Volume 6, Issue 1, page 10
become inaccurate replicas of Hubbard.
They are not becoming individuated. They
are becoming nothing.
Scientology is bad for the perennial
pre-clears. They overlearn the correct
responses to the processes but their aberrations remain untouched. If a pathological condition is cured, it will not
recur when treatment is stopped. If the
perennial pre-clears miss processing,
they deteriorate. Scientology retains its
failures.
Some Scientologists develop a progressive emotional coldness, a callousness of
feeling, a numbness of empathy, an indifference to life which, at best, promotes
fanaticism, and at worst, facilitates
psychoses.
Scientology eliminates its successes.
Among those who have tried Hubbard's
techniques, the ones who have made the
greatest improvements in their own conditions are ex-Scientologists and ex-Dianeticists. I still hold a judgment I
made long ago, that Hubbard's semi-annual
policy switching and invalidation of his
own past work has one consistent goal. It
is a stratagem for disseminating his work
as widely as possible in the culture by
entrusting it to the hands of welltrained and highly-motivated antagonists.
During a course lecture given at the old
Houston Scientology Foundation, one of
Hubbard's most devoted, proficient, and
capable followers, Harrison "Wing"Angell .
remarked: "It is Ron's deliberate policy
to shake as many followers off his back
as he can." Former Hubbard followers have
made significant contributions to the
psychological field, not only in such
systems as E-Therapy, Totology, Synergetics, Humanics, and the rest, but also in
psychoanalysis, client-centered therapy,
group dynamics, psychosomatic medicine
(Dr. J. Winter was a good example), and
even in personnel management and mental
hygiene. If it is Hubbard's strategy to
disseminate his work by defection, he is
succeeding.
My break with the Scientology movement
occurred without formality or drama. I
never joined the H. A. S. I. or the Church
or the Party, or any of Hubbard's corporations, and I was never licensed as an
auditor -- altho I, with a dozen others who
didn't get certified either, did successfully complete an H.C.A. course. I merely
stopped going t o meetings a n d attending
group therapy sessions. My getting out
was no more climactic than my getting in.
I have mentioned the impression of
subliminal sadness at Scientology meetings. This is common enough; one feels it
in churches and at cocktail parties. The
emotional miasma that rendered active
Scientology finally insupportable came
from the individual members. It is overt
fear. Apprehension, dread, anxiety, distrust, defensive anger are apt to appear
at any time. Scientologists are encouraged
to feel threatened, individually and as a
class. This produces defensive behavior
and mutual dependence, and thus aids
their morale and cohesion.
The reasons for my becoming an ex-Scientologist, then, are simple. I joined
this activity in order to learn how to
improve myself and others. I did so. When
the goals of the movement changed to
something else, my interests were no
longer served so I withdrew. I had no desire to join a reform movement, a Party,
a Church, or a crusade, nor was I seeking
a leader. Those persons who do desire
these ends appear to be finding them in
the Scientology movement. Organizations
change; individuals change. It is because
they are alive. Frequently the changes
are in different directions. My Scientology is not anti- but ex-, and I wish my
former colleagues satisfaction and success. I only wish they wouldn't feel so
tense about it.
010
By HAROLD D. KINNEY (CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 4)
opened the door and called to him. The
man got in, and informed us that he was
going to Los Angeles, still several hundred miles away. He was going there where
his parents lived in search for work.
"This is a lucky break for me," Don,
our rider, said. "I stepped into the cafe
for cigarets, and was going to walk to
the edge of the town to pick up a ride.
How did you happen to pick me up?"
John explained. "You're a pretty good
sender," he told Don.
Which was news to Don. He had been
"hearing conversations in my head" for
years, and was scared. He thought "maybe
I was going nuts. I haven't even told my
wife about them."
And thus Don, too, was introduced to
the "world of telepaths" of which he was
a part -- and didn't know it. And as we
continued the trip, I understood just how
little a part of their world I was in, as
much of their conversation was in answer
to unasked questions. They didn't need to
ask -- but it was Don who was the most surprised when I called this to their attention.
John has gone now