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SINGAPORE - In 1978, a Singapore couple flew to the United States in a panic. Their son, then aged 24, had embraced what he said is a new religion: Scientology.
Their concern was not without grounds. Media reports had cast Scientology as among a wave of cults that brainwashed and abused converts in the US and Western Europe.
"They said, you are a successful engineer, why are you getting in this thing that's like a cult?" recalls Ong Eng Chowg, now 65. Then working in Dallas, Texas, as an engineer, he later introduced his younger brother Ong Eng Liang, a student, to Scientology in 1983.
Almost four decades on, suspicion of Scientology remains pervasive. Viewed as a secretive and controlling organisation, the Church of Scientology was further hit by lawsuits in recent months. At least three have been filed in the US against the church and its leader, David Miscavige, accusing it of years of child abuse, sexual assault and human trafficking.
In Singapore, public knowledge of Scientology is largely confined to that of the celebrities that it is known to have in its thrall, namely Tom Cruise and John Travolta.
There is no Scientology church registered here, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) tells The Straits Times.
The Ong brothers are among the few Scientologists in Singapore.
Close friends and family are aware that they are Scientologists, though they do not declare it as their religion when filling out official forms. "Nobody will know what it is," says Mr E.C. Ong with a laugh.
Instead, they say that they are freethinkers.
There are also no religious rites and rituals that need to be observed, they say. Unlike some other fringe religions such as the Jehovah's Witnesses, whose believers refuse to bear arms or swear allegiance to the state, they add that there are no Scientology practices that run counter to Singapore's laws and cultures.
For the brothers, practising Scientology in Singapore mainly involves listening to the late founder, American science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard's lectures or studying writings on Scientology at home.
But three decades ago, Mr E.C. Ong, did run into issues when he ordered a few copies of Hubbard's book, Dianetics: The Modern Science Of Mental Health, from the Scientology organisation in Australia.
He was told by a government official here that there may be sensitivities involved as the book discussed the topic of past lives. He agreed to return the books to Australia.
Publications by the Church of Scientology are not allowed under the Infocomm Media Development Authority's (IMDA) Content Guidelines for Imported Publications, says the authority, meaning that book distributors cannot import and circulate them.
Under its content guidelines, publications that denigrate or offend the sensitivities of any racial or religious group are not allowed. It also said that the Church of Scientology is a cult.
It is not illegal, however, to possess the publications.
The older Ong, Mr E.C Ong, was an atheist before becoming a Scientologist. He was introduced to it by a colleague when he was working at Texas Instruments.
He later introduced Scientology to his brother, a freethinker, who was then an architecture undergraduate at the University of Michigan.
Part of the draw of Scientology is its ability to help them overcome obstacles in life, said the brothers.
For instance, Mr E.L. Ong, now an architect, said that going through the auditing sessions, akin to a form of "mental therapy" for him, helped to improve a serious stammering condition that he had grappled with since young. The 58-year-old declined to go into details, but said it helped to remove the psychological and mental barriers that were the root cause of his condition.
Mr E.C. Ong, who runs an electronics components distribution firm, said Scientology helped him overcome his introversion and gain more confidence in talking to strangers. The course came with theory and specific drills to put them into practice, he said.
Scientology also provides "a rational path" through the various OT levels, which are similar to progressing through course modules, for followers to advance in their knowledge of Scientology and of the self, said Mr E.C. Ong.
"Unlike many other religions, Scientology has no doctrine or dogma to follow," added Mr E.L. Ong.
What makes it a religion rather than simply a self-help programme are the spiritual aspects that it teaches to help them understand why they exist in this universe, he said.
For instance, Scientology subscribes to the theory that the life force present in all living things (referred to by the Greek letter theta) created the physical universe of matter, energy, space and time (known by the acronym MEST).
Theta and MEST combine to form living organisms. But when the body dies, the "thetan", or the individualised unit of life energy, continues to exist as an immortal spiritual being.
They do not deify the late Mr Hubbard or the current leader Mr Miscavige, neither of whom the Ong brothers have met. "Hubbard has made it clear that he is just a man, and not a god," said Mr E.L. Ong.
But though his father, now 92, still does not fully support his involvement in Scientology, Mr E.C. Ong said that he and his brother are not compelled by the church to cut ties with family members or close friends who see things differently.
Disconnection, he explained, is only taken as a last-resort scenario "if everything else fails", and only if an individual wishes to do so.
"I don't plan to disconnect with anyone. It's a no-no," said Mr E.L. Ong. "Even if you're downright against Scientology, all I will say is - that's your opinion, and I respect it," Mr E.C. Ong chimed in.
Both of them say they do not expect their immediate family to convert to Scientology. "They are supportive, but not interested in pursuing Scientology," said Mr E. L. Ong of his 55-year-old wife, who is Buddhist, as well as his 17-year-old son, a freethinker.
Mr E.C. Ong's wife and one of his two sons are Catholic. He said they have no issues with him being a Scientologist.
In Singapore, both men do explain Scientology to those around them, but they do not go out of their way to proselytise.
Mr E.C. Ong said that three Scientology organisations in Florida, Los Angeles and Australia had contacted him to explore the feasibility of expanding to Singapore two or three decades ago.
"I explained to them our population, demographics and so on, but I did not hear back from them after that. They may have felt we were too small for them," said Mr Ong.
On the ongoing lawsuits against the Church of Scientology alleging sexual and child abuse, Mr E.C. Ong said that if the allegations are true, the issues should be addressed by the church's management.
"There should be constant pressure to push for reform, if there is indeed any mismanagement," he said, adding that similar allegations of abuse have also been levelled against the Catholic Church.
"But the organisation should continue delivering knowledge to (its members) even as it sorts out all these problems. Unfortunately, as Scientology is a prominent organisation, the Western press may also overblow these issues".
All of which begs the question: Do they also think they are brainwashed into following Scientology - a charge often levelled at believers?
Mr E.L. Ong chortles in disbelief. "There's no doctrine that we have to follow (in Scientology). In a lot of Hubbard's talks, he mentioned very clearly that certain things that he says are his opinions. If you disagree with it, that's fine. Don't agree with it."