan level drop.
  • kalisphoenix, on 10/12/2007, -2/+19Someone hasn't been de-thetan-ing himself quite enough! *shakes finger*
  • masamunecyrus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+26Hahaha. Gotta love Websense.

    "Your organization's Internet use policy restricts access to this web page at this time.
    Reason: The Websense category "Racism and Hate" is filtered."
    • dustedbunny, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Got the same message. :)

      Ill have to check this when I get home from work.
    • shoover, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Yea, I noticed that too. I guess the scientologists got to the Websense crew as well.
  • Revadarth, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10They should've sent Tom Cruise. Ethan Hunt could've evaded the police.
  • Topher06, on 10/12/2007, -8/+24In other news, Kirstie Alley attacks someone because they stood in front of some chocolate cake.
  • cliffzdude, on 10/12/2007, -56/+3Really, who gives a flying F^@# about Scientology? If you don't like 'em, don't be one. Otherwise they have in no way, shape for form had any affect upon my life, or the life of 99.999% of DIGGers... Sure, they're flipped out but so what. No BFD...

    • viclopez, on 10/12/2007, -1/+33Youre a moron. We can bitch about this because we have an opinion. Thats what digg comment section is for. To express our opinions. Dont like it? Go die.
    • lcarsdeveloper, on 10/12/2007, -0/+32Doesn't matter if they haven't done anything to you personally. They've harmed a lot of people around the world. A lot of people have joined their cult and been brainwashed, abused, tortured or even killed.
      This isn't something people should just ignore, Scientology is a serious problem, and just because you think they're just some quiet UFO worshippers doesn't make them harmless.
      If you were around during the times of the Nazi's, would you have said "who cares, I'm not Jewish, they have in no way, shape or form had any affect upon my life".

      Excuse us for giving a damn about other people's suffering.
    • AboveBeyond, on 10/12/2007, -0/+16Umm...how bout because they're obviously an organization based on lies that wreck's people lives? That's a good enough reason for me to publicize Scientology so you, your friend, or anyone you know won't get involved with these hooligans!

      And for the entertainment value, Scientology articles are just hilarious! Can you believe that there were 170 billion beings on Earth 200000 billion years ago that were put in a volcanoe? Like OMG!
    • lcarsdeveloper, on 10/12/2007, -1/+15"And for the entertainment value, Scientology articles are just hilarious!"

      That's why in the South Park episode they said "This is what scientologists actually believe". You can't make that stuff up! Well, Loser Ronny Hubbard did (that's what I'm calling him, deal with it).
      They keep it a secret so only people who have paid enough money and been thorougly brainwashed will find out about, and by then they'll accept it as truth.
  • tdkme, on 10/12/2007, -0/+36The U.S. needs to do what other countries have done and not recognize this as a religion, and list it as a cult. That might shut them down!
    • haunted, on 10/12/2007, -6/+14Not until they bother persecuting renegade Mormons who practice polygamy (makes for families more miserable than the poorest in 3rd world countries) statutory rape, and harassment/violence on kids who try to leave the cult. Too bad they run Utah's state govt.
    • Xertion, on 10/12/2007, -6/+15The only difference between a "cult" and a "religion" is how many members it has.
    • elephantdog, on 10/12/2007, -5/+8@Xertion, I always thought cults worshipped a person as appose to a god. Anyway, it's just a PC word to differentiate among lunatic religions without offending Christians, Muslims, etc. Sure Christians and the like aren't as radical, but the concepts of blind belief are the same- and is the Pope worshipped? There are no clear lines here. All of 'em are just a placebo mind game, so they are all dangerous to some degree.
  • DaveV, on 10/12/2007, -0/+20Another violent act by a violent cult.

    Ask some of the culties about protocol 2r45. That stands for putting two rounds from a .45 handgun into their critics.

    Ask them about the "fair game" declarations, which the church encourages members to harrass, assault, and even kill their critics and people who leave the cult.

    Ask them about how they stalk critics and ex-members.

