From: pmele@ldgo.columbia.edu (phil mele)
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Subject: bs
Message-ID: <1991Jul19.180257.4949@lamont.ldgo.columbia.edu>
Date: 19 Jul 91 18:02:57 GMT
Article-I.D.: lamont.1991Jul19.180257.4949
Sender: news@lamont.ldgo.columbia.edu
Organization: Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory
Lines: 39

  my brother has been a scientologists for over 20 years.  my sister and
brother-in-law were involved for a few years, but quit (and NEVER got the money
they 'donated' back, you need to 'donate' money in order to receive their
counselling).  my brother got involved out west, in las vegas.  he worked his
ass of for the church and was so poor he lived with 7 other scientologists in a
four bedroom house.  he married a scientologist also.
  the article in Time magazine was very good.  basically, they believe that
there are bad experiences in your life that prevent you from attaining your
full potential.  these experiences can be prenatal and from previous lives.
a prenatal example; your mother is pregnant with you, a dog attacks her, you
are afraid of dogs the rest of your life and are unable to get a job as a
dog groomer because you are petrified by them.  for mucho bucks, i mean a
modest donation, someone will attach you to an e-meter, which you have to buy,
and audit you and 'clear' you of these bad experiences.  the e-meter is a
lie-detector type of instrument.
  when my brother first joined, he told us of his initial sessions.  he was
given 'truth serum', i forget the exact name, so that he wouldn't hide anything
from them (like how much money he has, or had).  it's no wonder he was so
amazed by them, they knew everything about him and how to control him.  he never
came back east, but remained in las vegas and moved on to los angeles.  it
seemed that all the scientologists from l.a. were from the east, and all the
ones in clearwater, fla. (their other major center) are from the west, they
don't like you being too near your family.  it's amazing how much money he has
given them, he is constantly broke and every few years calls good old mom for
a few k which he never repays.
  60 minutes did a spot on them about 10 years ago, my brother called a few
minutes before it started and spoke to my father on the phone the entire time
the piece was on.  how did he know we were all poised in front of the tv?
he once told me, wide eyed, how l ron was pronounced dead more than once and
miraculously came back to life (big deal, they do it everyday in hospitals).
  sorry for rambling so, but i have a zillion stories like that.  scientology
is a crock of shit, in mho.

-- 

Phil Mele  (pmele@lamont.ldgo.columbia.edu)
Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University
Palisades, N Y  10964