this post was submitted on 28 Apr 2026
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In case you’re still lost as to what the heck is going on, a Scientology Run is when people film themselves charging into a Church of Scientology building to see how far they can get before being caught and booted out. It’s a notoriously secretive religion, so it turns the whole place into an action-movie set piece where the protagonist is trying to infiltrate a compound while fending off its legion of foot soldiers, clad in terrifying white button-ups with black vests.

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[–] chunkystyles@sopuli.xyz 176 points 1 month ago (7 children)

On the one hand, this is very funny. On the other hand, however, it’s still very funny, but also maybe we shouldn’t turn running full speed into a house of religion, no matter how hokey that religion may be, into a trend? Yes, the whole enterprise is shady at best, and they believe in some weird space alien magic. They also have a history of harassing former members and anyone who dares to pull back the veil on the secretive organization’s scare tactics.

Fuck off with this whitewashing. Scientology isn't "hokey" or "shady". It's outright evil.

[–] A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world 59 points 1 month ago (4 children)

and its not a religion.

It only has tax exempt status due to one of the largest infiltration and attacks against the US government in the entire history of America.

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[–] axx@slrpnk.net 17 points 1 month ago

And why does the journalist call it a religion? It's a cult.

Or a for profit company, under German law.

[–] NOT_RICK@lemmy.world 12 points 1 month ago (1 children)

This reads like a guy afraid of getting sued

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[–] brave_lemmywinks@lemmy.world 137 points 1 month ago (1 children)

This isn't a genz novelty, there were a lot of activism in the early 4chan days against Scientology. The whole guy fawks mask and anonymous thing started there.

[–] aldhissla@piefed.world 82 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Came here for this. We had Project Chanology in my day. As long as there's Scientology, the youth will continue to milk them for lulz.

[–] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 12 points 1 month ago (1 children)

lol yeah, those were the days - the LA scene for that was interesting, and it also gave me my first real taste of opsec, because the CoS goons would absolutely dox and harass you and people close to you if you weren’t careful.

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[–] neidu3@sh.itjust.works 92 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Of all the brainrot fads I've seen come and go over the past few decades, I think this is the one I like the most. Anything that pisses off the CoS gets my seal of approval.

[–] lama@lemmy.world 65 points 1 month ago (2 children)

But maybe a better use of Scientology infiltration tactics would be an investigative piece rather than a viral speed run.

The irony of the journalist writing this and missing that this is their job

[–] OldChicoAle@lemmy.world 20 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Most journalists wouldn't know hard hitting journalism if it fucked them balls deep with no lube.

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[–] adespoton@lemmy.ca 55 points 1 month ago (4 children)

Seems to me if you did some research, came up with a cover story and dressed the part, you could walk in and get pretty far before being caught. Just pretend you’re on your mission year, and wear a nametag.

[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 51 points 1 month ago (2 children)
[–] adespoton@lemmy.ca 13 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Works for scientology too doesn’t it? Not just LDS?

[–] Reyali@lemmy.world 37 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Pretty sure they don’t do missions. They’re all about recruiting people for money, not righteousness.

Jehovah’s Witness are another that’s big on missions and door-to-door converting. Maybe that’s what you’re thinking of?

[–] finallymadeanaccount@lemmy.world 13 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Jehova's Witness: "Hello, we'd like to talk to you about Jesus".

Bernard Black: "Oh, I'd love to talk about Jesus! What's he been up to lately?"

[–] FishFace@piefed.social 9 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I still often say "Jesus" the way that actor delivered that line

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[–] Sabata11792@ani.social 14 points 1 month ago

Seems to me if you did some research, came up with a cover story and dressed the part, you could walk in and get pretty far before being caught.

That's how you get organ farmed.

[–] bedwyr@piefed.ca 12 points 1 month ago

Until they figure out you are an imposter and kidnap you. These people are rather known for retaliating against members that quit at least, and have been accused of kidnapping multiple times.

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[–] remon@ani.social 46 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I guess I'm fine with these stupid tiktok prank videos as long as everyone involved is an asshole!

[–] TachyonTele@piefed.social 45 points 1 month ago

I've lived in their home town. Anything to annoy and distract them is a good thing.

