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Does Scientology threaten families?
Daily Mail, 23 September 1996
FOR
Scientology is a business organisation posing as a religion, a money-making business that takes all and gives nothing in return. When my son Tony was recruited into the sect in his first year at university he had more than UKP1000 in the bank. He was given a personality test and sold a 'detoxification course'. I got a letter from the bank agreeing to a UKP200 overdraft: his account had gone from UKP1000 to UKP200 overdrawn. This money had gone to Scientology to pay for his course. For three weeks he was given high doses of vitamins and worked in the 'Org', as they call it, from early morning until seven in the evening. He was then taken for a run and subjected to a sauna, seven days a week, without a break. During this time he was 'audited' or counselled. Tony was vulnerable, living away from home and looking for a meaning to life. He has been as introverted child without many friends. Scientology attacked him with its 'love bombing' techniques. He has been sucked into this organisation and has now broken off from his family. LYNN SHATTOCK, Chudleigh, Devon.
AGAINST
I have been connected to Scientology for nine years, teaching children musci at an independent school fed mainly by families from the Scientology world. I've partied with them, been to festivals, weddings and celebrations. Three years ago, their teaching staff at the school, also Scientologists, helped our daughter who had been continually distraught and frustrated by mainstream schooling, and subsequently had a breakdown at the age of 11. Her IQ is extremely high. She has been learning with them ever since and for the first time in her life, she has been given the opportunity to achieve and realise her own goals. She passed five GCSE's all with A and A* grades at the age of 13 and is now studying two A-levels and more GCSEs which ahe will take with them next year. She is still only 14. There has never been any question of our daughter being preyed on in her weak and vulnerable state. Although they know we are never going to become Scientologists, a trust has been built up between out daughter and her teachers. Name supplied, E. Sussex
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