Speaking of Scientology...

Bill Maher has similar views.

One could really have some fun by building a look-alike unit and putting some sort of remote control receiver inside.

Show the test subject some gay p*rn and hit a concealed transmit button and watch the needle jump all over the place.

Perhaps the overly complex circuitry already conceals just such a function.

You'd be better off with a plethysmograph in that case, ;-)

From the above page:

"...sells its followers expensive courses which, if students study them carefully, are supposed to set them free ('clear' them)."

In a way, that sounds like an MCSE. ;-)

They're carefully 'designed' to give the results the examiner wants.

At least with an MCSE you stand a shot at getting a decent-paying job. As far as I can tell, only a very, very few people up at the top of Scientology actually *make* money from it.

Although I suppose that if you're Tom Cruise, it's perhaps almost a symbiotic relationship... he pays them millions, they take him on fancy cruises and keep him in the public's eye, etc.

I have a hypothesis that many people spend money on material goods, their favorite religions, etc. in proportion not so much to the quality of the goods, but rather in proportion to how much money they have to begin with. Scientology is smart in that, if you've got $100 they'll take it and give you some book or phony class, whereas if you've got $1M they'll take it as well

I knew a guy in college who worked for the alumni foundation doing fund-raising cold calls, and he said their script included initially asking people for $50,000 (!) -- the idea being that if people don't have that kind of money, obviously dropping it is no problem, but starting at, e.g., $100 and working up to $50k is very difficult, even with people who have it. Similar idea, I think...

---Joel

There are times I wish I had lab equipment like that. ;-)

It's certainly an interesting fraud. It makes one wonder if it is repeatable.

Its worked well for Roman Catholics. Look at their churchs.

donald

Where? Our church's budget is consistently in the red (the budget goes to things like supplies, heating, repair, etc.).

Tim

-- "Librarians are hiding something." - Steven Colbert Website @

The church I survived from childhood ( in Cleceland, Ohio) is one of the largest in the area.

I guess your (church) is not giving enough of a kick back.

I have wondered how that really works.

donald

...Lawsuits...

At its peak back around 1980 Hubbard was making some $4 BILLION per year. How much shit do you think you could stir with that income?