Danny Masterson: ‘Retarded’ critics of Scientology, ‘go f- yourselves’

Danny Masterson

Here’s a photo of 2nd generation Scientologist Danny Masterson speaking at Youth for Human Rights International benefit last year. YHRI is one of many organizations used as a front for Scientology to suck in vulnerable new recruits. The whole org is staffed and financed by CO$ members. Shady.

Danny has a new interview in Paper magazine. He’s promoting nothing — his show, Men at Work was cancelled after three seasons — except Scientology. Really! The CO$ is couch-jumping mad about the Going Clear documentary premiere at Sundance. They’re trotting out their lesser known celebs for lip service, and it’s so much fun. I love it when Scientologists (like Juliette Lewis and Kirstie Alley) try to convert the masses and only reveal their cult mindset.

Danny comes out with E-meters blazing. He calls the CO$ “college of the mind.” Whereas Going Clear is “retarded” even though he hasn’t watched the movie. He trashes psychiatry and spouts the usual lies about how someone can follow their own religion and still be CO$. The full interview is awe inspiring. These are my favorite parts:

On Going Clear: “I heard about that documentary where they interviewed eight people who hate Scientology. Should be pretty interesting. I wonder if Sundance would allow a documentary of, like, eight people who hate Judaism. But you know, my religion’s fair game, I guess, ’cause it’s new. How true it is, I guess that’s up to the reader. If you’re going to write something and you don’t ask the people who actually do it, then what’s the f***ing point? We could all interview the KKK about what’s cool about being white, but we don’t. I don’t know; it just seems retarded to me.”

Who was L. Ron Hubbard? “He’s a f***ing guy who wrote awesome sh*t that I love studying. That’s who he is. He was a very famous author. He basically spent his entire life studying every great religion, found everything that worked, found things that didn’t work, took the stuff that worked, started like questioning it and grilling it and drilling it, going over and over until he could find the things that worked every time, guaranteed. And he was like, ‘Holy sh*t, here’s a new discovery I’ve just made. What does everybody think about it?'”

On meds: “You will not find a Scientologist who does not f***ing hate psychiatrists. Because their solution for mental and spiritual problems is drugs. So let’s talk about putting a Band-Aid on something that’s just going to get worse and worse and worse. But it’s like, if you study that man is an animal and nothing more than that, and you basically have this f***in’ manual that has, what, 5,000 disorders in it, that you just bill your insurance company — ‘Oh, you have PMS disorder, you have caffeine-addict disorder, you have mathematics disorder; here, take Prozac’ — what the f*** is that? Scientology handles those things, those mental problems that people have. It gets rid of them. It gets rid of them by that person doing it for themselves. That’s the solution to depression, not f***in’ Prozac and whatever other pill that makes the kid then walk into a goddamn school and kill other kids.”

The bottom line: “I work, I have a family and I’m a spiritual being who likes to understand why things happen in the world and want to learn more so that I can have them not affect me adversely. So if that’s weird, then, well, you can go f*** yourself.

[From Paper Mag]

Such language! Danny’s also angry at Paul Haggis, who famously wrote a scathing resignation letter after disagreeing with the cult’s opposition to gay marriage. Danny calls Paul’s exit “stupid” and rambles on forever. This guy is a pill, and his wife, Bijou Phillips, is the same way. She’s given interviews about how depressed people should “get over it. To borrow Danny’s favorite word, “f*** Scientology.”

Danny Masterson

Danny Masterson

Photos courtesy of WENN

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236 Responses to “Danny Masterson: ‘Retarded’ critics of Scientology, ‘go f- yourselves’”

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  1. Chesty LaRue says:

    Can’t comment. Too busy f*** ing myself.

    • MOT says:

      Too funny!

    • ncboudicca says:

      hah!

    • Anne tommy says:

      Ha! Way to go Behead, it’s an idiotic and nasty cult that gets publicity out of all proportion to its actual members because of the involvement of hollywood airheads.

      • homegrrrlll says:

        I’m so slow delayed that I had to post about the evil cult of cO$ before heading off to f**+ myself. This type of dogma is a thorn the logic of humankind, my personal mission in life is to question new age thinking and root out cult suck holes of the world. Ugh.

    • AceMom2 says:

      HA HAHAHA!!! Best comment I’ve seen all day πŸ˜€ Thanks for the laugh (and I’m glad I wasn’t drinking coffee at the time) Lol

    • oopsie says:

      that is possibly the best internet comment ever LOL

  2. Jay says:

    I agree that meds are sometimes overprescribed, but an actor who knows jack shit about medicine on the molecular level seriously needs to sit the F down. You don’t know what you’re talking about.

    • Esmom says:

      Seriously. Does he think people can just get over cancer or diabetes or heart disease? The Prozac that he dismisses is literally saving lives in the same way that meds for other conditions are. Blood is boiling here.

      • BengalCat2000 says:

        If it were not for my psychological meds, I would have died a long time ago. And I live in the bible belt and practice Buddhism. I’m used to my religion being mis-understood, but f@ck you DM and your use of the word “retarded” is the most offensive thing about you.

      • Julie says:

        *rasises hand* Prozac literally saved my life. It got me to a place where talk therapy would actually work because I was stable enough to actually sort through things.

      • Tristan says:

        That makes two of us Bengalcat2000! I cannot even begin to describe the massive positive impact being medicated with an SSRI has had on my life & wellbeing. Anybody who tries to denigrate the miracle that is modern medicine is doing themselves & more importantly others a huge disservice. People like this jerk & all the other crazy Scientology actors are pernicious & very dangerous, as weak minded individuals may be influenced to believe their nonsense.

      • masshole says:

        I wish I could make the same point as beautifully and strongly as all of you. I have a brother who is a member of a doomsday cult and suffers serious psychiatric and medical issues, but refuses to see Drs. for either. instead he tries to cure himself with prayer to false prophets and holistic Himalayan BS salt. His mental health is nonexistent, while choosing the path of therapy has put me back in college and terminated a drug addiction and self-destructive behavior. Coincidentally, Prozac did the same thing for me…it made my panic disorder and depression manageable to the point where I was strong enough to start helping myself. the hatred in his soul is palpable through his words…f*ing hate psychiatrists….really? he is a dangerous combination of hate in the heart and air in the brain…and I am having an incredibly strong reaction to this post.

      • KB says:

        Wellbutrin didn’t save my life, but it gave me a life worth living! In addition, to seeing one of those demonic therapists dead set on brainwashing me!

      • Amberica says:

        And him bringing up school shooters and claiming mental health drugs cause them really pisses me off. It’s irresponsible. As long as we stigmatize the treatment, even idiots like this, people are less likely to seek treatment. We’re a lot of these people on these drugs at some point? Sure, but they were obviously mentally ill. It’s contiguous reasoning that’s damaging to people’s perception.

    • KMcKinney says:

      Exactly! I grew up with a bi-polar Mom and she tried many times to get off of her meds and “cure” herself with vitamins and healthy living and all it did was get her back into the psychiatric ward every time. After getting on the right drug cocktail, it has literally saved her life and she’s the happiest and healthiest she’s ever been. These people who say just “get over it” make me so insanely angry. I would love to leave them in a room with my Mom for a week on no meds and see what how they feel about it then.

    • bokchoi says:

      I have seen what depression can do in a person’s life, and if really was as easy as “taking a pill” to feel better, NO ONE WOULD BE DEPRESSED. If someone who is depressed could just “get over it”, they would. Living with depression is damn hard, and if the alternative was super-easy peasy, any of the people I know would jump at it in a heartbeat. Honestly, the ignorance about this is appalling. It is nowhere near that simplistic, and he should sit the hell down, and shut the hell up.

  3. GoodNamesAllTaken says:

    Well, I’m convinced! I think I’ll join COS now. I mean, those articulate, educated, intellectual, sensitive remarks! Who’s with me?

    • Snazzy says:

      Count me in!!!

      • SnarkySnarkers says:

        Me too! I have “mathematics” disorder and “caffeine-addicts” disorder and never realized I could just bill my insurance company for them? Cool! Are these real things? *rolls eyes* Wtf is he even talking about? He sounds so angry too. Is there a vitamin he can pop for his F-bomb disorder?

