Scientologists In Row With BBC

CmdrGravy writes "The Church Of Scientology is currently engaged in a row with the BBC, a result of an investigation by reporter John Sweeney. Sweeney is investigating the Church Of Scientology, trying to judge changes in the organization over the last few years; He's trying to discover if they've moved away from the questionable practices and secrecy they have employed in the past. The conflict centers around a YouTube video posted by the scientologists. It shows Mr. Sweeney losing his temper with a scientology spokesman. Mr. Sweeney's outburst came at the end of a tour of a scientology exhibition which attempts to portray psychiatrists as evil nazi type torturers entitled 'Psychiatry: Industry of Death' which is both gruesome and utterly unconvincing. The BBC appears willing to stand behind its reporter, in spite of the pressure brought to bear by the scientologist organization."

Comments

Funky

[buswolley]

Why, oh why is this on Slashdot?

Mod parent up...

[BlackSabbath]

To whoever modded the parent as "flamebait" - you sir, are a jackass.

Re:This is on TV tonight

[clickclickdrone]

Damn, I've already posted a few messages here so can't use my modpoints now - a very insightful piece.

Difference between Scientology and Christianism

[ArsenneLupin]

If this very post was offending Scientology, it would be redded out. However, as it only offends British Christians, it is allowed to stand. Ergo Christians are less powerful than Scientologists, at least on Slashdot. Have fun!

The Love That Dares To Speak Its Name
By James Kirkup

As they took him from the cross
I, the centurion, took him in my arms-
the tough lean body
of a man no longer young,
beardless, breathless,
but well hung.

He was still warm.
While they prepared the tomb
I kept guard over him.
His mother and the Magdalen
had gone to fetch clean linen
to shroud his nakedness.

I was alone with him.
For the last time
I kissed his mouth. My tongue
found his, bitter with death.
I licked his wound-
the blood was harsh
For the last time
I laid my lips around the tip
of that great cock, the instrument
of our salvation, our eternal joy.
The shaft, still throbbed, anointed
with death's final ejaculation

I knew he'd had it off with other men-
with Herod's guards, with Pontius Pilate,
With John the Baptist, with Paul of Tarsus
with foxy Judas, a great kisser, with
the rest of the Twelve, together and apart.
He loved all men, body, soul and spirit. - even me.

So now I took off my uniform, and, naked,
lay together with him in his desolation,
caressing every shadow of his cooling flesh,
hugging him and trying to warm him back to life.
Slowly the fire in his thighs went out,
while I grew hotter with unearthly love.

It was the only way I knew to speak our love's proud name,
to tell him of my long devotion, my desire, my dread-
something we had never talked about. My spear, wet with blood,
his dear, broken body all open wounds,
and in each wound his side, his back,
his mouth - I came and came and came

as if each coming was my last.
And then the miracle possessed us.
I felt him enter into me, and fiercely spend
his spirit's finbal seed within my hole, my soul,
pulse upon pulse, unto the ends of the earth-
he crucified me with him into kingdom come.

-This is the passionate and blissful crucifixion
same-sex lovers suffer, patiently and gladly.
They inflict these loving injuries of joy and grace
one upon the other, till they dies of lust and pain
within the horny paradise of one another's limbs,
with one voice cry to heaven in a last divine release.

Then lie long together, peacefully entwined, with hope
of resurrection, as we did, on that green hill far away.
But before we rose again, they came and took him from me.
They knew not what we had done, but felt
no shame or anger. Rather they were glad for us,
and blessed us, as would he, who loved all men.

And after three long, lonely days, like years,
in which I roamed the gardens of my grief
seeking for him, my one friend who had gone from me,
he rose from sleep, at dawn, and showed himself to me before
all others. And took me to him with
the love that now forever dares to speak its name.

Ok, so Slashdot thinks that this comment has too few character per line. Slashdot apparently doesn't like poetry. So we need some very long filler line here to drive up the average. The averge line length needs to be longer and longer and longer. Now we're at 34.4, but this still isn't long enough. I have to come up with more text to make this poem slide through. 35.5, and still not enough... Gawd, how high must this average be until Slashdot is satisfied? 36.6 and it still wants more? Well, at least this is not a bias against criticism against Christianism, it's a bias against (admittedly) badly poetry. What's the score now? Wow, we've won! Slashdot is now happy with the line length, and off-it-goes!

Re:Why

[ThePromenader]

"And maybe here's a consistent definition of sane for you to consider: Able to cope and function effectively in the society in which you find yourself."

I don't really understand the point of your post, because your above conclusion is exactly what I said in mine.

Some other cultures may find some of your everyday "normal" habits to be odd or even insane. Are you talking on behaviour engendering physical or mental harm to others? There are laws for that, but again these are not always the same betwen cultures. Look how some cultures treat their women!

Do you "need" to find out? Not if you don't intend to immerse yourself in that culture. On that note, I would hesitate to declare publicly what I think everyone "needs" to do (or know) and expect everyone to take me unquestioningly for my word. See: "calls to authority."