Home Who We Are What Makes Us Different
What Makes Us Different PDF  | Print |  E-mail
Wednesday, 14 October 2009 12:52

Photo of hands and fingerprintsToday, one of our readers asked, “This is all very interesting - a sort of Martin Luther King event horizon for the CoS. A good thing, for sure.

“My question is: according to much of the data presented here - human trafficking, terrorism, fraud, abuse, and so on - how are you different from the critics, who for so many years, have pointed out the same things?"

I personally don't know what past critics have said. I have noticed that the Church (David Miscavige) has tried to falsely label and stigmatize us as "critics of Scientology." This is surely the same line of attack that other whistle blowers have faced for years. So let me first answer what makes us different from what the Miscavige spin doctors would have you believe.  

To be clear, as whistle blowers, we are not critics of “Scientology"; we are critics of “criminality."

We are not anti-Scientology. We are not inciting hate or bigotry because we ARE Scientologists.

We ARE crying down rampant criminality within the ranks of Scientology, most of which emanates from David Miscavige who has imbued into Scientology a culture of hate.

We are loyal Scientologists -- loyal to integrity, loyal to a sense of right and wrong, loyal to responsibility, loyal to the fundamental concepts that are the very root of the Scientology philosophy.

As Geir Isene put it, "Scientology" does not equal "the Church of Scientology."

Photo of Liberty BellFreedom of religion

We believe and support freedom of religion. All freedom depends on protecting the freedom of religion. It is flat out WRONG to attack religions or religious beliefs. Why? Because people have the right to believe whatever they want. A person's beliefs are based upon ideas that match their own observations and experience.

However, freedom of religion does not mean freedom to commit crimes in the name of religion.

When a group gets overrun with criminality, the tendency is to decry the entire group. We are not generalizing, but instead we are selecting the correct target which is really the individual within that group who is the source of the criminality. And in Scientology MOST of the red flags all point back to one person: David Miscavige. Hubbard never authorized Miscavige to take over Scientology. There is no hidden data line that put him in power. He got his position through lies and deceit.

In the past, some critics of Scientology were attacking the religion. No one has any right to do that. It's a religion! It's protected by the Bill of Rights.

Why Scientology is a religion

The reason Scientology became a religion was that if it didn't go in that direction, auditors (Scientology counselors) would potentially have to have been licensed by the state to practice as "psychotherapists." That gives unqualified bureaucrats in government the opportunity to affix incorrect labels to Scientology, to dictate Scientology philosophy, to mix in other studies, to leave out potentially important teachings.  

So Scientology became a religion. And it does qualify as a religion, not in the Western sense (there is no worship or faith required in Scientology). But in the Eastern sense, yes. Scientology is a cousin to Buddhism. Scientology deals with the spiritual nature of people and the rehabilitation of abilities. Furthermore, I'm an active auditor. And I certainly wouldn't want the state to dictate how to apply Scientology auditing procedures! No offense to the government, but can you imagine anything more offensive?

Turning on the lights

So we are NOT critics of Scientology. We are proponents of Scientology and staunch critics condemning criminality within CoS management.

Criminality, wherever it resides, needs to be exposed and eradicated. All of us have the right to insist on an organization and even a world without crime. It is our duty to so insist. Whether it's the Catholic church, Scientology church, political parties, police department, or even within your own family, you have a right to the safety and security that are only possible in an environment without crime.

Some Scientologists are afraid to "rock the boat." Well, exposing the criminality within Scientology's ranks won't hurt Scientology. It will cure it. Criminality is the organizational cancer that is KILLING Scientology already.

If we don't expose the criminality, we will lose the subject utterly. And that would be a very irresponsible thing to do. Scientology is not for all of us, that is true. But it really is most definitely wanted by some of us because it offers a way out of entrapment of any kind.

We are not sheeple

While we are not critics of Scientology, that does not mean we refuse to look at Scientology with a critical eye. In fact, LRH said to do so which is one of the first things people learn about Scientology, and why so many people love it in the first place. It comes from LRH’s essay on Personal Integrity written in 1954,

WHAT IS TRUE FOR YOU is what you have observed yourself
And when you lose that you have lost everything.


