This is Not Okay!

In Scientology, a person becomes inured to a lot of things. These things are what the world at large would not find acceptable. If said in Scientology jargon, they are not okay. One of these things is the requirement that a person has to ask permission to do simple things. This includes taking a leave of absence. The permission process is extended. The worst part of this process is that this person is already pre conditioned. In the back of their mind, they know that leaving isn’t really a choice.

The process is called a CSW, Completed Staff Work, which I covered in an earlier post. The CSW must always end with “This Is OK.” It must also include the signature of the person requesting the item just before the authorization lines.

Which brings me to the topic of this post. Recently, I was listening to a podcast. One of the people in the group said:

She wanted to leave so she of course was on lockdown.

This line was treated like every other word in the podcast. No special emphasis was placed on that sentence by the speaker or the listeners. Why would every member of the podcast not react in horror when those words were said?

Because that is the norm in Scientology. Anyone on staff in Scientology who whispers a they want to leave is promptly sent to reprogramming. If they are suspected of thinking about leaving, they are also sent to reprogramming. There, they are systematically “counseled” until they surrender and admit they were wrong.

From that point on, that person will either be in lockdown, or, if allowed freedom, they will have handlers. They will never have a moment alone.

That is why people have to take drastic measures to escape Scientology. Leaving is not a choice, no matter what the public is told. That is why this blog and so many other similar blogs exist.

I personally am here because I was hunted down by Scientology staff in 2011 after leaving in 1984. It took 231 phone calls and letters to shut them down. They were doing their best to get me to return after being gone 37 years! They quit bothering me only because I told them I was commenting on anti-Scientology blogs.

I am only here because people in Scientology wouldn’t leave me alone after I left. I am not naive enough to believe that they won’t try to shut me down. But I am not going anywhere. There are people out here who have a lot more to lose than I do. They are on the front lines battling the abuse that has gone on far too long. I have drawn my line in the sand and refuse to be dragged across it.

People who can’t speak their mind freely? People who can’t speak to family members? People who are fed slop and work more hours than a body can tolerate? People who have become so numb to being derided that they don’t even see what they’ve become? People who slump their shoulders and willingly go to confinement if they are caught trying to flee? Yes all that and more goes on in Scientology.

This is not OK.