My step-son got some of these along the way here in NJ (not sure how – there is basically no Scientology presence here). We had the same reaction; they are hilarious.

Great comment; thank you. And no, you’re not going on too long if you’ve got something worth saying, which you did. Take care, friend.

Hey mate, I agree with everything that you said (im also a never in). From what I understand many get a initial benefit but those benefits and that high hit wayns the further you go. People chase that initial high without success and much like a drug they keep looking for that initial rush from the benefits of the beginner courses without any luck. This is of course only my opinion and a generalisation, some hate it from the beginning, some feel they are benefiting all the way deep into OT levels however they would be the vast minority. As for how beneficial it is, maybe the initial courses offer some kind of help however the same self improvement can probably be found from a 2$ self help book from second hand book store. Your probably more inclined to learn more from a book for Vincent Pearl or Susan Jeffers as they are well written and easily understood therefore your more likely to keep your focus rather than the ramblings from a book from L Ron who goes on and on and on (just like this post) who was a average writer and who struggles to capture the reader. Do they help ? Yeah most likely in the beginning stages but nowhere near enough to justify the overhyped and over priced daylight robbery that the organisation practices.

Thanks for your response. As a never-in, I have to take it at face value when people say they’ve gotten some real value from Scientology. From what I’ve seen and read, whatever positive value there is, is far outweighed by destructive evil the cherch causes. It sounds like the value is mainly in assertiveness training of one sort or another, and I wonder: is that training unique to scientology, or can it be obtained elsewhere.

In my own struggle with addictions and other forms of negative behavior, I’ve gotten help from various sources: group therapy, individual therapy, a love-hate relationship with the 12-Step programs, a Buddhist meditation practice. Hell, I even got a lot out of a college course in public speaking; getting up to give a short speech to the class did a lot for my self-esteem.

So when I hear someone say they got a lot out of scientology in the beginning, I wonder: could they have gotten the same benefit from another, less destructive modality?
I’ll add that the idea of using some kind of gadget, i.e., the e-meter, to obtain spiritual advancement puts me off big time. You shouldn’t need some kind of mechanical device to tell you if you’re making spiritual progress.

Thats ok, i dont take heart to your differing opinion. I do however think it is true otherwise this movement wouldn’t have been able to attract over 100k followers in its peak and be able to maintain some long standing followers. Essentially this is how they get people involved, they see some benefit and it gives them a positive feeling of self improvement which they keep chasing. If followers never got a initial benefit then they wouldn’t have become the worlds most successful cult with triple figure following. It may not be for the reasons legitimate religions help which is out of the goodness of their heart, it may be for moneytary goals however some see benefits otherwise they wouldn’t go back after their initial experience and would dismiss it as a load of crap.

I’d assume that if you asked, they’d steer you to another front group, Narconon – and its $15,000+ program.

They help themselves — when they can, to whatever they can get.

Working hard at the ineffective “cures”.

In truth, DFW is only really placed in landfills, ultimately, usually unread except by the bots handing it out.

If ya gotta work THAT hard to make it sound exciting, it NEVER will be exciting.