They haven't closed any of the lanes of Ft. Harrison Ave in a year or so that is a good thing.

The monstrosity is still not occupied and they have taken over downtown Clearwater, but that is OK nobody wanted any business there anyway. We just go to Dunedin who dodged the Scientology bullet.

See, feckingmorons, we agree on some things.

Yes, the Scientologists have ruined downtown Clearwater with that massive monstrosity.

And, yes, I love going to Dunedin to hang out in its lovely downtown pubs.

/I'll keep my donations going to my favorite pub there, Flanagan's, thank you very much.

AirForceVet: See, feckingmorons, we agree on some things.

Yes, the Scientologists have ruined downtown Clearwater with that massive monstrosity.

And, yes, I love going to Dunedin to hang out in its lovely downtown pubs.

/I'll keep my donations going to my favorite pub there, Flanagan's, thank you very much.

I fiddle at Flanagan's from time to time.

how do they explain Kirstie Alley?

kona: how do they explain Kirstie Alley?

I saw her in Publix one day, she has a wide caboose, she take up the whole freaking aisle.

Is it weird to feel sorry for an entire religion?

SphericalTime: Is it weird to feel sorry for an entire people who live with the misguided notion that their lives are better with religion?

Fixed that for.... everyone?

They do have lots of hot women though. The hottie to not hot ratio is at least 7 or 8 to 1.

Even with all of the important sh*t we have going on, I'd still like to see Congressional hearings to determine exactly how the f*ck these nutbars got classified as a tax-exempt religion.

They're out of money? What did they spend it on? Who has the money now?

I used to work on that block and would take pictures of it every few months or so, I was amazed how they let that area all into disrepair. I once asked a Scientology staffer very innocent and friendly-like when it was expected to open (this was in around 2002) and he got weirdly nervous and refused to answer. You know how you know when someone isn't good at lying and you weren't even expecting a lie, but then you realize someone is lying to you anyway?

NewportBarGuy: Even with all of the important sh*t we have going on, I'd still like to see Congressional hearings to determine exactly how the f*ck these nutbars got classified as a tax-exempt religion.

Especially when you factor in how Scientologists, directly contrasting every single other religion on the face of the planet, refuse to discuss what their 'religion' is actually about (new window)

jaylectricity: They're out of money? What did they spend it on? Who has the money now?

Alice Cooper.

Its a long story.

Silais: NewportBarGuy: Even with all of the important sh*t we have going on, I'd still like to see Congressional hearings to determine exactly how the f*ck these nutbars got classified as a tax-exempt religion.

Especially when you factor in how Scientologists, directly contrasting every single other religion on the face of the planet, refuse to discuss what their 'religion' is actually about (new window)

I have to live here, I'm good with that.

When in doubt, you can always sell the Crystal Cathedral to the Pope. Link (new window)

SilentStrider: jaylectricity: They're out of money? What did they spend it on? Who has the money now?

Alice Cooper.

Its a long story.

It's hot tonight.

BroVinny: SphericalTime: Is it weird to feel sorry for an entire religion?

When it's founded by a science fiction writer based off a bar bet with another science fiction writer?

I feel sorry for them in the same way I feel sorry for Star Wars fans who are still arguing over whether Han shot first.

Smoking GNU: Ahhhh, Scientology.

One of the few occurrence on this planet where the entities Wikipedia and Uncyclopedia articles actually COMPETE to see which is the most mindbogglingly ridiculously sounding article.

Compete?

Motherfarker, they don't have to compete for that. They really are that goddamn ridiculous.

VarmintCong: A previous tenant of the apartment I just moved into is a Scientologist, and I've gotten several mailers from them. I flipped through them and was confused and maybe a little frightened.

/CSB

You think that's bad, my landlords are Scientologists!

i will donate just to troll you all

thats right

everyone below this comment is trolled

Disapproves of this farkery:

"I couldn't go to a good college because my mother sold all our belongings so she could get a better title with the Unitologists Scientologists Unitologists."

Corporate Scientology is unbelievable. Big money. Bigger scam.

I have a guy here in my town that defected from the church a few years ago and about 8 months ago, there were all of the sudden a bunch of hired goons on the set to start harassing him as he de-programmed other people who got fed up with the church.

He was the second highest ranking member of the church, just under David Miscavige. He spearheaded the effort to get the COS tax exempt status, so when he left, it was a huge deal.

So now there is a squad of private investigators, cameramen, and church operatives doing everything they can to harass this guy and his wife. In a town of 9,000 people in deep south Texas. They rented a house up the street, and a half a dozen cars to follow him around. The church is spending tens of thousands of dollars a week to try to make their life hell.

They are regulars in the restaurant I own and the goons started bringing in their cameras and trying to film in my spot. I told them they were either going to cut the crap or they would no longer be welcome at the only good steak house within a hundred mile radius, which in a town this small is not a nice look. TX has managed to screw up every food product on planet earth; any society that manages to make Mexican food bland and thinks that Whataburger is the be-all end-all of burgers should be ashamed at the very least.

Some stories relating to this situation are rather interesting and worth a read.

Link (new window)

Link (new window)

Link (new window)
/CSB on the real

Oral Roberts would explain this to you, but the Good Lord done called him home a few years back... Thank goodness he raised that $8 million dollars afore God struck him dead the first time around. Clearly he didn't keep at it hard enough or he'd still be alive today!

fyrewede: Oral Roberts would explain this to you, but the Good Lord done called him home a few years back... Thank goodness he raised that $8 million dollars afore God struck him dead the first time around. Clearly he didn't keep at it hard enough or he'd still be alive today!

Maybe the biggest one-time religious scam attempted in the 21st century, and he pulled it off. I'm still amazed.

Pesky_Humans: Bigger scam

than you could ever imagine....

Silais:
Especially when you factor in how Scientologists, directly contrasting every single other religion on the face of the planet, refuse to discuss what their 'religion' is actually about (new window)

It is in no way any less ridiculous than what christians believe. Science fiction is science fiction

/no religion should be tax exempt unless they do not make a profit in any form, and are for charitable purposes only.

Luis and Rocio Garcia were resting in their hotel room at Scientology's Sandcastle complex in Clearwater in August 2005 when Super Power fundraiser Charmaine Roger knocked on their door.

The church wanted to place a large bronze Scientology cross atop the unfinished Super Power building four blocks away.

A contractor was standing by. How much could they give?

The Garcias looked at each other. They didn't want to donate.

Roger said the cross would be visible for miles. She dropped to her knees, Rocio remembered, her hands pressed together and pointing upward, as if in prayer. Please help us. I know you have big hearts. I know you are big beings. "I felt so bad,'' Rocio said. "I mean, you cannot say no to a person when you see that.''

They donated $65,000.


They went from zero to $65,000 because of simple begging?

I gotta start me a cult.