Notice: Fredric Rice may have removed segments of the replies given to questions if they contained copyrighted materials. After a very short while, Scientology "experts" refused to answer questions and started cut-and-pasting copyrighted cult propaganda. Additionally I removed URLs in some of the replies, and left them in others. And it's also important to note that eventually the unfortunate "Greg Churilov" cultist was ejected from askme.com for his typical Scientological behavior.

Ork asked this question on 5/11/2000:

I've heard Scientogists claim that there are great mental health benefits to Scientology.

What benefit do you consider you've recieved to your mental health, in reference to your pre-CoS condition? How much money have you spent to achieve this?

Personally I'm very happy with my life and have no phobias, depression, drug problems etc. What incentive do I have to pursue Scientology?

Regards

- Ork

honorarykid gave this response on 5/11/2000:

My expertise in this subject comes solely from studying the methods and operations of Scientology as an outsider and a political opponent. Since I was never a Scientologist, I've never received any benefits from Scientology. As a political opponent of Scientology, I've only seen the downside of this totalitarian, oppressive, anti-democratic group.

But I will offer my opinion on what I think Scientologists gain by way of membership.

I know that most active Scientologists do claim that Scientology is helping them, although the specifics of precisely how and what help they are getting is a little hard to pin down, just like it would be with other subjective religious beliefs.

Most of them will be comforted to some degree by the somewhat abstract belief that they are on what they believe to be the only true path to spiritual freedom.

However, I think exclusivity and elitism are much stronger factors in attracting Scientologists. As an outsider, I would opine that the real psychological benefits to most Scientologists, are twofold. 1) Scientology helps people face down feelings of powerlessness, via drills and operant hypnotic suggestion, and 2) Scientology makes people feel more personally powerful because they are part of a powerful, dynamic, focused group.

I'm glad you're happy with your life, and that nothing has compelled you toward Scientology. I don't want people to join Scientology. I want their membership roles to shrivel up and go away completely, or at least, for them to lose members to the point were Scientology's leaders will recognize that they need to reform their totalitarian, controlling, unethical organization.

The average rating for this answer is 4.

Ork rated this answer a 4.

Thanks. Did mean only to mean to address this question to scientologies. It must be those pesky engrams in my Reactive Mind! ;)

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