AMos, I don't know you very well, but I am glad to hear that my experiences are not unusual with regard to my freindships with Scientologists. Since I am active in a Christian Church and take issue with a fair amount of what my Scientology friends choose to believe, I don't see how I can remotely be labelled as an "apologist" by anyone. An Apologists seek to demonstarte that the tenents of a particulr faith are true and to be believed. I've done none of that.

For the record, I'm an Anthropologist and linguist with a fair amount of fieldwork in the are of New Religious Movements. I've seen the good, the wacky, the simply misguided and the dangerous. I believe there is potential for emotional abuse in every faith and sect. The basic issue is not is Sceintolougy weird, it is are people as adults free to choose what they wish to believe in and/or worship. I use the term 'worship' in the legal sense but I acknowledge that many faiths don't worship at all including scientology.

This thread has both saddenned me and encouraged me. Amos, if I ever figure out my password, I'll PM you. We may have some friends in common. Shame on me for not being in touch with them for a long while. I think the perfect antidote to this thread might be a nice dinner with some old pals.