    Yeah, they are the "victims".
    • futurekill, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10Maybe WE (ie normal people) should go and stalk them for leaving our cult...
  • fani, on 10/12/2007, -28/+2Yes. Scientology sucks. But if he knew that why the ***** did he go there and videotaped them and provoke them ?
    Just get lost and do something more useful than videotaping them. What a ***** moron.
    Its like going to videotape al-qaeda and complaining that they've kidnapped you. Idiotic. Don't trouble trouble till trouble troubles you for if you trouble trouble, trouble will trouble you
    • lcarsdeveloper, on 10/12/2007, -1/+15So you think it's better if a documentary isn't made? You'd rather people don't know about Scientologists?
      He was filming for a documentary, that's no excuse to be attacked by someone.
      I say good on him for doing his part to get the truth out.
    • violentvinyl, on 10/12/2007, -6/+2Me Mi Mo Trouble, TROUBLE!
  • Mrkamikaze, on 10/12/2007, -20/+7Don’t know what worse Scientologists or Muslims.
    • lcarsdeveloper, on 10/12/2007, -5/+16You mean Muslim extremists. Most Muslims are peaceful, just like most Christians aren't Texan bible-bashers who jump onto buildings and shout "I HAVE SEEN JEE-SUS!" :)
    • diggballs, on 10/12/2007, -8/+5@lcarsdeveloper

      I belive that's properly spelled Jee-sus-ah!

      And you don't work for Icarz, do you? The one that writes the auto shop management app?
    • Mrkamikaze, on 10/12/2007, -11/+4Well i have read parts of the Koran its none of it led me to believe they were in the least bit as toleratant as others. Not to mention i haven't seen any "Peaceful" Muslims protest the suicide bombings in Israel and more recently the bombings in Mumbai no outrage at all from any Muslim source that i have seen.
    • lcarsdeveloper, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2@diggballs, no I don't work for them.
  • 0x41, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10Cult members acting violently and unreasonable? Say it ain't so!
  • Xertion, on 10/12/2007, -12/+3I like the book Dianetics. Most of it made good practical sense to me when I was in my 20's. I wouldn't make it my religion though.

    Wonder how scientologists are going to spin this in the news.
    • Hubris, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6I suspect it won't make a very big splash in the news.....it's risky for any news organization to do stories that might reflect on a powerful religion negatively....
  • JohnQPublic23, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13Extreme insular and cultish behavior, regardless of what name it gives itself, can generate and perpetuate harmful social conditions and destroy the lives of people -- and not only can cultists inflict punishment on their own members but they also negatively affect the lives of non-members. A little off-topic but within the same context look no further than this expose on the Gentle People (Amish), whose communities suffer an "epidemic" of incest and sexual assault but whose laws and codes prevent their women from taking those assaults to the laws of "The English" (that's what they call the rest of us Americans):

    http://www.legalaffairs.org/issues/January-February-2005/feature_labi_janfeb05.msp

    I'm wary of any religion that shutters itself away from the light of scrutiny.
    • spyrochaete, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5Open source is the answer to all!
  • jasgeo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7They'll say that they guy was "full of thetans" and that with help (mind bending) of the scientology church and a few audits that they can free him of the evil thetans.

    What a bunch of idiots.
    • unibomber999, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I find it funny that they can continue to recruit new members with their hogwash. I can understand people and their membership to other religions. There are historical ties, old literatures and family pressure. In contrast, Scientology relies on pure stupidity and the willingness of someone to sign over their life to people of equal incompetence. It's like a pyramid scheme of idiocy!
    • lcarsdeveloper, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Although I do agree Scientology is stupid, I don't really believe that people who fall for it are idiots.
      This page is from a member who explains how he 'fell prey to the cult'.
      http://www.xenu.net/archive/personal_story/funkydonny.html

