We can get so lost in the Church of Scientology's justifications for each and every strange, unethical, illegal and convoluted action of theirs that we forget how very far from honest and normal the church is.
Take, for example, the way the Church of Scientology attempts to recruit new members.
What does a normal religion do? Why, they might get a listing in the local paper's Religion Section. They might put of one of those message signs in front of their church or temple, telling people when their services are. I've even occasionally seen a few mailings. That's normal.
What does the Church of Scientology do?
They pretend they have "the solution to illiteracy" and attempt to get their "Study Technology" into schools in a covert, stealth recruitment effort. They don't admit up front that this is Scientology. When their vaunted "Study Technology" is debunked by respected educators as pretty darn worthless, they ignore it and keep trying to fool schools into allowing them in -- in other words, it isn't really about improving education.
They pretend they have "the solution to drugs" and attempt to con people into going to their "Narconon Centers" in a covert, stealth recruitment effort. They don't admit up front that this is Scientology. When communities and families find out that Narconon's reported statistics are false, and their "solution" really fails most of the time, the Church of Scientology ignores it and keeps trying to fool the vulnerable and their families into coming to their Narconon Centers -- in other words, it isn't actually about handling drug problems.
They pretend they are "helping disaster victims" with their Volunteer Minister program. The church orders some Scientologists to act as Volunteer Ministers and sends them out every time there is a disaster, but without any medicine, without food, without supplies, without materials for shelter. Why do the Volunteer Ministers show up? They bring materials for dissemination and then attempt to start Scientology courses in a covert, stealth recruitment effort. When the real relief agencies expose their bogus actions the Church of Scientology ignores it and keeps showing up at disaster sites -- in other words, it isn't really about helping disaster victims.
They pretend to give "Stress Tests" at tables set up on public streets and in malls in a covert, stealth recruitment effort. They don't admit up front that they are Scientology, they have "Dianetics" signs on the tables. When these "stress tests" are exposed as meaningless sales tricks, they ignore it and keep setting up their little tables, hoping that someone will be fooled -- in other words, it isn't really about finding and handling real stress.
And so it goes.
Do you see the common thread here? All these actions are covert and stealthy actions. When debunked as worthless, these actions are always continued because they are actually recruitment efforts. The Church of Scientology is not open. It is not honest. And the church certainly is not normal.
Even before Scientology became the punchline for jokes, they operated this way. This isn't a recent phenomenon. David Miscavige has certainly made it worse, but L. Ron Hubbard specified these kinds of covert, stealthy recruitment actions in his policy letters many years ago. They have always hidden who they were and what they were really doing.
Why?
Well, back to that comparison of the Church of Scientology with what you'd expect from an honest and normal organization:
If a product is good and the organization behind it is honest, you don't need to trick people into trying it.The fact that the Church of Scientology uses tricks, lies and covert, stealthy actions for recruitment says it all.
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You're on a roll, Bill. Can't wait for the next one!
ReplyDeleteMe too! Keep them coming, plz.
ReplyDeleteAnother invaluable tool in succinctly stating, point-by-point, why Scientology is NOT "just another silly religion" like so many of the uninformed are quick to state.
ReplyDeleteI mention this site often when debunking Scientology on YouTube and various news story message boards. Great material.
Thanks! We do appreciate the feedback and links!
ReplyDeleteI hate it when people get fooled by the Church of Scientology's tricks, and I appreciate it when you all help me spread the word.
Another I have seen is the offer of a job. A past acquaintance of mine recalls looking for a job, and seeing a "Help Wanted" sign.
ReplyDeleteShe was given a personality test, shown films, and generally recruited. She finally walked out the door after 3 hours, realizing that they weren't really offering a "job" in the traditional sense, like where you'd get paid to answer phones.
@omnompdx
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info. That's a new one - pretending to have jobs.
We can assume that, without all these tricks, no one would walk in their doors at all.
I like to think, as we expose their tricks, we are shutting down another covert, stealth recruitment channel.
