Scientology......why do people, after all of the facts have been put out, still turn to scientology????

Question

i am not looking for simple answers such as, they are weak people, needing some kind of spiritual hole filled, i think we all have a spiritual hole needing to be filled, some have, some haven't. but i would like some scientologists to tell me, or some who have experienced it, researched it, how they disregard all of the facts that have come out about this religion, the deaths, the money taken from people, remortging houses etc..the fact that hubbard himself went crazy, and died lonely, with serious metal health issues...after his son went on nation TV and said that his father made the whole thing up...the fact that they are making huge ammounts of money, the fact that they do not even allow people who haven;t paid, to see what it is they belive and feel they know about the world...this is not a religion, it is a business and cult, two terrible things on their own, but when mixed.....ok, ok...so please people, any answers...are they increasing in popularity aswell?

Answer 1

Scientology has taken on a life of its' own independent of L. Ron Hubbard's son who you say went on national TV after his fathers death and reportly said Scientology was all made up. Being a corporate entity that wishes to continue to survive to do business Scientology does what ever is needed to attract new sources of wealth and power unto itself in the form of people looking for convenient answers to their questions about life problems, and or people looking for personal, social, business and other networking opportunities associated with belonging to a community of faithful believers as a member.

Answer 2

Well.... having been a Scientologist for the past 35 years, and studied, applied it and worked in it's Churches and Social Betterment Programs I'm very familiar with the various "things"
that have been said about Scientology , about L.Ron Hubbard,
via the media mostly and now the internet.
The question you should really be asking is:
How can these things that are said about Scientology be true, if this religion continues to expand and grow at the rate that it does?
You can't go on simply invalidating people, and their ability to
observe and experience for themselves as an explanation.
If Scientology had nothing really of value to offer wouldn't it have dwindled and faded away by now?
People are not that "stupid". They don't keep doing something
or supporting something if it doesn't work for them. They don't disregard the facts.
The truth is that these things you have stated as "facts" are the total opposite.
These are lies.
There is tons of fully documented evidence to counter every single one of them.
This kind of " black" propaganda has been used down thro' history to undermine and suppress religions, ideas, people
in general. Wispering campaigns ,rumour mongering, false information, fear mongering. These are not new operations.
The Romans did this to early Christianity and even threw
quite a few Christian to the lions, because they saw it as a "threat" to their empire.
The Nazi propaganda machine churned out and spread similar lies about the Jews (that they ate babies even!!) which allowed
the genocide of 6 million to occur without protest from anyone.
Scientology can't complain by comparison to some religions.
I don't have to justify or explain why I am a Scientologist to anyone.
This is what it is and why people turn to it:

Scientology is an applied religious philosophy. When I say "applied" I mean you actually use it in your life to change or improve existing conditions. This is different from a religious practice. All religions if you learn about them have a basic philosphy, but they also have certain dogma, rituals and observances, and a certain faith or belief is required. There is nothing wrong with this, but Scientology is not that kind of religion. It does not intrude on anyones faiths of beliefs particularly in the area of God , the Supreme Being, or the Infinite. This area is left totally up to the indivdual, which is why you can be a practicing Jew,for example and still use and apply the priniciples of Scientology in your life. It does not conflict. If anything it will enhance your understanding of your chosen religious practice.
You can have no specific religious beliefs and still benefit from using it.
And it is only true for you according to your own observation and experience with it.
It is a non denominational religion . The dictionary definition that applies:
Religion: The spiritual or emotional attitude of one who recognises the existence of superhuman power or powers.

The most basic principle of Scientology is that YOU are your own immortal soul, that this is not a "thing" you HAVE but what YOU actually are.
The whole purpose of Scientology is to increase an individual's understanding and awareness of himself. And thereby his native abilities .
When you do this the sphere and zone of his positive influence increases and moves outward into his life, his family ,his friends, his groups and mankind which he is part of.

How this result is achieved is the "technology" of Scientology, which was developed by L.Ron Hubbard after his extensive research and the discoveries he made, about the human spirit. The basic religious philosophy and knowledge of Scientology is very old, going back 10,000 years at least to the Veda or Vedic Hymns from the East. The developement of the technology is new.
He completed his research before his death in 1986 and left all of his results and copyrights
to the Church of Scientology along with most of his considerable estate., when he died.

