This could be the beginning of the end for Scientology

A brewing power struggle between Lisa Marie Presley and Scientology leader David Miscavige could inflict crippling harm to the controversial “church.”

The only daughter of rock icon Elvis Presley has been slowly pulling herself away from Scientology, to which she was introduced as a child by her mother, since at least 2008, reported Tony Ortega.

Ortega, who served as executive editor of The Raw Story from 2013 until 2015, said Presley has quietly been orchestrating a damaging media campaign against Miscavige as the church slips further into long decline.

Miscavige’s father, Ron Miscavige, will release a “ruthless” memoir May 3 about his own life as the musical director of the hardcore Sea Org sect and his increasingly strained relationship with his son, and he’ll appear April 29 on a “20/20” episode devoted to Scientology.

His 55-year-old son has headed Scientology since founder L. Ron Hubbard’s death in 1986, and he maintains a close — and, according to sources — strange friendship with actor Tom Cruise, probably the most famous member of the church.

The elder Miscavige escaped — literally — four years ago from the church’s International Base near Hemet, California, and two heavily armed private investigators arrested about three years ago near his new home in Wisconsin told police they had been hired by the Church of Scientology to trail him.

Ron Miscavige decided to write the book after that — but first he called Presley, according to Ortega’s sources.

Presley has been nurturing doubts about Scientology for years, but Ortega reported she decided to leave after speaking with Ron Miscavige and others who had escaped Int Base — known as “The Hole” — where the church officials banish their enemies.

Raggamuffin wrote:

sassy wrote:Then you obviously have knowledge what so ever.

I just said they tried it with me Sassy - which bit of that did you not understand?

Some people are looking for answers, and they are ready to be persuaded to follow a certain course. Then they blame others when it doesn't quite work out the way they wanted it to.

eddie wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

I just said they tried it with me Sassy - which bit of that did you not understand?

Some people are looking for answers, and they are ready to be persuaded to follow a certain course. Then they blame others when it doesn't quite work out the way they wanted it to.

Those people are called "vulnerable" and are easily manipulated.

eddie wrote:Well I don't care of its overused, it's still a word and it still very much exists!
You don't have to be mentally ill to be vulnerable.

My mum was, and still is, after 13 years, vulnerable without my dad. That's the exact word she will use to describe how she feels.

eddie wrote:How so? The very fact you are in a "vulnerable" state means you can be expoited.

eddie wrote:I shouldn't have to do this for you, of all people rags:

vulnerable
ˈvʌln(ə)rəb(ə)l/
adjective
adjective: vulnerable
exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally.
"we were in a vulnerable position"
synonyms: in danger, in peril, in jeopardy, at risk, endangered, unsafe, unprotected, ill-protected, unguarded; More
open to attack, attackable, assailable, exposed, wide open;
undefended, unshielded, unfortified, unarmed, without arms, without weapons, defenceless, easily hurt/wounded/damaged, powerless, helpless;
rarepregnable, impuissant, resistless
"they evacuated children from the most vulnerable cities"
exposed to, open to, wide open to, liable to, prone to, prey to, susceptible to, subject to, not above, in danger of, at risk of, at the mercy of, an easy target for, easily affected by;
in the firing line;
raresusceptive of
"he is extremely sensible and less vulnerable to criticism than most"
antonyms: well protected, invulnerable, resilient, immune to,

Origin:
From the Latin world "Vulnus" which means to "wound"

eddie wrote:Okay, you're clearly not getting what the word vulnerable actually means, so we can't move on.

eddie wrote:Are children vulnerable?

eddie wrote:Are recently widowed people vulnerable?

What about a parent who's just lost a child? Vulnerable?

Raggamuffin wrote:

eddie wrote:Are children vulnerable?

In what way?

Raggamuffin wrote:

eddie wrote:Are recently widowed people vulnerable?

What about a parent who's just lost a child? Vulnerable?

In what way?

Raggamuffin wrote:Oh FFS. In your world, nobody is responsible for themselves are they? Not one fucking person. It's always someone else's fault.

eddie wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:Oh FFS. In your world, nobody is responsible for themselves are they? Not one fucking person. It's always someone else's fault.

No? Ive never said that?

Raggamuffin wrote:

eddie wrote:

No? Ive never said that?

