Should I confront a relative after learning he joined Scientology?

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t confront him in an aggressive way. If he’s an adult, he has the right to make his own choices, even if I personally disagree with them.

I’d probably bring it up casually and ask what attracted him to Scientology in the first place. I’d want to hear his side before judging him. If I noticed he was being pressured for money, isolated from family, or treated badly, then I’d be much more concerned.

I think sometimes people push too hard when they’re worried about someone, and it just makes that person shut down. I’d rather keep the relationship open so he knows he can talk to me if he ever starts questioning things.

[Nikki1989]

Charging in with a confrontation is almost always counterproductive. It is like asking a Christian to prove if God is real. Once backed into a corner with nowhere to go, the results can get ugly.

[slatyb]

How will that help anything? I have cousins who think that Noah's Ark is real. I don't confront them even though it's an extremely silly belief. Really, is there any difference between Scientology and the Church of Latter Day Saints or Jehovah's Witnesses or Christianity in general? They all have absurd beliefs.

[DryGermanGuy]

Scientology isolates you from everybody else and squeezes you dry.

[slatyb]

@DryGermanGuy Isolates -- like the Jehovah's Witnesses?

[slatyb]

Bleeds you dry as some TV preachers do like the Bakkers?

[DryGermanGuy]

Yes!!! Scientology kills! Or at the very least leads you to the poorhouse!

[Asker]

That's exactly what scares me. Like, I'm not trying to be dramatic or anything, but hearing stuff like that makes me feel like I can't just sit back and do nothing.

[DryGermanGuy]

Cults and sects are a reason to be dramatic. Their damage all-around is well documented.

[Abbycado]

It isn't your business. I don't get that "religion" but still not your place.

[Asker]

Yeah I get that, but I'm still kinda worried about him tho like what if they got him trapped or something?

[jahaims]

Confronting someone stupid enough to join a cult won't help anything. They don't know how to use logic.