Extreme Beliefs
December 3, 2009 by XENU TV
Filed under Anonymous, Latest News, U.S. Broadcasts
A segment from the documentary ‘Secret Lives of Women: Extreme Beliefs’ featuring Amy, who at one time was a member of the Sea Organization (Scientology’s paramilitary wing), is now considered a “Suppressive Person” and has been cut off from all communication with her family after leaving the cult two years ago.
To hear the stories of other young ex-Scientologists and to become informed about the abuses by the Scientolgy organization visit Ex-Scientology Kids.
A classic charcteristic of any cult is the total seperation from anyone outside that cult, with extremely few exceptions, everything is done “in-house”.
If necessary, people completely unconnected with the cult may be brought in to assist in major work projects or various activities that require a higher degree of professionalism than cult members can provide.
While contracted to do such work these people are carefully watched and not permitted to socialize with any cult member, unless it has been approved by some supervisory staff and only if it is related to the work being done.
Disconnection extends far beyond family and ex-cult members. The objective is to create a permanent concept of an “us vs. them” mentality whereby, cult members not only see themselves as seperate from all others but accept it as normal and necessary. Such an atmosphere then produces a wharped and, in some cases, dangerous view of anyone or anything outside of the cult. This is often manifested in the strange way Scientologists, as one example, look and talk when confronted by critics.
While that’s true cwhale, don’t forget that the Catholic Church still practices excommunication to anyone who professes to being a Freemason. Still to this day they practice this action.
It does disrupt families.
I’m sure it’s not the only religion today that does that, and I still fail to see how this is strictly a “Scientology” issue. Hell I’ve worked jobs where when someone got fired, talking to them brought the ire of the boss… so we shuned people.
When I was a Scientologist, I was never given any direction to shun or disconnect from anyone – after i left i still get calls (god i wish they’d stop) so they haven’t disconnected from me!
When I did want to disconnect from a family member (for personal reasons) they convinced me not to “jump to that drastic decision.” Instead I worked it out with them.
I know a lot of people ahve been forced to disconnect – i wasn’t… and i wonder if it’s a case by case. At least where I was Upland mission in CA, they didn’t pursue disconnect over SP’s. My auditor considered his mother an SP – he never stopped talking with her.
This is a disconnect… how do we get two different stories? Is there a more Fundamentalist approach in some parts of Scientology (like at bridge publications) and a more open minded approach elsewhere?
Mark has said in some interviews that the Hubbard tech has to be the same everywhere… but in other religions it’s not that way… so could there be pockets of fundamentalism and normalcy throughout Scientology?
Hmm.. I was a catholic for most of my childhood. I also did ex-communication. It was just another ritual to us and the priest and there was no mention of disconnection with anything or anyone.
My loss of a friend to scientology though is very disturbing. 20 years of friendship gone in just one phone call. They corrupted her natural inner beauty.
As a sometime practising Catholic I have never had any personal experience of excommunication. I think rebel bishop Lefebvre was excommunicated in the 70s but this has since been rescinded.Some of my Catholic friends have left the Church but I have not broken my freiendship to them and my attitude is that if they find other traditions more suited to them then good luck to them. This is basic ecumenicalism.
Oh, I think there are some major differences between the Catholic Church’s excommunication and Scientology. In the past few decades, the Vatican has excommunicated some people but for pretty big & public offenses. The numbers of those being excommunicated are very small considering there are millions of Catholics. If someone decides they are no longer Catholic, they can just stop going to services.
I personally know people who have left the Catholic Church or have publicly disagreed with some teachings. These people are not shunned or barred from attending masses, funerals, baptisms or weddings. They’ve not been excommunicated or spied on. There’s no roll call at mass or checking for your name on the “good list”.
Let’s compare that to Scientology. If you disagree, there’s something wrong WITH YOU. Continue, it leads to security checks and/or RPF. If you leave, they will try to hunt you down and get you back. If you don’t come back, they check your records to see how they can publicly humiliate or intimidate you.
Further, when was the last time you heard the Catholic, Anglican, Baptist or Quaker Churches state an ex-member was so horrible that all contact should be stopped?
re: Brian
Your expeirence with Catholic disconnection is, I feel, unusual as seen by the responses above. Those that leave established religions tend not to be forbidden from contacting family and friends still in that religion. Nor is the reverse true.
Undoubtedly, there are exceptions to this rule but, unlike Scientology, it is not a stated policy and even if so is not practiced.
As for singling out Scientology please take note that I have always been careful to discuss cults in general terms and used Scientology as an example that is pertinent to this forum.
It appears Brian is apologists to a very damaging cult. Yes there are many ridiculous rules and beliefs in most all religions, but Scientology is not a religion, so there is no comparison. If he was to actually research about the cults real intentions: money, power & control, perhaps he would quit trying to defend it.
Scientology sees people as raw meat, a cash cow, or cheap labor. Critics and former members who criticize are seen as threatening their mission, and meant to be attacked.
A member’s individual goals — illusory “clear,” super powers, or self-improvement — is usually replaced with the cult’s goals, KSW and more money.
Like Tarvuism, Scientology is “so easy to join.” But just try and get away from these money-sucking freaks if you take even one course, like a friend of mine did decades ago.
You go on their list for life, of people to try and suck more money out of, unless you get an SP declare, and then they sic PIs on you, or harass in other ways.
Scientology is like no other mainstream religion, because it isn’t one. It is a scam, which took on religious cloaking to evade medical authorities and gain tax exemption.
That’s why it is such a high crime to question or challenge college flunk-out huckster Hubbard, with all his nutty philosophies and pseudo-science, including the big stupid secret about Xenu.
Let’s face it, there’s not a whole lot to like here. I can see how some former members, who are loaded, might find it fun, and with Hubbard’s attitude about sympathy (low toned), just ignore the plight of the thousands who have a bad experience with it.
I just can’t respect this crime cult’s policies and beliefs when it takes people like Miscavige or Rathbun, and turns them into fanatics who beat and slap others around, on their power trips. Not to mention the mind-bending experience children have to somehow try to escape from, after they discover Scientology is not about saving the planet, but just an elaborate money trap, set for vulnerable people.
Get a clue. David Miscavige is a high school dropout. Scientology is not about education, or many other things it pretends to be about. It is about control and money.
OSA-Brian, with his lame arguments won’t convince me, not with all the thousands of documented facts and testimonies out there.
People’s lives and experiences, like Amy’s, wasted in this oppressive totalitarian trap have meaning.
Well put, Astrid.
The scientology brand of salvation seems to cost SO much money. There’s a lot of nagging to take more courses and guilt trips if you don’t. Their kind of salvation is that of your bank account.
Never give up freedom fighters!!!