Managing to recruit: religious conversion in the workplace

Sociology of Religion, Winter, 1998 by Deana Hall

CONCLUSION

This article identifies issues that contribute to the social scientific discussion of Scientology, the training of medical professionals, and social movement theory. Regarding Scientology, the organization's practice management activity in the secular realm has potential implications for its claims to be a religious organization. While some authors conclude that the church of Scientology "is a deviant business" (Passas and Castillo 1992:110), they nevertheless conclude that it "must remain a deviant business that borrows from science, renews its imaginative jargon, updates its spiritual techniques, and remains a religion" (Passas and Castillo 1992:115). In a practical sense, however, this conclusion means that a religious body denies its religious connection in order to train medical professionals in secular office practice skills. Moreover, its use of these practice management courses as recruitment efforts suggests deception toward its target population of professionals, who do not know of the religious connection of the programs when they sign up to learn accounting and office skills. New developments in the relationship between Scientology and the American IRS, which included an agreement to dissolve WISE no later than 31 December 1995, may make Scientology's claims regarding the secular nature of its management training programs even more difficult to substantiate.(24)

Medical professionals may find this study interesting, since apparently they do not realize how their deficiency in financial and office management training predisposes them to become converts to an ostensibly religious group. Deficiencies in management training have provided Scientology with an opportunity to identify and fill a market niche for these professionals and at the same time increase its own membership rolls. Ironically, the emphasis in professional schools on scientific training to the exclusion of management training makes these degree-awarding institutions unwitting participants in the eventual recruitment efforts of Scientology (and probably other ideologies that recognize the vulnerabilities of medically trained professionals).

Finally, this analysis contributes to social movement literature in at least two ways. The incorporation of a conversion model in the context of a resource mobilization understanding of recruitment strategies illustrates the benefits of viewing the motives of the potential converts in relation to organizational demands. Likewise, the combined analysis of predisposing factors among potential converts to an ostensible religious movement provides an expanded understanding of a context to conversion and a social psychological dimension to organizational recruitment efforts. And even though Scientology's goals of 'clearing the planet' differ significantly from the more limited personal self-improvement goals of medical professionals, the two coincide in the involvement of professionals in PMCs.

Direct correspondence to Deana Hall, Department of Sociology, 5-21 Tory Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2H4. I would like to express my sincerest appreciation to Dr. Stephen Kent. This article would not have been possible without his tireless support and guidance. I also would like to thank all of the individuals who donated their time, personal accounts, and supporting documentation to the project.