Forgive me if this topic has been raised before, but I have been doing some research on this organization. I even went inside a church.
It seems to me that people opposed to this organization are not opposed to the doctrine.
They are opposed to the bad things scientology has done to people. That is, putting people in debt and allowing them do die/killing them.
Okay, so I don't have quite an understanding of what exactly it means to be a cult. I don't know the characteristic behaviours of cults and their leaders. I just want to understand some things about scientology and the way you view it:
1. What exactly is the purpose of scientology? Why does it take drastic measures to keep its name in "good standing"? If the IRS found no monies being used for non-religious purposes, it can't be a money-scheme to make a few people rich, can it?
2. How can Scientology force someone to do their bidding? In particular, I am talking about Lisa. Scientology's favourite phrase for pulling in people is "What is right for you is right for you". If Lisa felt psychiatry would be right for her, how could scientology officials force her to not get the help she wanted? I simply cannot comprehend it. I can see "If you do this, you can't reach OT 7" but... according to my research, it didn't go down like that.
3. I have been looking into the "seperate" organizations that are associated with Scientology. Hm, I don't like hardly any of them. I especially have a disdain for the Sea Org. But Applied Scholastics. Looks good. People try to tell me its not good. I have yet to find a compelling argument to keep me from using the basic tenets of Applied Scholastics in my life. So why the hoopla about it? Because it has L Ron Hubbard's name on it? Is this kind of prejudice wise? Am I mistaken somewhere?
It seems to me that people opposed to this organization are not opposed to the doctrine.
They are opposed to the bad things scientology has done to people. That is, putting people in debt and allowing them do die/killing them.
Okay, so I don't have quite an understanding of what exactly it means to be a cult. I don't know the characteristic behaviours of cults and their leaders. I just want to understand some things about scientology and the way you view it:
1. What exactly is the purpose of scientology? Why does it take drastic measures to keep its name in "good standing"? If the IRS found no monies being used for non-religious purposes, it can't be a money-scheme to make a few people rich, can it?
2. How can Scientology force someone to do their bidding? In particular, I am talking about Lisa. Scientology's favourite phrase for pulling in people is "What is right for you is right for you". If Lisa felt psychiatry would be right for her, how could scientology officials force her to not get the help she wanted? I simply cannot comprehend it. I can see "If you do this, you can't reach OT 7" but... according to my research, it didn't go down like that.
3. I have been looking into the "seperate" organizations that are associated with Scientology. Hm, I don't like hardly any of them. I especially have a disdain for the Sea Org. But Applied Scholastics. Looks good. People try to tell me its not good. I have yet to find a compelling argument to keep me from using the basic tenets of Applied Scholastics in my life. So why the hoopla about it? Because it has L Ron Hubbard's name on it? Is this kind of prejudice wise? Am I mistaken somewhere?