path_of_one
Embracing the Mystery
Perhaps I haven't seen accurate information. From what I understood, lower-level courses were cheap but the farther up you went the more expensive it got. I've seen copied e-mails that quoted prices over $10K for higher-level courses. If, in fact, these higher-level courses are much cheaper, then I concede. But if they aren't, then it appears that people get sucked in for cheap and then when they feel like they're making progress and want to advance, a big bill comes due, which seems underhanded.
But once again, it depends on the person. I would avoid such things, but I don't exactly believe it's my job to go around "protecting" people from making such decisions.
I thought the church was tied up in moving through the levels, but then I am not a Scientologist, so I may be mistaken there. It may be like the Druidry organization to which I belong- you can be a Druid but if you want all the materials, you have to chip in for their cost at a reasonable rate. Gotta pay for the paper, shipping, ink, and so forth somehow. They have scholarships for people who can't afford it, even given the low rates, and scholarships for workshops too. In that org, the mentors and personal counseling is free, but then it is via mail and/or internet to keep costs down.
I'd have to go back and look at the dates. I think there have been more recent cases, but it's not that huge of a deal for me. Not on the fore-front of my interests or concerns.
Who started it? I thought he was aware of it and had sent memos encouraging it until it became apparent that it would bring pretty bad PR. It still concerns me that it seems that people are told to severely limit contact with anyone (even their own families) that disagrees with Scientology or has a negative opinion. At least, that is what some ex-Scientologists say. I would think that a believer would be able to hold their own against well-meaning family members without limiting contact? Of course, if a family member is abusive that is one thing, but from what others had written, it was not abuse at all, just disagreement.
Of course they wouldn't want to, but this sort of thing should be carefully monitored, no matter what the religion. If a church does things that is in opposition to the ethics of its overarching religious body, that is a problem. Ethically, it is a problem, but also just in managing the organization. It leads to confusion on the part of members and non-members alike, and distorts the true message, if it is a good one. I think the same way about Christian churches and I cringe when I see them do things that go against the message of Christ. In Christianity, most churches are governed by a denominational organization of some sort that keeps tabs on it. However, there are denominations that branch off and do stuff that most of the rest of Christians disagree with, but have no "jurisdiction" over. I don't know if Scientology works that way or not- where each church is independent? I thought it was more centrally organized, but I don't know.
I guess. I'm for spiritual exploration, so to me it is a red flag whenever any church or religious group has problems with people re-thinking their decisions, exploring new religions, or even just taking a break to have fun.
And I don't quite think the analogy is a good one. Taking a break (perhaps to catch up on rest, focus on financial or family concerns, or whatever) and taking time to honor one's familial relationships, to ease them into one's spiritual shift are not antithetical to self-empowerment. In fact, sometimes one needs a break to rest before continuing on a journey of self-actualization.
Satanism, on the other hand, (if you mean LaVeyan Satanism) is antithetical to Christianity in that it espouses focus on self whereas Christianity espouses focus on God and others.
That said, I still think if a person decides to leave a Christian church to explore Satanism, people should be loving about letting them go. They can pray for the person, or seek to have a few heart-to-heart talks, letting them lovingly know their worries. But each individual is an adult and responsible for themselves. I think we should uphold the dignity and capacity of each person to find their own spiritual path without fear, threat, intimidation, shunning, and so forth. We should love others and be available to them, but avoid patronizing attitudes where we think we know what is best for them. That's just my belief.
Most of the time, when people say they are "helping" others by shunning them or threatening them, it is actually because they are fearful of contamination. Another person's lack of conformity attacks the solidity of their own beliefs. It makes others in the group wonder, "What if s/he is right? What if I need to do that? What if I've got blinders on?" Personally, I think this type of reflection is good. From my experience, it weeds out things I am buying into because a group buys into it from things I truly believe because it has been my spiritual experience. Doubt yields greater faith, if fear is pushed aside and one truly seeks after love and goodness.
I understand that. What I am trying to say is why sue over slander? It is costly and unnecessary. If it is a spiritual organization that is furthering good, it will be redeemed by its goodness no matter what some people say. Law suits to prove goodness are unnecessary. Most religions face slander by some one, even (or especially) the big ones! I think the way this is typically handled, through ignoring it, is most mature and shows the most patience. Over time, goodness and love, if they are present, show the value of a religion.
