How to do feel about scientology?

Question

I know it's a really controversial "religion" and I just want to hear your views about it. Positive and Negative. How do you feel about Ron L. Hubbard, dianetics, etc, etc. Please only intelligent answers here. I don't want people giving me one word answers. Thanks.

Wow... no one has anything positive to say about it?? hahaha. I'm glad you all feel the same way I do about it. I went through this phase where I was doing a whole bunch of research on it, and not one thing sounded appealing to me. They take your money, they have killed memebers who have tried to leave, a sci fi writer made it up because "the best way to get rich is to start a religion" The only people who could believe in such a crazy "religion" must be extremely lost and vulnerable. I feel sorry for those. It's too bad that Tom Cruise got caught up in it...

Answer 1

I feel very very negatively towards it. I'm sure Scientologists and some ex-Scientologists alike would call such feelings "Suppressive", but... it's because they don't like to accept that there are distasteful and downright dangerous aspects to their "faith".

Scientology is a scam, a cult, a criminal enterprise, an all around BAD organization (an opinion I will gladly substantiate in a moment). L. Ron Hubbard was a fraud and a mad-man. Here are a myriad of books (available free online) that will enlighten you to just what kind of person he was:

http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Library/Shelf/atack/contents.htm
http://lisatrust.bogie.nl/scientology/essays/jeff-hubbard.htm
http://www.apologeticsindex.org/Bare%20Faced%20Messiah.pdf
http://www.clambake.org/archive/books/mom/Messiah_or_Madman.txt

Now... as for why I would say such things about Scientology... 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

● Brainwashing & mind control: Scientology exerts control over its members by means of typical cult tactics, including but not limited to controlling information about internal doctrine & criticism of the organization, severely restricting social contact outside the cult (including the practice of “disconnecting” with any family who question the credibility & trustworthiness of the cult), creating an “us against them” mentality by villainizing a specific out-group (for Scientology, it’s psychiatrists), & claiming all those outside the cult are unenlightened.
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/06/24/Tampabay/The_unperson.shtml
http://www.factnet.org/Books/SocialControl/scs.html#toc http://www.freedomofmind.com/resourcecenter/groups/s/scientology/pignotti/
http://xenu.net/archive/personal_story/funkydonny.html

● 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

Ok I am an ex-scientologist and this is my personal views only.

I took a couple of the cheaper courses years ago. Personal Communications, and Better Studying. Great stuff, I still use it daily (well the communications more than they studying). I didnt feel a need for the other courses like fighting peer pressure or getting off drugs.

I did not see or hear any of the weird stuff that gets posted here all the time. But apparently thats all "secret" stuff known only at the top (like vatican level knowledge) so most scientologists dont believe that anyway even if it is true. According to the anti-scientology sites " Preliminary analysis suggests that about 60% of people who try Scientology do only a single course or service, that 80% of new members become inactive within 2 years, and that 65% of those who reach the level of Clear become inactive within a year after doing so." So it doesnt sound much like a cult. And the "horrors" people post seem to have 2 names which seems like a good score even if it is true. 2 people in 50 years? Compare that to any other religion.

As far as I can see... Hubbard researched a ton of self-help techniques and packaged them. Back in the 50's you had to be medical or relgion to do that. He got in trouble with medical and went religion. Now of course Dianetics and scientology are offered outside of the church thing. the Literacy program, Narconon, Criminon, and other programs. Not to mention the Free Zoners.

Answer 3

Hubbard was a science fiction writer - evident by his "religious" stories. Who else could come up with such stuff?! I believe that Hubbard started a cult that somehow grew as it rolled downhill. What's most catching is that it claims people can become gods themselves - what's not so catching (or publicized by the religion) is that it cost Sooooo much money it's crazy!

Personally, I believe these people need ~something~ but they haven't found it yet. Scientology is a break from all religious norms (although, I'm not entirely sure it is really a religion rather a "craft" type thing. There is no Deity(ies) or reverence toward anything. The purpose is to try to "clear" the self to become pure - religious? I'm not so sure).

Religion is something that evolves over time with a group of people. Not overnight like Scientology. One man developed the entire religion himself. Kinda sounds cultish.

Answer 4

"Dianetics" by L. Ron Hubbard is the basis for Scientology. L. Ron Hubbard was a science fiction author, and "Dianetics" was written as FICTION, very much like "The Necronomicon"--another "religious" book some people incorrectly think is the real deal. "Dianetics" was actually notes for a novel LRH was writing--it was the religion of the characters in a novel that he never got to finish. But don't expect a scientologist to tell you that.

