Scientology is a dangerous cult. I advise anyone involved with it to get out now.
My brother and sister were conned by Scientology about 20 years ago, when they were young and foolish, and especially attractive to Scientology recruiters - vulnerable.
These days they're like you, still in admiration of some of the concepts of Hubbard's philosophy, but disgusted with the Church of Scientology itself.
Like all religions, in and of itself Scientology is no worse than say Islam or Buddism with regard to the efficacy and insight in it's teachings. It's only when you add the PEOPLE required to call it a religion that it strays over the line to corruption, fanaticism, and criminality.
I have to admit being seriously amused though - more so than by any other 'religion' when I was told about 'body thetans' and 'n-grams'. Guess I'm in serious need of an 'audit', eh?
Wow. I bet there is a bit of a stir at &cientology HQ tonight.
This just sounds like a typical burnout letter. At the worst of times, I could have written the same thing about the Marines or Ernst & Young. I’m sure many could do a global search and replace on this article with the names of their least favorite church or political group that they experienced.
I don't trust the fanatics at all. MUCH less than, say, a devout Christian or Jew. They are WEIRD folks with weird beliefs, at least at the higher levels.
L. Ron was a master story teller..
"Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue." - Barry Goldwater
If you believe you are serving the truth is it fanatical to give it all you've got?
I await the rest of your confessions. So far nothing said that everyone didn't know.
I live in an area without a Scientology presence and I had thought they had faded away into their own paranoid fantasies.
I have devised a short list of traits that most cults have in common:
1) CULT OF PERSONALITY: A particular person or leader is either directly worshipped (living or dead) or is otherwise granted dispensation from having to obey the same moral laws as the congregation at large.
2) ISOLATION OF CONGREGATION: Forbidding contact with outsiders, usually with dire consequences. This is different from a monastery, in which you do have some contact with outsiders.
3) CONFISCATION OF ALL PERSONAL PROPERTY AND MONEY: As opposed to voluntarily submitting it, as is done in churches, synagogues, etc. Monks often give up all they own but it is voluntary.
4) GENERAL ENFORCEMENT OF RULES BEHAVIOR VIA INTIMIDATION OR WORSE: No questioning of the cult's authority, as opposed to the Judeo-Christian tradition in which, with some exceptions in some sects, questions are encouraged.
Scientology fits all 4.
Why do I suspect there will be a book forthcoming?
Scientology - a religion founded on a simple bet.
The end no longer justifies the means because it has become personally embarrassing to him. Good grief.
Are you aware that L. Ron Hubbard is still alive?
Egad, I feel like I'm rubbernecking a bloody train wreck :- |
"...attained some of the highest spiritual levels that it offers."
That phrase alone tells you more than any other part of the story.
Scientology "offers" (as in sells) spiritual levels. The more you make as a hollywierd actor or lawyer/judge .... the more "spiritual you may become .... your only limit is how much CASH you have to give.
Do tell. Have you ever met Tom Cruise and Nichole Kidman?
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I'm a socioanthropologist. Scientology, like some other cults, is a pseudo religion. For the emotionally and therefore spiritually bereft of the feel good culture being shoved down our throats for 35 years, it used the classic elements necessary for any new religion: heavy emphasis on what amounts to simple understanding of the human ohyche, what makes us pack/herd animals get along and what makes us confrontational.
Hubbard did this as a weird experiment in Jungian psychology. As far as I was ever able to tell, he never meant it to be a real religion, he just wanted to compel readers and sell books. When he died, his wife preyed upon the gullible for profit. If you're creative enough and a good student of human psychology - you don't need a degree, just a good brain - you too and invent a cult of your own.
If you're really that openly critical and questioning of Scientology, study the methodology Hubbard used in mapping his books.
There are no secrets to it, only elements of the ritual methodology of established religions combined with the most popular buts and pieces of pop culture
A previous poster has it right: Muhammad successfully used Judaeism and Christianity and combined it with the STRICTEST, most secret aspects of ancient Semitic tribal culture to create Islam and did a giid job, even though half the time he was wasted on opium laced wine to ease the pain of wounds he'd received while killing off while tribes of his own people
Just as Hubbard did while combining the most fascinating aspects of all the major religions and combining them with the most Californian of pop cults. You're not a member of a real religion, you're a member of his widow's complexes.
bump for later
For the most part, Scientologists are oblivious to how they're perceived outside of their own little bubble world. Sort of like blue state liberals.
Scientology...that's like AmWay, right?