Scientology: Born Again ..Former Scientologist speaks out

[Harper_is_Bush]

Source: Gwinnett Daily Post

Considering the veritable contstellation of big-screen stars alligned behind the Church of Scientology, it's fitting that what Astra Woodcraft says she experienced as a follower sounds like something straight out of a horror movie.

While the public sees smiling celebrities attributing their health and happiness to the teachings of L. Ron Hubbard, Woodcraft speaks of cramped quarters and meager rations. Of hard labor and harassment. Of pledging service that extends beyond this life and into the next.

Unlike those famous faces, she was literally born into the church, in London. Her mother was already a member, and even at a tender age, Woodcraft learned things that struck her as odd. When she had an accident - say, hit her head on a door, for instance - she was taught to perform a "contact assist," gently repeating the motion that led to her injury while standing exactly where it happened.

"My mom, if I would hurt myself, she would make me do this, Woodcraft said, "and she'd make me do it in public."

Read more: http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/main.asp?SectionID=34&SubSectionID=48&ArticleID=12140

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I've been checking out the "church" of scientology since the protests on Feb 10, and my belief is it's not an organization worthy of religions protections.

If you want to learn about this organization, go to www.xenutv.com and click on the "interviews" menu. Watch the Woodcraft videos. Watch the testimony of Maria (the Italian). Watch the OT8 testimony. Watch it all if you have time. This organization is rotten and deserves no respect as a religion.

[Harper_is_Bush]

1. Moving this to "religion" is a joke, because scientology is NOT a religion.

But hey, the power of suggestion wins again!

George Bush doesn't torture, and scientology is a religion. Yee hah!

[flyingfysh]

2. see www.xenu.net

This is the first site one should go to for information about Scientology.

[Quakerfriend]

3. Thx for posting this. Scientology is nothing but a cult.

Several years ago I went to work at a place that had great international prestige.

People came from all over the world and paid thousands of dollars to hear what we had to say.

When I started there, I didn't know that four of the big wigs were heavily into scientology.

They treated their 'workers' like slave labor. They never acknowledged educational background or prior experience.

Wanted the whole family to get involved in their business. Many were invited to live on the campus for free in exchange for their work.

They also 'pretended' that they could read people's minds and always led others to believe that they were one step ahead of them in their thoughts. They wanted unconditional loyalty.

Funny, I am NOT one to allow others to control me. I felt that they wanted to at ALL times.

Finally, I learned, through an insider who was a scientologist herself, what they were about.

IT WAS A CULT of sorts. I have no doubt. Sort of pathetic really. They were all very interesting and highly educated. But, who needs that crap!! What for?


:crazy:

[PassingFair]

8. Yeah, that kind of place sounds NUTS!!1!!

[PDJane]

4. I once worked at an architect's office

that rented space in the building that belonged to the scientologists. Their "religious functions" were in the building, as well as a bookshop and their proselytizing (whoops. "outreach") arm.

I swear to you that I have never met a more paranoid, more silent, more unfriendly, more controlling bunch of people in my life, and considering my background, that's hard to state.

[PassingFair]

9. You haven't met MY neighbors!

[maxsolomon]

11. yeah, Architects are really bad that way.

speaking as one...

:hide:

[PDJane]

12. Funny, I was fond of the architects.......

Not so happy about the scientologists, though, who kept asking me who I was.

[Goblinmonger]

5. If I said any of this about Christianity

I would be slaughtered on here.

I don't understand how "don't mock my beliefs" only applies to certain religions but not Scientology. Oh, I understand it, it just sickens me that so many of the same people that bitch about Christian "persecution" on here are the same ones to mock Scientology.

I'm all for open discussion of all aspects of religion, don't get me wrong. But the hypocrisy of some people here is astounding.

[PDJane]

6. frankly, I don't mock anyone's beliefs.......

But I don't say that anything that Scientology proposes is any better than anyone else's beliefs either. In fact, I think that all religions tend to be control devices.

[Harper_is_Bush]

14. And the ignorance of some people is astounding.

How about before you criticize, you educate yourself.

to and watch the testimony referenced in the OP.

This isn't a religion, it's organized crime. It makes a mockery of the 1st amendment.

[moobu2]

7. Scientology is not a bit different than any christian denomination

and I’ll bet you $500 bucks these websites set up to spread disinformation about scientology are run and supported by paranoid christians who feel a wee bit threatened by the spread of some other delusionary superstition (other than their own).

[Feron]

10. I absolutely disagree.

A bit of disclosure: I'm pretty much an atheist these days so I have no theist axe to grind. Plus many of these sites are by ex-Scientologists like http://www.exscientologykids.com/storiesindex.html">Ex-Scientology Kids.

While the Scientology beliefs about Xenu are no more wacky and harmful than Christianity, Scientology itself is an abusive cult.

Christian churches do not:

-charge huge fees for the classes needed for salvation. I became a Catholic for free. Contrast that with the hundreds of thousands of dollars you'll have to pay to reach clear. Tithing in churches is a drop in the bucket compared to what people pay to flow up the bridge in Scientology. And nobody racks up credit card debt or mortgages their home in order to pay a tithe in the Christian church.

-operate a religious police/prison (Rehabilitation Project Force) in order to punish adherents who fail in one way or another. Sentences can last for years.

-practice shunning or disconnect of nonbelievers as a rule. Even if it means breaking up families.

-discourage treatment for mental illness. See Lisa McPherson and Jeremy Perkins.

-practice the 'Fair Game' doctrine on their critics. Basically Scientologists believe that they have full license to do whatever is necessary to destroy critics. Mainly they sue and harass, but they also will frame people for crimes. Look up http://xenu.net/archive/personal_story/paulette_cooper/">Operation Freakout.

-Infiltrate 136 government agencies and copy reams of documents in order to get information on percieved enemies. They also removed unfavorable information. Also known as Operation Snow White.

I could go on ,but you get the idea. All of these things are well documented by impartial sources and goes above and beyond the usual Christian nuttiness.

[Maat]

13. I agree, and it is how the U.S. Supreme Court has looked at it.

The U.S. Supreme Court has basically stated that the First Amendment protects a religious adherent from government interference in belief and practice; HOWEVER, the state governments are allowed to pass laws prohibiting certain behaviors. I like that principle. I don't interfere with your right of belief and basic right to practice your faith, or any other belief system; HOWEVER, if you are engaging in behavior that is dangerous to others (as in serious and imminent danger of physical harm), then society should preclude you from the physical harming of another. There is a great deal of judgment employed in where the line is, as with all human endeavors. If you lock people in a room, and harass them, then, as far as I'm concerned, the state has the right to intervene and free that person (and prosecute the perpetrator).

[Harper_is_Bush]

15. You're WAY off base.

When have you heard of any Christian denomination maintaining a policy that instructs it's members to commit crimes?

From the "Hubbard Communications Office", a "policy letter" regarding the allowable treatment of any organization or person determined to be "suppressive" of scientology:

"(SP) May be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist without any discipline of the Scientologist. May be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed."

What the hell is that? You tell me. And you better believe, they've used this policy, in spades, and they still do.

Calling scientology a "religion" is a sick joke.