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In Reply to: HA! posted by Acheick on November 29, 2002 at 08:55:54:
Melton is the author of several books on cults, including "The Church of Scientology (Studies in Contemporary Religions".
One reviewer on Amazon.com said:
"Melton is a pathetic stooge, October 20, 2002
Reviewer: A reader from London, United Kingdom United Kingdom
I cannot believe that a scam artist like this dude pretends to be a 'scholar' of 'new religions'. His history of L. Ron Hubbard's life is a sham, since it's pretty much a stenographic copy of the pseudo-history Hubbard invented for himself. This guy is almost entirely uncritical, even saying that the sci-fi space-opera teachings of the cult are 'metaphorical'. Every scientologist KNOWS such teachings are to be taken absolutely literally, and that this space opera is entirely factual! Travolta, Cruise and all devotees who have achieved a certain spiritual level of 'truth' believe they were personally enslaved and 'implanted' by the evil galactic ruler Xenu, 75 million years ago. Not only do they think this is entirely truthful and not 'metaphorical', they even think Xenu's 'implant' explains why mankind engages in warfare. That's why Travolta asserts that scientology contains the "secrets of the universe"!
I would advise against reading Melton's book, it is simple apologia, and reads like it was written by a devotee of the cult. This book is dangerous, since anyone thinking of involving themselves in this rapacious cult, and reading Melton's book would probably go ahead and lose loads of money and several years of their life to this corrupt extortion racket of a cult.
How do I know Melton is talking through his hat? I lost four years of my life to the wicked scientology scam, and I can assure you, Melton either knows nothing objective about this cult, his book reads as if he gets his information from the cult itself, but my suspicion is that he's been put up to the job by the cult elite in the same way that author Omar Garrison was.
Avoid this drivel. Melton should be ashamed of himself. "
