What hooks people into Scientology?

[clarkgamble1]

Because too many people are ignorant and stupid at the same time, and that can’t be fixed. Look at the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Mormons, the Moonies, the Christian Scientists, etc. Without ignorance and stupidity these organizations wouldn’t exist.

 

[Roguish]

That’s a whole lotta bold.

 

[Roguish]

I am not a Scientologist, nor will I ever be, but I have known a few. Most Scientologists believe in their faith and are trying to be good people, converting them to Christ does not start with labeling them as evil fools.

This is the best post in the entire thread. I wish I had put it this simply and gently. Thanks.

 

[goodcatholic]

converting them to Christ does not start with labeling them as evil fools.

Such an evil cult is Scientology.

1. I personally, was/am not trying to convert them to Christianity.
2. I used the word evil cult, not evil fools. And I stand by that because more than one documentary has proven Scientology to be so.

 

[Brendan_64]

I’m not 100% sure this was Scientology, but I do think it was. When I was younger I walked past a shop-type premises in central London which had this sign outside advertising free personality tests (no mention of anything about religion, as far as I can remember). So being young and curious and having nothing particular that I had to do that day, I went in for this free test.

My experience was that the test seemed to be designed to focus in on your individual personality flaws (and we all have them) and magnify these flaws to you. Then after the test there was an interview with someone who asked me something like was I happy with my personality. I replied that I was and then I think she asked me was I sure about that and then went on to highlight the flaws shown in the test, implying I had problems. Thankfully I was quite a confident person so wasn’t buying this, but if I had been a person who was a bit lacking in confidence and was perhaps going through a rough spot emotionally I might have been worried by this.Then I was shown into a room where a religious video was played to us. It was only at that point was it apparent that this was a religious group that was trying to convince us.

I came away thinking that this was an attempt to use a clever personality test to highlight people’s personality weaknesses, make them feel they have a problem and then show them the solution. I thought it was quite sneaky and could take advantage of people who were already feeling vulnerable or who had low self-esteem. I’m not 100% sure it was done by Scientology, but I think it was (it was about 33 years ago).

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I remember those “free personality test” adverts or booths or whatever they would set up, often around college campuses. If it wasn’t Scientology, it was some other group operating along similar lines. There was a lot of that going around in the 70s and 80s, when people were big into self-improvement and self-help. You could get suckered into a lot of things - all of which involved you paying money to the organization - by someone giving you a test and then suggesting ways you could improve or be happier with your life.

I was briefly interested in a couple of such things in high school, which my mother promptly shot down with not only “this is against Catholicism” but also “you don’t need it” and “it’s a scam”. I went on to read a few articles about the workshops that various groups would hold at hotels and so forth for those seeking to change their lives, which used definite manipulative techniques that had been developed for other contexts like military training and sales force motivation. I have avoided anything that even hints of that stuff like the plague ever since.

 

[goodcatholic]

“it’s a scam”.

Some posters don’t like us criticising Scientology on here but as far I’m concerned, there comes a time when we just have to speak plainly to warn others. Scientology is a scam. Don’t fall for it.

 

[goodcatholic]

I went along to a course run by a certain ‘movement’ within the Catholic Church. I personally felt it was quite manipulative in how it was implemented.

Maybe you mean the charismatics? I’ve never been fond of that “branch” or sect or movement, whatever you want to call it. If they were pressuring you or manipulating you, that is extremely rare and should be brought to the attention of parish authorities. Catholicism style of evangelisation is never hard sell nor underhand, to my knowledge. it brings disrepute to the brand.

 

[Brendan_64]

If they were pressuring you or manipulating you, that is extremely rare

I suppose there is a fine line between strong encouragement and soft pressure. I think that perhaps when some people get so enthused about something and feel that everyone should benefit from it they can sometimes fail to comprehend why the other person isn’t as keen as they are and their enthusiasm can spill over into pushiness. Then when some such courses have aims and end-goals, people can start viewing these as points where those taking place need to get to, then steering and control can set in.

I think these sort of things can happen because those organising and implementing such courses are so enthusiastic themselves they can’t see why others would not be and are so eager for others to benefit that the balance can get tipped, often with those involved in implementing things not being aware of this.

 

[abucs]

Such an evil cult is Scientology. How do they get “sucked” in to the vortex?

It is probably that left turn at Albuquerque.

I am completely ignorant about Scientology. Are there specific doctrines that you think are evil and/or is it the way you have heard/experienced the way they treat members of their congregation.

Thanks.

 

[JimG]

“Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion”

–L. Ron Hubbard