The Church of Scientology: Who are its' members, and what makes it stand out in the media so much?

Question

I hear all the time about members of the church, and what it is all about. Maybe it has something to do with Nuking Volcanoes or Tom Cruise. But what I want to know is why the media targets it so much. I have heard stories of the misdeeds of the church, but I really feel like I have only heard rumors. What does this "religion" believe, and what popular musicians, movie stars, and other important members of society are involved with this church, and if you can, tell me why they chose to believe in this church?
*If you attempt to answer this question, DO NOT CITE WIKIPEDIA. Thanks.

So, I saw that one of you said that it works. I didn't even ASK that...but now I am curious as to why you feel that it somehow belongs in america, given their anti-freedom tatics.

Answer 1

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.
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
Here’s an explanation of what “auditing” is: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061224182319AA2nnd6
http://www.scientology-lies.com/fliers/mint.html

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

They get members through programmes aimed at picking up people from various strata of society. For example, Narconon is packaged as a programme aimed at getting people off drugs (and gets them onto Scientology). A different programme was specifically tailored for celebrities, such as Mr Cruise. So some people get into it because they wanted to kick the habit. The ones who suscribe to Criminon get into it because they want to kick crime. And celebrities get into it because they get lots of attention when they go swanning around Scientology centres.

Most members are recruited via the Dianetics name. Dianetics is a therapy which aims to cure all ills by recalling past traumatic experiences while hooked up to a meter similar to a lie detector. The Scientologist first recalls all the bad experiences they had in their life. This goes back to their birth. They will then recall all pre-birth traumas, including being squashed in the womb while their mother was taking a crap. Or their parents were having sex. In great detail, right back until they were a single cell. After that they will have gone 'Clear'.

After that they are onto the higher levels, where they will recall all the traumas of previous lives. I'm talking about reincarnation here. Obviously, they'll be fabricating most of the above, but they'll keep on doing it because initially the cult made them feel wanted and special. They may even believe in what they're saying.

All this costs a great deal of money and you'll be lucky to progress to the highest level available without spending at least £35,000 ($70,000).

Answer 3

The core of your question seems to be about two things:


1) What do Scientologists believe?

A) Nothing. Anything. It's about discovering your own answers to life.

2) Why does it get so much attention from the press?

A) The idea of free thought is fairly controversial. Some find that idea threatening. The press deals in controversy, not facts, because that's what sells.


To BlondieBaptist: Your answer could also apply to any non-Christian religion. Try to get some focus here.

To ZER0C00L: Actually it's MUCH worse than that. I love it.

Answer 4

Scientology means “knowing how to know” and it is the study of the spirit in relationship to the universe. In accordance Scientology existence is divided in two areas: spiritual and physical. Spiritual existence is represented with the Greek letter Theta (that means thought). All life is theta including God. Theta or life creates and controls space, energy and matter.
Scientology provides the knowledge to live a better life in accordance with your own point of view. That’s all!!!
Scientology is controversial because it opposes Psychiatry that it considers a sham.
Also Scientology practices an unorthodox detox program.
Different ideas and practices; Scientology has been highly targeted by the media probably because it cuts in the profits of the pharmacy industries.
So there are people paid to put down Scientology. But still Scientology attracts people because it works.

Answer 5

I don't know much about scientology, but they have an incredible web presence with their drug rehab program Narconon...any search for addiction will bring up loads of narconon stuff on the first page!

Answer 6

Its a false cult and its members are going to Hell. They don't believe in Jesus, and are all nuts. They think there are aliens fighting for control in their body. Seriously. Celebs fall for it as they are missing something, that is God, in their lives and fall prey for this cult. Sad, isn't it?

Answer 7

It's a church for atheists and movie stars. They all think they are their own creator. They "create" their day every morning when they get up and "make" things happen for them. Please. I guess that does a good job of hiding all the stomping over people that they have to do to "make" things happen for them.

Answer 8

Money, power and knowing the right people.

Answer 9

it caters and kisses up to the rich and famous....

Answer 10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-yQPkoAKnc