Heroes: Thomas
18 hours ago
It's against my religion to talk about it.
I saw this youtube video today with Scientology Church spokesman Tommy Davis. This is taken from an interview on ABC News Nightline last month. He walks off the set when the interviewer persists in asking him about Lord Xenu. Anyways, I couldn't help but think as I watched it, that a Mormon, put in the same setting and being asked specific questions about the endowment ceremony would react the same way. Note the indignation and offense. Seriously, as you watch it, just replace the questions with deep mormon doctrine found in the temple, and pretend this guy was a member of the LDS church. Couldn't you foresee similar reactions? (Although I admit, Church PR would probably react better than this guy did, however, I am thinking of just a regular active member reacting to these questions.)
It's easy for people to poke fun at Scientology because its a brand new religion (comparatively speaking), but isn't it plain to see the convenience in not being able to talk about certain things because "it's against my religion" or "too sacred to talk about"?
I remember one time in Sunday school when I was 14 years old, we were talking about the temple in our Mia Maid Class. The topic that we get a new name in the temple was brought up by one of us girls. We all became excited as we talked about it when suddenly my Young Women's teacher burst out hysterically, "It's the Temple! We don't talk about the temple!" She proceeded to cry for the next few minutes while the rest of us sat their in stunned silence. I remember as we were finally leaving class, and after my teacher had recuperated, she said, "Don't worry. There is no need to be scared of the Temple." She had seen the fear in our eyes.
This leads me to note another parallel in Mormonism and Scientology. Not all members are privy to the special information given to those who have progressed further in the religion, and when they do progress and have paid what they need to or "are ready," they are told not to talk to other members about what they have learned. If the topic comes up, they must say "it's too sacred" or too "taken out of context" or "offensive" to talk about. It's almost like they know that people are going to think, "wow, that's nuts." What a great way to nip that response in the bud.
Pretty convenient actually.
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2 comments:
[S]uddenly my Young Women's teacher burst out hysterically, "It's the Temple! We don't talk about the temple!" She proceeded to cry for the next few minutes while the rest of us sat their in stunned silence. I remember as we were finally leaving class, and after my teacher had recuperated, she said, "Don't worry. There is no need to be scared of the Temple."
Let's try not to scare the hell out of the kids at church? EPIC FAIL.
This is probably the funniest damn thing I've read in a month! I agree that "sacred-not-secret" comments frequently do more harm than good.
"Don't worry, girls. Yes, the mere mention of the place made me weep hysterically, but there's no need to be afraid," she said, while sharpening the knife to prepare the sacrifice.
lol.
Thanks for the comment. I think what got her to weep was the fact we were talking about receiving a "new name." Even though her lesson was about the temple, to her, it was only appropriate to talk about it as a place you want to go someday. And vague details of ceremonies that take place in the temple was too much for her to bear.
She literally imploded over it.
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