Not a Scientologist but...

[HappyGirl]

HeadShrinker!

Oh wow! Some of the posters answering are like...famous in my head.

Hahaha! Even I am famous in my head. :D

I am actually thinking of writing a thesis on how Scn slowly sucks the followers in and eventually creates the perception that one cannot leave.

Do other cults do that, or just ours?

[FinallyMe]

I laughed at your comment about the posters who are "famous" in your head - I know what you mean! Isn't it SO cool how after a while you get to know each personality a bit better? And you haven't yet heard from the Ozzie contingent, who are sound asleep at this hour, I believe. Anyhow, welcome, and I hope we can be of help to you, not only as study-mates, but perhaps as entertainment as well.

Patte Monaco

[HeadShrinker]

HeadShrinker!

Hahaha! Even I am famous in my head. :D


Do other cults do that, or just ours?

From what I've researched, it has become one of the identifying factors of a cult. I know the Mormons have a specific meeting where the congregant has to appear before a council of elders and answer questions, the Jehovah Witnesses also have a process to shunning and de-fellowshipping. Almost all cults have huge obstacles in place (either threats of eternal damnation, physical restrictions, or even threat of killing) if one leaves. But CO$ seems to be the only cult I've heard of that actually charges their congregants to get sec-checked/audited before being "allowed" to leave. And of course there is the infamous "freeloader debt" they like to dangle over people's heads. As if working for free for years and years isn't payment enough.

[Type4_PTS]

Hi HeadShrinker, welcome to ESMB.

[Wisened One]

By all means, Headshrinker.

[Mest Lover]

LRH was a borderline schizophrenic. Hypergraphia was one of his specialties, as well as: dilusions of grandure, paranoia et al. the more you read here the more you will understand him. be thankful you never had to taste the poison fruit he offers to those with non-open minds.

[AngeloV]

Oh wow! Some of the posters answering are like...famous in my head. LOL I've been reading on this board for about a year and know some folks were in the Church for decades and thus very strong to leave the cult finally.

Trollbaitz,
Thank you for that info, I will see if I can bump into him/her and try to get a better understanding of treating ex's if they come calling.

I am actually thinking of writing a thesis on how Scn slowly sucks the followers in and eventually creates the perception that one cannot leave. I am often amazed that people would go through the process placed upon them to leave the church. Instead of simply running away they actually go through demeaning treatment to be give permission. I just read someone's story the other day where DM punched him multiple times and he never even thought of hitting back. I was so angry for the poor guy I wanted to find DM and punch the crap out of him. But then I was stunned that it never occured to the victim or the witnesses to simply intercede and refuse the inhumane treatment.

Man, that was some babbling, eh? Anyways, thanks everyone for the warm welcome.

Welcome to the board HS. If you ever do write a thesis, I'd love to read it. Please keep me in mind!

RE: Members cannot leave. This is very difficult for outsiders to understand but when a member dedicates their life to the cause, forsaking all other normal life activities, coming to terms with leaving is very difficult. I felt like a traitor when I was thinking about leaving. I had to sneak out in the middle of the night. I'd love for you to research this aspect of cults because this is one of things that bothered me for years. How I just could not say f**k you, I'm out of here!

[OldTimingMan]

Headshrinker, re: your assessment of ex's being 'more paranoid', well I haven't noticed that, in fact the opposite is my impression. Being less paranoid makes more sense in the context of recent sucesses in alerting public on the dangers of scientology, as well as increasingly vocal departures from the cult.

I welcome you to the board. You know, I used to think shrinks (Phych (iatrists/ologists)) were creepy while a scientologist, and there has been some truly horrific documented cases of abusive programs and tin-hatted celebrities within the field.. As far as I know, these are behind us, for now..

I'm here cause i'm an ex and concerned about the abuses of scientology going on right now... and im sure you will find you stay here interesting.

FYI, I met a shrink recently and he seemed like an ok Joe.

[dontscamme]

HeadShrinker

I am very glad that you decided to register and post on this board.

I have been following the ex-Scn forums for two years now, and I have not seen many professionals in the fields of psychiatry or psychology expressing their viewpoints.

You have probably seen references to Nancy Many's book, My Billion Year Contract. It is the best book I have seen yet that deals very frankly with the subjects of mental health and Scn. Here is a link to her website in case you haven't already seen it.

http://mybillionyearcontract.com/

[Mest Lover]

I felt like a traitor when I was thinking about leaving. I had to sneak out in the middle of the night. I'd love for you to research this aspect of cults because this is one of things that bothered me for years. How I just could not say f**k you, I'm out of here!

I was worried about them sticking me on a meter and finding out about the truth of me plotting my path out. the meter is the scare, sec checks, hco metering, et al. they make you believe they can read your mind and if you dont always float your needle to them, you will be RPF'ed and constrained in any other way until you "find what you did, realize your overt, or otherwise 'come to your scn senses'."