I used to live very close to Clearwater, FL, where their 'spiritual HQ' is. Kind of made the town look like a naval base town with all of their missionaries on the streets.

My take from all I've read about them is that they're a tax dodge more than a religion. And their higher echelon tend to spout some really kooky beliefs. But that's just MHO. Maybe I've been wrong for the past 40 years as an atheist and they're right. Does it really matter?

Just look up Scientology on youtube and you'll see what it's all about.

You know, that last paragraph makes a very good point... as I've read more and more of this stuff since I first saw the clip yesterday, this does seem to smack of the medieval-era Catholic Church. They certainly haven't been shy about recruiting among Hollywood's power elite, giving them a great deal of income. The less well-known or wealthy members, it seems, are more likely to be "reeducated" for their transgressions. After all, if Tom Cruise or John Travolta were to be sent to one of their camps and left there with no contact with the outside world, this would attract more negative press and possibly lose the cult a major source of income. From what I read, it even seems that they have a built-in system similar to the Papal Indulgences of the Catholic Church, more than likely their remedy for the wealthy or well-known members who breach their "ethics." Makes me wonder how much they got out of Isaac Hayes when he did the voice of Chef for the Scientology story arc.

As far as I can tell, the only thing that will cripple the cult is a well-known member leaving and becoming an outspoken antagonist to the CoS. Lesser escapees seem to be quashed when dealing with media outlets outside of the internet.

In reading this material, my greatest fear is that eventually there will be an event that makes "Heaven's Gate" or Jonestown look like minor blips on the radar screen by comparison. There is potential here for something truly horrific.