What is personal integrity?
Personal integrity is knowing what you know—
What you know is what you know—
And to have the courage to know and say what you have observed.
And that is integrity
And there is no other integrity.


Of course we can talk about honor, truth, all these things,
These esoteric terms.
But I think they’d all be covered very well
If what we really observed was what we observed,
That we took care to observe what we were observing,
That we always observed to observe.

And not necessarily maintaining a skeptical attitude,
A critical attitude, or an open mind.

But certainly maintaining sufficient personal integrity
And sufficient personal belief and confidence in self
And courage that we can observe what we observe
And say what we have observed.


Nothing in Dianetics and Scientology is true for you
Unless you have observed it
And it is true according to your observation.
That is all.


Like everything else, Scientology has its share of sheeple. They take everything on faith, observe nothing. They have lost touch with what they know. They have no personal integrity. There are things in Scientology that are wrong. It is not perfect.

But life is about improvement. We all (those who are sane) try to improve as we go along. Same with any organization. Any sane manager tries to improve it as he goes along. But not Miscavige.

Same boat, better paddles

Those of us who have left the Church of Miscavology are in the same boat as thousands of others before us, but thanks to the Internet we have a more effective way to do something about it. In another article, I published an incredible fact that 98% of all the staff from Old Saint Hill are today declared! I have it on very good authority that David Mayo saved LRH's life when he was dying and the result of that was the creation of New Era Dianetics for OTs! So, just like Hitler took out 17 key people in order for him to take over, in the 1980s, David Miscavige painted Mayo up as a fiend. Yet Mayo had saved LRH's life. Despicable!

Surely Dean Stokes was on that hit list too. In 1982 at the infamous Mission Holder's Conference David Miscavige verbally declared Dean Stokes, suddenly and without warning or provocation. Frankly, Dean's mission was on Policy and it was booming. Dean was therefore a huge opinion leader. The Mission of the Southwest had 100 times more people and activity than Dallas' new "Ideal Org." It was a fun place to be. People went there just to hang out. T Paine covers the subject better in his very first article entitled "Common Sense."

Criticism of LRH and Scientology Tech

In addition to being a writer, a marketing expert and other things, I am an auditor. I use Scientology every day and it works for me. For example, a good friend of mine (who is not a Scientologist) had a problem -- a really bad problem relating to her career. She was really bugged and no amount of friendly advice from me improved the problem one bit. One day while listening to her I realized "she can't think with the subject! She has false data." So I just asked her (because I know the procedure from memory) "Have you been given any false data regarding this?" About 45 seconds later the false datum was blown, and she went right in and got a $10,000 raise the next day. And I know if it hadn't been for False Data Stripping, she would have gone to her grave with that problem because nothing else could crack it. In my observation there are so many problems in life that only Scientology can unlock.

I am currently auditing a pc on ARC Straightwire and my pc is getting standard gains. I personally am getting New OT V auditing outside the Church and I’m getting huge wins. Last year I got a friend through an o/w write up and the person’s face got 10 years younger right in front of my eyes when they got off a big withhold they’d been hanging onto for years. I’ve recently done Conditions and Exchange by Dynamics on a friend and seen it straighten out their flows.  Last year I delivered an intensive of Book One to a pc, and in one of our first sessions the pc discovered a past life. Another person was suffering from a bad cold. I did a standard PTS handling. A few minutes later the cold totally vanished like magic. The person was astonished! I helped another person who was suffering from high blood pressure. They were frightened of the machine itself, so I ran Confront and Reach and Withdraw on it and their blood pressure was lowered instantly.

Yet there are plenty of people who are anti-LRH and anti-Scientology technology, too. That is not my bag.

Some people try to invalidate Scientology by attacking its creator. Why? To me, the only thing that makes a subject valid is DOES IT WORK? If it does, I don’t care about what the inventor did, or if he lied about being a nuclear physicist, of if there are questions about his military record. The point of Scientology is not to worship its inventor. He was just a man, with a temper and faults just like the rest of us.

