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About Laurie Hamilton
Expertise
I am able to answer questions regarding Scientology practices and procedures, belief system, donations, religious rites, management, administrative and staff matters.

Experience
I am a second generation Scientologist whose parents began in Dianetics in 1950 and studied directly with L. Ron Hubbard. I have been personally active in the church for 40 years, have eleven years former staff experience in both technical and administrative areas, and extensive technical and administative training and counseling. I am "clear" and "OT." I come from an extended family of many religions, but my spouse and children are Scientologists, as are my siblings and their spouses, several cousins, nieces, nephews, an aunt, and an uncle. Between us we have had every good and bad experience one might go through in the church at every level.

You are here: Experts > Religion/Spirituality > Scientology > Scientology > Departers

Scientology - Departers

Expert: Laurie Hamilton - 10/29/2009

Question
Hello Laurie,

Obviously no one can nor should venture to guess why people leave Scientology after many years of commitment. But what puzzles me is that those who leave publically seem to give reasons that would speak of completely misunderstanding the basics of Scientology. I have barely even touched the tiniest edge of the vastness of all there is to learn and even I find public departers contradicting themselves and the basics of Scientology in their reasoning. Again, I don't expect anyone to speak for anyone specifically.

BUT I do wonder how someone could be a member of COS for 10 years or more and seem to misunderstand the basics? How do people move up the bridge if they haven't grasped it? Have you personally witnessed people seeming to understand scientology for many years and then suddenly seeming to "forget?" Could it simply be a blow to a stable datum that a scientology educated person should, but has not recognized?

I've mentioned in the past that I left partly because of my own personal unreadiness to commit and partly because I lost trust in a particular person on faculty, so I don't claim to be the ideal Scientologist or even A Scientologist by definition, but those reasons are isolated to myself and another person not against the whole of scientology. Once I can get past myself I do want to return to understand my misunderstanding. Or does that make me SP anyway?

Thanks!

Answer
In my experience, most of those who leave, under their own steam, were never here to begin with. It is not related so much to understanding, as it is to purpose.

A person whose purpose is not truly betterment for self, improved self-knowledge, and an improved life for those around them, doesn't seem to be capable of actually absorbing what Scientology offers them. And if they don't get it "in the gut," then they don't get it, and never will.

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