    • mia girl says:

      I’m so impressed by Masterson.
      He seems so well educated, balanced and non-judgemental.
      Where do I get a f*&king pamphlet to learn more?

      • hippiechk says:

        This.

      • jaye says:

        He’s got “jackhole” disorder. His wife has “stupid bitch” disorder. Here’s to hoping they both succumb to” suck a 10lb bag of d*cks” disorder.

      • Liv says:

        I’m most impressed by how educated all Scientologists are…look at the Willis kids – they just edcuated themselves! What genius is able to do that!?

        Seriously, I just discovered that Dannys halfsister is Tara from the Walking Dead – how does playing a lesbian goes along with the homophobia of Scientology?

    • bettyrose says:

      His poignant use of the R word did the trick.

      • Mel M says:

        Right, people who use the R word have no idea how uneducated they sound. He sounds very angry and using all of those words just makes him look like an immature teenager trying to be cool in front of his friends.

      • Deeanna says:

        Yeah, except he is 38.

      • lirko says:

        Indeed. Some compelling thoughts from an obviously peaceful and intelligent man who has it all f’n figured out.

    • Guesto says:

      I was wavering but this man’s mastery of like, the language and his, like, profound and astute conclusions have like, made the decision for me. Where do I like f*cking sign up?

    • doofus says:

      yeah, don’t you want to study that awesome sh*t that the f*cking guy wrote?

      • Esmom says:

        I know, such an insightful critical analysis has me highly intrigued, lol.

      • I Choose Me says:

        I’m late to the party as per usual but I just want to say that I love my fellow CB commenters. You guys and your comments are F*cking amazing.

      • jaye says:

        When I read the part where he was explaining who L. Ron Hubbard was, I felt like I was reading a 6th grade book report.

    • Belle Epoch says:

      GNAT I was going to say the same thing! Brilliant spokesman.

      Judaism and Scientology are totally the same. And L Ron Hubbard was a GENIUS. His books are SO worth “studying”!

    • Alicia says:

      His insulting, arrogant, inane ramblings would actually make me laugh if Scientology wasn’t such a vengeful, hateful organization.

      Yeah, this speech will really win people over to his cause.

    • Bridget says:

      I’ll join up as soon as I get over my PMS disorder. That Danny Masterson, he’s a modern intellectual!

      • FLORC says:

        Right with you Bridget. After I work out everything that naturally occurs in my body for clearly reasons of my own wrong doing i’ll join. Maybe even go into debt owing the cult for being a part of the cult and find myself eating beans and rice once a day while serving out my 6billion year contract of slave labor adrift in some floating prison. And that’s if we’re so lucky.

        His ignorance is incredible. Had his religion simply been a group of people wanting to know why they’re here and how to better themselves fine. It’s not though. So, he needs to sit down until he’s ready to open his eyes.

    • Sarah123 says:

      He had me at Hubbard “started like questioning it and grilling it and drilling it, going over and over until he could find the things that worked every time, guaranteed.”

      But…but…what happened to your career then? Or Cruise’s marriages? Or Travolta’s hairline?

      “And he was like, β€˜Holy sh*t, here’s a new discovery I’ve just made. What does everybody think about it?’”

      So c’mon! What does everybody think about this new discovery I’ve just made? Hold these cans and tell the truth! (But not really. Disagree and we’ll throw you in The Hole.)

    • Lucinda says:

      I know! Who knew you could have such a “clear” understanding of the universe with such a limited vocabulary. Sign me up.

    • Tanguerita says:

      count me in as well. Sooo tired of f***ing myself.

  4. Beth says:

    I don’t think Hyde would approve of Scientology.

  5. lem says:

    wait wait wait—he’s blaming medications for school shootings? he should really go f*ck himself.

    • Sarah123 says:

      Exactly my thought. What an ignorant, arrogant ass.

    • msw says:

      Obviously, if Adam Lanza had gone and held some tin cans together, everything would have been ok. UGH. Disgusting. No better than the ‘pray away the gay’ mentality.

  6. SpookySpooks says:

    My head hurts. Such nonsense.
    But then again, 2nd generation scientologists, they don’t know any better, do they? They’ve been brainwashed since childhood. And if he got out, he would lose contact with his whole family, no?

    • claire says:

      Yeah. And you know what, I like this family. His brother, his sister (from The Walking Dead)…they all seem like cool people when you follow them on social media or read non-Scientology interviews. It almost makes you forget about this part of them. Then you read this and…ugh.

  7. Brittney B says:

    “That’s the solution to depression.” Really, Danny?? Do tell. Because I’ve definitely not been trying for 20+ years to “take care of it myself” via cognitive behavioral training, meditation, relocation, extended hospital stays, etc. Weed and Prozac quite literally saved my life. Scientology isn’t just a load of BS; it’s also downright dangerous. Just ask Jett Travolta.

    • aenflex says:

      Weed has been a major helper for me as well.

    • Josefa says:

      They are, that’s why they inspire more hatred than laughter from me. I just can’t with them.

    • Aysla says:

      Same here. I would not be alive today if it weren’t for the medications I’m currently on. I tried to handle it myself for so long because I felt guilty and inadequate for not being able to just “snap out of it” and will myself to get better. I tried most of the things you did, and even went the scientologist-approved route of vitamins/supplements; taking 23 pills a day, every day, in my desperation to get better. I was planning the details of how I wanted to kill myself and recording videos/writing suicide notes when I finally saw my psychiatrist. We’ve found the right combination of medications that work for me, and I’m a totally different person.

      It’s attitudes like his and of other Scientologists that are so damaging to people struggling with mental health issues. I could have gotten the right kind of help so much sooner if I hadn’t felt so guilty and ashamed of not being able to conquer my own demons.

      • Brittney B says:

        Aysla, I’m so sorry that these backwards attitudes kept you from getting help sooner… but congratulations; you overcame that stigma and saved your own life. It took me a lot of experimenting with different pharmaceutical cocktails before even *that* worked, but when it did, the difference was night and day.

        I still can’t believe that people without depression just wake up feeling normal every day… contentment didn’t even seem possible for the first decades of my life, and when the right drugs finally worked, something “clicked” and it was like I was alive for the first time. That’s how I know that people like Danny *can’t* possibly know what it’s really like; I don’t know what it’s like to be them.

      • Snazzy says:

        I’m so sorry you had to go through that and congratulations on being such a strong person and finding what’s right for you. No one has the right to judge people with depression, it is both so personal and so painful that we can only support those going through it as best we can, and hope they can find the help they need.

  8. OSTONE says:

    This guy is levitating so far out of reality.. he really must want a medal of valor from Miscaviage and to pose in a motorcycle next to him, too.

  9. Cecada says:

    “He’s a f*ucking guy who wrote some awesome sh*t that I love studying”

    Wow what an inspirational way to sum up your ‘savior’

  10. aenflex says:

    It’s lovely to see Miscavige’s little fiefdom slowly eroding, no doubt. I wonder when and if other religions will follow. Each gospel is as silly and refutable as the next.

  11. paranormalgirl says:

    Oh no!!! Scientology hates me. However will I survive?

    OK, over it now. Not every psychiatrist believes that medication is the answer to every disorder or illness. Medication is one of my last lines of defense.

    • Erica Blue says:

      I totally agree with @Paranormal Girl about not necessarily jumping to put a patient on psych meds during treatment. I am a clinical social worker, and while I can’t prescribe drugs I do work closely with several psychiatrists and refer my patients to them for med management when needed. However, I put an emphasis on the words “when needed”. Everyone is different, and while an individual presenting with symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia would likely need medication management ASAP, a paitient presenting with symptoms of mild to moderate depression has many techinques and tools that can be utilized during therapy that don’t involve taking meds. And the majority of my colleagues feel the same way about only using medication as a last line of defense against mental illness and psychiatric disorders.

      I know it’s futile to expect members of the church/cult of scientology to understand how mental health treatment is supposed to work. Though I do worry about the ones that have chronic MI and sadly never get the proper treatment because of the groups uninformed and skewed views about psychiatry and how the human mind works.