Some people fault the OT levels because the theory is far fetched. Why? I only care does it work. Scientology is NOT a belief system. At no time does anyone have to “believe” the theory. People are only required to read the material and do the processes. The processes deliver the gains. What more can anyone ask for?

I was the Solo I/C FSO for three years. I put hundreds of people through the Wall of Fire (OT III). I know the data conflicts with modern archeological evidence. I don’t care. Why? Because one for one, people got the ability gained of the level which is “Return of Self-Determinism, and Freedom from Overwhelm.”

It works! Last time I checked, not even a Starbucks Vente Mocha Latte with a Triple Twist of Coca Extract will deliver a return of self-determinism and freedom from overwhelm. Who cares what the theory is?

I drive a car. I don’t care about the theory of why it works. Who in history has ever returned their car to the dealership because, “Well, I don’t buy into this theory of internal combustion; you see it conflicts with modern...” or, "I heard the designer claimed he had a degree, but it wasn't a real degree so I want my money back. Here's the car keys."

Does it do what it’s supposed to do? Does it work? To me the rest is pure idiocy. In fact, I can't imagine anything more stupid.

So I’m not into bashing LRH and the tech. Scientology has created miracles in my life. It raised my IQ 18 points, verified on five different IQ tests. That doesn't mean I am not discerning. LRH wrote a few things that just aren't true for me. No matter.

When I got into Scientology in 1979, it was after I did a long and thorough search for something that actually worked. All I found was crap lists of asinine “rules” like “Rule #13, Put a smile in your back pocket.”

Try debugging someone who has false data with that rule. Or handling someone with a cold. It won’t work. Scientology does. Nothing else matters unless you are an bleeping idiot!

That’s why I am not anti-Scientology or anti-LRH, the OT levels or Scientology tech. In my experience and observation, they work.

Critics of Scientology

Now. Since we’re on the subject, it might be interesting to note that critics of Scientology by which I mean people who spread falsehoods about the tech and/or LRH (as opposed to the suppressive organization led by David Miscavige) fall into various categories (this list is not all inclusive):
  • Some of the LRH and tech bashers are factually evil people who are most definitely criminals themselves. Many cases have been documented of people with something to hide who went after Scientology because they perceived it as a threat to their free exercise of criminal activities.
  • Some anti-Scientologists were simply vested interests (or the employees of vested interests) worried that Scientology might cut into their funding or income.
  • Some are ignorant but otherwise well-meaning people, who may have been duped. Like parents who heard their kids were being hypnotized in Scientology (a falsehood).
  • Some are people who really don't know much about Scientology, but they've seen abuse and violations of human rights. They've seen the razor spikes at Golden Era Productions and noticed that the spikes are pointing the wrong way. They've seen videos of Golden Era Productions security guards like Danny Dunagan (a genuine lulu of toxicity himself) hog-tying a trespasser while jamming his knee in the person's back and kicking a woman with his other foot. They've seen the Church attempt to stigmatize whistle-blowers as "cyber terrorists," "religious bigots" and "hate mongers." And naturally, they conclude the CoS is really off the rails. So they get vocal. But at the same time, many of them are actually curious about the subject. Many of the Anonymous people fit into this category.
  • Some were casualties of actual criminals on staff in Scientology, such as David Miscavige. Some of these people have been so unbelievably and horrendously betrayed, currently disconnected from their families and friends, that they come out the other end practically frothing at the mouth and who can blame them? Some of those people even in 30 years on staff, never had any auditing. Some lost their marriages or had their children aborted without their consent. Some were coerced into donating thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars for illegal programs that they had no way of knowing were illegal. That is BETRAYAL. And when people are betrayed, some of them get pretty angry and when people get angry they are apt to bash everything in sight including LRH, the tech, etc. These people have every right to scream and yell. But this website is not really the venue for that. This website is intended for a more surgical purpose.
  • There is another reason that someone might be critical of (personally express a judgment on the merit of) certain aspects of the Tech, and that is that they have studied it, understood it fully, applied it correctly, and found that it was not true for them or did not work for them. That is someone who must also be respected. Anyone has the right to reject parts of the Tech as not true for them. Anyone has the right to walk away from Scientology and still be considered sane, intelligent people who have their own integrity, viewpoint and beliefs.

