My buddy Alan, the Scientologist

Original text and video by YouTuber, ArizonaDelRio:

After investing thousands of dollars for course work, Alan was eventually ousted from his church and told never to return. Yet, he still believes to this day. He is a highly ethical and moral person, and totally relieable. If there is one true Scientologist in the world, here he is, folks.

Man overboard: To leave Scientology, Don Jason had to jump off a ship

The St. Petersburg Times releases another instalment of its investigation into teh abuses within Scientology. Here's the accompanying video:



Full story: http://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/article1048124.ece

Latest St. Petersburch Scientology report: Part 2 of 3

What happened in Vegas
tinyurl.com/ylp4o9g

How Scientology got to Bob Minton
tinyurl.com/yfko5hz

Ex-officer says Scientology policy didn't match directive
tinyurl.com/ygtma4z

Who's who in this installment
tinyurl.com/y8kztm2

Has Scientology been watching Pat Broeker for two decades?
tinyurl.com/yhae5e7

The (predictable) Scientology response
tinyurl.com/yhhewqp

Defections, court fights test Scientology

The Church of Scientology is going through a difficult season.

Over the course of two days last week, a French court convicted the church of fraud and Oscar-winning filmmaker Paul Haggis' resignation from the church over a litany of concerns was aired publicly. On one hand, it was just another bad press week for the embattled institution founded in 1953 by the late science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard.

But for former Scientologists and scholars of the movement, the setbacks pose a greater challenge coming on the heels of defections of top-level Scientologists who lifted a veil of secrecy on the organization and alleged a culture of violence and control under Hubbard's successor, David Miscavige.

"With any organization, the loss of a substantial number of your most experienced people and chaos at the upper levels is problematic," said David Bromley, a Virginia Commonwealth University professor who studies new religious movements and has written on Scientology. "There are PR implications, the possibility of legal actions ... That dwarfs the other things."

The church has strenuously denied the allegations against Miscavige, portraying the accusers as lying disgruntled ex-employees.

Church spokesman Tommy Davis said Scientology is flourishing, with more than 8,000 Scientology churches, missions and groups in 160-plus nations. He said assets and property holdings have doubled over the past five years, including a new church in Rome and another opening this weekend in Washington, D.C.

"From our perspective, things are going pretty great," Davis said. "In fact, that's downplaying it. Actually, what's happening with the church right now is frankly spectacular. To the degree there are these various things happening, it really is a lot of noise."

One major survey of American religion shows Scientology declining in the U.S., however. The estimated number of Americans who identify as Scientologists rose from 45,000 in 1990 to 55,000 in 2001, then plummeted to 25,000 in 2008, according to the American Religion Identification Survey.

Davis said that while the church avoids membership estimates, it's "absolutely in the millions" globally and growing in the U.S.

Scientology has long been controversial. The Internal Revenue Service granted the church tax exemption in 1993 after a nearly four-decade battle over whether it should be considered a religion. Critics say Scientology is a business, preying on people by charging exorbitant sums for services.

The church continues to fascinate, fueled by interest in celebrity adherents such as Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Kirstie Alley, as well as beliefs that don't fit into typical American religious boxes.

Hubbard taught that the "thetan," the equivalent of a spirit, can be cleared of negative energy from this and previous lives through a process called auditing. With the aid of auditors, Scientologists seek a state called "Clear" and then advance through various levels of "Operating Thetan."

The allegations of violence were leveled by four former high-ranking Scientology executives who told their stories to the St. Petersburg Times last summer. The executives said they witnessed Miscavige, chairman of the board that oversees the church, hit staff members dozens of times and urged others to do the same.

Davis called the allegations "absolutely, unquestionably false" and "sickening and outrageous." ABC's "Nightline" aired a report this month covering much of the same ground.

To critics of Scientology and ex-members who have grown increasingly vocal in recent years, it's a breakthrough — critical voices from former members of the inner circle, not the media or outsiders.

"When you have dozens of people speaking out, it's no longer too credible to say they're all malcontents and criminals," said Jeff Hawkins, a former Scientology marketing guru who defected in 2005. "(The church) is either going to reform or collapse, and I think it's going to be the latter because they're incapable of reform or admitting any wrongdoing."

One defector, Marty Rathbun, who served on the church's board and was a top lieutenant of Miscavige's, said a growing movement of people hold to the tenets of Scientology, but reject the institutional church.

"I don't foresee another church," Rathbun said. "That was the first attack on me — that this was a coup, that I'm trying to tap a schism or start another church ... That's not an objective of mine or a positive way to go."

