Disconnection in Scientology: A “Unique” Policy?
In the 1960s, L. Ron Hubbard identified a main obstacle in the progress of Scientology in the Suppressive Persons (SPs), i.e. hostile apostate ex-members and other aggressive critics. He labeled Scientologists in regular touch with SPs as “Potential Trouble Sources” (PTS)...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
[2019]
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| In: |
The journal of CESNUR
Year: 2019, Volume: 3, Issue: 1, Pages: 119-139 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Scientology
/ Critic
/ Apostate
/ Relationship
/ Pulling down
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| IxTheo Classification: | AD Sociology of religion; religious policy AZ New religious movements |
| Further subjects: | B
Scientology
B Suppressive Persons B Apostates B Disconnection B Potential Trouble Sources |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (kostenfrei) |
| Summary: | In the 1960s, L. Ron Hubbard identified a main obstacle in the progress of Scientology in the Suppressive Persons (SPs), i.e. hostile apostate ex-members and other aggressive critics. He labeled Scientologists in regular touch with SPs as “Potential Trouble Sources” (PTS) and elaborated a series of practices for solving the problem. The most controversial was “disconnection,” i.e. the suggestion that PTS cut all ties and communication with SPs, even when the latter were their spouses or relatives. Disconnection as a policy was discontinued in 1968, but reinstated between 1973 and 1983. Contrary to frequent claims by critics, Scientology’s disconnection is not a unique practice, and in fact finds parallels in the treatment of apostates and excommunicated and disassociated members in most old and new religions. |
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| ISSN: | 2532-2990 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: The journal of CESNUR
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.26338/tjoc.2019.3.1.3 |