You pretty much have. So in your world, anyone who joins the Scientologists have been exploited because they're "vulnerable"? They don't actually choose to join, they're made to join against their own will?

eddie wrote:This is a list of people who are, through no fault of their own, could be, or can be, vulnerable:

Widowed people
Elderly people
Children
Mentally ill people
People on drugs
Frail and sick people
Recently bereaved people
Teenagers
Homeless people
People who live alone
People who are socially awkward


Possibly more to add to that list.

All those people are or can become, vulnerbale  to being preyed upon.

Raggamuffin wrote:

eddie wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:Oh FFS. In your world, nobody is responsible for themselves are they? Not one fucking person. It's always someone else's fault.

No? Ive never said that?

You pretty much have. So in your world, anyone who joins the Scientologists have been exploited because they're "vulnerable"? They don't actually choose to join, they're made to join against their own will?

sassy wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

You pretty much have. So in your world, anyone who joins the Scientologists have been exploited because they're "vulnerable"? They don't actually choose to join, they're made to join against their own will?

Sometimes no, in most cases yes, because they wouldn't go there is they weren't vunerable, because people who aren't vunerable would dismiss it out of hand, and once they are there, the tactics used on prevent them making up their own minds and manipulate them into staying.

Have you watched the videos and you still haven't told me what tactics they used on you and how you were able to get away, because it's very rare for someone to get away.

eddie wrote:This is a list of people who are, through no fault of their own, could be, or can be, vulnerable:

Widowed people
Elderly people
Children
Mentally ill people
People on drugs
Frail and sick people
Recently bereaved people
Teenagers
Homeless people
People who live alone
People who are socially awkward


Possibly more to add to that list.

All those people are or can become, vulnerbale  to being preyed upon.

eddie wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

You pretty much have. So in your world, anyone who joins the Scientologists have been exploited because they're "vulnerable"? They don't actually choose to join, they're made to join against their own will?

I don't say that. I was replying to your comment that not EVERYONE is able to resist being preyed upon because they are vulnerable.

So don't put words in my mouth becasue I certainly am not a vulnerable person so far. But I could become one, refer to my list.

Some people are looking for answers, and they are ready to be persuaded to follow a certain course.

Those people are called "vulnerable" and are easily manipulated.

Raggamuffin wrote:

sassy wrote:


Sometimes no, in most cases yes, because they wouldn't go there is they weren't vunerable, because people who aren't vunerable would dismiss it out of hand, and once they are there, the tactics used on prevent them making up their own minds and manipulate them into staying.

Have you watched the videos and you still haven't told me what tactics they used on you and how you were able to get away, because it's very rare for someone to get away.

You're not "vulnerable" just because you're pissed off with life and you're looking for an alternative, or you're looking for answers to something lacking within yourself.

What do you mean it's rare for someone to get away? They choose to stay, unless they're physically locked up or physically restrained. Are you suggesting that anyone who decides to leave is physically restrained?

eddie wrote:

eddie wrote:This is a list of people who are, through no fault of their own, could be, or can be, vulnerable:

Widowed people
Elderly people
Children
Mentally ill people
People on drugs
Frail and sick people
Recently bereaved people
Teenagers
Homeless people
People who live alone
People who are socially awkward


Possibly more to add to that list.

All those people are or can become, vulnerbale  to being preyed upon.

sassy wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

You're not "vulnerable" just because you're pissed off with life and you're looking for an alternative, or you're looking for answers to something lacking within yourself.

What do you mean it's rare for someone to get away? They choose to stay, unless they're physically locked up or physically restrained. Are you suggesting that anyone who decides to leave is physically restrained?

Do you understand manipulation and the use of hypnosis and sleep deprivation, hunger and message bombardment, confidence undermining and yes, in some cases they have be know to physically restrain.

sassy wrote:And you still haven't said what methods they used on you Rags

Raggamuffin wrote:

eddie wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

You pretty much have. So in your world, anyone who joins the Scientologists have been exploited because they're "vulnerable"? They don't actually choose to join, they're made to join against their own will?

I don't say that. I was replying to your comment that not EVERYONE is able to resist being preyed upon because they are vulnerable.

So don't put words in my mouth becasue I certainly am not a vulnerable person so far. But I could become one, refer to my list.

