It’s SaTerraDay once again…
Schadenfreude! Fun for the Whole Family!
“Schadenfreude” is the experience of pleasure, joy, or self-satisfaction that comes from learning of or witnessing the troubles, failures, or humiliation of another (Wikipedia). I know it’s wrong but I love this word—it just sounds cool—and as much as I try, I can’t seem to feel sympathetic and not gloat at the misfortunes of Scientology. I can’t seem to rise above and turn away from watching the demise of the church and seeing those old friends still trapped inside get their comeuppance. Apparently, I’m not as “great” or as big as Ron would have liked.
Don’t get me wrong; I’m great sometimes. Just not all the time. I’m not a mean guy. I like to help others. Unless they’re attached to my leg, I don’t kick cats and dogs. I wait for pedestrians to get most of the way through crosswalks before speeding through intersections. I donate regularly to a handful of charities. I love the great outdoors. I always bring something to potlucks. I frequently “like” Facebook posts. But damn me if I don’t enjoy sitting on the couch with my spouse after dinner watching Aftermath or listening to YouTube videos of Scientology’s latest misstep.
Let’s be honest. Nattering about others makes us feel better—at least some of us, some of the time. According to a number of scientific studies cited in Wikipedia (I know; using the Wik for research is almost cheating), schadenfreude is common to the human psyche—at least for some us, some of the time. For anyone reading this blog, though…nah.
What is it about the human condition that makes guys like me wallow in schadenfreude? Well…maybe not wallow, but at least take pleasure in the sight of empty “ideal” orgs and laugh while reading Regraded Being every Friday. Has some kind of inherent revenge factor been built into our DNA—or at least some tiny strand intrinsic to my branch of the human tree? You screwed me over; bend over, it’s your turn now. You bilked me out of thousands of dollars; I hope the IRS takes you for everything you’re worth. You promised me I’d go free; I hope you go for a swim in the Pacific with a heavy ball and chain shackled to your ankle. Not all Scientologists mind you, but for sure, DM and his most trusted sycophants deserve a good bath.
That said, if I could choose between pushing two buttons, one of which would completely destroy the Church of Scientology and everybody in it, or the other, which would miraculously deprogram those still high on the Kool Aid, I would choose the second. After all, it wasn’t too long ago that I was strolling down the street in their shoes. Unfortunately, Dell didn’t think to install either of these two buttons on my keyboard—no doubt, they were threatened with a lawsuit—so I’ve been stuck with writing instead.
The great thing about having been in a cult—especially one which emphasizes the importance of good communication—is that you get to regale your friends with horror stories from when you were trapped inside the bubble. Nattering with former members is a special bonus. I mean…come on…everyone likes to yak about how they were conned and abused. I know I do—even if I did get something out the experience and am responsible for my own condition.
For many, surviving a cult is a badge of courage. “Check me out. I made it out alive! Sure, I’m only worth half of what I would have been had I never gotten involved and I’ll never be able to retire, but do I have some wild stories for you.” Not only is baring your soul cathartic, it’s fun telling others of decades of abuse. “Oh my God, you should have seen the Org back in ’81. The musical chairs was dizzying! And that time I got comm-ev-ed…”
I don’t mean to make light of the pain others have experienced—and are experiencing—at the hands of Scientology. Too many have been forced to disconnect from friends and family members by this suppressive “church.” I was lucky; I only lost two best friends when I parted ways. And since neither my spouse nor I have ever had any family in the church, we were largely unaffected. We were also fortunate that we’ve always had lots of non-Scientology friends and that we didn’t give away all our money. May all the loved ones on both sides of the bubble be allowed to reunite in the near future.
But back to the natter. I have friends who’ve watched the Aftermath series, have listened to unflattering YouTube videos about Scientology, and have visited blogs such as this one or Tony’s solely because they knew their old buddy—me—was involved in a cult. If I had a friend who’d been a member of the Ninth Church of Seventh Day Devil Worshipers, I’d be inclined to Google the sect to see what my bestie was up to, too. Delving into the world of cults is fascinating stuff, especially when you’re able to attach a face to one of its members.
