T
TheosisM
Guest
My undergrad degree is in Psychology, and I’m pretty familiar with Dianetics and Scientology, so I thought I’d comment.
Scientology presents itself as an alternative to psychology/psychiatry (in fact, it is vehemently opposed to psychiatry). The premise of Dianetics is that our mind is divided into two parts: the reactive mind, and the analytical mind. The analytical mind is good, and the reactive mind is bad. Basically, the reactive mind stores memories or pictures (called “engrams”) of all the painful, traumatic experiences in our lives. The reactive mind is seen as the source for most of our problems (whether mental or physical). Dianetics claims that its techniques can rid one of these painful memories, and rid one of their reactive mind, which makes them “Clear”, or free of their reactive mind.
The way that Dianetics does this is through an instrument called an “E-meter”. It’s sort of like a lie detector. They claim that the E-meter can detect these traumas, and help one to “handle” them. The way it works is that one recalls a painful event, and then “runs” it (goes over the event out loud) until they get more information about what happened and why it affected them. They supposedly will then be able to deal with the effects of that event, go back to previous similar events, and the engram is erased. What then happens is that people will recall “past lives” (because the “auditor” (counselor) will ask them to go back further in time to a similar event until they “recall” a past life), which were somehow connected to these events.
Now, in my view, Scientology/Dianetics has some valid points in its introduction materials and services. This is important because this is how they hook you. The introduction things work, so you keep going back for more. Multiple ex-Scientologists have said the same thing. Scientology services are cheap at the beginning, and then quickly add up and become expensive.
There is nothing wrong with going to a Scientology organization to check it out (I’ve been to the “orgs” in DC and NYC). However, know that as soon as you go in, they will try to “hard sell” you. They will try to convince you to take a personality test, find out what your major problems are that Scientology will ALWAYS be able to correct, etc. They may tell you that Scientology is compatible with all religions, however the issue of past lives (which isn’t really openly discussed) is obviously incompatible with any type of Christianity. Most of the new buildings have displays for non-members that explain their beliefs, so you should be able to see how that goes. They may even have an E-meter for you to try out.
So, there isn’t anything scientific about Scientology/Dianetics. It presents itself as the “real psychology” and is very anti-psychiatry. It wasn’t developed by any scientific method. The space alien stuff is hidden away at the upper levels, so you won’t hear anything about those at all. Those upper levels (called “Operating Thetan”) are only taught at special buildings called “Advanced Organizations”.
This video shows you what it’s like inside a church of Scientology:
youtube.com/watch?v=ALVUus22NVc
(I find it amusing that they have “Sunday Services”)
Also, this is their introduction video to auditing:
video.baamboo.com/watch/5/video/335175
Feel free to ask me any questions.
Scientology presents itself as an alternative to psychology/psychiatry (in fact, it is vehemently opposed to psychiatry). The premise of Dianetics is that our mind is divided into two parts: the reactive mind, and the analytical mind. The analytical mind is good, and the reactive mind is bad. Basically, the reactive mind stores memories or pictures (called “engrams”) of all the painful, traumatic experiences in our lives. The reactive mind is seen as the source for most of our problems (whether mental or physical). Dianetics claims that its techniques can rid one of these painful memories, and rid one of their reactive mind, which makes them “Clear”, or free of their reactive mind.
The way that Dianetics does this is through an instrument called an “E-meter”. It’s sort of like a lie detector. They claim that the E-meter can detect these traumas, and help one to “handle” them. The way it works is that one recalls a painful event, and then “runs” it (goes over the event out loud) until they get more information about what happened and why it affected them. They supposedly will then be able to deal with the effects of that event, go back to previous similar events, and the engram is erased. What then happens is that people will recall “past lives” (because the “auditor” (counselor) will ask them to go back further in time to a similar event until they “recall” a past life), which were somehow connected to these events.
Now, in my view, Scientology/Dianetics has some valid points in its introduction materials and services. This is important because this is how they hook you. The introduction things work, so you keep going back for more. Multiple ex-Scientologists have said the same thing. Scientology services are cheap at the beginning, and then quickly add up and become expensive.
There is nothing wrong with going to a Scientology organization to check it out (I’ve been to the “orgs” in DC and NYC). However, know that as soon as you go in, they will try to “hard sell” you. They will try to convince you to take a personality test, find out what your major problems are that Scientology will ALWAYS be able to correct, etc. They may tell you that Scientology is compatible with all religions, however the issue of past lives (which isn’t really openly discussed) is obviously incompatible with any type of Christianity. Most of the new buildings have displays for non-members that explain their beliefs, so you should be able to see how that goes. They may even have an E-meter for you to try out.
So, there isn’t anything scientific about Scientology/Dianetics. It presents itself as the “real psychology” and is very anti-psychiatry. It wasn’t developed by any scientific method. The space alien stuff is hidden away at the upper levels, so you won’t hear anything about those at all. Those upper levels (called “Operating Thetan”) are only taught at special buildings called “Advanced Organizations”.
This video shows you what it’s like inside a church of Scientology:
youtube.com/watch?v=ALVUus22NVc
(I find it amusing that they have “Sunday Services”)
Also, this is their introduction video to auditing:
video.baamboo.com/watch/5/video/335175
Feel free to ask me any questions.
“degraded beings”. That they somehow deserve to suffer…Its