Posted on 12/09/2004 5:51:41 AM PST by Land_of_Lincoln_John
As fire raged inside the LaSalle Bank building, a band of serious-looking young adults in yellow jackets hustled past the police tape toward the action.
Their coats bore the words "Volunteer Minister." But these weren't your standard chaplains -- like the five Catholic, Jewish and Protestant clerics already on the scene.
The volunteer ministers are members of the Church of Scientology, a religious group founded in 1954 by the late science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard and perhaps best known for celebrity followers such as John Travolta and Tom Cruise. Some critics -- including the German government, which views it not as a religion but a money-making scheme -- insist Scientology is a cult.
This was the first time the group's ministers responded in an organized fashion to a fire in Chicago -- and it probably won't be their last, even though their debut didn't go over too well with the Chicago Fire Department's chaplain corps.
"I threw 'em out," said one chaplain. "If they want to minister to the people on the sidelines, that's great . . . but they were standing in the triage and treatment area and they were making total chaos in there.
"We can't have untrained people at a time when things are very chaotic and you need a sense of order," he said. "Fire and police chaplains are trained in how to do this."
Mary Ann Ahmad, a spokeswoman for the Church of Scientology in Chicago, was told by her people that the volunteers were looking for someone in charge "to find out what was needed and wanted, and they were told, 'It's dangerous for people in here, so go outside.' "
If Scientology volunteers need special training, "they're totally willing," Ahmad said, adding Scientologists were at Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks.
David Klarich, one of the Scientologists at Monday night's blaze, said the church is planning on regularly showing up at fires and other disasters in the region to offer an "assist" -- special techniques they use to aid the injured or traumatized.
A Chicago Fire Department spokesman was unaware of the situation but said he'd look into it.
Hope the officials checked to make sure these clowns didn't pick the pockets of the wounded.
self bump for later
Just for curiosity, where does one draw the line between religion and cult?
It can't be based on numbers, at least not for me, since I consider Islam a cult.
The goofiest cult around. Maybe they should wear clown suits.
WTF!
Were they going to hook up their meters to the injured and audit them for aliens?
"Sir, you've got a bit of smoke inhalation and a lot of Thetan alien infestation. Just relax, give me your wallet and we'll have you ready for the Mothership in no time."
Here are two important distinctions:
A religion is open, Scientology's highest teachings are secret.
One is free to leave a religion, Scientology criminally harasses and/or sues those who wish to depart.
The Church of Scientology is in the business of seperating fools from their money, but at least they don't strap bombs to their children or make women wear burka's, that puts them above islam as a "legitimate" religon in my book...
“If attacked on some vulnerable point by anyone or anything or any organization, always find or manufacture enough threat against them to cause them to sue for peace.”
- L. Ron Hubbard, Hubbard Communications Office Policy Letter, 15 August 1960, Dept. of Govt. Affairs
These nuts have infested Times Square. Everyday I go to work they are camped out in front of my office with their BS e-meters convincing folks that they are stressed out and need Dianetics. The tourists eat it up.
A cult generally refers to a sectarian religous group led by a charismatic prophet. If the cult survives its leader and gains more converts, then it's a religion. Since L. Ron Hubbard died in 1986 and Scientology has continued spreading through the general population, it's now a religion.
“Scientology is the only specific (cure) for radiation (atomic bomb) burns.”
- L. Ron Hubbard, ALL ABOUT RADIATION, p. 109
Ping
..or death. Check out the CLambake site to read about suspicious deaths of members trying to leave Scientology.
Squick, squick, squick.
Stupid idiots. They should have been ticketed for interfering with the CFD and CPD.
Interesting..so IF Islam is a legitimate religion that preaches evil doing whereas a Cult such as Scientology does not preach evil doing, the question then becomes, "Which is better, a religion or a cult"?
They're getting to be worse than the Hari Krishnas at the airports!
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