The Exploitation of Spirit
Religion and spirituality
In this lifetime, I’ve found both spirituality and religion to be beneficial for myself and many others. I was baptized, yet grew up celebrating Pagan holidays. My parents also incorporated many Earth-based religious and spiritual elements into daily life on top of teaching my brother and I about Buddhist philosophy.
I have witnessed profound personal transformation in others via their religious and spiritual practices. Religion seems to provide a more organized, structured version of spiritual stuff, while spirituality speaks more to our individual practices, relationship with, and beliefs about any/all Divine beings. Both of these perspectives I’ve seen help others to find meaning, purpose, compassion, forgiveness, acceptance, Enlightenment and much more. At this point in life, I do not find one to be better than the other, just different expressions of the same Ultimate Source.
Britannica defines religion as:
An organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods.
Regarding the definition of spirituality?
Well it seems to have morphed over the centuries and while more closely interwoven with religion in it’s early days, it is mostly regarded in modern day as:
“…emphasis is on subjective experience and the "deepest values and meanings by which people live", incorporating personal growth or transformation, usually in a context separate from organized religious institutions. Spirituality can be defined generally as an individual's search for ultimate or sacred meaning, and purpose in life. Additionally it can mean to seek out or search for personal growth, religious experience, belief in a supernatural realm or afterlife, or to make sense of one's own "inner dimension".
The above is according to Wikipedia, which has a pretty thorough, well cited and extensive page regarding the etymology and history of Spirituality HERE if you’re interested.
For centuries, humans have sought the answers to and truths of existence. Not much has changed there. Many of the world’s religions are united in their use of universal concepts such as the Golden Rule, service to others, compassion, morality, life after death, a path to Enlightenment in some form and more. Most of them also incorporate some form of devotional prayer, meditation, ceremony and/or offerings.
By nature, these ideas are not harmful. In fact, I think we can all agree, they bring a lot of hope, peace and light into the world.
The unfortunate truth
The Crusades. The Inquisition. Heretics burnt at the stake. The Armenian Genocide. Sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic church. The Israel-Palestine conflict. Al Quaida. ISIS. The Jonestown Massacre. The Children of God.
Throughout history there have always been those who pervert and exploit God/Spirit/Creator, religion and spirituality for their own ulterior motives. Whether it is war, genocide, terrorism, or abuse, it is all in the name of…
Most often it has very little to do with religion and far more to do with fear, control, money and/or power - and usually it’s a single person or small faction within the larger group. My point here is that these historical atrocities and those who promote and commit them are the real danger - not the religion or spiritual concepts themselves.
And unfortunately, the cult leaders, sociopaths, and narcissists of the world are EXPERTS at distorting these helpful constructs and using them to serve their own evil agendas. They are adept in their people reading skills and they know exactly how to get you.
They know what they’re doing.
Scientology’s approach
Take the common concept of living a “right life”, of having ethics, integrity and morals - that one is all too easily twisted into paradigms of punishment and condemnation in the hands of a cult or cult leader. In Scientology specifically, personal ethics are enforced by the Church.
It starts small, like if you are late to one of your courses or auditing sessions, you are sent to the Ethics Department. Ok, not too different from grade school. Seems fair.
It begins to expand on a gradient. If you are sick - you are sent to Ethics. If you had an accident - you are sent to Ethics. If you witness another church member committing a crime and don’t report it, or if you are friends with someone who has left the Church - you are sent to Ethics because you must either “handle” or “disconnect” from this person. If you steal or seduce another’s wife or husband - yep, you go to Ethics. Sexual or sexually perverted conduct? Of course, you go to Ethics.
Each visit to Ethics involves: showing up with your “routing form” to discuss with an Ethics Officer why you are out-ethics; devising a program for how you will avoid this problem in the future AND a plan to make amends; writing this program out so a copy can go in your Ethics folder; and finally have the Ethics Officer sign off on all the steps of completion on your routing form. Yes, it’s true, they keep a copy of all your confessions. Visits can also include an ethics interview behind closed doors or the write-up of a what’s known as a Knowledge Report (a written document detailing the crimes or Suppressive acts committed by another Scientologist).
What is considered out-ethics? Too much to list here, but it is extensive and seems to serve and protect Scientology’s superiors and it’s hierarchical structure.
On one occasion, I was sent to Ethics after sharing an inspirational Tony Robbins quote with my course supervisor. Robbins’ is considered by the Church to be a “squirrel” - someone who alters Scientology. Sharing this quote was a Scientology misdemeanor - according to Chapter 12 in the Introduction to Scientology Ethics book. The matter was complicated by the fact that my acting mentor (and Scientology recruiter) had shared the quote with our acting class.
This particular ethics visit required me to read material and sources from various Scientology texts and official LRH-issued bulletins, undergo a private interview behind closed doors and write up a program stating I would no longer read or watch any of Robbins’ material.
Now if that’s not information control, I don’t know what is.
