Okay so I've seen the YTMND about Scientology before, but I decided to read more about their practices on their own site. I found some stuff that was interesting.
I believe what they aim to do is morally good, however there is a great deal of paranoia involved which I think stems from this paragraph L. Ron Hubbard wrote in 'The Aims of Scientology':
The Aims of Scientology by L. Ron Hubbard said:
Man suspects all offers of help. He has often been betrayed, his confidence shattered. Too frequently he has given his trust and been betrayed. We may err, for we build a world with broken straws. But we will never betray your faith in us so long as you are one of us.
I interpret this as an underlying threat to all those who dare betray them.
Also in this statement of aims was this paragraph:
The Aims of Scientology by L. Ron Hubbard said:
We seek no revolution. We seek only evolution to higher states of being for the individual and for society. We are achieving our aims.
Again, this I take as morally good. However the rate at which they are gaining followers and the method (which I will talk about later on) they use in persuading potential follwers is quite the opposite to "We seek no revolution". It's almost as if they
know their religion is a revolution but don't want to be portrayed as one.
Again, this was taken from their 'Aims of Scientology':
The Aims of Scientology by L. Ron Hubbard said:
A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology.
Like I said, I see nothing wrong with this as I think (or like to believe) that everyone wishes for peace and achieve great things. Not sure if they mean "greater heights" in a spiritual sense, or socially. Because I think the latter might create a sense of greed and arrogance (hence the factor of money).
Another thing that I find interesting is their approach to "Drugs & Chemicals" which they have a section dedicated to on their site. They're pretty much organic eaters and frown upon chemicals in their food which are "poison" (a very strong word to use). Now at first I thought this was a bit hypocritical because it was science that invented these chemicals to preserve our food etc. however I'm not entirely sure if there is any science to Scientology (lol) so I have to be careful about pouncing on them about this. But what I found funny was their procedure for getting rid of these "poisons" in your body. They have what is called a 'Purification Rundown' which is "an exercise to dislodge toxic residues". Okay, nice. So at least they care about your health. However what I find a bit suspicious is this:
[QUOTE='The Effects of Drugs & Chemicals, Scientology.org]Followed immediately by sweating in a sauna, these toxins are flushed from the system.
Mega-vitamin and mineral dosages and extra oil are vital factors in helping to repair the body.[/QUOTE]
The sauna bit I found funny because I can just imagine a bunch of Scientologists releasing all their "poisons". If that's the case, I'm sure I do that anyway after each gym session so I don't need to worry about the "poisons" I eat. What concerned me though, were these "mega-vitamin and mineral dosages". First of it's hypocritical to take such non-organic supplements when they are told to get rid of such "poisons" to begin with. But more importantly who's to know they aren't some brain-washing drug to influence a dangerous, radical, cult-like community? This might be one of the biggest reasons for their extreme paranoia, weird stalking, and explanations of their killings in their community.
Now, I thought about the murder (because that's what it was.. not a random death) of Lisa McPherson and the only conclusion I have was that they had to get rid of her (and others they murdered) because she was an imperfection to their community. Now Scientology seeks for the progression of one's self, and since Lisa McPherson had a "psychotic breakdown" as Scientologists call it, they deemed her unfit and had to get rid of her because they seek for a perfect community: "A civilization without insanity". That's my explanation anyway. So basically if you quit their religion, or show traits that are not outlined in their aims, you're either banished, stalked, or murdered. I don't think religions should be so quick and open to welcome new members, but be so harsh should they change their beleifs.
Moving back onto the 'Drugs & Chemicals' point, if you wished to join their religion you'd have to go through "auditing session" with an "Electropsychometer" or E-Meter. Now in theory an "auditing session" sounds nice - you get to talk to a Scientologist who does nothing but listen to problems in your life, then they help you out so you can live a better life. But they also hook you up to an "E-meter" which, and I quote:
The Electropsychometer said:
...measures the mental state or change of state of a person, helping the auditor locate areas of spiritual distress or travail so they can be addressed and handled in a session.
Like the "mega-vitamins" and "mineral dosages" how can you be certain that this won't brainwash you, or transmit some dangerous waves into your head so you lose clarity of mind - something which they seek you to find in the first place. It really sounds suspicious and I certainly wouldn't trust them "experimenting" on me like that. At least I don't know of anything like this happening in any of the major religions - they merely go on speech and prayer to influence so you still have control of yourself. This is another level.
Before I close this post, I'd just like to point out that they promote L. Ron Hubbard's book so much on their site, and it goes for $100 (about £50). £50!? You can buy the Bible or the Qu'Ran for a fraction of that! And with all these reports about their extortion and obsession for money, I wouldn't be surprised if they were an underlying "for profit" business.
Even being on their site and simultaneously searching for related stuff on Google and posting in this thread has got me paranoid that they've logged my IP and keystrokes and are out to get me.
