How Leah Remini’s New Show Has Jolted Scientology

[mountaineer]

How Leah Remini’s New Show Has Jolted Scientology
Elizabeth Wagmeister
Variety (excerpted - click on link for full article).
December 20, 2016 | 10:00AM PT

Leah Remini is enjoying ratings success for her controversial A&E docuseries “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath.” Weeks after her show debuted to 2.1 million viewers, becoming the cabler’s top new series, the actress is still speaking up against the church.

Having become a Scientologist at age nine, following in the footsteps of her mother, Remini departed in 2013, after spending 34 years in the church. She was one of the organization’s most prominent celebrity supporters.

In Remini’s A&E series, she visits former Scientologists who share their horror stories of being involved with the church, such as being abused, being stripped of money or being separated from their families. In the episodes, the ex-Scientologists have told Remini that they believe the church should be shut down. Remini agrees.

“I hope that the IRS takes a look because they’re hiding behind freedom of religion, and they love to run around and say that everyone is a bigot because we’re attacking their abusive policies,” Remini told Variety in a recent interview (watch below). “I hope that the government agencies that are responsible for protecting people like in this show start to get their heads out of their asses and do something about it.”  ...

Remini also hopes that John Travolta would leave, but says that he’s committed to the church.

“John loves Scientology and John believes that Scientology is everything. He’s a very sweet man,” the former “King of Queens” actress says. “I don’t think they’re going anywhere.”

Travolta’s reps had no comment. Cruise’s team did not immediately respond to Variety‘s request for comment.

When asked for comment by Variety, the Church of Scientology responded with a link to their new website, LeahReminiAftermath.com, launched in response to her new series.

I've been watching this series. It's fascinating.

[mystery-ak]

I keep forgetting to watch this....

[Gefn]

I keep forgetting to watch this....

Me too. I bet it's on On Demand....

[mountaineer]

It's on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. (Eastern) and then they replay the episode the following Monday night.

[GrouchoTex]

I've seen two episodes so far.
It is good.

[kevindavis007]

I saw an episode and I love that show.. Scientology is truly a cult and I hope the Government cracks down on them.

[mountaineer]

I don't believe Leah has touched on this piece of the "church's" sordid past, the Lisa McPherson story or other suspicious deaths at the hands of Scientologists.

[kevindavis007]

I don't believe Leah has touched on this piece of the "church's" sordid past, the Lisa McPherson story or other suspicious deaths at the hands of Scientologists.

or the fact the Church was founded on a bet.

[mountaineer]

A&E is replaying previous episodes right now - Monday night.

[Cripplecreek]

I saw an episode and I love that show.. Scientology is truly a cult and I hope the Government cracks down on them.

Isaak Hayes left South Park over it so they doubled down and made Chef a child molester and it sounds like there may be a fair amount of that going on within the "church".

[sneakypete]

Scientology is truly a cult and I hope the Government cracks down on them.

@kevindavis

Yeah,unlike all the other religions,huh?

[IsailedawayfromFR]

@kevindavis

Yeah,unlike all the other religions,huh?

Not a sane response.

There are certainly other cults abounding out there that pose as religions.

[Cripplecreek]

Not a sane response.

There are certainly other cults abounding out there that pose as religions.

Scientology was the product of a mediocre sci fi writer's greed and lust for young boys.

[sneakypete]

Not a sane response.

There are certainly other cults abounding out there that pose as religions.

@IsailedawayfromFR

My response was very sane. ALL religions are cults to those of other religions.

Which,by definition,means they are all cults.

You will never admit the truth of this because you will never admit you are a member of a cult.

[sneakypete]

Scientology was the product of a mediocre sci fi writer's greed and lust for young boys.

@Cripplecreek

Hubbard was a homosexual pedophile? I never heard that before.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

@IsailedawayfromFR

My response was very sane. ALL religions are cults to those of other religions.

Which,by definition,means they are all cults.

You will never admit the truth of this because you will never admit you are a member of a cult.

By your own admission, most people in this world are insane as most belong to a religion.

Only in the mind of the insane can one claim everyone else is insane.

[mountaineer]

I didn't post this for it to become a "bash religion" thread. It's only about Leah Remini's series and scientology. If you're interested, watch it. If not, fine. Please leave other religions out of it.

[mountaineer]

Leah Remini’s Series Could Be Scientology’s Church Abuse Scandal
What makes Scientology a cult instead of just an extreme religion? The two latest episodes explained the difference better than any of the previous episodes.
By Bethany Mandel
December 27, 2016
Excerpted from The Federalist

Last week A&E aired not one, but two new episodes of its series exposing Scientology, “Scientology: The Aftermath.” Both shed light on the darkest elements of the group, which the series charges has terrorized and even caused the deaths of opponents and followers alike. What makes Scientology a cult instead of just an extreme religion? These two episodes explained the difference better than any of the previous episodes.

The first new episode was an aired edition of a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) in which actress Leah Remini answered viewers’ questions about the cult.  ...

Last Tuesday night, as scheduled, A&E aired the second episode, profiling the current leader (or the pope, as Rinder says he calls himself) of Scientology, David Miscavige. Although Tom Cruise is the most famous member of Scientology, up until episode four Remini spent almost no airtime focusing on the movie-star face of the “church.” The opening of the fourth episode, however, uses Cruise’s words to introduce Miscavige to A&E’s audience.  ...

Miscavige’s official title in the Church of Scientology is chairman of the board of the Religious Technology Center. But who is he really? Rinder described him another way: “the undisputed dictator of Scientology.”  ...

