Loss of status. Devaluation of intellectual capital.

[WildKat]

I've always thought that Exes openly stating their former Training and Processing Levels was a very effective Wake Up call for still-in scios. The so-called status means nothing to me but I think that wavering, in-Doubt scientologists would be quite astounded to know the actual "scientology status" (in CofS terms) of some of the posters here on ESMB. There are many former Int and Senior Org Execs, former C/S's, well-known and respected Technical and Admin Personnel, Highly Trained Auditors and, of course, people who have done the entirety of the CofS Bridge. To me, the fact that these guys and gals are done with the CofS is a very powerful statement to those still in the mindset.

Agree. Knowing that so many people, who once had status, are now on the outside can make it "safer" for others to follow. Often, it was these Opinion Leaders that helped people stay in the cult. Now these same OL's can help get people out. It would be like a dam bursting if Cruise ever left. LOL!

 

[Idle Morgue]

I was in recently. There is NO STATUS for anyone! I am here to tell you that the "mode of operation" is Scientology today is "covert invalidation" - the attitude: you cannot be, do or give enough to this amazing Organization that is "freeing beings" from their bank accounts! The staff are so busy writing each other up and moving from post to post - they don't even notice NO ONE IS THERE! Just a few die hard families breathing life into their Morgue.

Seriously - no one can finish anything really and the ones that go Oat Tea never come back around...especially to the degraded Class Five Morgues!

The game has changed and the game Scientology is playing is give us all of your money "or else" we will withhold your "spiritual freedom" and they are specializing in "selling fear and chaos" OUT HERE - and it is "SAFE" in there.

"Come on in to our Org for some Hot Chocolate, Roasted Chestnuts and some good ole fashioned REGGING!"

Scientology ~ the science of fleecing

 

[Stephanie]

I noticed that from the beginning, they want you to be in AWE of the OT's, what a load of crap.

They are all just following the line of any religion, do this and that and you'll be fine and dandy.

I never wanted to 'clear the planet', I think I probably laughed out loud when I heard that the first time. I wanted improvement for ME, as in SELFISH ME, not enslave myself to DM's bs.

 

[Anonycat]

I noticed that from the beginning, they want you to be in AWE of the OT's, what a load of crap.

They are all just following the line of any religion, do this and that and you'll be fine and dandy.

I never wanted to 'clear the planet', I think I probably laughed out loud when I heard that the first time. I wanted improvement for ME, as in SELFISH ME, not enslave myself to DM's bs.

I don't agree they follow the line of any religion. Scientology is a pyramid scheme that is in the business of selling very expensive made-up "secret" writings, and creating a slave task force to carry it out.

 

[Lermanet_com]

In the CS Lewis's book The Screwtape Letters hell is

"likened to a bureaucracy in which everyone is perpetually concerned about dignity and advancement, where everyone has a grievance, and where everyone lives the deadly serious passions of envy, self-importance and resentment." LINK

 

[AnonyMary]

I think one of the biggest things that is hard for people when they leave the Church of Scientology is the loss of friends, connections, loved ones. I think it tops all other issues. I think for a person leaving by this point, none of the statuses matter much in comparison.

When that initial dust clears, I think we all tend to look at what we have left. I know that after the dust settled for me...in my mind I then held onto accomplishments and things that related to them. Fortunately, reading the internet gradually showed me it was all part of the big dupe. In time, I think most end up on this route out.

For now, I'm glad there is info on the internet showing that trained and experienced public and staff have left the organized part of things. Whatever gets someone at least halfway out the door is fine by me.

 

[AnonSunshine]

I totally agree with AnonMary.
The biggest thing to me was to lose a love one.
The status of Oatee V did not matter to me at all, because I could identify the SCAM that it was.

Thus, really Oatee V there, or in the outside world did not matter a grain of sand to me.
There are people still in the fence, because of love ones.

 

[The Anabaptist Jacques]

I think one of the things that is hard for people when they leave the Church of Scientology -- and one of the things that might deter them from leaving, or help cause them to enter Indieland -- is loss of status.

Inside the Church, they are OT 8 (or some other OT level). People look up to them. They are special. They have status. "Elevation," as Hubbard put it.

Outside, nobody knows what that is. Or, if they do, nobody gives a crap.

Or, a new element I've seen recently, is that some outside the Church see another person having achieved OT 8 (or some other OT level) as evidence that person is a late cognitor, stupid, a dupe, a patsy, weak, needy, or, at best, lacking even a modicum of common sense.

Inside the Church someone is a Class VI or, even better, a Class VIII Auditor, one of the Most Valuable Beings on the Planet! They've completed that Saint Hill Special Briefing Course! Or even the Class VIII Course!

Outside, nobody knows what that is. Of if they do, they don't give a crap. Or if they do give a crap, it is to deride.

Seriously, you helped someone get rid of their Body Thetans with the Thetan Hand Technique? You helped someone deal with the trauma they suffered 63 trillion years ago on the the planet ObeeDooBee? And you thought you were doing something.... useful?.... non-delusional? All right then.

Then there is the depreciation of intellectual capital. I knew smart people in the COS. They could have spent years studying medicine, engineering, yes, psychology. They could have CONTRIBUTED. They could have HELPED people.

But no.

Instead, they spent hours, days, years, listening to Hubbard lecture about the train stations on Venus (or was it Mars? -- I forget). Studying how to locate those incidents 63 trillion years ago. Learn about, to handle, and to remedy someone on Incident II. Master the oh so important "data" of the SHSBC. Oh, and about "evil psychs."

Pathetic.

The opportunity cost is enormous. Not only for them, but for society as a whole.

And then they leave the COS, and everything they have studied, everything they have learned, is worth precisely squat.

Or worse, they come out damaged, unable to relate, socially retarded, paranoid, with weird fixed ideas.

No wonder people are reluctant to leave. Who wants to confront THAT?

And no wonder that when people post on Marty's blog, or Indie forums, or Freezone forums, or even here, they sometimes can't help but mention what class auditor they are (were). What OT level they achieved (were).

To list on the Indie 500 List what they are (were) -- e.g., "Clear, OT III, KTL/LOC" -- "Pro W/Cer, Pro Supervisor, Debug and Data Series Tech, Cramming Officer, Grad V, AO Review Auditor and Class IX" -- as if anyone could possibly, or should, give a crap.

They were something. Not anymore.

Guess what, Bunky -- you're not "OT 8" anymore. You aren't a "Class VIII" anymore.

"I could have been a contender." Why, yes, you could have -- if you had gone to college, maybe gone to medical school or graduate school, and/or otherwise gotten a decent education. If you had not wasted years of your life, and tens of thousands of dollars, learning delusional CRAP.

Yeah, you could have. But you weren't. You didn't even enter the game. Hell, you didn't even know what the real game WAS.

Clear the planet? Yeah, how did that turn out for you?

Yeah, who wants to confront that?

Especially late in life.
.

.

The Anabaptist Jacques