Everfree - I think you have written a very good post telling why you would not bother to look for truths in Hubbard's tech. Your post is consistent and follows a logical thread. Basically, you are saying that YOU CAN differentiate enough to tell the good from the bad but "why bother?" You allow others the right to sift out "the good" in Scn but point out to those who do so that there will be others who do not share their enthusiasm. This is the best post I have seen so far representing your point of view.
Lkwdblds
Thank you. I at least initially felt it far more beneficial to myself to ~rid~ myself of any and all Hubbardian ideas, to strip myself down to, well... myself. My ideas, my perceptions, my truths. It took me some time to do so. Maybe I'm still not done but I feel more myself than ever.
If others feel the need to further explore Scientology, yes that's ok with me as long as they're not hurting others. So far as I'm concerned, people are welcome to believe whatever they'd like so long as they're not hurting others - or to a lesser degree themselves. It's the actions and results of those actions that most concern me.
I know perfectly well that some will, after spending however much time, money, and effort will never give up their belief in Scientology (and it ~is~ a belief system, regardless of protestations that it is not) be unwilling to give it up completely. That's fine with me. Personally, I don't think it's the healthiest choice and couldn't decide that myself, but I don't demand everyone agree with my views, they have their lives to lead as they see fit. I wouldn't take that away from anyone.
I can even take it a step further: not only can I let them do so but I can point out that if one were going to further explore Hubbardian Scientology, the way one could stay out of the multitude of traps laid into Scientology by Hubbard would be to
1. Keep in mind that you always have a choice of what part of Scientology to use or apply.
2. Use that part that truly brings about "solutions where everyone wins" and the actual "greatest good for the greatest dynamics" rather than the many moral shortcuts taken by Hubbard, Miscavige and the CofS under their direction.
For example, instead of pressuring SO members to have abortions so that they can continue producing, create the absolute best childcare possible that is so good that others will want to join and also produce. Would that not be the actual "greatest good"?
Personally, I think Hubbard was wrong - an enslaver of men, devoted to personal aggrandizement and enrichment. Instead of letting him remain wrong, make him right by choosing what aspects of Scientology to apply to bring about actual freedom. Some Scientologists in my experience did a pretty ok job at this, at least in the outer reaches less affected by the SO and management.
I think it could be done, and if CofS is to continue to exist it must be done. But that's someone else's fight, not mine. I don't care if CofS or Scientology continue to exist at all. I've seen enough of Scientology to know that it doesn't go anywhere I wish to be.
Not because I can't differentiate the bad from the good, but because I have no reason to. Feel free to have your own reason.