Well, you are full of it as usual, but I guess comments like tht will never make it on your blog.
ReplyDeleteSeriously - get over yourself and go write about something that you actually have a clue about? The repetative tone of your posts is getting old. One would think that you could come up with something more than a bunch of vague generalities?
Dear Anonymous Scientologist,
ReplyDeleteFirst, I did not insult you, why do you insult me? Is this what Scientology creates -- someone who can't carry on a civil conversation?
You accuse me of "vague generalities" using several very vague generalities. Well done! You are a hypocrite.
And, I actually didn't use "vague generalities". I think you need to do some word-clearing.
If you wish to debate me, feel free, I welcome your opinion. But if you just want to insult me and throw around very vague accusations, don't bother, that's worthless and stupid. I won't publish worthless and stupid a second time.
Now, since I did publish your comment, you have to be asking yourself what else are you wrong about?
Ah, no, you're a Scientologist a homo novis, you can't be wrong!! Continue with your fantasy.
Lol @ crazy scientologist (their spelling is always horrid)! Excellent as usual Bill! My only complaint? You don't write often enough!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
ReplyDeleteThat is true, recent Scientologist comments seem to be always illiterate and crude. This supports my contention that all the intelligent people have seen the truth and left the Church of Scientology.
This means those that are left are the not-too-bright.
Thanks for your compliments. I haven't run out of material yet, but it does take awhile sometimes -- that old "quality vs. quantity" thing. I always have a dozen or so ideas on the back burner...
good find this thread. bored and just starting researching these guys. you make a good point here.
ReplyDeleteI know nothing about them but you certainly can say they are targeting if they are showing up to 'help' in the senarious stated. And targeting a specific group of people all in a similar mental and emotional state.
It's a lot more selection process akin to 'Jone's town' or 'wacko texas' than is religious proselytizing.
My 20-year-old daughter, extremely intelligent, in Nano Engineering in Canada, has recently started dating a "Scientologist". She told me about this and asked me, "What do you know about Scientology? I told X (her boyfriend) that I wasn't interested in religion or anything like that, but he says that's fine so he's not into that." Even though his parents are. And his sister and brother. But he's not, he tells her.
ReplyDeleteI met him. It was like meeting an image of himself. Difficult to explain. But I could see through him too. My lovely, gifted daughter can only see how he makes her feel about "herself". "He's so understanding, Mum. He wants me to go to California to meet his family."
And I told her she wasn't going, and she said it had nothing to do with me, etc. I keep sending her articles about Scientology, but she dismisses them saying I have always disliked her boyfriends. Which I have. On principle.
But compared to this guy, her previous boyfriends were really rather innocent young men.
But this guy is weird.
Do Scientologists "recruit" people like my daughter? I mean young people who are academically gifted? Or do they "recruit" anyone?
You see, I'm afraid for her.
But not so afraid that I will let her "go".
Even if I have to sit on her!
Re: Scientology boyfriend
ReplyDeleteNo. Scientology does not send people out specifically to seduce young women/men with promises of romance/marriage.
That is not one of its recruitment techniques.
They do send out their best-looking staff to do what they call "body routing", to get people in, but there is no promises of romance.
However, any Scientologist who becomes interested in someone is expected to bring them into Scientology. If they don't, they really cannot continue the relationship.
You have a problem.
You have, literally, "become the Enemy" in Scientology terms. Your daughter has accepted Scientology's viewpoint and anything you say will be considered evil and a lie. That's what Scientology does to people. This is the first layer of "protection" they wrap their adherents in.
You might read my How to Talk to a Scientologist for some ideas. Just realize that you are up against a well-oiled machine that already has bent your daughter's mind to their mindset.
You do not want to lose your connection to your daughter -- but that is the way things are going right now. If the Church of Scientology decides you are a "Suppressive", she would have to "disconnect" and that would be extremely hard for you to undo.
Staying connected is more important right now than telling her about Scientology's evils.
You have my sympathies. Good luck.