I need help! My parents want me to convert to Scientology.?

Question

What do I do? I completely disagree with everything they stand for. I love being Christian. I like knowing when I die I will be with God in heaven. What they believe is absolutely insane. It would be similar to trying to get me to believe heaven is Planet Cybertron, and I get to spend eternity chilling with the Autobots. Now my mom wants me to take a test that is designed to tell me all the things wrong with me. There is nothing wrong with me. It just sounds like a big scam anyways. I've done some research and the audits sound like a form of brain washing. I can't bring myself to believe I can buy my way to salvation.
My second problem is my younger brother has always had problems. He so far has had the benefit of psychiatrists, but will he no longer get that help?
I am just so angry about this because I feel helpless.
By the way, I don't know if this will help with your answers, but I am 16 and my brother is 14.
What can I do?????

Answer 1

You're right, it IS a big scam. This is a really sad situation because they basically control your life and the decisions regarding the mental health of your brother. I know it sounds like a radical suggestion, but you might consider telling another adult, like a school counselor or a trusted family friend that isn't part of Scientology, that your parents are going to begin refusing to treat your brother. That may be a red flag to anyone who cares about treating him and may spark interest in people who can help you and your parents. In the mean time, you can educate yourself on Scientology so that you know what you're facing. I've written an overview, I hope you find it helpful:

Scientology, which questionably calls itself a new "religion", is the brainchild of science fiction writer & occult enthusiast L. Ron Hubbard. The organization, by means of Hubbard’s self created psychotherapy technique called “Dianetics”, claims to be able to help rid members of any & all mental constraints including but not limited to emotional scarring (from this & "past" lives) due to "engrams" (past negative experiences stored in our unconscious mind), psychological disorders & chemical imbalances (the solution is to convince members that these things don't actually exist) & drug dependence (including legally prescribed psychopharmaceuticals which counteract the effects of psychological disorders Scientologists believe to be nonexistent). Their “treatment” of substance abuse includes little more than massive doses of vitamins and extended sessions in a sauna.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dianetics#Scientific_evaluation_and_criticisms
Dianetics review: http://dir.salon.com/story/books/review/2005/06/28/dianetics/index.html
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,812852,00.html
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Narconon/detox.htm
http://www.nypress.com/20/22/news&columns/feature.cfm

The official Scientology organization is composed of a number of “levels”. One begins as a “preclear” & works their way up. One must purchase virtually every service crucial to advancement directly from the "church" & at staggering prices. "Auditing", for example, is purchased in 12½ hour blocks, costing anywhere from $200-$750 for introductory sessions to between $8,000 & $9,000 for advanced sessions. Basically, Scientology claims to possess exclusive knowledge of the path to religious redemption & then charges obscene amounts of money for every tiny incremental step towards this end. Visit this link to see how $380,000 is a conservative estimate for the total cost of moving all the way up the Scientology hierarchal ladder: http://www.xenu.net/archive/prices.html
These are the total costs for auditing alone: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_as_a_business#Costs
Here’s an explanation of what “auditing” is: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061224182319AA2nnd6

At level OT III (Operating Thetan 3), some very strange & fiercely guarded secrets are imparted upon worthy members who have paid enough money to advance to such a level (and no, this isn't a joke): The evil alien ruler Xenu killed millions of aliens (Thetans) from around the universe by kidnapping them, bringing them to earth in golden DC-8 “space-planes”, stacking them around volcanoes & blowing them up by dropping “h-bombs” into the volcanoes. Scientologists believe the souls of these aliens (these souls are "Body Thetans") were captured, brainwashed & released; they then attached themselves to our ancestors (and according to Scientology’s belief in Thetan immortality, they also attached to us during “past lives”) & cause many of our mental & physical ills to this day. Auditing is said to “clear” us of these Body Thetans as well as the “mental implants” they supposedly impose on our minds.
http://sf.irk.ru/www/ot3/spaink-ot3.html
http://www.spaink.net/cos/essays/atack_ot3.html
http://xenu.net/archive/leaflet/Xenu-Letter.pdf

