My hopes is to voice the opinions of those who have been involved in this religion first hand, instead of the media "gossip" of those who have been members.
If I read between the lines here, it looks like you, or your teachers, might be of the opinion that scientology or "NRMs" ("new religious movements") generally are getting a rough deal in the media, and possibly even that besaid "gossip" includes productions like "Going Clear" and Leah Remini's series and accordingly most testimonies on TV or in magazines are "just gossip" and not to be trusted.
I'm sorry but that's what it looks like. A bit... :wink2:
Aside from not every gossipy headline about Tom Cruise & Co. being truthful, for better or worse (something that happens to all celebrities), this is inappropriate. Or how many similar testimonies of exes with torn apart families, finances and health are still needed until we can call them reliable witnesses?!
With "a rough deal" I wasn't intentionally quoting that twat Reza Aslan here and see no connection but it's literally what he recently said in a badly researched, superficial episode of his serial. And it is not true. The organization "Church of Scientology" absolutely gets from the media what it deserves. After so many decades of fear - finally!
FYI, I am just a cult watcher, not an ex.
I don't think anyone here or in other fora and blogs will take issue if you don't call it a religion, not even the independent scientologists, who, like CoS scientologists, consider it a "precise science" or "technology".
If any scientologist, famous or not, calls it "my religion" then this is solely for PR reasons. They are briefed on that! A few may, with time, actually believe it as "their" truth and keep parroting it literally "in good faith". But that makes no difference about the deceptive nature of the instructions that came from the past and present leadership.
The acquisition of religious cloaking and tax exemption was a deliberate move of Hubbard and until today it doesn't just prevent them from paying taxes, it also provides, through some awful American "traditions", great protection for CoS from the law. Its effect is enormous and the IRS is unlikely to revoke it because its budget is too limited to fight this one organization for years or decades. This is why the "religion" label riles people that much. And above all, scientologists don't even think it is a religion! This is why exes - and cult watchers - are taking such issue with anyone who parrots what only some religious scholars and CoS itself are promoting, - that it is a religion, just like any other cult.
For now this is just the explanation of how a detail in your post is seen as controverse or inappropriate, but please consider changing this in your actual work when presenting and analyzing the results - it will make a difference, and help people to understand what scientology really is, according to the collected testimonies, - without triggering their "respect and don't criticize all things religious" buttons which, sadly to say, are very eminent in many US Americans and also in various other countries.
If you find the word "cult" too harsh, what about "the organization" or even "the controverse organization" (German standard model - LOL).
A formulation like "the scientology organization" or "the organization "Church of Scientology"" is neutral and will still allow people to judge for themselves whether this organization and its philosophy is benevolent or abusive, honest or deceptive, and whether it works "as advertised" or not.
The term "high control group" is used by cult experts to provide a factual and neutral description of such organizations. Consider using and explaining it!
If your teachers take issue with "cult", 1) challenge them on it, and 2) please consider using "organization" or another neutral term, possibly "high control group".
If you just use its official name repeatedly, "Church of Scientology", provide some explanations that this is its official name and not a choice if yours, and give explanations what actually you're calling a church there.
Taking what is seen by most as an abusive cult (and "a technology" by scientologists) and calling it "the scientology religion", or even "the NRM (new religious movement) scientology" gives it an unfair advantage in the USA, where "respeccc" for religion is so deeply embedded in the behavior of so many people. Get it?
Thanks for what you're doing!