Last Words
Is schadenfreude ever justified? Acceptable? Warranted? Right?
I can’t guarantee it’s the greatest good for the greatest number of dynamics, but it makes me smile.
Still not Declared,
Terra Cognita
Hi. I’m the naive former JW (Jehovah’s witness). Love the interview with Lloyd Evens. I was shunned AKA disfellowshipped in 2013 but just can to my realization last month. Thanks for your work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B01e7n4RzZc
Terra, this article of yours was superb in its simple yet eloquent HONESTY and candor. You are so right on the money about this. You’re adorable, TC!
I too, delight in schadenfreude sometimes. I know I shouldn’t, but I do. I think its very human to do so, when one has been a true victim of injustice at the hands of some person or group.
That said, it could be that it is the EXTENT that one delights in or longs for schadenfreude that determines its pathology.
In other words, someone whose ONLY joy is schadenfreude would be a very toxic person, obviously.
And I’d say that someone who NEVER indulges in it is either a liar or a living saint.
Your article brings to mind that old saying – not sure from where – the Bible maybe? Anyway, its “To err is human: to forgive divine”.
Schadenfreude is like chocolate when you’re on a lifelong eating plan to stay slim; you mostly don’t eat it.
You mostly go for the healthy food, the life giving protein, fruit, healthy fats, green veggies, etc. You make a concerted effort to to this.
But, REALISTICALLY, every now and then, not every day, not every week, but now and then, ya gotta have a little chocolate…a cupcake, a cookie or two, a little ice cream – every now and then.
And when you allow it, boy, does it taste good 🙂
I’m glad your keyboard doesn’t have those two buttons…..it would deprive us of the wonderful levity you always bring to the table. Sure, schadenfraude can be cathartic I guess. But humour and satire will always do it for me. Yet another very amusing read. (Oh, and be sure to let us know once you’re declare is confirmed!)
scha·den·freu·de
I like it.
Who knows, maybe he will grab his chest one day, and one of his lackeys will say “it’s his time”.
I’d probably hope for his useful idiots known as his hired paid for big bucks lawyers for the same.
Such useful idiots we were, I’m glad I no longer have to think with a false bridge to freedom.
It’s his time?
Surely you don’t mean it will be his time to die like all the rest of us?
DM will never die. He will just carry on abusing people and cheating the IRS and hoarding away a bunch of money into his secret bank accounts.
Then, when it’s his time, he will just transmogrify to another plane and live on eternally.
Shit! I hope he won’t read this. He may get the idea that he can get people to pay for another step on the bridge where they pay approx $100K and get a written guarantee they will never die but just live on in another plane with LRH and DM. Can you imagine? Living forever with LRH and DM? I think I’d probably prefer to just die like everyone else. Otherwise … all the souls in Heaven will point their fingers at me and laugh.
I’m going to write a letter to our President Trump and tell him that he can become one of the greatest heroes in this world if only he will order a raid on all the cult’s Gulags and free their prisoners. You never know. Mr. President just may see the wisdom in shutting down this scam for once and for all. Wouldn’t that be just wunnerful?
Bring on the nattering as it pertains to this cult. It’s my belief, as with others, that this is part of the healing and recovery process. But, it’s so totally human….we all do this whether escaped from a cult or not. It’s, also, freedom of choice, taking back control, and sharing painful experiences with others who can help navigate the new roads in discernment and personal perceptions, discussing misconceptions, and allowing ourselves to be challenged and exposed to others way of thinking. Above all, a full range of emotion is being tapped that was otherwise suppressed.
As it pertains to taking pleasure in others pain…I see it as more of a forgiveness process and ultimately trusting that the truly unredeemable will get their just rewards. Tough process for many and really tough process for me as a never-in because others are still suffering and I feel helpless. So, I want to witness it all crash down on the unredeemable’s heads….. Needless to say, it’s something that I pray about a lot.
I agree with you. Although falling into the “bashing the abuser” is an unhealthy trap – there is something to be said for sharing experiences. Especially if done with some humor.
