Grow up + accept responsibility

Her mother brought her in as a child you moron. She's doing great work exposing an evil cult. What are you doing, except spreading ignorance on the internet?

Yes, and my parents brought me into Christianity as a child. What of it ? When I became an adult I decided that it just wasn't that important to me to remain in Christianity. I don't hold the Catholic Church responsible for anything that goes wrong with my life and know plenty of folks who benefit from their beliefs. To each their own. And notice I don't feel the need to insult you or call you negative names. What religious sect do you count yourself a member of and do they encourage all their members to insult others who have a different point of view as themselves?

When I became an adult I decided that it just wasn't that important to me to remain in Christianity. I don't hold the Catholic Church responsible for anything that goes wrong with my life and know plenty of folks who benefit from their beliefs.

You weren't in a cult and your friends and family weren't told to cut off any and all communication with you by the Pope.

You weren't in a cultNot so according to people who are morally opposed to Catholicism your friends and family weren't told to cut off any and all communication.. Um, excommunication? Disfellowshipping? Shunning? Bueller?

But the better question is: What about the rights of your friends and family to cut off communication with you? Scientologists enjoy the same rights as you, which includes the right to cut off communications with anyone they want for whatever the reason.

Their rights is not the issue. What are you even arguing here? Complete miss on all counts.

Their rights is not the issue. What are you even arguing here?Of course it is. Because what is occurring is that Scientologists who cut off ties do so because they CHOOSE to do it, which is something they have a right to do. But instead of blaming the decision makers (i.e., Scientologists), the anti-scientologists blame the motivating influence for their decision (i.e., their religion). This is because angry Anti-Scientologists refuse to respect the rights of Scientologists because of brainwashing theory. That's a pretty lacking definition of indoctrination you have there (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indoctrination) Says the guy who cites wikipedia. Per Miriam Websters:

Definition of indoctrinate
indoctrinatedindoctrinating
transitive verb
1. to instruct especially in fundamentals or rudiments : teach
2. to imbue with a usually partisan or sectarian opinion, point of view, or principle

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indoctrinateand a very anecdotal argument.Dude, do you know what an anecdote is? An anecdotal argument would be like a Christian arguing, "God exists, and I know this because I had a vision where I saw Jesus and he told me so." What I used was a hypothetical example to provide illustration---not an actual account or anything that relies upon personal testimony. I bet you think people who live in North Korea should just get it together and leave Not at all, but I am not surprised you reach for hyperbole to liken North Koreans to Scientologists. I believe that a North Korean defector who's family was executed by firing squad because of his defection would probably disagree with your comparison. What's next, are you going to put Miscavige on the same level as Hitler?

You see, there is general acceptance with the scientific community (and basic common sense) that coercion accompanied by the real threat of death is enough to overcome the free will of an average person (i.e., North Koreans under military government rule who's families will all be executed if they escape). However, there is no scientific support that someone's free will can be overcome in the absence of such a threat (i.e., stupid Scientologists). And that is why brainwashing theory, also known as "mind control," "thought reform," or coercive thought is both legally and scientifically rejected.

Here's a federal case explaining this all in further detail if you want to learn more about brainwashing theory: http://tinyurl.com/zykbjek

Oversimplifying this issue doesn't exactly make you look like a genius either. Maybe it's you who lack empathy and/or intelligence to properly understand it. So now you have decided to be insulting. Because my opinions conflict with your beliefs, that must mean I am horrible. Therefore, ad hominem attacks. If you want to debate substance, I am all for it. And I promise to treat you with respect if you can do so in return. But if your arguments are "waah, you're mean and dumb," then I won't respond (what's the point?)

I am all for empathy for people who have made poor choices, so long as they OWN UP and take accountability for their choices (hence the title of this thread). If a bad decision maker plays the blame game, then no empathy.

Scientology brainwashes it's members so they can take their money. Argue all you want about brainwashing or no brainwashing either way she is doing a great service making it clear to the world what this "church" is all about.

Scientology brainwashes it's members so they can take their money Well, I can understand why you think that, as that's generally how it works when you morally oppose someone else's religion. You never hear someone say, "You know what, even though [insert religion] is an evil cult, its members choose to obey on their own free will and are not brainwashed at all."

At the end of the day, Scientologists enjoy the same rights as everyone else, which includes the right to blow their money on nutty religions (even those that offend your moral code).Argue all you want about brainwashing or no brainwashing...That's just it though, there is no argument. Brainwashing theory is both a scientifically and legally rejected theory. While you are free to believe in pseudo-scientific quackery, I just don't see how that makes you any different that a religious fanatic.