Reddit mentions of Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy

Respectfully: What's wrong with cherry-picking?

To me, the point of learning (in any context) is to choose the information that helps you, and to reject the information that does not contribute to one's goals (for oneself personally, as well as the world at large). I spent my entire life asking, "Is this true for me?" -- long before I encountered Scn -- which is one reason the subject appealed.

For me, the subject of scientology has never been about Hubbard. I never "followed" him. Just as, when I was a teenager, I liked the music of Elton John. I could appreciate the songs without thinking, "Ooooh, I'd like to go on a dream date with Elton!" His songs didn't make me think that he was (or is) an amazing person; I didn't particularly care about his background.

I just liked the music.

Nor did I imagine that, as a fan, I had to like every song or every album. ("Captain Fantastic" never did anything for me. I never bothered to buy the album.)

And then there's the notion of "who created it." If Hubbard did plagiarize work done by other people (and I do think it's likely, given the evidence), I think less of him personally. But again: That does not devalue (or add value to) the work. George Harrison might have successfully been sued for his song being too-much-like "He's So Fine", but I can enjoy "My Sweet Lord" just as much. More, in fact, as the words mean more to me. Someone could be upset with Harrison over the alleged plagiarism (and I remember many who were) but the song is the song. (And, then-and-now, neither song made me think of one another, without the dotted lines drawn by the court case.)

You seem to take as a given that a scientologist has to accept Hubbard and his stated goals as the ones to adhere to. In my case, at least, it's an incorrect assumption. "Acceptance" and "belief in" are religious concepts that have not been relevant to me for a long time.

Again: I use the parts that work for me. I don't use the parts that don't.