When someone is a Scientologist and then quits going to the brainwashing sessions, are they still a Scientolog
370974
No.  Anyone who discontinues sessions without permission of the Church is disowned or shunned by them.
911318
This is what Scientologists ACTUALLY believe:\n\nXenu was an alien ruler of the "Galactic Confederacy" who, 75 million years ago, brought billions of people to Earth in spacecrafts resembling Douglas DC-8 airliners, stacked them around volcanoes and blew them up with hydrogen bombs. Their souls then clustered together and stuck to the bodies of the living. The alien souls continue to do this today, causing a variety of physical ill-effects in modern-day humans. L. Ron Hubbard (a science-fiction writer and the creator of Scientology) called these clustered spirits "Body Thetans," and the advanced levels in Scientology place considerable emphasis on isolating them and neutralizing their ill effects.\n\nTo rid ourselves of "Body Thetans" and also “engrams” (past negative experiences stored in our unconscious mind) so that we can become “clear”, we have to go through "auditing" with a member of the “church” who uses an "e-meter" to measure our “reactive mind”...... and we have to pay lots and lots and lots of money for “auditing” (purchased in 12.5-hour blocks, costing anywhere from $750 for introductory sessions to between $8,000 and $9,000 for advanced sessions) and to take courses on Scientology to advance to higher “levels” in the “church”.  The “church” has also taken a very hostile stance towards psychiatry and psychiatric drugs irrespective of the fact that some people require medication to remain adequately functional in everyday life.  They deny the reality of chemical imbalance and profound mental disturbance and accordingly do NOTHING to effectively stabilize the dangerously unstable. The “church” has been known to withhold prescription pharmaceuticals from member (with deadly results).\n\nScientology is undeniably a cult. Every cult can be defined as a group having all of the following five characteristics:\n\n(1) It uses psychological coercion to recruit, indoctrinate and retain its members [convincing potential members that they are unhappy and Scientology is the only means of helping themselves]. (2) It forms an elitist totalitarian society. [they label everyone who disagrees or questions as a “Suppressive Person” and requires members to “disconnect” from them] (3) Its founder leader is self-appointed, dogmatic, messianic, not accountable and has charisma. [Yes, that would be Hubbard] (4) It believes 'the end justifies the means' in order to solicit funds & recruit people. (5) Its wealth does not benefit its members or society. [self evident proof for 4 & 5 as it does milk members for virtually everything they have and it’s wealth doesn’t find it’s way back to it’s members or society at all]\n\nCults are extremely harmful. To remain within the strict mental and social confines of a cult for even a short time can have the following disastrous effects:\n\nLoss of choice and free will. Diminished intellectual ability, vocabulary and sense of humor. Reduced use of irony, abstractions and metaphors. Reduced capacity to form flexible and intimate relationships. Poor judgment. Physical deterioration. Malnutrition. Hallucinations, panic, dissociation, guilt, identity diffusion and paranoia. Neurotic, psychotic or suicidal tendencies.
371251
sadly it is very hard for cult members to see they are not christian. They have been so brain washed and led astray that only a traumatic experience can wake em up. Just try to teach them christianity and hope like heck they see the cult they follow is a lie!
421192
I get pretty cheesed off myself reading all the baloney that gets spewed forth on this forum about Scientology.\nJust between us two I'm also a bit weary answering the same questions about it.\nI must have answered over 100 or more in the last few weeks, trying to put some factual information out, between all the utter nonesense.\nSeems like some folks just use this forum as a garbage dump, instead of sharing any actual, factual knowledge the might have about a subject.\nHaving said all that (and sorry for dumping on you , please don't take it personally)\nScientology is an applied religious philosophy. When I say "applied" I mean you actually use it in your life to change or improve existing conditions. This is different from a religious practice. All religions if you learn about them have a basic philosphy, but they also have certain dogma, rituals and observances, and a certain faith or belief is required. There is nothing wrong with this, but Scientology is not that kind of religion. It does not intrude on anyones faiths of beliefs particularly in the area of God , the Supreme Being, or the Infinite. This area is left totally up to the indivdual, which is why you can be a practicing Jew for example and still use and apply the priniciples of Scientology in your life. It does not conflict. If anything it will enhance your understanding of your chosen religious practice.\nAnd it is only true for you according to your own observation and experience with it.\n\nThe most basic principle of Scientology is that YOU are your own immortal soul, that this is not a "thing" you HAVE but what YOU actually are.\nThe whole purpose of Scientology is to increase an individual's understanding and awareness of himself. And thereby his native abilities .\nWhen you do this the sphere and zone of a person's positive influence increases and moves outward into his life, his family ,his friends, his groups and mankind which he is part of.\n\nHow this result is achieved is the "technology" of Scientology, which was developed by L.Ron Hubbard after his extensive research and the discoveries he made, about the human spirit.\n\nHe published a book in 1951 to communicate the basic principles he discovered called: " Scientology The Fundementals of Thought"\nThis is a MUCH easier read than Dianetics, (only about 100 pages instead of over 500) Dianetics does not explain Scientology since it preceded it and was first published in 1950.\n\nNow I know there have been some complaints that I keep telling people to read this book. I understand that some people just don't read books, or find reading difficult, but honestly the explanation and introduction to the subject is fully contained in this book. And you can apply it's principles right away, for yourself.\nThat way you can actually experience what it is for yourself. Then maybe you can help me to answer these questions !@!!*!!\nBecause then you will KNOW whats UP with it!
