Today we sit down with Tony Ortega, a journalist who has covered Scientology for over 20 years. We talk about the mechanisms of Scientology and contrast and compare them with some of the mechanisms Mormonism. We cover topics like how both religions handle dissenters, what gives the members certainty with their respective religion, interviews to establish loyalty, Sea Org vs Missionary Program, unique vocabulary, discouragement of looking into critical information, time commitment, financial commitment, and many more.
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._Ron_Hubbard
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Miscavige
http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/22/us/believer-what-is-scientology/index.html
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Bill, you referenced a guy named “Pasco Wellington”. Did I get the name right? I tried to find the name and came up short.
Fake Facebook profile. Once he was caught it was deleted.
Well, I learned that Mormonism is nothing close to Scientology although perhaps the Mormonism of the past was more similar that present day.
The church is quite different to what we complain about it in podcasts. In the podcast we deal with the extreme cases. Daily church experience tends to reside on the mellow non controversial side.
Although, I admit that living under the TBM paradigm can be stressful, but I find that most active members never really are or were TBM’s to begin with. Those of us who were, can be quite traumatized or bless by the Mormonism paradigm depending to the degree in which you fitted the mold.
Mormonism is changing though, it wants to become mainstream Christian, which I find less appealing. Christian churches are not doing any better, I’m not sure why we look up to them for answers at times.
Interesting podcast. I found the corrolaries to be a bit of a reach. Like comparing a Koala and a Kodiac.
Bill, I very much enjoy the discussion that you are helping to bring forward. So please don’t be offended by my following question.
I first found your podcast by listening to a Mormon stories interview that you did and found it very interesting. In that interview, you spoke several times of your podcast that specifically called out Jeffrey Holland for self/church/narrative serving lies.
Also in the podcast, you were asked a question about tithing (I’m sure you recall…gross, net or surplus). Your response was straightforward that you believe the law of tithing was a requirement to pay 10% of your surplus. And as we all know, that is very different than gross. That was the understanding and belief that lead you to sit across from your bishop for years and claim a full tithe.
In this podcast, in an effort to support the narrative of the significant the financial contribution was that Mormons make to their church, you state unequivocally that tithing is 10% of their gross income.
My question: how is that any different at all from what Jeffrey Holland did?
Thanks and appreciate your time,
Rich
because I think the Church hopes it members interpret tithing as 10% gross and they certainly teach it in a way that leads a member to think that. hence I see myself as being honest to mormonism