A friend of mine joined Scientology and went to work and live there several years ago. She was married there and had a child. She contacted me a few months ago and was very upset telling me that she was excommunicated from the church. Now the church will not allow her to see her child or her siblings who are also in the church. She told me that the workers have a completely different life than the patrons. She is just a shell of a person now -as if her soul was completely gone. She isn't the same person--- the trauma has affected her but I've known her for a very long time --- that--- isn't the same person. Anyone out there have similar experiences with Scientology?
2007-12-19 05:10:24 · 12 answers · asked by sunnygirl7 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Probably. Scientology (like all religions) feeds on people who are unwilling or unable to put careful thought into their beliefs. Since this is the case, there are undoubtedly others who feel they've been abused by Scientology (and all other religions).
I once knew someone who was brainwashed into believing that some guy in the Middle East was executed as atonement for her sins a couple millennia before she was born! It took years for her to get over that abuse and manipulation.
2007-12-19 05:13:16 · answer #1 · answered by smcwhtdtmc 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I nearly lost a friend to Scientology. I personally think that he got out just in time. He sank thousands of dollars (which he didn't have, had to borrow) and countless hours into the pursuit of something even he couldn't explain. He was in a vulnerable position, which they saw and exploited. They promised to make him more productive and successful, when they actually took away any time he would have had to spend working.
While we were going through all this, I did a great deal of research on Scientology. I knew that if it got to a certain point, if I didn't join the church, he would be ordered to "disconnect" from me and I would be labelled a suppressive person. This is what has happened with your friend. She has seen the ugly truth about Scientology, and she knew she had to get out. Unfortunately, her husband obviously does not share her opinion, and the church will do everything they have to do to keep her from her family.
I'm very sorry for your friend. I have seen firsthand what can happen to a person, and how hard it is for them to get back to the person they were and the life they had. I strongly recommend counseling for her, and there are various organizations and groups she can turn to, for people just like her. She should seriously consider reaching out to people from similar situations.
Also, as far as her seeing her child - if she legally divorces or separates (which works very differently within Scientology than it does in the outside world), and gets into a custody battle, she should be very careful. The Scientologists will provide legal counsel to her husband and they will fabricate stories and falsify evidence to keep her from getting custody. This is called Fair Game, and as I'm sure she knows, it is still practiced today, despite the fact that they vehemently deny using this tactic.
By the way, your friend speaks the truth. People who are deep into the organization see a very different side to Scientology than that seen by people who are just beginning to be introduced. Also, Scientology for celebrities is a bit different than that for the "common man."
I applaud her for getting out, and I wish her a full and speedy recovery, and all the best.
-In addition- The answerer above me has posted some excellent links for ex-scientologists. I have personally checked these sites out as well.
2007-12-21 14:56:07 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Is the husband still in Scientology? If it's him keeping the children away, even if it's at the behest of the "church", she'll have to take it up in Family Court with him. If the "church" is preventing her from coming into contact with her children and they're minors, she needs to consult an attorney NOW as they have no legal right to keep her from her children. If her children are over 18, though, they have the right to refuse contact with her, even if they've been manipulated and brainwashed into rejecting her as a "Suppressive Person".
As for similar experiences... 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
2007-12-19 17:02:32 · answer #3 · answered by ZER0 C00L ••AM••VT•• 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
If you can get the financial backing, hire a publicist. Turn it into a public outcry for her to get her children back. Tell the local news what happened and see if you can get them to interview her, then send those tapes to the major networks to see if they will pick up the story.
Also, get her therapy and a good lawyer.
Good lawyers are expensive, but there is probably a religious one out there that would love to attack scientology for free, especially if you get the media involved. The major religions of the world all view scientology as a cult. I am sure there is a self righteous Christian, Jewish or Muslim lawyer out there that would almost turn it into a religious crusade to get her children back for her.
2007-12-19 05:25:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
They can't legally take her child away from her...
She needs to get some spine and hire a lawyer!!
There are many groups out there that help you get your money back after someone has been scamed by the "Church" of BS, I am sure there lawyers can help your sister get her child free of that cult.
I wish you the best of luck...
Now go slap some sence into your sister!!!!!
2007-12-19 05:16:15 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Cults are the same the world over. They cut a person down to the point where they actually believe the tripe they're being fed.
Hopefully she can rescue her child and her siblings and they can be de-programmed.
2007-12-19 05:13:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 2⤋
Not me, but I suggest she takes this to court. What kind of church has the authority or the audacity to deprive a mother from her children!
2007-12-19 05:14:28 · answer #7 · answered by Dr. Facepalm 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋
yes, very common. Watch she doesn't try to kill herself, scientology suicides are amongst the highest in the world. You need to get help for her, and quickly.
2007-12-19 05:16:09 · answer #8 · answered by GEISHA 3 · 4⤊ 2⤋
There are unfortunately tens of thousands of such horror stories coming out of that cult:
2007-12-19 05:13:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
There are resources for former Scientologists. This is a dangerous cult, and she should sue for custody of her child. She needs therapy and a lot of help, so please help her any way you can. God bless you for helping her and seeking help.
2007-12-19 05:14:38 · answer #10 · answered by Anna P 7 · 5⤊ 2⤋