Don't GTE involved with these money sucking frauds. Hubbard may have few good things to say, but read this book about their "church" from 1971 or so (they had it banned from libraries by threatening to sue and forced the publisher to cease printing) :
Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
So I guess if you pick out the part that makes sense....you don't have to be a nutcase.
But that would be mighty slim pic kins.
if u say so, i will look at them. otherwise, of course, u can do it if Urey doing it for the money or power, without really believing it. i think clearly many religious and political leaders do this all the time. does anybody really think George w. was really as dumb as he pretended and really did not understand that creationism is nonsense?
Yes, it's called 'free-thinking', like how I am a free-thinking atheist. This allows to me to adopt any idea with out conforming to a church, mosque, test crap like you do with Scientology, give away anything, making donations, attending meetings, etc. and I could bend and twist them in anyway I wish so that they are best fit for me!
Ancient Astronaut, I could use that link to side with the copy of 'A Description of Scientology: Based on the Works of L. Ron Hubbard' that a Pagan friend gave to me when I was visiting so that I could have something on Scientology to learn about them. Accordingly back in the 1970's or 1980's when she(his mother) was going through (I think he said it was some large city in Ca. that was her hometown), they tried to convert her.
Every religion holds several words worth treasuring. As God or nature may have given one of us his fingerprints and no two so far have been found to be having an identical mark, it only shows that the whole truth would never be owned by one particular belief. Pick those from your mind will make sense that will benefit the many. And also keep always in mind, not because it is chosen by many as believable or acceptable will be true as against the ones chosen by only few or even one.
I see where you are getting at. You read some Scientology books and you like it. But at the same time you're hearing or reading myths, lies and half truths, so you have mixed feelings. Well to know what Scientology is, you go to the source, not to people with an agenda.
Also Hubbard said what is true for you is true. You are not forced to believe anything, whatever you come to feel is correct then fine. No one is going to tell you that this or that is how it is.
As for your question, you can apply a good amount of Dianetics and Scientology philosophy within your life without ever talking to a Scientologist. How you view life, how you treat your body, how you view your soul and your mind.
But things such as auditing you need someone to do it with and to do it properly.
No, Hubbard was a complete lunatic. Scientology will present its most benign ideas at the forefront . Then they hook you and you are indoctrinated with the crazy stuff.
Well, it depends how far you're willing to stretch the "philosophy and ideas of Scientology" before they stop being "of Scientology" and are just philosophy and ideas.
Example:
Scientology doctrine includes a belief in reincarnation. Buddhist doctrine also includes a belief in reincarnation. So, if you believe in reincarnation, is that following a philosophy of Scientology, or of Buddhism, or neither?
While I would not put it as strongly as "nutcase", following certain elements of Scientology doctrine would make you at the least ex centric (refusing to take anti-depressants, being unable to deal with criticism save by attacking the critic... hello 52 Perceptions). Possibly the most insidious element of Scientology which could reasonably be la belled "philosophy" is the "what's true for you is true" thing. It invites a change in the way you look at the world, from objective to subjective, and so undermines your critical faculties. Most people faced with an assertion will question its objective truth:
Example - I say that the Sun orbits the Earth. You consider this, and ask about other celestial bodies, the phases of the moon, the movements of the planets, and so on, and come to the conclusion that I am wrong, and the Earth in fact orbits the Sun.
But the snippet of Scientology philosophy would go like this:
Example - I say that the Sun orbits the Earth. You ask yourself whether you really think this is true. If you believe that the human race is important, unique in all of creation etc, you conclude that I am right. If you believe that the human race is a mere animal amongst many and that you personal are not important, you probably conclude that I'm wrong.
Obviously those example are exaggerate, but I trust they make the point. Considering objective truth is important.
Given that Hubbard wrote many millions of pages, and borrowed from the work of others such as Freud, it's hardly surprising that some of what he wrote rings true, but then, you might well find the same reading any other prolific author, and you should be on guard against assuming that because one assertion makes sense others made by the same author are also true. Plenty of things Hubbard said were verifiable false - such as his war record, or his laughable book "All About Radiation".
ME suggests that you go to "the source" (which in Scientology-speak usually means Hubbard) here are one or two of his less endearing quotes, read into the record over various courts around the world:
"The goal of the department [of governmental affairs] is to bring the government and hostile philosophies or societies into a state of complete compliance with the goals of Scientology. This is done by a high level ability to control and in its absence by a low level ability to overwhelm. Introvert such agencies. Control such agencies."
"The vital targets on which we must invest most of our time are:
(T1) Depopularizing the enemy to the point of obliteration.
(T2) Taking over the control or allegiance of the heads or proprietors of all news media.
(T3) Taking over the control or allegiance of key political figures.
(T4) Taking over the control or allegiance of those who monitor international finance..."
Here are some sources of some what better repute, regarding Scientology as whole:
Mr Justice Brookings, Supreme Court of Victoria, Australia: " ...the teaching of Scientology and the practice of Scientology will result in the commission of many offenses and may well result in the commission of many others."
Mr Justice Latey, High Court, England: "Scientology is both immoral and socially obnoxious...It is corrupt sinister and dangerous."
Alfred, Lord Denning (later Master of the Rolls), Court of Appeal, England: "...[Scientology is] capable of such danger that the public interest demands that people should know what is going on"
That shouldn't be a problem. Studying and applying Scientology philosophy is the whole point.
It's the only way to achieve the purpose and aim of the Scientology religion.
Which is also the purpose and aim of the Church of Scientology and it's members BTW.
Thanks for the "nutcase" label.
I guess you must also be one if Hubbard's writings make sense to you, because that same fact applies to all of "us nuts" here in the Church of Scientology ! LOL
P.S. FYI Hubbard never wrote anything about Xenu . It's not part of the Scientology philosophy.... never was and never will be.
Makes you wonder who is trying to create this false impression about Scientologists and also why ????
Hmm, it seems like it would be hard because of the auditing required by diabetics...
I think there are a group of independently practicing Scientology who are not associated with the church and simply work the bridge. I believe they are called Freezone Scientologists.
The CoS HATES Freezone so you will see a lot of hate out there on them. I'm not particularly fond of it either as, while not nearly as dangerous as being in an org, it still has some scary policies.
If I were you I would check out this: http://www.exsceintologykids.org
That link includes people who have escaped from the CoS but still believe they had some real wins despite the corruption. They have a great section in their forms where they talk about the good and the bad and all the different ways you can participate.
Luck.
EDIT: By the way, to all the Scientologist who keep denying that Hubbard made up my buddy Xenu I encourage you to do at least a LITTLE looking into your own "religion." Though you all seem quick to snap at neigh Sayers here is some PROOF that Xenu is not only Hubbards creation but a part of the "church"
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/OTIII/index.html
These are not "rumors" or propaganda. That's his handwriting. That's him talking. That's Xenu.
PPS: I don't hate you or think you are nutcases, I just want to help you before you are another victim like poor Lisa.
http://www.lisamcpherson.org/
Message me if you need help escaping, I can put you in touch with cult separation groups.
Is it possible to follow some of the philosophy and ideas of Scientology and not be a