[–] TheFlopster@lemmy.world 40 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] ikidd@lemmy.dbzer0.com 30 points 1 month ago

Just need to look in David Miscavige's basement freezer.

[–] Manjushri@piefed.social 38 points 1 month ago (2 children)

but also maybe we shouldn’t turn running full speed into a house of religion, no matter how hokey that religion may be, into a trend?

No. The whole thing was started by a bad sci-fi author who felt he could make a lot of money by inventing a fake religion. It's just a scam to rip off gullible people. Hopefully, enough mockery will make prospective joiners think twice before they get taken for all their money.

"You don't get rich writing science fiction. If you want to get rich, you start a religion.'" - L Ron Hubbard

[–] DillDough@lemmy.zip 23 points 1 month ago

Way worse than a scam, tons of human trafficking, torture, etc.

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[–] flandish@lemmy.world 34 points 1 month ago (2 children)

it’s trespassing with the added benefit of a dice roll on the building security’s understanding of castle doctrine.

[–] GraniteM@lemmy.world 18 points 1 month ago

Or even just getting hit in the head by a well-meaning person who reasonably thinks they're trying to prevent a maniac from killing someone in the building.

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[–] GalacticGrapefruit@lemmy.world 33 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Can they try Mormon temples next? Please? That would be so fucking funny.

I am crying at the mental image of a bunch of retirees in white suits and white dresses trying to politely shepherd a bunch of teenagers with phones out of their crystal-covered collection of big living rooms.

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[–] betterdeadthanreddit@lemmy.world 29 points 1 month ago

Fight stupid with stupid. I dig it.

[–] itsjustachairmary@lemmy.world 26 points 1 month ago (2 children)

'Gen Z is obsessed with'

Wat

[–] XeroxCool@lemmy.world 40 points 1 month ago

"some kids are doing something I haven't seen before, whole generation must be obsessed"

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[–] Dearth@lemmy.world 20 points 1 month ago

The author of the article calls scientology a religion because they are in a country where scientology can disappear them for saying the wrong thing

[–] TheReturnOfPEB@reddthat.com 19 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

they are channeling any number of Tom Cruise characters from films

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[–] kepix@lemmy.world 16 points 1 month ago

full of energy and stupidity. no special reason.

[–] Lifecoach5000@lemmy.world 14 points 1 month ago (8 children)

I dunno. These are cracking me up for some reason and even though this article is a bit shallow, I think a decent point was made at the end: power charging religious buildings is kinda bad taste I think - even if Scientology is full of complete asshole weirdos.

[–] Fusselwurm@feddit.org 71 points 1 month ago (5 children)

Scientology is not a religion

[–] theherk@lemmy.world 13 points 1 month ago (4 children)

Sounds like something a religious person would say to feel like their religion is more sensible.

[–] DamienGramatacus@lemmy.world 43 points 1 month ago (9 children)

It's absolutely a cult. Ex enforcer Mike Rinder himself called Scientology an intelligence gathering organisation.

[–] theherk@lemmy.world 17 points 1 month ago

Religion, cult, intelligence gathering… none mutually exclusive.

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[–] EditsHisComments@lemmy.world 28 points 1 month ago (6 children)

It's pretty well documented that L. Ron Hubbard founded Scientology to serve as a financial tool. Hence the financial controversies and the IRS battles from the 70s-90s

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[–] yakko@feddit.uk 11 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Well the thing is, it's a cult.

[–] Obituarykidney@lemmy.world 12 points 1 month ago (5 children)
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[–] magic_smoke@lemmy.blahaj.zone 29 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

charging religious buildings is kind do bad taste

Fuck em they're an organization built on kidnapping and abuse.

[–] ieGod@lemmy.zip 24 points 1 month ago

On the other hand, all religions are complete weirdos and not a single one of them deserves special status or protections.

[–] reksas@sopuli.xyz 19 points 1 month ago (8 children)

calling exploitative cult a religion is quite bad taste imo

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[–] flandish@lemmy.world 13 points 1 month ago (5 children)

reminder: scientology is not a religion.

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[–] ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 12 points 1 month ago

Surprised they weren't just shot.

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 9 points 1 month ago

so what percent of the generation does it. I mean obsessed. must be pretty high. 90%? 75%, I mean gotta be higher than 50 right?

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