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Going Clear - Chapter 1: The Convert

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2015 4:37 pm
by Chris OConnor
Going Clear - by Lawrence Wright
Chapter 1: The Convert

This thread is the place to discuss Chapter 1: The Convert.

Re: Chapter 1: The Convert

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2015 9:11 pm
by CoolSummer
It looks like early Scientology was latching onto these creative young people who were floundering emotionally as a lot of us do at that young age. It appears to me that this group basically interrupted this normal personal process with their bizarre propaganda. Pretty amazing that these poor people actually believe it when they are told that they have the control to believe only what they wish to. Then they pay to go through these classes, auditing, OT levels...effectively re-programming them along the way.

Re: Chapter 1: The Convert

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2015 9:34 pm
by DWill
CoolSummer wrote:It looks like early Scientology was latching onto these creative young people who were floundering emotionally as a lot of us do at that young age. It appears to me that this group basically interrupted this normal personal process with their bizarre propaganda. Pretty amazing that these poor people actually believe it when they are told that they have the control to believe only what they wish to. Then they pay to go through these classes, auditing, OT levels...effectively re-programming them along the way.
That's true, CoolSummer, L. Ron Hubbard took advantage of the vulnerability of many young people during the turbulent 60s. He was an opportunist, of course.

The intro and this chapter are a good thumbnail of the religion. One peculiar thing about scientologists is that, unlike Baptists, Quakers, or Pentocostals, several of whom whom I've known, I have little chance of meeting a scientologist. The faith has an outsize influence and reach but is thought to have few adherents.

The chapter brings in what never can be ignored about the religious experience: is it, almost by definition, not a product of a sane mind? Okay, "sane" is a prejudicial word; others would stress an advanced state of mind or mystical apprehension of what eludes us in our normal waking state. But the question of madness is not far away, and indeed Paul Haggis says that even while becoming more and more inveigled by LRH, he had a suspicion that LRH was out of his mind. But would a prophetic leader who didn't have a strong streak of "divine madness" ever be seen as worth following? No, probably not. He or she has to be seen as onto to something that the rest of us can't grasp.

Re: Chapter 1: The Convert

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2015 10:10 pm
by CoolSummer
I think that the connections they make as they are going through the process improved his life (Paul H) and career so he was willing to accept when he didn't have the same experience some of the others reported experiencing going through these levels. I am watching the documentary right now. I think the early days of Scientology were an entirely different animal than what we are seeing of the group now. I am happy for the people who started out in this early group who have known enough about real life in order to walk away. I find myself most dismayed by those born into this who have no reference about real life except that group.

Re: Chapter 1: The Convert

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2015 10:18 pm
by youkrst
reminds me of when i was an impressionable and uncritical lad of 12 or so. (around '75)

a friend of the family was into scientology and had me doing some survey on that galvonometer thingy, two cans hooked up to a multimeter. (much to my Dad's (electronics technician) amusement)

it got me in though, being made the centre of attention hooked up to the meter and being asked questions, exciting stuff for the impressionable.

when you don't know yourself you tend to fall for this kinda stuff.

Re: Chapter 1: The Convert

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2015 10:50 pm
by CoolSummer
youkrst wrote:reminds me of when i was an impressionable and uncritical lad of 12 or so. (around '75)

a friend of the family was into scientology and had me doing some survey on that galvonometer thingy, two cans hooked up to a multimeter. (much to my Dad's (electronics technician) amusement)

it got me in though, being made the centre of attention hooked up to the meter and being asked questions, exciting stuff for the impressionable.

when you don't know yourself you tend to fall for this kinda stuff.
I can imagine your Dad told you that weren't going back there, when you told him about it. With all those sci-fi show reruns and Star Trek on tv back then I'll bet that seemed cool at the time. I am sure they reel a person in a long while before they would have gotten hardcore with their propaganda especially with a kid thank goodness.

Re: Chapter 1: The Convert

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2015 11:11 pm
by youkrst
the "scientology guy" himself was charming, and seemed sincere, i suppose even your own sincerity can trap you.

Tom Cruise is such a "scientology guy" in that sense of "infinity and beyond" gung ho positiveness, even if he wasn't a scientologist he'd be something like it. But i suppose that is the trick, being yourself without the need for a group to "officialise" it.

it's one thing to step through these things on the way to a better understanding and another to get trapped in there and not realise it.

if you can be taken in there is usually someone more than happy to facillitate :)

Re: Chapter 1: The Convert

Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 12:01 am
by CoolSummer
Yeah there is a little crazy in Tom Cruise's eyes and demeanor which have been there for years now. I am impressed that he has still been been able to function as an actor. But since he is Miscavages cash cow I am sure they will do whatever is necessary to keep him chugging. Truthfully even Travolta is showing some of those same signs of being crazy. Wonder what level they pick that up at?

Re: Chapter 1: The Convert

Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 6:32 am
by Dexter
Paul Haggis is great in that documentary, when he talks about how he first learns about all the alien mythology, he was like "What the fuck is this?"

You could definitely see how a struggling young man or woman could get caught up in something like that. As the book says, "The recruits were infused with a sense of mystery, purpose, and intrigue. Life inside Scientology was just so much more compelling than life outside."

Re: Chapter 1: The Convert

Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 8:25 am
by DWill
Yeah, and just as the subtitle of the book indicates, Hollywood is integral to the whole phenomenon. You have to imagine an environment like Hollywood (though I can't, really) to understand the almost voodoo-like power a "technology" like this could have on people trying to make it, trying to acquire that "it" factor that would propel them from nobody-hood to stardom or at least success, in that business. Remember "Rosemary's Baby'? Doesn't John Cassavetes begin to dabble in the black arts in order to get a part?