You were replying to this post:

Some people are looking for answers, and they are ready to be persuaded to follow a certain course.

You said:

Those people are called "vulnerable" and are easily manipulated.

You were therefore implying that they're somehow joining against their will.

eddie wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

You were replying to this post:




You said:



You were therefore implying that they're somehow joining against their will.

Vulnerable people are kind of joining agaisnt their own will, it kind of goes in the territory of being "vulnerable".

Not everyone who joins is vulnerable obviously, but it's easier to get a vulnerable person to join up...isn't it?

sassy wrote:Precisely, so what methods did they use to try and persuade you and did you ever go inside a building with them, or was it just on the street where they can't do much manipulation.

Because you obviously don't have a clue about what they do.

Raggamuffin wrote:

eddie wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

You were replying to this post:




You said:



You were therefore implying that they're somehow joining against their will.

Vulnerable people are kind of joining agaisnt their own will, it kind of goes in the territory of being "vulnerable".

Not everyone who joins is vulnerable obviously, but it's easier to get a vulnerable person to join up...isn't it?

This is where I disagree with you. People do join these groups because they want to. It's later on that they get disillusioned because they find it hasn't helped them, or it hasn't lived up to their expectations.

eddie wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

This is where I disagree with you. People do join these groups because they want to. It's later on that they get disillusioned because they find it hasn't helped them, or it hasn't lived up to their expectations.

Yes some people join becasue they want to and others want to join becasue they're vulnerable and not really sure what they're getting into.
Some are preyed upon. The vulnerable ones.

eddie wrote:Well I don't get why you can't see that vulnerable people are often sought out for these kind of cults.
I am not a shy, retiring or vulnerable person, in any way, but it doesn't prevent me seeing that there are vulnerable people around, in all shapes and sizes.

sassy wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:
You're not "vulnerable" just because you're pissed off with life and you're looking for an alternative, or you're looking for answers to something lacking within yourself.

What do you mean it's rare for someone to get away? They choose to stay, unless they're physically locked up or physically restrained. Are you suggesting that anyone who decides to leave is physically restrained?

Do you understand manipulation and the use of hypnosis and sleep deprivation, hunger and message bombardment, confidence undermining and yes, in some cases they have be know to physically restrain.

Synonyms for susceptible

adj exposed, naive         
for susceptible

• affected
  
• easy
  
• impressionable
  
• inclined
  
• liable
  
• prone
  
• ready
  
• receptive
  
• responsive
  
• sensitive
  
• vulnerable
  
• wide open
  

• aroused
  
• be taken in
  
• disposed
  
• easily moved
  
• fall for
  
• given
  
• gullible
  
• impress
  
• impressible
  
• influenced
  
• mark
  
• movable
  nonresistant
  
  
  
  • obnoxious
    
  • open
    
  • out on a limb
    
  • persuadable
    
  • predisposed
    
  • pushover
    
  • roused
    
  • sensible
    
  • sentient
    
  • sitting duck
    
  
  
  
• soft
  
• stirred
  
• subject
  
• sucker
  
• suggestible
  
• susceptive
  
• swallow
  
• swayed
  
• tender
  
• touched
  
• tumble for
  

The need/longing to find comfort and to belong often leaves many humans easy prey for the charlatans/con artist out there looking for their next victims and if the predators weren't so dog gone good at finding their prey --- well there wouldn't be so many SUCKERS BORN EVERY DAY! What better method to draw the public into a group then use the *STAR* quality of the entertainers that are on their membership list? And a whole lot of society just operate daily off of trust and faith; they believe that people are good until they're proven wrong and get burnt then they go the opposite direction! 

From what I've read - Raggs wasn't exposed to any form of manipulation/brainwashing or cohesion...she might have been invited to attend a service but that's about the extent of her obvious knowledge provided!   

In a special "Inside Scientology" report, the St. Petersburg Times (now known as the Tampa Bay Times) began a years-long investigation into the Church in 2009. The newspaper unearthed numerous accounts of former Scientologists who were allegedly chased, harassed, and even spied on by the Church.

Former Miscavige confidantes Marty Rathbun and Mike Rinder claimed they hired private investigators to spy on potential enemies, sometimes for decades. Other former members told the newspaper that they had to sign drawn out affidavits in order to leave. These documents were allegedly intended to discredit them in case they ever spoke out against the Church.