Does it really hurt anything to have critics? Well, Hubbard didn't think so. He thought it was healthy. In fact he protected critics by writing into the Creed of the Church of Scientology the following lines: "We of the Church believe... That all men have inalienable rights to think freely, to talk freely, to write freely their own pinions and to counter or utter or write upon the opinions of others."

What is a “cult”?

A cult is a secretive and lawless organization that uses its religious status as a cover to victimize its members.

The Church of Scientology is today a "cult" because David Miscavige with malice aforethought has made it into a cult. Not because it needs to be a cult innately. The CoS does not publish its statistics any more. The CoS does not even follow its own policies.
 
In response, thousands of people just decided to ignore this corrupt “church” and they practice Scientology independently. What else could they do? Not privy to the actual crimes of David Miscavige, they could hardly do much to stop him.

With us, however, it is different. We saw and experienced his abuses first hand. I was personally threatened by Miscavige and personally saw him assault others. That makes us eyewitnesses.

So we, as loyal Scientologists (loyal to the people) and ex-staff from the Int base are blowing the whistle on David Miscavige in a way probably no one else can. And we are using Scientology to do it.

We cannot be bought off

Another thing that makes us different from a few key staff who have tried to blow the whistle on criminality is they accepted hush money. Or they were blackmailed into silence through the practice of disconnection (which David Miscavige uses as a political weapon). I don't blame a person for accepting hush money when there is no other alternative. I'm glad they at least got something with which to start their life over.

For example, David Miscavige’s lawyer Monique Yingling (who is not a Scientologist and who has never done a single Scientology service though she's been paid millions over the years and could certainly afford it) offered Mike Rinder the chance to name his price so the church wouldn’t have to “declare war” on him. The church also used Mike’s son, wife and brother as bargaining chips to sweeten the deal. If Mike had agreed to just “go away” David Miscavige (through Monique Yingling) would have paid him millions and given him access to his son, wife and brother.

Mike said no. Because Mike Rinder has personal integrity.

Hence, when LRH said in the Code of Honor, “Your self-determinism and your honor are more important than your immediate life” we actually took that point to heart. Now when others accepted money, what else could they do at that time? There was no way to self-publish facts or catalyze the power of the world at large. Now there is. We have the Internet (thank God) and so we are using it. And you know where David Miscavige, Tommy Davis and Monique Yingling can put their money, robbed from thousands of well-meaning but duped parishioners.

We are no better than past whistle blowers. Just lucky that now we have a way to actually force a reformation. Miscavige has millions, but we have the ears of the world.

Using Scientology to fix Scientology

LRH said the solution to any problem is the problem itself. Where as others have sought to “solve” the problem by starting a new group along side the old (like David Mayo did) we are addressing the problem itself and communicating about it to bring about a vanishment of the problem.

We have declared ourselves independent because we are. But we have not started a new organization.

We are using Scientology Axiom 19, which states, “Bringing the Static to view As-is any condition devaluates that condition.” In other words, when a being really sees the cause of a problem, the problem is weakened and the being is strengthened. This is the basis of all auditing.

Third-dynamic auditors

We are auditing the Church of Scientology.

By exposing crimes and bringing transparency we also bring sanity back to the Church of Scientology which currently remains a lawless, immoral, abusive, mafia-like group that is manifesting insanity as defined by L. Ron Hubbard: "the overt or covert but always complex and continuous determination to harm or destroy."

Toxic shock

To call a spade a spade, David Miscavige is an SP (suppressive person, which means a toxic personality). Int Management is an SP group. The Sea Org, having been subverted and corrupted by Miscavige and Int Management, has become an SP group. I recommend to everyone, if you haven’t done it already, you need to disconnect from these SP individuals and groups because they are toxic to your spiritual well being and even your health.

