Do Scientologists Watch 'Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath'? An Exploratory Analysis
For those familiar with the beliefs and practices of the Church of Scientology, it might come as a surprise to learn that few, if any, of its members actively engage with the documentary series, Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. This text delves into the reasons why, exploring the cultural and psychological impacts of Scientology on its members and the mechanisms by which the Church manages its perception.
Propaganda and Control within Scientology
Scientologists are taught that any content that exposes Scientology is manufactured by so-called "suppressive persons" or enemies of the Church. The Church actively disseminates this narrative through a comprehensive approach that includes controlling information and shaping member perception.
According to the Church, the media is under the control of such enemies, who relentlessly spread false information to discredit Scientology. As a result, the advice given to Scientologists is unequivocal: avoid such content.
Control of Information
Scientologists are instructed to abstain from watching or reading any material that could be construed as negative about the Church. This includes content like the documentary series in question. The Church proactively guards against such information by blocking or filtering any content that is critical of Scientology.
Personal Experience and Video Evidence
A video, available online, provides a stunning example of the measures taken by the Church. The video captured a page of a Washington Post article from December 25, 1994, which was titled Scientology Fiction: The Church's War Against Critics and Truth. The Church's software blocked its members from accessing any content written by critics of Scientology, including this very article. This demonstrates the extent to which the Church maintains control over information to protect its image.
The text excerpted from the article outlines the Church's policies, released in 1965 and 1966, that instructed members to see critics as enemies to be eliminated. The Church's perception management strategies reflect a deep-seated belief in a constant battle against detractors, justifying a wide range of actions, from propaganda to extreme measures such as defamation.
The Broader Context
These policies reflect a broader context of control and manipulation within the Church of Scientology. Scientology leaders have been known to use psychological warfare and emotional manipulation to keep members in line. The Church's culture instills a sense of fear and guilt, discouraging individuals from questioning or diverging from the perceived orthodoxy.
Scientologists are taught to avoid any form of content that could lead to doubts about the Church. The risks of admitting to having such doubts are severe, leading to the practice of "flying under the radar." This refers to keeping one's doubts to oneself, making excuses for not having more money for the Church, and generally maintaining the status quo to avoid triggering costly religious rituals, excommunication, or loss of family and friends.
Potential Doubts and Response Mechanisms
Even if a few Scientologists do watch the documentary series, the overwhelming response pattern is to either confirm the doubts and then try to stay silent or to find ways to justify their continued support of the Church. In cases where doubts are confirmed, the tendency is to fly under the radar rather than openly question or challenge the Church's teachings.
The mechanisms by which the Church manages its perception are complex and multi-faceted. Information is carefully controlled, psychological manipulation is employed to maintain control, and the Church teaches its members to avoid any content that could trigger doubt or dissent.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Church of Scientology has a robust set of policies and practices to control its members' perception of the outside world. This control extends to the monitoring and limiting of access to any content that could potentially cast the Church in a negative light. As such, it is unlikely that many Scientologists, if any, actively engage with the documentary series "Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath" without significant personal risk.