Comments on: The Worlds of L. Ron Hubbard http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/2009/09/the-worlds-of-l-ron-hubbard/ Frederik Pohl Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:43:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Jafafa Hots http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/2009/09/the-worlds-of-l-ron-hubbard/#comment-7254 Jafafa Hots Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:04:02 +0000 http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/?p=1443#comment-7254 A religion is not a religion because it's a crime syndicate? Baloney. It's entirely possible to be both a religion and arguably a criminal enterprise. Look at the official Catholic policy of protecting accused pedophiles and hiding accusations of child rape until 20 years after the victim reaches adulthood - a policy written by the current pope himself. The Catholic church certainly has a profit motive. Crime syndicate. And I'm not picking on the Catholic church to single them out, it's just that they happen to be particularly powerful and great power gives you opportunity to abuse it. There are horror stories that can be told about the Amish, who have about as positive a public image as a religion can get. Don't look at one religion and claim it doesn't qualify because of its crimes while overlooking the crimes of others and your own. A religion is not a religion because it’s a crime syndicate? Baloney.

It’s entirely possible to be both a religion and arguably a criminal enterprise. Look at the official Catholic policy of protecting accused pedophiles and hiding accusations of child rape until 20 years after the victim reaches adulthood - a policy written by the current pope himself. The Catholic church certainly has a profit motive.
Crime syndicate.

And I’m not picking on the Catholic church to single them out, it’s just that they happen to be particularly powerful and great power gives you opportunity to abuse it. There are horror stories that can be told about the Amish, who have about as positive a public image as a religion can get.

Don’t look at one religion and claim it doesn’t qualify because of its crimes while overlooking the crimes of others and your own.

]]> By: Fabian of the Future http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/2009/09/the-worlds-of-l-ron-hubbard/#comment-7211 Fabian of the Future Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:54:12 +0000 http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/?p=1443#comment-7211 An interesting a moderate approach. Every aspiring writer I've met has trepidations about this contest's associations. Some choose not to enter. Some enter and have a various rationales for doing so. It's a free country and people can believe as they wish. This isn't to say that the children of scientologykids don't have legitimate issues with the church. The contest is not separate from the church, but the awards appear to be arrived at independently. There is no stigma attached to winning. It reminds me of the sponsors of artists in centuries past. Someone has to bankroll these things, and how they got their money isn't always snow white. If Rembrandt or Michelangelo refused patronage and starved rather than take tainted money, would the world have lost the art? Thanks for the thoughtful article! An interesting a moderate approach. Every aspiring writer I’ve met has trepidations about this contest’s associations. Some choose not to enter. Some enter and have a various rationales for doing so.

It’s a free country and people can believe as they wish. This isn’t to say that the children of scientologykids don’t have legitimate issues with the church.

The contest is not separate from the church, but the awards appear to be arrived at independently. There is no stigma attached to winning.

It reminds me of the sponsors of artists in centuries past. Someone has to bankroll these things, and how they got their money isn’t always snow white. If Rembrandt or Michelangelo refused patronage and starved rather than take tainted money, would the world have lost the art?

Thanks for the thoughtful article!

]]> By: Lee Battersby http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/2009/09/the-worlds-of-l-ron-hubbard/#comment-6809 Lee Battersby Thu, 10 Sep 2009 05:07:57 +0000 http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/?p=1443#comment-6809 <i>I don’t have any theory as to who wrote Mission Earth.</i> Monkeys. Lots and lots of monkeys. I don’t have any theory as to who wrote Mission Earth.

Monkeys. Lots and lots of monkeys.

]]> By: Fred Kiesche http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/2009/09/the-worlds-of-l-ron-hubbard/#comment-6793 Fred Kiesche Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:58:09 +0000 http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/?p=1443#comment-6793 My theory was that A.E. van Vogt was tapped for Battlefield Earth, dashed it off and was shocked when it sold so well. I don\\\'t have any theory as to who wrote Mission Earth. My theory was that A.E. van Vogt was tapped for Battlefield Earth, dashed it off and was shocked when it sold so well. I don\\\’t have any theory as to who wrote Mission Earth.