  12. Lilacflowers says:

    “Retarded”? I live near a group home for mentally disabled adults, some with Downs, some with other diagnosis causing their disability. People like Danny Masterson should be made to sit down and have a conversation with them about how they feel when they hear someone use that term as he did. And yes, many of them can express their views on the topic quite well, without resorting to insults as he did.

    • Mel M says:

      Exactly!

    • paranormalgirl says:

      My step-granddaughter has Downs Syndrome. I hate when people bandy about the term “retarded” like it’s an insult or something. It’s a diagnosis (which is falling out of favor), not an insult.

      • Fancyamazon says:

        It is really unfortunate that the word has gotten such a negative connotation to it and is used as an epithet.

    • Granger says:

      I didn’t know people in this day and age still used the word “retarded.” What a f*@#ing idiot.

    • Brittney B says:

      Exactly. And it’s ironic that he would use that term to describe dissenters whose judgment isn’t clouded; if anything, the TRUE definition of the R word applies to his way of thinking: stunted and stagnant.

      I was at a theme park yesterday, and an adorable little girl with Downs Syndrome was part of my small group during a small, interactive show (Ollivander’s wand selection at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!!). She was hilarious, sweet, excited, and bursting with this contagious passion for life. At the risk of viewing her as an “other”, I thought to myself that she probably experienced more joy than anyone else in the room, and that people without Downs should follow that example instead of judging or patronizing their fellow human beings. It breaks my heart that anyone would be so flippant with words like that.

    • Larelyn says:

      My 6 year old son has Fragile X Syndrome (look it up – you probably know or met someone with it). FXS symptoms run the gamut of mental disability, autism, ADHD, decreased intelligence, siezures, etc… It’s like a cross between Downs Syndrome and Autism.

      1) Masterson’s use of the “R” word is pitiable. You would think with all of his studying, CoS would include lessons about treating others as he would want to be treated. You know, the best stuff from all the religions?
      2) FXS prevents the body from creating a necessary protein used to mature brain cells. What does this mean? FXS’ers need medications to make up for what their bodies cannot do. What would he do if his child had FXS? Or a mental illness?
      3) I wish some of these outspoken religious fanatics would spend time with special needs folks. They would gain so much from looking at the world from a different perspective. I know it’s not as cool as an ice bucket challenge, but hey. I can dream, right?

    • msw says:

      Thank you. And thank you for the work you do.

  13. Wilma says:

    I don’t know this person.

    • maeliz says:

      Neither do I. Are we missing something special?

    • jen2 says:

      I don’t know who he is either. It says second generation. Was the first Bret or Bart Masterson from the old western TV show. They were such nice guys, so I don’t think they would unleash this nut bag on us.

      • Erica Blue says:

        Danny played “Hyde” on “That 70’s Show”. His brother Chris played the oldest brother on “Malcolm in the Middle”, and his half-sister Alanna Masterson plays Tara on “The Walking Dead”. Chris Masterson had also dated Laura Prepon for years, who played Donna on That 70’s Show and is or was on “Orange is the New Black”. All these people are devout CO$ members. It’s disturbing how scientology sometimes seems to spread like a plague between like minded family and friends.

    • claire says:

      He was on a very popular long-time show called That 70s show. Alongside Kutcher and Kunis, etc. His brother was on the very popular long-time show Malcolm in the Middle. Their sister plays Tara on The Walking Dead. Basically, a long-term acting family on some really mega hit shows. They also do a lot of side projects: producing, restaurants, charity stuff. But unfortunately, also Scientologists.

  14. Adrien says:

    Too easy.

  15. savu says:

    I don’t have the energy to deal with how ignorant this is.

  16. Tifygodess24 says:

    Why do they choose to ignore the fact that their supposed “oh so educated about everything apparently” founder was a science fiction writer who decide to dupe id*ots such as himself by starting a religion just to make money and prove some people
    will follow anything? Maybe there should be a religion based on 50 shades! Lol Unbelievable. Not to mention that psychiatry isn’t just about throwing meds at people. It’s so much more than that. And way to shame people who may actually Need help. Someone may hear his nonsense and decide to not reach out all because this uneducated l*ser decided to speak against it. Wow Danny maybe I should give back my diploma and stop working on my masters since you seem to be knowledgable enough for all of us! Silly us using an actual education to form opinions. This is so maddening!

  17. maeliz says:

    Danny sure has a f*ckn way with his f*ckn words. What a sh*t mouth.

  18. voyeur says:

    Letting cult members talk about their cults is the best way to educate people about why they ought not to join.

  19. jwoolman says:

    I wonder how much he’s really read about L. Ron. The religion angle came late in the game to avoid taxes. Hubbard was a science fiction writer who speculated that the way to get rich was to found a religion, but I doubt he thoroughly studied all the religions in the way Danny thinks he did. Hubbard’s real problem with psychiatry was that he himself had various psychiatric issues that became worse with age. So he had experience with psychiatric evaluations that he didn’t like. When he became the man in charge, he could banish those pesky psychiatrists and let his lunacy run free. Which it did.

  20. Toot says:

    Hey, I don’t agree with his beliefs, but I know many people who get angry when they feel someone is attacking what they believe in, so I understand the anger Scientology members may express at that documentary.

    • Kiddo says:

      He’s second generation and this is his belief. From a secular standpoint, he sounds like a lot of people from different religions who feel they are being persecuted for beliefs.

      • Toot says:

        Exactly.

      • Kitten says:

        Yup. I’m with you, Toot and Kiddo.

      • Kiddo says:

        Hey O’kitt, I was wondering when you would dig out from the Boston Igloo. How’s it goin’ ?

      • Kitten says:

        I have to just laugh, Kiddo, or I’d cry.
        Seven feet of snow in two weeks and another blizzard on tap for Saturday. Public transportation is either shut down entirely or running on massive delays to the point where you can’t get on a train-too crowded. Traffic jams everywhere and walking is precarious at best with all the icy sidewalks.

        I’m at the point where I just want to lock myself in my house with my bong and my cats. Forever.

      • Kiddo says:

        Yeah, I feel for you. It seems relentless. Glad to see you back here. At least the power hasn’t had gone out for any significant time, right? That would suck since it’s so cold…just looking for light at the end of the rainbow.

      • Kitten says:

        No I haven’t had any loss of power but it’s just the debilitating nature of one storm after another, plus shoveling three times a day, and being unable to really go anywhere. I’m going stir-crazy.

        We’re in a state of emergency so maybe FEMA can air-drop a few cargos of weed on the city. People are angry and cranky as hell out here.

        Anyway, thanks for the well-wishes, Kiddo.

      • littlestar says:

        Kitten – I hope you didn’t have to go to work when the storms were at their worst!

    • Bridget says:

      @Toot: this isn’t persecuting anyone’s beliefs. The COS under their current leader has been thoroughly uncovered as a cult – from the way they prey on the vulnerable to join, to the escalating sums of money they require to advance in the religion, to the education that they deny to the children of their members. Or how about the way that all members are supposed to cut non-members out of their lives, or the way they threaten individuals that want to leave? It’s not persecution to say that the COS has a system of intimidation and exploitation and is a cult. Don’t insult other, legitimate religions by lumping them together.

    • Maria says:

      of course they are mad. just like the CIA was mad when the torture report was released. they even said “it had a negative effect on the morale in the agency”

      people have every right to be upset when they are attacked, that does not mean that they are right though.

      most people arent mad that Danny is mad but WHAT he is saying is the problem.

    • Wren33 says:

      I understand where he is coming from. Scientology does seem dangerous and abusive, and I am happy it is being publicly questioned more and more, but being ridiculed and attacked for your religion by most of mainstream America (and the world) is going to make him feel persecuted. Hopefully he will open his eyes at some point, but Scientology seems like a lot of fundamentalist strains of religion – you can’t question anything and the is no tradition of healthy debate.

    • nic919 says:

      Scientology is a cult and not a religion. They were able to blackmail the IRS in the US to get designated as a religion. Please show me one legitimate religion that charges its followers money so that they can move up the ranks. None. So there is no need to respect his bullshit crazy beliefs any more than you need to respect the beliefs of some who is a Nazi or anything else as hateful.

      It’s too bad his parents brainwashed him into a cult, but it is time he learns the truth. The cult he belongs to was started as a money making scheme and they keep people imprisoned against their will.

  21. Brin says:

    Guess we are all too glib.

