 Scientology |
 The Exclusive Brethren |
1 – They are both considered by many to be bona fide cults
2 – They both have had to have the word ‘church’ added to their official names
3 – Scientology borrows the Christian cross, the Exclusive Brethren have to insert the word ‘Christian’
4 – Both have extraordinarily wealthy leaders who are obsessed with security – David Miscavige (Scientology) and Bruce Hales (Exclusive Brethren).
5 – Both teach that if you leave the group, you are eternally lost.
6 – Both retain lawyers to attempt the silencing of perceived opposition through the use of frivolous lawsuits.
“Beware of attorneys who tell you not to sue … the purpose of the suit is to harass and discourage rather than to win.” – Ron Hubbard (Scientology)
“Sue the bastards” – James Symington (Exclusive Brethren)
7 – Leaving either requires complete separation from the group. Scientology calls this ‘Disconnection‘. The Exclusive Brethren call it ‘Withdrawal‘. The remaining members will then shun the former member.
8 – Both have their own schools where the curriculum is carefully monitored and where the students are directed toward their unique beliefs.
9 – Allegations of abuse have been laid against both groups and in the Australian Parliament senators have demanded full inquiries.
10 – Scientology and the Exclusive Brethren share the same Public Relations firm – Jackson Wells, Sydney Australia
Excellent job – well done!
Scientology certainly seems to endorse the Brethren, given this following letter.
Time for a fair go
AFTER many years of perusing the media on minority religions, I know how it works. Media feeds on media. Falsehoods are published, then taken to be fact and republished by other media. The disaffected minority who have left a religious group are treated as if they are experts on their former group.
I have no information on the Exclusive Brethren apart from what I have read in newspapers, but I am willing to believe that they are good and well-meaning people, just as I know Scientologists to be. If this were not the case, why do all the Scientologists whom I know care for their families, study their religious texts, help society and, to some extent, the world? A little of the famous Australian ”fair go” is overdue.
REVEREND MARY ANDERSON, director of Public Affairs, Church of Scientology
(scroll down the page to see this response to a March 28, 2010 article In “The Age” (Australia)
http://www.theage.com.au/national/letters/biased-bigotry-20100327-r417.html
Time for a fair go? Then it would be time for science and reason. The only things that have actually got to the truths of this world. Instead of leading our lives based on ridiculous dogma, why not put our faith in science, because they are still asking questions. Something the religious do not do. Their answers have been writtten down and that is the final word.
Stop living in fear. There is no god.
I desire I’d recognized all this sooner. would have saved myself a lot of difficulty