1. Spiritual effects - Scientology techniques have the potential to create powerful effects that are felt by the person to be highly spiritual. It often is what motivates members to stay within the group despite aspects with which they may otherwise disagree. In time, the negative aspects tend to wear out of memory, but the strength of the energy awakened in the soul can leave an important imprint that can motivate the person, even though he left the group,  to search further in that direction. From a spiritual point of view, thus, and despite its negative aspects, Scientology can act as one of the many channels that can help one to awake his spiritual potential.

This does not mean - that there are no other means to have the same experiences. It doesn't mean that everybody necessarily goes through a spiritual awakening in Scientology, or even that this is what they need or want. However, the very attraction and focus of cults is often a spiritual one. Not to include this aspect in the overall equation is missing one of the most important element to understand the whole issue.

2. Social effects - Another major appeal of Scientology is the group experience, allied with a deep sense of purpose. This is something which society usually don't offer and which constitutes a major attraction of cults in general. Again, these are deep rooted spiritual longings, and the strong impression the experience leaves upon the member's soul is such that most of the time he will value his time in the group long after he has reintegrated mainstream society.

This does not mean - that the group can actually live up to its promises, and a cognitive dissonance is often inevitable. The Messianic zeal, the lack of a democratic feedback mechanism, and a society that is often hostile, makes that demands made on the group members are very high and that internal group dynamic problems and conflicts can become exacerbate. The positive and the negative aspects are each a side of the same coin, and the subsequent interpretation made by the ex-member of his experience within the group will depend of his disposition and outlook in life.

3. Psychological effect - While fundamentally a spiritually-oriented philosophy, Scientology technique can also address psychological problems without reference to spiritual concepts. This often is the first experience newbies have with Scientology, and it can sometimes be so strong that it remains their prime interest. Someone who has been completely liberated from an heavy emotional trauma he carried for years is not likely to quickly believe the "criticism" that is being levied against Scientology. It also is an area where, unlike the spiritual aspect, stable result can be obtained.

This does not mean - that other therapeutic techniques can't obtain similar results, or that Scientology technique always have that level of success. The main problem remains of course that valuable psychological techniques in Scientology are always part of a larger cultic package. This is one of the prime reasons some Freezoners try to set valuable aspects apart from the organization. As a matter of fact, many Scientology therapeutic concepts have now been integrated throughout more accepted alternative therapies, or even within the mainstream courant.

4. Positive orientation - Scientologists in general are nothing like the dishonest, liar, and stupid person many critics like to portray. On the contrary, they often are idealistic, honest, and intelligent individuals. Even though having its cultic aspects, Scientology contains principles and techniques that can help others have a better life and become a better person. For example, rather than "being taught to lie", as critics generalize, using an out of context example, Scientologists are shown how lying and being dishonest eventually cycles back to them through universal law, and they will be less likely to indulge in such actions than the average population. In fact, Scientology will usually encourage its members to be a more productive, a more creative, and a more responsible member of society.

This does not mean - that actions by Scientologists will always be positive. The cultic aspect present in Scientology can bring its member to engage in destructive actions, all the while being convinced they are doing the greatest good. This isn't something reserved to Scientology, but is rather common everywhere the cultic mindset is present - most visible, by the way, among so-called "critics". Another drawback is the fact that what can be a help can also act as an hindrance when it becomes mechanical. Relying on outside system can become conditioning and prevent one from seeing things directly through his own perceptions. Combined with the cultic aspects, this can be a bigger problem than it would for a system that don't make people utterly dependent from it.

5. Cultic lesson - I often say that I learned about as much from having been in Scientology as from having gone out from it. While in the group, I learned many things: a true sense of purpose, solidarity, group dedication, heightened awareness, self-improvement, responsibility, etc. At the same time, realizing the cultic nature of Scientology, and what the cultic mindset is in general, was about as enlightening. Discernment, discarding the false to keep only that which is true and lasting, is an integral part of the spiritual path.

This does not mean - that one necessarily have to go through a cultic experience such as Scientology to learn about discernment. It is, however, a good school. Those who have gone through this kind of experience and went out from the group without falling in the opposite delusion represented by the anticult mindset, usually have an higher level of critical thinking ability than many so-called "critics". What the later do is hardly more than mindless bashing. They still have to realize the extend of their own form of cultic mindset.