Anything good to say about Scientology?

Question

I'm just curious about this. We all know the bad stuff about Scientology through popular culture and reading about it on the internet.
I'm just wondering, are there any scientologist out there who can give a clear, comprehensive answer to my question? If you feel it is beneficial to you, how so? What exactly is auditing and how does it help you?
Are you given any proof to an alien presence or is it all just through belief?
I never heard anything good about Scientology except by Tom Cruise and I trust him about as much as I trust doctors and lawyers.
Please, intelligent answers only. Thanks.

Answer 1

I saw your question while visiting the group discussing the work of David R. Hawkins (check it out--especially his book, "Transcending the Levels of Consciousness"). I was in Scientology and on staff in mid-management for 10 years from 1973-1983.

By definition, Scientology is a cult. But I would say more like the metaphysical marines. Because of its extremely poor media PR, and litigious ways, public outcry has caused the "Church" to dial down its publicly cultish behaviors.

IMHO, the Scientologists' reverence for L. Ron Hubbard is no different than any devotee or disciple would have towards a spiritual teacher.

I entered Scientology at the age of 20, and it was good for me at the time, providing some spiritual and mental discipline, and camaraderie. However, once I progressed "Up the Bridge" (I was labeled as OT VII), and my self-esteem and awareness rose, I started looking out into the world and noticing that everything I was learning of value in Scientology had been taught elsewhere amongst the perennial knowledge of human endeavor.

Although Dianetics is unique in its approach to engrams, engrams is not a new idea, having been observed at the turn of the 20th century by many psychiatrists and philosophers. Hubbard's processes are clever and effective, and worked for me up to a point, but the administration of the Church's activities violated my own moral code, so I jumped ship.

I was pursued briefly by "Ethics Personnel" with the Church, that traumatized me for two years, but moving from the L.A. area to Oregon helped ease and eventually cure my PTSD.

I continued my spiritual searching and practices, and in retrospect, my experiences with Hubbard's system gave me perspective--if nothing else--with which to compare other systems of thought.

There are probably more benign ways to get to the same spiritual destinations, such as joining a monastery, doing meditation retreats, studying with a Zen Buddhist master, or going to TM University in Iowa--(BTW, I find Hawkins' work to be a total bypass of Scientology processes--I'd start there if I had it to do over again).

However, if you want plenty of drama along with your spiritual quest, I would highly recommend Hubbard's Army.

Answer 2

Scientology is a religion (of sorts) invented by a science fiction writer.....it does WAY more bad than good - like most religions. I believe in freedom of speech, but I will make an exception for Scientology as its pretensions to legitimacy are almost (key word) dangerous in its stupidity.
It is a religion that charges money for revelation of its secrets - unlike most other religions which give their message free of charge, discredits modern scientific method (like most other religions). Anyway, you can see that I'm not a scientologist - nor do I follow any other inprisonment of the mind.

Answer 3

Hon, walk the streets of downtown Clearwater, Florida and then you will get a vague idea of just how very creepy they really are! They own a great deal of Clearwater, and have their own "security"forces that cruise the streets, just like the police do.You would never guess that there were so many people that would believe a load of garbage like that !!

Answer 4

I would choose to rebel against both of them and against having a leader that has the power to command mankind to do anything he wants! I would rather become an anarchist!

Answer 5

The only thing good about it is that it is easy to classify scientology as a cult. and it is a really lame cult.

Answer 6

They make Raelians and Subgenii look like decent, honest working-class folks.

Answer 7

No.

They're not even told about the aliens for several years and several hundred thousand dollars.

Answer 8

ask Lord Xenu
it is a dangerous and destructive cult
look up operation clam bake on Google

Answer 9

I've known some people who were in it. It's real expensive, you have to be rich. They don't come knockin around MY neighborhood!

Answer 10

Wait, you are asking people who are blatantly brainwashed by their cult how it benefits them? This should be amusing.