L. Ron Hubbard was a ca-razy motherfucker.

http://www.slate.com/id/2122835/

if this was on the other page a apologize. I'll link this proper when the bbcode comes back.

Not as crazy as all the fools who see him as a messiah.

I've been neglecting my Scientology updates, mainly cuz the bastards haven't sent a new mag for a couple months. Last month they sent out an old issue, so maybe things aren't so financially rosy in Hubbardville.

<---- crosses fingers

I didn't know about Beck.

Hubbard is the man.

Are you people reading this?!?! It be good shee.

"In 1967, Hubbard fled to the high seas for most of the next eight years. During this period he dreamed up the "Sea Org," a special branch of Scientology whose members wear sharp blue naval uniforms and sign contracts pledging their service for 1 billion years."

LRH's entry in the Rotten Library is pretty good, too.

[quote="Cap'n Squirrgle"]Are you people reading this?!?! It be good shee.

"In 1967, Hubbard fled to the high seas for most of the next eight years. During this period he dreamed up the "Sea Org," a special branch of Scientology whose members wear sharp blue naval uniforms and sign contracts pledging their service for 1 billion years."[/quote]

oh, check out the link there, too. it gets better.

I mean, I knew it was wacky but I had no idea it was that wacky!

I need to read more exposes on Scientology. I find it fascinating that people really believe this stuff. Granted one could argue that all religions are based on kooky myths and ideas, but damn, this goes above and beyond The Weird, especially when you read about the actual man who started it.

Anybody else have any recommended links like this?

I think it's the Church of Scientology that has been hacking Obner in retribution for our doubting, heathen ways.

One of my psych classes in college turned into "why do people join cults?" class. I enjoyed it. We had to write a paper from the point of view of someone who wanted to start a cult. It was kinda of a how to guide on brainwashing from the stuff we learned in class. I digress, but the class illustrated that there is keen difference between cults and religion. Scientology used to really send the professor to the soap box.

hubbard is always entertaining to read about. any more informative links will be welcome

L Ron Hubbard is awesome. How many of us could make a drunken bet that they could start a religion, and then actually succeed in convincing people your sci-fi story was true?

yeah, but think about how much cooler it'd have been if Asimov had won. At least his stories are readable.

I love Asimov. I think he wrote better Sci-Fi stories then every one else because he was an actual scientist originally.

Really? All I've ever read of Asimov was "I, Robot," and I couldn't get through it.

Foundation series is good but it's his most 'sci-fi'ish stuff.

His short stories are very good too.

yeah, always go with short stories in sci-fi.

Asimov had great stories, but i always consider Bradbury, Burroughs, Wells, Clarke, etc... to be much better writers, if not as technologically sound.

I think PKDick may be the exception. His shorts are clever and have punch, but all his really good ideas come from his novels. Which is why every movie based on his work has come from short stories.

Bradbury's stuff is great, but I never really liked Burroughs that much - great in theory, but not that interesting when you're actually reading it.

I've had 2 hours to mull over the fact that Beck, too, suckles at L Ron Hoover's teat, and I am left with a bizarre feeling that is equal parts:

A. Meeting a hot chick at a bar, going home with her and seeing a gigantic poster of Rob Thomas on the wall over her bed, and
B. Coming home to find your dog has shat the floor (as in, I wanna rub beck's nose in it and say "what the fuck did you do? WHY DID YOU DO THIS?!?")

The feeling doesn't easily lend itself to words, but this is as close as I can get. I'm not superfan #1 or anything, but until 2 hours ago I kinda respected him. Is Scientology the new Republican/Democrat litmus test for me now?

'A Scanner Darkly' movie is coming out soon, and that's a novel.

yes. anyone that joins scientology is absolutely retarded. i could go into why they're worse than neo-cons, but that's neither here nor there.

Exhibit A: Sea Change

No, because then I would be wrong.