]]> By: Marc http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/2009/09/the-worlds-of-l-ron-hubbard/#comment-6783 Marc Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:09:56 +0000 http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/?p=1443#comment-6783 What a great entry and truly unique insight into Scientology and WotF. I have no fixed abode in terms of religious belief and find “religion” a fascinating subject. Thank you for sharing! Scientology certainly is a subject that draws a crowd. What a great entry and truly unique insight into Scientology and WotF.

I have no fixed abode in terms of religious belief and find “religion” a fascinating subject. Thank you for sharing!

Scientology certainly is a subject that draws a crowd.

]]> By: Librarian D.O.A. http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/2009/09/the-worlds-of-l-ron-hubbard/#comment-6782 Librarian D.O.A. Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:59:43 +0000 http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/?p=1443#comment-6782 It is so nice to find your blog! I'll have the pleasure of reading back through your entries. I'm so glad that someone as thoughtful and distinguished in the field of science fiction as yourself is writing a blog. You have so much to share and I thank you for doing so. Take Care. It is so nice to find your blog! I’ll have the pleasure of reading back through your entries. I’m so glad that someone as thoughtful and distinguished in the field of science fiction as yourself is writing a blog.

You have so much to share and I thank you for doing so. Take Care.

]]> By: Lee Battersby http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/2009/09/the-worlds-of-l-ron-hubbard/#comment-6727 Lee Battersby Mon, 07 Sep 2009 02:41:05 +0000 http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/?p=1443#comment-6727 Perhaps another, slightly more ephemeral, part of the WoTF prize should be mentioned-- I live in Western Australia, just past where civilized maps tend to end. When I won in 2001, and was shipped over to LA in 2002 to attend the workshops, I was able to do something I never quite imagined I'd be able to do otherwise: meet and converse with writers I'd been reading all my life and whose works had inspired my younger self. I chatted with Jerry Pournelle about computer tech in a hotel corridor; practised forging Virgil Finlay's signature with Tim Powers while waiting for transport on a Hollywood sidewalk; talked about Star Trek breeding with Larry Niven... I even got to sit next to one Fred Pohl at dinner :) As far as life experiences go, for me at least, such things have lasted much, *much* longer than the prize money. Perhaps another, slightly more ephemeral, part of the WoTF prize should be mentioned– I live in Western Australia, just past where civilized maps tend to end. When I won in 2001, and was shipped over to LA in 2002 to attend the workshops, I was able to do something I never quite imagined I’d be able to do otherwise: meet and converse with writers I’d been reading all my life and whose works had inspired my younger self. I chatted with Jerry Pournelle about computer tech in a hotel corridor; practised forging Virgil Finlay’s signature with Tim Powers while waiting for transport on a Hollywood sidewalk; talked about Star Trek breeding with Larry Niven… I even got to sit next to one Fred Pohl at dinner :)

As far as life experiences go, for me at least, such things have lasted much, *much* longer than the prize money.

]]> By: Stefan Jones http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/2009/09/the-worlds-of-l-ron-hubbard/#comment-6711 Stefan Jones Sun, 06 Sep 2009 04:21:37 +0000 http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/?p=1443#comment-6711 This was a nice meaty entry. The WOtT contest strikes me as the least offensive thing associated with Scientology. I remember reading a few of the early collections and enjoying them. Scientology, as it exists today, is problematical in two ways. One, it is currently inseparable from a ruthless and avaricious business enterprise. Second, it hasn't had its sharp edges worn off yet. It would take schisms and time to fix the latter, and some lawsuits and tax avoidance indictments to fix the former. I can think of another religion of American origin that has gone from a life-disrupting charismatic cult to something very much like a mainstream protestant denomination. That faith has had its crazy worked out it. This was a nice meaty entry.

The WOtT contest strikes me as the least offensive thing associated with Scientology. I remember reading a few of the early collections and enjoying them.

Scientology, as it exists today, is problematical in two ways. One, it is currently inseparable from a ruthless and avaricious business enterprise. Second, it hasn’t had its sharp edges worn off yet. It would take schisms and time to fix the latter, and some lawsuits and tax avoidance indictments to fix the former.

I can think of another religion of American origin that has gone from a life-disrupting charismatic cult to something very much like a mainstream protestant denomination. That faith has had its crazy worked out it.

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