From: WENGERB@CCSUA.CTSTATEU.EDU (Brian Wenger, Asst Dir, Info Systems, CCSU)
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Subject: Re: Money Poll
Date: 28 Jul 92 13:31:29 GMT

In article <1992Jul27.204609.13971@random.ccs.northeastern.edu>
rogue@ccs.northeastern.edu (Rogue Agent) writes:
>	One impression I have of Scientology is that it's expensive.  From
>what I understand, it starts off cheap but as you get further involved, the
>cost goes up, until astronimical figures are involved.  Now, all of my 
>information comes from what I guess you'd call 'hostile' sources.

They are right. Scientology gets more expensive (in general) the further
one goes.

>                                                                   So what
>I'd like to do is take an informal poll of people who've been involved in
>scn.  Here are some questions:
>1.  How much money have you spent, over how much time?

In 11 years I've spent about $8000.00 for auditing, courses, and ultimately
a co-audit package, i.e. learning how to audit, as well as getting auditing,
as well as the books/tapes needed on those levels. It will probably take a-
bout two years to complete all the courses, but since it's study-at-your-own
pace it can take longer or shorter, depending on how much time you put in.
Right now I'm studying three nights a week, and two Saturdays a month. A
total of about 20 hours a week, on average.

>2.  Do you feel this amount was well spent?

I feel that the time I took looking into the subject of Scientology was
extremely well-spent. I really don't consider the money that I gave the
CoS as "spent", I consider it a donation -- since they call it "fixed-dona-
tions", it could very easily be considered spent. But to answer your
question, yes, I feel it was very "well-spent".

>3.  Do you work for scn in exchange for services/money?
>    a.  How much time/week do you work?
>    b.  What do you receive in return?

I signed a 2.5 year staff contract in 1984, and worked about 40+ hours
a week as the "guy in charge of Scientology Publications" and the
Treasurer, at the CoS of Connecticut. While on staff I was able to take
courses for free and receive auditing for free. But since the pay can
be very unstable (pay is based on whatever the Church makes that week,
and how large the bills are - pay can range from nothing to a $100 or
so a week), I had *another* full-time job. There was very little time
for study once I became really involved with the staff position, and 
very little free-time (one isn't supposed to use staff time to study,
except in the beginning stages, when one is learning about one's posi-
tion). But I managed to take about six courses, the Purification
Rundown, and get some auditing by the end of the 2.5 year contract. But
the CoS of Connecticut didn't have a staff-only auditor, so I had to
arrange the auditing with a student-auditor or field-auditor.

I wouldn't suggest joining staff to the new-comer. I would suggest that
one really familiarize oneself with the subject of Scientology first (by
reading some books on the subject) and making sure most of one's ques-
tions are answered. But then again, I've seen some just join staff right
off the bat, and do great at it. I guess it depends on the individual.

>4.  Are you currently in debt to scn?  How much?

No, just to Fleet bank! I think it's down to about $4000 now. :-) But
I'm well aware that the advanced levels of Scientology, which I intend
to do, can get quite expensive, even if one co-audits them where pos-
sible. So that's why I just bought a 92 Toyota Tercel instead of the
92 Toyota MR2 which is what I really wanted! And I'm sure I'll have to
make other sacrifices (or make more money!) in the future in order to
continue in Scientology.

But one can also go in debt to Scn by joining staff, taking some courses/
auditing and then not completing the staff contract (whether 2.5 or 5 year)
that one signed.

>	I guess this should do as a starting-point for discussion.  If 
>you feel uncomfortable posting publicly, you may mail me privately, and
>I will summarize.

I hope the above answered your questions.

-----
Brian Wenger   (wengerb@ccsua.ctstateu.edu)    Scientologist since 1981
Asst. Dir. Info. Systems
Central Connecticut State Univ.

Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology