Scientology?

Question

What do you know about Scientology?

Why do you think so many people find Scientology appealing?(aside from many celebrities being Scientologists)

What are some of your opinions on it?

What is your opinion based on?

Answer 1

Here's what I know about Scientology (I know this will seem extremely long, but it's actually as concise as I could make it without leaving anything crucial out):

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 Level 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://www.spaink.net/cos/essays/atack_ot3.html
http://sf.irk.ru/www/ot3/spaink-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

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I think people find it appealing because, well, because Scientology is extremely good at brainwashing. Read more about it here: http://www.freedomofmind.com/resourcecenter/groups/s/scientology/pignotti/
and here: http://www.cultinformation.org.uk/faq.html#cult

My opinion is that it's a cult, a dangerous, destructive, manipulative, lying, bullying, scamming organization that victimizes and occasionally causes the death of innocent people. My opinion is based on facts which back up each of my assertions.

There are multitudes of people who have suffered tragic experiences during their involvement with Scientology. Read about them here:
http://www.lermanet.com/persecution/
http://www.whyaretheydead.net/krasel/
http://xenu.net/archive/personal_story/cheryl_s

Here are more "bad experiences" with the cult including an illegal plot to infiltrate the government, brainwashing techniques, mind control camps, attacks on critics, and DEATHS caused by Scientology doctrine and members:

● Operation Snow White – Under this official program, Scientology operatives committed infiltration, wiretapping, & theft of documents in government offices. This program constituted the single largest infiltration of the United States government in history. Among the 11 prominent Scientologists convicted of this conspiracy was Mary Sue Hubbard, the wife of Scientology’s “prophet”.
http://lisatrust.freewinds.cx/scientology/snow-white/index.html
http://en.allexperts.com/e/o/op/operation_snow_white.htm
http://www.lermanet.com/reference/77Granjurypart1.htm

● Operation Freakout - Their campaign of sabotage & violence against Paulette Cooper, the writer who published her research & findings on several cults, including Scientology. Scientology’s official plan: to frame Paulette, ruin her career & reputation & get her either incarcerated or locked up in psychiatric confinement.
The official plan: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Krasel/cooper/frk1.html
Her book: http://holysmoke.org/cos/books/scandal-of-scientology-cooper.pdf
More info: http://www.holysmoke.org/pc/pc.htm

● Fair Game - the Scientology policy detailing how the organization may confront & handle critics & perceived enemies. Here is a direct quote: "Enemies may be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist without any discipline of the Scientologist. May be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed.”
http://www.xenu.net/archive/disk/fairgame.htm
http://www.planetkc.com/sloth/sci/Fair_game_ord.html
http://www.fairgamed.org/

● Physical & psychological punishment: Scientologists who "break the rules" while members of the "Sea Org" must subject themselves to the Rehabilitation Project Force (RPF), which includes regimes of harsh physical punishment, forced self-confessions, social isolation, hard labor and intensive ideological indoctrination.
http://www.xenu-directory.net/practices/rpf.html
http://www.lermanet2.com/scientology/gulags/BrainwashinginScientology'sRehabilitationProjectForce.htm
http://www.xs4all.nl/~kspaink/cos/rpf/escape_2.htm

● Violent Kidnapping - Lisa McPherson was a Scientologist, was involved in a car accident & resultantly became mentally unstable. She was kidnapped from the hospital by agents of Scientology, held against her will, refused proper psychiatric treatment & allowed to STARVE TO DEATH.
Video: http://theunfunnytruth.ytmnd.com/
News Coverage: http://www.factnet.org/Scientology/Lisa_McPherson_Scientology_Deaths.html
Website: http://www.lisamcpherson.org/

● Tragic Murder - A CBS “48 Hours” special on Jeremy Perkins, the mentally disturbed son of Scientologist parents who, because of the Scientology doctrine of opposing psychiatry, refused to put him on the anti-psychotic drugs that would have stabilized him & prevented him from killing his own mother.
Video: http://www.scientomogy.com/jeremy_perkins.php
CBS article: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/10/25/48hours/main2124568.shtml
Website: http://perkinstragedy.org

Answer 2

Taking two courses in the past does not qualify you as an ex-Scientologist. That's a flirtation, not an involvement. I went through a nearly a year of being close to a person who was tricked into taking courses, went through auditing, E-meter sessions, sent to Ethics multiple times, and eventually stalked by his registrar, the Ethics Officer, the head of his Org, and then by Scientologists whom he had never met. Anyone who was actually involved in this scam and got out will either tell you nothing but negative things, or they won't talk about it at all, out of fear for their own safety.

