okay I watched it...but it's all still kind of crazy
Alright kiddies, I watched An Introduction to Scientology, which is interestingly enough the only interview L. Ron Hubbard, the creator of Scientology, gave. Or at least that's what the DVD told me. I'm highly doubtful of the validity of about ALL the terms and theories given by Hubbard and highly doubt Scientology is little more than a metaphysical self help...thing.
I honestly think he snapped. I think he wrote a few too many science fiction stories in the 50s and he went all Anne Heche and decided to start making up theories about bettering man with this that and the other thing. Or, rather, perhaps Anne Heche pulled a Hubbard, indeed.
Lafayette Ronald "L. Ron" Hubbard (March 13, 1911 - January 24, 1986)
What I found most concerning was his vague definition of Scientology itself. I don't think I got a straight answer to that question at all! The interviewer, a British chap who looks familiar, but I can't place him, even asked "What is Scientology?" (in more British words) at the very beginning, and Hubbard flat out evaded, saying it was impossible to answer, that it was like asking "How are you today?". Apparently that means "Fine" "Not too bad" and "Okay, but my back's killing me" are all definitions of Scientology. Nice, Hubbard, nice.
Basically, Hubbard took well established [mostly white] men and made them buy a bunch of books and then pay for a year or more of 'auditing', which is like Scientology seminary. Only at the point of the interview, I do not believe Scientology was set up strongly as a Church yet, more of a philosophy. However, people were already noticing the relationship between the practice and the practitioners' wallets.
What really struck me was Hubbard's distaste for psychoanalysis. He VEHEMENTLY opposed the interviewer's question asking if Scientology involved such practices, saying that it was "bad manners" to even ask it.
Here's the Idiot's definition that I got at the end of all this, at exactly what Hubbard WANTS the public to believe:
Scientology is the practice of...something vague...,moral codes and structured thinking which not only leads to the betterment of one's life, but society as a whole. It can raise your IQ and make you a brighter person.
Huh? What a crazy person. This IQ thing really threw me...so I did some research. Which made my head spin...but what I've gathered from Wikipedia is that IQ can't really change. What CAN change is your aptitude for tests, but I highly doubt a scientologist is really raising the IQ. It would mean something phenomenal was happening, and I'm pretty sure we'd all be scientologists, too. And living in Mars.
Plus Hubbard specifically said only ABLE and INTELLIGENT men and women were allowed in. He actually said something like "...to help the able become more able." and then smiled his creepy, slimey Snape smile. He was asked why this was, and apparently any of us who have mental handicaps already failed and he couldn't help. What a guy, helping out all those well-off, able-minded men and women to better themselves! WHAT A FREAKING GUY!
IMHO, he and his believers are asshats, and apparently exscientologists are some of the loudest opposed to the religion. It's a racket.
Also, RIGHT after the interview was over, it told me to, and I quote, "BUY and READ" his book. Tools.
I honestly think he snapped. I think he wrote a few too many science fiction stories in the 50s and he went all Anne Heche and decided to start making up theories about bettering man with this that and the other thing. Or, rather, perhaps Anne Heche pulled a Hubbard, indeed.
Lafayette Ronald "L. Ron" Hubbard (March 13, 1911 - January 24, 1986)
What I found most concerning was his vague definition of Scientology itself. I don't think I got a straight answer to that question at all! The interviewer, a British chap who looks familiar, but I can't place him, even asked "What is Scientology?" (in more British words) at the very beginning, and Hubbard flat out evaded, saying it was impossible to answer, that it was like asking "How are you today?". Apparently that means "Fine" "Not too bad" and "Okay, but my back's killing me" are all definitions of Scientology. Nice, Hubbard, nice.
Basically, Hubbard took well established [mostly white] men and made them buy a bunch of books and then pay for a year or more of 'auditing', which is like Scientology seminary. Only at the point of the interview, I do not believe Scientology was set up strongly as a Church yet, more of a philosophy. However, people were already noticing the relationship between the practice and the practitioners' wallets.
What really struck me was Hubbard's distaste for psychoanalysis. He VEHEMENTLY opposed the interviewer's question asking if Scientology involved such practices, saying that it was "bad manners" to even ask it.
Here's the Idiot's definition that I got at the end of all this, at exactly what Hubbard WANTS the public to believe:
Scientology is the practice of...something vague...,moral codes and structured thinking which not only leads to the betterment of one's life, but society as a whole. It can raise your IQ and make you a brighter person.
Huh? What a crazy person. This IQ thing really threw me...so I did some research. Which made my head spin...but what I've gathered from Wikipedia is that IQ can't really change. What CAN change is your aptitude for tests, but I highly doubt a scientologist is really raising the IQ. It would mean something phenomenal was happening, and I'm pretty sure we'd all be scientologists, too. And living in Mars.
Plus Hubbard specifically said only ABLE and INTELLIGENT men and women were allowed in. He actually said something like "...to help the able become more able." and then smiled his creepy, slimey Snape smile. He was asked why this was, and apparently any of us who have mental handicaps already failed and he couldn't help. What a guy, helping out all those well-off, able-minded men and women to better themselves! WHAT A FREAKING GUY!
IMHO, he and his believers are asshats, and apparently exscientologists are some of the loudest opposed to the religion. It's a racket.
Also, RIGHT after the interview was over, it told me to, and I quote, "BUY and READ" his book. Tools.