Chapter 16
- He uses a special machine he claims can cure disease.
- He guarantees a quick cure.
- He advertises or uses case histories and testimonials.
- He refuses to accept the proved methods of medical research.
- He says medical men are persecuting him or are afraid of his competition.
- He believes that his methods are better than surgery, x-rays, or drugs.
- He uses high sounding titles easily confused with qualified scientific professionals and organizations.
- -- "How to Spot a Medical Quack" by the American Medical Association.{1}
Although Scientologists claim that they are not in
competition with medical fields, much Scientology energy has been
devoted in the past few years to attacking doctors, and especially
psychiatrists. Hubbard and Scientology have never been too fond of the
medical profession. Eric Barnes, Public Relations Chief of the New York
Church allegedly told writer Howard Eisenberg about a boy whose broken
leg had healed in two weeks instead of six through Scientology. Barnes
was said to have claimed that doctors were so skeptical, "they broke it
again to investigate the phenomenon."{2}
Scientologists are not permitted to take aspirins before
auditing,{3} or "receive any `treatment' `guidance' or
`help' from anyone in the `healing arts' i.e., physicians or dentists
without consent,"{4} except in extreme emergencies when
no one in the Church can be reached.{5} But Hubbard's
feelings toward doctors and psychiatrists are a bit ambivalent, because
while railing against them, he offers a fifty percent reduction to any
doctor or psychiatrist taking a Scientology course.{6}
Since Scientologists are not supposed to "mix Scientology with any other
practice," his goal appears to be to get them to become
Scientologists.{7}
Hubbard is convinced, actually obsessed with the delusion,
that psychiatrists kill or torture their patients with electric shock
treatment, use them sexually, and never ever help them. Hubbard wrote,
"We have never found one person cured by psychiatrists, not one. If they
call, as they do, anyone who disagrees with them insane, then those who
agree with this human butchery should wear a swastika arm band so we can
recognize them."{8}
Hubbard's hostility to the medical profession was apparent
in the first story he wrote for Astounding Science Fiction in the
late 1930's. The story told about a man who had the two halves of his
brain sewn up by doctors. At the beginning, with one glance the man
could heal anything. Later this miracle of surgery boomeranged and the
man could kill with the same glance. In other words, the doctors had
given him an evil eye. This hostility also goes back to his first book.
Below is a portion of an alleged case study:
... the mental hospital gets our patient and the doctors
there decide that all he needs is a good solid series of electric shocks
to tear his brain up, and if that doesn't work, a nice ice-pick into
each eyeball after and during electric shock.... Our patient can't
defend himself; he's insane and the insane have no rights, you know.
Only the cavalry ... arrived in the form of Dianetics....{9}
Although Scientologists claim they are not in competition
with analysts, they have tried to lure people away from them: "A
complete Freudian analysis can cost $8,000-$15,000. Better results can
be achieved in Scientology for $125, and on a group basis for a few
dollars."{10} But their primary method of diverting
people from psychiatrists and psychotherapy is not so subtle.
Scientologists have actively tried to discredit their "competition," and
in a manner so libelous that it is hard to believe that the epithets and
accusations Scientologists hurl come from the same group that once sued
everyone else for libel.
Nonetheless, the Scientologists blithely refer to members
of what they call "the weird cult of psychiatry"{11} --
although Scientologists say that they resent being called a
"cult" -- as "psychoracketeers," "insidious psychopoliticians," "mental
con men," "frauds," "pimps," etc.,{12} who spend their
time "giving away free supplies of marijuana and LSD,"{13} "banding together with the Better Business Bureau to
stop Scientology,"{14} "killing, maiming and torturing
helpless patients,"{15} "castrating them," and
practicing "mental murder and sexual perversion" [sic].{16}
In a memo to a private investigator, urging him to
investigate psychiatrists, Hubbard allegedly wrote:
A psychiatrist today has the power to take a fancy to a
woman, drug or shock her into temporary insanity, use her sexually,
sterilize her to prevent conception, kill her by a brain operation to
prevent disclosure....{17}
In "A Warning to Brain Butchers," his language was even
stronger. Hubbard telegraphed the following "news" to the New York
Scientology headquarters to tell them his views on psychiatrists.
THEIR 19TH CENTURY METHODS MUST END. THEY ACT LIKE THE
MAD SCIENTISTS IN A BAD MOVIE. THE TRUE MEDICAL DOCTOR IS ASHAMED TO BE
ASSOCIATED
WITH THEM. THE PSYCHIATRIC IDEA OF MAN IS A GODLESS SOULLESS PIECE OF
MEAT.[*] THEY DEMAND THEIR RIGHTS TO BUTCHER AT WILL. THEY MOCK
CHRISTIAN SENTIMENT. ACCORDING TO THEM EVERYONE IS HOPELESSLY MAD AND
ANYONE WHO OPPOSES THEM IS ESPECIALLY SO. YET WHERE ARE THEIR CURES?
