What Scientology Took From Me

Life With Real Friends

If you haven’t been there, it’s hard to grasp the concept of something as simple as a night with friends being an unheard of luxury in life. For anyone who spent any time in a high control group, however, a night with friends was something that looked like that to the outside world, but in reality was not that at all. 

For starters, there is no such thing as a friend in Scientology. No matter who you are or what you do, it is not safe to confide in anyone. Not your spouse, your “spiritual counselor,” nor anyone you believe to be your friend. If you say something that doesn’t fall in lockstep with the party line, you are immediately the enemy and even your spouse is duty bound to report you.

I’m not saying that when I was in Scientology, there was no social aspect. Scientology is big in ensuring that its members are together. They prefer group activities to solo activities. Even when a person is studying on course, in a classroom, with a check sheet, at their own speed, they are supposed to be in the same room with other people. Individual pursuits are discouraged. 

 If someone looks at photos  of a Scientology get togethers, the group appears to be enjoying themselves. 

 However, that is the image they are required to project. No one has to order them to smile when there is a camera or, for that matter, an interested face pointed in their direction. It is simply something they are conditioned to do. The consequences of not portraying a happy facade are severe.

During the 1980s, I was either in Scientology or, after escaping, working on figuring out how to act like a human being again. Last night, I got to get together and for one night kick back, relax and experience the unique ambiance of the 1980s with an entire group of people whose whole goal for the night was just to enjoy a murder mystery set in that decade.

Friendships are important. For Scientology to destroy one of the basic building blocks of society and then believe they can continue to prosper is counterintuitive. They have created a lose lose situation where they can’t allow their members to talk to each other for fear of discovering the truth, but because they can’t allow loyalty, their members have no cohesion. 

Since they will not allow their adherents to practice the precept “communication is the universal solvent” those of us who manage to escape discover that priceless gift outside their confines. Real friends are great!