Scientology’s Richest Member Leaves Church

[Stuart]

People may not have the right to physically try to shut them down, but they do have the right to free speech, like the Scientologists have the freedom to choose their relgion. From what I see, it's on a slow decline already.

Some people are claiming that Scientology does encourage dangerous practices, so that could help those in favor of shutting it down, possibly. Cults have been shut down in the past, I can see it happening if something is proven to have happened.

[Mike0715]

I'm a bit surprised that Packer didn't know of the Scientologists' beliefs concerning gambling before he joined? Or was that tenet of the faith not explained in hopes that he would be so enraptured with his new found faith he would willingly give up the business and donate the profits to a higher cause?

[Cutler]

That just might be it Mike. I thought the same thing - how did he not know what was expected of his behavior before he joined? I think that they kind of pick and choose their rules for certain people to bring them in, and that goes for a lot of clubs, religions, and just groups in general.

[Stuart]

I really think that they hide certain things when people join the group. I don't know exactly what the religion is about, I only know the bits and pieces that I hear about in the media. Maybe that's the majority of what he knew too?

[Paolo]

I am actually pretty surprised that they let him leave, as he is the richest member of the church. I would think that they would want all the support possible, not matter what he does that contradicts the religion.

[Mike0715]

It depends on how much you're willing to compromise on your beliefs. Certainly people do it all the time, say one thing and do another, even your every day nice person who doesn't mean to be underhanded has contradictions in their life.

But Packer staying and glossing over that faith principle would be a huge bad example.

[Stuart]

Meh, I guess we won't really know the truth. The Scientologists don't generally like to talk about their reasons for members leaving, at least from what I've seen in the media. They seem pretty secretive to me.

[Jerry]

Quite a few of the members seem to be leaving and most people that I know seem to view Scientology as a type of fad. I wonder why they always keep everything on the down low?

[Sampson]

I'm not too sure Jerry. I think that it's kind of like a Hollywood diet - here to stay one day and then "out" the next.

[dean-colbalt]

Thats a little on the odd side, casinos are always known by those righteous people to be bad and evil, so whats up with a cult like this not liking them? Maybe he wanted to keep the biz and lose the faith to make more money, I don't see much harm in that if he is the type that loves money more than happiness.