We all hear about Scientology from time to time. Most of us, unless practicing the religion, give it little thought or consideration beyond celebrity tabloids. I recently became interested in learning more about Scientology after watching BBC journalist John Sweeney lose his cool on leading Scientologist, Tom Davis at a Scientology-sponsored event called ‘Psychiatry: Industry of Death’.

Much of the recent media focus seems to be on Sweeney’s actions, but what about the strange behaviors of the Scientologists themselves? Unnamed and undisclosed Scientologists are recorded on film stalking the BBC journalist while he is in his car, attempting to scare him out of finishing his documentary by making him feel threatened.

Sweeney’s investigation exposes what happens when you criticize a Scientologist - they take revenge. This may include investigating the persons past, and exposing them mercilessly through media outlets as an attempt to destroy their credibility, as they did to Sweeney.

So what really is Scientology?

Scientology is a body of teachings created by American science fiction author, L. Ron Hubbard in 1952. Based on his self-help system, “Dianetics”, Scientology was formed as an applied religious philosophy. The religion teaches a methodology designed to help humans better understand their spiritual existence “across many lifetimes” while becoming more effective in the physical world.

Like any religion, Scientology receives a great deal of criticism. Many theologians claim that Scientology practices brainwashing and mind control while encouraging its followers to separate themselves from those that don’t believe. Some people simply view Scientology as a revenue generating cult.

Most interesting, is the extent that the Church of Scientology will go in order to prevent circulation of literature that challenges the religion. The Church of Scientology actually attempted to legally force Google and Yahoo to omit any web pages from search that criticized the religion.

Still confused and intrigued, I asked AP contributor Ali Munro, (a former Scientologist) to shed some light on the faith. I am even more confused now then I was before, but it sounds like Scientology has some cool classes you can take, and also a great detox program.

Here is what Ali had to say

What do Doug E. Fresh, John Travolta, Issac Hayes, and Chick Corea share? They are all Scientologists. What do the rest of the population have in common? They all seem to have mixed up ideas regarding what Scientology is. There are many conflicting ideas floating around the group consciousness, many unfounded opinions and just as many misconceptions. Let me aid in setting a few things straight for our readers.

First off, the one I hear the most: “Don’t they brainwash you?” No. That’s the simple answer. I had to clear the air there.

I’ve had pretty great times with my parents, both practicing Scientologists. They got in to it in their early twenties, and have been involved since before I was born. So I had the privilege of growing up with a solid knowledge of what their religion can do.

As a kiddo, I often shirked explaining my familial religious views, as I wasn’t sure what they really were, and/or if I shared them. Who needs theism nowadays anyways, with online social networking websites and A/C an’ all that? Kidding. When I got a bit older I got into drugs; smoking blunts mostly. I was big into it. Then I really wanted nothing to do with religion, let alone such a new one, with so much mystery surrounding it.

The smoke swirled and time winded down and time got slow. I got bored with it, smoking weed, and was badly busted too. So I quit. My parents let me know about a body cleansing program that is available at their local church. My interest peaked and I signed up. I would spend hours a day in a hot sauna, sweating madly while consuming liters of water. It was kinda fun; time passed pretty quick in that oven. I took a load of vitamins and some oils to replenish the oils that passed in my sweat.

A weird thing happened in those twenty-one days. I’d be sitting, reading, having a drink of water when, all of a sudden I’d be tripping balls. Left overs; the residue was coming out in my sweat. Trapped tetrahydrocannabinols, cocaine in my brain. Psilocybin locked away somewhere in my body. It was cool, as I thought you only got high on that one line once, not twice. Two ’fer one! I came out feeling fresh and all that jazz.

After that intensity, I got into Scientology more. I was digging it. I did some courses at the church; one having to do with learning, one about morals and ups and downs in life. The one that stuck with me was about learning. Learning how to learn. It helped me find out about some basics that are always passed over in grammar school. Basic stuff, but useful beyond one’s wildest dreams. I’ve since been killing school with a stylus.

Then after that I got out of it to the extent that I haven’t been there in ages. My parents are bummed. The people want me to do some more courses at the church and get back into their mindset. I don’t feel like it.

Scientology’s main tenet, as I have found it to be, is to only believe, or know, what you have observed and understood for yourself. That makes perfect sense to me. So, on that note, if you still want to know more, don’t ask me, rather, go to the local Scientology church. There’s one in Vancouver on the corner of Homer and Pender.