  22. Sam says:

    My problem with Scientology is that it takes a legitimate point and twists it into something totally different.

    Listen, there ARE issues with the overuse of medications among the mentally ill and people with mental strife. That isn’t an allegation, it’s a fact. There are psychiatrists who simply like to toss some pills at anybody suffering from depression and not try to address the root issues. That does happen (believe me, I know).

    But Scientology isn’t actually interested in helping those people. It’s about getting them addicted to – rather than drugs – the “Tech” that they can then sell them and get money from them. That’s always been my biggest issue with this church – the charging of huge sums to get “saved.” I can’t think of any other faith tradition that is so beholden to charging people for salvation. Other churches certainly solicit donations and money, and I get why they do, but I’m never been under the impression that the money was an essential pre-req to getting saved. In Scientology, it is. And that bothers me.

    I will agree on one thing – I do think Paul Haggis shouldn’t get all high and mighty. He was fine with everything about CO$ until they supported Prop 8, and then he took issue, despite knowing for years about disconnection and the worst of the church. But Masterson is just way off base with all these critiques.

    • Maria says:

      “That’s always been my biggest issue with this church – the charging of huge sums to get β€œsaved.” ”

      Scientology certainly is the worst offender in that but every church does that. people still dont get that we dont need religions to have faith. we dont need fancy buildings and men in funny clothes to believe in something.
      why did the catholic church come up with the purgatory? to make money. you could buy yourself out of your sins. thats not in the bible, they added it because it was a fine money making strategy.

      look i understand that scientology is bankcrupting their lower members but all religions strive for power and wealth.

      • Sam says:

        Do all religions strive for wealth? That’s a provable false statement.

        What about Buddhism, Maria? I’m not a Buddhist, but the first principle of Buddhism is that enlightenment is obtained through throwing off material desires, wealth and desire for power. That’s sort of the whole point of it.

        Or what about the Hindus who follow the 8 Limbs of Yoga, which teach that materialism is the enemy of spirituality?

        And you do know that the Catholic Church is not the whole of Christianity, right? What about the Quakers, who vow to lead simple lives in the tradition of Jesus? Or the Amish or Mennonite Christians who expressly eschew a life of materialism?

        I’m just getting the impression that you don’t have a ton of experience with enough religions to really make such a sweeping statement.

      • Bridget says:

        Maria, you know Purgatory isn’t a thing anymore, right? And that the Catholic Church of the High Renaissance is nothing like the Catholic Church of today? I don’t know a single Catholic Church that doesn’t direct any of its excess money to Community Service organizations.

    • lucy2 says:

      That’s always bothered me too.
      Many other religions accept (and expect) money from their followers, but I’ve never heard of a church, synagogue, mosque, etc refusing to share their message or kicking someone out the door because they don’t have money to fork over.

      • Sam says:

        Plenty of churches request funds from their congregations, but it’s usually made very clear that the funds go towards upkeep of the church, or affiliated charity programs, or whatnot. You can usually find out where your money is going.

        Scientology is different in that the money – and lots of it – is expressly a part of advancing through the faith. Don’t have the money? Sorry, you can’t find out the secret to human existence and transcend your physical form. That is crazy to me.

        (It’s worth mentioning there IS a group called FreeZone, which is a group of Scientologists who broke away from Co$ and who believe that “the Tech” should be made available free of charge to spread the faith. I can disagree with them on other issues, but I appreciate that even some believers call the church out on that.

      • lucy2 says:

        Good point about the transparency in where the money goes.

        The withholding of the information until you pay up (and pay big) is what gets me. I’ve been to a number of different churches and services over the years, and have never once seen anyone told they have to leave and can’t hear the sermon because they didn’t put anything (or enough) in the collection plate. I know some have stricter tithing and it’s more complicated, but CO$ has always sounded like it’s totally pay to play. Hello, red flag.

      • Wonderbunny says:

        Oh, the FreeZone is interesting. I hadn’t heard about that. I had to look them up and see how well they get along with the Scientologists. Apparently not too well! Copyright and Trademark and other lawsuits.

        This is what I would side-eye so hard as a prospective member (I mean, I’m not, but if I would be). “We have the answer to the world’s problems, but we’ll only reveal the secrets to those who level up by paying significant amount of money”. You’d have to be rich, feel entitled and have a broken moral compass to agree to take part. Why these Hollywood types would…no wait…now I get it… πŸ˜‰

      • jwoolman says:

        Yes, real religions don’t keep their beliefs secret until you’ve paid tons of money to advance through the ranks. It’s all laid out in advance and documented in books and preached in public sermons. The strange secrecy in Co$ must seem so normal to Danny as a birthright Co$ian that he’s never stepped back and questioned it. I wonder if he is also ignorant of how Co$ treats the non-celebrities? His whole family is in show business, so he’s been groomed for special status all his life. They aren’t going to do anything to make him or his family uncomfortable as long as they don’t ask questions. Co$ needs the celebs as its public face.

        Oh, Danny, just go smoke some weed… Oops, that’s psychiatric meds now. Sorry. Have a glass of coca cola instead. Oh, no, that’s a drug also, demon caffeine.

  23. Jenny says:

    I agree with him on the point about Judaism, that a doc attacking a mainstream religion wouldn’t be seen as accepted and lauded. But that’s just because I know that ALL religions are dumb anyway, be it Judaism, Christianity, Scientology, all of them. They should all be open to ridicule.

    That said, I feel kind of bad for this loser, since he was born into Scientology and has been brainwashed since birth, like all children who are forced to be adhere to a religion from birth.

    • Toot says:

      I don’t believe in any of them either, but I also don’t mock any of them. That’s a person’s choice,and most people get angry when they feel something they believe in is “attacked”.

      I don’t see why it’s considered so crazy coming from Scientologists.

      • Bridget says:

        Do you even know what people are criticising?The COS beliefs are out there, but what’s getting the church ininto trouble is the way they: fleece people out of large sums of money, pressure members into severing all ties with any non-members in their life (cult tactic right there); they intimidate any member who may be thinking of leaving, either with physical violence or with the threat of releasing sensitive material from auditing sessions; their Narc Anon program is so shady that people have actually DIED in it; they force members to work as slave labor – seriously, the list goes on.

      • Kiddo says:

        I agree completely. I think in any religion, if there are civil rights abuses, laws broken, they should be investigated and prosecuted. But over time, I have noticed a pattern of openly mocking the belief structure within Scientology. I think people would take great offense, and they do, when someone makes fun of their religious dogma. In fact, I’ve seen people become enraged when someone even disagrees with their beliefs, without ridicule.

      • cr says:

        Understanding how they feel and giving it legitimacy when they’re not actually being persecuted are two different things.

      • Kitten says:

        Yep. +1,000,000 to Kiddo and Toot.

      • lucy2 says:

        I agree, Bridget, it’s not the beliefs, it’s all the bad stuff that goes along with it. The money, the abuse, people being threatened and hurt or worse when they leave, their high profile members spouting medical advice to the masses when they are in NO WAY educated or qualified enough to do so. I think everyone should be free to believe whatever they want, whatever works for them, but I don’t think any religion or group should be allowed to abuse people, and it needs to be brought to light.

    • paranormalgirl says:

      There HAVE been documentaries “attacking” mainstream religions. It’s part and parcel of the choice of belief.

      • Jenny says:

        I have no doubt there are. But have they been critically lauded and accepted in America?

      • Anne tommy says:

        Of course they have been. And fictional films too- monty pythons life of Brian for eg.

      • Bridget says:

        @Jenny: good grief, that is a ridiculous question. You can take 60 seconds and look it up yourself and see that religious institutions aren’t exampt as subject matter.

        And do you know why this particular documentary was critically lauded? Because it was immaculately researched and put together. It’s working to uncover a hugely corrupt organization. HBO famously put together an absurdly large team of lawyers to verify every claim made.

      • TarheelPixie says:

        @ Jenny: Alex Gibney’s “Mea Maxima Culpa,” an exposΓ© of the child molestation scandal within the Catholic Church won many awards, including Emmys. So, he obviously doesn’t discriminate when it comes to shedding light on religious malfeasance. Gibney is an Oscar winning documentarian, so I am really looking forward to his investigation into the church of Scientology.

