My Conversation With A Scientologist

Today I had an interesting conversation with Janet Deering, owner of Deering Banjos. She's a Scientologist, and I've mentioned the Deering/Scientology connection in a previous post.

The email exchanged started with an accident. On the Banjo Hangout, someone apparently complained about not being able to get Deering parts. Janet misread the author and sent me an email asking what I needed. And the conversation continued.

With her permission, I'm reproducing the email exchange. Text in red are my current responses, which were not part of the email exchange.

Janet: I read your comment on the hangout about trying to get replacement parts from Deering.  Please fill me in on what you needed and what response you got from our sales staff. I'd like to know more about it and see what we can do to give better customer service.

Me: It wasn't my comment. I wouldn't own a Deering banjo.

Janet: Why not? 

Me: I'm very much anti-Scientology.

Janet: I see. What have you heard about it?

Me: This is the part where I tell you that Scientology is a money-grubbing scam, founded by a nutjob. Then you write back and tell me I'm wrong. No thanks, Janet. There are plenty of good banjo makers out there, and I'd prefer to buy from someone who doesn't send their cult garbage to the customers.

Janet: I'm not interested in telling you that you are wrong. I was just curious as to what exactly you know about it.

Me: I know this. And this. And this. And I've read all about those ridiculous e-meters. And those phony "personality tests."

Janet:  I see. And do you know how much of that is actual truth and how much is contrived? I don't. But, what I do know is that documentaries can be produced to influence public opinion in any way the creator of the documentary wishes.

I didn't even mention documentaries, but I guess that's how she's been programmed to respond. I would guess that at least 85% of the negative press about Scientology is true. If even half of it is true, it's still pretty damning, and a person would have to be pretty naive to be willingly associated with Scientology. I'll give Janet some credit, though. She didn't deny that e-meters are ridiculous and the personality tests are phony.

I would not pretend that everyone who runs any church is free of making mistakes, only God holds that virtue. Look at the Catholic Priests who were raping young boys. Does that mean that you will now hold that against every Catholic that you know? If we judged every Christian by the conduct of the Crusaders we would abolish Christianity in our modern society, wouldn't we?

Obviously, she doesn't read this blog. Abolishing Christianity would be one of the best things that could happen. And yes, I do hold that against every Catholic. The Catholic church withheld evidence and covered up for their crimes. If someone remains a member of that organization after knowing that, they are part of the problem.

I am not saying that the Scientology organization is without flaws. But I have seen a great deal of good come from applying the principles Ron wrote to life. and I have experienced the help that this technology provides. Does that make me a bad person?

I'm sure you're a good person, but would you not also be a good person if you hadn't fallen for the load of crap spewed forth by L. Ron Hubbard? How much money have you and your husband spent on Scientology? Have you had any encounters with Xenu lately?

Most of my staff are of other religions, does the fact that they work for me make them bad people and their products bad? Should we judge each banjo company by the beliefs of the owners? How about the banjos produced by Communist China?

Irrelevant. My beef is with the cult of Scientology. I'd rather give my banjo money to makers who aren't members of an absurd cult.

Me: Interesting conversation. You make some good points. Do I have your permission to reproduce the conversation on my blog?

Janet: Yes, if you will include one more point. I only send out the "Way to Happiness" Booklet when it is requested. It is not Scientology propaganda and does not mention the religion.

Right. So, somebody buys a Deering banjo and then thinks, "Hey, I wonder if my banjo maker has any printed material they can send that would show me the way to happiness?"

Why does the booklet not mention Scientology? Are you ashamed to be associated with it because of it's terrible reputation?

People who have received it have written me thank you letters from all over the world. Only a few misunderstand and are not appreciative. When asked what they object to the only objection to the booklet is the fact that L. Ron Hubbard wrote it.

The "only a few" are those who took the time to get in touch. The vast majority just threw it in the trash, where it belongs. And why would they even bother complaining if they "requested" it in the first place?

Like it or not, Janet, you are a follower of the nutcase known as L. Ron Hubbard. You support a cult that recruits new members by luring naive people with a phony personality test in a mall, and then squeezing them for money. It's despicable, Janet, and as long as you remain a Scientologist, you're part of it.

The intention I have in sending it is to uplift and provide a wonderful resource to people who are looking for answers. These precepts do offer valuable guidelines toward finding happiness in life. I wish you all the best.

So that's it. I'm sure Janet Deering is a nice person. But she chooses to be associated with a dangerous cult. And because of that, I choose to mention the Deering/Scientology connection every chance I get (even though I can't do it on Banjo Hangout).

By the way, Janet, you need to update your service completion list.