Filed under: Motorsports, Etc.
Scientology enters the ranks of NASCAR sponsors
It's a concept that has endless potential for comic relief, if the recent antics of Tom Cruise and the media scrutiny thereof is any indication. Scientology is presumably making an effort to broaden its appeal by getting involved in NASCAR and sponsoring the Ignite Your Potential racing team. The team's Ford Taurus, driven by Kenton Gray, indicates that the late L. Ron Hubbard himself is the inspiration behind this effort -- the Dianetics logo and replica of the book's cover will adorn the vehicle.
What's next? A team based out of Salt Lake City that encourages multiple drivers for its car? Or maybe a station wagon with a little ichthus on the back... the possibilities are endless.
[Source: InsideLine]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mike 12:42PM (6/07/2006)
O M G....
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Ferguson McSqueege 12:45PM (6/07/2006)
That's a low-brow Mormon joke, you guys.
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Michael G 12:47PM (6/07/2006)
Another reson not to watch NASCAR!
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lalaland 12:47PM (6/07/2006)
If the driver is upset after a string of poor performance on the track, is he allowed to seek therapy?
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Gadget 12:54PM (6/07/2006)
Great mormon joke. Hillarious!
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t 12:57PM (6/07/2006)
Actually, it wouldn't be a team from SLC with multiple drivers per car, it'd be a team from SLC with multiple pit crews per car...
I'm just sayin' is all...
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woaicn 1:09PM (6/07/2006)
A good practice is to say Grits five times just before you get started. But be sure to speak the word with two syllables It’s Gri-ets
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gbh 1:23PM (6/07/2006)
Actually, I would think the LDS team would be rollin' in a Sprinter.
t- One driver, mulitiple pits crews? I almost doubled-over laughing...
If you analyze it, there is a great fit there. NAPCAR is a cult that exists to make money. Scientology is a cult that exists to make money.
That having been said, some ideas are so ridiculous that you have to be incredibly smart, or boderline retarded to believe in them. Regardless of what most of us think of NAPCAR fans, I don't know that you'll be able to sell them on 'body thetans', 'auditing', or 'Xenu'.
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Noah 1:27PM (6/07/2006)
It's not right to be making jokes about people's faiths. No matter how much you might not like Scientology you can simply make a choice to not follow it. That doesn't mean you need to take a swipe at their freedom of religion.
--Noah
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Meek 1:43PM (6/07/2006)
When will the Giant Flying Spaggheti Monster sponsor a car?
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Cameron 1:51PM (6/07/2006)
A fellow Pastafarian! All hail the Flying Spaghetti Monster!
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Jim 1:53PM (6/07/2006)
L Ron Hubbard, geez talk about 80's TV flashbacks. Total wackjobs, anyone can be brainwashed, that goes for all religions. Oh how the world would be a much more peaceful place with out religious nutcases. Gee how many wars did religion start? LOL
http://www.sbftech.com
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TheRaven 1:53PM (6/07/2006)
"We got one heck of a race going today, just look at those arch-rivals the Scientology car and the Paxil car trade paint"
*cut to Tom Cruise jumping up and down in his skybox*
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gbh 2:12PM (6/07/2006)
Noah,
Freedom of religion, no problem. Freedom to rip people off, destroy lives, literally threaten and intimidate US citizens and the US courts? Have more "agents" in the US Gov't than most foreign intel services? A "religion" that as a matter of policy, has broken into US government offices?
Sorry, Scientology is not happening in my country without me calling it what it is. Total bullshit that really needs to be dismantled by any means necessary.
Scientology is purely a profit cult. It is a cult who's founder publicly stated that he was going to found a religion, because it was the best way to make money. If you have read any of Hubbard's pathetic sci-fi, you know that he was never gonna get rich writing. 'Battlefield Earth' anyone?
If you've spoken at length with anybody who has allowed themselves to become a victim of this evil scam, then you'd understand a little better how it works.
Judeo/Christianity, Buddhism, Islam. We can argue all day about them, but there is no doubt they have a generally positive influence on most of their adherants.
Please do some research on Scientology. 10 seconds of Googling should give you a lifetime's worth of reality on these (mostly) victims. More importantly, that these whackos are far more dangerous than Al-Qaeda in the long term.
The ONLY positive thing that Scientology exists for is to prove an old Mark Twain-ism "Everyone serves a purpose in life, if only to be a bad example".
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Dave 2:31PM (6/07/2006)
I read the comments and saw a flame war in the making. Any time religion is mentioned, this happens. Confrontation, hurt feelings, over-the-top rebuttals and counter-attacks. Everyone's own little crusade. (Excuse the improper grammar)
While we keep it to the comments, it's relatively safe. However, I really fear that if too many religions enter NASCAR, the fans will bring their holy wars with them. Can you imagine it? A bunch of rednecks throwing fists and beer because Jesus didn't save their car from defeat? Or how about some "my jesus is better than your jesus 'cos we won at NASCAR." Heaven forbid any islamic or buddhist car entries. Jihad anyone?
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Jim 2:42PM (6/07/2006)
In regards to everyones redneck comments, maybe if this was 1985. Times change people, there is alot of corporate in this "redneck" All walks of people attend nascar. That stereotype can die now.
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Paul 2:51PM (6/07/2006)
Agreed about the redneck stereotype dying. I am a young professional from philadelphia of all places and I love nascar. I hate scientologists however, except without them, south park woudl ahve missed so many good episodes.
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Tom 3:06PM (6/07/2006)
Where's the Days of Thunder jokes? You people are slacking!
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Paul 3:21PM (6/07/2006)
OH WOW. how did we let that slip through!
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gbh 3:23PM (6/07/2006)
Sorry if I appear over the top about Scientology. I would certainly not attack any religion with even a shred of validity in that kind of way. There are good and bad people in all religions of the earth. There are whacked-out extremists in all of them too. Scientology is just a money-driven cult.
All I'm saying is simply that if you do any research about Scientology, you will come to only one conclusion about it's validity.
The only other side is from the people still in it making money on Scientology, or from people who have gotten out and been intimidated by the church.
Don't take my word for it. It is one of the easiest really scary groups to research.
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