The point is not to destroy Scientology, but to clear from the organization the parasitic criminal elements which have encysted themselves inside the organizational body, feeding off its life. To put this in real terms, David Miscavige who is supposed to earn per LRH the same as any other Sea Org member, earns instead 62 times that much, not counting rent for his mansions, furniture, clothes, gifts, private jet, helicopter flights, paid vacations, full-time servants, etc. And David Miscavige spends a huge amount of his time goofing off: playing golf, going out to movies, hobnobbing with Tom Cruise, etc.

That’s a parasite. They're ugly, just as you would expect.

What really sets us apart

What really sets us apart from some critics like Margaret Singer who sent OT materials to my mother in 1979; or the deprogrammer-for-hire who came to my house in 1979, took money from my mother and tried to seduce her too; or a certain family member who criticized me for 25 years for being a Scientologist and who, even after I left the Church and had to start over with nothing, continued to criticize me for the next 3 years until I put my foot down... what really sets us apart from those kinds of critics is that we aren’t on any personal vendetta. As individuals, we have surely been wronged, but that is not why we are speaking out. We aren’t being paid. We aren’t out to settle a score. After sinking 25 years into Scientology, we could hardly settle any score by investing even more time and effort into it. No, that would be stupid.

So why are we doing it? Well, earlier I mentioned the Code of Honor.

In the past, when I read the Code of Honor, many of the points seemed “over there.” They seemed like good points, but I couldn’t say truthfully I was applying them.

Well today, I can say I am actually doing all 15 points of the Code of Honor. They're an active part of my daily life. Let’s look them over:

1. Never desert a comrade in need, in danger or in trouble.

2. Never withdraw allegiance once granted.

3. Never desert a group to which you owe your support.

4. Never disparage yourself or minimize your strength or power.

5. Never need praise, approval or sympathy.

6. Never compromise with your own reality.

7. Never permit your affinity to be alloyed.

8. Do not give or receive communication unless you yourself desire it.

9. Your self-determinism and your honor are more important than your immediate life.

10. Your integrity to yourself is more important than your body.

11. Never regret yesterday. Life is in you today, and you make your tomorrow.

12. Never fear to hurt another in a just cause.

13. Don’t desire to be liked or admired.

14. Be your own adviser, keep your own counsel and select your own decisions.

15. Be true to your own goals.


And for all who wish they too could say, “Yes, I am living every one of those 15 points. I am living a life of honor!” it is never too late. You stand squarely upon the threshold.

Start now. Just follow your heart. It’s been pointing the way all along, my friend.


Written by Steve Hall, aka “Thoughtful”

 

Comments   

 
+1 # Gene 2009-10-14 09:41
Thank you for stating exactly where I stand. I have never seen an article that better explains my thoughts and feelings about Scientology, the Sea Org and having been out for 19 years. When I have to explain my "past life" in Scientology to someone I have just met, I always make it clear that I do not have a vendetta against the Church, nor do I wish it to fail. By telling my story I am not attacking the Church but just giving the facts of my experience. I also make it clear that I do not think Scientology is bad. It is a subject with applications and technology that if applied can and does help people. That said, like any other group of any size, it does have PEOPLE in it who should not be there, especially in a position of power. A group is made up of people and these individuals are responsible for making the group good or bad, safe or dangerous. Thank you for pointing out these very important differences.
 
 
+1 # Casey 2009-10-14 09:48
Well I guess that about says it all! well done!
I don't know that Vaughn Young ever took any payoff. It appeared he cared a lot. I truly believe lot of SO members cared a lot or they never would have entered into the quest for truth and freedom. I just personally feel that they all (anyone left) and DM needs to be relieved of duty. There was a movie with Denzel Washington whereby he was a naval commander and relieved the guy incharge I can't remember the name of it but you know it is the right time. Cutting off the income is one way and a powerful way but I feel that is already happening. He physically and the rest of them need to go and I am not sure how that will play out. Perhaps we all need to go remove them!
 
 
+3 # Axiom 2009-10-14 11:39
Very well thought out "Thoughtful" and excellent put in text!!!:-)

This is about all one needs to know in order to understand and do something about the awful situation in the Church today!
We sent out a big info pack yesterday and have currently reformed three others and I think other Scientologist are doing the same. We´re moving forward towards the reappearance and renaissance of Scientology as we know and love to use!
 
