Status Updates From The Scandal of Scientology

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Perhaps. Sometimes when I am most skeptical about the efficacy of their methods, I think back to what one Scientologist said (using typically inflated figures) about their membership: "Fifteen million people can't be wrong." But history has often proven otherwise.
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Conclusion

When all is said and done, what Scientology has to offer is merely their treatment or processing. They believe that it is our only road to salvation. The Scientologists like to say that there can't be two sides to the truth. Since they believe that they have found the truth, those who disagree with them are wrong.

Hubbard has also claimed that Dianetics or Scientology can alter the shape of the body and make people grow taller, make them ambidextrous, make the insane sane, cure chronic chills, impotency, manic states, laryngitis, make children more beautiful, change the personality, improve Parkinson's disease, and make large bruises disappear in forty-five minutes

Inside the tar is this little nugget of truth; but all this black tar is over the side of it so people reach for the truth and they get all hung up in the tar and the various organizations and the science itself becomes perverted.
-- L. Ron Hubbard Jr.

Chapter 21

Does Scientology Work?


... I would say there is no validity [to Scientology processing]. But within Scientology you find a great deal of very direct truths, but then it is sort of like a bre'r rabbit tar baby. (...)

Freudians could have a field day with this pseudonym, and its obvious phallic counterpart, perhaps surmising that he unconsciously chose the name to compensate for other weaknesses.

Hubbard's hostility and unconscious obsession with violence runs through all of his writings. But it was apparent even before he presented Dianetics or Scientology. One of his earlier pseudonyms was "Winchester Remington Colt" and although it's possible he consciously chose the name for its euphony it does seem strange that all three names are those of guns.

In addition to having visited Heaven, Hubbard has also rewritten Genesis. "Before the Beginning was a Cause and the entire purpose of the Cause was the creation of effect," etc. He has also rewritten the calendar to read "A.D. 1, A.D. 10," etc., (to stand for "After Dianetics 1951," "After Dianetics 1960"), as if his discoveries were as important as the birth of Christ.

Also omitted, obviously, are the speculations that have been made about his sanity. The Australian Report said that "expert psychiatric witnesses" were of the opinion that Hubbard's writings indicated "symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia of long standing with delusions of grandeur."

He says that the research began with his 1938 book, Excalibur, which appears to have been the manuscript he claims was stolen by the Russians. During these twelve years, especially in the last three or four before Dianetics came out, he wrote at least seventy-eight science fiction stories alone (under his name, or the pseudonyms of Rene Lafayette and Kurt Van Strachen) not to mention writing in other fields.

Chapter 20

The Truth About L. Ron Hubbard

For heaven's sake, tell them I'm not God.
-- L. Ron Hubbard, quoted by Eric Barnes, Public Relations Chief of New York Church of Scientology

One man who paid $1,200 in advance for a 50 hour course completed it in 20 minutes, which meant he spent about $1 a second for auditing.

Chapter 19

The High Cost of Scientology

It's the only Church I've ever seen with a cashier's booth.
-- a woman who quit after one session. -- Time{

The E-meter or electroencephaloneuromentimograph is about ten inches by six inches by two inches and its appearance was described by one reporter as a "cross between a car speedometer and a practical joker's electric shock machine."

Chapter 18

The E-Meter

The E-meter is never wrong. It sees all; it knows all. It tells everything.
-- L. Ron Hubbard

All these exercises, and even E-meter sessions for recounting incidents in the real or imagined past, can be extremely tiring and difficult. Some people even think it is dangerous.

Auditor: What part of that body can you confront?
Preclear: The elbow.
Auditor: What part of that elbow can you confront?
Preclear: The wrist.
Auditor: Thank you.

AUDITOR: What do you think is wrong with you?
PRECLEAR: I'm impatient.
AUDITOR: Can you think of someone who's impatient?
PRECLEAR: My father.
AUDITOR: O.K. We'll run a father.

Chapter 17

The Secret Scientology Sessions

In Dianetics, today's obvious nervous breakdown is tomorrow's most cheerful being.
-- L. Ron Hubbard

Scientology is also fighting the mental health field by trying to change the laws. They claim to be preparing an Anti-Butchery Bill for introduction into Congress. The purpose of this bill is to make it a felony to use psychiatry, psychology, drugs, or shock treatment to change any individual's religious, philosophical or political ideas.

Although Scientologists claim they are not in competition with analysts, they have tried to lure people away from them: "A complete Freudian analysis can cost $8,000-$15,000. Better results can be achieved in Scientology for $125, and on a group basis for a few dollars."

Hubbard is convinced, actually obsessed with the delusion, that psychiatrists kill or torture their patients with electric shock treatment, use them sexually, and never ever help them. Hubbard wrote, "We have never found one person cured by psychiatrists, not one."

Scientologists are not permitted to take aspirins before auditing, or "receive any `treatment' `guidance' or `help' from anyone in the `healing arts' i.e., physicians or dentists without consent, except in extreme emergencies when no one in the Church can be reached.

He believes that his methods are better than surgery, x-rays, or drugs.
He uses high sounding titles easily confused with qualified scientific professionals and organizations.
-- "How to Spot a Medical Quack" by the American Medical Association.

Chapter 16

Scientology Versus Medicine

He uses a special machine he claims can cure disease.
He guarantees a quick cure.
He advertises or uses case histories and testimonials.
He refuses to accept the proved methods of medical research.
He says medical men are persecuting him or are afraid of his competition. (...)

Scientologists are obviously political and have tried to get into government positions.

His [" a boy"] to scientologize the Australian Labor party concluded as follows: "With Australia led by a government employing Scientology principles we should soon have a civilization which can extend influence overseas."

Scientologists may also have tried to get Scientology into the South African government -- but in much less subtle ways.