The trick is to not wallow and then move forward.
As for reveling in downfalls – yes, that one is a double- edged sword …
But we all need validation. There is nothing more seemingly validating than poetic justice.
A while back while I was still a bit apologetic about my scn participation I decided to start a conversation with someone who had some slight knowledge of scn. After I nattered a bit about scn he proceeded to natter about misgivings with his boss, his co workers etc. etc. etc. That’s the last time I tried that.
However, last year I attended a local psychic fair type of event and a couple of people had some interest and were curious about my views on scn, my conversation piece. Most of the people were more interested in readings, healings. crystals and the like. Staying with the spirit of things, I bought a men’s chakra rock bracelet designed to provide “Balance, Composure and Protection”. May the force be with me.
Although most people may experience schadenfreude some of the time, I don’t think it’s great to indulge in it in general. But I also don’t think most of what former cult members experience really IS that. I think these things should be distinguished:
– desire for truth to come out
– desire for justice
– desire for revenge
– other kinds of schadenfreude (enjoying people being humiliated, for example)
I think the first two are NOT schadenfreude, whereas the last two are. I don’t think people can help sometimes feeling the last two, but the next step should generally be reining it in and finding a more compassionate response. It’s APPROPRIATE to want the truth to come out about Scientology’s abuses, to want to prevent further abuses, to want this organized crime to come to justice and finally end. If that starts to become wanting to abuse those people back, then it’s crossed a line. If that becomes wishing genuine ill to people currently duped by the cult, then I think that warrants self-examination and correction. Most of what I see here is not the last two, though I do think people cross the line occasionally.
As I read this, I thought about how nattering and critical talk and ‘joking and degrading’ were all considered horrible acts in the cherch. When something went wrong, it was always that I pulled it in, had overts, was PTS or I was responsible.
Since that was the case, even when out of left field I’d get wronged by a staff or other scino, god forbid I could ever discuss it with someone, in a nattering or even clinical way. As my convo would have been ‘entheta,’ or ‘black PR,’ or ‘forwarding enemy lines.’
What this meant was that for years things happened to me in the cherch and because I didn’t talk about them and just sucked it up, I stayed in.
Let’s look at the alternative. In my business I had an experience where an excellent job was disparaged by a client looking to pay less by denigrating my service. I told my husband. He asked for all details, looked at pictures of the project and asked about the client’s past behavior. It came out that they were, ‘difficult.’ My husband said, ‘babe you need to fire this client. Quietly. We’ll take them off the mailing list and you won’t call them or engage them in any way once this project is complete.’
So that client was quietly removed. I felt so good about it I went out and got three more clients, each way better than the one we ditched.
If I had sucked it up, I’d have sagged and not done as well. But because I discussed a difficult and emotionally painful episode with with my husband, we made a sane and healing decision.
Did I discuss with my husband when I was handled awfully at Flag and $25,000.00 later in way worse shape than before I went? Nope. Why? I thought it was natter, or entheta and if they found out it’d cost me. So I sagged into a light apathetic, get through the day till I feel better, way of living.
Had I ‘nattered’ about my experience, I’d have heard out loud how wrong it was. And all of the 35 ways it was messed up. I’d hear it as well as him. I’d want to stick up for myself as well as hearing him stick up for me. You can’t critically think about something you shove under a rug. Sucking it up may seem heroic, but it is the road to no learning, to no epiphanies and to a lonely sadness.
Being a martyr may be covertly promoted by the cherch in an underhanded way, but nattering about a bad situation is more helpful any day than being a martyr.
Bring on the natter, bring on discussing all the negative, entheta things you experienced and you’ll see it better and hopefully be able to get over it. And it’ll remind you of what people still-in are sucking up regularly and how that felt. It’ll also give you a common ground when they want to talk.
Telling my horror stories whether for healing or for laughs has been great. Bring on the Schadenfreude!
TC (the good one, not the actor tc),
‘Is schadenfreude ever justified? Acceptable? Warranted? Right?’ Thanks for the questions and opportunity for me to exercise me mind.