Haggis, the Oscar-winning director of "Crash," was not a high-ranking Scientologist. But his defection is significant, said actor Jason Beghe, who left the church in 2007 and has become a critic.

"He was somebody the Scientology community was proud of, and therefore I'm sure he helped hold some of their base in place," said Beghe, who appeared in the film "G.I. Jane" and TV's "Everwood" and is cast in Haggis' next film, now shooting in Pittsburgh. "Anybody who is a Scientologist is harboring doubts."

It was Rathbun who obtained a copy of Haggis' critical letter to Davis and posted it on his blog. Haggis complained that Davis didn't do enough to distance Scientology from proponents of California's gay marriage ban. He criticized the church's "smearing" of the high-level defectors.

The filmmaker also wrote about the church's practice of "disconnection," in which members cut off contact with loved ones who leave or advocate against the religion — something Davis said is not mandated.

A day after Haggis' letter went public, a Paris court convicted the Church of Scientology of fraud and fined it more than $900,000, but stopped short of banning the group's activities in France. The organization's French branch likened it to a modern-day Inquisition and said it would appeal.

Davis questioned the attention paid to the French verdict, saying that little notice was given when the church won court victories in Italy and Russia that cemented the church's presence in those countries. He said the top-level defections are not troubling, but rather a gain for the church.

Some scholars of Scientology believe the recent setbacks are momentary.

Defectors are overly optimistic about doing any real damage, said J. Gordon Melton, director of the Institute for the Study of American Religion in Santa Barbara, Calif., and editor of a book on Scientology.

"If five cardinals walked out of the Roman Catholic Church and turned on it and said there are bad things happening, it'd be a storm, but the church would weather the storm," Melton said. "I think Scientology is big enough to where it can and will weather the storm."

Most religions, Scientology included, experience disagreement and leadership turmoil after a founder's death and survive, said Susan Palmer, a religious studies professor at Dawson College in Montreal.

"I think they'll end up like the Mormon church or Jehovah's Witnesses, that were very controversial in our time but now are largely accepted," Palmer said.

Others think the Church of Scientology is in trouble. Along with the defections and French court setback, Scientology has been unable to stop Internet leaks of confidential material that members must pay a premium for, said Hugh Urban, a professor in the department of comparative studies at Ohio State University.

"They're really losing what has been the bread and butter," Urban said.

Meanwhile, an online betting parlor is taking wagers on the next celebrity Scientologist to leave.

Source: Defections, court fights test Scientology

St. Petersburg Times - Round Three

Well, well, well... What do we have here? Oh yes; it's some brand new St. Petersburg Times articles about the cult:

"I just want to get on with my life after Scientology"
tinyurl.com/yjjfmm2

"From Scientology's files"
tinyurl.com/yda6mjt

"L. Ron Hubbard on 'Leaving and leaves'"
tinyurl.com/ya82e7q

"Chased by their church: When you try to leave Scientology, they try to bring you back"
tinyurl.com/yz929l8

"Scientology's response"
tinyurl.com/yhaxj8d


Accompanying SP Times video:

Church of Scientology convicted of fraud in France

From The Mail online:

The self-styled ‘celebrity’ Church of Scientology was today found guilty of fraud in France and fined more than £500,000.

Prosecutors in Paris were told that the only reason the cult was not banned from the country completely was because it would carry on anyway ‘outside a legal framework’.

The conviction will come as a huge shock to the church’s millions of followers around the world, who include Hollywood actors Tom Cruise and John Travolta.

Examining judges sitting at the Paris Correctional Court found six leading Scientologists guilty of fraud, including Alain Rosenberg, the sect’s leader in France. Rosenberg was given a two-year suspended jail sentence and fined the equivalent of just under £30,000

The church’s so-called Celebrity Centre and Bookshop – both of which make up the HQ of Scientology in France - were ordered to pay the equivalent of £600,000. All were accused of extorting money from ‘vulnerable’ people who had become Scientology followers or employees.

The Paris case was launched following a complaint from two women, one of whom said she was tricked into handing over £20,000 towards dubious projects, including the development of an ‘electrometer’ to measure mental energy. The second woman said she was forced by the Scientologists to undergo embarrassing tests, and to enrol in courses about the sect in 1998. When she refused she was sacked.

Convicted: The Paris branch of the Scientology Church's Celebrity Centre and Bookshop was ordered to pay a £600,000 fine after being convicted of fraud

Judge Jean-Christophe Hullin, who spent years examining the cult’s activities, attacked the Scientologists' ‘obsession’ with financial gain and practices he said were aimed at plunging members into a ‘state of subjection’.