During the AMA episode, Remini explained her greatest hope for the series is that law enforcement and legislators might take an interest in Scientology’s abuses. If practicing Scientologists are exposed to the fourth episode exploring the humanity and evil of David Miscavige, however, it may contribute to a potential exodus from the group that could lead to its implosion from lack of money and followers.

[sneakypete]

By your own admission, most people in this world are insane as most belong to a religion.

Only in the mind of the insane can one claim everyone else is insane.

@IsailedawayfromFR

Nope,YOU are the cult member that is saying that cult members are insane. All I said was they/you are cult members.

People believe all sorts of foolish shit,or nobody would buy lottery tickets. That doesn't make them insane. Granted,the ones that set themselves on fire or have themselves crucified are nuts,but there is always a certain percentage of the population of every organization that is nuts.

[sneakypete]

I didn't post this for it to become a "bash religion" thread. It's only about Leah Remini's series and scientology. If you're interested, watch it. If not, fine. Please leave other religions out of it.

@mountaineer

My apologies. I was thinking that Scientology is a religion,which means the subject is religion.

What the HELL was I thinking?

[jmyrlefuller]

@IsailedawayfromFR

My response was very sane. ALL religions are cults to those of other religions.

Which,by definition,means they are all cults.

You will never admit the truth of this because you will never admit you are a member of a cult.

First off, as a point of disclaimer officially I am not a member of any religion or church.  I do attend church regularly and my beliefs are in consistency with most Christian denominations.

That does not mean I view all other denominations or religions as cults. I may disagree with them on certain doctrine, but there are plenty of denominations who do not consider all others to be cults. They may be wrong, perhaps, but not all cults.

Your logic is also kind of sketchy.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

@IsailedawayfromFR

Nope,YOU are the cult member that is saying that cult members are insane. All I said was they/you are cult members.

Since those same people who form a majority of those who live in this world do not believe themselves in a cult and you apparently do, then I stand on my statement:  You are insane.

[sneakypete]

Since those same people who form a majority of those who live in this world do not believe themselves in a cult and you apparently do, then I stand on my statement:  You are insane.

@IsailedawayfromFR

According to YOUR logic Hillary should be president now because the MAJORITY OF THE VOTERS VOTED FOR HER,AND BEING A MAJORITY THAT MEANS THEY ARE SANE,RIGHT?

Group thought just indicates shallow thoughts or points of view.

[mountaineer]

Had you bothered to watch the program, you would have heard last night how Scientology is like the Hotel California - you can check in but never leave. Leah spoke to a couple who escaped, separately. Each of them was followed, the guy was run off the road by Scientology enforcers who tried to kidnap him and take him back. The woman was required to have five escorts wherever she went (even to an appointment with the eye doctor).

Cults do that. Religions don't. Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, Catholicism, the various Protestant denominations - do not forbid their members to leave the religion. They don't surround them with razor wire like at Scientology's base in Hemet, Calif.  They don't guard them, kidnap them, track them down and harass them and their families. That's what Scientology does. That's what some other cults do. Baptists, Methodists, Roman Catholics, Sikhs (for example) don't do that.

WHAT IS A CULT?

Larry King asked me this very question after thirty-nine people took their lives in the largest mass suicide in U.S. history. He went on to ask whether Christianity might legitimately be referred to as a cult. As I explained on Larry King Live the word “cult” has various connotations.

First, a cult may be defined sociologically. From this perspective, a cult is a religious or semi-religious sect whose followers are controlled by strong leadership in virtually every dimension of their lives. Devotees characteristically display a displaced loyalty for the guru and the group and are galvanized together through physical and/or psychological intimidation tactics. This kind of cultist more often than not displays a “we/they” siege mentality and has been cut off from all former associations including their immediate families.

Furthermore, a cult may be defined theologically. In this sense a cult can be a pseudo-Christian organization that claims to be Christian but compromises, confuses, or contradicts essential Christian doctrine. Such cults operate under the guise of Christianity but deviate from the orthodox teachings of the historic Christian faith as codified in the ancient ecumenical creeds. Typically, devotees become masters at taking texts out of context to develop pretexts for their theological perversions. ...

Hank Hanegraaff, Equip.org.
Hope this helps. Feel free to read more at Equip.org.

[sneakypete]

Had you bothered to watch the program, you would have heard last night how Scientology is like the Hotel California - you can check in but never leave. Leah spoke to a couple who escaped, separately. Each of them was followed, the guy was run off the road by Scientology enforcers who tried to kidnap him and take him back. The woman was required to have five escorts wherever she went (even to an appointment with the eye doctor).

Cults do that. Religions don't. Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, Catholicism, the various Protestant denominations - do not forbid their members to leave the religion. They don't surround them with razor wire like at Scientology's base in Hemet, Calif.  They don't guard them, kidnap them, track them down and harass them and their families. That's what Scientology does. That's what some other cults do. Baptists, Methodists, Roman Catholics, Sikhs (for example) don't do that. Hank Hanegraaff, Equip.org.
Hope this helps. Feel free to read more at Equip.org.

@mountaineer

They have in the past,and will again now and in the future if they are allowed to do so. Back when the Catholics held power,being booted out of the Church was almost a death sentence due to starvation and exposure. No one would have anything to do with you or help you,for fear of themselves becoming targets.

Some Protestant Churches have done the same with their members that started to ask uncomfortable non-Church PC questions.

Yeah,the Jews did this too,by banning disobedient members.

Both Protestants and Catholics banded together to weaken the Mormon Religion before they would "allow" Utah statehood. Granted,the Mormons themselves are more to blame in this than the Protestants and Catholics because they punked out and accepted outsiders/non-believers to dictate what beliefs they could follow or not follow.

And look at what Islam is doing today.