Scientology has taken a very hostile stance towards psychiatry & psychiatric drugs irrespective of the fact that some people require medication to remain adequately functional during everyday life. It doesn’t recognize legitimate conditions like autism, epilepsy, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or ANY neurological disorder / chemical imbalance at all, & the “church” has been known to withhold prescription pharmaceuticals from members (often with harmful & deadly results). The “Church” blames psychiatry for the Holocaust, as well as school shootings & even September 11th. It’s been suggested that Hubbard’s vehement opposition was born of the psychiatric community’s rejection of his “tech” as a valid treatment method, but it’s also possible that Hubbard chose psychiatry as a scapegoat. Organizations like Scientology are notorious for villainizing a specific out-group because their “stand against the enemy” fosters cohesion within said organization, & psychiatry was an effective rallying point considering many people already distrust & oppose the mental health profession.
http://www.anti-scientologie.ch/usa-scientology.htm
http://www.lacitybeat.com/article.php?id=3137&IssueNum=136
http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2005/07/01/sci_psy/index_np.html?pn=1
http://perkinstragedy.org

L. Ron Hubbard, the man behind the creation of Scientology, was & still is a controversial figure. Biographies & lists of personal accomplishments differ greatly between Scientology & non-Scientology publications as the “church” tends to exaggerate & outright lie about his early life, his education, his travels, his achievements etc, preferring to paint a distorted, flattering picture. Several books & articles present facts which flatly contradict these church-published accounts (links to free online copies of these books & articles are provided below), showing conclusively that he was NOT the brilliant, accomplished figure revered by Scientologists. During his autopsy, the sedative Vistaril™ was present in his body, which several of his assistants would later attest was only one of many psychiatric & pain medications Hubbard ingested over the years. It had also been said by many who knew Hubbard personally that at the end of his life he was “a psychopathic insane person screaming about BT's [Body Thetans]…”
http://www.apologeticsindex.org/Bare%20Faced%20Messiah.pdf
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Library/Shelf/atack/contents.htm
http://www.clambake.org/archive/books/mom/Messiah_or_Madman.txt
http://skull.piratehaven.org/~atman/factnet/lrhbare.txt

To be blunt, Scientology is a cult. It employs semi-legitimate psychotherapy & self-help methods to keep people loyal & convinced of its merit while it simultaneously sucks them dry financially & attempts to keep them far away from ANYONE, even friends & family, who would dissuade them from remaining in such a harmful situation. It bullies all known critics, opponents, “enemies”, etc, often through malicious litigation & character assassination. It’s a particularly greedy as well as manipulative & dangerous cult that takes its anti-psychiatry fanaticism to deadly limits.
http://www.solitarytrees.net/racism/harass.htm#start
http://www.factnet.org/Books/SocialControl/scs.html#toc
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/06/24/Tampabay/The_unperson.shtml
http://www.xenu.net/archive/personal_story/funkydonny.html

Answer 2

Instead of looking for things you might disagree with in Scientology I would look to see if there is anything you could use in your life. Don't believe it try it and see if it works. For example Scientology has a lot of data on how to study, specifically what to do when you get into trouble studying so can understand and apply the data to your life. This is only one example. The are a lot of free intro course on line you can do. Each has an intro video that explains what you might get out of it before you even start the course.

Answer 3

I can't believe some people will believe this nonsense Yes, he took a picture with Tom Cruise wearing a sweater with a symbol of Scientology. But how does that mean he is now a Scientologist? Because he was wearing a shirt with a Scientology symbol? Wow... Everything is not what it seems.

Answer 4

Not as much as you could if you were an adult, but hopefully your parents won't actually try to force you into a religion that you don't agree with.

If you haven't already, sit down with them and explain that while you respect their beliefs (I know, I know, but say it anyway to be polite), you've researched their new religion using Scientology-sanctioned materials, and you just don't think its for you at this time. However, you will see how the religion works for them, and if it has a positive influence on their lives over time, you'll revisit the issue later.

As far as your brother is concerned, only time will tell. Parents typically retain the right to make medical decisions for their children, but depending on the severity of his problems there might be room for state intervention. Hopefully your parents wouldn't let it get to that point, though.

Answer 5

Many years ago I read Dianetics and was very fascinated by that book. I never became a Scientologist first and foremost because I want some freedom, and also because my own environment is Christian, a bit Catholic and a lot Protestant, which I would not want to disappoint all too much, even if everybody knows that I am sincerely heavily critical about some mundane aspects of Christendom. I never decided to become a Christian, I was made a Christian thru baptism when I was only a baby a few days old, and in my early years we should learn an evening prayers where we would thank God for having made us Christians.

The Scientologists have my address and they send me their publication which I read with great interest, but I would hesitate quite a lot before deciding to concretely approach them. But I sincerely think that as a religious or philosophical-psychological system they have many good aspects and are worth a lot of respect.

