A high-flying computer expert went for a stress test at the Church of Scientology – then flew into a rage and attacked the man testing him.
Matthew Hickey, 26, walked into the controversial church's Deansgate branch and became angry when he was hooked up to an 'E-meter' stress-testing machine.
He believed the device was actually a lie detector – and grabbed tester Brandon Sandler by the tie.
The pair tussled and Mr Sandler fell backwards off his chair, injuring his back and legs. The E-meter was kicked off the table in the struggle, and smashed on the floor.
Hickey, 26, who was arrested at the church, pleaded guilty at Manchester magistrates court to common assault and criminal damage. He had gone into the church after a drunken row with his girlfriend.
The court was told Hickey, who lives on Deansgate, had a high-pressure, £50,000-a-year IT job at a firm in Manchester.
After spending the afternoon drinking, he and his partner went for a meal at Grill on the Alley, off Deansgate, with his partner.
The couple had a 'silly' argument so Hickey walked off and became intrigued by signs outside the Church of Scientology offering free stress tests.
He went inside and was hooked up to the E-meter by holding two handles, while Mr Sandler asked him a series of questions about his life.
Joe Rawlings, defending, said the questions were 'pressing, probing and personal.'
He added: "I'm not suggesting provocation but it explains why Mr Hickey became agitated."
The court heard how members of the public witnessed the assault that followed.
Mr Sandler, in a statement, described how he had been left shaken by the incident.
Hickey, who admitted he had begun to drink too often, will be sentenced next month.
The Church of Scientology was founded by American science-fiction author L Ron Hubbard in the 1950s and counts Tom Cruise Lisa Marie Presley and Isaac Hayes and John Travolta among its celebrity followers. The group claims to have 8 million members worldwide.
It believes people are immortal spiritual beings who have forgotten their true nature.
The E-meter, which Mr Sandler said cost about £3,700, is the device at the heart of Scientology.
Practitioners using it in 'spiritual counselling' sessions to supposedly clear the subject of negative thoughts and emotions.
Following a ruling in the US in the 1960s, Scientology can no longer refer to E-meters as having any medical use and are now described as 'religious artefacts'.
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I take it his stress test proved positive then!
Slow newas day
Whatever his sentance and any amount he might have to pay, he's had a lucky escape.
He could have lost a whole lot more, mentally and financially had he been roped in.
Scientologists - I might go in for a stress test and stress them out instead. I'm brilliant at playing with other people's minds and I have very little money. I've got nothing to lose.
I promise I won't be violent. I'll just play them at their own game for mild amusement.
The so called 'e-meter' has no scientific validity whatsoever, has never been validated in any scientific journal, and is rejected by the scientific and therapeutic community outide Scientology. It is a crude "lie detector" device measuring electrical resistance relative to a standard resistance (see http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/E-Meter/biophysics.html). The 'stress test' has no scientific validity, neither does Scientology's so-called 'personality test. Scintology is not legally recognised as a religion in the UK so calling it a religious artefact is a cop-out at best.
Justice Latey, ruling in the High Court of London, said of Scientology:
"Scientology is both immoral and socially obnoxious...It is corrupt sinister and dangerous. It is corrupt because it is based on lies and deceit and has its real objective money and power for Mr. Hubbard... It is sinister because it indulges in infamous practices both to its adherents who do not toe the line unquestionably and to those who criticize it or oppose it. It is dangerous because it is out to capture people and to indoctrinate and brainwash them so they become the unquestioning captives and tools of the cult, withdrawn from ordinary thought, living, and relationships with others."
The 'stress test' should be considered no more than cult bait.
That stress test is a dangerous tool. Some people are left in tears and at least one person committed suicide very shortly after taking one leaving a note to their parents saying she was sorry she was such a failure and the results of the test nearby.
Courts should not be surprised that people react in such a way and should really be sympathetic to them. Those e-meters are also a rip off. $50 of electronics sold for $3,700 but then that's scientology for you.
The scientologists ought to be prosecuted for effectively trying to diagnose people without any form of license. Disgusting.
In the early 80s I used to work on Deansgate and everyday I used to walk past this place and everyday a chap would be stood outside, come rain, wind sleet or hurricane complete with clipboard. And yes, everyday I'd be asked would I like to partake in in their stress test! Even when I pointed out that everyday he asked me, he continued. Nice to see they are STILL annoying people on Deansgate!
He's lucky he wasn't whisked away in a spaceship to the planet Zog.
When is positive not positive? when diagnosed positive for stress. Be positive.