Some people are so stupid that they can't differentiate between reality and fiction--and it is these people who made the notes for a sci-fi novel into a religion called Scientology. Unfortunately for the rest of us, their numbers are growing. But they do have one redeeming quality--they are amusing--think of Tom Cruise's little snit-fit on Oprah. LOL!

What disappoints me is that Will Smith has gotten into it. He used to be intelligent and normal. *wipes a tear*

Answer 5

I had been given a series of books written by L. Ron Hubbard last year, though they were written many years before..just that the owner knows I like sci-fi and let me have them . I ended up throwing them all into the garbage simply because the third one had some strange things in it which pretty much looked like child sexual abuse tome ..which is definitely not my interest at all..but hey.. that is how that man used to make his money.. by writing. I have read much of his stuff before that and found it mostly entertaining .. very little in the way of teaching of any values of any kind ..hardly any incredible innovative thinking concerning the fate of the planet or mankind.. so.. when I also ofund out he had begun an entire religion.. I just kinda thought he was ( deceased ) a mercenary sort of man just hopeful to make some kind of mark on the planet.. no matter what the aftermath.. a common sort of thing...nothing new and nothing great. ..

when i reviewed the simplest format of the religion , i was not dumb founded or anything..he just appeals to a kind of mindset that wants to be God is al it seems to me.

Answer 6

It is a religion because it is not based on any facts but rather the ( Sci-Fi) imagination of L.Ron Hubbard and others .
It is an "evil" religion because it attempts to stop the distribution of information about it . And it often does this in destructive ways . Financial ruin of others , deceptive practices ( such as taking over the Anti-Cult Hotline and using it to promote Scientology ), and even phyisical harm .
Also it prohibits reality based psychological treatrment ( after all , why would they want a person grounded in reality !) and the use of drugs which act on the mind . ( Many people have a chemical imbalnce in the brain which NEEDS drug intervention ! They can become suicidal and or violent without this medication .)
It is basically a rework of Hubbard's Christian faith which he abandoned prior to his suicide .
The Aliens =Angels , The prisoners of the volcanos =devils ,Detonation of nuclear weapons = The great Flood , clearing = forgiviness by god , auditors =priests , audit consoles = confessionals , 1/3 tithing = 1/10 tithing ,etc.
This is one of the example why we need to revise the tax codes to make organizations such as this and the Muslims' CAIR pay taxes .

Answer 7

Scientology is a pretend cult began by ability of a technological understanding fiction author by ability of the call of L Ron Hubbard. Mr. Hubbard improve into approximately to start a clean business enterprise while his accountant pronounced that if calls his new business enterprise a faith, the income might all be tax loose. and that's how the "faith" of Scientology improve into born. on the link below there are a gaggle of links approximately Scientology and another fake cults. Pastor artwork

Answer 8

I don't know MUCH about it, but I find it to be frightening in its ability to skew the beliefs of people to such a degree. And if its true that the more you pay, the higher status you have, then I really don't see the appeal.

I used to go to a restaurant down the street from their museum based towards the evils of Psychology. And it's horrifying! I've never been in but they have huge pictures of.... I don't know how to describe it, but I guess they are pictures of people that have been killed/maimed by psychological tests, etc.

I repeat, it frightens me.

EDIT: I also heard that it was started based on a BET by Hubbard to see if he could start a religion. If that's true, I don't get why anyone follows it.

Answer 9

I don't particularly like it. Though I should read his book before I truely cement my belief. I did take the scientology test (the ones with the cans and questioner). The questioner was trying to convince me that I had problems and needed help. When I said that I'm pretty happy and fine (which I am), she gave me the attitude I was lying to her. When the device said I wasn't stressed at all, she declared it was broken. I don't particularly trust such trickery to seduce the weak into following.

Answer 10

You thought that asking like that would bring them out to talk to you? You are surprised that all you got was the usual "never met one but I read" responses?

Scientologists are all pretty serious. All happy and open but very focused. The ones on here are like most serious answerers. Why post something that is obviously not going to get considered for best answer.

Personally they bug me but not for the stupid reasons usually given. I live in California and am surrounded by them. I thought they would be talking crazy, or be fun to tease. They arent. They are pretty cool and too hard to pick on.

I prefer slackers and procrastinators and crazy folk.

Answer 11

Considering that Germany is thinking of banning Scientology ( a religion! ) and yet is tolerant of Islam, with all its violence and intolerance of others, indicates that it has some pretty negative features.

It was established by a science-fiction writer for the purpose of establishing a cult and deriving the financial and unsavory benefits of this.