L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology founder, speaks

[Questioninggeller]

In 1968 Granada Television (England) interviewed L. Ron Hubbard about scientology in a documentary called "The Shrinking World of L. Ron Hubbard". Xenu.net has made it available for download along with a transcript. A very interesting look at Hubbard and his "church."

Journalist: But surely it's authoritarian in its treatment of suppressive people that kind of thing, I mean, you don't allow criticism.

Hubbard: Oh no a suppressive person isn't critical, a suppressive person is a person who denies the right of others.

Journalist: But surely you are doing precisely that thing to them by denying them the right to do what they want to do.

Hubbard: Perhaps but if it's somebody's [sic] going to kill a baby I think you would deny him the right too. This is beside the point. The only thing, the only reason why any discipline has had to enter the scene, and the government should be very glad of that discipline, is to keep the lunatic fringe and from other people from exploiting this subject, and victimising people with it. If the government were to knock out the control point of Scientology they would reap the whirlwinds.

 

[IceSage]

I think L. Ron is a genius, and also the biggest liar and jerk to have existed. Although, I pity the people who actually believe this crap. It's OBVIOUSLY a scam and people play into it everyday. The man was a SCIENCE FICTION AUTHOR who even once stated himself, "The only true way to make a lot of money, would be to start your own religion." Or something of the sort, in which, in L. Ron's case... He somehow accomplished this... Adding obvious fiction into it.

 

[Starthinker]

1968? Yeah, but what has he done for us lately?

 

[Crazycowbob]

Hmm, you know, this gives me a crazy idea.
I know it probably wouldn't work and all, but maybe a way to get the people who'll follow any religion to start thinking for once might be for everyone to start their own religion. Flood the marketplace with more religions than people can count, and who knows, maybe they'll start to rethink their beliefs?

If not, at least we all get a few followers and cash. :-D

 

[Merko]

Crazycowbob: Well I'm sure that the wider range of religions known by the average person today has done a lot to further atheism. Even extremely well educated people of their times, like Pascal, would simply assume that any god that might possibly exist must be the Christian God.

 

[Pescado]

Watched the entire video. Very interesting. Thanks for the link.

I never realized that I hadn't seen any actual interview footage of Elron until now. What a creep. He reminded me of Yasser Arafat, to tell the truth. Same slimeball smile and fat lips. Not a very skilled liar, either. No wonder he never gave any other interviews.

 

[alfaniner]

I saw some footage a while back, and thought "If I ever wanted to know what The Devil sounds like, now I know." Creepiest voice ever.

 

[magdalena_orion]

This interview sure shows what L. Ron was like.

It also made me what to ask one question: If Scientology is the road to perfect health (amongst all the other claims), why does it not work for dental health?

 

[Big Les]

Or indeed, any other aspect of health.

 

[neon]

I think L. Ron is a genius...

How? Because he was really talented at lying to people and ripping them off? I'm sorry, but someone who throws away their talent by doing something evil loses my admiration.

 

[MelBrooksfan]

Crazycowbob: Well I'm sure that the wider range of religions known by the average person today has done a lot to further atheism. Even extremely well educated people of their times, like Pascal, would simply assume that any god that might possibly exist must be the Christian God.

Atleast in the United States, there seem to be constant alternating states of religious revival, followed by an 'enlightment' period. Although the pattern still persists, we seem to end up with more non-religious people after each circulation.

 

[magdalena_orion]

Or indeed, any other aspect of health.

Well, yes, there is that. But I was just really fixated by L. Ron's bad teeth in that interview, which is what prompted the question.

 

[Checkmite]

1968? Yeah, but what has he done for us lately?

Well he's died, if that counts.

 

[Hitch]

He died?

I thought he merely discarded his Earthly body and was living as a pure Thetan on another planet, continuing his work?

(I can't even type that with a straight face.)

 

[Checkmite]

Neither can I read it with a straight face...

 

[Zep]

It would seem clear (hah!) that people like the current "Sea Org" cottoned on long ago to the fact that Hubbard's Scientology was all a giant scam, and they decided they wanted a piece of the money/drugs/girls action too. Better to be the scammer than the scammee, I guess.

 

[Wolverine]

Egad, that's creepy... fascinating to watch, but creepy. And here I'd been thinking $cientology had long ago pegged my creepometer.

I couldn't help but chuckle at the "Because faiths are now out of fashion..." line though. Damn, what went wrong?

 

[Kopji]

Interesting. I broke a personal rule* last week and purchased an apparently hard to find Scientology book at the used bookstore called 'Introduction to Scientology Ethics' by L Ron Hubbard (1985 edition). isbn 0-88404-105-1

This is easily as cool as the 'ghost photograph' book I have. (The ghost book has several 'proof of ghosts' photos by oft mentioned Sir William Crookes).

Anywho, reading this one little book sure cleared up a lot of questions. Sort of a how-to book about breaking up families.

The Hubbard(TM) Electrometer, or E-Meter, is a device which is sometimes used in Scientology. In itself, the E-Meter does nothing. It is not intended or effective for diagnosis, treatment or prevention of any disease, or for the improvement of health or any bodily function.
- L Ron Hubbard

That's just from the printer's page before page one. It gets better.


* personal rule: There is way more crap in the world that I can afford.