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You may have noticed that there has been an upsurge in the controversy surrounding Scientology. Controversy about this organization is nothing new. Created seemingly out of thin air by Author L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology and Dianetics. While not exactly taking the world by storm, it has certainly gotten a lot of attention.
This is unusual to say the least, Scientology is not the first “new religion” nor will it be the last. In its 60 year history is has garnished a reputation for being ruthless and viciously lignite by detractors, life saving by its followers.
What is it exactly? A religion? A business? Some combination of the two? Neither?
I usually feel that the best way to discover what an organization is about is to examine it directly, find out what public face it displays and compare that with its actions. In the case of Scientology the contrasts are striking. Very little is a it seems and there is deception everywhere. In a hall of mirrors, one must be careful when wielding a lamp.
One of the first things I’ve encountered when researching Scientology is a thesis statement often repeated by Scientology mdembers. (What Scientology wants to bring about is…)
"A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights."
This is all well and good but what does it mean? Peace and harmony are good things to be sure and this statement certainly sounds wonderful. But then, when I read it again a couple of things jump out at me that seem not so wonderful.
“A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war.” That’s a charming sentiment. We would all like to live in a world without insanity. In fact, I think most of us do! Other than some of the loonies I encounter on the highway, I don’t see many truly insane people. They seem to have been relegated to our state and local prison system, prison guards must be giving better treatment than trained counselors I suppose.
But more to the point, criminals and the insane have always been around. There have been people, no matter their upbringing or training who simply do not fit in well with society. Some are so antisocial that they need to be removed from society altogether.
I don’t know any way of making all criminals and other malcontents simply vanish though. Scientology does not seem to have an answer either or at least, they have never demonstrated one. Their Criminon program never quite lives up to the hype they give it (and that’s another topic for another day!)
So how do you “cure” a psychotic person or a person with violent tendencies? It’s been demonstrated that Scientology can’t even regulate their own very well. In fact there are persistent rumors that violence (a criminal act) is the preferred method of management from the very highest levels of Scientology on down. Anyone who’s seen Sea Org members sporting black eyes would probably agree (and I have seen them thank you very much.)
"where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights." OK, it’s a nice sentiment too but devoid of substance – and creepy too. Its a very judgmental statement. Where the able can prosper? What about those who, by no fault of their own are not able? The disabled? Are they to be allowed to prosper in a Scientology world? Do dishonest people have fewer rights than honest people? What is a “dishonest person?” Who’s to be the judge in either case? Will we have “Ability and Honesty monitors” going around sanctioning people found wanting? Is it really a good idea to restrict the rights of people based on some arbitrary rule?
One of the threads in Scientology is that “they make the able, more able.” They don’t seem to be interested in helping out truly disabled people and they have no way of dealing with people who have mental aberrations, in fact they don’t seem to acknowledge that such people exist. Homeless people and people with real problems don’t seem to be on their radar at all. “Degraded Beings” they call them, The home of their their Flag land base in Clearwater Florida is full of homeless people, Scientology to my knowledge has never attempted to deal with them and according to some, have actually opposed people who have tried.
Then, in sublime arrogance Scientology focuses on the mental health industry claiming that they cause all mental illness and go on to say that its psychology that is to blame for all the ills of society. They don’t seem to offer any solutions, just the repeated accusations that the mental health industry is evil and must be done away with.
Scientology is a study in contradictions and downright hypocrisy. They claim that they are helping people but, only those who have enough money to be helped. Folks who need help but are not able to "contribute" are ignored as a matter of policy.
Next; Scientology and mental health