Re: Dianetics

In article <3sjiuh$ish@ixnews5.ix.netcom.com> mgarde@ix.netcom.com (Maureen Garde) writes: >...
>What do the scientologists have to say about the comparison with
>freudian psychotherapy? Do you think it is functionally correct?
>Given that auditing seems to share at least some of the characteristics
>of freudian psychotherapy, what do scientologists see as the important
>difference?
I think you'll find the similarities more superficial than not. I suggest reading Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, which is still pretty much scientology's bible (or at least 'original source') for early stages of auditing. DTMSMH presents all psychological and psychosomatic problems as being rooted in physical traumas which occur during periods of unconsciousness from midway through gestation (e.g. knitting needle (inside joke)) on into adult life (e.g. nitrous oxide hypnosis).

IMO, the 'technology' developed from this theory started showing major cracks in the mid-50's, as people 'cleared' by auditing tended not to stay clear, necessitating a 'finger(s) in the dike' strategy (continuing to at least the mid-80's) of constantly inventing more and more elaborate theories (body thetans, reincarnation, descent from clams (a cheap shot, but true), alien invaders (I kid you not!), etc.) to rationalize the continual all too human behavior of the most 'advanced' scientologists.

As far as what scientology may think of psychotherapy, I don't think that you will get a rational opinion from any scientologist. They are rabidly anti-psychiatry--one of their major front groups is the CCHR, Citizen's Commission on Human Rights, whose goal in life is to invalidate psychiatry. You can read all about it in Leisa Goodman's (she's a regional PR director for scientology) web page, with lines from scientology PR pieces like "..psychiatric barbarism in many countries.." and "..LRH brought to light savage abuse taking place in the field of mental healing.." and "..violations of basic human rights..". <a href="http://www.theta.com/goodman/">http://www.theta.com/goodman/</a>

Personally, I think this paranoia stems from Hubbard's 1950's and 60's experiences of being run out of England and the US by (among other things, of course) the professional medical societies, who objected to his claims that auditing could heal physical ailments (up to and including tuberculosis and cancer, e.g. "..as FAC1 [a specific neurosis] accounts for Tuberculosis in most cases..", A History of Man pg 11).

If you are interested in dianetics and scientology for reasons other than platonic curiosity, I recommend the following web page as a starting point: <a href="http://www.mit.edu:8001/people/rnewman/scientology/home.html">http://www.mit.edu:8001/people/rnewman/scientology/home.html</a>It has pointers to a variety of published books and articles about scientology. There are another 6 or 8 web pages from the anti- side, but the above-mentioned Goodman page is the only pro-scientology page I am aware of. Any scientology org would be happy to sell you a wide variety of books, though I doubt that such books would have answers to your original psychotherapy questions.

-- Georle