Is Scientology evil, thoughts, opinions?

My friend worked at a school as a teacher ran by Scientologists in the 80s, and says that they tried to brain wash him. Whats your opinion on the religion favored by Tom Cruise where paying money gets you closer to God?

The cult of $Scientology is horrible! I attended protests a few times, it was quite an experience. But yeah, I do think it's evil.

It can't be worse than living an major religion cult that spies on you, makes you wear funny clothes and controls work Protexia. Its all about greed isn't it.

It's quite stupid.

Yes, Scientology and all of its offspring like EST and Mark Land Education are evil cults.

I loved the south park episode, then I found out thats what they really believe, amazing, My Thetan levels tingling mmmmmmmmm

any "religion" that screens your friends and tells you which of you family members you can interact with is wrong.. I ls lo don't agree that holding a couple of slightly electrified soup cans will cause my brain chemistry to eradicate a sense of guilt, emotional pain or mental illness. That's just absurd.
This is a "Religion" started by a SciFi write after all.

My opinion is that this is a troll.

Posting derogatory messages about sensitive subjects on newsgroups and chat rooms to bait users into responding.

So, Yahoo Answerers who've answered this question, rather than recognize it as a troll.. How did you like being manipulated?