Scientologists actively recruit new members at their locations worldwide by offering “free stress tests.” These tests are conducted with the use of an E-Meter and the assistance of an auditor. At the conclusion of the test, potential members are taken aside and given their results one-on-one.
The results usually indicate some level of severity of problems, and the recruit is then told how Scientology can help them solve these problems, at which point sales of books and other materials are solicited. Individuals who have taken these tests have reported hostility and detainment if they show a lack of interest or wish to leave before the auditor has completed the process.
Most recently, Scientology has been gaining visibility through the Volunteer Ministers program, through which members of the church donate their time to aid in disaster relief efforts. At these locations, they distribute copies of L. Ron Hubbard’s The Way to Happiness and offer therapeutic techniques known as “Locationals,” “Nerve Assists,” and “Touch Assists.” The Touch Assist is the most commonly used of these, and is described as “repetitively touching the ill or injured person’s body and putting him into communication with the injury,” with the idea that the person will then recover having been put into communication with their injuries.13