From: Elizabeth.Mccoy@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Elizabeth Mccoy)
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Subject: Re: Can I be in this without giving money?
Message-ID: <4735@beguine.UUCP>
Date: 24 Jul 91 21:54:08 GMT
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From: lachman@parc.xerox.com (Hans Lachman)
Message-ID: <1991Jul24.065001.18338@parc.xerox.com>

>Dear Scientologists,

>Can I be a member of your church and become a full fledged
>Scientologist without contributing any money, 
*I* don't see any reason why not. 'Course, you really *ought* to at
least buy _Dianetics_, since I bet the library would frown on you
checking it out at odd times of the night or stealing it.

>and without discontinuing any of my present
>activities and relationships?
Well, that one depends. If you're a serial-killer in your spare time,
that could be a bit hard to explain. If you keep a harem (even a totally
consensual one) you might have some troubles, since "We Don't Want The
Masses To Think We're *All* Like That." Frankly, I think that the same
logic should be applied to some fanatics, but...
However, as the system of the religion seems to have been set up by a
type-A personality, there are going to be some fanatics/gung-ho sorts
who will try many different ways to talk you into signing up for a
course, which is gonna cost some amount of money. Practice saying "no"
politely. Recycle the flyers that you will be sent. :-)
 
>It's possible I could make contributions of a less tangible kind, for
>example, becoming a better person and a more positive element of the
>world, providing a good example of a Scientologist and how to live 
>properly, giving assistance to those who seek help and gratification 
>to those who help me.
Yep. It's even likely, if you use what you get out of _Dianetics_ and
the various free meetings that Austin, at least, has.
Explain this to the fanatics. I don't promise they'll listen, but some
might. (Find a friend who *is* buying the books, and has the various
literature, and read it if you can. At the *very* least, you ought to be
able to use the right "jargon" (:-) ) at the fanatics.)
  
>I would prefer if only Scientologists posted responses.  Thanks,
I've been one all my life, though I've mostly absorbed stuff through my
gills :-) rather than "learned" it from the books.

Disclaimer: I am but human, and not even Clear. My Word is not All. :-)
--Elizabeth.McCoy@bbs.oit.unc.edu
--
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