Financial Ruin

[Demented Hubbatd]

I am writing a book about Scientology. My book is based on the WikiLeaks data.

Frankly, I do see how the stories about someone's "financial ruin" could be helpful to you as a writer.

Here is my story in a nutshell -- I bought book 1 for $ 10, then took a basic Dianetics course for $ 15, after that joined Sea Org. I quit Sea Org after 4 months of service. Considering my salary before the SO adventure, I incurred 15 K loss of income. However, the SO food was for free, so I saved approximately 2 K. Therefore , my total loss was 13 K.

Someone might write, I paid 60 K get to the NED level, then discovered that Dianetics is a fraud. I never got that money back from the church.

Perhaps, someone could say something like this -- I paid 500 K to get to the OT 8 level, after that I wised up, and left the cult. I own a real estate business, so I absorbed the loss.

There is no drama in these stories; to be honest, I haven't heard of someone who committed suicide after losing his/her money to CoS.

 

[Lone Star]

I am writing a book about Scientology. My book is based on the WikiLeaks data.

Frankly, I do see how the stories about someone's "financial ruin" could be helpful to you as a writer.

Here is my story in a nutshell -- I bought book 1 for $ 10, then took a basic Dianetics course for $ 15, after that joined Sea Org. I quit Sea Org after 4 months of service. Considering my salary before the SO adventure, I incurred 15 K loss of income. However, the SO food was for free, so I saved approximately 2 K. Therefore , my total loss was 13 K.

Someone might write, I paid 60 K get to the NED level, then discovered that Dianetics is a fraud. I never got that money back from the church.

Perhaps, someone could say something like this -- I paid 500 K to get to the OT 8 level, after that I wised up, and left the cult. I own a real estate business, so I absorbed the loss.

There is no drama in these stories; to be honest, I haven't heard of someone who committed suicide after losing his/her money to CoS.

To be honest, I think you've been under a rock somewhere. I'd give up on the book project if I were you, until you learn how to truly research a subject.

The subject of "financial ruin", as you say. Actually research Scientology induced financial ruin. No quotation marks. And there have been suicides due to financial ruin. Again, no quotation marks.

 

[JustSheila]

<snip>

There is no drama in these stories; to be honest, I haven't heard of someone who committed suicide after losing his/her money to CoS.

Well you were only in for four months and that was as an SO member where you weren't (yet) dealing with public AFAIK. Your life doesn't reflect what others went through, though, but maybe these threads will:

http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthre...(ie-had-a-Psychotic-Break)-in-your-org/page64

https://theyshouldnothavedied.wordpress.com/

 

[Churchill]

Hi,

I'm doing research for a project and looking for other ex-members who may have fallen on hard times financially because of the excessive payments that were encouraged by the Church to keep money on account.

Thanks for any help in advance.

Richie Acunto comes to mind. Then there's Reed Slatkin, though, in fairness, he
bankrupted Scientologists and non-Scientologists, so I'm not sure whether he
meets your criteria.
Oh, and Rex Fowler certainly fell on hard times, come to think of it.

 

[dante]

Hi,

I'm doing research for a project and looking for other ex-members who may have fallen on hard times financially because of the excessive payments that were encouraged by the Church to keep money on account.

Thanks for any help in advance.

The way in which your question is phrased may invalidate your research. What about those who haven't fallen on hard times, or who have benefited financially? Maybe there aren't any, but maybe there are? I assume that your approach is journalistic rather than academic?