On top of that ethics handling, my mentor spoke to me in the days following this incident, covertly shaming me while instructing me not to disclose that she shares Robbins’ quotes, because she didn’t want the hassle of having to deal with Ethics.
That was a lot of time and energy spent on handling me for sharing an inspirational quote. It was absolute absurdity.
While none of the above examples are violent or abusive, they can certainly be seen as invasive and extreme. I’m giving you the basics of how it begins, so you can understand how it escalates into: members completely disconnecting from their families; children being abused and forced into slave labor at work camps; top Sea Org officials being sent off to “The Hole” where they are abused, dehumanized and degraded; forced abortions for Sea Org members; and deaths due to members being held against their will and denied medical care, food and water. All of these and more are documented in Leah Remini’s Emmy-winning series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath as well as MANY other sources.
The Church’s doctrine on living right through living ethically pairs quite well with their views of what is constructive and “good.” Good being defined as what does the greatest good for the greatest number of dynamics. (Dynamics include your self, your family, your community, Mankind, all living creatures, the Earth itself, the spiritual self, and God/Supreme Being/Creator).
So constructive is good and destructive is bad, right?
Wrong. Destructive acts are rationalized because they are for the greatest good. An example that might be posed to a new or prospective Scientologist: Let’s say there’s an abandoned factory filled with hazardous waste. This threatens the health of a community. Wouldn’t it be for the greatest good of the community to safely dispose of the hazardous waste and tear down this building? Well, that is destruction for the greatest good.
No one is going to argue with that.
Like with any cult or cult leader, these principles are presented in a simple, common sense format anyone can follow [and agree with]. As things escalate and questionable or abusive behavior arises, these tenets like greatest good for the greatest number are given as the reason why. Everything progresses on a gradient. And before you know it, you’re destroying your personal and professional relationships (disconnecting from your family) because they are out to suppress you and destroy the Church.
Let’s look at the current example of celebrity Scientologist and actor Danny Masterson. He is charged with three counts of forcible rape with his retrial scheduled for April 17 in LA. Judge Charlaine Olmedo just ruled this week that Scientology evidence would be admitted in the retrial as reported here in Los Angeles Magazine.
According to a Rolling Stone article on the first trial, “Multiple Jane Doe accusers told the court that the organization discouraged them from going to the police with their allegations and that doing so could get them labeled as “suppressive persons,” which would call for other Scientologists to shun them. The women also claimed the Church told them they shouldn’t call the alleged incidents “rapes” and that they feared retaliation from Scientologists for testifying.”
Now is good time to note that testifying against the Church is considered a high crime - also listed in Chapter 12 of that ethics book I mentioned earlier.
It is for the greatest good that Church doctrine and policy not be admitted as evidence. It is for the greatest good that their celebrity member - ahem, endorser -be found not guilty and acquitted on all charges. It is for the greatest good that the Church’s strict policy of not reporting crimes to civil authorities that other Scientologists commit against you, but instead reporting them to internal Church authorities not be publicly presented as evidence in court.
Conspiring to cover up criminal activity would certainly threaten the Church’s religious tax exempt status now wouldn’t it?
So, obviously, for the greatest good, these accusers are harassed and labeled Suppressive Persons and liars with poor moral judgement and out-ethics.
We went from don’t show up late for course or your auditing session to potentially covering up multiple alleged rapes via culty coercive tactics. And this is just one example. All in the name of protecting the organization that is going to Clear [and save] the planet through spiritual advancement technology.
Perfect segue. Scientology’s version of Enlightenment - the state of Clear.
It is no small feat to reach this ever-elusive state of being where one is cured of all emotional reactivity and being fully at cause over your thoughts. Going Clear is one of the first major spiritual advancement points on Scientology’s Total Bridge to Freedom. The cost to go Clear is about six figures. Then there’s the further levels of advancement after that - the OT levels. It requires hundreds of thousands of dollars and hundreds (if not thousands) of hours of auditing - a process in which the student (called the PC aka pre-clear) is asked specific prescribed questions or given specific prescribed commands by their auditor while [in most cases] holding metal cans connected to an E-meter that registers changes in their emotional state. The auditor doesn’t make any comment on the answers or results.
In my experience, these sessions were typically three to five hour time blocks, but my understanding is sessions can be as short as 20-30 minutes.
I spent somewhere between $7-$10K (which is on the low end) during my time in the Church and didn’t come close to Going Clear. In fact, while I was in the Church, the structure of the courses and auditing programs changed - along with the prices. Costs went up. The Basics books were re-edited, re-released and everyone now had to redo these book courses and auditing programs - even if you were already Clear. Ummmmm…
These are just a few of the hundreds of examples I could give you from my time in Scientology. While I’m no expert in Scientology, I experienced enough to know that much of what I discovered after leaving in regards to their culty tactics and abuses is true.
Furthermore, most of what LRH wrote and taught was not new. These were not discoveries, but borrowed, stolen and pieced together ideology from already established frameworks in Eastern religion/philosophy, Freudian psychology, indigenous healing practices, math, and multiple scientific disciplines. LRH presented them to the public as new, revolutionary “science” and the only true way to achieve spiritual freedom.
