1UglyHombre asked this question on 5/6/2000:

You have no idea how much this site has cheered me today! I thought I would NEVER see so many people so well informed about Scientology in one spot. It was just a few years ago that all these facts {in your answers} would have 'earned' the wrath of CS Inc. and you would all have been sued for speaking your opinion and telling the truth.

If any of you lot are ever in the UK down Durham way, the pints are on me!

Otch, yes this is reall a question. When Scientologists learn about Xenu in OT#3, what keeps them from going dog-mad, or otherwise realizing they have been duped? Most blokes who get conned are very upset when they realize they have been japed; why aren't Scientologists?

desertphile gave this response on 5/6/2000:

Hi. Welcome to the Scientology category. The truth about Scientology has only recently shown up in this forum. Now it is here to stay. I agree with you that this is only a relatively recent phenomena: perhaps 5 or 6 years old, and growing. Or as the Scientology Church says, "EXPANDING." LOL! This is, I think, due mostly to courageous critics who have put their very lives on the front lines opposing this sinister organization--- and the Internet being used as a very effective tool to get the truth out.

As for your question, I think it is well modeled along the lines of mental illness and brainwashing (which in my opinion is a "affective" illness just like Post Tramatic Stress Syndrom, which is very closely parallels). The belief in Xenu is "kindled." Built up slowly in small doses. One analogy is the consumption of arsenic. If one pops 10 grams of arsenic one may be in serious health trouble. If one takes a few milligrams every day and builds up a tolerance, one can tolerate a dosage that would kill someone who had not built up a tolerance.

The same is true for Scientology. The "Road to Xenu" is taken with tiny steps.

It also "helps" when the victim actively works towards her or his own destruction. Paying huge sums of money for nothing at all generally has the opposite effect of what one would consider sane. This is called "cognative dissonance." Scientologists who spend half a million dollars FOR NOTHING will continue to spend money even when they know intellectually there is no real reward. They HOPE there is, even when ther KNOW there isn't.

The average rating for this answer is 5.

1UglyHombre rated this answer a 5.

Otch, I've seen the same thing here at home. Give a person air and they won't take it; sell it to him for gold and he can't get enough!