Prosecutors had originally asked for the Celebrity Centre and Bookshop to be shut down completely, and for a £2m fine to be paid. But last month the French courts were alerted to a little-noticed legal change voted in by parliament in May - the month the trial opened - which bars French courts from dissolving an organisation convicted of fraud. Although the change has since been dropped, this was not retrospective and thus Scientology was protected from an outright ban in the ongoing case, forcing the court to downgrade the sentence. Judge Sophie-Helene Chateau said: ‘A ban on its activities would have risked taking us outside the framework of the law.’

The Church of Scientology was founded in America in 1954 by science fiction writer L Ron Hubbard. It is officially recognised as a religion by the US authorities, and claims a worldwide membership of 12 million. In 1995 it was officially classified as a cult in France, where it claims 45,000 followers.

The group’s French branch immediately announced it would appeal today’s Paris verdict. Defence lawyer Patrick Maisonneuve had claimed during the trial that neither the six leaders nor the church had gained financially from the group’s practices.

RadarOnline.com - Paul Haggis Resigns. Calls Tommy Davis A Liar.

"Oscar-Winner Paul Haggis' Stunning Departure From Scientology, Accuses Leader Tommy Davis Of 'Lying' To The Public

Haggis learned that in a CNN interview, Davis had laughed off the idea that Scientology has a policy of 'disconnection.' Haggis couldn't believe he was watching Davis 'lying.' His own family had suffered from disconnection when 18 months ago, his wife, actress-turned-producer Deborah Rennard was ordered to 'disconnect' from her parents because of something Scientology officials claimed occurred when they resigned from the church 25 year ago."

Full article: tinyurl.com/ykq8zut

Paul Haggis Cult Resignation Letter To Tommy Davis

I posted earlier about Paul Haggis resigning from the cult, and his letter to Tommy Davis. I thought I'd post it again with an easier to read link: tinyurl.com/yzn74s7

"These were not the claims made by outsiders looking to dig up dirt against us. These accusations were made by top international executives who had devoted most of their lives to the church. Say what you will about them now, these were staunch defenders of the church, including Mike Rinder, the churchs official spokesman for 20 years!

Tommy, if only a fraction of these accusations are true, we are talking about serious, indefensible human and civil rights violations. It is still hard for me to believe. But given how many former top-level executives have said these things are true, it is hard to believe it is all lies"

Scientology: The Cult Of Cheap!

Part of an email from CCHR NSW:

"CCHR NSW is re-locating to Marrickville right in the heart of the shopping strip and near the good coffee shops! The move is next weekend - Sat 31st Oct and Sun 1st Nov - AND WE NEED SOME COMPETENT HANDS, vans and cars to HELP WITH THE MOVE!

Also, this week PRIOR TO THE MOVE, we need an electrician, roof plumber and handymen to help with renos on WED 28 OCT. (No major works - but it needs a good clean up and some building repairs). We can't offer payment for your services, but COMMENDATIONS recognising and acknowledging your contribution (plus other awards to those who are able to substantially assist) will be given to those who are able to put in their time and expertise."

Cheap cult!

Paul Haggis Resigns from The Cult - Various News Articles

American Atheists: Scientology Spokesman Storms out of Nightline Interview - tinyurl.com/yjrtxko

Jonathan Turley: Scientology Spokesman Walks Out of Nightline Interview When Asked About His Beliefs - tinyurl.com/ylkznpc

Buzz Hollywood: Scientology spokesman storms out of Nightline - tinyurl.com/yfvqqsp

Ed Driscoll: Scientology Spokesman Storms Out of Nightline Interview - tinyurl.com/yzrumac

TVNewser: Scientology Spokesman Storms Out of Nightline Interview - tinyurl.com/yk5jprn

ABC Nightline investigates Scientology - Part 1 or 2

First Broadcast on October 22nd 2009

PART ONE:



PART TWO:



PART THREE:

Church of Scientology defied coroner on suicide

The Church of Scientology refused to provide records demanded by a coroner investigating the death of a soldier who committed suicide two days after finishing one of the church's intensive courses.

It emerged yesterday that the American headquarters of the church instructed its Australian branch to send the soldier's "audit file" to the US -- which is outside the coroner's jurisdiction -- before warrants were issued.

Edward Alexander McBride was found electrocuted and hanged at an Energex substation at Everton Park, in Brisbane, on February 7, 2007. The soldier, who was based at Brisbane's Enoggera Barracks, was on leave from the army at the time and had been doing Scientology courses almost full-time for about a month.

