Ray
Mahnahmahna
Premium
join:2001-04-02
Mesa, AZ
|  No Class
If the only way a "religion" can deal with opposing viewpoints is by having them removed by questionable legal means, it says to me that they don't think their beliefs can withstand scrutiny. Such a profound lack of confidence in one's own belief system isn't exactly a glowing advertisement.
Yet another abuse of the DMCA (Digital Millennium Castration Act) to suppress free speech.
--
I meant to do that. |
|
BrianDamage
We Are The Hounds From Hell
Premium
join:2001-08-14
Rowlett, TX
clubs: 
| Church members
I wonder what Tom Cruise and John Travolta think about all this.
But I am left to wonder....
Who was harmed by this, aside from the fact that these websites shed some light on some of the "Church"'s activities and philosophies?
Can't anyone who follows L.Ron and reads his literature come to the same conclusions about these matters?
I think this goes a bit overboard. After all, people can pretty much say what they want as long as it's not slanderous or a libel offense.
That same freedom allowed Mr. Hubbard (a science-fiction writer) to dream this "religion" up in the first place and spread it all around so that people would buy into it.
I think the people at Google were right to put the links back in place.
If these Scientologists want to sue, then let them sue. I didn't read anything I hadn't read or heard before about them.
If you read "Dianetics" it sheds some light on Mr. Hubbard's views.
I perused it years ago....I haven't read it lately. I think it's humorous though that people took it seriously as a "religion".
But I still like John Travolta as an "actor". 
--
We've got our eye on the firmaments, our hand on the armaments, our heads full of arguments, and words for our monuments..... |
|
Kid A
join:2000-09-21
Nashville, TN
| 'catchy title'
From the Article:
quote:
They end up being afraid of society, believing all society to be controlled by a group of drug companies, psychiatrists and financiers all of whom report to more remote masters.
you mean, that's not true? sure feels like it sometimes. |
|
c0mmander
join:2001-10-03 | reply to BrianDamage
Re: Church members
guess scientologists arent much for technology... |
|
mags2
Agent Provocateur
join:2001-07-19
SoCal
| reply to BrianDamage
Whatever gets you thru the day, I guess. "Religion" has always been a concept for the weak-willed/weak minded anyway. Even "Scientology." /flame off
[text was edited by author 2002-03-22 10:13:14] |
|
BrianDamage
We Are The Hounds From Hell
Premium
join:2001-08-14
Rowlett, TX
clubs:
| reply to Ray
Re: No Class
Yeah, it would seem as yet another abuse contributable to overzealous attitudes of recent memory. (9/11, etc.)
But I agree that if they don't want their practices scrutinized, then they should be practicing them.
The Catholic Church has existed much longer and it is not without unscrupulous members, and has been subject to criticism as much as it has been subject to support, as well.
We could argue that point for just about every religion that exists today.
It's fair game, and if it can be proven that illegal activities take place in the practice of the religion, or by people associated with the religion but not necessarily in the practice of it, then these people should pay the price.
If these religions have questionable, possibly fraudulent or illegal tactics, then it should be brought to light.
I don't think it's any coincidence though that these Scientologists target actors and actresses, musicians, etc., for inclusion, because-
1. They are mostly devout liberals,
2. They have lots of cash, and
3. The principles of Scientology agree with aspects of
personal behaviours and attitudes that other churches
or religions would not endorse.
That's just my opinion.
--
We've got our eye on the firmaments, our hand on the armaments, our heads full of arguments, and words for our monuments..... |
|
DaSneaky1D
one wall to block them all
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-29
The Lou | reply to mags2
Re: Church members
Now was that comment really necessary? |
|
mags2
Agent Provocateur
join:2001-07-19
SoCal
|
Now was that comment really necessary?
Unfortunately, the truth always hurts. If you cannot accept someone else's opinion, then perhaps you ought to reconsider reading this particular forum. After all, you are in charge of your life and I'm not holding a shotgun to your head forcing you to read it.
--
Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the boisterous sea of liberty. -T.Jefferson
[text was edited by author 2002-03-22 10:20:25] |
|
tschmidt
Premium,MVM
join:2000-11-12
Milford, NH
 ·Hollis Hosting
 ·Verizon Online DSL
·Fairpoint Communic..
| This is what DMCA was designed to do
I don't know why anyone is surprised. This is exactly why the RIAA and MPAA lobbied so hard to pass the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
It gives copyright owners the right to shutdown any site they think has misused their material. Even if the charges so not stand up in court the mere threat of legal proceeding is enough to gain compliance.
This is an interesting perversion of the notion of copyright. Until the DMCA came along the copyright holder had to prove harm to win an infringement suit. Now the act of doing anything the copyright holder does not specifically permit has been criminalized. This does not bode well for our future as an information society. |
|
nc1165
join:2001-04-10
Delray Beach, FL | reply to Kid A
Re: 'catchy title'
Don't get me started. |
|
Ray
Mahnahmahna
Premium
join:2001-04-02
Mesa, AZ | reply to BrianDamage
Re: No Class
I didn't say what they did was illegal, just questionable! Exactly what is "fair use"?
