Mike Holland
Patron
Hello all,
I have not had the nasty experiences that most of the members seem to have had, as Scientology was just becoming evil at the time that I left it.
I read "Dianetics: The Evolution of a Science" in Astounding SF while in my final year of school in 1955, and got hooked. Then got "Science of Survival" from the library, and learned about Theta and Mest. Then met Keith Gerry who was practicing in Johannesburg at the time. He had an office in Eloff street, and close by was the office of another Scientologist, K.Cameron Gunn. I thought Scientologists must all follow a weird naming convention - L.Ron, U.Keith and K.Cameron!
Keith was a tall, blonde Scot, a very nice guy. Trained as an aeronautical engineer. He gave me a course of processing free, because the "6 levels" had just come out, and he wanted to practice them. He lent me "Scientlogy 8-80" on condition that he would have my balls if I did not return it intact. And he introduced me to "Only The Silent Hear" by Kenneth Walker, which got me interested in the teachings of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky. At that time I think all us Scientologists were squirrels, searching all over for answers, into yoga, mysticism and everything. Keith could recite the whole of Omar Khayyam's Rubaiyat.
Did an HPA course in September 1956, taught by Margaret Scholtz and Jack Horner. In following years I did a B.Scn course and several refresher courses. One day in 1963 I got into an argument with a friend undergoing psycho-analysis, and suddenly realized that all my arguments against psycho-analysis also applied to my acceptance of the tenets of Scientology. So I went to HASI in Johannesburg (it had now been set up by Jack and Alison Parkhouse, much to the dismay of local Scientologists), and told them that I wanted to see some evidence. Next thing I knew was that I had been declared a "suppressive person", and all my friends were told to have nothing to do with me.
So I had to sort out my ideas. This took several years, studying science, psychology, philosophy, mysticism, etc, and I ended up the skeptic and atheist that I am now. As far as I am concerned, the title SP is the highest award you can get from Scientology. It means you have learned to think for yourself. Scientology has nothing further to offer you.
But I still feel that Scientology was a great disappointment. It offered so much, and gave nothing.
As a matter of interest, Keith Gerry went over to Saint Hill to do a D.Scn course. When he returned, he declared that Hubbard was raving mad!
Mike
I have not had the nasty experiences that most of the members seem to have had, as Scientology was just becoming evil at the time that I left it.
I read "Dianetics: The Evolution of a Science" in Astounding SF while in my final year of school in 1955, and got hooked. Then got "Science of Survival" from the library, and learned about Theta and Mest. Then met Keith Gerry who was practicing in Johannesburg at the time. He had an office in Eloff street, and close by was the office of another Scientologist, K.Cameron Gunn. I thought Scientologists must all follow a weird naming convention - L.Ron, U.Keith and K.Cameron!
Keith was a tall, blonde Scot, a very nice guy. Trained as an aeronautical engineer. He gave me a course of processing free, because the "6 levels" had just come out, and he wanted to practice them. He lent me "Scientlogy 8-80" on condition that he would have my balls if I did not return it intact. And he introduced me to "Only The Silent Hear" by Kenneth Walker, which got me interested in the teachings of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky. At that time I think all us Scientologists were squirrels, searching all over for answers, into yoga, mysticism and everything. Keith could recite the whole of Omar Khayyam's Rubaiyat.
Did an HPA course in September 1956, taught by Margaret Scholtz and Jack Horner. In following years I did a B.Scn course and several refresher courses. One day in 1963 I got into an argument with a friend undergoing psycho-analysis, and suddenly realized that all my arguments against psycho-analysis also applied to my acceptance of the tenets of Scientology. So I went to HASI in Johannesburg (it had now been set up by Jack and Alison Parkhouse, much to the dismay of local Scientologists), and told them that I wanted to see some evidence. Next thing I knew was that I had been declared a "suppressive person", and all my friends were told to have nothing to do with me.
So I had to sort out my ideas. This took several years, studying science, psychology, philosophy, mysticism, etc, and I ended up the skeptic and atheist that I am now. As far as I am concerned, the title SP is the highest award you can get from Scientology. It means you have learned to think for yourself. Scientology has nothing further to offer you.
But I still feel that Scientology was a great disappointment. It offered so much, and gave nothing.
As a matter of interest, Keith Gerry went over to Saint Hill to do a D.Scn course. When he returned, he declared that Hubbard was raving mad!
Mike