I have been reading up on what Scientology is, and what it believes.

It is like reading the many posts for LGAT's in my perspective.

I actually see much to connect Scientology to LGAT philosphy.

What do you all think?

Here is a link I found to read up on Scientology doctrine.

Read away, and then share your thoughts on my suggestion of the connection to all the LGAT's as a whole.

[www.bonafidescientology.org]

Here is a quote from Scientology from this link:

[www.bonafidescientology.org]

Am I the only ex LGAT'er that sees the connection here?

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[b:1b200ffa03]Many of these methods have counterparts in other religions—such as the use of confessionals and other forms of spiritual counseling. However, the technology of Scientology was developed pragmatically, is based upon an understanding of the fundamental laws of life, and provides a predictable series of steps by which a person can progress to higher states of spiritual awareness.

Although certainly not unique in the field of religion, another aspect essential to an understanding of the Scientology religion is the extent to which Scientologists all over the world are found working with other religious and social groups in all manner of community programs—caring for the environment, helping those who have fallen into the trap of drugs, supporting human rights campaigns and many other such activities.

Again, these activities are not pursued on faith alone, or under an authoritative edict that one should “do good.” It is simply that as he reaches higher levels of spiritual awareness, the Scientologist invariably begins to recognize that his responsibilities extend far beyond the sphere of his own life, or even that of his immediate family.[/b:1b200ffa03]

Hi rs,

Scientology figures prominently in the trunk of the LGAT family tree. Though L. Ron Hubbard decided to convert his self-improvement "program" into a religion for tax purposes, most of his followers haven't felt the need. Still and all, they all shade variously into weird "spiritual" territory as ordinary self-improvement courses don't seem to carry the emotional dependence that translates into the devotion and sacrifice that bring in big bucks for the leaders.

Werner Erhard learned some of his tricks there and passed them down to all the other copy-cats. (Incidentally, Charles Manson also "studied" scientology.)


Here are some of the common elements you can trace back to scientology and est:


"Processing," which is a term they use for various sorts of formalized procedures that may involve inducing a group or individual into a reflective, contemplative, and suggestive mental state that resembles hypnosis, guided imagery, day-dreaming, auto-suggestion, meditation, wishful-thinking, or even prayer. Its purpose is to get people to focus on themselves, their problems, and their painful memories and in the process, they often become more depressed and more open to suggestion.

"Specialness," which gives the customers a feeling of superiority and that they are part of some great movement or elite force. Also, they foster a sense of belonging that you wouldn't get from an ordinary self-improvement or motivational course.

"Cooties." Critics call them "space cooties" but scientologists call them "engrams" and Werner Erhard's followers call them "rackets." Whatever words are used, they denote undesired elements of personality or character that people want to rid themselves of. Ranging from bad habits to pesky recurrent negative thoughts to major psychiatric pathologies, these are the elements from which people seek escape, cleansing, cure, or deliverance.

"Special Powers," of which a follower can avail himself with enough dedication, labor, devotion, practice, and $$$. Scientologists believe if they work hard enough they can leave their own bodies at will. They call it "exteriorizing." And like Landmarkers, they think they can read people's minds, "create" whatever they want, and "disappear" whatever they don't want. Landmarkers call their special powers "empowerment" or the ability to "create the miraculous."

"Relief from painful memories or a troubling past," which scientologists call "going clear" or "completing the past." Landmarkers call it "putting the past in the past" or becoming aware that it is all "empty & meaningless" anyway.


"Improvement." At scientology you get to be "OT," or "Operating Thetan." At Landmark you get "transformation."


"Breakdowns are Breakthroughs." Their way of re-interpreting, re-contextualizing, or converting a bad situation or set-back into a mere speed-bump and necessary obstacle on your fast-track to enlightenment/salvation/transformation/awareness/whatever. If you break out in hives, it's your body "getting rid of toxins." If you have an asthma attack, you "chose" it so you can learn to "un-chose" it. If your wife leaves you, it's because she was holding you back, wasn't right for you, never supported you, or was never operating in your best interests anyway.

"Disguised sales training." They don't state that up front or include it in the disclaimer but a lot of the programming is just ordinary sales tricks and tactics. More than anything else, they want you to go out and sell the group to more customers.


There are more. That's all I can think of right now.



Ellen

Here's another couple from ol' ElRon:

"Being At Cause." You can either be "at cause" or "at effect." Most people are "at effect" most of the time, meaning they are "victims" of circumstances, of misfortune, of their own incompetence, of their "reactive mind," of the environment, of biology, or of other people. If you learn their "technology," you can assume the "at cause" position, meaning you are in control of your destiny, your life, your self, and any and everybody who shows up in your sphere of influence. In command, in other words. Onlookers might call this "magical thinking," psychosis, narcissism, or conceit.