 
+1 # RJ 2009-10-15 00:07
As always Thoughtful Steve. You frickin' rock dude!

Any way just to add my two bits but the fact is Ron was on the fence about calling Scientology a religion even though he wrote and spoke in many lectures that he was entering the area of religion with the discovery of past lives and the capabilities of the spirit. Despite what the haters say.

In fact there was much debate among Scientologists at the time whether Scientology should be called a religion, a science or philosophy and it wasn't till J Burton Faber incorporated the first Church of Scientology in California that Ron decided that it should be called a religion.
 
 
# Thoughtful 2009-10-15 15:28
Thanks RJ! And this is a good point you make here. If it weren't for the fact that auditors would have to get licensed to practice by the state, Scientology might be better off just as a "spiritual philosophy." But that's from a marketing perspective since the moment you say "religion" about 50% of the public out there find that highly offensive since to them "religion" means "worship" and "God" and we're not about that. For them, calling Scientology a religion is a deal breaker. That is a barrier for dissemination. Nevertheless, Scientology does qualify as a religion. Maybe some day we can resolve this problem, too, and open up Scientology for everyone who wants it.
 
 
+1 # RJ 2009-10-15 10:17
Exactly Steve!

In this case the solution to the problem became the problem because of many peoples idee fixee, mind set or what we call service fac or computation of what a "religion" should be, least of which the State Licensing Boards and as Ron calls them the "Infernal Ravening Service". Not to mention the lil' guy who currently runs it who demands blind obedience and worship.

Probably why the Ol'man had much trepidation and when Ol'Burt made it a fait accompli spent much of his time defining what Religion is as we can see in The Phoenix Lectures where he gave several lectures on the subject.

Well the fact of the matter is that it is as Ron says "a religion in the oldest sense of the word" and that's the truth, despite efforts by various morons to label it otherwise, but it is also a science and a philosophy as well. So if religion turns you off you could call it either one of those.

Me I don't care as long as it works for me :-)
 
 
+4 # D 2009-10-15 00:11
Thoughtful, you're a true inspiration. You're lighting a fire under me to take action.

We need to apply the ethics gradients but Casey I agree with you, if things don't improve after several of us have written KRs not only uplines but most importantly BPI to all Staff & Public, we should start marching & take back our Church! I thought of a public demonstration outside an International Event or at FLAG, PAC Base or INT Base of 100s maybe 1000s of Scientologists, no mask w/total TR-O in. Peaceful, calm, ARCful with signs identifying us Like “Concerned OT-V, 20 yrs in”, “Concerned CL XII, 27 yrs in”, “Concerned Div 6, 1 month in”… w/banners stating things like “We want transparency”, “We want to look not listen. Show us the Stats”, “Where is Mark Yager, Shelley Miscavige, Heber Jentzsch,…” No antagonistic signs like "Take David Miscavige off post” but rather signs that would indicate/communicate to other Scientologists that haven’t started looking seriously at the outpoints yet. Having the media show up, interviewing some of us stating “we are concerned w/the rumors that our Church is committing Human Rights violations”, “we want to take back our Church”, “either clear conclusively the accusations or reform upper management” or whatever the leaders of our movement decide is appropriate. The main idea is to have a totally uptone & theta demonstration showing a large volume of Scientologists (EX-SO/Staff, declared “SP’s”, Public in good standing or not, working all together) taking a stand that the abuses and violation of policies of all sorts have to stop. I truly believe that the presence of Theta can de-enturbulate entheta and I think this could be an effective blow to the enemies. We could have copies of Mary Jo's & others KRs that we would handout. I know it would take a lot of organizing & lots of logistics to be effective but I believe that that's a specialty of a lot of us. In addition, it would be fun to meet all of you in person :-)
 
 
+1 # Casey 2009-10-15 04:32
D I happen to agree with you however, you mention leaders? there are NO leaders! The only so-called leader is DM he must be taken off post period. I'm ready let's go! I don't know the logistics but I am sure we could get a permit, the media, all of the above however, the intention has to be to get DM off post. I know for a fact there are people at Int who want to be there. This guy is clever he will make it look as though we are crazy and there is no problem. The people who remain are happy and productive. He will have a warning and I will tell you he will make it look as though we all have made this up. To do nothing will not end this either but he needs turned on him what he has tuned on others. He has lost as far as I am concerned some of the smartest highly trained people out there. Those left are so belittled that I don't think there is much fight left in them. I could be wrong it will take thousands of people to march on him and it is overdue.
 
