I think you should get Mutations. It's the next logical step imo.

Does the fact that he's a scientologist make it harder to take him seriously for anybody else?

I try my damndest to ignore the scientology. I've spent time thinking about what made him go that route. Why?!? I can't really get my head around it. Makes me think he's been brainwashed and that some of his songs are him trying to reach out to the fans for help :D

I don't mind it. He was actually brought up with the religion from early childhood, so it's not like he's following the fad. If I can cope with Christian musicians I can enjoy Beck.

^^Scientology ain't nothing like Christianity, mister

just as my Gnostic Christianity ain't nothing like conventional Xtianity either

Only if you're an intolerant religious bigot. At least until Beck starts making preachy albums and proselytizing at shows.

look, i have no qualms about buying a Beck album called "Dianetics"

But that's not the issue at hand and ultimately irrelevant. The question was 'does the fact that he's of a particular religion make it harder to take him seriously?' Not 'would you keep buying his albums?'

I don't understand how learning of an individual's personal religious convictions changes the value and worth of their creations. It's not like his early albums were veiled conversion attempts and it's not like his later albums have taken on a big religious bend since his personal beliefs have become public knowledge.

So why anyone has a hard time taking him seriously now aside from ignorant bigotry is beyond me.

I don't give one.

Unless it starts interfering with the music he puts out, I have no qualms with it.