I sat next to a mysterious gentleman dressed in a black suit and a confused-looking Indian guy. I thought they were professors discussing professorly things over a sandwich, as many professors (such as my father) (and THE professor who absolutely DOES NOT serve as my role model nor would I marry him AT ALL given the chance) (*eep!* fangirl obsession!) do. Then, because they were not talking of professorly things, I assumed they were professors who talked about, um, normal things over a sandwich. As many people do. And then I noticed one of them seemed to be talking more about his family and the other was guiding the conversation and taking notes. So maybe they were a psychologist and his client talking over a sandwich. As I suppose happens sometimes. And then I heard the guy in the suit say "Now, do you know the Scientology term for that?"
I was shocked.
I know that the Church of Scientology is very active in this city, but I never suspected they were that obvious about it. Every time I walk in front of their building with the large "Welcome students!" banners, I tell myself that next time, I will walk in and pretend to be a misguided student in need of spiritual guidance. But I am too afraid to do it, and that is probably a good thing.
Scientology is a cult. Like all cults, it uses the concept of the foot-in-the-door phenomenon to recruit people. They first have a small request, then gradually work their way up to taking your entire income.
The Scientology guy was trying to get the other one to sever ties with his family (that's one of the steps, too. If you believe your family is against you, then you become closer to the cult. Plus, as you severed the ties to your family, no one is going to try to rescue you).
I didn't know what to do. I don't know if I should have said anything. Truth is, I was scared to death. I was scared of that guy in the suit. I was scared that, if I spoke up and told the other guy that this wasn't good at all and he should run away from that man, fast, the guy in the suit would follow me home.
I saw a policeman outside and wanted to tell him to go and arrest that man for taking away another human being's freedom. But cults are legal, so there is nothing I could have done.
I don't know why people want to hurt others like that. I just don't understand.
I was shocked.
I know that the Church of Scientology is very active in this city, but I never suspected they were that obvious about it. Every time I walk in front of their building with the large "Welcome students!" banners, I tell myself that next time, I will walk in and pretend to be a misguided student in need of spiritual guidance. But I am too afraid to do it, and that is probably a good thing.
Scientology is a cult. Like all cults, it uses the concept of the foot-in-the-door phenomenon to recruit people. They first have a small request, then gradually work their way up to taking your entire income.
The Scientology guy was trying to get the other one to sever ties with his family (that's one of the steps, too. If you believe your family is against you, then you become closer to the cult. Plus, as you severed the ties to your family, no one is going to try to rescue you).
I didn't know what to do. I don't know if I should have said anything. Truth is, I was scared to death. I was scared of that guy in the suit. I was scared that, if I spoke up and told the other guy that this wasn't good at all and he should run away from that man, fast, the guy in the suit would follow me home.
I saw a policeman outside and wanted to tell him to go and arrest that man for taking away another human being's freedom. But cults are legal, so there is nothing I could have done.
I don't know why people want to hurt others like that. I just don't understand.
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