Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief

[SteelCurtain]

I saw it.  Stunning.  Just a bunch of criminals.

I mean...if you think you have to be stupid to be a xtian the story these dipshits have invented is beyond bizarre.  

If I was more of an asshole (and perhaps much more charismatic) I'd try to start a new religion. Because lets face it, a child could come up with a more convincing story.

Like the documentary said, that's the bait and switch of this cult. It is sold as just a way to learn to better communicate and cope with stuff at the beginning. It's genius, really. The beginning part---talking about past traumas and repeating them to an auditor until they are less traumatic, and connecting with people in that intimate setting, it works. Not because of Scientology, but because that shit is basic psychology.

You don't even rank high enough to learn the origin story until years later and thousands of dollars in. You get front loaded with all the effective stuff, but after a lot off money and all your secrets in a file, then you learn the truly batshit stuff. But by that time you are in. It works for you. You have invested years and probably a significant portion of your life savings. The brain has an amazing coping mechanism where it will accept the patently ridiculous in order to preserve your reality.

To be honest, LRH was a fucking genius. A psychopath, but a genius nonetheless.