Scientology: Thinking of joining scientology?

Ah, it's always nice to see that my work is appreciated. Anyhow, you'll have to look to the resident Y!A Scientologists for the "pros". I can present for you the "cons". Scientology is a cult, a greedy, unscrupulous, manipulative, dangerous, lying, scamming, bullying, brainwashing criminal enterprise that should be avoided at all costs. I of course back myself up with plentiful evidence to support my assertions. Consider the following...

There are multitudes of people who have suffered tragic experiences during their involvement with Scientology. Read about them here:

http://www.lermanet.com/persecution/

http://www.whyaretheydead.net/krasel/

http://xenu.net/archive/personal_story/cheryl_s

Here are more "bad experiences" with the cult including an illegal plot to infiltrate the government, brainwashing techniques, mind control camps, attacks on critics, and DEATHS caused by Scientology doctrine and members:

● Operation Snow White – Under this official program, Scientology operatives committed infiltration, wiretapping, & theft of documents in government offices. This program constituted the single largest infiltration of the United States government in history. Among the 11 prominent Scientologists convicted of this conspiracy was Mary Sue Hubbard, the wife of Scientology’s “prophet”.

http://lisatrust.freewinds.cx/scientology/snow-whi...

http://en.allexperts.com/e/o/op/operation_snow_whi...

http://www.lermanet.com/reference/77Granjurypart1....

● Operation Freakout - Their campaign of sabotage & violence against Paulette Cooper, the writer who published her research & findings on several cults, including Scientology. Scientology’s official plan: to frame Paulette, ruin her career & reputation & get her either incarcerated or locked up in psychiatric confinement.

The official plan: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Krasel/cooper/frk1.html

Her book: http://holysmoke.org/cos/books/scandal-of-scientol...

More info: http://www.holysmoke.org/pc/pc.htm

● Fair Game - the Scientology policy detailing how the organization may confront & handle critics & perceived enemies. Here is a direct quote: "Enemies may be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist without any discipline of the Scientologist. May be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed.”

http://www.xenu.net/archive/disk/fairgame.htm

http://www.planetkc.com/sloth/sci/Fair_game_ord.ht...

http://www.fairgamed.org/

● Physical & psychological punishment: Scientologists who "break the rules" while members of the "Sea Org" must subject themselves to the Rehabilitation Project Force (RPF), which includes regimes of harsh physical punishment, forced self-confessions, social isolation, hard labor and intensive ideological indoctrination.

http://www.xenu-directory.net/practices/rpf.html

http://www.lermanet2.com/scientology/gulags/Brainw...

http://www.xs4all.nl/~kspaink/cos/rpf/escape_2.htm

● Brainwashing & mind control: Scientology exerts control over its members by means of typical cult tactics, including but not limited to controlling information about internal doctrine & criticism of the organization, severely restricting social contact outside the cult (including the practice of “disconnecting” with any family who question the credibility & trustworthiness of the cult), creating an “us against them” mentality by villainizing a specific out-group (for Scientology, it’s psychiatrists), & claiming all those outside the cult are unenlightened.

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/06/24/Tampabay/The_unp...

http://www.factnet.org/Books/SocialControl/scs.htm... http://www.freedomofmind.com/resourcecenter/groups...

http://xenu.net/archive/personal_story/funkydonny....

● Violent Kidnapping - Lisa McPherson was a Scientologist, was involved in a car accident & resultantly became mentally unstable. She was kidnapped from the hospital by agents of Scientology, held against her will, refused proper psychiatric treatment & allowed to STARVE TO DEATH.

Video: http://theunfunnytruth.ytmnd.com/

News Coverage: http://www.factnet.org/Scientology/Lisa_McPherson_...

Websites: http://www.lisamcpherson.org/

http://www.whyaretheydead.net/room174.html

● Tragic Murder - A CBS “48 Hours” special on Jeremy Perkins, the mentally disturbed son of Scientologist parents who, because of the Scientology doctrine of opposing psychiatry, refused to put him on the anti-psychotic drugs that would have stabilized him & prevented him from killing his own mother.

Video: http://www.scientomogy.com/jeremy_perkins.php

CBS article: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/10/25/48hours/...

Website: http://perkinstragedy.org/

There is always two sides to every story. What I like about Scientology is that it gives you data to improve your life and the life of others. You can think for yourself and understand people better. But there are those people who have evil intentions and may stumble into Scientology. They then run out and tell horror stories. Nothing is perfect, but if one can discover more about themselves and others then it is a good thing right?

If you join the Scientology cult, then you are not really serious about being a genuine Christian. Find a traditional church that is ALIVE and full of fire; not dried up and dead. If you're looking for perfection, you won't find it in ppl. but look to Jesus Christ in God. You aren't prefect, maybe your parents weren't either but at least most Christians are striving to be more like Jesus; we are humans and haven't yet made it to heaven. Not till those who are truly walking with Jesus will they eventually and finally make it to heaven. If you haven't confessed your sins and ask him to come into your heart and be your savior will you have a residence prepared for you my friend.

Im an ex-scientologist.

