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From: tom@utcsri.UUCP (Tom Nadas)
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Re: Scientologists?
Message-ID: <1368@utcsri.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 4-Sep-85 09:14:04 EDT
Article-I.D.: utcsri.1368
Posted: Wed Sep  4 09:14:04 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 4-Sep-85 09:43:50 EDT
References: <3516@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU>
Reply-To: tom@utcsri.UUCP (Tom Nadas)
Organization: CSRI, University of Toronto
Lines: 21
Summary: 


Postings on scientology are wholly appropriate to the science fiction net,
as anyone aware of both that religions history and the history of sf is
aware.  Fact:  scientology was created by a then-big-name SF writer.
Fact:  it was promoted through the editorial content of Astounding, the
magazine we know today as Analog.  Fact:  almost all its early proponents
were SF writers, including such notables as A. E. van Vogt and Donald
Kingsbury (who has since been excommunicated).  Fact:  scientological
themes run through the SF of those early days (SLAN is an example).
Fact:  Hubbard is using the Scientology organization to promote his
SF, including his novels and a new magazine.  Fact:  Authors Services
is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Church of Scientology with the 
sole mandate to promote Hubbard's own science fiction.  Fact:  
Authors Services seriously considered having Scientologists stuff
the ballot box for the Hugo.

Informed discussion is not bigotry, and you do the readers of the 
net and yourself a grave injury by so freely tossing around a 
loaded term.

RJS