To change religion, to want to convert into some other faith may cause an individual a lot of problems. Excommunication may be the consequence. There are even people of a neighboring religion who are never allowed to abandon their given belief, and those from there who convert into another religion really risk being killed (beheaded, hanged, stoned to death).

Often the Jehovah Witnesses knock at my door wanting to teach something to me. I have told them that my family and the local priest would become very sorry if I abandonned my given religion and went with them.

As you are sceptical about Scientology, and as you love being a Christian, you should follow your heart. In any case it may be healthy to not generalize but to listen in a tolerant way to those individual others who want to teach us something, in the hope that they also will be tolerant of your sincere feelings about a faith.

Jesus Christ is reported to have declared "he who is not with me is against me" when at a village where the inhabitants did not want to hear of His holy message; He shook the dust off His sandals and went away promising never to come back. I have got the feeling that that was a blunt act of intolerance.

If your mom really loves you she will lovingly accept your own choice to stay a Christian, and she might even seek a form of integration between her faith and your faith. She might look for the good similarities instead of asking you to leave your Faith. She should never force upon you that test. Your own personality and your integrity is sacred and should not be violated thru something that you do not want to expose yourself to.

Answer 6

Wow I see where your coming from. They are nuts. Did you know Germany will not allow Scientologist be in politics. They have a woman whose only job is to root them out and get rid of them. They rape history to make the point that psychiatry is wrong. People who have been through REAL tragedy's. They steal history of Christians and Jews to make their insane point. Stick to your guns. Be open about how you feel. You and your brother need to have a sit down with your parents. Openly protest. Get a close adult family member to help.

Answer 7

I cannot believe I am fixing to say this... But you have to stand up and disobey your parents. Yes, the Bible says "Honor your father and mother" but most people leave it at that. The Bible also says, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother" - which is the first commandment with a promise- "that is may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."
That is Ephesians 6:1-4. Clearly, your parents are not following the instructions here to bring you up "in the Lord". That passage says for you to obey your parents "in the Lord." If they are out of God's will, well, God's law supersedes theirs. Don't be afraid to stand up. God will back you!

Answer 8

Do not do it! I'm not fan of religion but scientology is just crazy. L. Ron Hubbard wrote it as a joke, to prove to Carl Sagan that people will believe ANYTHING! They will take your brother away from the doctors and not let him have any meds (if he's on them) they will take your parents money and they will fill your head full of CRAP! No matter what they ay to you, remember in your head, "its all just science fiction, and not one of his better works. Science fiction, not real." Laugh about it.

You have two years to go until you are independant, you can help your broher then.

Answer 9

Have your parents already converted to Scientology? If so, you might have problems discussing your beliefs with them.

If not, you should have them check out the numerous websites that suggest that Scientology is a cult and a scam. Here's one:

http://www.xenu.net/

Hopefully, they'll see their folly and continue to get your brother psychiatric help. If not, I would suggest that both you and your brother refuse to convert. Auditing uses a form of hypnotic suggestion that convinces people that it's "helping" them, and Scientologists reject real psychiatry that actually helps people with psychiatric problems.

Answer 10

If you believe your brain is infested with million year old aliens; GO FOR IT! If not just use your common sense. You are still under your parents authority and if they force you to go to some of their meeting you must, but keep a pure religion in your heart.

If your parents are more open and respecting of your wishes, then you should be able to politely decline without making a lot of waves in the home.

Answer 11

Do what you can to respect your parents out of reverence for God and His commandments. If they tell you that you must do thses things Go to Audits and scientology meetings, this I would and happily proclaim the good news of Christ while you are there.

I would let them know that you will not disrespect them or there beliefes, and If their desire is to disrupt you service to the King of Kings, then think about Joseph in prison for a crime he did not commit, and later he became the 2nd most powerful man in all of Egypt.

God will work this out for you, ask if you can still be apart of a Christian fellowship or Church, ask if they will come with you, if their service is in conflict with you Christian service find out if they will allow you to attend another service time on another day (our church meets on Sat and Sun, and there is youth fellowship and womens fellowship and small groups and prayer groups etc...)

God will not abondon you, and if you allow yourself to be in subjection to you parents, and you pray for them (out loud when you can) God will bless you as you honor them.

I hope this helps, and feel free to let me know how it goes

al 4 now B