On this day, September 20, 1967, L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, announced the story of Xenu.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

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

• 1967 – L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, announced the story of Xenu in a taped lecture sent to all Scientologists.

[yonder]

1. I clicked on the Xenu link. Wow, I had no idea.

That is seriously out there and not by a little.

[Goonch]

2. This Close-Up of L. Ron Hubbard's Teeth:

[demotux]

3. This reminds me of...

South Park:

[highplainsdem]

4. No other science fiction writer ever did anywhere near as much harm as L. Ron Hubbard. Though

SF editor John W. Campbell, a writer before he edited Astounding/Analog, was close, pushing bigoted views and crazy beliefs including Dianetics/Scientology. (He also showcased and helped the careers of some great SF writers, though IMO all of them would have done at least as well if there'd been an editor at that magazine who didn't defend slavery and segregation, rail against government regulations, etc.)

[Picaro]

5. This should explain why Magats can believe the bullshit

This kind of fantasy (which bears a lot of resemblance to the types of stories in more traditional sacred texts) is very attractive and beguiling to those that have the tendency of unquestioning belief.

L. Ron Hubbard made his religion up as did Joseph Smith before him.

Scientology has managed to worm its way into some very high places and secured the religious tax exemption (fraudulently in my view--but who care what I think).

The key is L. Ron Hubbard found a way to make his shitty science fiction pay out in a very big way. And that's why it still exists today.