This is what I don't understand. Obviously many $cn's watch TV, read newspapers, basically all this "entheta" stuff (if I'm allowed to use that term), but most of them keep it to themselves. They don't communicate.
Being in a "religion" that says "communication is the universal solvent", how do they do that? Fear, yeah, that's obviously a valid reason for many of 'em, but is it really that strong? Does talking about such important issues make you (and your family) such rare animals?
I've been in close contact with many very different groups over the years, but this is really unique. Usually, when there's something that's bothering many group members, they talk about it and either it gets resolved, or the group splits up. Don't these people remember that there's a free world out there? How does it happen?
It happens through a VERY WELL-DESIGNED indoctrination system, based on the ideas of KSW, along with other key ideas, that are carefully and systematically laid into the minds of participants on a very slick GRADIENT.
That is exactly HOW it happens.
And yes, the FEAR is THAT STRONG.
Fear of losing the "bridge", "my only chance at total freedom and getting out of the eternal trap that will render me a rock if I fail to get out this time", is a VERY powerful factor in
controlling the behavior of Scientology Church members.
The carrot on the stick, the desire for the "Bridge", is what keeps them motivated. Once they have been convinced that Hubbard's data provides the solution to this problem (trapped in a meat body and MEST for all eternity), most will stay in line to get what he or she believes to be SO VERY IMPORTANT. Of course, many can fairly easily come to see that they can get the same "Bridge" outside of the Church.
For all Hubbard's talk about "you are required to believe nothing", and for all the member's who parrot that PR line, staying in Scientology most certainly requires very STRONG BELIEF in certain ideas (such as KSW ideas). If a Church member didn't accept, agree with and BELIEVE that Scientology provides, and that Scientology ONLY provides, a "bridge" to "total freedom", well, many would NOT stick around or put up with the endless bullshit. But also, once a member is firmly entrenched, with FAMILY and FRIENDS now also in, even if he or she loses certainty in the idea that Scientology can actually "free you", this person CANNOT just express discontent, because the FEAR of losing friends and family then kicks in and takes over.
Hubbard's system creates the very strong desire "to go free". It is a delusion of sorts, and while not at all the same as "the desire for MEST" that Hubbard criticizes, it functions EXACTLY the same way as a force of motivation.
Desire for ANYTHING is what traps any person. Basic Buddhist stuff. Hubbard knew that (C-D-E-I Scale). He USED that to create an intense desire for his "Bridge". And, the FEAR of being unable to realize that desire is an extremely powerful motivating force.
Do not underestimate the "KR" system (knowledge reports). All Church members are well-trained to write-up a KR on ANY staff member or public person who so much as hints at a negative comment about LRH, DM, management or the Church of Scientology. That is partially WHY Church members do not "compare notes". It used to amaze me, when I was in, how strong of a force this was, because I could get certain members to open up about certain things, but it took time and energy on my part to get them to do so. It is/was just more fear. Fear that no matter how honest one is about what they see and communicate about, that some other member will write them up, and they will get sent immediately to ethics for "handling" (behavioral adjustment).
Many members have undergone "Sec Checks" for making disagreeable comments to others, and they learn FAST to keep things to themselves. They modify their behavior to remain "safe". When I was in the Sea Org, I often noticed how certain questions would be added to my Sec Checks, fairly soon after I made certain comments to other staff about certain things. It was COMMON. Fundamentally, it is probably a survival thing. "If I just shut up, I can't get into trouble". THAT is a powerful aspect to life in the Church of Scientology. For all the talk of "freedom" in Scientology, freedom of expression is horribly suppressed. It is one of the reasons why I left the Sea Org - far too much suppressed communication by participants! But, the same type of suppressed communcation exists for the public Scientology members.
The system is very well-designed to keep the belief/agreement pool "pure", and to closely
monitor, detect and handle ANY disagreement within the Scientology environment. It is an excellent control system! Any aspiring dictator could well benefit by closely studying Hubbard's Church of Scientology.
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