Read Hubbards dektalogy “Invasion Earth” and then read “Dianetics”. It’s a riot.
How anyone can take Scientology seriously is one of the great marvels of the human psyche.
Does anyone take this seriously?
Or do new members of the cult either become disgusted and leave,or get in on the pyramid scheme by becoming recruiters?
It would be interesting to see some numbers on it from a outside source.
I agree Scientology is a large scale cult that preys on those who are without hope, friends, meaning in their lives. Most cults seem to prey on the weak.
But how does it entice the hollywood crowd? Sure, I only know Travolta and Cruise as actors but they don’t seem to be gullible saps who need friends and meaning in their lives.
Is there any backing to the thought that they “checked it out” for curiositys sake, gave a little too much info about themselves, and are now being blackmailed into staying with it?
Having grown up in a second-generation Jack Mormon family, I’m very much aware of this ideology, but not targeted at Scientology, and rather at Joe Smith’s Mormonism. Here’s the story behind that:
cited from here http://www.atheists.org/church/mormon.html
“Smith got his new religion going by writing a book known as The Book of Mormon. The book was much too dull to make it as a novel – Mark Twain called the book “chloroform in print” – so it was marketed as a new bible. Having quite a flair for publicity, Smith pretended to have translated The Book of Mormon from a pile of gold plates dug out of a glacial hill in upstate New York – with the help of a resurrected man, no less!”
The Mormons have incredible pyramid schemes if you want to see some really amazing scamming in action. Check out http://www.melaleuca.com/
This is one my grandparents whole-heartedly endorsed. I remember as a kid going to see the grandparents and there being entire sales kits scattered around the house, and my father always being asked to take some of this home and use it for virtually everything.
At any rate, you all ask how people could be drawn into such an obvious scheme as Scientology? I wouldn’t doubt it if at least one Mormon has either read or contributed to this thread. That’s how. People want something to believe in, no matter how far-fetched, and Scientology appeals to the same kinds of people who collect crystals and stones, burn lots of incense, make use of copper pyramids and listen to new age synth music. I know this also because I knew a few when I was a teenager, and I was coerced into going to a Scientology seminar once. Very odd experience, and all their self-help crap they push about getting to the “inner you” is what the audience really responded to.
But the idea of inventing a religion from thin air for profit isn’t new. And IMHO, the only real reason we’ve got religion of any kind is because science wasn’t around to debunk many ancient myths and people subsequently have been to stubborn with what has been debunked, and too impatient to wait for the rest, people need some kind of moral fiber to rely on when times are rough (for me it comes from mom’s good sense, but that’s just me). And then for what just can’t be understood, such as what happens when you die, many folks get really scared thinking about such imponderables, religion provides the answers. Different strokes for different folks, but for me the unknowing is not such a bad thing, I say, who cares? Agnostism.
People do take scientology seriously – although thoroughly implausible, its benefits are very attractive. Once you get involved in the “church,” you’re constantly being reindoctrinated. Any progress you make is due to following the method, any problems are a result of your failure to audit properly. Meanwhile, you are being told of more and more wonderful things you’ll be able to do once you get rid of your current hang-ups and go clear.
As an example – my aunt and uncle (and their two eldest children) were scientologists for some time about 20 or 30 years ago. They eventually left the church (although the church tried to strongarm them back – I was a little kid and lived 2500 miles away, so I don’t know the details). Anyway, I was talking about it with their son Andy a few years ago and he said that he hadn’t progressed very far in the program when they left. He was only doing basic levitation – very very very small trucks. 
–Cliffy
All the Melaleuca folks I know or heard of aren’t Mormons. Why do you think this is a “Mormon” thing? Is Amway a “Baptist” thing then? What about Shaklee… is that “Buddist”? I just don’t see your line of reasoning… if there is one. 
I think we’re about as answered here as we’re gonna be.