He published a book in 1951 to communicate the basic principles he discovered called: " Scientology The Fundementals of Thought"
There are currently over 8 million Scientologists in more that 150 countries world wide. However we are a new religion, only 53 years old.
The true story of Scientology as a religion goes like this:
1. A philosopher developes a philosophy about life and death.
2. People find it interesting.
3. People find it works.
4. People pass it along to others.
5. It grows.

At least you now have some actual facts.
We will still be around growing and expanding when these so called "facts" are long dead.

Answer 3

Scientology is a new thing for the weak minded, superficial, rich people who are looking for a simple answers. They can't be dealing with anything too deep, they're not capable of doing deep, so the more shallow and superficial the better. So, yeah, it's a cult, and I don't think you'll find many thinkers who'll buy into it. I also don't think you'll get any answers from any scientologists, and I'm not real sure any of them are capable of turning on a computer.

Answer 4

Not everyone is aware of the facts of scientology, although it is much more known about now thanks to the internet and more recently South Park.

No people aren't stupid or weak that join, I know this first hand....

However you must understand the Church has a well practised form of recruitment, and have many people working on their PR.

This article from an ex-member looks at why people join:
http://www.clambake.org/archive/personal_story/funkydonny.html

Here's an article from about their PR
http://www.clambake.org/archive/media/young-quill.html

Scientology also uses front groups to gain members, not telling them of the link when they first sign up...
http://www.clambake.org/archive/infopack/9.htm

Thankfully, they are not increasing in popularity, in fact there numbers are dwindling and are thought to only be about 100,000 at present...
http://www.clambake.org/archive/COS_members.html

Scientology is also trying its best to counter and stop critical information about the church, one tactic is called 'Dead Agenting'

This website is a prime example, here they lie and slander a variety of critics of scientology and pretend its about religious freedom (when scientology is the only focus of the page)...
http://www.religiousfreedomwatch.org/extremists/

The writeups on these people are all lies... The owner of this site talks to the owner of Clambake (Andreas Heidul Lund) in this video:
http://www.xenutv.com/andreas/index.html

Current members also will not expose themselves to critical information as per direction from Hubbard and the Church. They even have software to stop members from seeing critical stuff on the web, which they got members to install without their knowledge...
http://www.clambake.org/archive/events/censorship/

Current members have invested their money, their time, their effort, their entire lives to only scientology... It's a huge commitment to give up and turn away from, if nothing else than admitting to yourself you have been conned all these years. So it takes members a long time to get out, as they keep making excuses rather than confront the problem.. Normally though the abuses that are seen get to much and members eventually leave, and then try to rebuild their stunted lives... Normally it is some time after leaving that they would see all the critical information on the web, not while still in it.

And lastly Scientology continues to sue and harrass ex-members and critics which means they have to direct some time into fighting this as oppossed to getting the message out. Some are silenced by scientology via blackmail.

Answer 5

There are no 'facts' concerning the trifecta of popular world religions. Once you remove the Koran/Torah/Bible from consideration there is virtually no historical text or reference that verifies anything in any of those books ever happened. In short Judeo-Christian and Muslim Mythology have nothing but their 'sacred' texts to fall upon so people who cannot accept those books on faith alone choose other paths. Unfortunately Christians, Muslims and Jews are so closed minded that they cannot even imagine that their God is not the true God or that there might not even be a God.

Answer 6

Three simple words - BECAUSE IT WORKS!

This is why people study the tech of Scientology - It works! Why should people be picked on because they don't believe in something which is mainstream......well I supose people pick on gays because they are seen as 'un natural' Well I am gay and a Scientologist - So I cop a double whammy!

Leave us alone.

Yes we are expanding - To use a popular quote - "The sun never sets on Scientology".

Answer 7

Could it be that they met one and talked to them?
Or maybe they took a few courses and found them totally helpful?
And that all of the "facts" didnt seem to ever come up?

That was my experience. I only took one and a half courses but since then all those facts seemed debatable. I still have scientologist friends and consider them some of the best people to know. But dont worry, Im sure your "best answer" will come from some non-scientologist.

Answer 8

Replace "Scientology" with any other religion and you will have your answer.

Every religion or polical persuasion that is dogmatic has these issues, and blind sheep being lead along the way refusing reason.

Let me tell you, being an atheist is like a breath of fresh air in this regard, being freed from the harnesses of dogmatic thinking.

Answer 9

Are you a judge? Cuz that's what Judge's do. Judge what is fact and what is false. Is there Absolute Truth? Stop messing with those crazy folks, and let them go swimming in a Volcano

Answer 10

Because Tom Cruise is prettier than Jesus!