I am an ex-Scientologist. (LONG read)

[InternetHero]

I thought Scientology was just a nuisance cult, not a total brainwash suck cult. That is intense.

 

[Darwinist]

Wow. I've read some crazy stuff about them. There was an article in Maxim a while back about some kind of underground internet group that tries to fight them. The lengths they go to identify and stop these people is amazing.

For a relatively short(and hilarious) recount of the improbable chain of events that led to Operation Chanology and the global shitstorm it has spawned, see this:

PROJECT CHANOLOGY - Encyclopedia Dramatica

 

[paolo27th]

2 perfectly legit threads about scientology in the dump? Either scientologists have infiltrated sherdog or there are some pretty dumb mods out there.

 

[Schlitzy McGee]

Yeah why the fuck is this here when you've got bullshit like "I am allowed to rob you" in the War Room??

 

[Ruprecht]

2 perfectly legit threads about scientology in the dump? Either scientologists have infiltrated sherdog or there are some pretty dumb mods out there.

Cowed by the potential for litigation maybe?

Surely it can't be because they characterised it as "religious"...

 

[Centaur]

This?got Dumped?

What a joke.

 

[willhaven720]

This?got Dumped?

What a joke.

Such as life, no?

And I'm glad at least a few of you got to read it.

Thanks again all for the support.

 

[Failcake]

If you write a book, I'll buy it.

 

[willhaven720]

If you write a book, I'll buy it.

Thanks brother! If I ever do, you guys will be the first to know.

To be honest, I was keeping it short. I could tell you stories that would make you throw-up in your mouth. But I'll save those for the manuscript.

 

[rnaviaux]

Interesting - Sure would be nice to get the perspective from a current member. I wonder who could do such a thing...I guess I could.

Having been in the "cult" and "brainwashed" for over thirty years I guess my observations wouldn't count for much.

 

[feedmelies]

2 perfectly legit threads about scientology in the dump? Either scientologists have infiltrated sherdog or there are some pretty dumb mods out there.

+1.

Bring these threads back to the War Room. Who moved these? Why? There's nothing wrong with them.

 

[chknhawk]

Let me run it by the bosses and see what happens...

 

[chknhawk]

Interesting - Sure would be nice to get the perspective from a current member. I wonder who could do such a thing...I guess I could.

Having been in the "cult" and "brainwashed" for over thirty years I guess my observations wouldn't count for much.

Do we have a dissenting opinion?

 

[willhaven720]

Let me run it by the bosses and see what happens...

When the world need a hero...

chknhawk steps it the fuck up.

 

[willhaven720]

Interesting - Sure would be nice to get the perspective from a current member. I wonder who could do such a thing...I guess I could.

Having been in the "cult" and "brainwashed" for over thirty years I guess my observations wouldn't count for much.

I know exactly where you're at man. And I harbor no resentment towards the church members.

If I may make a personal suggestion, check out Eckhart Tolle. Though I wouldn't tell any staff member or hard-line scientologist that you did. Otherwise you could be written up for "other practices". Which can quickly lead to a Committee of Evidence and an SP Declare. And I wouldn't want you to lose friends and family over it.

Good luck, my friend.

 

[Darwinist]

Interesting - Sure would be nice to get the perspective from a current member. I wonder who could do such a thing...I guess I could.

Having been in the "cult" and "brainwashed" for over thirty years I guess my observations wouldn't count for much.

Some questions:

1. When you say you have been a member for over thirty years, does that mean 30 continuous years of auditing, working for the church in any capacity, or just being a casual member that pays his dues, goes in for auditing once in awhile, and otherwise leads a secular life?

2. Are you or have you ever been a member of the Sea Org?

3. As a rough estimate, how much money would you say you have spent in those 30 years on auditing, literature and other services of the CoS?

4. Have you ever been to the headquarters in California or Clearwater, Florida?

5. Have you ever taken a cruise on the Freewinds?

 

[rnaviaux]

Some questions:

1. When you say you have been a member for over thirty years, does that mean 30 continuous years of auditing, working for the church in any capacity, or just being a casual member that pays his dues, goes in for auditing once in awhile, and otherwise leads a secular life?

Pretty much a combination of all of that. (Not sure what leading a secular life means.) I apply Scientology principles to my life every day.

2. Are you or have you ever been a member of the Sea Org?

Have been before. Currently I'm not on staff at a church.

3. As a rough estimate, how much money would you say you have spent in those 30 years on auditing, literature and other services of the CoS?

Not nearly enough! Seriously, I don't share personal financial info with anyone besides my wife.

4. Have you ever been to the headquarters in California or Clearwater, Florida?

Lived in LA for 10 years but have only visited the church in Clearwater twice.