My answers: Justified? Yes. As when my grandson (9) grabbed the bunny-ear cacti, just after I warned him NOT to touch it. My son-in-law complained that I smiled as I yanked the duct tape I had pressed on the 20-or-so spines in his son’s palm.
Acceptable? Circumstances matter. Diplomacy matters. One friend joined the USMC and another joined the SO, after getting my opinions. When I asked how it worked out for each of them I had satisfaction in their responses— what I had predicted.
Warranted? Without doubt. I believe that Hindu and Buddhists believe in allowing misfortune for individuals to play out; believing that the individuals are running out karma from their past and that it is a needed experience. Unfortunately most just keep doing the same old same old. A relative ran up $170k student debt getting an obscure programming degree; when he whined I told him that— You just enjoyed 6 years of fun and games (pun) and now the bills are due.
Right? —— Bad word, bad word; too much baggage to answer.
IMO Mike Rinder and Leah Remini must be experiencing a bit of schadenfreude when telling Scientology that they will quit the ‘truth revealing’ as soon as the church quits the abuses— and then seeing their guests ‘fair gamed’ immediately after appearing on their show. Scientology’s reactive response is SOOOOO predictable.
I would expect it is inevitable that one day Tom Cruise will make a public statement that he was wrong about Scamatology. It really is a terrible, harmful, destructive cult and Tom will apologize to all those people and their families who got fooled and joined this cult.
Cruise is certainly clever enough to realize the truth of this cult and clever enough to know that he needs to come out publicly and admit he made a huge mistake. I keep waiting for Cruise to do this. What will his career and his life be worth if he doesn’t?
I get the idea that Cruise is very much invested in the way he will go down in history. Surely he won’t be able to stand being remembered as a Scamatology shill. Sooner or later, Cruise will turn his back on DM.
At least, that is my expectation. How could he fail to do this?
How can any celebrity continue to support this criminal cult? Surely, they will all disconnect themselves from the cult. I can’t imagine any of them want to be remembered as a dupe for this cult.
In fact, I wonder what would happen if some of the sexual victims filed a class action lawsuit and named all the celebs who currently support and recommend this cult as defendants. If they have money, let them be forced to give some money to all the cult victims – both the sexual abuse victims as well as people who have lost many, many years of their lives. They deserve to be compensated for all they have lost. Don’t they?
I don’t think he (TC) has the character to continue to even acknowledge his (past) affiliation with the Cult, let alone ‘step up to the plate’ as ‘Rumpelstilskin’s’ BFF; those days are over. His association with $ and COB ended when box office receipts started to nosedive. So much for Loyalty, Dedication and let’s not forget Integrity. As for Any of the celebrities left, I’m not aware of anyone stepping forward in the Cult’s defense in the face of recent events, are you?
Cruise lose face? Depends on his lawyer’s advice.
However, TC would know for certain his PC folder data would be front page news the very same day he publicly went against Miscavige or Scientology. There are no such things as friends in a blackmailer’s world.
“Cruise is certainly clever enough to realize the truth of this cult and clever enough to know that he needs to come out publicly and admit he made a huge mistake.”
I respectfully disagree; Cruise is not a clever enough thinker to figure this out. He’s so used to getting his royal butt kissed that he mistakes it for spiritual advancement, and Miscavige is only too happy to obilige him in this delusion.
I wonder just how clever someone needs to be to figure out just how destructive this cult really is.
I’m guessing TC expects he will be forever remembered as “the world’s greatest actor”.
Surely he would be horrified to realize that instead of “the world’s greatest actor”, he will go down in history as the single most destructive force supporting this criminal cult (second only to DM).
So, even if TC is not particularly clever, surely he is clever enough to realize that if he wants to leave this world being remembered for being a “great actor”, he must disconnect from this scam. I believe that he will eventually talk with some people who will tell him the truth. What is the truth?
I think the truth is that if he does not disconnect from this cult in a very loud and public way, he will not be remembered as being a great actor. Instead he will be remembered as one of the celebs who shilled for this scam and never disconnected. In other words, he will go down in history with a bad rep – not a good one.
