[roadcat]

Interesting article. I'll confess that I was an adherent in the mid-1970s for about a year at the San Francisco location. Although labeled as kookiness, becoming a Scientologist did me some good. The training and interview sessions focused one on clearing one's mind of emotional baggage. Some of the studying implied that if you came across words or phrases you did not understand, that you needed to stop and look up the definitions, then go back to the text before proceeding. Otherwise, your "unconscious" mind would stumble and trip over the information it was trying to absorb. This helped me in reading many publications, including computer manuals and scientific literature.

I had a falling out with the group, deciding that the interview/study sessions with trainers were much too intense, and that their goals were unrealistic. Supposedly, as one cleared one's mind of baggage they would become a thetan, of pure mind and focus. The trainers told me the goal was to clear all of San Francisco by 1984. I argued that it was an unrealistic goal, no matter how many thousands of members they had in SF, and decided to get out. The trainers worked their influence hard, attempting to keep me in line but finally gave up. The "religion" has it's detractors, many of which have no idea what goes on inside. But the short stay I had with them did focus my mind, and made me a better debater and worker. In dealing with others (non-Scientologists), it helped me realize that lots of people are full of b.s. and it's relatively easy to pick apart their arguments when you confront them with facts. Car salesmen, politicians, basically lots of people are out there spouting disinformation but if you carefully analyze what they say then you will not be duped. (Most libs are duped into believing nonsense.)

[TChad]

I had a similar experience long ago with a group that used Scientology techniques outside the Scientology organization, a squirrel group. I don’t regret joining the group, and don’t regret leaving. I developed a respect for Scientology’s techniques and a fear of the organization.

[dmz]

You don’t say so, but I’m sure you recognize that there are dozens, if not hundreds, of techniques that could have gotten you that same clarity of mind that have no need to wrap their thinking up in pseudo religious terms.

[null and void]

That mirrors my somewhat longer stint in southern California.

[CodeToad]

Support group for introverts. Introverted people find the same results when they mature and stand up for themselves by any means. All these types of organizations, including Landmark that exists today, target the introverted.

Ironically, the people ‘helped’ by these types of scam artists never seem to question the scam artists using their newly found extroverted skills.

I think the best class for introverts is the Dale Carnegie training. They at least tell you they will help you to communicate and think for yourself. No strings attached. It is all about the fees you pay for the courses.