Why is the Church of Scientology so secretive? What are they trying to hide?
455908
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_on_religious_works\n\nCopyright law can clash with the evangelization work of a church. Probably the best known instance of this is the case of the secret religious writings of the Church of Scientology. Since late 1994, Scientology has used various legal tactics to stop the distribution of these documents written by its founder, L. Ron Hubbard. The church claims these documents may only be read by followers who have reached a state of so-called "clear," although critics hint that the enormous sums of money followers must pay to be able to read these documents could provide another reason as to why the church is so secretive.
198042
Fanatical would be a better word I would think.  It's a 'religion' that is based on self improvement and learning to fix your own problems without needing professional help.  Once you get into it's quite hard to get out.  From what I have learned there is hypnosis involved in parts of it as well as thetans (aliens) in your body that you need to help put to neutral to grow.  It's really wierd.  The higher up you go the wierder it gets.  I do know L. Ron Hubbard was a good friend of Alister Crowly (the worlds most evil man who formed a lot of things on modern Satanism, and he did call himself the anti-christ) and a lot of Crowleys teachings are incorperated into it.  Some almost word for word.  There is also documentation around now, how true it is I don't know, that Hubbard did call himself the anti-christ as well. Also, that the supposed highest level of it, OT8, teaches that God was the bad one and that they are truely worshipping Lucifer, the good one.  It also involves that they are aliens and earth is a prison planet that aliens use as a prison so to speak.  They do deny that but they also denied OT3 vehimitly when it was leaked as well and it was true.\n\nPeople who have left it do frankly say that it is evil and brainwashing is involved.  People who have studied the teachings say that as well, that it is based on princiles that are false and don't do what they say they do.  They have such a strong following because they do have a lot of money and do sue people who say anything bad.  They may not win but what they do is wear the opponent down or keep litigating until they run out of money.  There is also the celebrity angle.  They are catered to and given special treatment.  They are heavily recuited do to their star power and influence with the masses.\n\nThis is a cult and it is one of those that is scarey, no doubt.  People do have a right to worry about them!  See the following links for information....
1035810
It's a cult whose purpose is to increase the distance between its suckers, oops, I mean members, and their assets. Hubbard was a really bad s-f writer and desperate to make some dough. Here's an article I found on the Religion Facts website:\n\n'In Scientology doctrine, Xenu is a galactic ruler who, 75 million years ago, brought billions of people to Earth, stacked them around volcanoes and blew them up with hydrogen bombs. Their souls then clustered together and stuck to the bodies of the living. These events are known as "Incident II" or "The Wall of Fire," and the traumatic memories associated with them are known as the "R6 implant." \nScientology founder L. Ron Hubbard detailed the story in Operating Thetan level III in 1967, famously warning that R6 was "calculated to kill (by pneumonia etc) anyone who attempts to solve it." Much controversy between the Church of Scientology and its critics has focused on Xenu. The Church avoids making mention of Xenu in public statements and has gone to considerable effort to maintain the story's confidentiality, including legal action on both copyright and trade secrecy grounds. Critics claim that revealing the story is in the public interest, given the high prices charged for OT III. The Xenu story prompted the use of the volcano as a Scientology symbol.'
7754
There founder L. Ron Hubard gave them information about how our souls came here to earth and more information about various space alien races.  These secrets are part of a system to help humans regian there lost god like abilities, which space aliens have caused us to loss.\n\nIf you practice scientology you will learn how to accsses these hiden secret powers.\n\nI have no idea of the validity of any of there claims, but they try to protect there system according to them so it isn't miss used.  People critical of Scientology claim the secrecy is to protect the churchs money making ability.
749062
It is a CULT. Despite what a few fanatical members may say, it IS a cult. The “church” harasses & bullies anyone who they deem an "enemy" (basically anyone who has anything negative to say about the "church"). They will RUIN YOUR LIFE if you speak out against them long enough.\n\nThe founder is L. Ron Hubbard, the science FICTION writer who once told a friend that the best way to make lots of money is to start your own religion. Though being a very outspoken critic of psychiatric drugs, it was discovered upon Hubbards death that the anti-anxiety drug hydroxyzine (Vistaril) was present in his body, which several of his assistants would later attest was only one of many psychiatric & pain medications Hubbard ingested over the years. (visit this link to read about the uses of hydoxyzine: http://www.drugs.com/mtm/v/vistaril.html )\n\nScientologists believe the evil alien ruler Xenu killed a lot of aliens (Thetans) from around the universe by bringing them to earth & blowing them up inside volcanoes. They believe the souls of these aliens (these souls are "Body Thetans") have attached themselves to us & cause many of our mental & physical ills. Members who know about Xenu will attempt to deny it or pretend like it doesn’t matter.  They are required to sign a contract binding them to silence on the matter.  Lower level members don’t know about Xenu & accordingly deny everything because they honestly don’t know.\n\nTo rid ourselves of "Body Thetans" & 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”...... & we have to pay lots & lots of money for “auditing” (purchased in 12.5-hour blocks, costing anywhere from $750 for introductory sessions to between $8,000 & $9,000 for advanced sessions) & to take courses on Scientology to advance to higher “levels” in the “church”. The “church” has also taken a very hostile stance towards psychiatry & 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 & profound mental disturbance & 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. For more information on what a cult is & what their damaging effects are, please visit the link provided at the bottom of the sources. Just know that Scientology DOES qualify by meeting these 5 criteria:\n\n(1) It uses psychological coercion to recruit, indoctrinate & retain its members. (2) It forms an elitist totalitarian society. (3) Its founder leader is self-appointed, dogmatic, messianic, not accountable & has charisma. (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.
