Are any of my fellow Co-creators practicing Scientology?

[Yvette Marie]

I woke up today and was feeling good. I got some news of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith being Scientologists. I was intrigued. I've had the book for many years. Never got into it, but hearing that two of my favorite celeb's are in this religion, and that they teach based on some of the method's learned through their Scientology practice at their school, The New Leadership Academy in California, has re-sparked the interest. Maybe that's why this day started extremely different. I explored the scientology website and now I'd like to hear from my fellow co-creators what you think?I'm incredibly curious. Tell me more.

[seb]

Well it seems to me you dont need your fellow co-creators to explore the Scientology thing, if you feel like it ;)

[Yvette Marie]

No your right. I was just wondering if anyone here has any experience with it. Tried it, knows someone who has, tried it loves it, hates it, that sort of thing. I watched a pretty scary video on youtube about it.So far though haven't seen much positive stuff aside from the offical website.

[Yvette Marie]

Ha. Most of the stories I've seen involve them wanting more and more money for course's and other stuff. Did they offer to give you any of the "training" they offer?

[Alix Fateh Mathias]

Hi Yvette,

I have never experienced Scientology directly and I am always careful to not comment on things I don't have experience of. However, for a couple of years, I received a ton of mail from Scientology because the person that lived there before me was a Scientologist. I say WAS because obviously they did not bother to give them a change of address. I got magazines and brochures constantly and I read them all. What I gleaned is that it is an organization created and led by a charismatic leader (likely a genius on many levels) and that this is not the kind of thing you do part way. It was pretty clear that Scientology is your life and that nothing less than full immersion would be expected or would work. And, if you were going to spend that much money -- you'd want to do full immersion. I can tell you that it is very intense. I watched a video from the library where they reviewed a lot of their values -- and they seemed pretty common sense to me. I also know they do lots and lots of 'good works" all over the world on literacy, drug and alcohol etc....they are very serviceful. There is always a shadow side to an organization this intense...I think you already know what it is. Good luck.

[Yvette Marie]

Thanks so much. Most if what I've read involves people spending lots of money for "training" to become clear as they say. I thought exactly what you said, "full immersion". I do believe there's a shadow side because of a documentary I watched about it.Some of the senior members wouldn't allow the newer practitioners to talk alone to people who were interested in the religion. Was very odd, as if they were afraid the newbies would say something incriminating.

[Sabine]

I've never been personally involved with them, but from what I've read in serious newspapers and books, I would advise extreme caution. Check out books and newspaper articles in your library about the organisation and then make up your mind.

[Elaine]

Hi Yvette.

I understand that Scientology can fascinate and that is because, by design the most public friendly ideas are what are pushed on newcomers. I went through a few of the beginner "training" classes myself and to be honest found them to be extremely helpful.
I took one class called "Study Technique", another on verbal communication, another on ethics, and a few others.

It was fascinating but the further I got involved the more suspect it became. There was an older man in our group who was a "Thetan" meaning that he had (spent at least $100,000 on upper level classes) and had passed the levels of normal people and now had super powers of some sort. What surprised me was that this man was a chain smoker who I regularly saw shooting darts at me with his eyes while I laughed and chatted with friends because he thought I was dangerous to scientology because when I was still at home with my parent I had once taken a trial of prozac for about three months.

Finally, our locations leaders came under suspicion for some type of bad behavior and things got really weird. The pressure to sign up for more classes was overwhelming and finally I had to break free from it.

I found the tone scale to be fascinating, however it is clearly biased against homosexuals which I don't agree with. I think their sexuality has it's positive expressions and negative ones, much like heterosexuality. Scientologists categorize gayness with perversion. But chain smoking is just fine. After all L R Hubbard did it.

Basically, if you don't have at least a million dollars to spend on this don't bother. You will be put to work for them in the hopes that you will somehow pay for classes but that will never happen. They will pay little and still ask you to round up money to pay the difference.

[Yvette Marie]

More and more this is beginning to sound like something I should steer away from. Even though they may have some helpful aspects so does training ones mind with the many tools that are available for FREE. Thanks for your help.

[Yuriy Disman]

don't just steer away, RUN

[Yvette Marie]

LOL:-) It's looking that way at this point. Thanks.

[Jensine]

If anyone is interested in learning more about Scientology (I'm not a follower, just found it an interesting read!!!!), I have the dianetics book avaliable in my new group FREE STUFF, come join and if you want it, its on a first come first serve basis, or if more than one of you are interested in reading it perhaps you could pass it along. Like with all the books and stuff I read/listen to, I took what felt good and left what didn't.

Just thought I'd let you know as I saw the heading of your post:-)

Jensine x

[Yvette Marie]

Thanks, I bet you have passed on lots of great books. I have the book and it's on my to read list.