    • swack says:

      Not all children that adhere to a religion as children are brainwashed. My children were raised Catholic but I was not so fanatic, as Scientologists seem to be, that I believed Catholicism to be the only religion out there. All my children have gone their own way when it comes to religion or no religion as adults and I have not shamed them or shunned them because they chose not to continue practicing Catholicism. As long as they are loving, caring, people and raise their children to be loving, caring, compassionate people, I’m perfectly okay with that. I believe that we all find our spirituality with or without an organized religion.

      • Brickyard ute says:

        Appeeciate this comment. Catholic married to a wonderful man who floats between agnostic and atheist. Religion is a comfort to me. I know whatever is past this world, my family and I will be together because we are all good people. It does not matter that I am Catholic, my Grannie was Baptist and my partner believes you attract positive and negative energy depending on what energy you are putting out into the universe.

        Lots of different people and lots of great ideas out there. Find what’s right for you! I would not care about CO$ except the sketchy tax practices, missing members and reports of forced labor. Just like the Catholic Church was rightly and thankfully investigated for crimes against children, these issues deserve attention.

    • Maria says:

      i agree. it pains me to see christians, muslims and jews laughing at the beliefs of Mormons and Scientology. as if their beliefs make so much more sense. sure the Mormons have more plot holes and Scientology is really bad scifi but really its all silly stories. so god can create life but still does someone elses wife and now he is a single dad??

      its the same if i would start a new religion, i would get ridiculed more and my religion would be seen as silly,just because its younger than the others or less people believe in it. i wouldnt even get protection like other religions do.

      you have a good point with the passing down religion to children, too. i wonder why religious circumcision is still allowed. thats basically taking the freedom of religion of the child away. i mean a lot of countries ban parents from tattooing their kids or piercing them, so why is that allowed?

      • Kitten says:

        You have a lot of good points, Maria.

      • Sam says:

        I don’t think it’s about beliefs. It’s about what they DO.

        There are other “ET” religions in the US. Look up the Raelians sometime – similar beliefs to Co$ without any of the nastiness.

        The documentary, from what I’ve seen, is careful to not malign the beliefs of Scientologists. It’s about the Church. It’s about the disconnection, fair game policy and that stuff.

        As to the anti-psychiatry stuff, it’s not an issue when an adult chooses that for themselves. Plenty of mentally ill people go without meds for a variety of reasons. The cases with Co$ come when people attempt to prevent OTHERS from accessing care. There are multiple well-documented cases of Scientologists being prevented from accessing mental health care by family members, church workers, etc. THAT is the problem.

        I don’t think it’s about the age of the religion. Plenty of new religious movements are less than 100-200 years old and many of them are doing quite well. It’s not about Co$’s “newness” or “weirdness.” It’s about the stuff they do, straight up.

      • cr says:

        I don’t really have a problem with pointing out some of the more absurd particulars in a religion. All religions have them and followers should have some self awareness that certain practices look ‘odd’ to outsiders.
        But for me there’s also a difference between say, mocking ‘magic underwear’ (Mormonism) and saying Mormonism (or Catholicism) isn’t Christian.

    • Xazi says:

      Jenny — you really need to educate yourself about the difference between cults and religions. There are very clear criteria that differentiate the two. Cults are opportunitistic organizations that physically and psychologically isolate adherents, create financial and emotional dependency, threaten or assault members who try to leave, and focus upon the recruitment of new members from vulnerable populations by creating suspicion about the world at large. None of these criteria apply to the legit religions you listed. All apply to Scientology.

      • Kitten says:

        Yet religions and cults alike get the same special tax breaks.

        In fact, collectively religious groups make $1.5B a year.

      • Zavi says:

        Kitten — I am not speaking toward the taxation issues in specific countries, since they vary wildly and I am not conversant in all.
        Rather I was sharing the sociological definition of a cult versus a religion. There are very legitimate reasons to criticize all seven world religions and their associated sects. All are flawed. However, it is ignorant to equate religions with cults as there is are accepted definitons for both entities. Many people here do not seem to comprehend this. In doing somthey are no more educated than Danny Masterson.

      • Bridget says:

        @Kitten: that’s on the government. It’s how COS gets away with their despicable methods, those crazies in Westboro Baptist keep going, it’s even how Kris Jenner has her own Church (the infamous Kardashian charity). And if you can’t tell, this topic in general really frustrates me because one of the tactics that the COS folks use is deflecting criticism by bringing other religions into the mix. “We may charge our members for stuff, but Catholics make people donate too!” “Well, Mormons cut off non-believers too”. “I don’t agree with those Scientologists, but I guess all religions seem pretty weird when you think about it”

    • LAK says:

      Jenny: There is a doc criticising the fundamentals of Judeo-Christianity. It’s called RELIGULOUS, came out 2008. Stars Bill Maher, directed by Larry Charles. Both mainstream figures, and the documentary did very well.

      You might also want to look up THE LIFE OF BRIAN a satire about a man mistaken for the messiah. When that came out in the 70s, people were majorly offended. That film still offends many Christians.

      • Sam says:

        Life of Brian is nothing, trust me. I’m quite Christian and heard for years about how blasphemous it was when it came out. Then I watched it and thought, “This is is?”

        It actually goes out of its way to be respectful about Jesus. In the opening scene in the Sermon on the Mount, they actually configured the lighting so that the actor playing Jesus has a aura around him. John Cleese, Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin have all noted, at separate times, that they actually wanted to be as respectful to Jesus as possible, given that even nonbelievers can respect that he was a decent guy who preached positivity and love and mocking him would serve no legitimate purpose.

        I know a great many Christians who have seen Life of Brian and nobody saw it as blasphemous. Maybe the very fundamentalist types would today, but that’s about it.

    • Bob Eckert says:

      Gibney is best known for his highly praised documentary on the child abuse scandal in the Catholic Church. As with his documentary on Scientology, the focus was on wrongful behaviors for which “religious belief” is no excuse.

    • Tara says:

      I was raised catholic but am now agnostic. It’s not a given that people are trapped into the faith they inherit. And I know of NO other “religion” that will sue, stalk and intimidate people for sharing the basic tenets of the religion or practicing them outside the “church.” I have no love affair with organized religion but have never heard of any other sect so bent on pay to play and so antagonistic to altruism.

  24. dibba says:

    Seems like a douche.

  25. Debb says:

    What year did he graduate from high school?

  26. scout says:

    LOL! They are all so articulate! Hard for them to agree to disagree. Oh well..

  27. swack says:

    “You will not find a Scientologist who does not f***ing hate psychiatrists. Because their solution for mental and spiritual problems is drugs” – not true. My daughter, who found her fiance dead one night, found a counselor/psychiatrist that did not believe in automatically using meds to help with her depression. After about a year, my daughter was still deeply depressed and was having a hard time and only then did the counselor tell her she should probably have meds to help. Some people’s depression is so deep that the meds bring them to a point where they can focus and help themselves. And Bijou Phillips get over it yourself and realize not all people can pull themselves out depression at the snap of a finger.

    • paranormalgirl says:

      I’m a psychiatrist and that’s how I operate. I exhaust non-pharmacological treatments before moving to the pharmacological ones.

      • swack says:

        Thank you for that. There needs to be more like you out there!!

      • Esmom says:

        That’s really good to hear, paranormal girl. My psychiatrist is the same way. I’ll add that she’s always considering new options, studying research, and collaborating with other experts. She and her partners don’t just indiscriminately write scripts for pills. They consider options carefully, go over possible side effects meticulously and monitor progress regularly. She’s also a professor at a top university medical school.

        I’m sure it must be frustrating to be dismissed and not regarded as a legit, consummate professional by entities like the CO$.

      • FlowerintheAttic says:

        I wish I had a psychiatrist like you when my world was falling apart. I’m now properly medicated and happy to see the sun in the morning.

      • paranormalgirl says:

        I practice integrative and holistic psychiatry for the most part.

    • Kitten says:

      Yeah, it’s really off-putting the way so many Co$ members frame the discussion of pharmaceuticals and other forms of medical treatment as if there way is the only way and people who choose a different path are somehow weak, inferior, or uneducated.

      Thank goodness for people like you, Paranormalgirl.