"Fake Psychology," with a contempt for real, standard, or conventional psychology. Scientology, and all the other "awareness," personal development, or self-improvement groups sell themselves as a alternative to the dreaded psychological or psychiatric counselling.


"Fake science" or "Fake technology." Ropes more in who might shy away from overtly religious, regressive or hokus-pokus content, though that's what it is, in reality.


Ellen

Rs, this scientology technique sounds a lot a bit like the nothingness process at Klemmer that you described:

[board.culteducation.com]

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A quick example is where you sit for over 45 minutes as a participant and being told to do exactly what you’re told to do, and to follow directions. While you set and listen to a facilitator tell you to perform a task over, and over, and over for 45 minutes with it being stated in a very monotone fashion. Lights dim, and no talking allowed except the facilitator. When it is all said and done, and believe me when I say that there is a lot of resistance from participants in this exercise. What’s the conclusion to this exercise? It is all about “NOTHING”. Its purpose is to break down a participants resistance, and open them up to what is being taught in seminar. Which is the philosophy behind Klemmers seminars.

The scientology process

[www.xenu.net]

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On the Objective Processes, the individual is given strict orders to repeat an overwhelmingly tedious cycle of behaviour.
In "Opening Procedure by Duplication", for example, the auditor and the client or "pre-clear" are alone in a room with a table at either end. On one table is a book, on the other a bottle. The preclear will be instructed, with unvarying wording, to look at the object at the other side of the room, to walk over to it, to pick it up and to identify its colour, weight and temperature. Sessions often run to two hours, and cases of 18 such sessions for this single "process" are not unheard of. Eventually, this arduous ritual leads to a sensation of floating, believed to be "exteriorisation from the body" in Scientology-but a common side effect of hypnotic trance.

And here is another scientology process that is used on Quest as a 'nothing' game:

[www.xenu.net]

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In the first TR, two people sit silently facing each other, with their eyes closed. In the second, they stare at each other, sometimes for hours on end, inducing hallucinations and an uncritical euphoria.

In the next stage, TR-0 Bullbait, the student has to sit motionless, while the "coach" does everything possible to disturb him or her. The student progresses to reading aloud disconnected phrases from Alice in Wonderland, and then to acknowledging statements read out at random from the same text. Then comes TR-3, where the student repeatedly asks the coach either "Do fish swim?" or "Do birds fly?". In the last "Communication Course" Training Routine, the student again asks one of these questions repeatedly, learning not to be distracted by anything the coach says or does.

On quest they do a two hour long dyad between assistant and delegate, where no one may move or break eye contact, with the assistant asking the same set of questions with no sensible answer over and over again. But the time you stand up from that you're floating on the ceiling and hardly know what planet you're on. Then a euphoria sets in (and half an hour later they get you to commit to bring peoplel to the guest event.)

The other scientology concept used on quest is 'clearing'.

Scientology has the concept of a 'clear' person:

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Clear, a person audited enough to be free of the "bank," or reactive mind. (The sum of the memories of pain and unconsciousness the person has)

The quest belief is that people must continuously 'clear' (release / communicate / let go of) negative emotions or conflicts. Most of the processes are aimed at 'clearing' some or other emotion e.g. pattern of thoughts.

Elena said:

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Here's another couple from ol' ElRon:

"Being At Cause." You can either be "at cause" or "at effect." Most people are "at effect" most of the time, meaning they are "victims" of circumstances, of misfortune, of their own incompetence, of their "reactive mind," of the environment, of biology, or of other people. If you learn their "technology," you can assume the "at cause" position, meaning you are in control of your destiny, your life, your self, and any and everybody who shows up in your sphere of influence. In command, in other words. Onlookers might call this "magical thinking," psychosis, narcissism, or conceit.

Quest uses this exact terminology - no, not exact - they use "at cause" and "going into effect" with the same meanings. The point of "clearing" is also to "clear" old programming that makes you "go into effect" and also to get you "into integrity". Interestingly, the scientology process of 'security checking" (checking out your 'morals') has been renamed "integrity processing'.

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elena
(Incidentally, Charles Manson also "studied" scientology.

I can definitely believe that. After reading what I have so far on what Scientology doctrine is. Oops Scientology doesn't like the term doctrine.

Oh well... For those Scientologists reading here. Get over it, and change the meaning to what you want. Change the meaning to one that won't offend you. Apply your philosphy here and be happy...

KLemmer & Associates and all the Large Group Awareness Training that has been built upon Scientology. Definitely can produce Charles Manson type people in our society.

The more I read on Scientology. The more I see the connection to LGAT's and the more messed up I see it is.

Thank God for being woke up to Klemmers philosphy in my life.

Yuck, Yuck, and etc, etc...