Scientology: My Story

By Patrick Jost more
17 March 1995

Source: http://groups.google.com/group/alt.religion.scientology/msg/e92045404b04c6e6

This is my "insider's account" of the time I spent in Scientology. I wrote it because it has been suggested that since I have had no formal training (not true!) that I should not comment on it.

Background: My father was in advertising, and had HEAVY "show business" connections. I dabbled in the music business when I was doing some graduate work at UCLA. A "celebrity" friend of the family had mentioned Scientology to me several times; I had never been interested in the talk of engrams and so on, but I WAS interested in claims of increased intelligence and so on. I read the "standard" bio of Hubbard, and decided someone with that background might actually have some useful ideas.

As a result, I was "sponsored" (which means I didn't pay for it) for some courses and auditing at the Los Angeles Celebrity Centre.

Initially, I found it all very strange and very interesting. I was very popular with the instructors, as I could do "Dear Alice" and some of the other procedures in several foreign languages (I'm a linguist by training and profession).

I was declared a "natural clear" and people started to talk to me about a possible "position" in the Guardian's (or is it just Guardian?) Office. To "qualify" for this position, I was given what can best be described (and I'm fudging this a little to avoid any legal hassles) as a "crash course" covering New Era Dianetics through OT III. I did some solo work, but most of it was with a "tutor" who, I determined later, was also gently probing me on various things to determine my suitability for the GO and probably the Sea Org.

Well, I kept "advancing" but nothing happened. I mentioned this several times, and was told that by the time I made OT, that I'd have an IQ of 200 (whatever that means!), perfect recall, and so on. Yes, on occasion I "believed" I was getting some results, but would always decide that I wasn't. I was also hearing stories of "powers" but when I asked for details or demonstrations ("you can fly!?" "show me!") they remained stories.

OT III and events surrounding it were just too much for me. Most readers of this group will know that OT III describes events in the distant past involving alien beings, space travel, exploding volcanos and so on. I started to object to this on scientific grounds. I also have a good background in archaeology, and was asking some VERY pointed questions about geology, biology, linguistics, and so on.

Initially, I was told that I needed more processing, that I had some implants that prevented me from "accepting" the truth; I'd have to do this before my "capabilities" were "released" or some such thing.

At about this point, my "sponsor" started to hint that it was time for me to start to pay for my own auditing; it seems that my "complaining" was reaching some of the higher levels and someone who had initially been perceived as a hot recruit was not working out.

I found out the cost; I didn't have that sort of money, so I approached my father. We had a long talk...he said, "Let's investigate...what do you know about this man Hubbard?" I showed him the bio, and he found it incredible; he (my father) served with distinction in the Pacific, and just did not accept it. We got copies of Navy records, and sure enough, no command of a corvette squadron, no long list of citations, no mention of serious injuries.

The next step was a PI, who checked with George Washington University and Princeton. Hubbard flunked out of GWU (or dropped out...) and never attended Princeton. We found a reference to a Ph.D. from Sequoia University, which was a degree mill. more

I then allowed an electrical engineer to open my E-Meter and take a look. He explained the Wheatstone Bridge circuit to me, and I accepted that there is no correlation between resistance and "mental mass" (whatever that means).

I returned to the Celebrity Centre and had a long talk with my course supervisor. I told her that I had seen no results... not personally, not with anyone else. I told her that I now had serious doubts about Hubbard's background as well as the effectiveness of the E-Meter. I also repeated my list of questions about OT III.

She told me (quite sternly) that I should not investigate Scientology. She told me that a "high level OT" could wipe me out with a thought, and that the Church did not tolerate "snooping around" and the like.

She said that I needed to do "an ethics course" and that it would not cost me anything. She said that if I didn't do the course, that I'd be declared an SP and kicked out of Scientology.

OK, off to ethics. My first encounter was with the "Director of Communications" of the Celebrity Centre, who also seemed to be the receptionist. She told me that she had gained the ability to speak fluent Spanish through auditing. Well, let me tell you, she could not speak fluent Spanish, in fact, apart from a few expressions, she knew nothing about Spanish. She told me that such accusations were "going to get me into trouble" with the Ethics Officer, who was a "powerful" person. more

Finally... into the inner sanctum of the ethics officer. The guy was a little runt who wore glasses, squinted and chain smoked. He told me that I had to stop asking questions, stop investigating, stop challenging people's claims of abilities, and so on. He wanted me to sign some forms. I refused. He produced some paperwork, and said that he'd process me for "declaration". I said I didn't care. He then told me that he'd "take care of me" if I kept asking questions. I asked him what that meant. He said that he would certainly hurt me, maybe kill me "with his OT powers" if I did not comply with his demands.

At this point, I had a "cognition": Scientology is RUBBISH. I told him about my cognition, wished him well, and got up to leave. He said "you'll never get home...I'll stop you!".

I walked out, he followed me, making all sorts of threats. I got to my car, and got out my key. He grabbed me. I turned around, he hit me (not very hard). I said "try that again, and you'd better be Superman". He did, I blocked it, and hit him myself. He picked up a board and swung it at me; I knocked it out of his hands, and hit him a few times until he fell down.

This altercation had attracted some attention, and someone had called the police. Within (it seemed) minutes, the parking lot was full of Scientologists, and two police cars and an had ambulance had arrived.

I told my version of the story. The EO said I was "a troublemaker who needed to learn some manners." The police asked if I wanted to press charges. I said no, I just need to get home. The EO was taken to the hospital for stitches — he cut his face on the pavement when he fell (I didn't mean to hurt him, but hey... a board?!)

A few nights later, I had dinner with my "sponsor"; I didn't know it when I set up the dinner, but two "representatives" from the CoS came along as well.

My sponsor didn't get to say more than "hello"; the two CoS reps told me that I had betrayed my sponsor, the Church, Hubbard, my fellow Scientologists, and that I was a criminal. They said I had committed a "high crime" by attacking the Ethics Officer.

I was told that the ONLY way "out" was to sign up for the Sea Org — then and there — and promise to pay not only for all of the services I had received, but for what I gathered was about two years of additional training and auditing.

I said that I was not going to join the Sea Org, not pay them anything, and not stop asking questions. One of them said "you know, I could kill you right now... with a thought". I said "well, you know, I've been asking for demonstrations for a while now, why don't you just do it and get it over with?"

The reply was something like "don't worry, we'll get you when we have to". more

I said "let me give you some incentive" and poured a glass of water down the front of her blouse. I got up and left the restaurant. Yes, I know it was rude, but I did — and still do — want to see a demonstration of all these powers that I've heard about and been threatened with. I figured a little ice water ought to provoke even an operating thetan into action...

And, surprisingly, that's about it. I got an "invoice" from them about two months later, which I ignored.

So let's look at what happened... I got no results at all, that's important. If "the tech always works" then something's wrong here. I asked questions, and was accused of heresy (let's not get into the results of my research, but I will say that I think that CoS "history" is a bunch of lies). I was not only threatened, but attacked.

To me, false claims, no results, and attacks are not a good combination. The actions of the Church of Scientology are what has set me against it.

I welcome any and all comments...

Patrick Jost