How Scientology Works 30- No Questions
Richard Ford
one time.
If you bombard a person with unanswered questions they will stack up
in his mind so that he has to do something with them before his head
explodes!
The sensation is rather like the way I imagine my computer feels when
too many programmes are competing for too little memory. Work slows to
a crawl and the system becomes prone to crashes.
The solution is to close some of the open programmes and the mind
works in a similar way. It will put certain questions aside for a
while hoping to pick up on them later and come to a conclusion.
Unfortunately this is not what happens in a cultic environment. The
cult deliberately creates confusion and overload in the new recruit.
The new belief will be filed away in the mind as true even though it
has not been examined.
The recruit probably intends to return and consider the matter at a
later date but can easily forget to do so- particularly if kept very
busy.
How do cults (and Scientology in particular) do this?
Christian cults will often ask the recruit to pray about an issue
rather than think about it. This bypasses the logical part of their
brain and ensures that the recruit makes their decision on emotions
alone.
Scientology has two very effective ways to achieve the same effect.
Firstly the recruit may be asked to 'think with it'. This involves
forming thoughts as if the doctrine were true. This causes the
doctrine to enter the mind through the back door- without logical
examination.
Secondly the recruit can be made bad for even considering the
question. They may be word cleared or treated with condescension for
not understanding. This can also cause some personality types to cave
in and accept a belief without evidence. People have a strong need to
fit in.
In short- if you ever find yourself in an environment where questions
are not welcome- run, don't walk!
Slarty
> There are only so many questions the human mind can deal with at any
> one time.
>
> If you bombard a person with unanswered questions they will stack up
> in his mind so that he has to do something with them before his head
> explodes!
>
> The sensation is rather like the way I imagine my computer feels when
> too many programmes are competing for too little memory. Work slows to
> a crawl and the system becomes prone to crashes.
>
> The solution is to close some of the open programmes and the mind
> works in a similar way. It will put certain questions aside for a
> while hoping to pick up on them later and come to a conclusion.
>
> Unfortunately this is not what happens in a cultic environment. The
> cult deliberately creates confusion and overload in the new recruit.
>
> The new belief will be filed away in the mind as true even though it
> has not been examined.
>
> The recruit probably intends to return and consider the matter at a
> later date but can easily forget to do so- particularly if kept very
> busy.
>
> How do cults (and Scientology in particular) do this?
>
> Christian cults will often ask the recruit to pray about an issue
> rather than think about it. This bypasses the logical part of their
> brain and ensures that the recruit makes their decision on emotions
> alone.
You made some very valid points up untill the following paragraphs:
>
> Scientology has two very effective ways to achieve the same effect.
>
> Firstly the recruit may be asked to 'think with it'. This involves
> forming thoughts as if the doctrine were true. This causes the
> doctrine to enter the mind through the back door- without logical
> examination.
So the thought experiments of physicists and mathematicians, amongst
others, are cult mind bending? Or do I misunderstand you?
>
> Secondly the recruit can be made bad for even considering the
> question. They may be word cleared or treated with condescension for
> not understanding. This can also cause some personality types to cave
> in and accept a belief without evidence. People have a strong need to
> fit in.
The above strikes me as pretty valid. Scientologist officially answer
as many questions as asked, but 1 gets the point of maby not such a
good idea after a while, I found. Then again I was quite young, and
began learning limits to the validity of many inquiries in a work
environment, especially when experience would soon answer such
questions. People who must really work, and really think, in other
nonscientology fieslds must learn the same.
>
> In short- if you ever find yourself in an environment where questions
> are not welcome- run, don't walk!
Scientology does not officially discourage questions.
Richard Ford
>
> - Show quoted text -
You make an interesting point.
A scientific thought experiment does not leave things hanging in the
way that Scientology does. The point is to get an answer- 'if A then
what would happen to B'
Cults use this to avoid a define answer. They ask you to assume A but
then never test it. There is never the same opportunity to disprove.
Scientology does not discourage questions?
Really?
Can you ask about core beliefs (Xenu?).
Personal opinions?
Alternative viewpoints?
Can you ask for proof?
Can you point out contradictions and ask how they may be resolved?