Full article: tinyurl.com/ykyt54s

Manic Depressive Episodes And Scientology

"Scientologists believe that chemical imbalances do not exist. In their view manic episodes should be treated with periods of introspection and audits; a notion which is particularly bizarre and scientifically untenable. Scientologists believe that these large swings can be controlled without chemically interfering with the brain. This is utter nonsense. Scientology claims are largely based on science fiction, claims that are highly harmful those suffering from mania or depression."

Full article: tinyurl.com/yly575g

Cult of Scientolgy: Dead & Fake Locations

Excellent video by YouTube user RadioPaul1 showing more lies from the cult of Scientology:

AnonOrange arrested (again!)

The European Court of Human Rights ruled unanimously in favour of two Scientology

"Today, the European Court of Human Rights ruled unanimously in favor of two Scientology religious groups in Russia, finding that they have the right to be registered as religious organizations under Russian law. This decision determines that members of the Church of Scientology of Surgut and the Church of Scientology of Nizhnekamsk have the right to religious freedom and freedom of association pursuant to Articles 9 and 11 of the European Human Rights Convention."

Full text: tinyurl.com/yezaxcp

Sources say the decision will have no effect on the cult's status in Russia.

Cults and Coercion: How Ordinary People are Turned into Extraordinary Fanatics

A great audio lecture from an ex-Scientologists who now helps victims of many destructive cults:

"Twenty years ago, Paul Grosswald was recruited into the Church of Scientology during his sophomore year at Hofstra University. During six months of intense indoctrination he became increasingly drawn to the group, until he ultimately dropped out of school, moved into the cult's Manhattan compound, and signed a one billion year employment contract with Scientology's Sea Organization."

Click on the audio links (Interview and Q&A) here: tinyurl.com/lt4jxs

John Travolta Testifies About Son's Death, Says Jett Was Autistic

"John Travolta took the stand and testified against two defendants accused of blackmailing him following the tragic death of his son Jett earlier in the year.

'My son WAS AUTISTIC and suffered from seizure disorder. Every five to 10 days he suffered seizures which lasted 45 seconds to a minute," Travolta testified before a jury of six women and three men."

Full article: tinyurl.com/l4xhqr

David Miscavige: Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous

From the excellent 'Leaving Scientology' Blog:

(Miscavige) pays himself a six-figure salary. And that’s without having to pay for housing, food, clothing, or transportation. That’s about forty times what the average Sea Org Member is paid. Over the last 25 years or so, he’s paid himself something like three million dollars."

Full article: tinyurl.com/ltekkn

Growing up in Scientology

Do yourselves a favour and watch this great video by Mark Bunker, featuring Tory Magoo and ex Scientologist Morris Alexander, who grew up in Scientology.

Accountability: Where Does Your Money Go?

From the Leaving Scientology Blog:

"The Church, by its own newsletter figures, has regged over $140 million for the (Superpowers building) project, which is projected to cost $90 million. According to my figures, that’s $50 million unaccounted for. Fifty million dollars. Where did that $50 million go? Well, part of it, according to Joe’s reg, went to the Oak Cove renovations. Part of it, we know from that same St. Pete Times article, went for over $245,000 in city fines levied for not bringing the empty shell up to code."

Full article: tinyurl.com/mht4ql

The World Watches As Scientology Goes To Trial

"In 15 years, Stoffen says he spent $75,000 on Scientology courses and books; others, he says, ''spent well over $500,000''. Then he discovered a 150-page dossier detailing his personal life, including a program on how to ''deal'' with him and get more money from him. ''I vomited all night.'"

Full article: tinyurl.com/ngptbf

John Travolta is NOT gay.

How the Daughter of Holocaust Victims Took On a Powerful Religion

"Scientology Vs Paulette Cooper - How the Daughter of Holocaust Victims Took On a Powerful Religion"

Full article: tinyurl.com/mdjtqq

ADHD brain chemistry clue found

"US researchers have pinned down new differences in the brain chemistry of people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)."

Full article: tinyurl.com/ko5a66

Jon Lovitz: Scientology

Scientology's drugs message after Bray murder

"The DVD's tagline says it tells the "story of big-money drugs that fuel a $330bn psychiatric industry, without a single cure. But since its release, one professional involved with the DVD has distanced himself from the CCHR. Professor Howard Brody said that he believes anything produced by this organisation requires independent confirmation."

Full article: tinyurl.com/kposdp

Scientology and "Know"

From "Ask a Scientologist":

"This word, "know", when used by a Scientologist does not mean what you think it means. When you hear a Scientologist say they know something about Scientology or the Church of Scientology, they are not saying what you think they are saying.

This can be very confusing. Let me clarify this. First, you need some basic Scientology concepts.

When Scientologists speak about knowing something, they are talking about what L. Ron Hubbard called "knowingness". Hubbard defined knowingness as "self-determined knowledge".

