Sorry for my lack of reply,i hadnt noticed your post!
Also for my mix up,i misread and thought you said your brother,not you brothers friend- which lead me to believe that that was perhaps how you got your interestin in scientology-by your brother being a member. im veery glad to see it isnt so though!
Im really glad you like the show,no one i know has any interest in it-well its not on tv here so i cant blame them-soim very glad i have someone to discuss it with! Im still waiting for the second episode to be uploaded on youtube,however i got to watch most of it in crappy quality this morning-however i think about 20 min or so is missing.
The part where Leah was reading the letter from Mike Rinders daughter is absolutely heartbreaking!
He sure has come a long way since the man i saw on
Scientology and Me.
Yees,very much a going clear "sequel"-i wish they would have mentioned that a bit though,both that and Scientology and me in which they both featured.I know Leah lightely touched upon it,but im sure alot of the views have seen neither.John Sweeney is going to be on the show soon aswell.
The scenes of scientologists on the front law with their stupid sings aswell..cant people file police reports about them to the police? same with the flyers saying people who left are pedophiles,cheaters,abuser etc and the internet`sites`? surely thats harrassment? they should just get together all of those who left and file one big complaint.
The only thing i can think of for people joining really,is that it has nothing to do with the actual teachings.
Im assuming they`re drawn in by the charistma of the people recruiting-where they are probably met with warmth and interest.Also as with most cults,its the connection and closeknit community.Most adults are sadly very lonely so i think thats a big part of the appeal-obviously its nothing like that when you actually join. Also from what ive gathered-scientologist actually have very little knowledge of scientology-they are given little bits and pieces as they advance their courses which takes years-hence juliette lewis,leah remini etc laughing about the vulcano and alien things when confronted in scientology and me.they didnt know about it.
I dont know either,from Leahs reddit session when they asked what level she was at she said that she had just been told that God was a lie for Hubbert.
Whats shes also said in interviews about it is that when she said she thought stuff was crazy,they told her that it didnt really matter that she didnt believe it aslong as she "followed it".
UGH,dont even get me started on the taxes.its CRAZY.from what leah said-it was considered a religion by them because within scientology you are regarding yourself as a spiritual being..hence religious.
it IS actually very easy to get a status as a religious group-you just have to have so and so many members and the you get a tax deduct from how many members you have.atleast that how it is here in Norway-mind you we havent really had many cults or new religions popping up so maybe that would change if it were to happen. I dont know the rules around that in the US,but im guessing its similar.