  28. Syko says:

    He talked like that to a YOUTH organization?

  29. Jess says:

    Well, this is really going to help their image! What an idiot.

  30. Wonderbunny says:

    I am quite fascinated by why all these Hollywood types have joined this one particular cult. Makes me want to go to some of their recruiting events and see if they could convince me to join!

    Then I could say “I don’t have any money though, but this is all free, right?”

    • H says:

      They ask you to go home and open up credit card accounts so you can charge your “lessons,” if you don’t have money. Or you could join the Sea Org branch and sell your soul for hundred million years and then they pay back your hard work in classes. (I think the Labor Department was investigating Co$ for illegal practices like working members for 16 hours and not paying minimum wage or overtime.) Or maybe if you are real lucky, Head Honcho will hit and beat you after working you to exhaustion.

      I used to live in Clearwater, FL where Co$ has a huge base, we locals knew a lot about their shady practices, but they owned too much land (and got on the town councils) to run them out. Nasty organization.

      And you thought your boss was bad! πŸ™‚

      • Wonderbunny says:

        Perhaps it’s a cultural thing, but the idea that practising religion would really cost anything is really foreign to me. If they truly wanted to help people, they would open their doors for free for anyone who was interested. I wish Danny Masterson or any other member would explain that.

      • Bridget says:

        @wonderbunny: its part of what makes them a cult.

      • Wonderbunny says:

        @Bridget, I agree with you, but they keep insisting that it is a religion and not a cult.

        I’m all for people believing in Xenu and Tethans, if that’s what they feel is true to them. Those are the things that are up to anyone’s faith. But the economy part is very real and something that is easy to point out and question it’s validity. It is puzzling to me that their members would find it perfectly reasonable.

      • Bridget says:

        Just double checking there πŸ™‚

        And I’ve always wondered the same thing, as well as the fact that they get very preferential treatment within the church based on their celebrity, which is absurd.

  31. Jag says:

    He obviously has never watch the TEDTalk regarding Hubbard from his grandson, I believe it was. And he’s never done research to see that Hubbard created the religion to make money and for a joke.

    I haven no problem with a couple of Scientology’s views because I do believe that people should try to help themselves and that the brain is a powerful thing, but that’s as far as it goes. I consider myself closest to Liberal Theism if I have to name a religion for myself.

    He’s not a pleasant person and does his religion a disservice by being so.

  32. kri says:

    Wow, such eloquence!! I am almost converted!! With such blazing intellects as DM and Kirstie Alley, surely CO$ will attract only the best and brightest. What an ass.

  33. shixappeal says:

    What really strikes me (aside from the massive lack of any articulate statements) is that he is pretty clearly expressing that it’s not okay for people to “hate” CO$, but perfectly okay for CO$ members to openly “hate” psychiatry. Hypocrite much?

    • Jenny says:

      I assume in his mind it’s because he believes that psychiatrists harm people while Scientology helps people.

  34. H says:

    My problem with Scientology is that they separate families when one person refuses to believe or leaves the “church.” What other religion does that? Yeah, none, only cults do. They are a destructive force, just ask Nicole Kidman.

    So idiot boy here can go f**k himself.

    • Jenny says:

      “What other religion does that?”

      Mormonism. People who leave the Mormon church are completely shunned by their families and community.

      I’m sure it happens all the time in Christian/Muslim/etc etc households as well. A girl I knew in college was disowned by her family for choosing to not be an evangelical Christian like her parents.

      • H says:

        I knew Mormons who that didn’t happen to. They became atheists, but still were in touch with their families. Maybe that’s not mainstream Mormonism, but the crazy off-shoots?

      • swack says:

        I think all religions have the fanatics that will shun someone who was raised in their religion and yet chooses to no longer be a part of it.

      • Bridget says:

        Those are personal choices of the families in those cases of Christians and Muslims, not the directive of the organization as it is in COS. There’s a huge difference there.But nice try on that one. Plus the Mormon Church has been criticised for cultish practices for many years, that’s not exactly the comparison you want to make to try to make COS sound legitimate.

      • Kitten says:

        Exactly.

      • Sam says:

        There is a difference between personal shunning and stated church policy. The Mormon church does not practice disconnection. They practice excommunication of people who dispute the tenants of the faith, but that’s a spiritual practice. Nobody is obligated to stop communicating with them.

        Disconnection is official Co$ policy.

      • GlitterTears says:

        Absolutely NOT true. I grew up Mormon and am not anymore. Same story with my brother and a handful of cousins. We all have very close relationships with our still practicing Mormon family members. My brother and I see our parents at least once a month, and my Dad even holds a leadership position in the local branch! They do not tell you to distance yourself from non-believing family members in the Mormon church. In fact, the church places the highest value on family and encourages loving family relationships.

      • claire says:

        There are tons of websites and forums and support groups for ex-Mormons who have been shunned. I don’t think it’s crazy offshoots, but something that it a lot more common than that.

      • jwoolman says:

        In the Catholic Church, excommunication mainly has to do with access to certain Sacraments, in particular Communion (the sharing of the consecrated bread, which in my childhood was a little wafer of unleavened bread that not everybody went up to get during Mass anyway). Nobody gets banned from coming to Mass. I never heard of any shunning practice at all, and a quick look at Wikipedia confirms my recollection. Shunning has never been part of it. The Sacrament of Confession is still accessible, since that’s part of the process for undoing the excommunication. Certain other liturgical activities would be off-limits, such as assisting at the altar or doing readings, but very few people would be doing that anyway. It iseemed to be invoked in response to certain actions considered seriously sinful, such as remarrying when your spouse (if married in the Church) was still alive or murder or abortion or, according to Wikipedia, abandoning a child. But official excommunications most often seemed to involve celebrities of the time, including royalty (which is why Henry the Eighth needed to break with the Roman Church to get married again and again and again.) Actually, except for the very rare cases of official excommunication, individual priests often just go on giving Communion to people who technically have done things excommunicable. The official rules often don’t have much of an impact when people (including parish priests) just plain don’t agree with them. The Vatican takes a long time to catch up, official change is very slow.

      • Courtney says:

        My husband’s ex-Mo. It didn’t happen to him. I’m not saying it *never* happens, some families won’t tolerate a family member who is different from them in anyway, but I honestly don’t think it’s common. There are a LOT of ex-Mo’s.

      • Bored suburbanhousewife says:

        @”Jenny” You are obviously CO$ or else completely ignorant.

  35. Michelley12 says:

    Once you use the word retarded, I’m done and don’t give a f*ck about anything else you have to say. Ignorant f*cking tool.

    • Debby says:

      As a person who has spent the last 24+ years working with “special needs” students, I agree with you 1,000,000,000%! Who is this guy anyway? I never heard of him. What I have done is read about the (failed) science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard and how he couldn’t make a living writing, so he decided to become a “religion” for tax reasons! It is astounding that anyone believes this nonsense.

  36. Bridget says:

    So he “#$@ing hates” psychiatry because they prescribe drugs, but he’s totally fine with all the other drugs he puts into his system?

    • Neonscream says:

      Apparently if you choose to take psychoactive drugs with no training or education whatsoever in medicine, biology, chemistry etc for shits n giggles then it’s fine, but someone who studied those things for nearly a decade, hey they’re just trying to enslave you. Don’t know about other countries but where I live psychiatrists have MORE than enough patients, they don’t need to store them up for a rainy day.

      I can’t really hate on him too much though, he was born into CO$ he’s unlikely to have much of an education. Ignorance is something that was foisted on to him from birth.

  37. Green Is Good says:

    If this is the calibre of schmuck representing CO$, I’m embarrassed for them.

  38. smcollins says:

    I’m pretty sure I just lost some IQ points by reading his comments. I swear, I feel dumber than I did 5 minutes ago. And the part about psychiatry really burned me up. His/Their dismissive attitude towards mental illness is infuriating! My sister is Bipolar, and without proper medication she probably wouldn’t be alive today (she attempted suicide a couple of years ago, but thankfully her husband found her in time). This guy needs to sit down and stfu! What an uneducated a**hole!