THEY ONLY HAVE VICTIMS. THEY TORTURE AND KILL OUT OF SIGHT IN THEIR
INSTITUTIONS. SCIENTOLOGY ORGANIZATIONS OVER THE PLANET ARE URGING LAWS
WHICH FORBID KILLING OR INJURING THE INSANE. MURDER IS MURDER.{18}
Besides being murderers, madmen, butchers, etc., the
Scientologists also accuse psychiatrists of working with the government
to control the populace:
Using their connections with government "giveaway"
agencies, the psychoracketeers are being provided with billions ... as
well as free supplies of marijuana and LSD with which to continue their
"research" on helpless psychiatric victims deprived of their rights by
laws passed by these same insidious psychopoliticians.
By educating the public that everyone needs mental health treatment,
they hope to be able to control the morals, mores and the lives of the
entire nation.{19}
Scientologists believe that the psychiatrist's ultimate
goal is "domination of every man, woman and child through the use of
`mental health' indoctrination programs even now being promoted and
promulgated down to a prenatal level." The last words are an interesting
slip, since it is the Scientologists and not the psychiatrists
who believe that the prenatal period is so important.
Scientologists are not just sitting back and waiting for
people to join them in their crusade against the "killers." They are
actively soliciting people in America, England and Australia who have
undergone "serious mental or physical abuse or damages at the hands of
psychiatric frauds" to contact their nearest Church of Scientology and
make a full report to their Human Rights Commission.{20}
They will probably find people willing to do so,
especially since those who have been hospitalized might prefer to
believe that psychiatric treatment was the cause of their problems
rather than the result of it, exonerating themselves of all
responsibility. The result of this campaign, though, could have an
unfortunate effect for the Scientologists. Inviting people who have had
psychiatric treatment or been institutionalized to join them in their
crusade may make Scientology the world's largest out-patient clinic for
mentally disturbed people.
Scientology is also fighting the mental health movements
with litigation, and they claim they have filed or are ready to file,
$75 million worth of suits against psychiatric organizations and others
over the world "in the international conspiracy against Scientology for
libel, slander, conspiracy and psychiatric efforts to destroy the
Church."
Scientologists have said that if they won the suits and
all the money was paid up, it would make Scientology among the richest
of religious organizations. They pointed out that all damage monies are
tax free, and said that the money would be used to try to "straighten
out some of the horror psychiatry has made in the field of mental
healing."{21} Although they have not outlined how this
would be done, presumably it would be attempted with Scientology
techniques.
Scientology is also fighting the mental health field by
trying to change the laws. They claim to be preparing an Anti-Butchery
Bill for introduction into Congress.{22} The purpose of
this bill is to make it a felony to use
psychiatry, psychology, drugs, or shock treatment to change any
individual's religious, philosophical or political ideas.
From this last statement, along with many others, it is
apparent that Scientology, which started during the McCarthyite '50's is
still gravely concerned with the menace of Communism{23} and the dangers of secret brainwashing -- even though
one of the questions on their own security test reads "Are you in
disagreement with any of the stable data of Scientology?"{24}
The Australian Report dealt with the question of whether
or not Scientology was a form of brainwashing. It said that "The Board
heard expert psychiatric evidence that repetitive questions and
repetitive commands increase suggestibility and, if continued long
enough, may reach the point where indoctrination could be effected, and
a reversal of opinions and ideas previously held could be obtained."
The Australian Board was also disturbed to find that
Scientology techniques closely resemble those set out in a book entitled
Brainwashing which is supposed to be "A Synthesis of the
Communist Textbooks on Psychopolitics."{25} They
claimed that evidence was presented to indicate "that the English
version of the manual bears a startling resemblance to Hubbard's own
literary style." But they stated that it was immaterial whether or not
he wrote the book "as was suggested by a witness hostile to
Scientology." What was important to them was that Scientologists
"assiduously sold and distributed this manual." In fact, one of the
exhibits brought to the Board was an extract from the
Brainwashing manual with Scientology words substituted. "With
these substitutions effected, the extracts were in the main startlingly
applicable to Scientology as operating in Victoria."
Scientologists are also fighting mental health
organizations by allying themselves with Churches, and working on a
campaign to get psychiatric patients to see their "pastor" instead of a
psychiatrist.{26} They have quoted Dr. Karl Menninger,
co-founder of the famous Menninger
clinic, who allegedly said that many people who go to psychiatrists
should take their problems instead to a "minister of religion."{27} If Menninger did say this, it is extremely doubtful
that he was referring to Scientology, especially since his brother, the
late Dr. William Menninger, once said that Hubbard's systems and ideas
"can potentially do a great deal of harm."{28}
The Scientologists have also tried to fight the mental
health movement by what appears to be simply trying to take it over.{29} In England, a number of Scientologists made an
attempt to fill the vacancies in the National Association of Mental
Health, most notably David Gaiman to fill the post of Chairman, after
the retirement of Lord Balniel.
