Well, I made it to my appointment yesterday.. remember? The Scientology meeting/thing.
The major impression I walked away with, as result of their ‘orientation film’ coupled with the research I’d done in advance, was that Scientology is what I’ve decided to dub, ‘a baseball religion’.
Much like American Football, Basket Ball, Ice Hockey and, of course, America’s national pass time, Baseball, Scientology seems to follow America’s trend of attempting to remake the world in it’s own image. This pattern can be evidenced by even their spelling, English, but not quite the “kings English”.
America follows an aggressive tactic of replacing old-world activities with it’s own bastardised versions of the originals. And Scientology is no different.
Scientology, founded by L Ron Hubbard in America, attempts to replace older religions, such as Christianity, with it’s own version of the spiritual truth. It does this through the usual tactics of propaganda… Tearing down the images and reputations of it’s perceived opposition, thus removing those that might have the ability to potentially damage it’s credibility.
The ‘cult’ is definitely aimed at both the emotionally vulnerable and the gullible.
The process began with a personality test, in which I was asked to answer a series of 200 “yes, no or maybe” questions.
The registrar then led me to a dark room to watch a showing of the organisation’s introductory propaganda film. The orientation film. The film outlines the history of Scientology, and that of it’s founder, L Ron Hubbard.
I noticed three things that were rather askew on the surface of the film. The first was it’s clear dishonesty, or maybe inaccuracy. The second, it’s focus on America as the final authority on everything. The third, the aggressive “bully-tactics” used within the film. At first subtly, but later, with a more direct forcefulness.
I pointed out, rather innocently, the inaccuracy of the films statement that Scientology is considered to be undisputed as a religion by a number of countries, including Britain and Germany. [This link and this one tell a slightly different story.]
Hardly had the words left my mouth when a nearby Scientologist rushed over, fuming, demanding to know what I had said. I repeated my statement, using Germany as my primary example, as the government of that country has gone so far as to consider banning what it considers to be an undemocratic and dangerous, money-hungry cult.
This aggressive Scientologist began accusing me of not checking reliable enough sources, claiming that I should investigate the church’s library if I wanted accurate information pertaining to the group’s relations to the rest of the world. I admit, I bristled somewhat under the accusation but managed to keep my calm.
Sorry if I don’t consider the works of a man who’s been dead more than twenty years to be more reliable than recent reports by both Time magazine and the BBC.
I did try to explain that I prefer to get multiple points of view on a subject, and that I had, in fact, checked and double checked my information, even going as far as to actively search for positive reports on Scientology. But you try Googling Scientology and see what you find.
But, I guess his attitude accurately reflects that portrayed at the end of the orientation film. It expresses such tolerant views as:
“You could walk out of this film and never talk about Scientology again, but that would make you stupid.”
AND
“You could say ‘no’ to Scientology, it’s your life, you could also jump off a cliff or blow your brains out. Thats your choice.”
As you can see, this very succinctly expresses the organisation’s standard religious practice of denying that anyone who views things differently to them has any right to an opinion (not to mention expressing it with a characteristically American aggression.
Bully-tactics designed to make you think that all intelligent, strong people would become Scientologists…
The personality test, for which I received my results after the film was finished, told me pretty much what I’d expected.. I’m one big, walking personality flaw. But worry not…
“Scientology can fix you!!”
Hmmmm..
Actually, many of the results of the test were fairly accurate. Though none of it was anything I couldn’t have told them had they just asked. The test lures you in, giving you accurate feedback, exploiting your fears of your own inadequacies before the church offers solutions to all your problems. And thus the sucker is hooked.
Well, thats my retelling and opinion of my first in-the-flesh encounter with Scientology… In the interest of investigation and curiosity, I’m attending one of their courses soon. I did say I’d give them every chance to prove themselves.. I really am trying to be open-minded about this..
Thanks for your time…. Will get back with more updates soon.
