In case you’re still lost as to what the heck is going on, a Scientology Run is when people film themselves charging into a Church of Scientology building to see how far they can get before being caught and booted out. It’s a notoriously secretive religion, so it turns the whole place into an action-movie set piece where the protagonist is trying to infiltrate a compound while fending off its legion of foot soldiers, clad in terrifying white button-ups with black vests.

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[–] 133 points 6 months ago (2 children)

This isn't a genz novelty, there were a lot of activism in the early 4chan days against Scientology. The whole guy fawks mask and anonymous thing started there.

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  • [–] 80 points 6 months ago (1 child)

    Came here for this. We had Project Chanology in my day. As long as there's Scientology, the youth will continue to milk them for lulz.

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  • [–] 65 points 6 months ago (3 children)

    But maybe a better use of Scientology infiltration tactics would be an investigative piece rather than a viral speed run.

    The irony of the journalist writing this and missing that this is their job

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  • [–] 171 points 6 months ago (11 children)

    On the one hand, this is very funny. On the other hand, however, it’s still very funny, but also maybe we shouldn’t turn running full speed into a house of religion, no matter how hokey that religion may be, into a trend? Yes, the whole enterprise is shady at best, and they believe in some weird space alien magic. They also have a history of harassing former members and anyone who dares to pull back the veil on the secretive organization’s scare tactics.

    Fuck off with this whitewashing. Scientology isn't "hokey" or "shady". It's outright evil.

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  • [–] 58 points 6 months ago (4 children)

    and its not a religion.

    It only has tax exempt status due to one of the largest infiltration and attacks against the US government in the entire history of America.

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  • [–] 4 points 6 months ago (2 children)

    It only has tax exempt status due to one of the largest infiltration and attacks against the US government in the entire history of America.

    Do tell.

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  • [–] 25 points 6 months ago* (1 child)

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Snow_White

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_status_of_Scientology_in_the_United_States

    both are long reads, but well worth it to just get started in understanding just how fucking vile and criminal scientology is, especially when it comes to getting what it wants.

    and thats before you even get into the harassment, blackmail, torture, human rights abuses, kidnapping, robbing members of their life savings and even homes and property, etc, etc, etc.

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  • [–] 13 points 6 months ago (1 child)

    This reads like a guy afraid of getting sued

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  • [–] 2 points 6 months ago

    It reads like someone who accepts that religion/storytelling/folktales always have and always will have a place in our society.

    Scientology really does try to push that concept far past its breaking point though. In my opinion, its a money and blackmail type situation, where dumb famous/rich people are taken advantage of.

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  • [–] 45 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

    I guess I'm fine with these stupid tiktok prank videos as long as everyone involved is an asshole!

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  • [–] 43 points 6 months ago

    I've lived in their home town. Anything to annoy and distract them is a good thing.

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  • [–] 39 points 6 months ago (1 child)
  • [–] 38 points 6 months ago (2 children)

    but also maybe we shouldn’t turn running full speed into a house of religion, no matter how hokey that religion may be, into a trend?

    No. The whole thing was started by a bad sci-fi author who felt he could make a lot of money by inventing a fake religion. It's just a scam to rip off gullible people. Hopefully, enough mockery will make prospective joiners think twice before they get taken for all their money.

    "You don't get rich writing science fiction. If you want to get rich, you start a religion.'" - L Ron Hubbard

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  • [–] 6 points 6 months ago*

    who felt he could make a lot of money by inventing a fake religion. It’s just a scam to rip off gullible people. Hopefully, enough mockery will make prospective joiners think twice before they get taken for all their money.

    which is different than any other religion how? Everyone wants an angle to power or money.

    Before I get the "so edgy" nonsense: At least lets remove tax exempt status from all religions. People can gather and listen to what ever crap they want but it should not be aided by government in any way.

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  • [–] 54 points 6 months ago (10 children)

    Seems to me if you did some research, came up with a cover story and dressed the part, you could walk in and get pretty far before being caught. Just pretend you’re on your mission year, and wear a nametag.

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  • [–] 49 points 6 months ago (6 children)
  • [–] 12 points 6 months ago (4 children)

    Works for scientology too doesn’t it? Not just LDS?