In addition, Scientologists flooded the association with
applications for membership. They might have made it, except that NAMH
members became suspicious as they received 250 applications instead of
their normal rate of about twenty a month. Furthermore, it was noticed
that almost all of the two guinea postal orders were issued by the East
Grinstead Post Office.
The National Association of Mental Health wrote letters
asking the Scientologists to resign (according to David Gaiman they were
"expelled"), and Gaiman, the Scientology spokesman in England, offered
to withdraw if the Association instituted certain reforms. Eventually
the Scientologists managed to stop the annual meeting of the NAMH while
they paraded outside, asking for, among other things, a public inquiry
into conditions in mental hospitals.
What is the Scientologist's goal in all this? Is the
crusade of this "Church" against a nonreligious field based on a sincere
abhorrence of its methods? Are they really so concerned about conditions
in mental hospitals, since, after all, they claim Scientologists have
never been there, and for that matter, never end up there?
Is it an attempt to discredit their "competition" so
that people will go to Scientologists instead? Is it a vindictive act to
get back at groups whose criticism against them seems to be quite mild,
if one considers what the
Scientologists have had to say about them? Is there some psychiatric
history in Hubbard's own past that has caused this incredible vendetta?
Or are they anxious to divert attention away from inquiries into
Scientology by trying to get an inquiry into conditions in mental
hospitals? It is true that attacks against psychiatry have intensified
as public inquiries into Scientology have been established. Hubbard
wrote the following in Freedom:
Instead of attacking Churches and independent research,
Governments should ... inquire into the abuses ... by psychiatry.... For
psychiatric organizations to criticize Scientology is the most fantastic
hypocrisy on Earth. These men are not healers, they are trained
killers.{30}
Perhaps their reasons for wanting an inquiry into mental
hospitals are really altruistic. Lest anyone doubt this, they have
offered to sit in on the inquiry, and possibly contribute, "as part of
our charitable work."{31}
Mental health organizations have taken an amazingly
tolerant view of the whole situation, probably hoping that like the
plague, the Scientologists will eventually disappear. They may also fear
that if they attack Scientology they might give it publicity and draw
more attention to it.
Thus, if someone calls and asks the American Psychiatric
Association whether to go into Scientology or psychiatry, they do not
try to convert them to psychiatry. Instead they sometimes send them
Scientological literature against psychiatry, hoping that they
would be appalled at the epithets and accusations and make a decision
from that.{32} The following quote from the American
Psychiatric Association's lively Psychiatric News is not the
official policy of the APA, but it presents one opinion of how to handle
this situation:
Well, it's a religion of course. It is for you to decide
whether to join the Church. If you wonder whether it has anything to do
with psychiatric treatment the answer is no. You might also like to know
that it costs a significant sum to be "processed"
in the Church. And if you would like my personal opinion as a fellow
American, I wouldn't be caught dead entering its doors.{33}
{1} first quote
[263]
Contents
| Next
| Previous
| Index
{2} quote by Barnes
[283]
{3} (4) no aspirin
[121]
{4} (3) no treatment
[14]
{5} except in emergencies
[255]
{6} discount to doctors
[116]
{7} (8) don't mix Scientology with other
practices
[146, 261]
{8} (22) psych has Russian flavor
[77] {ambiguous citation}
{9} (33) Hubbard's first story
[106]
{10} (9) cost of analysis vs Scientology
[25a, 142]
{11} (10) weird cult
[57]
{12} (11) con men; frauds pimps, etc.
[69, 73, 77]
{13} (12) giving away marijuana and LSD
[66]
{14} (13) AMA, BBB, etc.
[71]
{15} (14) killing, torturing, etc.
[68]
{16} (15) mental murder, sexual perversion
[69]
{17} (16) Hubbard quote on psychiatrists and
women
[203]
{18} (17) warning to Brain Butchers
[76]
{19} (18) quote on psychoracketeers and
domination
[66]
{20} (19) soliciting people for {Human Rights}
commission
[70, 73]
{21} (20) litigation; quote on what they
would do with money
[57]
{22} (21) Anti-Butchery Bill
[69]
{23} hostility to communism
[261]
{24} question on their sec test
[85]
{25} (34) Brainwashing
[261]
{26} (25) campaign to see pastor
[55, 56]
{27} (26) quote by K. Menninger
[55, 56]
{28} (27) William Menninger
[158]
{29} (28) Scientology "takeover"
[238, 276]
{30} (29) Hubbard quote
[57]
{31} (30) offer to sit on inquiry
[61]
{32} (31) psychiatrists send Scientology
literature
[277]
{33} (32) quote on someone who calls
[133] {ambiguous citation}
Extraneous citation notes:
{34} (7) Hubbard quote
[57]