My Name is L. Ron
While watching the hit NBC sitcom, My Name Is Earl, the roommate realized something important: this show is just a metaphor for the fascinating and not at all fake religion, Scientology. The series stars noted Scientologist and skateboarder, Jason Lee as the mustachioed titular protagonist on a quest for redemption. Now, the show is framed as an exercise in applied karma, but we think there might be deeper meaning to Earl’s little yellow list.
In L. Ron Hubbard’s fantastic, best-selling, volcanic book, Dianetics, and his highly-respected, completely legitimate religion, Scientology, the goal is, apparently, to use an E-meter to audit and remove engrams (traumatic memories) and bad body thetans (ancient ghosts). Once a person has identified and divested himself of engrams and excess thetans, he is said to be clear, a major step in casting off earthly constraints and eventually gaining complete power over the fabric of the universe.
So, while it has been mentioned from within and without the series that Earl’s conception of karma isn’t quite kosher, we think that a far more accurate parallel to Earl and his list is the main tenet of that fabulous religion, Scientology. And to us, it raises the question: is this hilariously wacky TV show just a sleeper agent for the forces of (the completely benign) Scientology? Are Jason, Ethan, and the show’s creator, Greg Garcia, subtly priming us for a (pleasant and voluntary) conversion to Scientology (a great and completely normal religion, BTW)?
Excerpt from Earl’s list:
- Wasted electricity
- Stacked 13.5 trillion people around volcanoes, blew them up with hydrogen bombs, captured their souls and forced them to watch propaganda movies
- Cut holes in all of Dad’s shirts to show his nipples
March 31st, 2006 at 7:50 pm
Marijuana makes you come up with a lot of crazy ideas. Luckily, it also makes you forget most of them while you still think they’re good. But it’s better to have thought up and lost than to never have thunk at all.
March 31st, 2006 at 8:37 pm
This idea was completely THC-free. I haven’t smoked weed in forever and the roommate hadn’t for at least a week.
April 14th, 2006 at 12:06 am
Hi,
I did a Google search on the My Name is Earl and Scientology parallel and found your blog–
I TOTALLY agree…i’m amazed that more people haven’t caught on..
Although I DO love the show (MNIE)—
I’m cautious about watching it, as it seems clearly about getting “clear”!
Kyra
August 10th, 2006 at 3:44 am
I agree, extra caution is required when watching this show. Will I get bad karma if I kill a scientologist?
August 10th, 2006 at 9:36 am
It depends on how many thetans they still have in them.
September 6th, 2006 at 5:07 pm
I’ve thought this all along, especially after noticing all the Scientologist actors in very prominent guest roles on the show.
Giovani Ribisi has a recurring guest role, Juliette Lewis was a guest star. Neither od these actors do much TV, both are notorious scientologists
January 5th, 2007 at 7:58 am
You have a point, then again, it’s still a funny show and if you’re gullible enough to become a scientologist from watching this, you’re probably gullible enough to become one however they try and get you.
I doubt many people became Christians after watching the Vicar of Dibley!!!
Jason Lee is a bloody talented comic actor, as are a lot of other scientologists appearing on this show, I just hope they wake up and realise what they are doing soon (and use the show to then tear apart the concept as well!!!!)
January 14th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
While Tom Cruise and South Park have done a lot to discredit Scientology, I wonder and when My Name is Earl will dive head long into the “religion.” Just now I noticed a Dianetics poster in the background of a MNiE scene. It would be one thing if it was a legit religion like Christianity or Buddhism (yes, it’s relative and all but c’mon) but something like Scientology getting anything like legitimate press is disturbing.
February 3rd, 2007 at 11:51 am
Ryuukuro, which episode?
May 27th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
c’mon Ryuukuro, if you’re reading this tell us which episode.
June 9th, 2007 at 10:59 am
Looks like this issue is only going to grow and grow. An article has just appeared in The Gaurdian and I blogged up a few thoughts:
http://www.wunderkabinett.co.uk/damndata/index.php?/archives/915-My-Name-Is-L.-Ron.html
Basically it is a very well-written, funny show with great actors and with worthy message – so should this matter? I suspect it will but I am still unsure if that is my own issues interfering with a great show or is it Their fault?
As should be clear I am conflicted by the whole thing – the new series starts here in the UK on Thursday so I’ll be able to tell then if it is spoiling my enjoyment (I do hope not).
July 2nd, 2007 at 4:45 pm
Must Join Scientology……..
July 13th, 2007 at 4:51 am
I don’t like religion and so finding out that Earl is Scientology propaganda has turned me off it a little. Obviously it won’t convert me. But how could anyone believe that whacky nonsense in the first place? And some of the way scientologists conduct themselves to discredit their critics and the brainwashing tactics they use on their members, is unjustifiable.
But L.Ron was just some super clever drugged up guy who must be laughing his tits off from beyond the grave, because such drivel is gaining power and influence.
August 4th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
I watched a few episodes tonight, having recently heard about this whole Scientology thing. It didn’t really bother me.
Anyway, ‘the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ is a Christian parable, but that didn’t stop me and my kids enjoying it. We’re not stupid. And I don’t consider Christianity any closer to any kind of truth than I do Scientology.
I like MNiE, and I’ll keep watching it unless there is a good reason not to: and that will be that it’s lost its comic touch, not that I disagree with the religious beliefs of the people who make it.
October 12th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
In my opinion in a lot of movies with scientologist you can find something coming up from the scientology theories (or doctrins)…
Example: MINORITY REPORT:
- There is a old women that explains that every life being struggle for survivors and that is the only force that move them. This is part of the theory of the 8 scientologist dinamics.
- There is a man that say something like: “how come that we have a lot of technologies, but we don’t know yet how to heal a common cold?”. See watch?v=XV0ML4_HksU on you tube.
- But also the drug seen as something that people use to hide their problems to themselves.
- and much more….
Anyway this is NOT propaganda…. there is nothing bad doing this!
October 18th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
Look I’m a Scientologist studying for a degree in Anthropology and per the social science definitions of religion(s) (though they are still a bit ambiguous) Scientology fits.
See:
http://www.cesnur.org/2004/waco_cowan.htm
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/religion
http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/orgs/hrj/iss16/gunn.shtml
So it doesn’t matter if you think what I believe as a Scientologist is a crock of shit, or if I believe what Jehovah’s Witnesses believe is mostly crock, they still both fall under the definition and are therefore religions.
In any event the definition of what is and what is not a religion is not based on arbitrary things like if you agree or not with those persons beliefs, but rather do they fit the commonalities of how a religion is defined within philosophy, theology, historical and social analysis.
You can say you don’t agree with it, you can say you think what I believe is full of it, but you can’t say it’s not a religion because it fits the definition of it reguardless of if you like it or not.
October 19th, 2007 at 12:10 am
Thanks for your perspective, Anonymous Scientologist!
March 27th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
That’s okay, the second season onward is complete shit anyway. And I got rid of the first season DVD set.
September 19th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Stunning blog and good article. High 5 for u man !
October 9th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
For the most part, I agree with what you are stating here.
June 13th, 2010 at 11:57 pm
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