Ben_Reilly wrote:http://www.bustle.com/articles/72460-what-happens-when-you-leave-scientology-heres-what-we-know-from-those-who-left

In a special "Inside Scientology" report, the St. Petersburg Times (now known as the Tampa Bay Times) began a years-long investigation into the Church in 2009. The newspaper unearthed numerous accounts of former Scientologists who were allegedly chased, harassed, and even spied on by the Church.

Former Miscavige confidantes Marty Rathbun and Mike Rinder claimed they hired private investigators to spy on potential enemies, sometimes for decades. Other former members told the newspaper that they had to sign drawn out affidavits in order to leave. These documents were allegedly intended to discredit them in case they ever spoke out against the Church.

eddie wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

I just said they tried it with me Sassy - which bit of that did you not understand?

Some people are looking for answers, and they are ready to be persuaded to follow a certain course. Then they blame others when it doesn't quite work out the way they wanted it to.

Those people are called "vulnerable" and are easily manipulated.

Syl wrote:

eddie wrote:Those people are called "vulnerable" and are easily manipulated.

And also it seems they indoctrinate them from a very early age.
No wonder Katie Holmes got her and Tom Cruise's (if indeed he is the father) little girl away from the sect.
Something I didn't know...Mimi Rogers who was Tom Cruises first wife introduced him into scientology....which he has embraced ever since.

Celebrities Who Have Left Scientology

Nicole Kidman, Christopher Reeve, Jerry Seinfeld and more

Mimi Rogers



Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images for Kari Feinstein's Style Lounge
Tom Cruise is perhaps the most famous living Scientologist. However, each of his three marriages – and three subsequent divorces – resulted in his ex-wives' departures from Scientology. Cruise's first marriage was to Rogers, who is known for her roles in The Rapture and Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. Rogers originally brought Cruise into the fold of Scientology, according to RadarOnline. Ironically, after her divorce from Cruise, Rogers has since been referred to as a "former member" of the church.

Nicole Kidman

Dominique Charriau/WireImage
Cruise then married Kidman, who also has an impressive resume that includes Moulin Rouge! and Eyes Wide Shut (in which she co-starred with Cruise). Although Kidman has severed ties with the Church of Scientology since her divorce with Cruise, her religion is not something she readily discusses. "I've chosen not to speak publicly about Scientology," Kidman said in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter. "I have two children [adopted with Cruise] who are Scientologists – Connor and Isabella – and I utterly respect their beliefs."

Katie Holmes

Jennifer Graylock/FilmMagic
In Cruise's infamous, unhinged interview with Oprah, he jumped on a couch and professed his love for then-girlfriend and future wife, Holmes. Holmes, the Dawson's Creek star who also played Batman's love interest in Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins, was at ends with Scientology due to her family's Catholic background, according to Vanity Fair. The couple's child, Suri, further complicated matters with the court battle in which Holmes won primary custody. The Hollywood Reporter said Holmes didn't want Suri to be raised as a Scientologist. Holmes has been quiet about her reasons for leaving since the divorce.

Christopher Reeve

SGranitz/WireImage
Known for his portrayal of Superman (1978) and the equestrian accident that made him a quadraplegic, Reeve discussed his involvement with Scientology in his memoir, Nothing Is Impossible: Reflections on a New Life. Reeve said his skepticism grew when he was auditing and lied about a past incarnation that was really a story from Greek mythology. "The fact that I got away with a blatant fabrication," Reeve wrote, "completely devalued my faith in the process." After that, Reeve stopped pursuing Scientology.

Paul Haggis

Charles Eshelman/FilmMagic
Screenwriter Paul Haggis, who penned the scripts of Crash, Million Dollar Baby and Flags of Our Fathers, has been one of the more vocal critics of Scientology since his departure from the church. Haggis recently wrote an open letter supporting Remini's decision to leave: "Her parents, family and close friends were almost all Scientologists; the stakes for her were so much higher than for me. Her decision to leave was so much braver." Haggis originally broke with the church due to its endorsement of Proposition 8 in California, which would've banned gay marriage, according to the New Yorker.
Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/lists/celebrities-who-have-left-scientology-20130806/mimi-rogers-19691231#ixzz47Ep5XP8Y