      As much as I despise Scientology, I do feel pity for the people who are brainwashed by it. The whole thing is just as clever as it is evil.
    • JohnboiWaltune, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3The people who fall for it (or any other religious cult) aren't all idiots. Some of them are just people who are lonely, have fallen on hard times, are addicted to drugs and alcohol, have emotional problems, are young and naive, or maybe their family members are already in the cult, etc... joining a bona-fide religious community can be good "medicine" for people who have been emotionally weakened, but some "religions" prey on the weak and take advantage of them. It's important to distinguish between the two.
    • mistshadow2k4, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5"In contrast, Scientology relies on pure stupidity and the willingness of someone to sign over their life to people of equal incompetence"

      That applies with any cult, no matter what religion they claim to be following. Before Scientology we had (and still have) the same problem with supposedly Chrisitan cults. Unfortunately any religion can be perverted into a cult by some group or another. Simply put, give control of your life to God, the Goddess or whomever if you wish, but don't give control of your life to anyone on this side of the spirit world.
  • sembetu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5you know, there's lots more stuff out there if you research it...

    see: http://www.lermanet.com/cisar/survey/va.htm
    • lcarsdeveloper, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Yeah, there's that site, and Xenu.net, and XenuTV which has video interviews (posted on digg recently) with an ex-cult member.
      I'm thinking about printing out 100 copies of this leaflet:
      http://www.xenu.net/archive/leaflet/
      and handing it out to anyone who walks out of my local Scientology office. Especially those schoolkids who go in there for the free personality tests. That scares me.
  • flobee, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6I wonder what's worse, Scientology audits or IRS audits.
  • OwdenBowden, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8True religion (as I have read) are about teaching and learning, being open to all --- and this "religion" and the Church of Scientology is all about secrets. Kinda like the "He-Man Women Haters Club" in the Little Rascals..
    • banchukita, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8It's not about religion. It doesn't matter if they believe in the space opera cosmology, although it would be preferable if people were informed that was the cosmology when they sign on, instead of $120,000 later.

      It's about the policy-driven abuse of people and the law; the lack of informed consent; the zero-tolerance of dissent or criticism that culminates in ad hominem and physical attacks--an organization's attempts to ruin an individual for standing up to a corrupt organization. And the written policies that say such attacks are okay. If you were in, and decide it's a scam and want out, they'll take your PC folder - liek a confessional, only they keep it -- and blackmail you with a goal of making you "shudder into silence." (Hubbard's words)

      Scientology was able to get away with a lot of crap for many years, and hide behind a corporate shell game [just try to follow the money!], imposing fear, bait-and-switch and strong-arm tactics. Hubbard never imagined the internet. You can fool some of the people some of the time...
    • Desertphile, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2"True religion (as I have read) are about teaching and learning, being open to all --- and this "religion" and the Church of Scientology is all about secrets. Kinda like the "He-Man Women Haters Club" in the Little Rascals."

      "Religion?" Who the heck said anything about "religion" here? The issue is the Scientology crime syndicate's crimes and human rights abuses.
  • jeraldr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3To say Gilvin was stalking members of Scientology is foolish. They came to where he was and harassed him. I will repeat that in case you missed it. THEY CAME TO WHERE HE WAS!
    Anyone has a right to film in a public place without fear of being attacked. Us normal people can't afford to have over 100 cameras all over the place playing big brother cult.
  • klurt, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6"Leave the Scientologists alone, already. Don't they have enough to worry about, what with the tyranny of the galactic God Xenu and his evil body thetans?"
  • JohnnyMike, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7If you want to continue membership and services in the "church" of Scientology, you are required to undergo periodic "confessionals" known as "security checks". During these security checks, you are asked a multitude of questions regarding anything and everything a person could possibly do wrong in this life and any others you have lived before. Information gleaned during these sec checks is written down and kept in a folder with your name on it. The "church" of Scientology regularly uses information in these folders to control current members and to harass and humiliate disillusioned members exiting the cult. (see www.xenu.net)

