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Aliens and departed spirits, head this way
Metro (UK), Thursday, 17 May 2007, page 3
BY CAROLINE MCCLATCHEY
[Photo caption: "Alien signposts? The symbols, seen from the air, are said to lead the way for departed Scientologists to the church's compound."]
It seems dead Scientologists have no sense of direction.
These weird designs etched into the New Mexico desert are not wacky art or part of the crop circle phenomenon.
Without them, re-incarnated Scientologists could end up in Sweden or Sydney or Slough.
These are the latest shots of the two interlocking circles, which were first noticed in 1995.
According to one former member, they mark a landing spot for Scientologists returning from outer space.
Micahel Pattinson told US news network CNN they served as a signpost to a compound, where the Church of Spiritual Technology - an off-shoot of the Church of Scientology - has built a nuclear bomb-proof vault to house the works of founder L. Ron Hubbard.
The Church has hit back saying the symbols are just a logo. But all this begs the question - if, as the religion claims, Scientologists are aliens, would they not be more at home in outer space than New Mexico?
This is not the first bizarre story to be linked to the Church of Scientology, which counts actors John Travolta, Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes and Juliette Lewis among its followers.
The religion centres on such concepts as reincarnation, the immortality of the soul (called a thetan) and the idea that personal difficulties and ailments can be overcome with spiritual and mental cleansings.
It has been criticised for its cult-like activities, abuse of members and harsh punishments for dissenters.
It hit the headlines this week when the BBC's Panorama reporter John Sweeney raged at a Scientologist while making a documentary.
The church launched a £30,000 publicity campaign ahead of the programme, which claimed Scientology was a brainwashing cult, and posted Sweeney's 'exploding tomato' outburst on YouTube.
CHURCH OR CULT?
[Picture caption: "Founder: L. Ron Hubbard"]
- Established in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1952 by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard
- The Church of Scientology refers to Scientology as "the study of the truth"
- Its beliefs and practices are centred on the concept that all people are immortal spiritual beings
- There are now more than 7,500 churches, missions and Scientology groups and 10 million members in 163 countries
- Scientology claims to have 120,000 members in Britain
- It was launched as "Dianetics" - Hubbard's theory of the mind and mental health
- Many critics don't consider it a religion but see its development from a self-help philosophy into a religion as a tax-avoidance tactic
- The film Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000, released in 2000, was adapted from the novel written by Hubbard and starred John Travolta
[Sidebar:] Strange but true for some
[Picture caption: "Believers: Cruise and Holmes"]
The Church of Scientology believes humans were first introduced to the Earth 75 million years ago. Teachings assert an evil warlord called Xenu rounded up 135trillion beings from a corner of the galaxy, dumped them in volcanos on the Earth, then vapourised them with nuclear bombs. Their radioactive souls, or thetans, later attached themselves to human beings and are apparently at the root of our personal and global problems.
To rid themselves of 'evil' thetans Scientologists need to complete a number of 'Operating Thetan' levels. However, before being allowed into the OT classroom they must first complete the 'purification rundown' - a vigorous detox programme.
Scientologists are totally opposed to drugs and psychiatry and they believe childbirth should be silent to avoid traumatising the baby.
[Picture caption: "Fan: John Travolta"]
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