704012
The suffix -ologist means "someone who studies." So a scientologist would study/practice scientology, a paleontologist would study paleontology, etc.
413507
If someone gets truly filled with the Holy Spirit, then they can change their old ways  by the power of God. If they are just pretending by being "religious", you will see right through them. They wont have any power to keep up the "Facade". In the New Testament, 2nd Cor:5:17, says,"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are past away, behold all things are become new., and  Acts 1:8..But you shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you....
720544
When I was searching for answers to life........I fell into this cult. (which is all it is) And soon realised that it is a false religion. One of the ways you get to a "Higher level" is to go into a room and over a period of several sessions, they badger you........make fun and insult your family or whatever they can do to get an emotional response from you. When you can sit there and not have any emotional respose to this abuse..........they next hook you up to a machine, which is much like a lie detector, and do the same thing. If they detect any emotion responses through an increased heart rate or blood pressure, then you dont achive the "next level" Now....does this sound like brainwashing and making people emotional deprived robots to you????\n   I then continued my search for meaning to my life..........and found it in the only true God. The God of the Bible.
400068
I get pretty cheesed off myself reading all the baloney that gets spewed forth on this forum about Scientology.\nJust between us two I'm also a bit weary answering the same questions about it.\nI must have answered over 100 or more in the last few weeks, trying to put some factual information out, between all the utter nonesense.\nSeems like some folks just use this forum as a garbage dump, instead of sharing any actual, factual knowledge the might have about a subject.\nHaving said all that (and sorry for dumping on you , please don't take it personally)\nScientology is an applied religious philosophy. When I say "applied" I mean you actually use it in your life to change or improve existing conditions. This is different from a religious practice. All religions if you learn about them have a basic philosphy, but they also have certain dogma, rituals and observances, and a certain faith or belief is required. There is nothing wrong with this, but Scientology is not that kind of religion. It does not intrude on anyones faiths of beliefs particularly in the area of God , the Supreme Being, or the Infinite. This area is left totally up to the indivdual, which is why you can be a practicing Jew for example and still use and apply the priniciples of Scientology in your life. It does not conflict. If anything it will enhance your understanding of your chosen religious practice.\nAnd it is only true for you according to your own observation and experience with it.\n\nThe most basic principle of Scientology is that YOU are your own immortal soul, that this is not a "thing" you HAVE but what YOU actually are.\nThe whole purpose of Scientology is to increase an individual's understanding and awareness of himself. And thereby his native abilities .\nWhen you do this the spere and zone of his positive influence increases and moves outward into his life, his family ,his friends, his groups and mankind which he is part of.\n\nHow this result is achieved is the "technology" of Scientology, which was developed by L.Ron Hubbard after his extensive research and the discoveries he made, about the human spirit.\n\nHe published a book in 1951 to communicate the basic principles he discovered called: " Scientology The Fundementals of Thought"\nThis is a MUCH easier read than Dianetics, (only about 100 pages instead of over 500) Dianetics does not explain Scientology since it preceded it and was first published in 1950.\n\nNow I know there have been some complaints that I keep telling people to read this book. I understand that some people just don't read books, or find reading difficult, but honestly the explanation and introduction to the subject is fully contained in this book. And you can apply it's principles right away, for yourself.\nThat way you can actually experience what it is for yourself. Then maybe you can help me to answer these questions !@!!*!!\nBecause then you will KNOW.