    Mr. Lonsdale has repeatedly asked this "church" for his folders back to no avail. This is one of his stated purposes for demonstrating near the cult headquarters. If he is no longer a member, why do they need to keep his folders? All they had to do to stop this so-called harassment (peaceful demonstration) is to give him back his private information. I don't care what their internal policy is, I say they should give back the folders and then they can go back to practicing their silly "religion" in peace. In fact, if they stopped harassing their critics, started being honest about what their doctrine is all about BEFORE people get sucked in, and stopped their practice of LYING in general, they would have all the peace they could ever want.
  • Yerameyahu, on 10/12/2007, -10/+0As much as everyone should rightly hate Scientologists, we should hate even more nutjobs who go around filming things for no reason. Just because he has the right to annoy people doesn't mean he should. I'd hit some weirdo filming me and my premises.
    • spyrochaete, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Thanks for telling us the right parties to hate
    • Footbullet, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3So in other words, you are against free speech too.
  • anoneMoose, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6www.xenu.net
    www.xenutv.com
  • xenuoverlord, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10Here is an example of why and how the cult of Scientology is so dangerous...

    http://www.whyaretheydead.net/
    http://www.lisamcpherson.org/
    http://www.perkinsfamilytragedy.org/

    These are all people who are dead as a result of Scientology.

    ~Lord Xenu~
    http://www.ronthenut.org/
  • Dustyb, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7The real problem is with Scientology's crack legal team -- he'll get away with it.
    • FredDurks, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3The thing is, they've not confirmed that Fitzgerald is a scientologist. He is..... but, they may not want anything to do with him. If they represent him, they are saying it's ok what he did. Just an idea-
  • jamthedude, on 10/12/2007, -8/+1Man, Scientology seems to be the new boogie-man. Like they're the only problem with society. Wow. Lets not pay attention to a nation moving towards 1984, a fake war, thousands of innocent Iraqi's blood on our hands (as Americans), an economy hinged on addiction, television and consumer manipulation, not to mention a major shift in global climate (not to say this is or isn't our fault, just that it is changing), and that's just for starters. If Scientology works for some people, why not just admit to ourselves that people believe weird things, and to each his own - who really ever interacts with Scientologists on a daily basis on here anyway? Honestly, now. And if you do, and are still scared/*****/paranoid/whatever of them, then maybe just find a new hangout. Alright, rant over, get back to your zany, hyperbolic, scathing indictment of a group who you will probably have no personal contact with ever.
    • JohnnyMike, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Yeah, there's so much other stuff in the world to protest, so let's just let the criminal cult do as they please. Why bother to feed the hungry when there are corrupt politicians? Why bother to vote when there are feral cats on the loose? For crying out loud. How do you know that the protesters of the cult of Scientology aren't also active in other areas?
  • rkenward, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4They are nuts, more people need to protest them - how retarded can you be. Who devotes their life to a trend, you don't see people worshiping bell bottom pants.
    • jamthedude, on 10/12/2007, -6/+0Protest what? From all that I can see they are making a commitment to themselves to self-improvement. A trend? Isn't it a religion? Are you gonna call Christianity a trend, too? I would be all for it, but give me a break! How has Scientology really impacted your life negatively? Honestly answer...
    • rkenward, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3self improvement by getting suckered out of their money and suckering other people out of their money, they are a cult - their religion is based on the work of a science fiction author. i'm not standing up for any other religions but at least Judaism, Christianity and Islam all have historical verifiable ties.
  • Kilia, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I think what proflex is doing is just fine. The CoS is an extremely dangerous "church" and has already infiltrated the US Govt offices. If I lived near proflex I would be on the picket line with him every day.
  • StevenSlaughter, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3proflex is doing just fine for now but how long will the COS allow him to continue? He is doing a phenomenal job of picketing and being a royal pain in their ass which begs the question : how will the church handle him? They've tried a few different tactics so far, all have failed dismally. If past trends are anything to go by it will be underhanded and prove them to be sick and twisted cult we've all come to know and hate.
  • anoneMoose, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5To Jamthedude, does a self-improvement religioun forge bomb threats in order to descredit critics? That is what Scientology did to Paulette Cooper in something that is confirmed and documented called "Operation Freakout". Also look up the "Fair Game" policy.
    • jamthedude, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0Well, if there were bomb threats made, I don't know if Scientology would, as an entity, approve of that - who knows. Christianity is responsible for millions of factual, confirmed deaths over the centuries - from the witches to the crusades to some of the missionary work. Christianity poses more of a threat than Scientology.
  • FredDurks, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7If anyone has questions about why you would protest this evil cult, here's some links