  39. Soporificat says:

    Did he just compare CO$ to the KKK? LOLOL!!!! “If you’re going to write something and you don’t ask the people who actually do it, then what’s the f***ing point? We could all interview the KKK about what’s cool about being white, but we don’t. I don’t know; it just seems retarded to me.”

    Is the CO$ basically for very stupid people who are convinced that actually they are super intellectual and spiritual? That’s pretty much my conclusion from hearing him and other CO$ members spout off.

    • GingerCrunch says:

      Well, they don’t want to educate their kids and the rest of us are left with this kind of thoughtfulness.

  40. db says:

    “Retarded,” “stupid,” “go f** yourself” — Danny’s such wonderfully articulate representative.

  41. Crocuta says:

    I didn’t know Scientologists oppose gay marriage (well, this cult never really excited me enough to read about it). And here I was thinking all these major Hollywood stars at least support this cause. You learn something new every day.

  42. Wooley says:

    Bijou is truly one of the worst actresses out there. She played the serial killer mom in “raising hope” and brought down every scene she was in

    • FingerBinger says:

      She was good in Bully ,but that’s the only thing I’ve seen her in.

    • santana says:

      She’s a tool. She has family money and he married her just for that. He is doing just little gigs in awful films and tv shows that get cancelled and eventually he does some DJ stuff (he’s pretty awful at that too, I was at one of his shows in Park City years ago). And even though there are no money incomes in that family they have a hell of a lifestyle. He likes guns and killing animals just for fun (aka as hunt)

  43. Bread and Circuses says:

    Lashing out with violent language is the mark of someone incapable of framing a persuasive argument to support their case.

    • Wonderbunny says:

      To be fair, that happens a lot to people who get their beliefs questioned. Most of us hold (or have held) some beliefs that we’ve picked up along the way for some reason, and never truly questioned them. When those beliefs get questioned (let alone attacked), most people would lash out, because the cognitive stress is too much.

  44. Lisa says:

    Hyde. πŸ™

  45. MadMenluv says:

    what the heck is mathematics disorder?? i think i’ve had it since high school cause i couldn’t do math to save my life! if i had just been a member then i would have gotten all A’s!!

    • Guesto says:

      I have studied scientology in depth since being won over earlier in the day by Danny’s eloquence and, from my intense research, I believe I have the answer to your question. ‘Mathematics Disorder’ is best illustrated by the discrepancy between the number of scientologists the CoS officially says there are (10 million) with the number there actually are (a reputed 30,000).

      That be one big fat mathematics disorder.

    • Marrria says:

      Tell me about it! πŸ˜€
      I think I failed every math test since 6th grade. Mathematics disorder: Level 100000000!!!
      Fortunately I was good in other subjects and managed to get into a good college.
      If it weren’t for those I might have had to join CO$. Disorder and all. Dodged a bullet! 😎
      But how would one join CO$ without mathematical knowledge?
      …gotta ask the Smith kids πŸ˜‰

      • Guesto says:

        I feel ‘mathematics disorder’ may be an essential criterion for entry into and embracing of the world of scientology. πŸ˜‰

  46. MD says:

    In the article, Danny says: “I’ve never been given a hard time my entire life about my belief system or my philosophy in life. Literally never once in 38 years.”

    Something tells me that’s gonna change real SOON. Feel free to send your thoughts directly to him on Twitter (@dannymasterson). According to Scientology, “Communication is the universal solvent” and Scientologists should be able to confront anyone on any subject. Go ahead and ask him tough questions and let’s see how willing he is to talk (or resort to blocking “attackers” like Kirstie Alley). Submit questions about disconnection (why does he no longer speak to his stepdad who spoke negatively about his experience within Scientology?), the “Going Clear” documentary (why does he has a definitive opinion on something he hasn’t seen himself? Where did he get his info from?), his views on L. Ron Hubbard (does he believe Hubbard ever did or said anything wrong, untrue, harmful and/or crazy?). Tell him how medication helped YOUR wellbeing. I guess you could hurl insults at him too but I don’t see how that helps anyone in the long run. Masterson needs to know exactly how the public feels about his comments. Obviously, he didn’t learn what happened to Tom Cruise’s reputation after he reamed Brooke Shields for taking Paxil for post-partum depression.

    • Curious Cole says:

      Thank you MD. The problem is that Danny doesn’t really have much of a career left to damage, unlike Tom Cruise.

      • MD says:

        Not much of an acting career left to damage, I agree. However, he still works as a DJ. Don’t know how popular or influential he is in that role but I assume he gets gigs based on his celeb name alone.

        I’ve decided a while back to not financially support any Scientologist celebrity by buying tickets to their movies, shows, books or whatever they produce. I don’t want to be subsidizing a dangerous, harmful cult. Listening to their music, watching their films, reading their books…I don’t have a problem with it. It’s the PAYING for the privilege that I refuse to do. I just wish more people would take a stand and send a clear message to these famous individuals that their ignorant drivel isn’t welcome and won’t be tolerated.

        I encourage everyone to watch the documentary, “Going Clear” airing on HBO on March 16th, 2015 (9pm?). And, if possible, see it when it arrives at your local theatre. Watch and make your own judgments about whether it’s full of hate.

  47. Katie says:

    Such highly intelligent drivel really makes me reconsider my position about scietology.

  48. scnsurvivor says:

    To get an idea of Scientology’s idea of human rights just goggle “Scientology abuse and/or Scientology violence”

  49. Jaded says:

    One would assume that Co$ would give this guy some elocution lessons or at least counsel him on the need to sound positive and professional, not like some schoolyard bully hurling f-bombs at everyone who doesn’t, like, agree with any of his, like, boneheaded pronouncements. Maybe we should remind him of the number of suspicious attempted suicides and actual deaths at Co$ Narcanon facilities that seem to have been swept under the carpet. Their treatments generally involve massive doses of vitamins and steam-room therapy, sometimes at such high temperatures and lengthy sessions that the effects are deadly. Just Google “Narcanon deaths” and you’ll be completely shocked.

    Sure Masterson you fecking a$$hole…explain those.

  50. Pegasus says:

    Sold!!! Where do I sign?

  51. Jayna says:

    Too bad he doesn’t address the average Joe Scienctologist who toils away since being kids or the disconnecting that goes on or the evil David Miscaviage. Turn a blind eye, Danny.

    Anti-depressants are overprescribed, but they also help many people who really need it.

    It’s not all or nothing, you idiot.

  52. Still on your side says:

    So Masterson claims Gibney’s film is about “eight people who hate Scientology.” Masterson needs to get a brain. If he watched the film or even read a review of it, he would learn that eight former members of the Church of Scientology are interviewed about their horrendous experiences inside the church. Masterson does not deserve the attention he is receiving. He is an illiterate schmuck who uses the term “retarded” without a thought, he denounces psychiatry without understanding that Scientology’s auditing is derived from psychiatry, and, as Tony Ortega posted on his “Underground Bunker,” in another part of this interview, Masterson claims there a “ton” of gays in Scientology. (If there are so many gays, shouldn’t at least one be denouncing the “lies” about Scientology being homophobic?) Masterson is so dumb, he is dangerous. Please, please, Hollywood, never give him another acting job. Let him become an actor that no one remembers.

  53. LAK says:

    Clearly, this idjit has never heard of Bill Maher or RELIGULOUS the documentary he made about Judeo-Christianity.

  54. Michelle says:

    He lost his argument the minute he started showing how aggressively angry he is that people don’t share his beliefs. I agree with his point that people are free to believe whatever they want when it comes to religion, but there is way too much seedy and dangerous sh*t surrounding Scientology to ever really take it seriously as a religion. L. Ron Hubbard was a science fiction author and he created a bullshit science fiction world. The fact that people have turned up missing, that their church has a prison known as “The Hole” that is surrounded by a fence topped with spikes and razor wire, and that any defectors from the church are so horrified that they find it necessary to talk to anyone who will listen about how fucked up, crazy, and awful Scientology is, is more than enough for most people to agree it’s a cult. Let’s not forget that Katie Holmes literally ran away from Tom Cruise in the middle of the night to end their marriage. Scary stuff.

  55. LouLou says:

    I read Going Clear. It’s exhaustively researched and states that the author tried to talk with the church, but they made unreasonable demands. Also, most Scientologists will be told they are forbidden to watch the film or read the book. They don’t even do their own research to form their opinions.

