The Scientology Thread (was: Ask the Ex-Scientologist Anything)

I worked at the Church of Scn for 10 years. My family's still in so we maintain a "good roads, good weather" relationship. I may not answer your questions, but feel free to ask anything.

Disclaimer: Any non-Neglify comments made in this thread do not reflect the standpoint of Neglify. I am responsible for my own case and I blame nobody.

Bingowings said:

One reads stories about Scientology which are almost entirely negative (controlling, brain-washing, money making scam, invented by a rubbish science fiction author etc) would you wish to counter those accusations at all as someone who has left and still has relatives inside the church?

Are there positives about being in that situation?

Hmm. Well, I don't really want to counter the negative comments, I maintain a pretty neutral stance, even when I was still in. It's not all bad though, there are many many good-hearted Scientologists out there doing what they think is the greatest good for the greatest number of "dynamics."  I never held the "KSW #1" opinion that "the whole agonized future of this planet... for the next endless trillions of years depend on what you do here and now with and in Scientology." They would drill that into our heads often; one common practice was "Chinese School," usually during a morning meeting or in the Academy (training department) after the first roll call. The goal was to get you to the point of being able to rattle off all 10 points of How to Keep Scientology Working and remind you Scientology isn't a hobby. Quite often I would mouth the words and just sing a song in my head. It is a very controlling environment, but most people are control freaks because they believe that's what needed to salvage the human race. It's their goal to "put Ethics in on the planet."

I can't comment on L. Ron cause I didn't know him personally. The guy definitely had ego issues, but props to him for being so driven and successful.

TV's Frink said:

Not sure if serious.

For realsies.

Bingowings said:

Was the how to improve relations in life course in any way useful to you?

I barely remember this course. I think I did it when I was like 11. For 6 months or so I was a course supervisor in Div 6 (new people). I don't remember anybody doing that course under my watch. But all those Div 6 courses were just L. Ron policies reworded to take out a lot of the jargon and adding illustrations. I'm sure there's good info in there that people use all the time. His article about "granting beingness" was solid and I still live by that.

DominicCobb said:

So how did you view The Master then, as an ex-scientologist? You've written quite a bit about it but I'm sure you have other thoughts about it from this angle as well.

The Master continues to have a profound impact on me, I turn it on every night before going to bed and put it on a loop. It's easy for me to relate with Freddie. PTA did his research on that film, there are so many things that are spot on. After njvc and I went to see it I told him all about the times I ran the process of walking back and forth between the walls. I was an "auditor" (counselor) for 5 years so I ran that one on many people. I was amazed when Freddie reached the "End Phenomena" of that. "I can touch the stars, the sky" equates to the concept of "going exterior," which is the actual EP of the real-life process. The movie's process was a mixture of "Opening Procedure by Duplication" and "CCHs 1-4".

There were also little things that bugged me. Freddie and Dodd's session - OCA questions were never used in auditing, the confessional questions he asked weren't written until 1961 or so, usually you ask if the guy was sent there by the Fifth Invader Force before you audit him. But the emotions in that scene still get me.

I've read comparisons between The Master and Scn and there's many things people don't notice, maybe one day I'll write my own comparison essay.

m_s0 said:

What made you want to get out?

A lot of things.

TV's Frink said:

What do you think of Battlefield Earth?

I actually kind of liked the book.

Terrible terrible film, I totally want to make a grindhouse fanedit out of it. I never read the book.

Have you, or would you, plant your purple headed monster into Mr Cruise' back passage?

I'm not a fudge packer!!!