Scientology IS a Cult

Ok, I said it, too.

Scientology *is* a Cult. I can say it from experience.

I was a Scientologist for 30 y e a r s, and in 2000 I literally escaped out. Scientology has been writing horrible things about me ever since I left and decided to speak out. Here are just a few things I experienced while "in":

After spending 30 years "in" Scientology, I found myself

___ unable to communicate with normal language: I used Scientology terms most of the time.

___ All of my friends were Scientologists and I'd been totally cut off from my Mother, except for what they call "Good Roads, Fair Weather" where one speaks of nothing but nice weather, movies, etc.: A totally shallow relationship.

___ My beliefs were all rapped around what L. Ron Hubbard said: I trusted him, I was cut off from reading ANY and ALL critical factual information, or speaking to people who had left.

Wait. Let's look at this check list. I'll write (Check) after each one that was true for me, and most people I knew while in Scientology.

Characteristics Associated with Cultic Groups - Revised Janja Lalich, Ph.D. & Michael D. Langone, Ph.D.

Concerted efforts at influence and control lie at the core of cultic groups, programs, and relationships. Many members, former members, and supporters of cults are not fully aware of the extent to which members may have been manipulated, exploited, even abused. The following list of social-structural, social-psychological, and interpersonal behavioral patterns commonly found in cultic environments may be helpful in assessing a particular group or relationship.

Compare these patterns to the situation you were in (or in which you, a family member, or friend is currently involved). This list may help you determine if there is cause for concern. Bear in mind that this list is not meant to be a "cult scale" or a definitive checklist to determine if a specific group is a cult. This is not so much a diagnostic instrument as it is an analytical tool.

• The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law. (Check)

• Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished. (Check)

• Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, and debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s). (Check)

• The leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel (for example, members must get permission to date, change jobs, marry-or leaders prescribe what types of clothes to wear, where to live, whether or not to have children, how to discipline children, and so forth). (Check)

• The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s) and members (for example, the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avatar-or the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity). (Check)

• The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society. (Check)

• The leader is not accountable to any authorities (unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations). (Check)

• The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members' participating in behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group (for example, lying to family or friends, or collecting money for bogus charities). (Check)

• The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt iin order to influence and/or control members. Often, this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion. (Check)

• Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group. (Check)

• The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members. (CHECK)

• The group is preoccupied with making money. (CHECK)

• Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities. (CHECK)

• Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members. (CHECK)

• The most loyal members (the "true believers") feel there can be no life outside the context of the group. They believe there is no other way to be, and often fear reprisals to themselves or others if they leave (or even consider leaving) the group. (CHECK)

Is Scientology a CULT? YOU BETCHA!

If you're considering joining Scientology, do yourself and your family a favor and at least PLEASE read BOTH sides. There is tons of information here on the Net. Read, look, listen, then make up your own minds.

My best,

--
Tory/Magoo ~Dancing in the moonlight~
In Scientology for 30 years, out happily for 6 years!
X-Sea Org, X-Staff, X-OT 7, X-Class 4 auditor,
X-OSA Volunteer after 20 years (Mostly in PR)
Executive Director of SPL to handle media
X-Top Secret OSA Int Internet Mafia, Until I realized what
they were really doing and soon after left C of S forever.
For thinking and speaking my mind, Scientology declared me
a "Suppressive Person" (SP 6 ^Cumulative Cluster :)
& Expelled me from The Church of $cientology :)

Free at LAST!

www.xenu.net (What Scientology Doesn't want you to know)
www.xenutv.com (Excellent videos)
www.torymagoo.org (My writings about Scientology from ARS)
www.lermanet.com/cos/toryonosa.htm (Top Secret Int Mafia) or Type in Scientology in Google
(Read, Look, Listen, Make up your ~own~Mind)

magoo44@charter.net
Burbank, CA
(818) 588-3044

"They, who give up essential liberty
to purchase a little temporary safety,
deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-- Benjamin Franklin