[religious brainwash] The Total Freedom Trap Scientology, Dianetics and L. Ron Hubbard #10/27

It was only in the late 1960s, with increasing criticism of its methods by western governments, that Scientology retreated behind the trappings of religion. Scientology "ministers" take a course in comparative religion based upon a single book, and read the few ceremonies written by Hubbard. Their training takes a few days. They dress in imitation of Christian ministers, including a dog collar and a Christian-seeming cross.

In fact, the cross is a Scientology cross, which clearly imitates that of Hubbard's role model, magician Aleister Crowley. It is actually a satanic "crossed out" cross.

THE PERSONALITY TEST

Scientology recruits most of its followers from the street by offering a free personality test. The Oxford Capacity Analysis (OCA) was written by a Scientologist who was a former merchant seaman, with no psychological training. It has no connection with Oxford University, and derives ultimately from the Johnson Temperament Analysis Profile.

The current 200 question test provides Scientology with detailed personal information. In the past, the Church of Scientology has proved more than willing to use supposedly confidential information against former members.

In I991, a letter to Scientology recruiters offered a course teaching "how to tell people the results of their OCA so that they will reach for Scientology". Another internal document says that the Test Evaluator "is to point out to the person by means of a personality test evaluation what is ruining his life, and to show him how Scientology can save him from that ruin ... when you point out a low score ... say `Scientology can handle that'." The test is designed to ensure that very few people have an acceptable personality profile.

Scientology sales staff ("registrars") are extensively trained and drilled in hard-selling techniques. The first stage of recruitment is to focus the person's attention on the most distressing areas of his or her life (the "ruin"). Hypnotherapists might call this an "emotional induction". Any intense emotion tends to overwhelm critical thinking. The coolness of rational thinking is distinct from the heat of the emotions.

The recruiter then plays upon the person's fear that the condition will worsen. Then the "solution" of Scientology is offered.