Actually, this is not true. Many people WERE raised in the cult. Actors Danny and Chris Masterson, Mimi Rogers (she and her father later left), and Beck, IIRC.
As always, Xenu.net has some great articles:
$cientology and ‘thought control’, techniques that they use and a very good article, “How to believe in Scientology.”
But, really, most of Xenu.net is pure gold. This really is a fascinating cult. Evil as all getout, but really interesting.
But who doesn’t know this? Doesn’t everyone know the basic story behind Scientology? I knew it even before that South Park episode, just from reading about it tangentially on the Internet and other places. Scientologists’ actual beliefs must be the world’s worst-kept secret.
Anyway, I’d surmise that the benefits are much the same as one gets in any other religion, subculture, or group–the feeling of belonging, of knowing you’re right, etc. Considering that Scientologists target those who are already psychologically unhealthy this can be an enormous benefit for some people who feel left out of society.
We just have different notions of many. I doubt the majority or even a large percentage of new Scientologist join through birth of children to existing Scientologists. They seem to be in the rapid recruiting state of cult/religion existance, rather in the more settled stage of gaining members mostly through reproduction within current membership.
On a related asside to this, are Scientologists pressurised/recommended to have many Children? This being a tactick often used to bolstur the numbers within a religious group?
I wonder if anyone (maybe a job for the Amazing Randi’s group) has tried the Euphoria generating method mentioned in a controled environment. Now that would be interestingm and worth scientific study.
Also if a standard way of recreating such euphoria could be discribed, then a non-religious way to achieve it could be offered to anyone interested. It would allow people to understand the phenomenon ( Do doo be-do-do ) and appreciate its religious and non-religious value.
One tangible benefit active Scientologists get is that they don’t have to pay as much for auditing and other scientology services as those who aren’t contributing by doing “church work”. Considering the staggering cost of such servcices, I’m not surprised that people would opt to do volunteer work for vthe Church to get the prices down. Of course, nobody but a Scientologist would be interested in the services in the first place.
I’ve only just recently begun understanding exactly what they believe (cue the spooky music). But I’ve often wondered…why don’t you ever hear a hard-core believer discuss the religion? Are they sworn to silence? How much money would I need to effectively infiltrate the cult?
Higher level members are encouraged to remain “upstat” by not associating with “wogs” so they’re not going to speak with too many people other than their fellow believers. Actually all members are encouraged to convert or disconnect from their friends/family but the pressure gets higher the further along the bridge you travel.
I’ve seen estimates that going from wog-on-the-street to OT7 (highest level) ranges US$300K-500K over the better part of a decade. Of course, I suspect the more money the cult thinks you have the more engrams/thetans you’ll need to audit away.
As I heard it said once “Scientology is like cocaine. How much does it cost? How much do you have?”