I do have a standing open offer to answer any FReeper's questions about Scientology, either in open forum, or via FReepmail.
True, some of the questions are about getting out of scn, or getting a loved one out, true, I will give the best advice I can to help them, but that is not the end-all and be-all of that thread.
The purpose of that thread is to aid people in knowing about scientology, with the hope that with sufficient knowledge they will avoid it.
If I lie about the few good parts, it would destroy my credibility, as any idiot can see there are some benefits (every trap needs bait!).
It would be the equivalent of trying to convince a mouse that cheese is bad. It violates the mouse's own experience, he knows cheese is good, and anyone saying cheese is bad is probably lying about the trap, too.
It is my experience that one of the things that sticks people to scientology is mystery, the fear that if the leave they will never know what is on the upper levels. I provide information to people who 'gots to know'. </Dirty Harry reference> When it clicks they can (and almost always do) leave.
You see, I have actual success in bailing out scientologists.
How many people have you succeeded in getting anyone out of scientology? With your honest, warm, fuzzy and empathetic approach you must have freed thousands by now.
If it's all the same to you, I'll stick with something that works, even if you can't fathom why or how.
You claim not to advertise yourself and then you advertise yourself.
There’s no way to verify your claims of getting people out. If they are “out” as you are, they’re not really out. E-peens are not impressive.
In Scientology, the cheese IS bad. The method to gain is to use others for your own power. That’s bad cheese, the gain is bad.
It’s a bad method to transform a thief by agreeing that all the stuff he stole is really good stuff. It’s not - it’s a weight that’s killing him spiritually. Wanting the stuff so badly, thinking the stuff would be “good” is false. Reinforcing his Jones is not something to brag about.
Did you see Scientology as part of your spiritual growth? If so, what takes its place now? Did you see Scientology as a way to gain personal power? If so, what replaces that now? Was Scientology a way for you to be of help others? If so, what replaces that now?
I really rarely describe anyone’s religion as evil. Or come down hard against someone else’s beliefs. Only the very few that I believe are truly evil and of great harm in all their aspects, from root to petal.
Perhaps a better way to put it:
Scientology preys on and appeals to a harmful side of human nature, it appeals to give power to this side. It’s closest cousin is Satanism. The ties between Hubbard and Aleister Crowley are well documented.
The appeal may be “self improvement,” but it’s for personal power over others. The appeal may be to “help” the planet, but underneath is the real appeal of personal power over others. And on and on. Using others, against their will, for your personal gain. It’s the true appeal of both Satanism and Scientology. Just watch Tom Cruise for a perfect example.
If you reinforce the “good” of accomplishing success according to Hubbard, you feed this evil nature. All the good “cheese” is to a bad end.
If what appealed to someone about Scientology still appeals to them, they’re not free. If you reinforce this desire in others, how tasty the cheese is, even if they leave Scientology, their root cause for joining remains. And they, and others, will suffer so long as it remains.
I’m leaving for the weekend, so won’t be able to post or reply. I’ll check back when I return.