Published: November 24, 2008
Op-Ed Contributor
Sword Wielding Man Shot Dead At Entrance to Scientology's Celebrity Centre
By Robert Paul Reyes
"A security guard at the Church of Scientology's Celebrity Centre in Hollywood on Sunday shot and killed a man wielding two samurai swords, police said.
Police detained the guard for questioning but said that a surveillance tape at the facility backed his claim that he fired his semiautomatic handgun to protect himself and two colleagues." http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-scientology24-2008nov24,0,6552577.story
The idea of two security guards posted at the entrance of an organization that purports to be a church is very disturbing. Shouldn't a church open its doors to everyone, and not have burly armed guards deciding who is worthy enough to enter?
The notion of a church that caters to celebrities is also disturbing. Jesus did not cater to the famous and powerful of his day, instead he lambasted the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus ministered to the the tax collectors, prostitutes, lepers and other social outcasts.
The Church of Scientology needs to examine its policy of having a special outreach to celebrities. Knuckleheads like Tom Cruise have not exactly been a great recruiting tool for Scientology. When Tom Cruise jumped on Oprah Winfrey's couch millions of people made a vow never to join Scientology.
I believe the guard acted in self-defense, he had no choice but to shoot the sword wielding madman. The nutjob had two swords, but even ten swords are no match for a security guard with a gun.
Scientology is a devious cult that enslaves millions, but we should fight it with the truth, and not with swords. The truth is that Scientology is a money-making scheme that robs individuals not only of their money, but also of their freedom and self-esteem
Robert Paul Reyes is a NewsBlaze writer on Politics, Pop Culture and Pointless Pontificating. Contact him by writing to NewsBlaze.
* The views of Opinion writers do not necessarily reflect the views of NewsBlaze
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