1016376
scientologists.\n\nthey treat you like crap.\n\n[j]
304352
No.\nFirst of all if you had any personal knowledge about it, you would know that it is non-denominational. Which means you do not have to\n"convert" from your existing religious beliefs ,  to study it or apply it's principles. \nScientology does not intrude on anyones beliefs about God or the Supreme Being or the concept of the Infinite.\nThere are many religions using Scientology principles to improve conditions for their parishoners.\nThese principles are about life, and apply to all aspects of life, and help others lead better lives which is fundemental to most religions.\nSo it's not about converting from one religion to another.\nIt's about mutual co operation between religions who have the same basic purpose. Man's salvation.
156504
>>Though Logotherapy does not focus on helping the patients to regain his belief in God but time and again this is just what occurs, unintended and unexpected as it is. Frankl stated, "It is the business of existential analysis (Logotherapy) to furnish and to adorn as far as possible the chamber of immanence, while being careful not to block the door to transcendence." The Logotherapist has an "open-door policy." Through this door that is left ajar, the religious person can go out unhindered. Conversely the spirit of true religious feelings has free entrance. For the spirit of true religious feelings requires spontaneity. It appears that this "open-door policy" as well as the fact that quite often a person's faith is renewed during Logotherapy is based upon the fundamental assumptions of Logotherapy which form a chain of interconnected links: 1) Freedom of Will, 2) Will to meaning, and 3) Meaning to life. ***** 1) FREEDOM OF WILL: Frankl said that there are two classes of people who maintain that man's will is not free: Schizophrenic patients suffering from delusions that their will is manipulated and their thoughts controlled by other and along side them, deterministic philosophers. Under deterministic philosophers, he includes philosophers, psychologist, theologians, and other who hold to a deterministic view of human beings. The later often admit that we are experiencing our will as free, but this, they say, is self deception. Psychoanalysis has often been blamed for its so-called pan-sexualism. Frankl states that there is an aspect of Psychoanalysis that is even more erroneous and dangerous: that of pan-determinism. By that Frankl means the view of man that disregards his capacity to take a stand toward any conditions whatsoever. Man is not fully conditioned or determined; he determines himself whether to give in to conditions or stand up to them. In other words, man is ultimately self-determining. Man does not simply exist, but always decided what his existence will be, what he will become in the minute. By the same token, every human being has the freedom to change at any instant.<<\n\nMore can be found here:
1069436
Yes, except they don't blow up people.  They just manipulate through their lovely cult to bring about their own wayward way of thinking.
49577
If your talking about the "god" in the answers group he got suspended. If your talking about anyone who says they are god (I won't capitalize because I'm not refering to the real GOD)\nIf they really think they are "Thee GOD" there is something wrong with them and will probably be questioning themselves into the nearest psych ward. I work with SMI (seriously mentally ill) in my line of work and have worked with someone who believes he is on earth as Jesus was, trying to save the world,and he claims (and really believes)he actually saved the world from nuclear war. The last time I talked with him he was pretty frustrated with us all. You can't argue with a delusional person. Does no good. Serves no point. If a person is so ill that they really believe a delusion there is nothing you can say that will convince them otherwise! And they are left to wander around in the world until they are a danger to themselves or others. Many are homeless. It is so very sad. If they don't realize anything is wrong with them, trying to get them to seek help is impossible unless they are court ordered to treatment for being a danger or they commit a crime and help comes that way; but it usually doesn't as jails are crowded with people that should be getting help but aren't.
478431
When you grow up in a Christian envioronment the conditioning is very strong, it takes a long while to stop believeing the Christian stuff long after you've rationalised it away...but eventually the brainwashing goes and you one day realise you are free and it's a great feeling of clearness and of having a clean head...but it really can take years.
873329
Is this the way to offer their respect?\nWhat Christian figure will come out of the closet next? Jesus?\nor this from the CPT.\nTHE CPT: So if you become a born-again Christian, you basically got brainwashed in drug rehab?\nAll the born-again christians I know used to do drugs, went to rehab, and currently walk around homeless with 'crazy eyes' asking for change..... \n\nIt just keeps up that way all the time. If that's what they mean by respect they can just confess that they hate us...  Jim
437634
A: They're whats termed "grounded." They're here because they don't know how to leave or they're not willing to go. B: They're in whats called "visitation." They've gone on but they come back from time to time to visit. And this for reasons of their own. C: Its not really a spirit entity, but rather whats known as "residual energy." Kind of like a shadow or echo left behind after what was perhaps a rather intense life. Intense for that individual anyway.
22578
No. I am not a scientologist but I have friends who are. The difference between it and Christianity couldn't be more vast; however, they both espouse living by the Golden Rule.