Suicide, Extortion and Scientology

[stahlpony]

My family has just recently been through a traumatic experience and I believe Scientology is to blame. My brother recently took his life a few weeks ago after scientology raped him of thousands of dollars and then turned their back on him and kicked him out. My brother was experiencing some personal struggles, inner and financial. He has been involved in Scientology for years and he reached out to them for help dealing with his depression. He headed to Los Angelas to get the help through auditing packages he purchased. He had only intended to be there a week and ended up staying a month. I don't know much of what went on there, but apparently they twisted his arm and conviced him to donate thousands of dollars to their organization. He came close to cashing in his 401K. After he charged thousands to give to the organization, they told him he was too far gone and that they could not help him and they sent him home. He came back more in debt than he left and was left out in the cold. Within a couple of days of his return he took his own life.

Scientology has extorted a lot of money from my brother over the years. They also pushed him to donate money even though his wife was not in agreement. We found documentation confirming this. What kind of organization would push a man to go against his wife for their own personal financial gain? My way of dealing with this tragic event is to reach out to see if other have had similar stories or maybe have some insight as to what goes on during auditing. I have started reading a lot about Scientology and I'm finding that they practice mind control and that their auditing can actually cause psychotic breakdowns. I would greatly appreciate any stories or sharing of this organization that might give me some answers or further insight. Thanks.

[dodge]

Hi Stahlpony. There used to be a lot of threads about Scientology here at Factnet; but over time I guess interest subsided. As a matter of fact, the first forum I joined eight or nine years ago was an anti-Scientology discussion board. Shortly after that, Tom Cruise apparently went somewhat insane and jumped on Oprah’s couch laughing hysterically.

I learned about Scientology's use of an electronic device called the “E-meter,” to get rid of “body thetans” that were created when Xenu, the dictator of the “Galactic Confederacy,” came to Earth seventy-five million years ago in a spacecraft that looked a lot like a DC-8 and used hydrogen bombs to kill billions of his people. Their disembodied souls were blown into the air, and were captured by Xenu’s forces using some sort of “electronic ribbon.” They were then taken to a place like a theater where they were forced to watch a movie for thirty-six days, which implanted false memories.

They became “body thetans” that cling to us. Through “auditing,” using the E-meters, they are removed.

Most of us here are well-aware of what Scientology represents (a destructive cult that uses coercive persuasion and mind control techniques). We have a special section here devoted to it, “Scientology and Dianetics,” the largest online archive in the world of “the dirty secrets of Scientology, Dianetics, and L. Ron Hubbard.” The owner of this website, Lawrence Wollersheim, is an ex-member who sued the Church of Scientology for intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress and won. He co-founded Factnet to be used as an information resource on cults.

http://www.factnet.org/node/1411

I’m sure that everything you want to know about Scientology is there. Hopefully, others will respond to the account of your brother’s tragic end; and how his involvement with Scientology may have been responsible. Unfortunately, there are many similar stories surrounding the cult of Scientology. I’m sorry for your loss.

[theadmin]

I deleted the discussion between Dodge and Turtle about Oprah Winfrey because it’s derailing the intention of this thread, started by Stahlpony; who came here asking for help, telling us about his brother’s suicide and asking others to share what they know about Scientology so that he might get answers and insight. If you don’t have anything relevant to say that would help Stahlpony in his attempt at understanding what happened to his brother, don’t bother posting here. Have some respect.

Mr. Factnet

[stahlpony]

Dodge, thank you for your input and recommendations for more information. We are still trying to sort through all the information of what occurred the past 10 years which lead to my brother's end. The methods used with Scientology must be very effective because I am hearing more news on how much money they convinced him to donate to their cause. Every time my brother got ahead and was successful in some way they would come and twist his arm for hours on end to convince him that he should do his part. He did his party alright and then some. He developed a dependency on the org and when they turned their back on him after he charged another huge amount as a donation, he felt lost and didn't think he could go on without Scientology. What a waste.

[dodge]

Stahlpony -- I’m just sorry there isn’t much interest in your story here.

I’ve never been in a cult such as Scientology; but as one who has studied psychology I’ve been interested in the coercive techniques that are used by organizations to control people. Your brother, having become a member of the Church of Scientology, had to go through the “auditing” process. According to Scientologists, this is done to discover destructive elements they call “engrams,” and auditing is a process designed to eliminate them.

