Scientology, good or evil?
Question answered by escapee in Scientology
Anonymous asked this question on 9/29/2000:
Hi, I have read many negative opinions
about Scientology on this site over the last few months. I was
hoping there was some Scientologist out there who could
give me some insight into the religion....(not just the usual
stuff written on the Scientology pamphlets, I've heard it all
before). Eg: what type of personality charactoristics are
derived from the 200 question quiz etc. What are some of the life
tools used to make the most of one's life palette, etc. Why
the secrecy? Please fill me in. I know a few Scientologists (who
don't really seem to take my subtle hints & tell me more about
their religion) however I have always found them to be kind,
generous, positive, empowered, and definately too
intellegent to beleive in dead space aliens and so on. I only want
to hear from members, so if you have a heap of negative crap to
send, please don't do so!! I wan't to learn something here!
escapee gave this response on 9/30/2000:
The first Church of Scientology was started in Phoenix, AZ in
1953. L. Ron Hubbard realized that since he was dealing with
a Thetan (individual spirit, from Theta, thought) that he
could start a religion. It solved a very critical problem at
that time, which was, the practitioners, "auditors" were not
permitted to audit for pay in different States because they
weren't qualified by State laws. Few auditor's had
psychology degrees, or whatever a given State required.
Ministers, on the other hand, could give councelling in any
State of the US. From their it was not too hard to take a
body of data that had been called "applied philosopy" and
turn it into a religion. In the US Scientology is considered a
religion, not all countries do. Germany does not.
The personality test? The one they give is very similiar to
any psychology test. When the test is done one can say,
you are well oriented, or dispersed (whatever the test
shows) you are happy or sort of happy or depressed,
(whatever the test shows) you are nervous or relaxed,
aggessive or passive, empathic or cold...there are some
traits. The test is used to encourage people to come in for
auditing or training. You pick the lower points, and indicate
those and say they need improving and that is what
Scientology can do for you.
Life tools, probably find some of those in Problems of Work.
The TR's (training regime) for communication skills were
originally designed to improve auditor skills, but some may
find them useful in every day life.
You know, there is a joke about Bridge Players. They say
they are the most wonderful people in the world, until they
get 13 cards in their hands. Something similar could be said
about Scientologists. I have met very few Scientologists in
my life that I didn't like.
Anonymous rated this answer:
Thankyou. Were you once in Scientology or are you still
involved in it? I am not looking into joining or anything but I find
their zest for life intruiging and would just like to know some of
the rules they live by to be such a way!
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