I thought I would tell my story. Something feels a little stuck at the moment, and I wanted to keep moving. I was in Scientology for 7 years, 4 of those on staff. I do not wish anyone at my old Org, any bad. I know they would not think highly of me being here, but I can understand where they are coming from, as I was there myself until about a year ago. I did the Bridge up to ARC Straightwire and did all the Basic Books in the Course Room, a string of Div 6 Courses and the PTS/SP Course and Pro-TRs. I got a lot out of some things , but nothing out of others. I consider now that 2 years in Scientology without being on staff would have been adequate. I made some lovely friends there and hope they are doing well,. One day we may catch up but it won't be in the Org I can assure you.
I am really writing this not just as a protest towards Scientology think and management, but more of a broader protest against "It's my way or the highway" mentality. This is not just synanomous with Scientology, but also with a number of workplaces and families I have experienced. But I am writing about the Flag experience as I have been here for a few weeks and it may be real for a lot of you here.
I left my job of 10 years just before the Basics Release in 2007. I wrote an e-mail to my work colleagues thanking them for their companionship and that I was going to be trained as an auditor (I used the term counsellor so others would have some reality) in America. They were shocked. Hardly anyone knew I was a Scientologist. Now I know why. Something within me was embarrassed about it. I knew Scientology had a bad name. Shit, I did not realise how bad until I came here, amongst many other sites.
So I hugged my sons goodbye (they also looked a bit confused). I told them I thought I would be gone for 6 to 9 months. It was Class V Auditor training so realistically I may have died at Flag. I felt really good at that point. I had handled quite a lot in my life and this was the logical step. I went to Sydney on standby and got a phone call from Flag to "come to Flag now". This is how Scientology works. I was pretty rattled and worked with a senior terminal at my Org to organize the plane flight. Why the fuck you have to go to Flag to be interviewed first before qualling for training is beyond me. My sons thought it was weird. Why not do it at an Advanced Org in your own country and THEN go to Flag AFTER qualling. Either way, I was off.
Now I had been told it was the friendliest place on the planet (cough cough). I went there with high hopes and a strong determinism. And then.......
I am really writing this not just as a protest towards Scientology think and management, but more of a broader protest against "It's my way or the highway" mentality. This is not just synanomous with Scientology, but also with a number of workplaces and families I have experienced. But I am writing about the Flag experience as I have been here for a few weeks and it may be real for a lot of you here.
I left my job of 10 years just before the Basics Release in 2007. I wrote an e-mail to my work colleagues thanking them for their companionship and that I was going to be trained as an auditor (I used the term counsellor so others would have some reality) in America. They were shocked. Hardly anyone knew I was a Scientologist. Now I know why. Something within me was embarrassed about it. I knew Scientology had a bad name. Shit, I did not realise how bad until I came here, amongst many other sites.
So I hugged my sons goodbye (they also looked a bit confused). I told them I thought I would be gone for 6 to 9 months. It was Class V Auditor training so realistically I may have died at Flag. I felt really good at that point. I had handled quite a lot in my life and this was the logical step. I went to Sydney on standby and got a phone call from Flag to "come to Flag now". This is how Scientology works. I was pretty rattled and worked with a senior terminal at my Org to organize the plane flight. Why the fuck you have to go to Flag to be interviewed first before qualling for training is beyond me. My sons thought it was weird. Why not do it at an Advanced Org in your own country and THEN go to Flag AFTER qualling. Either way, I was off.
Now I had been told it was the friendliest place on the planet (cough cough). I went there with high hopes and a strong determinism. And then.......