Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
From: dhelrod@btr.com (David H.Elrod)
Subject: Re: Two questions
Message-ID: <1991Jul25.185232.10148@PA.dec.com>
Sender: news@PA.dec.com (News)
Reply-To: dhelrod@btr.com (David H.Elrod)
Organization: DEC Palo Alto
References: <1991Jul24.155301.27444@spool.cs.wisc.edu> 
Date: Thu, 25 Jul 1991 18:52:32 GMT
Lines: 71

In article <1991Jul24.155301.27444@spool.cs.wisc.edu>,
derek@mtlion.cs.wisc.edu 
(Derek Zahn) writes:

> I don't know much about Scientology -- all I've done is read Hubbard's
> book (_Dianetics_), which I found to be intriguing.
> 
> 1) How does religion enter into it?  _Dianetics_ seems more like
> psychology than religion.  Is Scientology different from Dianetics?
> Is it possible to explore Dianetics, which is essentially a
> theory of how the mind works, without caring about any
> mystical/moral dogma?  Emptying the engram bank seems like
> a secular idea to me.
Things can come up in Dianetics that aren't necessarily explained by the
theory 
in the book.  The expanded theory that DOES cover everything that comes up is 
Scientology.  Dianetics works fine by itself.

> 2) I'm sure that this question is asked often -- my apologies.
> How much does it cost to try Dianetics long enough to make
> an evaluation of its effectiveness?  Can poor people like college
> students (who have little money to spend on what must be considered
> an experiment) explore Dianetics, or is it only for the rich?
The absolutely cheapest route you have already paid for (I would guess):
  You by a copy of Dianetics (paperback is cheapest).
  You get a friend to read Dianetics too.
  You and your friend Audit each other.
LOTS of people do this.  Husbands/wives, friends, etc.  Using the tools in the 
Dianetics book can clean up a LOT of stuff, and you will both benefit from the 
experience.

A slightly more expensive route:
  Contact an Org and pay about $100 for the "Dianetics Seminar".  This
is usually 
    a one day seminar.  The $100 includes a hard copy edition of the
book.  A course 
    pack, lecture, lunch and supervision.
  Generally the morning is a lecture on Dianetics, and in the afternoon
you and a friend 
    audit each other help close by in case you run into problems.

An even more expensive route:
  Go to an Org or Mission and purchase 12 1/2 hours of Auditing
(probably about $250).
  A professional will deliver the auditing to you.
  If you like what you get, you can continue paying for the Auditing, or
you can move to
    one of the above possibilities.

I recommend the second approach, because you get to give as well as
receive the auditing, 
and there is something really incredible about helping someone else get
through some major
mess.  Alse, the second approach will get you started with tips and
pointers and someone
standing around to help out if needed.  Finally, the second approach
will get you in touch
with folks, so that you can later (if you desire) get more books and
courses, etc.

Please note the prices are approximate and should not be taken as quotes.

Send me email and I'll try and be more specific.  A lot of folks out in
net-land
haven't read Dianetics yet, and I don't want to start throwing around a lot of
terminology that they might not understand.

I can be reached at:
	dhelrod@btr.com

David H. Elrod