I’m a Scientologist and you’re welcome to ask me anything you like about it. That’s what I usually say to people when they find out I’m a Scientologist. And people almost always take me up on the offer.
I’m a Scientologist and you’re Welcome to Ask Me Anything
Misconceptions
It’s often fascinating to hear people’s understanding (or misunderstanding) of Scientology based on what they’ve heard or read in passing. When I clarify any misconceptions for that person I can see “the penny drop.” Whatever preconceived notions they might have fall by the wayside. They are replaced by the simple, workable truth that is the hallmark of Scientology.
Donations for services?
One thing that people ask me is why Scientologists make donations for their services. I think there’s an idea that help, especially of a religious nature, should be free. But once you start to examine that concept, it’s easy to see that nothing in life is ever actually free. And that resources are required to do absolutely anything.
Everything requires some form of energy to run. Whether that’s gasoline in a car engine, food in your stomach, or investment in a business or nonprofit.
Scientology is an applied religious philosophy. Meaning you spend time studying and then applying it to improve specific areas of your life.
Scientology churches
In order to facilitate this, Scientology churches offer courses. And there are a large number of volunteer staff on hand to help you understand and apply the materials you study. So you get what you want to out of the course. Scientology pastoral counseling, or auditing, is also administered in our churches. Individuals who provide these services have often spent years of their lives studying and practicing Scientology and the techniques of proper auditing in particular. All of that requires an investment on the part of the individual and the group as a whole.
Do parishioners tithe?
Rather than asking people to tithe or give a specific amount of money weekly, monthly or annually, which is how many churches around the world can afford to operate, my religion asks parishioners to donate for the auditing or training they wish to receive.
Like any other church, the Church of Scientology is a nonprofit. That means there’s no one within the Church’s structure who personally gains from parishioner donations. All donations are used to ensure each parishioner receives the best possible care and attention. And they also help the Church expand around the world. So more people can be introduced to, and benefit from, the study and application of Scientology. This includes making the basic materials of Scientology free and widely accessible to people all over the world. Including translating those materials in more than two dozen languages.
It makes sense
Once I explain this to people it makes sense to them. But most importantly, I tell them that for me personally, every penny I’ve donated to my church has been an investment. An investment in myself, my family, my businesses and my community. It is one that has paid me back a hundredfold. That might sound trite but I mean it quite literally. I’ve been fortunate enough to study in very good schools and universities. But my study of Scientology has been the most important education of my life. It has made me much more productive, responsible, ethical and capable. I can’t say exactly where I’d be if I hadn’t become a Scientologist. But I’m positive I wouldn’t be as successful (financially and in every other sense) or as happy as I am now.
An investment
So for me Scientology has been an investment. It’s one I plan to continue making for the rest of my life. If something works, you keep doing it! And I’ve never found anything that works as well in every area of my life as Scientology.
This blog by Wil Seabrook was originally published on the website of STAND (Scientologists Taking Action Against Discrimination) and is published with their permission.
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