206083
I'm glad someone else is curious :D I've asked the same question here (and didn't get much, but I did do my own research), so I will help you as much as I can. \n\nhttp://www.religioustolerance.org/scientol.htm\nThat site is great to get a basic view of Scientology, and to be linked to sites sponsored by Scientologists that explain a bit further. \n\nBut to know the deep down wweird alien related stuff that they talk about you can go here: \nhttp://sf.irk.ru/www/xenuleaf.htm\nBut beware, since Scientologists believe that if you are not ready for that information, you may die. (Yeah I read it and am still alive, haha)\n\nHere is a good critical of Scientology site that was written by an ex-member who had been a Scientologist for 27 years: \nhttp://www.xenu.net/\nI cant attest to how reputable it is, but he seems to very much know his stuff. I was unconvinced that Scientology was as cult-ish as I had heard it was until I visited that site.\n\n\nJust to give you a simple run-down though: They believe that everyone is comprised of a Thetan (like a soul) that has to be released from this world otherwise it will keep being reborn again- so somewhat like Buddhism, except that in the later stages of belief, they think they can have their Thetan move into the afterlife with telapthic skills rather than meditation, etc. \nThey do not believe in Psychology, or medication/drugs/chemicals because they feel that the evil or odd doings of your body is due to the past lives of your Thetan and that medication will impurify you rather than help you. They have big purification processes involving excersice and a strict diet. \nThey do believe in the alien story that I posted a link to above, however very few of them know of this story. Figure heads like Tom Cruise are not told that story, because, I think, they know it's fricken crazy. \nThey do ask for a ton of money from followers, in fact you have to give a certian amount to learn more about the religion. Followers are afraid to look it up for fear that they aren't ready for the information and it could kill them (or at least they are convinced).
786290
It is a CULT. Despite what a few fanatical members may say, it IS a cult. The church harasses and bullies anyone who they deem an "enemy" (basically anyone who has anything negative to say about the "church"). They will RUIN YOUR LIFE if you speak out against them long enough.\n\nThe founder is L. Ron Hubbard, the science FICTION writer who once told a friend that the best way to make lots of money is to start your own religion. Though being a very outspoken critic of psychiatric drugs, it was discovered upon Hubbards death that the anti-anxiety drug hydroxyzine (Vistaril) was present in his body, which several of his assistants would later attest was only one of many psychiatric and pain medications Hubbard ingested over the years.\n\nScientologists believe the evil alien ruler Xenu killed a lot of aliens (Thetans) from around the universe by bringing them to earth and blowing them up inside volcanoes. They believe the souls of these aliens (these souls are "Body Thetans") have attached themselves to us and cause many of our mental and physical ills. Even members of the Church of Scientology who know of Xenu will publicly deny the existence of Xenu and Body Thetans, or attempt to minimize their importance. Scientology has many graduated levels through which one can progress. Many who remain at lower levels in the church are unaware of much of the these doctrines, which mostly begin at Operating Thetan level three, or "OT III". Because the information imparted to members is to be kept secret from others who have not attained that level, the member must publicly deny its existence when asked. OT III recipients must sign a waiver promising never to reveal its secrets before they are given the manila envelope containing the Xenu knowledge.\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 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. For more information on what a cult is and what their damaging effects are, please visit the link provided at the bottom of the sources. Just know that Scientology DOES qualify by meeting these 5 criteria:\n\n(1) It uses psychological coercion to recruit, indoctrinate and retain its members. (2) It forms an elitist totalitarian society. (3) Its founder leader is self-appointed, dogmatic, messianic, not accountable and has charisma. (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.
846904
There are Scientology schools, where most kids who were born into it go, but I have never heard of it being taught in public school.  You wouldn't attend these schools unless you were a Scientologist though, thankfully.  Scientology has kind of seeped into many aspects of society by way of a number of front groups that do various things for the community, like Narconon and the like.  These groups do not advertise that they are really Scientologists, so it is very possible that if you heard that Scientology was being taught in ____ school, it's definitely run by Scientologists.
