Anonymous protests the Church of Scientology. part 2

i feel as if the energy and resources put into this protest could have been better expended elsewhere. i think it's safe to say most of America understands that Scientology is a sham. pointing out how scientology is a sham is a bit redundant and in the end futile. you're just pointing fingers at the knave, when in reality the joke is all on those who are the ones pointing fingers. if we want to change things, we shouldn't waste our time on such trivial pursuits as this. what about structural change? social transformation, in the liberal discourse of today? or even better, the taboo phrase of total revolution?

NO protest is energy wasted, thanks for going out there and attempting to educate the public about this gross injustice.

If your heart feels you must protest it then by all means DO IT! Whatever the cause!

FREE THE MINDS OF SCIENTOLOGY!

I don't know. Maybe some of us would be shocked at the amount of money and power that seemingly obscure, nutty groups have.
Yes, perhaps there should also be several protests like this every day outside the major military corporations in Sunnyvale and downtown.

I would classify the LaRouche organization or the Moonies in the same group - they have philosophies so bizarre and random that it's surprising that they have more than a dozen members.
Yet in actuality, their cultlike organizing structure enables them to assemble millions of dollars and gain actual political power. The Washington Times newspaper is owned by the moonies and the moonie church has actual political capital with conservatives and does significant fundraising.

Perhaps the people in this protest could provide more text about the influence of scientology in politics, and the sums they own.

My own family was christian scientist faith healers, which is a slightly different story (have you noticed all the large architecturally significant churches they have all over the country, despite declining membership?). They used to be very widespread, and even Mark Twain was christian scientist before his daughter died - he wrote a good booka bout it.

I think the key factor about these cults, that is easy to underestimate, is their sheer advantage in organizing, due to the way they take over people's lives. An great example is how ANSWER is so much better at organizing antiwar protests and turning people out, despite the fact that few of the marchers endorse their underlying Worker's World politics. There are dozens and dozens of politically superior progressive groups working on key issues that most people care about, who barely could turn out 15 people for events or raise a couple hundred dollars. This isn't because nobody cares about their issue, but because they have a normal sense of shame about pressuring people into donating more than $10. And they can only pressure members into occasionally attending meetings or completing a task. Sectarian communist groups like the ISO and WWP are only a few index points up on the cult spectrum where scientology rates a 9 or 10.

As opposed to anti-war protests five years in to "raise awareness". Like somebody doesn't know we're at war?

I felt yesterday that the people who came to protest are progressive and might participate in the antiwar demonstration/revolutionary politics anyway. I think that both issues are important, although I understand the need to raise people awareness to why cults like Scientology are created, and what pushes people to join them in the first place.

I think that the Anti-war/revolutionary movement can unite with the people who are protesting the Scientology Church.

protest by all means !
and post here and elsewhere you can get it to show up .
how ever this bunch ( and lots others / come to think of lots of organized entities / [ just one example among many ]say a " virgin birth of son of god " ) in not all that far from a " cult " .
and to the whiner about money . dude it is not from YOUR POCKET . if you are any good at it your group will be able to raise some too .