Unfortunately, there were many earnest, kind and good people I met while in the church. Some raised in the religion. There were Sea Org members who went out of their way to help me in times of deep pain - like when my grandfather died. Those are the people I think about most - whose hearts were pure and who really wanted to help humanity. Will they hope wake up to the truth? Will they realize they’ve been misguided and exploited? Will they get out and live a free, autonomous life?
I can only hope.
Felony and civil court cases against Scientology, Scientologists and it’s affiliated organizations [past and present] include allegations of labor trafficking, kidnapping, stalking, libel, and felony charges for grand theft, insurance fraud, securities fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy. (For details you can peruse the list of additional resources at the end of this post.)
In the name of spiritual advancement…
Abuse, harassment, debt-riddled members and former members, fraud and several human rights violations…
Beyond Scientology
When you begin to look at other cults and high-control groups, you’ll find much of the same. They employ abusive, humiliating and/or degrading punishment based systems to enforce their doctrines. They provide an answer and solution to attaining total happiness or some version of Enlightenment that involves:
Longterm massive financial commitment;
Complete devotion to the individual or group - often times including sex with the group’s leader(s);
Confessing and amending transgressions;
Removing “negative” influences and people from your life, therefore isolating you from the outside world;
Promoting the belief that you are incomplete/insufficient and need to be purified/saved/reborn/transcended before you can achieve happiness;
Promoting the belief that the world needs saving and you must recruit others into the group to help save humanity.
Their tactics are absolutely FEAR-BASED and they violate your trust and human rights 100% of the time.
THIS is the exploitation of Spirit.
These groups and individuals destroy the sanctity of both religion and spirituality. They corrupt the purity and goodwill of those who seek in earnest a deeper meaning to life and connection with the Divine.
An additional note
While the focus in this post are these religious/spiritual groups, these abusive dynamics also exist in family, business, academia, friendships and romantic relationships and yes, even acting classes. (Please see this earlier post Dysfunction Junction II for what defines a cult and it’s various tactics and characteristics).
THIS is the exploitation of the Human Spirit.
Many of the structures and systems in place in Scientology, were also in place in my former acting class. And actually, all of the physical, emotional and psychological abuse I experienced [that I can recall] happened in that class - in the name of making me a great artist. The narcissistic personality of my mentor Gloria never would have allowed Scientology to take precedence in my life over her needs, so despite being doubly indoctrinated, her agenda always took center stage.
Losing our faith
After the last few years we’ve had, we are all pretty vulnerable right now. It’s just been uncertainty, chaos and unrest followed by more uncertainty, chaos and unrest, and oh, here comes some more uncertainty. We feel maybe a bit…lost. We’ve lost faith in so much…our government, our job security, science, the environment, humanity…maybe even ourselves? So many systems seem to be failing us. Where do we go from here? What are the answers?
Collectively, if we haven’t succumbed to fear and given up, we’re in search of hope that it’s going to get better or for answers of what will make it better. We’re running, not walking, to all things spiritual. Look at the rise in popularity of various spiritual wellness trends right now. Hello sound baths, breathwork, crystals, plant medicine and cacao ceremonies. Not to mention, there’s an influx of spiritual coaches, gurus, programs, classes, retreats and healing influencers all across social media and beyond.
I can say from my own experience, that in the time leading up to my cult indoctrination, I also felt quite lost, uncertain and was deeply in search of some answers. I was vulnerable.
We will always seek answers. It’s human nature. So in this time, when so many of us are vulnerable and seeking these answers (or even just solace), please stay vigilant and stay safe. As you wonderful readers navigate making sense of the world, suffering and your own life, healing, spiritual growth, shadow work, awakenings and the like, please stay aware.
My experience is just one example of how spirituality gets twisted, but there are hundreds of examples, especially in the mystical world of woo and spiritual communities. I'll be cross-posting an excellent resource by fellow Substack writer and real deal Rachel White at
. Rachel covers key red flags and so much more that I think you'll find helpful as you seek the right people to work with on your journey.My post-cult healing journey combines holistic and spiritual practices (like Reiki, Shamanic journeying, and Mediumship) along with Cognitive Behavioral, Dialectical Behavioral and EMDR psychotherapies. It took some time, research, a healthy dose of skepticism and discernment, but I found what works for me.
Find what works for you.
Post-Cult Life is intended to inform readers about cults and narcissistic abuse as well as provide spiritual insights and perspective on healing from this specific type of complex trauma. As such, I discuss multiple healing modalities that work for me. If you’re curious to learn more about about those or have general questions, thoughts or ideas for future posts, you can email me at info@sacredhealingartla.com. Thank you for being a part of this community.
If you are looking for additional cult recovery resources and information on the nature of cults, here is what I have found to be accurate and useful:
- right here on Substack.
the work of Steven Hassan, PhD. and his Freedom of Mind Resource Center
the work of Dr. Ramani
The Vow on HBO
WTF is on My Mind?! podcast
Trust Me podcast