This Scientology/Dianetics “auditing” process is how they make their money; because it’s very expensive (and never-ending), and it’s linked to a form of hypnosis. The “engrams” (which exist in the unconscious) apparently enforce “erroneous data” or “painful memories,” and the E-meter sessions are supposed to “clear” one of all this.

Technically, the E-meter is a variation of a Wheatstone Bridge, an electronic meter that measures resistance to various electrical flows. It measures the tiny electrical fluctuations under the surface of the skin, while an “auditor” engages in close questioning about past experiences involving traumatic events in order to uncover mental blocks. Once “clear,” an initiate will (theoretically) be able to fully comprehend whatever she learns, and be in complete control of her actions.

As Dianetics become more of a religion than therapy over time, a form of "salvation" became its goal centered around the view that humans are “thetans,” immortal souls or spirits, all-powerful beings trillions of years old who have lived numerous lives throughout history and across space. This record of past lives is known as “the track,” and they say it becomes apparent through auditing. Many are said to remember past lives, both human and extraterrestrial.

Becoming “clear” is only the first step in a long (and expensive) process, extending auditing sessions with the goal of becoming an “Operating Thetan,” who is “at cause” and able to create matter, energy, space, and time (MEST); as well as being able to leave their bodies (“exteriorize"), and possess other paranormal abilities.

This process is addictive, and members will do anything to continue their sessions, with hopes of becoming god-like in their abilities and join in their cult's desire to “clear the planet,” clear all people of their engrams. This is the ministry of the Church of Scientology, how they brainwash people and get them to give them money.

Strange, isn’t it? It' a tragedy your brother got sucked into it and lost everything, including his life.

[dodge]

There’s an online edition of the Technical Dictionary of Dianetics and Scientololgy, by L. Ron Hubbard, that you might find useful. It will help with definitions of “technical terms” used by Scientologists.

http://e-meter-star.com/books.files/TECHDICT.PDF

For example, a Clear Operating Thetan is a “proofed-up being who no longer has a bank.” A “bank” is “the mental image picture collection of the pre-clear,” the “reactive mind.” A “reactive mind” is that part of the mind that works on a totally stimulus-response basis. This is where the “engrams” are. An “engram” is a “mental image picture which is a recording of a time of physical pain and unconsciousness.”

They have their own language. Like “enturbulate,” coined by L. Ron Hubbard to describe a turbulent or disturbed state of mind. Your theta can be entrubulated, as well as your MEST. When you’re “Theta Clear,” you operate exterior to your MEST body and are “at cause over your reactive bank” where you can “create and un-create at will.”

Imagine, being able to roam the universe free of a body and do anything you want using supernatural abilities. All you have to do is give the Church of Scientology every penny you can get your hands on, use their auditing “technology,” and separate yourself from your family and friends. L. Ron Hubbard was quite a con man who made really good koolaid.

[scout]

Thanks for the update and the tragic story from the OP. My sympathy to the family. For those who are dealing with depression, there are many resources, becoming a member of a good local church, 12 step or other support program are solutions. Scientology is a black hole especially with dwindling resources and pressing lawsuits around the world against them. "The tender mercies of the wicked are cruel".

[spacestate]

dodge thanx for the pdf file on Scientology terms. I've had auditing & I can see how it could be addictive. I found that it immediately from my 1st experience got me out of a rut of thinking the same thoughts & memories I'd been stuck on. I felt that the 'past life' memories were more symbolic like trying to analyze a dream. Also a floating needle on the E-meter could just signify that one has entered a deep state of hypnosis. I could see from reading about OTIII how trying to audit out thousands of 'body thetans' with separate personalities could easily drive one crazy. I can see how recalling past events could be helpful but the same process could be used to harm just as easily, like ethics 'sec checks' for example. Plus not everyone reacts the same to the same process & different people (auditors) are going to be unique. In any case I wouldn't join the CoS for any reason at this point.

[turtle]

Are you all unaware according tot he news scientology will no longer being playing their mind control games. However rumor has it Tom Cruise is still trying to hold scientology together as org. God is in control people whether you believe or do not.