"laestadian, apostolic, gay, lgbtq, ex-oalc, ex-llc, llc, oalc, bunner" LEARNING TO LIVE FREE: What Does Scientology Have in Common With Laestadianism?

Monday, February 07, 2011

What Does Scientology Have in Common With Laestadianism?

Don't miss this fascinating article about Scientology through the eyes of an "apostate." While at first blush, the experiences of a Hollywood film director seem remote from ex-Laestadians, I recognize a few parallels, such as the willing suspension of skepticism while in the Church, and the "confirmation bias" that keep followers from hard truths by seeking out people who agree, and discounting (or demonizing) those who don't.

What does Scientology have in common with Laestadianism?

Both are relatively new religions that continue to attract new followers.
Both were started by charismatic men with mystical writings.
Both practice disconnection or shunning if a member leaves (as do Mormons, the Amish and some Orthodox Jewish communities).

Maybe there's more. If you read the article, please comment below.

10 comments:

  1. Scientology has attracted alot of the avante-guarde from Hollywood and the media as it reflects their philosophy of becoming what one thinks. They sort believe in being a god unto oneself which does not seem to be too far fetched when one reads the tabloid stories of Hollywood moguls and sports starts. In a similar way, Laestadianism attracted the Finnish/Scandinavian immigrants because the core teachings of the church reflected what many of the immigrants believed in, which was a mix of fatalism, a punishing God mindset, religiosity and esotericism-only we have 'living faith'. This rural northern/north central Finnish immigrant outlook was based on the experience they had had living a hard life in Finland in the 1800's which contrasted greatly from the more urban Finns from the Helsinki/Tampere area. The present day young generation from all Laestadian groups seem to be questioning those basic outlooks of their elders such as those expressed on web sites like 'Finn-Forge.' The old suffering Finn mentality is no longer relevant to the younger generation. In fact many on this web site at least, seem to be expressing a kind of shock at the religious beliefs and assumptions that they grew up with just like the apostate Scientologist. Both groups use a type of intimidation to keep members in line. So in that sense there are similarities between those who leave Scientology and those who leave Laestadianism. With regards to the actual doctrinal type beliefs of the two religions I do not think they have anything in common. Old AP

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  2. "The old suffering Finn mentality is no longer relevant to the younger generation." Well said. For some reason it reminded me of my Chinese-American friends, who tell me the "Tiger Mother" tough-love method of parenting is not for them. We are all beneficiaries of an easier life than our forebears.

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  3. Free said, 'We are all beneficiaries of an easier life than our forebears.' Thank goodness for that! I used to think that Finns were condemned to do dirty, dangerous and demeaning work. Hmmm....Michigan copper mines, lumberjack, a construction laborer freezing in the winter, steel work, farming. I had a taste of several of those growing up. Once I went to college and entered the professional work world my lot in life became a hundred times better. One thing I will say is that having grown up with such a strong work ethic made it relatively easy for me to make a million after I entered the professional work world. Old AP

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  4. This is totally unrelated to scientology, but I thought there might be people here who will find the following Swedish documentary interesting, didn't know where to post. It's a documentary about the life of the Sami on the mountains between Norway and Sweden. I assume all the people in the movie must have at least some connection to the OALC because members of this particular Sami tribe have traditionally been heavily involved with the OALC to the extent that the OALC preachers even solved there legal disputes etc. I'm sorry it's only in Swedish, but if you don't know any Swedish, at least you can look at the beautiful scenery and the see their traditional way of life.

    http://filmarkivet.se/sv/Film/?movieid=144

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  5. Type in the words 'sense of fairness Finland' into Google and you wll find many links to articles/blogs which praise Finland's economic growth because of its 'fairness' and other links which praise Finland for its 'fairness' with which it treats its citizens. In other words most Finnish people have an innate sense of fairness in their blood so to speak. That being said, has anyone ever considered that this website exists because so many extoots (ex-AP's) grew up in a religious environment that was essentially unfair and which which violated their personal sense of fairness? As readers of this site matured they automatically began to sense the 'unfairness' and hypocracy of their respective Laestadian group. I suspect that our innate Finnish sense of fairness was violated by parents, church speakers, AP dogma and peer groups who all essentially conspired to maintain the double or triple standard status quo. I suspect that the ex-Scientologist's own innate sense of fairness was also violated. If you read this web site it is probably because you have that unique and innate Finnish sense of fairness about life. Old AP

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  6. So interesting about the sense of fairness piece. I often think that everyone has that quality, only to learn (again) to my dismay that they do not. I had not connected that to my Finnish heritage, but it could be!

    The thing I saw in the article about Scientology was the closing ranks after one leaves the group. The exclusion and cutting off of ties resonates with my experience.

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  7. Although I do not have much use for the European philosphers, sometimes they said something that strikes a cord. Immanuel Kant saw the danger of a populace that did not think for itself and whom allowed others to think for them. Old AP
    "Laziness and cowardice are the reasons why so great a proportion of men, long after nature has released them from alien guidance (natura-liter maiorennes), nonetheless gladly remain in lifelong immaturity, and why it is so easy for others to establish themselves as their guardians. It is so easy to be immature. If I have a book to serve as my understanding, a pastor to serve as my conscience, a physician to determine my diet for me, and so on, I need not exert myself at all. I need not think, if only I can pay: others will readily undertake the irksome work for me. The guardians who have so benevolently taken over the supervision of men have carefully seen to it that the far greatest part of them (including the entire fair sex) regard taking the step to maturity as very dangerous, not to mention difficult. Having first made their domestic livestock dumb, and having carefully made sure that these docile creatures will not take a single step without the go-cart to which they are harnessed, these guardians then show them the danger that threatens them, should they attempt to walk alone. Now this danger is not actually so great, for after falling a few times they would in the end certainly learn to walk; but an example of this kind makes men timid and usually frightens them out of all further attempts." Immanuel Kant 1781

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  8. I Have recently left the FALC and am continually becoming aware of the jugdment that they have towards anyone who does not attend there services. In their eyes if you sit in church, you are a christian and if you dont, you have lost your faith and you become shunned. I have experienced some of my own family members shunning me and the others that have decided to no be under the continual brainwashing that they instil in us. It is very good to hear that we are not alone in the knowlegde of the abuse that is so tightly connected to many of the members who go there.

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  9. I surely do sympathize, anonymous. I am going through the same. A beloved nephew recently invited me to one of his rare school events. I was so pleased and attended, thinking this could be a way to both support my nephew and to build a bridge to my family, whom I've been semi-estranged from since I left the church. Even as a church member, I was always a bit of a black sheep of the family. Anyway, I was completely snubbed by my brother and especially by my sister-in-law. It was as though I was not even there. They say me, gave me a half-hearted wave and then I stood there. Finally my nephew ran up to me and hugged me and thanked me for coming, but then looked a little guiltily toward his parents and skipped away. I realized I had stepped on forbidden soil. I am not an alcoholic, criminal, prostitute or thief. I still don't drink but I do wear tinted moisturizer and lip balm. The worst crime I did was leaving the church.

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  10. LLLreader pipes up: To both of the previous posters--my heart goes out to you. There is nothing Christian in judging and condeming someone who leaves the church. I don't experience that at all, I have a loving family who treats me with kindness. Acting rotten to you is mean power thing that no doubt gives them some satisfaction. I wonder if some of them secretly wish they had the nerve to leave and envy you your freedom. I say just keep on "keeping on". There isn't much traffic on this site anymore, but I hope you both can look back on previous year's post and realize how many have been exactly where you are. God bless you both.

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