eric,
Can you not see that the same can be said of any organized religion? Texts read with magic glasses that conveniently get lost, Virgin births and Resurrections, guarantees of an afterlife surrounded by virgins, the evil of using medications even for fatal illnesses - these are beliefs accepted by members of established major religions.

This is NOT a criticism. It is an observation. I am not ridiculing anyone's beliefs. I respect religion and understand the stabilizing affect it has on society. I understand that for some, the church is the very center of their lives and the place they turn to when trouble strikes.

If Scientology offered me a belief system that made it possible for me to live and function happily, I would accept Xenu as easily as I would accept an angry god turning people into salt or drowning everyone and starting over. Faith is the key. That one step beyond what can be proved. As far as I can tell all religions require a Leap of Faith.

Scientology is a legally recognized religion. It has tax free status in the US. There are people who accept Scientology as their belief system. I can respect that. Money? I know many Catholics and Jews who routinely give huge amounts of money to their churches and synagogues as donations, payment for instruction, payment for funeral and wedding ceremonies. $10,000 for the key to existence would be a small price to pay if I believed someone had it.

SINS