The Empire of the Odd

NYU professor Gabriella Coleman opened this profoundly profanity laced academic talk with a question: why have internet enthusiasts been drawn to denounce Scientology so vehemently for two decades? Scientology, she explained, has provided a perfect nemesis for geekery. To the geeks, freaks and hackers of the net the Church of Scientology subverts the idea of [...]

By Alan Scherstuhl, Monday, Jun. 21 2010 @ 8:00AM The trouble with having a religion founded by a crazy writer is that crazy writers tend to write crazy shit. Traditionally, the Church of Scientology has handled this by making access to the craziest of L. Ron Hubbard‘s jabberings a reward you might earn in exchange for having blown [...]

Village Voice; By Tony Ortega, Friday, May. 21 2010 @ 9:33AM ?Mark Bunker (Wise Beard Man) has been tipping us to several embarrassing developments for Scientology overseas lately. The newest was yesterday’s raid of a Scientology center in Turin, Italy, where investigators uncovered a basement stash of records containing “sensitive personal data” about local officials and journalists that [...]

OK, this is something the Odd Emperor can get behind 100%. You humans have some funny beliefs but the very idea that one single religion can dictate the behavior of anyone under threat of violence goes beyond the pale. So fine, you think that the image of Mohamed is  sacred and should never be displayed? Great! Stand by your beliefs and don’t display the image of Mahmoud. BUT! I [...]

Anderson Cooper | BIO AC360° Anchor This week we begin a four-part investigation into allegations made by a number of former high ranking members of the Church of Scientology. The allegations are about physical abuse they say took place within the Sea Organization, the international management branch of the church. These former members, many of whom [...]

25 March 2010 Dogs have been trained to carry bombs to attack enemies for decades.  The Soviets and others have used dogs as low-tech smart bombs.  Yet canine platoons likely would rebel if they caught scent they were being duped to die. Today, more sophisticated people employ men (mostly) to deliver bombs in Afghanistan.  Gullible [...]

No really! I am not making this up!

This really is the most disgusting thing I’ve seen recently about the Church of Scientology: Their reaction to the Haiti earthquake. The actions of the Church of Scientology are dispicable, in the extreme. The Church of Scientology provides no money towards the victims in Haiti.  None.  Not one penny.  The church supplies no food, no [...]

For our good friends from the church of L Ron, it’s not so much a tragedy as an opportunity. Marina Hyde The Guardian, Friday 22 January 2010 John Travolta and Kelly Preston with Scientology volunteers in New Orleans after Hurrican Katrina Photograph: PAUL J.RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images Psychopath, conman, liar, fantasist, fraudster, bully, tax evader, megalomaniac – [...]

By MATT SEDENSKY Associated Press Writer CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — More than 1,000 unreleased recordings of lectures by L. Ron Hubbard and reams of corresponding writings have been unveiled in the culmination of a 25-year project to locate, restore and transcribe lost pieces of the Scientology founder’s work. Though sure to be derided by the [...]