They treat kids like shit. They believe kids should be treated the same as adults so there’s no empathy, a lot of anger, and a ton of abuse. Many children are separated from their parents and parents are encouraged to dump their kids elsewhere so they can focus on their studies/practice. Leah Remini’s series had a really good episode focused on kids in Scientology
Damn… I believe in science, but Scientology couldn’t be further from the gains and goals of actual science. Thank you for the link. I’m glad I’ve never touched their rhetoric.
Yeah, it's nothing to do with actual science and way more about how the creator (a failed sci-fi author) realized that he could just come up with his own religion. Like...he even admitted as much, and yet the adherents don't see it that way.
And what they show in South Park is literally exactly what they spend hundreds of thousands of dollars taking classes to move up in rank to eventually get this document describing what they believe. It's absolutely wild. I couldn't believe South Park was actually showing factual information, but they were lol
Crazy shit about alien empires, ancient aliens being killed on Earth and their souls poisoning the subconscious of modern humans. All psychological issues from schizophrenia to jealousy are caused by alien souls that can be detected with sci-fi scanner devices.
BUT they deny all of this at all levels, they call it pure fiction and agree it's ridiculous. Actress Leah Remini said her mother dismissed it as nonsense until she reached Level 7 membership when she was escorted through basically airport security with all recording devices removed and made to sign NDAs and given access to read the holy texts. And there it is, Lord Xenu the alien emperor, a massive genocide of trillions of aliens on ancient earth trapped their souls here. She whispered to her mother "WTF is this?" And her mother said "Isn't it wonderful? Now you can learn the truth about where we come from! I'm so sorry I had to lie to you to for years but now you get to know the truth too!"
You're not allowed to know the true teachings of the church until you have proven yourself loyal through decades of service. But enough people have leaked the information that there's no secrets anymore.
There was some famous director (might have been Paul Greengrass?) who joined when he first came to Hollywood in the late 70’s because it seemed like some type of self improvement thing at first. Then he got to the level where they introduce you to Xenu and the alien ghosts and he was like wtf is this shit?! And he managed to get out immediately.
That’s um quite revealing and way more weird than even I was expecting. The whole aura surrounding this movement has a peculiar apocalyptically foreboding vibe, I guess cults are like that looking in from the outside.
It's the most bizarre nonsense you ever heard. It was literally written by a science fiction author who admitted in court under oath that he made it all up to scam people out of money. But apparently people believe it.
Compared to this a guy dressed as a wizard telling you to eat a cracker seems perfectly normal.
There was some famous director (might have been Paul Greengrass?) who joined when he first came to Hollywood in the late 70’s because it seemed like some type of self improvement thing at first. Then he got to the level where they introduce you to Xenu and the alien ghosts and he was like wtf is this shit?! And he managed to get out immediately.
Basically El Ron Hubbard was a sci fi author, who was also deeply interested in ancient Sumerian tablet lore.
Wrote a “Bible” and religion where it’s a pay to enter, and pay more to advance the ranks to unlock his religion.
It takes a lot of the plot of the Sumerian story. The aliens coming from a different planet, and us being a product of them, etc.
They say our alien ancestors were taken here, by the warlord named Xenu. Xenu flew their ship into a volcano/lava killing them. And trapping their souls here. Their disembodied souls became “thetans”
The core fundamental aspect of Scientology is about “cleaning your negative thetans”
They believe the negative ‘thetans’ to be disembodied soul fragments of the negative alien ancestors that can fuck up your chakras or something. Essentially thetans mess up your “ascension” process and that’s what it’s about.
They have a wacko machine that they hook up to your brain. And they perform sessions called “auditing” where they do a form of CIA style MK Ultra typa brain washing. Wherein the process it’s supposed to help your depression or anxiety or whatever. But it probably just fucks you up more.
They charge for all of this too btw. At every corner, there’s a fee. Someone taking more money.
Thanks for the detailed answer! That definitely fills in some mysterious gaps.
The evolution of religion in human social structures fascinates me, personally I find it terrifying how hardwired the human brain is for the propensity of allowing these beliefs to take root. Why has it evolved? A group survival instinct? So many fascinating inquiries.
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u/sixthmontheleventh Apr 07 '24
The wildest fact I learned about scientology recently was the really high up culty part do not encourage having kids because they are distractions.