To say that more plainly, in Scientology, "knowingness" is what you "know" without any information, facts, evidence from outside yourself. It is what you, yourself, have decided is true.

You will note that this definition of "knowingness" would also be a perfect definition of belief.

This is not some trivial bit of Scientology, this is core Scientology dogma. This is tied to what Hubbard said about "OT" powers of "postulating". According to Hubbard, postulating is creating reality by just deciding that something exists or that something is in a certain state.

According to Hubbard, if you "postulate" something without any doubts or reservations, it must become true. This is what OT powers are all about.

And this is "knowingness". If you self-determinedly "know" something, and hold that "knowingness" without any doubts or reservations, then, according to Scientology, it will be true.

It's like telling people that, if they can hold a wish in their mind for an hour without ever thinking of pink elephants, that wish will come true.

Good luck with that.

But Scientologists believe this. And so they believe, pardon me, know that Scientology works, that everything the church says is true, that David Miscavige is the most wonderful person in the whole universe.

And they must hold this belief knowledge firmly in place without any doubts or the whole thing will fall apart!

And so you have someone who has attested to being "able to talk to anyone on any subject" -- and who obviously can't do that -- still "knowing" that Scientology works.

You have Clears -- who get sick -- who still "know" that Scientology works.

You have Scientologists, who can easily see the "OTs" around them struggling and failing in life -- still "knowing" that Scientology creates "true OTs".

Scientology true believers will put up with the most amazing abuse, broken promises, greed and fraud from the Church of Scientology -- and still "know" that the Church of Scientology is perfect and good.

Because when they say they "know" these things, it means they believe these things and they desperately hope that their belief will make it come true.

Scientology defines itself as "knowing how to know". Using the Scientology definition of "know", we can finally translate that: "Scientology: Learning how to believe".

And now you can understand what a Scientologist is actually saying when they say they "know Scientology works", and why they cannot tolerate any discussion or outside facts. They are trying not to think of pink elephants."


Source: tinyurl.com/kqt44k

How Scientology Works: The Slave Becomes King

"Sometimes the greatest victims of bullying become the greatest bullies. An abused child can go either way. He may become an advocate for those who have no voice- or he may grow up to become a bully himself. This depends on who he chooses to identify with. If he identifies with the victim he will generally become a force for good in the world- but if he identifies with the bully he will become a bully himself.

Scientology ethics tends to turn people into bullies because it asks people to identify with bullies.

I will give you an example. Let us assume that a Scientologist is being picked upon by ethics or knows of somebody who is being unfairly singled out. Who is he likely to identify with? In the outside world bullying is unacceptable and so he is likely to identify with the victim and wonder what is wrong with the bully. What is the situation within Scientology? The exact opposite! The Scientologist is expected to ask why the person being bullied 'pulled it in'. In other words the mere fact that a person is bullied by another PROVES that the person being bullied is in the wrong! This is the ultimate in blame the victim. But wait! There is more! Nobody is alowed to pity those who are bullied because this is below death on the tone scale. It is literaly better to be dead than to show pity or humanity to the victim of bullying.

The result of this insanity is that Scientologists come to identify with Ethics bullies. This is entirely natural as bullies are always sure they are right and always certain of their own reality. Bullies also demonstrate Tone 40 (tantrums and shouting) while they are bullying weaker people. They are also characteristic of the Psychopath. Naturally, a good Scientologist wants to be ethical and so he is suckered into identifying with the bully- and eventually becoming one.

The basic deal within Scientology is that one can only avoid being bullied by becoming one.

This is why Scientology is never short of bullies- and why nobody stands up to them."


Source: tinyurl.com/mql9eb

New Marty Rathbun Letter To Bert Fields

A new letter from Marty Rathbun in reply to Tom Cruise's lawyer, Bertram Fields:

"Miscavige informed all of the members of International management that he had been telling Cruise all about how suppressive Yager, Leserve, and Mithoff had been to Miscavige personally. He told the executives that he had told Cruise how all other members of management were suppressive to Miscavige too because they refused to beat Yager, Leserve and Mithoff to pulps in defense of Miscavige’s honor. Miscavige said that Tom, as his best friend and most trusted confidante, had vowed to come to the Hole and personally “beat the living shit” out of Yager, Leserve, and Mithoff if the managers failed to do so themselves. Miscavige said that if they didn’t show evidence that they had acted, they all would be bypassed the next day by Cruise. The tantrum was accompanied by the usual ill-tempered and sadistic threats to the executives detailing what would become of them if Tom had to do “their job.”

Full article: http://markrathbun.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/dm-yscohb/