So my mom signed up for this free lecture called The Power of the Subconscious Mind. At first, it just sounded like one of those personal growth events — until I found out it’s hosted by the Church of Scientology.
Now, I’m not here to make a whole post trashing them or debating their beliefs. But for me personally, the group gives off some serious cult vibes, and I’m uncomfortable with how they operate — especially the way they seem to target emotionally vulnerable people.
And that’s part of what makes this hard.
My mom is going through a really rough time. She’s perimenopausal, her hormones are all over the place, she has anxiety, and she’s not currently working, so she’s on her phone a lot. She’s feeling lost and fragile — and I love her deeply, but I also know how easily she can get swept up in things that promise hope or healing.
The woman organizing the event has been texting her a lot, and it honestly feels like love-bombing. It’s giving cult recruitment energy, and I’m super uncomfortable with the idea of driving her there myself, like I’d be delivering her straight into that.
I gently told her I didn’t feel okay driving her. I tried to be respectful and calm about it, and even offered to help her find a different event or class — something more grounded and safe. But now she’s crying, saying I don’t support her and that I made her feel stupid.
I feel awful. I really do. But at the same time… I can’t shake the feeling that this isn’t a safe or healthy environment for her, especially right now.
WIBTA for refusing to take her?
Comments
NTA You’re getting cult vibes because Scientology is a cult. She’s an adult, she can make her own choices, but you don’t have to enable them.
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OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the asshole:
> The action I took was refusing to drive my mom to a Scientology lecture knowing she cant go herself. I believe I might be the asshole because she’s going through a hard time emotionally, mentally and I know she feels unsupported and hurt by my decision and “they can help her”. She cried and said I made her feel stupid, so now I’m wondering if I was too harsh or overstepping.
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No you would absolutely not be the asshole. I can’t believe this doesn’t have any comments. You’re doing the right thing and keeping your mother safe. They have a lot of claims of abuse and harassment against them, and members have “gone missing”. I highly suggest you look up links and articles about it to show to your mother and hopefully prove to her they’re not safe. Make sure you emphasize that this isn’t about making her feel stupid or undermining her choices. You just want to inform her and keep her safe. Suggest LOTS of alternatives so she can pick her favorite one, and it would also be a great idea to try to sell her on therapy.
NTA, But dude just f*cking tell her its a cult and they are trying to recruit her, be direct