That should be all that it takes to make him hold a press conference and admit he made a terrible mistake and maybe even donate a few million to compensate victims and help to bring down this scam. At least, I’m certainly hoping that will happen soon.
Do you know the game of Jenga? A number of players construct a large tower out of wooden blocks and then each player must remove a block and the person who causes the tower to crash is out of the game. Well, that is my view of the state of this cult. How much longer will it take until someone removes the block that causes the entire mess to come crashing down? I can’t believe it will take much longer now that we live in this era of #metoo. I just hope they film DM being made to do the “perp walk” on his way to his life sentence in a penitentiary.
Tom Cruise has a choice.
He can be remembered as a man with integrity and self-deprecation for his BIG MISTAKE in life, if he leaves scientology and owns up to his mistake. He would be forever beloved.
Or he can forever be remembered as an enabler of a cult that has committed atrocious acts of human rights violations. He would be forever loathed and despised.
(Choose Suri or choose David Miscavige… what would a sensible person do?)
I hope he chooses wisely.
Actually, I have my doubts about the cleverness of TC. I just don’t think he’s the brightest bulb in the light fixture. I also think that he needs the adoration of lower totem pole scientologists to help feed his ego. As sad as I am to say this, I think TC quitting scientology is just a fantasy. One that I admit to having (I just don’t think he’ll quit). It would be a wonderful surprise if he did.
Silly me … I thought Schadenfreude was a German opera! Didn’t know all this other cool shit about it and yes, I love seeing the cult go down in bits and pieces (though a tsunami would be much more appreciated).
Ah yes, the many and various shades of “veteranism.”
What I find most satisfying and sometimes troubling at the same time is the spotting of the different levels and nuances of stepping out of the prison of belief Scientology installs. There’s some really cleverly installed traits built into that system. Even decades later I sometimes catch myself, “self policing” with Scio stuff. Perfect example above, re justifying natter. So what you’ve got a critical word or two to vent about system that stole your money and time/half or most of your life by lies/deceit etc. The return of, or the gaining of common sense is a human ability on which a lot of sanity depends. Some never get it, some only portions, while others are selfish SOBs and don’t give a hoot etc etc. A whole raft of human strengths and weaknesses could be centred around the application of common sense. I guess it could be suggested one person’s common sense is another’s stupidity or viewed as robot or cult like behaviour. But what the hell, schadenfreude is a good word and isn’t too bad of a hobby, we all do it to some degree. Had to google how it’s pronounced though.
(Gee whiz it’s a hot summer in Aussie this year. Sweating all over the keyboard and using sunscreen by the bucket load).
I love this blog post today.
Scientology is a liability to all of mankind…at least. I hate what happened to me and my family. It hurt me more than I even KNEW I guess because I did not have a tether out.
That pisses me off too: the people that watched me be absorbed into the fold of the SO. WHY and HOW could they allow my mother to donate my sister and I as slaves? They all seem to be sensible people (adults) who knew this was child abuse. Mentally we got screwed.
I blabber on.
Sometimes I try to just forget that it happened because, well, I have to move on and survive what I’ve got now even with limited tools and a few decades of my life I may as well been in a coma.
I wish I had a time machine some days, to go back to the beginning and make better choices but then I’d not have the great things I appreciate now. I really APPRECIATE these good things now and have a part of life to compare them to. It is amazing what we tolerated and lived through – seriously amazing.
Oh, Terra, I also wonder (every time I read your post) if our lives ever intersected. You crack me up and somehow I feel like I know you. Either way I think you are the Cat’s Pajamas and I always read your posts slowly to contemplate each sentence and thought.
Thanks to you and thanks to Mike for having you contribute to one of three places I visit every single day (and I do do FB or IG)! 🙂 Happy New Year.
*don’t do FB or IG (whoops…missed the edit time frame)
Thanks for sharing. I feel the same way. What I see now is the great distance that Hubbard put between himself and his followers. Now that I have read his sources in the occult, I see how much he was copying and how much pretending intelligence he did. In 1972, when I entered, I wanted him to come clean. He should have just said “I copied this from Theosophy and just changed a few things.” He did not need to pretend to be “Source”.