Edit:
My basis for saying two courses is not a full involvement is my knowledge that it isn't until after that point that you get the hard sell. You have to attain the state of "Clear" before you are let in on the secrets behind Scientology. The knowledge about what really makes Scientology a dangerous brainwashing cult is not revealed until you have shown a far greater dedication to the "religion" and it is deemed that you can be trusted. It's not a personal attack, I just have slightly more extensive knowledge on the inner workings.

Answer 3

Scientology, as practiced by the Church of Scientology and the independent Free Zone organizations, is a bizarre and brainwashing cult. As you progress "up the Bridge" (as they call it), things you study go from basic understandings of the mind, body and spirit to insane concepts like aliens, Xenu (if you don't know that name, look it up on wikipedia), etc.

However, and this is a BIG however, the early books of Dianetics and Scientology are basically philosophy books which actually offer some interesting insights into the mind and our relations with others. So while I feel that "Scientology" as we know it is an evil cult, I do feel that the basic (long before the aliens and brainwashing bs) philosophy can be interesting and useful.

In fact, I have just created a new yahoo group for people such as myself; Non-Scientologists who find the basic philosophy interesting and want to learn more about it without getting involved in the insanity and evil of Scientology. I call it "Scientology for Sane People". Please feel free to join:

http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/sanescientology

Answer 4

I know it's self-help courses instead of kneeling and praying. I know that it was researched by a scifi writer. He got the stuff from other self-helps, saying he made it up gives him too much credit. Or at least say 'stole".

I know it's cheaper than everyone seems to think.

I know that it's not that hard to "get away from" if you just say it as if you don't need their special help. Saying "I'm fine thanks" works better than "ummm I think.. maybe.. but I can't right now..". That is like telling a Christian that you are not interested because you discovered Satan and are going to kill yourself.

I know that most scientologists don't know what most people here "know" about scientology. It's amazing the amount of "knowledge" people can get on a subject by reading the "right" sites and watching South Park.

I know a bunch of scientologists. They seem open, happy, and very focused. That's why I am not one. I am more of a slacker smartass type (hail Bob). But if I wanted a hot road to being that then I would probably take their courses.

I have also discovered something else which might be why it is appealing to people. All scientologists are beautiful. You can't tell it in pictures. They are like vampires, photographs show their true self. Seriously! I think it's the training they get. There is something about them in person but you see a picture later and wonder why you thought that. Some people are like that naturally but I think the scientology courses bring it out in them.

I also know that most people would rather be cybersheep reposting the bahhhh of other sheep instead of finding out for themselves. At least do some REAL reasearch and be a dedicated AM like ZC.

Oh and did I mention that I'm a smartass?

Answer 5

Im an ex-scientologist. But apparently I dont know all the things that these other posters know.

All I know is that I hung around scientologists for a couple of years and I have no problems with them. I took 2 courses (communications and study). Great stuff. As far as all of the problems people think they had with them, I had more problems with the Baptists.

Hey ∅∅∅∅∅,
As always you have a slightly twisted and very interesting way of looking at things. I can see some truth in those. I might steal some of that. :)

Meggles: that sounds like saying an ex-baptist isnt an ex-baptist because they werent married to a priest. Why is it whenever I say what I know I get told that isnt really it? :)

Answer 6

I have followed some links posted by people here, and I am sure someone will post it to this question.

I think that Scientology is a vile cult, and one of the most moronic religions ever. It was created by a SF writer, and unsurprisingly, the religion has aliens in it. It actually costs money to belong to the cult, and it gets people killed because Scientology doesn't permit some drugs and treatment.

I base my opinion on what I have read, and seen in some shows, plus, common sense.

Answer 7

It is appealing to people because many celebrities are Scientologist and because it teaches you that there is a answer or cure for everything.

The science fiction writer used subtle lines to convince people to be in Scientology. He wanted money.

Answer 8

Scientology is toxic waste; stay away from it. I know a chap who was hounded out of the country by Scientologists who did not like his attacks on their cult.

Answer 9

began by means of L. Ron Hubbard as 'self support process' known as Dianetics (he began out writing SiFi books after which wrote self support books) ...it right into a became "faith".....many persons (Christians, atheist, agnostics, former contributors, ect) say it's the superb 'textual content-e-book' instance of a non-violent Cult (proposal a few contributors have pronounced bodily and emotional abuse) the elemental concept is: in the course of your and beyond lives you will have had terrible stories that you just can not consider, those repressed stories 'keep you again'.... by way of particular counseling known as "Dianetics" (furnished by means of the CoS. for a nominal price) you'll 'system/manage' those unhealthy stories....as soon as there all looked after, you'll go beyond to a "prime undeniable of lifestyles" ....THE END....

Answer 10

Its a crazy, idiotic cult.

My opinion is based on the fact that the religion itself is based on a science fiction book by L. Ron Hubbard.

Answer 11

It was invented by a science fiction writer.... nuff said