Stress Test Cue-Cards Reveal Hard Sell Fraud

As these church issued cue-cards demonstrate, Scientology's free "stress-tests" are rigged to insure the test-taker recalls a painful experience that will prompt them to buy a book or sign up for courses.

Free "stress tests" are a key recruitment tool for Church of Scientology. Scientology staff members set up tables on metropolitan street-corners and offer passersby a chance to "pick up the cans" attached to Scientology's rudimentary lie-detector, known as the "E-meter." Like any bio-feedback device, the E-meter needle indicates changes in the body's galvanic skin response. The E-meter's needle can be triggered by recalling a painful experience, an unpleasant taste, or by simply squeezing the cans more tightly.

"Find their ruin" is Scientology's term for uncovering an individual's emotional weak point. Once an individual reveals their "ruin," church recruiters hammer at it, attempting to persuade the individual that Scientology can relieve this distress.

Scientology has a long history of taking advantage of individuals in unfortunate circumstances. Church founder, L. Ron Hubbard, scanned newspapers for tragic events in order to sell Scientology services to the afflicted parties. Hubbard taught this technique to his followers and also encouraged them to recruit in hospital wards. For how this is developed today see Concerns about what Scientologists do at disaster areas.

Scientology's "stress-test" became the institutionalized method by which Scientology recruits new members, promising that church books and courses can relieve their suffering. As these cue-cards evidence, this process even has a manual!



The following is the cue-card text: