Talk:Scientologists Talk About "The Master"

EITHER "REPLY" TO AN EXISTING THREAD OR "START A NEW DISCUSSION" WITH YOUR OWN OPINION ON THE MOVIE.

Based on bits and pieces I had heard about it, my initial thought about "The Master" was that it was a movie I would never bother to see. Then I read some glowing reviews from other independent scientologists I know and trust, and I changed my mind - went to see the move last night with my wife, thoroughly expecting to enjoy myself. Boy, was that a false hope.

I HATED this movie. I walked out after 90 minutes, and I only waited that long because I was with my wife. It was easily one of the most aberrated, low-toned films I have ever seen, and I am somewhat of a movie buff who will watch just about anything. The move was a thorough, wall-to-wall trashing of L. Ron Hubbard, Mary Sue Hubbard, Dianetics and Scientology. Subtle at times, at other times not.

Let me give a specific example: in my youth, I had an experience where a sexual pervert tried to hypnotize me (to dramatize what evil purpose I don't even want to know). In the scene where LRH gives Freddie his first "session," the voice tone, demeanor and questioning-style of LRH exactly matched what I experienced with that pervert, including asking very loaded sexual questions. It's a great way to introvert a person!

I'm lucky to have talked directly with several individuals who knew LRH very well and very personally. They readily acknowledge his flaws, but they also acknowledge the great qualities that this man had. None of them described him as the manipulative scumbag portrayed in "The Master."

The only positive thing I can say about this movie is that it is absolute confirmation of the existence of alternate universes. Because the independent scientologists who liked it clearly live on a different plane of reality than I do.

3. a network of communications and pictures, energies and masses, which are brought into being by the activities of the thetan versus the physical universe or other thetans. The mind is a communication and control system between the thetan and his environment. (FOT, p. 56)...MORE

Every member of a ship's company has two general types of activities, one of these is as a member of watches, wherein he handles his duties of steering, lookout, engines, etc., including emergency drills. (FO 1109)

1. DIA (Greek) through, NOUS (Greek) mind, deals with a system of mental image pictures in relation to psychic (spiritual) trauma. The mental image pictures are believed on the basis of personal revelation to be comprising mental activity created and formed by the spirit, and not by the body or brain. (BPL 24 Sept 73 V) 2. Dn addresses the body. Thus Dn is used to knock out and erase illnesses, unwanted sensations, misemotion, somatics, pain, etc. Dn came before Scn. It disposed of body illness and the difficulties a thetan was having with his body. (HCOB 22 Apr 69)...more

L. Ron Hubbard

I actually lol'd at your last comment Ron. Very funny.

As a former member of the Church of Scientology (I resigned in 2010), I'm entitled to dislike the church, the subject of Scientology itself and the founder, L. Ron Hubbard. But my ire is directed only to the church.

I am a staunch believer in religious and artistic freedom, and I have no qualms with someone making a negative movie about Scientology and L. Ron Hubbard. But when people walk out of the movie theater I hope that at least some ask the question, "Could this guy have been so thoroughly bad from start to finish? Didn't he maybe once in his life pet a dog, or give some spare change to a bum?"

Since leaving the church, I have done a tremendous amount of research myself about L. Ron Hubbard that I was not allowed to do while a member, and that included talking to several other former church members who worked with him directly. What stands out in all of those conversations is L. Ron Hubbard's tireless efforts to find ways to help other people improve their lives.

There is NO question that he had his faults, but honestly, if you want to go back through history and judge a man's work according to a man's personal faults only, many luminaries would have to be removed from the textbooks.

For those who go to see "The Master": get curious about L. Ron Hubbard, look for yourself, think for yourself. This is actually good advice for any subject!

- Ron Matlock, Independent Scientologist

ACOLADES ROLLING IN FOR "THE MASTER": The film came out 9/14/12 and already set records for "single day record for an art house" and "...setting the record for highest average live-action film.." The rave reviews coming in the first week even mention the film as a good contender for an Academy Award nomination and over th past few months, prior to release, the movie has already won the Silver Lion for best director (Paul THoms Anderson) and the Volpi Cup for best actor, (both Joachim Phoenix and Phillip Seymour Hoffman)at the 69th International Venice Film Festival. The film was originally awarded Golden Lion prize for Best Film but removed due to new rules against winning both best film acting & directing as well.

Superb characters as portrayed by Hoffman and Phoenix. Perfectly boring movie with a unimaginative script. Blatant bits and pieces of Scientology, albeit sometimes horribly altered pieces, thrown about helter-skelter. My wife, a retired RN who knows very little about Scientology, left before the movie was finished. If you desire to see the movie, wait for the DVD. Howard Dickman