    http://www.lisamcpherson.org
    http://www.perkinstragedy.org
    http://www.xenu.net
    http://www.whyaretheydead.net
    http://www.lermanet.com
    http://www.stopscientology.com
  • shakeyshakey, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1You know everybody is talking how crazy scientology is, wich i agree, but how about Christianism (the President of the USA believes he was put there by his Invisible Sky Daddy), and Islamism (jihad anyone?) and c'mon every other religion out there?
    • jamthedude, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1Exactly. Take a cue from The Beatles & Think For Yourself!
  • wishesandfishes, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3This is supposed to be a free society for godsakes. Being assualted on a street for disagreeing is just plain outrageous
  • xenubarb, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Regardless of the magnitude of the Scientology threat, this argument, "what about the blah in blah?" is bogus. Scientology may not be Korea with nuclear warheads. It may not be festering diseases waiting to break out of Africa. It may not be the creepy merging of corporations and politics. Regardless, it IS a threat, and it does destroy lives. You think you may never encounter one of its victims, but you might be surprised, especially if you walk down the sidewalk wearing a 'Scientology Kills' tee shirt. People come up to you and tell you their horror stories.

    Yeah, Scientology isn't the war in Iraq, it's not AIDS, it's not a lot of things. But, you have to choose your battles. Global warming? What are you gonna do, join some massive rally and wave a sign? Scientology is small enough to be battled as one individual. It's nasty enough to make that effort worthwhile, should you choose to paint the target on your back and be strong enough to refuse to be intimidated. It's like a role playing game, 'Man From UNCLE' and 'Star Wars' rolled into one.

    A friend of mine described the opportunity to fight this vicious cult as a priviledge. It's big, it's powerful, but it's dumb...it has the low cunning of its founder, college dropout, famed drug abuser and pulp fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. If you're gonna pick a dragon to fight, Scientology's a worthwhile adversary. You wouldn't believe the ***** they've pulled on me! And that's just small potatos, compared with what they've done to other people. Paulette Cooper, for one. Or do a google search for "miss bloodybutt." That's the wildest Scientology op EVER, against a guy who was hosting a BBS for critics!

    By the way, Scientologists are real fond of pointing out other causes we "should" be involved with, rather than working to expose Scientology. So, whenever I hear, "Shouldn't you be doing something about drug abuse in your community?" I have to wonder.
    What's YOUR thetan level?
    • jamthedude, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0Your post is incoherent and, well, simple-minded. Sorry. I am not saying that we shouldn't protest mind-numbing cults, but come on - America is founded on cults - from Oprah's legions of fans, to vegetarians, to rednecks, to skinheads, to vegans, to peaceniks, to military - they are all just modes of control. Why not go after a more noble cause like to end war, abolish suffering - yeah you may never see any of the fruits of your work, but picking something like Scientology and wearing a stupid t-shirt just to get them ***** off is, well, stupid. To each his own as long as what they themselves are doing are not interfering with your freedom. I feel like we have once again traveled back to the McCarthy era, or the witch hunt - looking for a boogie-man to blame all the world's woes on. Think for yourself!
  • FredDurks, on 10/12/2007, -0/+41000 Diggs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • RonWasXenu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Shawn Lonsdale is a brave man, picketing alone in the Scientology cult's Mecca. However, the criminal enterprise known as Scientology, will do whatever they can to stop him. That includes possibly making his body cold, very very cold. If you get what I mean......

