Do I have a right to live?

Question answered by honorarykid in Scientology

Freedom_of_Religion asked this question on 8/16/2000:

I'm a Scientologist and I was wondering, do I have a right to live? I mean, really. Well, you know, shouldn't I survive too?

honorarykid gave this response on 8/16/2000:

You have as much a right to live as anyone. Are you claiming that someone is trying to kill you?

Or are you really just trying to continue a long-standing pattern by Scientologists of assuming an inaccurate victim posture in equating criticisms of Scientology with denial of your basic human rights?

If so, I'm sorry, but Scientology is not exempt from public criticism and ridicule. Free speech rights and the freedom to practice one's religion are both basic human rights. Both rights must be respected. One does not and must never be allowed to overrule or trump the other.

And to that end, you are not forced to listen to or read criticisms of Scientology, so in no way is your religious freedom threatened.

But if you truly want to belong to a better, more ethical church organization, I hope you will take some of the criticisms to heart, and try to help your fellow members see the need to make what I think are much needed reforms.

Freedom_of_Religion rated this answer:

Are you sure about that?

honorarykid asked for clarification on 8/16/2000:

Hi Freedom,

In your rating comment, you asked "Are you sure about that?"

I'm not sure how to answer you. I generally have confidence in my answer, but I said several things. Which of my points are you talking about? Would you please be a little more specific?

Also, if you really think someone (here or elsewhere) is threatening your life or your survival, would you mind explaining who is doing that to you, and how, specifically, your survival being threatened?

I am sincerely interested in your thoughts on this matter. Thanks in advance.

Freedom_of_Religion added this clarification on 8/16/2000:

Isn't it ok for me to be a Scientologist?

honorarykid gave this response on 8/17/2000:

Sure it's okay for you to be a Scientologist.

But what is NOT okay is when Scientologists needlessly and arbitrarily define enemies, and then set out to destroy or ruin those people. It's not okay for Scientologists to try and squash other people's free speech rights. And frankly, most Scientologists aren't actively involved in such activities.

But here's the rub for the rest of you. It's also not okay for the majority of Scientologists who don't do such things, to collectively turn a blind eye to the wrongdoing by a small minority within your organization.

It's wrong to insist or pretend those things are not happening, and it's wrong to refuse to look at clear evidence that such things are happening, and quite often.

Does what I'm saying here make sense to you? I sure hope so...

Freedom_of_Religion asked this follow-up question on 8/17/2000:

No, you seem to be involved in something...

honorarykid gave this response on 8/17/2000:

Yes, of course I am involved in something.

But I'll anticipate you, and assure you that I'm not involved with an intergalactic conspiracy with of evil "psychs" (or should we be calling them "psychlos"?). There is no such conspiracy. That is a fanciful delusion held by many Scientologists.

What I'm involved with, is a grass roots effort involving a growing number of critics who, like myself, are amazed and stunned to learn that a 501(c)(3) non-profit "church" is behaving like an oppressive, totalitarian political movement, bent on world domination, raiding people's homes, suing them, harassing and intimidating people.

We critics aren't threatening your freedoms. We're only pointing out the bad things that the Church of Scientology does. And this is really a good and healthy thing. Honest! It allows one of two things to happen. The first is that your "church" has the opportunity to see the error of it's ways, and to stop doing those things. That would be wonderful! But if your church refuses to listen, and won't stop doing them, then at least potential new recruits will not be sucked in to Scientology without at least a chance to first realize the kinds of behaviors and people they will be associating with. I trust that most reasonable people, faced with this new knowledge of Scientology's wrongdoing, will choose not to associate with Scientology.

Ask around your local org, and I'll bet you learn that fewer new members are joining than in the past. That should tell you something. That should tell you that some major changes of attitude are in order.

You started this exchange with a question that carried the clear implication that my speaking out against Scientology and the bad things I see it doing, somehow creates a threat to your survival. I still want to know why you think that. How is your survival threatened?

Do you think I should have no right to speak out against what I think is wrong? Are you really in favor of Scientology squashing my right to speak out like this? Do you really think it's okay for Scientologists to bully and intimidate and silence people for simply disagreeing with the institutional mindset of your group?

If that's really the way you feel, then I can certainly understand why you have rated my answers low, and why you won't engage in a real dialog with me. Someday, I hope that will change, not only for you, but for all of your fellow members.

I hope that soon you realize that behaving as you and your fellow Scientologists are doing, in refusing to even listen to valid, rational criticisms, you collectively enable the corruption and oppression that is currently being sponsored by your church.

Freedom_of_Religion asked this follow-up question on 8/17/2000:

Your interests are plain. As you are harassing, insulting, or flaming groups or other users I am reporting you as a bogus expert.

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