--
I meant to do that. |
|
SRFireside
join:2001-01-19
Houston, TX
| reply to mags2
Re: Church members
To each his own, but I don't think you have the right perspective regarding personal beliefs. If what you say is true then EVERYBODY is weak-willed/weak minded. A belief system goes way beyond just religion. Look at the political parties. There are people who are overly zealous for their political affiliation...sometimes to the point that goes beyond reason. Look at sports fans. Some of them go through the same ritualistic mannerisms regarding their favorite team or sport. Everyone has a focal belief system. That's a part of human nature. To say those who believe in God are weak minded is actually narrow minded in of itself. It's likely even you believe in some sort of something beyond your own sphere of influence whether it be politics, spirituality, sports, movie stars, or Quake III. Whatever floats your boat.
As a matter of fact there are many strong willed people out there who would strongly argue your point. Believing in something or having a spiritual faith does not equate to weakness. The weakness is in not making your own choices on what you believe. While I agree organized religion in of itself is not the answer I think people who figure out their spirituality end up being stronger than those who don't.
--
When do I get my freakin' third star?!?!? |
|
Rob Froelich
join:2000-03-26
Saint Charles, IL
clubs: |  Head for the hills
The end is at hand, Xenu will return to reclaim his throne next tuesday.
WOGS UNITE!!!!
--
Help! Help! I'm being oppressed!! |
|
BrianDamage
We Are The Hounds From Hell
Premium
join:2001-08-14
Rowlett, TX
clubs:
| reply to DaSneaky1D
Re: Church members
Religious discussions are always going to attract those of varying opinions, including atheists/agnostics.
My opinions and beliefs are probably outside what most religions choose to believe or hold dear. I would classify myself as an "educated agnostic".
I believe that objectivity is paramount when discussing religion though, and that one should be willing to accept varying religious beliefs as being at least as valid as any other.
I believe that they all have their good points, but they all have idiosyncracies as well.
They all have as many similarities as differences also.
But the only thing that has been certain throughout the course of human history as we know it is that religion, in its' varying degrees of philosophy, has been responsible for more deaths of human beings than any other single cause.
One should also be prepared to accept criticism as much as support in issues such as these.
--
We've got our eye on the firmaments, our hand on the armaments, our heads full of arguments, and words for our monuments..... |
|
BrianDamage
We Are The Hounds From Hell
Premium
join:2001-08-14
Rowlett, TX
clubs:
| reply to SRFireside
I would have to agree. 95% of the world's population believes in a higher power in some form or fashion.
One cannot dismiss that as weak will. To do so is pretty shallow.
--
We've got our eye on the firmaments, our hand on the armaments, our heads full of arguments, and words for our monuments..... |
|
BrianDamage
We Are The Hounds From Hell
Premium
join:2001-08-14
Rowlett, TX
clubs: | reply to Ray
Re: No Class
Pay closer attention. I said fair game, not "fair use". |
|
Daishi7
Premium
join:2002-02-24
clubs:
| reply to mags2
Re: Church members
Agreed..
I see religion as 2 groups - those that don't know, and those that don't know they don't know.
Your post is partly flamebait but true to some extent, people sometimes tend to align with the religion that caters most to what they want to believe, others believe because that is what they have been told from a young age, or because they are partly afraid of the consequences of being a "nonbeliever". People tend to become aggressively offensive when their beliefs and perceptions are threatened, and sometimes even when opposed with common sense and logic. |
|
Traal
join:2000-10-19
Mesa, AZ
 ·BroadVoice
| reply to BrianDamage
said by BrianDamage:
Who was harmed by this, aside from the fact that these websites shed some light on some of the "Church"'s activities and philosophies?
Any entity who seeks to suppress the truth, unless it is for the protection of others ("Anthrax for Fun and Profit"?), is dishonest at best, dangerous at worst.
--
/* The green code always compiles. */ |
|
nc1165
join:2001-04-10
Delray Beach, FL
| reply to SRFireside
said by SRFireside:
Believing in something or having a spiritual faith does not equate to weakness. The weakness is in not making your own choices on what you believe. While I agree organized religion in of itself is not the answer I think people who figure out their spirituality end up being stronger than those who don't.
He was lambasting religion specifically. Likewise, I see it as a crutch for weak individuals to lean on which draws people in during difficult times and often times ends up putting their souls into a wheelchair rather than teaching them to walk on their own. It is also often used as a curtain for a Wizard of Oz to hide behind.
This whole topic really pops my cork. However, one thing I believe is that the relationship between religion and spirituality has been so bastardized over the centuries that it has reached the point that we have nothing but inbred interpretations of what was once a good thing. To this point, I would like to impress on you that spirituality and religion have taken such divergent paths that they no longer have anything to do with one another.
Religion is to spirituality what politics is to government.
--
If my enemy cuts me, I will drown him in my own blood. |
|
Ray
Mahnahmahna
Premium
join:2001-04-02
Mesa, AZ
| reply to BrianDamage
Re: No Class
The "fair use" wasn't in reference to your post, it was meant as the basis for the copyright infringement charges. Exactly how much can you paste onto your website before fair use becomes a copyright violation?
--
I meant to do that. |
|
