Like you, Amy, I am always fascinated by the reports on CoS. If I could only recapture the many lost billable hours spent on xenu.net!
However, I have to say that when you dig deeper, you'll find that for every horror story there is another that goes something like this: "I was into Scientology for a while, then I quit; we had a brief exit interview and they tried to sell me on staying with the Church, but I said no thanks. Never heard from them again."
Even the very troubling McPherson story could just as easily be attributable to the gross negligence of a few individuals and not some organization-wide malice.
I'm not saying they're not whackos - but I doubt the CoS has caused any more deaths than any other faith-healing nut-job group in the past 30 years. Indeed, I'd be curious to compare how the Christian Scientists compare when it comes to faith-induced casualties.
snakeman99
at June 26, 2006 9:24 AM
There's a story that a famous musician from Philadelphia had to pay six figures to leave the COS a few years ago.
Anyway, they may well let some people go without a struggle. These folks judge harshly judge their people as assets and liabilities.
Say what you will about the Catholics: YOu can walk whenever you want.
Crid
at June 26, 2006 9:35 AM
If you do a little research on the web there are many stories about their Clearwater "boot camp" where they send people to work as laborers who are wandering away from scientology. They treat these people pretty harshly. In one article a woman told of being chained to a boiler for days for trying to run away.
Alan H.
at June 26, 2006 7:18 PM
Have you ever hurt a friend, and felt bad and want to do something extra to make up for what you did? It made you feel good and it mend the relationship didn't it?
Why is it when Scientology has a division Called The "RPF' ( Rehabilitation Project Force) based on that Phenomena, It is made to be all sorts of bad things?
Really understand Scientology and Why they do what they do and you might see they are on to something good.
Or Don't, and make a good Organization Evil and let society rot away. At least they are trying really , really hard. I Know I have been in Scientology 30 years and 5 years on staff and in the S.O. I have been in and out many times, thru out the years and have never been hounded.
Maybe when I left Course without a good reason, Then the Ethics officer, set an appointment with me. But if I had a real reason,it was no problem. If it was because I was procrastinating and the factors in my negitive mind was making me not want to finish,(Fail) yes, for my good He helped me get my own ethics in. Justice in Scientology is only used when one cannot get his own ethics in.
If one realizes that the only reason he fails at anything, comes down to a lack of disciplain and that is really ones own ethics. Scientology wants you to succeed naturally, because if you win the organization wins and the planet wins...
"Have you ever hurt a friend, and felt bad and want to do something extra to make up for what you did? It made you feel good and it mend the relationship didn't it?"
You're a scary dude. If I wrong a friend, I make sure I understand why I did what I did (was it laziness, selfishness on my part, disrespect, or what?) and then I take responsibility for it...making amends and correcting whatever in me caused me to do the person wrong in the first place. I don't need to funnel my money to Scientology or anybody for this. I just have to take these steps myself. The stuff above isn't exactly nuclear physics. It's basic personal responsibility.
Do tell us, how much money have you given to Scientology for this weirdly named program for what I can do simply by thinking and making a little effort?
"I take responsibility for it... I don't need to funnel my money to Scientology or anybody for this. I just have to take these steps myself."
You've touched on something crucial to understand how those sects, cults, religions--whatever you want to name them--operate and succeed. They don't target people like you. They prey on vulnerable, weak(ened) populations--whether because of personality, disorders or life circumstances.
Example: when I was working in HR in France, I saw them posting fake job ads under fake names, inviting people to interviews and telling them how great they were, and how even better they could become if they followed such or such improvement courses (the first one would often be free). Before those poor people know, they get sucked in. To me, it's not just despicable practice; it's point blank criminal.
Like you, Amy, I am always fascinated by the reports on CoS. If I could only recapture the many lost billable hours spent on xenu.net!
However, I have to say that when you dig deeper, you'll find that for every horror story there is another that goes something like this: "I was into Scientology for a while, then I quit; we had a brief exit interview and they tried to sell me on staying with the Church, but I said no thanks. Never heard from them again."
Even the very troubling McPherson story could just as easily be attributable to the gross negligence of a few individuals and not some organization-wide malice.
I'm not saying they're not whackos - but I doubt the CoS has caused any more deaths than any other faith-healing nut-job group in the past 30 years. Indeed, I'd be curious to compare how the Christian Scientists compare when it comes to faith-induced casualties.
snakeman99 at June 26, 2006 9:24 AM
There's a story that a famous musician from Philadelphia had to pay six figures to leave the COS a few years ago.
Anyway, they may well let some people go without a struggle. These folks judge harshly judge their people as assets and liabilities.
Say what you will about the Catholics: YOu can walk whenever you want.
Crid at June 26, 2006 9:35 AM
If you do a little research on the web there are many stories about their Clearwater "boot camp" where they send people to work as laborers who are wandering away from scientology. They treat these people pretty harshly. In one article a woman told of being chained to a boiler for days for trying to run away.
Alan H. at June 26, 2006 7:18 PM
Have you ever hurt a friend, and felt bad and want to do something extra to make up for what you did? It made you feel good and it mend the relationship didn't it?
Why is it when Scientology has a division Called The "RPF' ( Rehabilitation Project Force) based on that Phenomena, It is made to be all sorts of bad things?
Really understand Scientology and Why they do what they do and you might see they are on to something good.
Or Don't, and make a good Organization Evil and let society rot away. At least they are trying really , really hard. I Know I have been in Scientology 30 years and 5 years on staff and in the S.O. I have been in and out many times, thru out the years and have never been hounded.
Maybe when I left Course without a good reason, Then the Ethics officer, set an appointment with me. But if I had a real reason,it was no problem. If it was because I was procrastinating and the factors in my negitive mind was making me not want to finish,(Fail) yes, for my good He helped me get my own ethics in. Justice in Scientology is only used when one cannot get his own ethics in.
If one realizes that the only reason he fails at anything, comes down to a lack of disciplain and that is really ones own ethics. Scientology wants you to succeed naturally, because if you win the organization wins and the planet wins...
Diamonddille at June 28, 2006 9:31 AM
"Have you ever hurt a friend, and felt bad and want to do something extra to make up for what you did? It made you feel good and it mend the relationship didn't it?"
You're a scary dude. If I wrong a friend, I make sure I understand why I did what I did (was it laziness, selfishness on my part, disrespect, or what?) and then I take responsibility for it...making amends and correcting whatever in me caused me to do the person wrong in the first place. I don't need to funnel my money to Scientology or anybody for this. I just have to take these steps myself. The stuff above isn't exactly nuclear physics. It's basic personal responsibility.
Do tell us, how much money have you given to Scientology for this weirdly named program for what I can do simply by thinking and making a little effort?
Amy Alkon at June 28, 2006 12:36 PM
"I take responsibility for it... I don't need to funnel my money to Scientology or anybody for this. I just have to take these steps myself."
You've touched on something crucial to understand how those sects, cults, religions--whatever you want to name them--operate and succeed. They don't target people like you. They prey on vulnerable, weak(ened) populations--whether because of personality, disorders or life circumstances.
Example: when I was working in HR in France, I saw them posting fake job ads under fake names, inviting people to interviews and telling them how great they were, and how even better they could become if they followed such or such improvement courses (the first one would often be free). Before those poor people know, they get sucked in. To me, it's not just despicable practice; it's point blank criminal.
Frog in L.A. at June 28, 2006 10:30 PM
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bokidpvcm tzhslbdea at August 4, 2006 8:35 AM
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