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  • [–] 35 points 6 months ago (3 children)

    Pretty sure they don’t do missions. They’re all about recruiting people for money, not righteousness.

    Jehovah’s Witness are another that’s big on missions and door-to-door converting. Maybe that’s what you’re thinking of?

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  • [–] 13 points 6 months ago (2 children)

    Jehova's Witness: "Hello, we'd like to talk to you about Jesus".

    Bernard Black: "Oh, I'd love to talk about Jesus! What's he been up to lately?"

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  • [–] 12 points 6 months ago

    Until they figure out you are an imposter and kidnap you. These people are rather known for retaliating against members that quit at least, and have been accused of kidnapping multiple times.

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  • [–] 26 points 6 months ago

    Fight stupid with stupid. I dig it.

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  • [–] 25 points 6 months ago (2 children)

    'Gen Z is obsessed with'

    Wat

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  • [–] 20 points 6 months ago

    The author of the article calls scientology a religion because they are in a country where scientology can disappear them for saying the wrong thing

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  • [–] 19 points 6 months ago (1 child)

    they are channeling any number of Tom Cruise characters

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  • [–] 33 points 6 months ago* (1 child)

    Can they try Mormon temples next? Please? That would be so fucking funny.

    I am crying at the mental image of a bunch of retirees in white suits and white dresses trying to politely shepherd a bunch of teenagers with phones out of their crystal-covered collection of big living rooms.

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  • [–] 32 points 6 months ago (2 children)

    it’s trespassing with the added benefit of a dice roll on the building security’s understanding of castle doctrine.

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  • [–] 15 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

    Of all the brainrot fads I've seen come and go over the past few decades, I think this is the one I like the most. Anything that pisses off the CoS gets my seal of approval.

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  • [–] 11 points 6 months ago

    Surprised they weren't just shot.

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  • [–] 9 points 6 months ago

    so what percent of the generation does it. I mean obsessed. must be pretty high. 90%? 75%, I mean gotta be higher than 50 right?

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  • [–] 9 points 6 months ago

    Why are they obsessed with 67?

    In this case, I don't really care why and I fully support them.

    Fuck a scientology.

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  • [–] 9 points 6 months ago

    Xenu isn't going to like this.

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  • [–] 9 points 6 months ago (2 children)
  • [–] 16 points 6 months ago

    full of energy and stupidity. no special reason.

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  • [–] 6 points 6 months ago

    At least it's funny.

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  • [–] 5 points 6 months ago

    I love gen z

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  • [–] 5 points 6 months ago

    Someone wasn’t screaming at their ashtrays and actually meaning it hard enough to keep these SPs in check. That’s not gonna look got on the Thursday report lol

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  • [–] 4 points 6 months ago (1 child)

    Clearly they're doing it wrong - they need to attack en masse.

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  • [–] 14 points 6 months ago (14 children)

    I dunno. These are cracking me up for some reason and even though this article is a bit shallow, I think a decent point was made at the end: power charging religious buildings is kinda bad taste I think - even if Scientology is full of complete asshole weirdos.

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  • [–] 19 points 6 months ago (3 children)

    calling exploitative cult a religion is quite bad taste imo

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  • [–] 4 points 6 months ago (1 child)

    There's a difference, aside from size and social recognition?

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  • [–] 3 points 6 months ago

    Control. Generally speaking a religion and a cult are differentiated by how much they demand or control in members lives. Scientology, Mormons, and even a lot of Southern Baptists are generally cults or really cult like. For comparison Anglicans, Quakers, and progressive Neo-Pagans are on average not cults even if they are insane and playing with the dynamics at times.

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  • [–] 13 points 6 months ago (5 children)

    reminder: scientology is not a religion.

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  • [–] 8 points 6 months ago (3 children)

    Reminder: all religions are made up and mental illness adajcent.

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  • [–] 0 points 6 months ago

    What are 'Scientology Runs' and Why is Gen Z So Self-Obsessed With Them? FTFY

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  • [–] -1 points 6 months ago

    Mmhmm. I wonder who is putting them up to this. Nothing is organic anymore.

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