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Can somebody please explain to me what exactly is Scientology? (lemmy.world)

submitted 9 hours ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

76 comments fedilink hide all child comments

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.

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[–] [email protected] 54 points 9 hours ago (2 children)

Honestly one of the most freakish things I’ve heard from my daughter is that even though her boyfriend’s family’s rich, they don’t employ actual household staff, but they use volunteers from an internal organization of the church (Sea Org I think?), and volunteers don’t get paid except for food, board and small allowance - it’s “a life of service”. Which sounds uncomfortably close to slavery to me…

[–] [email protected] 36 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago) (1 children)

It's more than a life of service, the Sea Org sign a billion year contract to include any resurrections.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Are you joking or do they actually do that??

[–] [email protected] 20 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Not joking. Obviously it's unenforceable, but when you're already ensconced in the larger organization and made the choice to join Sea Org, you're really committed to Scientology and I'm sure the contract feels real. Makes it pretty hard to leave your cushy $10/day job scrubbing one of their cruise ships.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 hours ago

I believe they only have one cruise ship, and from reports I've heard it's dilapidated and getting worse

[–] [email protected] 55 points 8 hours ago

Which sounds uncomfortably close to slavery to me…

That's because it is.