From http://www.bordermail.com.au/newsflow/pageitem?page_id=655580

We must scrutinise our belief systems Fri, Nov 21, 2003

I WAS intrigued to read Pauline Priests exhortation of the benefits of Scientology ("Scientology solves alcoholism mystery", The Border Mail, November 11) as much as I was reading your uncritical headline to her letter.

While we enjoy the freedom to believe in anything we wish even belief systems devised by former science fiction writers like L. Ron Hubbard we are not protected from coercion and misinformation that often accompanies the dogma of new religious movements.

In order to protect ourselves, we really need to scrutinise what belief systems claim they are and what they claim to deliver.

For example, it may interest your readership that a research study called the "Project On Information And Social Change" was conducted in the U.S. by the University of Oregon in 1984.

It did a sweeping survey of 1000 former members of cults, sects and new-age therapies.

Of all the former members of groups who were respondents to the study, it was revealed that those involved in Scientology sustained the most debilitating psychological damage following departure from the group, requiring an average of 20 months before full rehabilitation.

It also revealed former Scientologists suffered the highest rates of fear (76 per cent), sleeplessness (52 per cent), suicidal or self-destructive tendencies (51 per cent), violent outbursts (27 per cent), hallucinations and delusions (24 per cent) and sexual dysfunction (24 per cent).

Many people regard Scientology to be a dangerous and insidious movement, having once been members themselves.

Your readership can consider their testimonials and affidavits at: www.caic.org.au/zscient.htm and more at www.caic.org.au/zhyp|sci.htm

MIKE FUERY, Wodonga

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