  • ArnieLerma, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Scientology is the KING of CONS
    How to get involved exposing this scam:
    http://www.lermanet.com/getinvolved.htm
    Written by a recovering scientologist
    Regards
    Arnie Lerma

    PS: Thanks for the tip re digg, Fred
    Lermanet.com Exposing the CON
  • athenius22, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Here's a business idea:

    Start a site that offers anti-Scientology t-shirts, bumper stickers, decals, etc. With the audience of digg, it's guaranteed to be a front-pager. I know I'd be a customer.

    Bonus: when the CoS actually does go down, you've got a cool relic to tell your kids about.
  • FredDurks, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Here's a few shirts and stuff
    http://www.cafepress.com/cmkxstore/693093
  • xenubarb, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1jamthedude said "Your post is incoherent and, well, simple-minded. Sorry. I am not saying that we shouldn't protest mind-numbing cults, but come on - America is founded on cults - from Oprah's legions of fans, to vegetarians, to rednecks, to skinheads, to vegans, to peaceniks, to military - they are all just modes of control. Why not go after a more noble cause like to end war, abolish suffering - yeah you may never see any of the fruits of your work, but picking something like Scientology and wearing a stupid t-shirt just to get them ***** off is, well, stupid. To each his own as long as what they themselves are doing are not interfering with your freedom. I feel like we have once again traveled back to the McCarthy era, or the witch hunt - looking for a boogie-man to blame all the world's woes on. Think for yourself!"

    Oh, please. Not only do you not know what a cult is, you don't have the slightest clue about the whole sitch. Number one, Oprah and the military are not cults. In fact, nothing you listed achieves cult status. Rednecks? Number two, you missed the entire point of my post, which is obvious by your statement that we should work for other causes like ending world suffering, something that is never going to happen. If my post was incomprehensible to you, clearly you have comprehension problems.

    Furthermore, exposing Scientology's ugly underside is a lot more than "wearing a t-shirt to ***** them off." If not for us, you probably never would have heard of Xenu, or Lisa McPherson, or the numerous fraudulent front groups Scientology spawns. Obviously you aren't paying attention to the reason behind protesting Scientology. They do hurt people. They do destroy families. Worse, they try to involve themselves in government, so that their policies regarding, say, the mental health field would be imposed on all of us. To say "leave them alone if they're not bothering you" is ingenuous. If you were about to step in dog *****, wouldn't you appreciate a warning? Critics have worked long and hard to get this destructive cult exposed to the point that it is today. Websites, interviews, letters, protests, all these things have brought us closer to the 100th monkey syndrome. When Scientology is as politically popular as the KKK, they will be finished.

    And finally, yammering "Think for yourself" while urging people to do the opposite is often a sign of Scientology brainwashing. I have thought for myself, and determined that exposing Scientology is not only worthwhile, but doable. If you want to waste your time tilting at theoretical windmills like "ending suffering," by all means go for it. And I'll bet that, ten years from now, your efforts will not have made any discernable dent. It's funny, you know, it's mostly Scientologists who seem to think that exposing the fraud and abuses of this cult aren't worthwhile endeavors.

    Was that comprehensible enough for you, or should I have used smaller words?
  • poipoipoi, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1what's the big deal with Diggers and Scientology? I only ever hear about it here. In my real life, i've never encountered it at all, anywhere, ever.

    If you've had a friend/fmaily member have bad experiences with the group, you should compain about it, but a lot of you guys just seem to be jumping on the bandwagon and repeating the same half-true-sounding stories that other people repeat.

  • babblebabble, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1As far as I know I've never even talked to a $cientologist but I've done lots of reading about them for over a year and know that it's an evil disgusting cult, not a religion. I warn all my loved ones, friends etc. about it. Just because I haven't personally been affected by this scam doesn't mean I should pretend it's just a crazy little UFO group. This group is dangerous and will do anything to silence people who disagree with them. I admire Proflex for helping to expose this group.
  • thelordofcheese, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Crikey! He'd make a great Steve Irwin. What a beaut!
  •  

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