Sarita: I think we were born on the same planet. Thanks for the kind words.
Great article TC!
I enjoyed it without a shade of schadenfreude!
Boy, are you missing out! Schadenfreude is my favorite meal!
Served hot or cold?
Thank you, Chee.
I freely admit, with meritorious honors, that …
my entheta to theta ratio decreases…
exponentially when….
$cientology Inc
fails, flails and flaps…
as it circles the drain….
to total freedom…..
DEATH!
“Ninth Church of Seventh Day Devil Worshipers”
Actually, that is what Scientology is. All of the Occult numbers were used by Hubbard taken from the ancient sources. Seven, eight and nine are sacred occult demonic numbers. OT 7 in Scientology is not chosen at random. It signifies a repeating sequence in the occult. Eight is simply a way to express things beyond the normal. Nine is mystery. Hubbard’s top of the “Bridge” is OT 27. The seven is significant as the second level perfection. The ARC triangle, the KRC triangle were all copied from the occult but slightly changed to fit Hubbard’s (Lucifer’s ) plan. The devil worshippers are the worshippers of Hubbard. This is the real truth about Scientology.
?
George I thought that too a few days ago when I was reading the ZenuZemu story – there are a lot of ‘7’s in his made-up history.
Bingo, Cece.
Hubbard’s e-meter dates are also made up occult numbers. There is no connection with reality. The 76 or 72 or 78 are common occult measures found in ancient texts. The numbers that Hubbard used are symbolic of occult patterns. Fifth Invader force is also occult. It is a common pattern. In occult literature, there are cycles not linear time. Hubbard was using a pattern that really started with Pythagoras and was developed by neo-Platonists through the centuries. Hubbard’s fiction, mock-ups and e-meter all meet in the occult.
George – I love all your posts, you are so knowledgeable about the occult and Hubtard. Gotta say, your avatar CREEPS me out, what movie is that from?
Thank you very much! The avatar is from the internet. I’m not sure where it was used. It evolved as I started to study Hubbard and the occult. Hubbard should have “creeped” us all out.
From Scientology, the lower levels, to Hubbardology, the OT levels, to worshiping Hubbard is a possibility but I doubt that many people will pursue it that far. A few people might might aspire to becoming a Wizard or something. That’s life.
It is ALL “Hubbardolgy” There is no demarcation.
From my understanding the 1970 grade chart was developed and released after some time (years?) of trial and error at Saint Hill by Elron AND OTHERS. Hubbard signed his name to the bottom everything for copyright protection.
Obviously the Wall of Fire and who knows what else on the OT levels came from Elron’s head.
Hi Richard,
The Wall of Fire is occult. It dates back to Kabballah. As far as Xenu is concerned, it might have come from his head.
George
George – I wonder to what extent Hubbard studied or delved into the Occult and Theosophy directly or just used Crowley’s synthesis and added his own imagination.
As an afterthought, Hubbard might have scanned through Blavatsky and others picking and choosing what he wanted for his own purposes. Likewise with his supposed study and investigation of Eastern philosophy and religion.
Hi Richard,
Hubbard probably took as much as possible from Crowley and Parsons. Hubbard and Parsons had many dinner discussions and all types of issues were discussed. Knowing Hubbard, he probably scanned the Encyclopedia Britannica and took what he wanted. The books by Blavatsky were long and difficult to read. She was very prolific and had a huge following. Her followers also synthesized her works. Theosophy was very, very popular from 1880 till the 1920’s. After WWI there was renewed interest. It is possible to trace a few exact passages by Blavatsky which were probably copied by Hubbard. For example, Hubbard’s discussion of the Pineal gland is almost literal Blavatsky.
George
Wynski – I do get your point that scn as a whole is Hubbard’s brainchild from start to finish. My problem with a daily blog is that sometimes it takes me a while to process some comments and clear up my own viewpoints.
Basically what I’m saying is that the occult or science fiction parts of scn are alluded to but not directly addressed on the lower or what might be called introductory levels of scn.
