JVO
08-23-2005, 09:19 PM
Because I am a major slacker and have been quite bored today, I have spent a considerable amount of time online researching Scientology. After visiting dozens of websites and reading nearly 100 ariticles on the subject, I find that I am more confused now then before I began. As I understand it, Scientology is a way to reach a "spritiual enlightenment" (Why are all religions based on abstract ideas no one could possibly understand?) by improving your ability to communicate with others. I think this is the reason why many creative people are highly drawn to this way of thought. Many of the Scientology exercises that I have read/heard about are very similar to acting exercises that any highschool drama student would have learned (relaxation exercises, mirror games, improv, role play, expression exercises etc.). I think the reason why all of the ariticles are so vague is to encourage people to shell out the money to buy the books (interesting for a religion). I have also heard that in order to grow in the world of Scientology you must pay money. This seems to work a lot like learning a martial art. As your rank increases, the amount of money you have to pay to your instructors increase. In Scientology, I have heard that at the upper levels participants must pay thousands of dollars to purchase the materials needed to come closer to "spritiual enlightenment". Another thing that intrigues me is that Hubbard created some sort of device which can measure the energy in your body, to find out what things need to be worked on. The information on this is very sketchy. Does anybody know anything/have access to one of these devices? Something else that seems to be a major component of Scientology is their active stance against alcohol and drugs and even medicines. Almost 75% of the articles I read about Scientology focus on the ability of worshipers to kick bad habits. Also it seems an unusually high percentage of Scientologists are either people who have been to rehab or are counselors for rehab patients. According to Hubbard, once you consume anything that is bad for you (alcohol, drugs, candy, pollution etc.) the poison present inbeds itself in your fatty tissues where it will remain for the rest of your life and create energy blockages. The only way to purify yourself of these poisons is to begin a regiment of highly secretive exercises and the consumption of very specific supplements (Sounds a lot like Celestine Prophecy). I also took a 250 question test on the scientology website (I am not posting a link because this test is a tool used by the scientologists to try and get you to join, and I will not endorse the religion by posting the quiz here, but if interested it is on the Scientology website.) I found the quiz to be very peculiar. Many of the questions were based on how you are affected by noises (r u easily distracted by noise? does the sound of lightening frighten u? are there specific sounds that disturb u? etc). There were also a number of questions based on your relationships with children. There were also questions regarding how likely you are to stick to something even if it is expensive and time consuming (I am sure their sales people are all over these questions). Once I completed the test I received the chart which is suppose to reveal blockages in my personality. What I received was a collection of bars and numbers that make absolutely no sense. I am supposed to take this info to a church (or whatever they are called) and have someone there go over it with me. Unfortunately I live in middle of red state hell, and the closest place is over 150 miles away. I would love to go and speak to one of these people. I suspect they would become very annoyed with me, but I also bet I would learn a lot of useful info. Anyway, anybody who has any recommendations on what would be the best thing to read (Dianetics?) or know anything interesting about Scientology let me know.
Anyway I was just wondering if anybody out there has ties to Scientology or have read any of the material? I have always been interested in philosophy/religion and might like to continue my investigations. I would prefer to get some free information before purchasing anything.
Anyway I was just wondering if anybody out there has ties to Scientology or have read any of the material? I have always been interested in philosophy/religion and might like to continue my investigations. I would prefer to get some free information before purchasing anything.