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Chapter 16:
Scientology Versus Medicine
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He uses a special machine he
claims can cure disease.
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He guarantees a quick cure.
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He advertises or uses case
histories and testimonials.
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He refuses to accept the
proved methods of medical research.
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He says medical men are
persecuting him or are afraid of his competition.
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He believes that his methods
are better than surgery, x-rays, or drugs.
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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}
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Notes:
[*] Although
Hubbard says that the psychiatrist thinks of his patients as a "piece of
meat" the reader is reminded that Hubbard calls newcomers in Scientology
"raw meat."
{1} first quote
[263]
{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]
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