5. Have you ever taken a cruise on the Freewinds?

Nope.

 

[willhaven720]

Some questions:

1. When you say you have been a member for over thirty years, does that mean 30 continuous years of auditing, working for the church in any capacity, or just being a casual member that pays his dues, goes in for auditing once in awhile, and otherwise leads a secular life?

2. Are you or have you ever been a member of the Sea Org?

3. As a rough estimate, how much money would you say you have spent in those 30 years on auditing, literature and other services of the CoS?

4. Have you ever been to the headquarters in California or Clearwater, Florida?

5. Have you ever taken a cruise on the Freewinds?

I'll take a guess at his answers.

1. Scientology can be quite costly and this answer depends entirely on his financial status. Many of them can never and will never be able to afford major auditing, which ranges from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars an hour depending on your "level". A common counter-point that is made by the church is that it's members can train to "co-audit" one another. This will still result in hundreds of thousands of dollars by the time they reach the end of the "Bridge to Total Freedom". Which is the path that L Ron Hubbard mapped out for it's members to immerse their entire lives into. My parents went into major debt to pay the church hundreds of thousands of dollars, for which neither has achieved the first "OT" (Operating Thetan) level. But they also grant members a social status, which varies depending on how much you've donated. My father was so proud of himself when he gave the church $40,000in exchange for nothing but a t-shirt and a pin that says "Patron".

2. Probably not. That or he is apart of the Sea Org Internet Watchdog Unit, the only Sea Org members who are permitted to use the internet at all. I remember kids in the SO getting a new computer from their parents, only to have SO security remove the internet hardware from the machine entirely. This is why most members have no fucking clue who Xenu is. They are told never to look on the net for adverse views on scientology.

Many are scared that they will learn the secret OT level 3 information (Prince Xenu the Space Overlord, etc) before they are ready to receive it. L Ron Hubbard made a tape-recorded message in 1967 called "Ron's Journal '67", where he talks about doing the research for OT III from aboard his ship in international waters, while avoiding international authorities. He basically said he found the way out of the "prison planet" of earth. He did so by "recalling" an incident from several billion years ago in which our Thetans (spirits) were sent here by Xenu as punishment for being artists, politicians and criminals. Kind of like Australia or something.

Anyway, in "RJ 67", he said that doing the research almost killed him, and anyone viewing the details of this before they were ready to would be heading for certain death. As if the South Park episode on the matter would make their brain explode afterwords. It's totally ludicrous but... most members, including myself at the time, were scared to death, literally scared of dying if they find out too much too soon. It is all from the power of suggestion that it's members are totally ignorant to the falsehoods of scientology. I doubt this man is any different. You can always tell when one of them says "think for yourself" or "find out what is true for you". But when asked if they have or ever would ever check out xenu.net, you get no answer.

3. See item 1.

4. Undoubtedly.

5. A trip aboard the Freewinds is quite expensive. It's like a cruise line for scientologists. However, that ship is where the highest OT levels (up to level 8 currently) take place. The costs of which are ASTRONOMICAL. In other words, see item 1.

 

[willhaven720]

Pretty much a combination of all of that. (Not sure what leading a secular life means.) I apply Scientology principles to my life every day.




Have been before. Currently I'm not on staff at a church.




Not nearly enough! Seriously, I don't share personal financial info with anyone besides my wife.




Lived in LA for 10 years but have only visited the church in Clearwater twice.

Nope.

Where are you at on the bridge? I would imagine you went "Clear" many years ago doing inexpensive "book-one" auditing. To which afterwords, they told you you need get the auditing known as "the Grades" before you got to do OT levels. But they're really expensive to do, and from the sound of it, maybe you never got through them. But you continue to remain positive that "one day" you'll get those ones and the OT levels done so you can escape earth.

A perfectly reasonable goal.

 

[rnaviaux]

I know exactly where you're at man. And I harbor no resentment towards the church members.

If I may make a personal suggestion, check out Eckhart Tolle. Though I wouldn't tell any staff member or hard-line scientologist that you did. Otherwise you could be written up for "other practices". Which can quickly lead to a Committee of Evidence and an SP Declare. And I wouldn't want you to lose friends and family over it.

Good luck, my friend.

I study all sorts of things all the time with no fear of getting written up for "other practices". Heck I even read psychology and psychiatric books. I've read and done all sorts of wild things from astrology to yoga and some weird form of zen meditation. Haven't gotten in trouble yet

And I think its safe to say that I am probably considered a "hard-line" Scientologist. (Not sure what that really means either.) I'm certainly looked upon by my peers as very dedicated and sincere.