George, If you would (or maybe you already did) write a book that thoroughly goes over all of this, that would be great.
Hi Dave,
Yes I am writing an article about Hubbard’s connection to the occult. I am trying to get it published.
Schadenfreude. Great word. Never heard it before. Love it that I could look it up and hit an audio of how to pronounce it. What an age we live in.
Anyway, it’s a good word for me to know. Just yesterday I was telling some people that I hope I get to experience this sensation (of schadenfreude) as regards david miscavige. I think it’s healthy. Yea, I’ve decided it’s healthy ;).
Having said that, my biggest wish (well, maybe my third biggest wish) is that I get to the point where I don’t care enough about david miscavige or his cruel, stupid little cult to desire anything about him/it except that he/it just stops hurting people. But I’m not there yet; so, for now, I hope he suffers all the attitudes, emotions, sensations and pains that he has inflicted on others AND I want to know about it.
I second your motion, Mary.
It IS the right way to feel.
It is healthy to want to destroy evil and to delight when EVIL is harmed and destroyed.
Totally okay.
David Miscavige is PURE EVIL
and so is his tiny, little, minuscule CULT.
I think David Miscavige is in the process of “RUEing THE DAY”
the internet was born and tons of brave and courageous Ex Scientologists are speaking out exposing $cientology for what it really is – a diabolically evil cult that destroys lives.
The TRUTH is literally destroying this cult.
Thank you SP’s for all you have done to contribute to the motion of destroying Scientology by exposing the TRUTH.
Mary you have eloquently described my thoughts/feelings exactly. Thanks.
Thanks Terra,
I noticed my degree of schadenfreude is diminishing.
I am starting to feel the same way for the last still-ins as I feel for the chronic alcoholic down the street.
Monday while drunk he opens a bottle of cola with his front teeth and loses them
Tuesday he gets evicted for not paying the rent.
Wednesday he gets fired from his job as a postal worker after 3 warnings.
Thusrsday a dog mistakes him for a fire hydrant.
You sound like a normal well adjusted person. Proper justice SHOULD make one feel better. Not worse.
Precisely. Would you feel good when those who deserve their comeuppance don’t get it? It’s not that I necessarily want them all to rot in hell for eternity. But I sure would like them to have the kind of shock necessary for them to gain the stones to begin to question what exact universe are they actually in.
TC I could listen to you natter all day long 🙂
My best friend since grammar school doesn’t have HBO so I let him watch “Going Clear” on an upstairs television while I did chores downstairs. About every ten minutes he’d let out a roar of laughter.
I had to explain to him that while I was in Scientology I considered that I was studying a form of psychology and still do to some extent. It’s a reputation thing – haha
Up to and including Clear on the early grade chart had few magical or mystical references. The public only knows about or cares about what’s going on now in Miscavology.
Magical mystical references Richard? Like what?
To clarify and without putting quotation marks around everything, I trained as a lower level scn and dianetic auditor until I left in 1982. I think around 1980 Dianetic Clear and Natural Clear came out and apparently the old way to Clear has been replaced. I never did any of the OT levels and in my time the supposed route to OT abilities through Hubbard’s cosmology was hidden and unknown, the Mystery I was referring to. Yes, there were probably mentions in the training materials about the time track and incidents in the distant past, but it wasn’t necessary to give credence to all of it in order to do scn and dn auditing, at least in my opinion. If Hubbard said I had memories of being a clam, so what. Let’s get to the next process and get on with the show.
After I left I never once looked back on scn until watching Going Clear got me interested. In the intervening years I occasionally wondered if I’d missed anything by not doing the OT levels but I didn’t lose any sleep over it. That’s my recollection of 35 years ago and others may see things differently.
My friend is a total realist, an atheist and a big fan of Hitchens. We get along just fine. We both enjoy dumping on organized religion, scn included. Occasionally if I think something from scn has practical value I’ll mention it to him and he might agree or disagree. He sometimes frets that I’m still stuck in Scientology.
And your post made *me* smile, though I never had all the bad experiences others have suffered. Thanks for the memories!