Is "The 4400" about Scientology?

[Fight_n_back]

The main villain is a cult leader that says he can give "4400" like abilities to regular people. He courts celebrities and moves them to higher "levels" if they give enough money.

Maybe its just about cults in general and it just seems obvious because of Tom-Kat.

[SOteric]

1. No, it's about some people who disappeared,

allegedly to mankind's future (not an alien planet), and then were returned with some enhanced abilities, talents, paranormal gifts.

Not all of the 4400 are under his control. And while there may be some parallels to cults in modern society, it's not 'about' them so much as it's about a dystopia.

[DS1]

2. Why the hell would anyone want to come back now?

:shrug:

[SOteric]

7. They didn't have a choice, and also

they claim (or most of them do) to have only the vague outlines of memory of the events that occurred while they were in the future. So that's an open book, storywise.

USA is running a start to present series marathon on Saturday morning for those who might be interested in getting a peak at what the show is about.

[DS1]

8. AHhh television

I only have time for Family Guy and 24 - must be nice having your feet kicked up all day watching taped television :evilgrin:

[SOteric]

9. All day...?

Have you been sniffing glue? :spank:

[DS1]

11. No, but it could be the building that's been torn apart around me

dust and fumes, you know O8)

[SOteric]

12. Dust and fumes, eh?

Always blunt and to the point... ;-)

[AntiCoup2K4]

3. Might be loosely based on Jehovas Witnesses

The JW's originally believed that once they had 144,000 members they would be raptured into Heaven.

The producers of the show might have taken a digit off of each end of the number to keep the lawyers happy.

[ET Awful]

5. Actually, that's incorrect. The Witnesses do not and never have

believed in the rapture.

They believe that those 144,000 (many of whom are dead already) would remain dead until Armageddon at what time they would be taken to heaven, with the rest of humanity who believed in their teachings occupying a heaven on earth (those who don't believe just cease to exist, as there is no hell in Jehovah's Witness doctrine).

The 144,000 number comes from the 12 tribes of Israel and some odd interpretation stating that 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes would be taken to heaven.

[Fight_n_back]

10. Im a meber of ...

Jehovah's "I was there but don't want to get involved". We are less committed than the Jehovah's Witnesses.

[ET Awful]

13. LMAO . . . I was just kind of a

Jehovah's innocent bystander. I didn't see NOTHIN' man.

[Lerkfish]

6. I don't really think so, frankly.

Nothing about this series seems to jive with JW philosphy, and the 144,000 was a reference to the number of Jews that will make it to heaven, which the Jehovah Witnesses just assumed were themselves only. Interestingly enough, once their actual membership rose to a sum LARGER than 144,000, they then adopted a new category, the "jonadabs" to imply that what they REALLY meant was an unlimited number of JWs could reach heaven.

convenient numeroloy, there.

[Lerkfish]

4. Interesting suggestion

Do you watch regularly? If not,
You'll have a chance this weekend, as a day long 4400 marathon is scheduled.

I think the difference would be Collier is not claiming to head a religion, but rather centers to protect the 4400 specifically, and mankind generally for the future. That's his claim.
I don't really have a handle on him yet, especially after last night's episode. They are either trying to soften his character and engender more viewer sympathy, or he is being very slick at appearing sincere...which is very possible, considering.

But yours is an interesting observation since there is a quasi-sciento-mystical group of "benefactors' that have sent them back, whose motivations and methods are only guessed at. Similar to the final stages of scientology, where you are enlightened to an alien superbeing who is supposedly acting as a "benefactor' but whose motivations are unclear.
(at least this is my understanding from the internet...dubious source on this topic at best).

[Fight_n_back]

14. Thats what got me thinking about it...

Scientolgy has levels. Collier has "keys". He gave that Madonna-like chick a key right away.

They have all these classes they need to take to move ahead. He has this insane security force and it is hard for people to leave once they enter. All things that are said about Scientology.

[Fight_n_back]

15. In wikipedia, re: Scientology

it lists the media references to Scientology and includes the 4400. So I guess I wasn't the only bloke thinkin' that.