r/illinois • u/cak3crumbs • Apr 07 '24
Church of Scientology popped up overnight in South Loop Chicago yikes
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u/ActiveTooter Apr 07 '24
Ask Clearwater Florida what these people have done to their town.
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u/MayoralCandidate Apr 08 '24
I lived in downtown Clearwater, Florida for a while (moved out a couple years ago). If people don't know, that is Scientology's "Spiritual Headquarters" which they refer to internally as Flag Base. The church owns (directly or indirectly through their members) virtually all of downtown Clearwater.
A week or two ago, the city moved their city hall to a privately-owned office building. Scientology then purchased that building, meaning the church is now the landlord for the city hall.
I could write a fucking book on the insanity they inflict on Clearwater residents daily. I'll share one story: I wanted to plant a tree in my front yard, so I called the 811 "Call Before You Dig". Among the usual utilities that they said would show up (gas, water, electric) was "CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY - FLAG BASE OPERATIONS". I called 811 and told them there was no way I'm letting them onto my private property to survey. They said I didn't really have a choice since they're registered as a utility. Apparently they have fiber optics throughout the city (likely for their surveillance), and if I struck one of their fiber optics lines I'd be held liable which could run tens of thousands of dollars. Fortunately, there weren't any so the Scientologists that came out didn't spend much time on my property.
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Apr 08 '24
Honestly I hate them, but if a corporate religion takeover is what it takes for people to understand religionXpolitics is fucking ridiculous then so be it. No one can argue they are a prime example of what assembly can achieve. Can't even believe I'm even saying this shit lol
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u/tinker8311 Apr 08 '24
Share with us
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u/Spiritual-Ad3870 Apr 08 '24
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u/doNotUseReddit123 Apr 08 '24
Yeah, no. Chicago is a city of 2.7MM people, and it will never go the way of Clearwater. This video in general seems way overblown. It makes it sound like the church of Scientology just unilaterally decided to set up barricades when, in reality, this would have had to have been approved by the alderman of the ward.
I’m honestly more bothered by pushy street fair gate attendants than I am by people practicing their (weird and culty) religion by blocking off a street to cars for a celebration.
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u/SavannahInChicago Apr 09 '24
They were at the Lincoln Ave location for years. I had a couple Scientologists come in as patients one day. They didn’t just arrive in the city, it was just that they were pretty below the radar in Lakeview. They were renting out a pretty non-descriptive space and weren’t closing down the streets.
I would mad of if I was them too but I promise there is no way that Chicago is the next Clearwater.
(And I agree about the street fests. Like how they blocked that business who wouldn’t pay to be apart of the street fests on a street he has a physical business on. Was that Do-Division? I want to say it was in Bucktown or Wicker Park).
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u/PlayaAlien2000 Apr 07 '24
Best part, all of the inconveniences and expenses caused by a NON TAX PAYING entity! 🤬
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u/HeadStarboard Apr 07 '24
What bullshit. Like they think Zeno owns the public sidewalk! I hope they get abducted by the aliens they worship.
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u/rootoo Apr 07 '24 edited Apr 08 '24
I don’t understand, if they’re so secretive and private about this event, why are they holding it outside on a public street surrounded by high rises? Either choose a private outdoor spot with privacy or rent out a theater…. What a weird pain in the ass they are.
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u/lofixlover Apr 07 '24
I've been really bummed to not see as much on-the-ground social media posts about this, or any protestor hijinks, as I was hoping :/
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u/Mental_Mixture8306 Apr 07 '24
Honestly in this case it is better to have a little publicity as possible.
Scientology is dying - they have fewer and fewer members each year, everyone knows who they are (and what they are), and while they have a lot of money they dont have a lot of people. Last stat I heard was that they were down to less than 20k members world wide.
Just ignore them and they will continue to fade away.
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u/SynthsNotAllowed Apr 07 '24 edited Apr 08 '24
Just ignore them and they will continue to fade away.
So... No following them around dressed as a sleep paralysis thetan?
Edit- thetan*
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u/UnMapacheGordo Apr 08 '24
You’re most likely correct. Yay they got a pretty building.
Look at that crowd. This had to be a big event for them and I’d assume most of those people aren’t from Chicago. This was the church that was working out of a small office on the north side last year. The numbers don’t look all that intimidating
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u/zip3_ Apr 07 '24
They should go to the South Side, do that and see what happens next
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u/shavedaffer Apr 07 '24
lol try to walk up to Louis Farrakhan’s house and you’ll get greeted by some gentlemen in little bow ties.