Let's think about this. The church of scientology advertise free stress tests, which appeals to people who are stressed and looking for help. Presumably the scientologists could tell Hickey was drunk, or at least smell alcohol on this breath, yet they proceeded to interrogate him as they did.
Mr Hickey was drawn in to the situation by the scientologists' own advertising. He was not turned away by the scientologists because he was drunk. The scientologists then interrogated in an antagonistic fashion. Mr Hickey then gets agitated. Well there's a surprise.
Obviously Mr Hickey plead guilty because it makes sense but in circumstances such as this he should only get a smack on the wrist, £10 fine for instance. As for the cost of the e-meter that broke, I don't think he should have to pay for all of that, after all the scientologist drew him in and antagonised him so they're at least 50% culpable.
[quote name=lebist, blackley]He's lucky he wasn't whisked away in a spaceship to the planet Zog.[/quote]
Don't knock it till you try it. I've just come back from there and it's a really nice place.
it must be very stressful being a religios nut , must have runout of daft questions to ask.
BEAM ME UP SCOTTY?????
Team Hickey!! The Scientology movement are preying on the venerable hench the stress test. What questions did he ask a drunken man? Are we surprised at the re-action, would you or I ask those questions of a guy next to us in a pub and not expect a smack? As for 3700 for the device lets profit from this! Does the MEN support Scientology? Is is just to get them more publicity? Is the next move Mr Sandler sues for injury? Kick these idiots out of the uk!
He probably snapped when they tried to make him watch 'Battleship Earth'
I notice the two guys didn't have to pay for the window at the hilton, drunk and not antaganised. they should not make him pay for the machine and certainly they should have to prove how the cost to them of the machine is £3700.
well done as that lot are a bunch of deranged freaks preying on the vulnerable and depressed. They con you with a fake test and try to sign you up a little bit like the good old jehovah witnesses who knock on your door on a Saturday morning when you are still in bed. To me they are cults run by weirdo's.
[quote name=David Duck,Voice of Reason ]Slow newas day[/quote]
Have you not got something better to contribute, Mr Duck? What is the point of posting 'Slow NEWS day'? Seems like you are having a slow day of your own.
Scientology is a religion, in the sense that it is based on the same principles and hoped for outcomes as most, if not all the mainstream ones, but while we can get away with slating scientology, it would be seen as much more offensive should we be dissing Christianity and Islam.
Anyway, Let's see whose side the judge is on.
"he and his partner went for a meal at Grill on the Alley, off Deansgate, with his partner"
how many partners has this chap got?
Scientology is a silly religion, ill stick to the one where a bloke made the Universe in 6 days, and yet could only be bothered creating just 1 man and 1 woman, he then sent his soon who died and came back a zombie and one day a seven headed demon will destroy the world. Thats the one for me.
How can they count Isaac Hayes as a member? He's dead!
you don't see them outside as often nowadays. I live down the road from the 'church' and I remember one of them asking if I wanted a free personality test. i simply replied that I didn't have one to test.
As well as being a latent depressive, alcohol in large amounts can temporarily induce a change of personality.A normally mild and inoffensive person can behave in an aggressive and violent way. I think this is what happened to this young man. High levels of stress are best solved by calm cool rational thinking which often results in considerable reduction in stress levels. Not always easy I know , but I also know that alcohol is never a solution to an unhappy or unbearable solution
The E-Meter is in fact a glorified ohmmeter, a device which measures electrical resistance (in this case, the electrical current in your body); its readings can be manually manipulated if you know how to do it. For example, clenching the cans tightly will cause the needle to go all the way up, holding them loosely will make it fall. The questions in themselves have no direct effect on the meter's readings. As part of the ruling mentioned at the end of the article, Scientology E-Meters are required BY LAW to carry a sticker stating that the E-Meter is not a medical device and is for spiritual use by members of the Church only. Scientology usually place these stickers on the base of the device where the public cannot see them, but often they do not have one at all. If you see an E-Meter in operation, ask to see the sticker. If they refuse, you have grounds to suspect they are breaking the law and you can report them.
If you see a Scientology stress test/personality test or book stand when you are out and about, be sure to report it to your local Street Trading Enforcement department. Scientology frequently flaunt rules and regulations in this area, from setting up stalls where they are not permitted, to not having the correct trading licences.If they doing something wrong, then Street Trading Enforcement officers will deal with them.
[quote name=Careless Whisper]I take it his stress test proved positive then![/quote]
:)
[quote name=Mike Wilkinson]The scientologists ought to be prosecuted for effectively trying to diagnose people without any form of license. Disgusting.[/quote]
..and incitement.