The Tone Scale

According to the official Scientology doctrine, part of being successful in life is knowing how to read and react to other people. Because apparently most people can’t tell how to react when someone is grieving, the tone scale was developed as a handy way to learn what emotion is connected with the outward appearance of a person. It also tells you what you should do when faced with said emotion.

The Tone Scale runs from 40 to -40, with 1.1 being perhaps the most notorious designation. Being 1.1 was associated with “Covert Hostility,” smiling on the outside and plotting on the inside. 1.1s are out to get you and should absolutely not be trusted. Anyone who disbelieves the teaching of Scientology is a 1.1—and so is anyone who’s gay.

The so-called process of “auditing” is the process by which someone moves up the Tone Scale; the higher you are on it, the better off you are. That goes for sexual orientation, too, as someone who’s gay can only move up in the Tone Scale if they deal with and get rid of those feelings that are keeping them there. The goal is a 40, also defined as “Serenity of Beingness.”