SCIENTOLOGISTS

Growing up in a new religion can be an interesting experience. As a child I was completely uninhibited about my beliefs. But at some point—and I'm not even sure when exactly—I stopped.

Raising Our Voices—What it Means to be a STAND Member

Scientologists are, almost without exception, really nice people. That’s something you could say of most people and groups but I’m always reminded that being an above average communicator and expressing a heightened regard for other people is something most Scientologists have in common. It’s an exceptionally articulate group of people who know and speak their own minds.

The “Cult” Label

I'm a Scientologist who has studied Scientology for years. Decades actually. I know a lot of other Scientologists and, while I can't speak for all of them, I think plenty of us want to know why we're mislabeled “a cult.

One of Those Scientologists

A few years back my husband and I took in a family member who was having a rough time. She’d been on and off drugs for decades—yes decades. She had pretty much destroyed her own family and her life was a mess.

I’m “Secretive” About My Religion?

My religion has a lot that gets said about it in the media. But one of the most laughable and irksome myths about Scientology is this bizarre idea that it’s “secretive.”

Why Scientology Jokes Fall Flat

The comedian is a rare and powerful breed. He can point out what's wrong with the world through the use of humor and be poignant while doing it, more powerful than any blithering panel of pundits shouting canned criticisms.

To Share or Not to Share, That is the Question

When my husband and I eloped nearly 28 years ago, we had no idea what we were doing. But we were so distracted by the butterflies running amuck in our bellies that it didn’t even matter.

Coming Out

Ok, admittedly, that title is somewhat deceiving—I am a happily married heterosexual woman. But here’s the thing: the press has been smearing my religion with such abandon for so long now that, as a Scientologist, telling people about my religious “orientation” has felt at times, like coming out.

C’mon Facebook. Live by your standards.

The First Amendment is a tricky one. It protects my right to practice my religion but also, to a certain extent, protects those speaking badly about it, except when that speech turns into anti-religious hate speech.

Jews, Gays, Scientologists—Media Abuse and Bigotry

I am 34 years old. I was born and raised in Scientology. Both my parents worked for the Church of Scientology until very recently.

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