Friday Odds & Sods is Free and Clear

Like many people of limited faith and uncertain convictions, I am fascinated by stories of belief and believers.  It was thus with great interest that I watched the documentary Going Clear last Sunday, and it's depiction of the history of Scientology.  Aside from proving the continuing validity of Mr. P. T. Barnum's marketing strategy, what was particularly striking to me was just how much devotion could be created so quickly through tin cans and paperbacks.  As an outsider looking in, perhaps the essence of faith will always be a mystery to me, but in the spirit of exploration, I present this week some stories of new manifestations of faith.

• While it may be true that the letter killeth, some degree of text seems necessary if a faith is to stick together.  In that spirit, the collected Operating Thetan levels of Scientology and a read-through with commentary on Dianetics.
• As Terence once said, there really is nothing new under the sun.  As proof, the story of messiah of the 1930s, Father Divine.
• Finally, if you feel the need to really get away from it all and regain some of your faith in humanity, might I suggest a vacation to the most isolated spot on Earth.