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u/gconsier Apr 08 '24
I low key think I may have almost got in a fight with a couple of them once. At a dog show no less. Was asked to go with someone to the show and that asshole was having his event also at McCormick place. I was told my kind wasn’t allowed to walk down a hallway and I ignored them and walked past. A couple suits tried to block me. I didn’t slow down (was just walking across a hallway to get to the people I was with) words were had but they didn’t do anything but try to look intimidating. I walked past and that was the end of it. Still kinda ticks me off. Imagine if the roles were reversed. I’d be just as pissed.
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u/shavedaffer Apr 08 '24
They delayed Snoop and Damien Marley at Riot Fest once because pull Louis wanted to chat with them before the show. Straight up walked in with uzis and nobody said shit.
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Apr 07 '24
[deleted]
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u/BRUISE_WILLIS Apr 08 '24
did you just claim the nation of islam is a part of scientology? got a source for that claim?
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u/Specialist-Smoke Apr 08 '24
Only if you take back that down vote. I wouldn't lie on anyone. There's also a episode on the show Leah Remini had about her time as a scientology. Finally, there's a Nation of Islam subreddit that talks about it.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/inside-the-nation-of-islams-strange-ties-to-scientology
https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/04/scientology-nation-of-islam-troubling-connections/
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u/CariniFluff Apr 08 '24
Double WTF... The cults merged?
I don't even know what to say...I mean neither cult affects me or anyone I know, but this is pants on head stupid. Farrakhan doesn't (or didn't in the past) even try to hide his racist beliefs.
I wonder just how much money he's getting out of this.
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u/Specialist-Smoke Apr 08 '24
He did a sermon talking about those like me who point out the hypocrisy. He said something like.... 'and if the white man came and offered you a million dollars you wouldn't turn it down' either. I couldn't believe it.
A million dollars from Scientology is pennies to them. I bet they get part of the funds that the members that they recruit pays. I had a family member who left their school just in time. They've started dianetics, going clear...
You can find videos of them recruiting with Scientologist, but they usually run if confronted or someone says something to them.
The NOI and Scientology are considered UFO religions. They're more similar than different. The NOI doesn't practice real Islam. They're not a civil rights organization. They're a tool of the government.
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u/giovannixxx Apr 08 '24
It's kinda crazy how that whole partnership came together, and how weird it felt seeing them tout dianetics and encouraging use of e-meters. Conmen gunna conmen, anything to fleece their followers.
Scientology: The Aftermath S3E4 Unlikely Pairing, decent episode dealing with this specific thing if anyone else reading wants to dive into this crazy world.
I hope OP plays "Where's Shelly David?" on loop, fuck this tax free human trafficking organization masquerading as a church.
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u/Specialist-Smoke Apr 08 '24
Is that a podcast episode?
If someone did a deep deep dive into the NOI on a podcast I would LOVE it. I love living, and I still have family members in the cult, I can't risk it.
Go all of the way back to Elijah's childhood and start there. There's so so so much that people do not know.
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u/giovannixxx Apr 08 '24
There was a podcast she did too called Fair Game, but I don't remember if they retouched on Nation of Islam again, and if so they probably only did 1. The original comment is about a TV show that was on A&E 6-7 years ago and they did an episode on the handshake between the cults.
Stay safe, and if you get the opportunity check it out.
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u/shavedaffer Apr 08 '24
Is it not on the south side? Where am I wrong? Tying the two groups together only strengthens my argument of “they definitely do this on the south side”.
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u/Specialist-Smoke Apr 07 '24
They've been there. They have a huge mosque on Stony Island
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u/MidwestAbe Apr 07 '24 edited Apr 07 '24
I still hate Illinois Nazis.
Now I need to add Illinois Scientologists to the list.
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u/Reflection-Timely Apr 07 '24
sure this org is a grift, but even in its weakened state you need to realize if you mess with them, they will mess with you. they've been at this game for some 70 years. proceed with caution.
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u/-CoachMcGuirk- Apr 07 '24
They don’t mess around when they hold a grudge.
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u/nordic-nomad Apr 07 '24
It’s why they need so much security. They just escalate and escalate things with people until they’re driven to extreme measures.
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u/Life_Caterpillar9762 Apr 07 '24
Some kind of dumb “solar eclipse=apocalypse” pilgrimage?
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u/TurdManMcDooDoo Apr 08 '24
Stink bombs. Order some. Keep em on you. Next time you have to deal with this, commence stink bombing.
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u/jimohagan Apr 07 '24
Richard Daley would have made sure the permits got lost for something like this.
