This week, it’s answers about the negative range of the Tone Scale, a long description of stages of recovery from cults, the Non-Interference Zone in Scientology and a lot more. Enjoy!
(1) I initially thought the Emotional Tone Scale only went from 4.0: “Enthusiasm” at the highest, down to 0.0: “Body Death” at the lowest. I’ve since found out that Thetans can experience a broader range of tones without the supposed limitations of their bodies, but I can’t find any descriptions or definitions of these extended tones anywhere! What does -8.0 “Hiding” and -30 “Can’t Hide” mean? What does the lowest tone of -40.0 “TOTAL FAILURE” entail?
(2) Based on Tom Cruise’s deplorable behavior and – sorry for saying this – watching some past Scientologists’ channels, I have started thinking that one of the appeals of Scientology might be that you get to feel really superior. After all you are going to be a GOD and the Wogs don’t get it. After leaving Scientology does that not seem to stick? I just look at some of the ex-Scientologists and much as I like them, I just wonder about whether ex-Scientologists realize the sustained damage that has been done to them. The lack of empathy that lingers, the ability to go after other people relentlessly, the smirks, the sneers; these just seem to be a Scientology state of mind that lingers. I wonder how many of them would have left had it not been for Miscavige. I am guessing they would all have stayed and since I strongly believe that is the case, it bothers me, because it is such a human thing. Why do things have to get so bad for us to change our lives?
Also, when a person leaves a destructive relationship… to truly leave, does that not require one truly looks at what one found appealing about it? What one closed one’s eyes to? What one ended up accepting and maybe ended up doing to others? I think it is a humbling experience to realize deep down why one did not stop. Kind of like soldiers cannot simply say that they followed orders. In my experience there is a payoff in every relationship. Even the bad ones. And you won’t be truly free till you look that in the eye. (Only children are really exempt from that rule, and only while they are children) I feel that that is the only way to avoid another bad situation, by facing what the payoffs were in that situation. Would you agree or do you think it really only is a matter of outside forces manipulating you? I think it cannot only be manipulation.
(3) I’d like to hear your thoughts on the Scientology book released in the early 90s, ‘What is Scientology’. Out of all the books released by the church this was for me by far their most easy to read book and actually enjoyable. It really got me curious about Scientology such was its ability to explain Scientology concepts and make them seem reasonable even though I knew they were an insidious cult that ruined lives. It also did a great job in its use of illustrations and its front cover draws you in. So after its release was there an explosion in public coming into the orgs? Did it sell well? Did Scientologists love the book? Were they all talking about it? Am I right in thinking it does a good job in selling Scientology unlike every book before it?
(4) Has anyone ever been satisfied “becoming Clear” without moving further up The Bridge? If someone did, in fact, say “ I’m happy with the state of Clear” does Scientology respect their wishes or do they cajole them into continuing on?
(5) In a lecture to auditors from 1963, LRH talks about the “itsa line”, “overcharged areas”, “tone arm action” (I’m guessing on the E-meter) and running “Routine 1C”. Can you help me understand what these things are? These are terms I’ve never heard.