Heehee. If you go to Xenu.net (an anti-scientology site), or watch YouTube videos, or the South Park parody they go extensively into the alien thing. The god Xenu is an intergalactic tyrrant who flew millions of prisoners in DC8 aircraft to the young planet Earth where their spirits were imprisoned in clams. Later Xenu was imprisoned in a volcano but the freed alien spirits still infest us.
Ah. Well, that's all really strange, but whatever. There are also people who believe the world is run by reptilian aliens in disguise and plenty of folks who think aliens helped build the pyramids and the Maya temples.
But the kids like to keep telling scientologists on the forums that its what they REALLY believe whether they know it or not.
I see that alot on sites with lots of kids. I didnt think Id see it here.
Well, if it is in fact something that is taught at the highest levels, then that is where the lower-level Scientologists are headed, right? The point is to move up in the levels, correct? So a lower-level Scientologist may not believe in the aliens yet, because s/he hasn't heard of them yet. But perhaps people are just trying to say... down the road, here's what you get.
Not a small number of people have observed that Scientology operates like a cult- requiring a great deal of monetary, time, and social commitment of its members, having a very bad outlook on non-Scientologists, etc. I think people who are throwing the alien thing out there are trying to forewarn people who aren't fully sucked in yet. At least, that's my observation of what is going on.
I can't say I understand any of it, because I wouldn't pay for that stuff in the first place, and at the first sign of any religion telling me to ditch my family and friends because they are against my belief system, I'd be running in the opposite direction. But I figure if Scientologists want to do that stuff, whether or not they believe in aliens, it's their business, so long as they are good citizens and play by the rules of US society. (That latter part is the part I've heard they are having trouble with.)
As far as the lawsuits thing I only see copyright or slander suits.
Ah, but what is behind those lawsuits is the problem. They claim slander, it seems, when anyone in the media states a negative opinion of their religion. They copyright a ton of stuff so that it effectively bars discussing them on Websites and in other media. That is all a sneaky way of making sure your religion is never discussed negatively, by people outside your organization. I find it repugnant.
And aside from the lawsuits, more than a few journalists have said they experienced being stalked and/or threatened after doing pieces on Scientology that were negative. That's just plain wrong, legally and ethically.
Again- I say if a religion is good, it will foster love and goodness. And if it is such, it will be able to weather negative press with grace and without lawsuits and threats. The goodness of its people and its benefit to society will show people what it is really all about. I am wary of any religion that is so desperate to be seen in a good light that it stoops to the level of lawsuits and intimidation. Something is far wrong there...