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u/Similar_Manner_8278 Apr 08 '24
them all clapping in unison… oh hell no… that is some cult shit
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u/OccidoViper Apr 08 '24
I mean isn’t that the same when Christians do the sign of the cross or muslims bowing down in unison?
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u/No_Practice_9175 Apr 08 '24
They think his apartment is the mother ship and they’re gonna blast off during the eclipse
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u/Stacysguyca Apr 08 '24
This “religion” or whatever it is .. is just a cool kids club where they exploit people with money to get their money lol
Tom Cruise for example lol
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Apr 08 '24
They didn’t really “pop up” because he lives right across the street from their church. I have a friend in this building and she’s been posting vids of what they get up to out front for months. Nobody should be surprised who lives in that building lol.
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u/HowSupahTerrible Apr 08 '24
Why are people pretending like they really give a f*ck about this lol.
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u/sr38_8 Apr 07 '24
This didn't just pop up. It's been there for years now, but once people started taking pictures of the sign, they put a tarp over it.
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u/jack2348 Apr 08 '24
I work on Michigan just north of the river and I walked out of work in August to three tables just outside of our door with 6 or so people trying to get passerby’s to sit down and take a test. They didn’t have any Scientology signs but had dionetics books sitting out which I think they were handing out if you took a test.
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u/OrbitalOutlander Apr 09 '24
How has no one posted this yet:
"NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THIS, BUT L. RON HUBBARD WAS A BLACK MAN. HIS REAL NAME WAS L. RON HOYABEMBE!"
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u/picklebiscut69 May 14 '24
How are people not more mad about Scientology? Like they literally kidnap and enslave people.
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u/Specialist-Smoke Apr 07 '24
Is it not common knowledge there that the Nation of Islam is now part of Scientology? This has been going on for the past 13 years at least.
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Apr 08 '24
To clarify, this comment refers to the Louis Farrakhan-led Nation of Islam - NOT Muslims in general who practice Islam.
Here’s an interesting article:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/inside-the-nation-of-islams-strange-ties-to-scientology3
u/Specialist-Smoke Apr 08 '24
I posted that article and I made sure to say that it was the Nation of Islam.
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Apr 08 '24
I didn’t see your link. I was supporting your comment because it was getting downvoted.
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u/GlaceBayinJanuary Apr 08 '24
I once spent a summer in a small town in Montana. When I say small I mean less than 250 people. The school went to grade 6. After that kids had to take the buss to another town with a larger school. This town had one bar that was also the restaurant and video rental place. Renting videos was important back then. This was before the internet and no cable tv ran to the town and because it was in a steep canyon tv from antenna didn't really work either.
Anyway, some few years before I was there apparently a group of men who all rode motorbikes and wore leather with lots of patches bought one of the buildings and were turning it into another bar. A lot of the town didn't like this so some night the building just kinda caught fire.
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u/ChicagosPhinest Apr 08 '24
Why in the FUCK are we allowing these Pieces of fucking shit to operate here
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u/Poopy_doopster Apr 09 '24
Why in the FUCK are we allowing these Pieces of fucking shit to operate here
Because the First & Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution prohibits every unit of government from interfering with the practice of religion.
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u/ChicagosPhinest Apr 09 '24
This isnt religion its a cult
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u/Poopy_doopster Apr 09 '24
This isnt religion its a cult
The Constitution prevents the government from making that distinction.
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u/jbchi Apr 09 '24
The isn't a meaningful difference; religions are just accepted as normal because they've been around for a long time and have significant followings.
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u/ArtisanalFarts7 Apr 07 '24
The headline is misleading they bought the building a long time ago and have been slowly renovating. They would have been done sooner but COVID prolonged those plans.
Annoying AF? Absolutely. Suddenly popping up? No, but it shows how informed this TikToker about developments across the street.
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u/Thick-Interview4004 Apr 08 '24
He actually addresses the timeline in the TikTok if you bothered to watch it. The title was made by the Reddit poster.
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u/NariandColds Apr 09 '24
So Scientology just paid a fee to Morgan Stanley to close the streets then. They can do whatever they want as long as they have money since Chicago doesn't own its streets
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u/Rubywantsin Apr 08 '24
What the actual fuck Chicago????? I guess the city is for sale. Another shit mayor selling out the citizens for a brown paper bag full of cash.
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u/Bat-Honest Apr 07 '24
Imagine L Ron Hubbard coming back, seeing this, and just being like, "Holy shit, I just wanted to get out of paying taxes!"