769009
Here are all the links I've collected over the time I've been researching Scientology.\n\nVideos:\nhttp://theunfunnytruth.ytmnd.com/\nhttp://www.scientomogy.com/jeremy_perkins.php\n\nSites:\nhttp://xenu.net/\nhttp://www.watchman.org/sci/\nhttp://www.scientology-kills.org/\nhttp://usminc.org/scientology.html \nhttp://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/OTIII/\nhttp://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Secrets/\nhttp://www.holysmoke.org/pc/pc.htm\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology \nhttp://www.whyaretheydead.net/room174.html\nhttp://www.freedomofmind.com/resourcecenter/groups/s/scientology/pignotti/\nhttp://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/9363363/inside_scientology\nhttp://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,972865,00.html\nhttp://www.truthaboutscientology.com/read/karma-dogma.html\nhttp://www.beliefnet.com/story/80/story_8057_1.html\nCult information - http://www.cultinformation.org.uk/faq.html#cult\nOfficial site - http://www.scientology.org
467311
Cults are commonly run by really charismatic and believable sales people. People who can really make things make sense and pull you into a fantasy that's hard to get out of. The common theme among cults is fear of questions, outside scrutiny, and lack of archeological departments. Secrecy is key because if regular people knew about the beliefs, the cult would never gain true status as a religion. They also tend to be very focused on money where they require you to give them money or convince you to give up "your worldly possessions". For example, Mormonism and Scientology both fit this mold. \n\nJust to be fair, some would say that Christianity is a Jewish cult.
1101691
You should read a good history of Scientology by L. Ron Hubbard, a great science fiction writer, who started a religion to avoid prosecution.
929786
Because they LIE and MISLEAD and MANIPULATE people into joining.  That is what CULTS do.\n\nI would NEVER join that cult.  I'll tell you why... 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 stablize 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. [this would accurately describe 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.
906301
What kind of "church cover-ups" are you talking about? Other than talking to people in each and every church in the community or country, good luck.
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!
767364
Exactly.  It is a CULT. Despite what a few fanatical members may say, it IS a cult. The church harasses & bullies anyone who they deem an "enemy" (basically anyone who has anything negative to say about the "church"). They will RUIN YOUR LIFE if you speak out against them long enough.\n\nThe founder is L. Ron Hubbard, the science FICTION writer who once told a friend that the best way to make lots of money is to start your own religion. Though being a very outspoken critic of psychiatric drugs, it was discovered upon Hubbards death that the anti-anxiety drug hydroxyzine (Vistaril) was present in his body, which several of his assistants would later attest was only one of many psychiatric & pain medications Hubbard ingested over the years.\n\nScientologists believe the evil alien ruler Xenu killed a lot of aliens (Thetans) from around the universe by bringing them to earth & blowing them up inside volcanoes. They believe the souls of these aliens (these souls are "Body Thetans") have attached themselves to us & cause many of our mental & physical ills. Even members of the Church of Scientology who know of Xenu will publicly deny the existence of Xenu & Body Thetans, or attempt to minimize their importance. Scientology has many graduated levels through which one can progress. Many who remain at lower levels in the church are unaware of much of the these doctrines, which mostly begin at Operating Thetan level three, or "OT III". Because the information imparted to members is to be kept secret from others who have not attained that level, the member must publicly deny its existence when asked. OT III recipients must sign a waiver promising never to reveal its secrets before they are given the manila envelope containing the Xenu knowledge.\n\nTo rid ourselves of "Body Thetans" & 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”...... & we have to pay lots & lots of money for “auditing” (purchased in 12.5-hour blocks, costing anywhere from $750 for introductory sessions to between $8,000 & $9,000 for advanced sessions) & to take courses on Scientology to advance to higher “levels” in the “church”. The “church” has also taken a very hostile stance towards psychiatry & 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 & profound mental disturbance & 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. For more information on what a cult is & what their damaging effects are, please visit the link provided at the bottom of the sources. Just know that Scientology DOES qualify by meeting these 5 criteria:\n\n(1) It uses psychological coercion to recruit, indoctrinate & retain its members. (2) It forms an elitist totalitarian society. (3) Its founder leader is self-appointed, dogmatic, messianic, not accountable & has charisma. (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.
267505
yeah. scientology is creepy. L Ron Hubbard was a lunatic
760454
They believe in some sort of God, but their god is some type of alien.\n\nWhile Scientologists acknowledge Jesus Christ as a great spiritual teacher, Scientology doctrine is not based on the teachings of Jesus.  Scientology has its roots in Nihayana Buddhism, and Scientology therefore acknowledges Siddharta Gautama as an exalted spiritual teacher. \nScientology however is not a philosophy of "faith" or "belief", but an application of practical principles to one's life in order to improve conditions.\n \n\nThey believe that your body is invaded with aliens that were banished from their planet a million years ago. And that when you are born, you have the spirits of about 2,000 aliens that you must rid yourself of. They call them Body Thetons (sp?) There's a book by Ron L Hubbard, called Dianetics (Sp?) in which this "religion" is based upon.... \n\nload of nutters if you ask me\n\nas for the amount of celebrities that get involved with it all i can say is they must be very bored with their lives and have way too much money that it has clouded their judgement.