As a relatively new religion, Scientology has aroused both skepticism and negative reactions from the media towards its somewhat secretive belief system and cultish practices. Since its beginning, Scientology has been significantly private in every aspect of what it truly is. This causes great strife among many groups of people, due to the fact that nobody, save for those that are involved, understands the full extent of the religion. That is not to mention the aggressiveness that the church has associated itself with. For whatever reasons of its members, it remains one of the most mysterious sects of our time.
The founder of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard, was born in 1911 and passed away at age 74 (Urban 1); various descriptions picture him…show more content… An auditor exists to aid people in the process of discovering and erasing traumatic experiences from the mind, which are termed as engrams (Black 21). This, in turn, eliminates the “reactive mind” (Black 22). Both Scientology and another group, deemed as The Family, dabbles in the effects of brainwashing while using threats and force (Kent 350). These two systems share the same features in their processes of ideological reshaping. They use forcible confinement, physical maltreatment, social humiliation, an intense study of ideology, forced confessions, and personal ‘success’ stories (Kent 350). The success stories are drawn out of the pressuring confessions and usually involve a person’s self-acceptance as someone who sins and needs the guidance of the church to save their souls (Kent 364). Other similar processes are kept away from the public, and they are reserved for the most dedicated members. The Church of Scientology has been remarkably aggressive in keeping its rights to the information contained in its higher levels (Urban…show more content… A large percentage of Scientology recruitments come from medical professionals through medically based practice management companies (Hall 1). Communication between these medics and Scientology members starts with initial contact, usually through free seminars or practice analysis (Hall 1). Once contact is made, the medical professionals generally attend practice management consulting, which inevitably leads to direct cooperation in Scientology (Hall 1). Once this happens, the PMCs begin to recruit doctors into Scientology counseling or training. There has been a lot of evidence pointing towards the probability of them pressuring people into it (Hall 1). The consulting meetings take place late at night after he or she has undergone many long days of training. During the consultation, the Scientologist recommends a program of auditing and courses. This is done in an attempt to convince the PMC client to join Scientology so they can receive help in minimizing the personal problems they now allegedly have due to the personality profile (Hall 1). In an interviewed account, a professional medic explains how he, along with a group of fellow podiatrists, went to a private meeting with a Scientology recruiter. It is mentioned that they all knew that the recruiter would try to get them to sign up, but