my former partner was already an ex-cult member - Da Free John - in spite of obvious mental problems he was accepted by the scienos at Saint Hill and subsequently pursued with telephone calls and mail. He was also an-ex drug user. I though the scienos only encouraged new members free from mental illness and drugs?

Wasn't Da Free John a scientologist before he set up his own cult? Anyone remember him?

As I understand it, anyone who has been treated by a psychiatrist/taken "psych drugs" is ineligible for auditing. Of course, the orgs seem to have no trouble taking their money anyway, which goes to show what is the true main purpose of Co$: "Make more money."

I've heard different things about "street drug" use, though. It seems to me that's not a disqualifier since NarCONon is used as a way to feed raw meat into the system. Perhaps they are also considered "illegal PCs" and are also strung along until their money is gone.

Actually, now that I think about it, Co$ treats *everyone* that way, so the distinctions are meaningless.

Steve G.

To be in Scientology is bad enough. I remember those Scientologists in "bad standing" who were trying with all there hearts to get back in! There is probably an incredible story there. Maybe some of them were coerced to come back?

Re Da Free John....

God you guys are really paranoid.......careful, it's a fine line.

Da Free John as far as I know (and I've read a few different versions of his story) was not affiliated with CoS. The only relation that I can think of is that he believes he is an enlightened being, an avatar, and that he was born that way (but lost it, and then regained it later in life)......parallel to Hubbard's assertion that he was Maitreya.

Da Free John comes from more of a Tantric Buddhist/Vedantic Hindu perspective........A person at his level of Tantric practice would be quite immune (it's powerful stuff) to the delusions and brainwashing of others (ie L Ron), just not to his own.