    In fairness to Haggis, he has said that he did have reservations about the church for years, but his whole social/family realm was tied to it. He didn’t want to lose that. The Prop 8 thing was one of the last straws.

  56. Deb says:

    Oh man, don’t even get me started on what he said about mental illness. I’ll just leave it at this: Scientology’s treatment for mental illness worked out so well for Elli and Jeremy Perkins. [/sarcasm]

  57. Cankles says:

    Are there really and truly people over the age of seven who use the word “retarded” as an insult? What a piece of trash.

  58. littlestar says:

    Thank you Celebitchy for being one of the rare gossip sites that will actually talk about $cientology.

  59. Santolina says:

    CO$ should give more of their brainwashed zombie-clowns enough rope to hang themselves, like this guy did. As others have said, if you feel positive and confident in your beliefs, you don’t need to attack people with invectives in a defensive rant.

    In other news, CO$ is a cult that employs mind-control, disconnection, hidden surveillance and death threats to imprison its members. It’s pretty well-documented that Katie Holmes had to used a disposable cell phone to escape from them.

  60. Debbie says:

    Wait PMS is a mental disorder? Who knew.

  61. daughter of jean says:

    I can’t believe how many people suffer from depression. it’s scary. Makes me wonder if it isn’t something in our food. I dont remember anyone being on medication when I was growing up. What’s going on?

    • jwoolman says:

      It just wasn’t diagnosed very often. My older brother suffered with it since puberty but wasn’t diagnosed until he was about 30. And he had been in counseling for years before with no improvement at all. Finally a counselor was astute enough to suspect clinical depression (what is now called bipolar, although he was unipolar) and sent him off to a psychiatrist (they are MDs and able to prescribe medication). The psychiatrist just had to talk with him for a short time before he tried the medications (lithium salt and an upper to get him through the current episode). He said that a good response to the medication was diagnostic fir the disorder. The upper actually made him a tad manic for the first time, but at least he was happy (a dosage adjustment was needed…) The lithium made his life worth living. He said he still felt appropriately sad and happy in response to circumstances, but the horrible apparently never-ending downward cycle was gone. Recurrences can happen out of the blue, with nothing to do with life. He’s had a couple of those, maybe both times during periods when he was off the med for years (with approval of the doctor). Since they don’t like to prescribe lithium now (it has a narrow therapeutic window and they worry about toxicity), it’s been harder to find the right combination of drugs that work well.

      He was difficult to live with when I was a kid- had to tiptoe around him, never knew what would trigger irritability and verbal abuse. In olden days, such people would just be called “moody” at best. But there are physical reasons for the behavior. The separation into mental and physical illnesses is false, it all is ultimately physical but we just are still in a primitive stage of understanding mechanisms and devising treatment.

      The disorder can be genetic. On one side of the family, when I compared notes with a distant relative, it turned out that our family was full of alcoholics and suicides with signs of depression going back generations. My brother thinks our father was a classic case of the syndrome also but undiagnosed.

      In contrast, a girl in his high school class committed suicide and everyone was baffled. She seemed happy and quite popular. They never discovered a triggering event. My guess is that she had the same disorder, was covering it up, and finally couldn’t take the downward endless roller coaster any more. Depression is a potentially fatal disease because of the high risk of suicide. Many unexplained suicides are probably traceable to it. Takes all the joy out of life during an acute episode especially.

  62. Katija says:

    All religions have their sh*t. All religions have messed up. That’s something we know.

    Here is why Scientology is, and always has been wrong.

    If you walk into a synagogue and say, “I want to join but I cannot afford to pay dues,” (we do dues instead of a collection plate) the rabbi will say, “that’s okay, you are still welcome to join.”

    If you walk into a mosque and say “I cannot afford to donate any of my time or money,” the Imam will say, “that’s fine, you are still welcome to come here and worship.”

    If you walk into a church and continue to pass the collection plate without putting anything in because you can’t afford it, the priest or reverend will never ask you to leave.

    Now go to a Scientologist “church” and try to join for free. Go try it and tell us what happens.

  63. K says:

    “Because their solution for mental and spiritual problems is drugs.”

    You mean drugs like nicotine and alcohol, Danny?

  64. Sknniemama says:

    Like those CO$ teachings really worked for Johnny Lewis and his victim. Danny masters on you are the retard. If you don’t believe me check your bank account and google sea org. Moron.

  65. Lia says:

    He speaks like a true puppet. It would be funny if it wasn’t so pitiful.

  66. Precious says:

    Reading this sucked the life out of me, lol.

  67. funcakes says:

    Should I really concern myself with an actor who’s only claim to fame is two episodes of Rosanne plus playing a pothead on That 70s show ? Plus he’s married to the chick who’s only known because her father is from The Momma’s and the Poppa’s.

  68. Trashaddict says:

    If I join COS will I learn how to be as mature as this dude?

    • Deeanna says:

      It is not the BELIEFS of the Church of $cientology that critics have a problem with. Nobody cares if they want to believe their bodies are covered with space cooties called Body Thetans or any of the other Space Opera crap that they only get to know about after they’ve paid a ton of money.

      It is the ABUSES the Church of $cientology perpetrates that critics have a problem with. It is the ABUSES that are being talked about by former members. And certainly not just eight of them interviewed for this documentary. There are hundreds of former $cientologists who have now spoken out in public. Lawrence Wright interviewed some 200 former church members for his book “Going Clear”. It is a really well-written and well-researched book that examines the entire history of L Ron Hubbard, the founding of the organization, when it became a “religion” and why.

      I am grateful that we live in a country with such strong Freedom of the Press laws that these types of books can be published here. But despite our freedom of the press, we do still have libel laws. So if a Pulitzer-prizewinning author has produced a book containing “more than 200 lies” about the Cof$, they have the right to sue. Despite being known in the past to be highly litigious, they have not sued Wright or his publishers. The book has been out for almost two years now.

      “Couch-jumping mad” …. LOL! Oh, boy, are they ever. Because only so many people will read the book. But millions upon millions upon millions of people will watch an HBO film documentary. Unfortunately, members of the Church of $cientology will not be among them. Because they are forbidden to read the book and forbidden to watch the documentary.

      $cientologists are never, ever allowed to read about or watch anything negative about $cientology. And they are never, ever allowed to say or even think anything negative about $cientology or its leaders.

      It is a sad and creepy organization.

      ———-

      Last but not least: Many people have posted that “anti-depressants are overprescribed” or that “psychiatrists are prescribing too many medications”.

      May I ask what published research you are basing these statements on? Do you even know ANYTHING at all about the rates of medication prescriptions in the U.S. and the criteria used for prescribing? Or are you just regurgitating one of the “handy talking points” that someone has made up along the way?

      It is my observation that there are more checks and balances in place nowadays against excessive prescribing of ANYTHING than there ever has been. It is called insurance companies, and the reality of the situation is far too often people are fighting to get the medications they need!

  69. Sparkly says:

    I really liked him until I learned he was a $cientologist. I tried to give him a pass since I know he was raised in it, and therefore brainwashed his whole life. However, that R-word stuff is inexcusable, and there’s really no excuse for lauding how awesome Hubbard was (and as a sci-fi writer, he was) without addressing possibly the most famous thing about him: starting a religion/cult for cash. Co$ can deny it all they want, but I trust Harlan Ellison and Theodore Sturgeon way more than them.

    http://www.don-lindsay-archive.org/scientology/start.a.religion.html

    • jwoolman says:

      Yes, multiple highly respected people in the field (whose names I myself easily recognize) reported Hubbard saying the same thing multiple times. Obviously it was a pet idea of his, and people tend to insert their pet ideas into the conversation whenever aporopriate (I know I do!). At some point, Hubbard saw the opportunity to act on it and get the tax break. I used to read a lot of science fiction from the time when Hubbard was writing, and the devices and dogma and jargon of Co$ are very much the kind of thing that showed up in science fiction of his time. I can’t remember if I read Hubbard’s science fiction work, but it would be interesting to do so and see if any of it ended up directly in Co$.

  70. Norman says:

    He’s not too bright.

  71. JustChristy says:

    Astra Woodcraft.
    Lisa MacPherson.
    That is all.