Comments on: Blogging Dianetics, Part 1: Vance Woodward Helps Us Parse L. Ron Hubbard’s Masterpiece

By: Kaarli Makela

Kaarli Makela — Tue, 09 May 2017 21:34:00 +0000

Some of the commenters have shared how they avoided ever getting into Scientology in the first place. I think this is helpful … particularly in regards to Public Education.
My good fortune was my Mom, HS Class of ’52, Detroit Michigan.
She was an Atheist who left Lutheranism as a teen.
Eventually she became the head of the first all-woman law firm in the State of Michigan, in the early ’70s. She had a successful career in the Law.
Her life and experience was front and center as I grew up, and at a time when the world was a bit of a knot to untie! She became a bit of a local ‘pinko’ activist, as the ’60s heated up, and I witnessed all this as a kid. I was a willing little partner with her at many a Civil Rights and Peace March. “Question Authority”! We would always have the latest MAD Magazine and Psychology Today issue on the table.
When I actually spoke to another girl my age, when I was 16, who had been audited, it sounded like hokum. Of course Mom had already read up on it, and laughed. She reminded me that even an actual lie detector result is not evidence in court (still isn’t 47 years later), and the e-meter is only 1/3 of that measurement.
Mom’s pretty informative. Then she’d always say, ‘but look into it for yourself. Study what EVERYBODY has to say about something, and use your head.’
(Even though, later I got into Christianity for a decade … it was me giving something an honest shot – and a dash of rebellion against Mom at the time, to be frank. Never-the-less, my ‘good raising’ was of great help as an inner resource, when I decided to abandon church.)
MOST OF ALL … I was a voracious reader. Mom encouraged this, she was a dedicated reader and debater. That was dinner time. Bandying about the great events of the Day.
(My stepfather at the time was a Logic Professor.)
As a Science Fiction fan, I had been sticking with Heinlein, though I came to dislike him, as his work became more dislikable!
But my reading is wide-ranging. Back in the day, folks put some import on being ‘well-rounded’!
So I feel I was well-protected enough to avoid the worst … Scientology being just one of many Dangerous Cults I studied, as a concerned church-goer in the ’70s! LOL
Even that brush with unreality helps me truly relate to those who come out as Survivors of the Co$.
Side Note: For my Hippie sensibilities, and in conceptual combat with all things oppressive, my final favorite number ONE SciFi author is … *fanfare* ISAAC ASIMOV. <3
Best wishes to all …

By: Kaarli Makela

Kaarli Makela — Tue, 09 May 2017 20:00:00 +0000

Given that Hubbard would participate in having himself audited, and having seen a partial list of personal affirmations, it appears that he created something he himself could hope to fully believe in, because it was all about him.
Hubbard couldn’t help but form his offering to the world in his own image, one packed with Cognitive Dissonance.

By: Skymouth

Skymouth — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 02:19:00 +0000

A really good read is Inside Scientology. Very eye opening!

By: Pennywhistler

Pennywhistler — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 14:13:00 +0000

Does anyone else remember the 1950’s satire DIAPETICS, about diapers and mental health?

By: Shirley Eugeste

Shirley Eugeste — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 20:20:00 +0000

delete

By: joan nieman

joan nieman — Sat, 10 Aug 2013 08:51:00 +0000

In reply to InTheNameOfXenu. I have spent hours reading Tony,s blogs. Who has time to read a book?

By: joan nieman

joan nieman — Sat, 10 Aug 2013 08:50:00 +0000

In reply to InTheNameOfXenu. That is correct. People want to believe the unbelievable...and will even pay money for it! That is so true what you stated about the upper and middle class, easily conned with stars in their eyes. Pity.

By: joan nieman

joan nieman — Sat, 10 Aug 2013 08:45:00 +0000

In reply to richelieu jr. He didn't have time to dance!

By: Nimbo James

Nimbo James — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:51:00 +0000

I think LRH made some comment about something only being true if it’s true to you. I think that’s your answer reallu. LRH thought it was true, and willed it to be true, so he actually convinced himself his methods were legit. No wonder he didn’t like psychs! I think every day he was at risk of being taken away by them!

By: Deckard__Cain

Deckard__Cain — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:38:00 +0000

In reply to TonyOrtega. Ya, ok. I read it incorrectly, sorry. I lost a lot of my sense of humor after this last week, and I vented on you. Sorry.