I dont think the spiritual growth would amount to much. Basically they are into "thank God but fix yourself". Challenges? Hmm not really. They have it pretty well ironed out so that taking the self-help courses is pretty easy. Great people? Yes Id say yes to that. They are all pretty happy and focused. Great to talk to. Personal growth? That would be the biggy. Everyone I know of that actually tried some of their stuff consider it to have made a difference.

Personally I took the Personal Communications, and the Better Studying courses. Great stuff. I got C's in highschol but after the courses I was able to do well in all of my career moves. And went from a mumbling geek to being a public speaker. I made my living doing demontrations to crowds and doing some teaching in the military.

I didnt feel a need for the higher courses. Fighting peer pressure, getting off drugs and alcohol, removing blocks to my goals, stuff like that. But I heard good stuff about it from others.

If you are considering religions then try taking this test. Its really excellent and neutral. It will ask question about things you feel you could accept and give you a percentage on major religions for how well you might receive them.

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/76/story_7665_1.htm...

None of the posts up to mine are from anyone who's actually been a Scientologist and are coming from what other people have said, rather than any first hand experience (except Gandalf who decided it wasn't for him and anyone who admits they don't know).

Besides http://www.beliefnet.org/

take a look at http://www.religioustolerance.org/

There are also 2 Scientology sites that have some good data:

http://www.scientology.org/

http://faq.scientology.org/

From a Scientologist of 36 years

You can message me if you have any questions.

Well I can only give you "pros" having been in Scientology myself for the past 36 years.

It has the exact things that you are looking for.

I recommend you start by reading the basic books so that you have a personal understanding of the subject.

Here’s a factual description for you meanwhile:

Scientology is a new religion. It is an applied religious philosophy. By “applied” is meant that it is for use in life and living. You actually use it in your day to day life to change and improve existing conditions. It is a practical religion.

All religions if you study them have a basic philosophy, but they also have certain dogma, rituals and observances and a certain faith or belief is required. There is nothing wrong with this , but Scientology is not that kind of religion. It acknowledges the principle of God or the Supreme Being but does not try to define or describe this principle, leaving it up to the individual.

It is also not a messianic religion. This means there is no worship of prophets or messiahs or gods. It is not belief or faith based. In Scientology a truth is true for you according to your own observation and experience .

The dictionary definition that applies:

Religion: The spiritual or emotional attitude of one who recognises the existence of superhuman power or powers.

The most basic principle of Scientology is that YOU are your own immortal soul, that this is not a thing you have but what YOU actually are.

Scientology believes or considers that Man is basically good. This is different from many religions that promote that he his natively evil or bad unless “made” good.

The whole purpose of Scientology knowledge application and procedure is to increase an individual’s understanding and awareness of himself and to rehabilitate his native abilities and potential.

When you do this there sphere and zones of his positive influence increases and moves outward into his life , his family and friends, his groups and Mankind of which he is part .

How this result is achieved is the “technology” of Scientology, which was developed by L Ron Hubbard from discoveries he made after extensive research into the field of the mind and the human spirit.

Some of this knowledge was already existing in the sacred lore of ancient texts like the Veda or Vedic Hymns going back 10,000 years. New and additional discoveries were made about the nature of the human spirit and fully recorded and codified .

Hubbard published 18 basic books from 1950 to 1953 to fully communicate these basic principles and the path of his research. He completed all his research before his death in 1986 and left all his materials and copyrights to the Church of Scientology’s Religious Technology Centre along with most of his personal estate when he died.

The Church of Scientology is currently established iand operating internationally in over 160 countries world wide. However it is still a new religion, less than 55 years old.

The true story of Scientology as a religion goes like this:

1. A philosopher developes a philosophy about life and death.

2. People find it interesting.

3. People find it works.

4. People pass it along to others.

5. It grows.

This is just an overview.

L.Ron Hubbard explained fully the theology and technologies of Scientology in more than 500,000 pages of writings, including dozens of books and over 3,000 tape recorded public lectures.

Scientology can do anyone some good. But instead of asking others in this forum on their views on Scientology, you should visit the church's offical website http://www.scientology.org/ , locate your nearest church, and take a visit there, or just by one of the basic books on it like

Fundamentals of thought, or Dianetics the modern science of mental health.

It is you who chooses or not to acheive a higher state. Scientology is a personal adventure and study of YOU.

And unlike what might be said here, all of the materials is available to anyone who wishes to reach for it, and nothing is behind closed doors.

Christian Science is similar to Scientology. Christian Science reading rooms were or still are open to the public. The Christian Science Monitor can be recieved. I've never been to Scientology churches.

Scientology is a well-conceived, brilliantly operated cult. It is one of the best ways of extracting money from dissatisfied people that has ever been devised. What it does NOT provide is spiritual growth, challenges (except to your wallet), great people, or personal growth. I recommend Buddhism for all of those things. On the other hand, if you DO decide to join scientology, I suppose the money you spend will stimulate the economy.

"The easiest way to gain money and power in this country is to invent your own religion".

- L. Ron Hubbard, science fiction writer and founder of Scientology

It is challenging to even picture that a book can help people to change their fates however } countless males and ladies, people that they have benefitted in a huge

Um, Scientology is messed up. Chekkit: http://www.xenu.net/