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PCrumhorn: Dianetics

To: alt.magick.tyagi,talk.religion.misc,talk.religion.newage
From: tyagi@houseofkaos.abyss.com (nagasiva)
Subject: PCrumhorn: Dianetics
Date: 30 May 1997 10:10:41 -0700

[from thelema93-l@hollyfeld.org: Patrick Crumhorn ]

On Mon, 26 May 1997, John Everall wrote:
> It is, in my opinion, an exercise in 'cod' psychology that is plausible to
> the gullible.

     Well, some of the original book had some validity, in theory if not
in practice.  Dianetics as first created, was simply a technique for
inducing a light hypnotic trance in the subject (though for legal reasons,
there were disingenuous denials that it was "hypnosis"), and allowing the
subject to recover repressed memories of childhood traumas, etc.  Moments
of pain or trauma caused "engrams" in the mind that could reactivate under
similar stressful circumstances.  Dianetics, by bringing these "engrams" 
into full consciousness, presumably removed their hidden, seemingly
"irrational" effects from the psyche.  This was all presumably "verified" 
by the use of an "e-meter," aka a simple galvanometer, buildable for about
US$10 with Radio Shack parts and two juice cans, or you can get one from
Scientology orgs for around US$600. 
     Most of this is old hat now, and much of it has been discredited
(thanks to researchers who were brave enough to buck the tide during the
"repressed memories" abuse witchhunts of the past decade).  Indeed,
Hubbard's "Dianetics" book should have tipped off anyone not to give too
much credence to hypnosis as a tool for recovering "repressed memories,"
whether of alleged sexual abuse or alleged UFO abduction.  Hubbard's book
makes the bald assertion, based on his "research," that virtually *all*
individuals he "audited" had clear memories of their mothers attempting to
abort them with coat-hangars while in the womb, and/or being disturbed in
the womb by mother's adulterous affairs with other men.  It seems fairly
likely that Hubbard was projecting his own phantasms, that were then fed
back to him as "actual memories" of his subjects.
     I've read much of Hubbard's work, and there are real insights and
thought-provoking ideas scattered about in there.  But, ye godz, the sheer
amount of pure 1950's pop Freudianism and bad pulp science-fiction that is
interlaced with the good stuff makes it rather more of a challenge than
most people will find worthwhile.  And, sadly for the Thelemic voyeur,
there is very little of anything in his books that can be clearly traced
to Crowley or Thelema.  The main influence of Parsons and the OTO on
Hubbard appears to have been monetary.  ;-) 
     And of course, by all means, avoid the Scientology organizations like
the plague, unless you want to receive direct mail propaganda (and
occasional 4 a.m. personal visits) for the next 10 years.  I speak from
personal experience here...trust me.  ;-)

     93  93/93  

				Patrick


          Patrick Crumhorn                 patrik@io.com 
                     http://www.io.com/~patrik/
              "So many stupid people.  So few comets."
-- 
     (emailed replies may be posted)  -------  join the AMT syncretism!!!
   see http://www.abyss.com/tokus  ----------        call: 408/2-666-SLUG!!
 AAK! - Authorities Against Knowledge **  Knowledge is an enslaving illusion.

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