 
# Eve 2011-07-12 10:43
What ever happened to Shelly Miscavige??
 
 
+1 # M 2009-10-15 04:32
This is a well written piece, it explains this group's intentions clearly. It also gives the failures of past groups that attacked the religion of Scientology. By attacking the doctrines as laid out by LRH, and Hubbard himself made these people look bad, in my opinion. I appreciate as well that the website will not publish or degrade upper level materials. Thank you.
 
 
+1 # Thoughtful 2009-10-15 15:11
Yes, like Time magazine -- a great example of a past critic that was off the mark. They were right about the organization being mafia-like, but generalized their attack onto LRH and Scientology tech, which is a wrong target.

And as for the upper levels, I'm doing my OT V outside the Church. And I think the creation of this website, having everyone involved, and all of your comments are a prime example of what "OT" is all about.

I've now added a new section into the article which is a defense of the OT levels. Let me know what you guys think.
 
 
+1 # Martin 2009-10-15 10:16
Steve, your writings really inspire and cheer the soul - perceptive, insightful and evocative. I think you've also demonstrated that communities can also have integrity, not just individuals, and as long as we all keep our own personal integrity we will be a very formidable group. The power generated by this new community of scientologists is wonderful, almost tangible, and growing. As I have personally discovered, the experience of getting the truth about the current CofS, as many others have observed, can be earth-shattering and this site and its associated community serve a great purpose as support for such people. On that note, let's not forget the current staff, esp. SO. We are talking about real people, mostly decent honest beings who only wanted to help. As more OTs leave, and the exodus of celebrities starts and the whole Miscavige empire starts imploding there will be many thousands of disorientated people who need good info and support. This site and Marty's blog etc serve a really valuable purpose in that regard. Actually I can quite easily see a time when some of the articles on this site will be on student checksheets, esp those studying the history of Scn. Lastly, Steve, I am saddened to see you've got a Corvette. Wouldn't you prefer getting from A to B without having to take your tool box with you?
 
 
# Thoughtful 2009-10-15 21:25
Thanks very much, Martin. I am in turn cheered and inspired by you. Don't knock Corvettes until you've been terrified by riding in one.
 
 
+1 # Condition changer 2009-10-15 12:09
Thank you for the brilliant, succinct answer that should clear up any confusion out there about the purpose of your group. Absolutely brilliant!

CC
 
 
+1 # Thoughtful 2009-10-15 15:15
I also want to tip my hat to all the whistle blowers across the decades who tried to do something about red flags they observed. In many cases they got mowed down by the organization. And in some cases huge injustices occurred.

The only difference between them and us is we have the Internet. Thank god for that. It is an unstoppable communication line that puts us all into communication and enables the facts to spread far and wide.

Many, many honorable people came before us. We are in their debt.
 
 
+1 # Thoughtful 2009-10-15 14:27
You're very welcomed. It is a pleasure. On the horizon will be an article about some important whistle blowers from the past who demonstrated incredible courage in the face of despicable suppression by David Miscavige. Please forgive my edits... I write, publish, and then edit!
 
 
+1 # M 2009-10-15 16:04
Again, I as a guy who is still connected sort of (been gone for about thereabouts a decade). I have been closely and deeply watching this all unfold from an ext point of view, and because I consumed most of my adult career.

I care deeply about Source, and that is mostly I believe in the philosophy of LRH, because it does work indeed. I know this for a fact, in auditing 25,000 hours of auditing for 20 years from the grades to FPRD, to NOTS. Keep in mind, I was ignorant 15 year old when I caught on.

This is an interesting ride indeed.
 
 
+1 # Inky 2009-10-15 20:32
Thanks for such a wonderfully written article. I admire everything you have written on this site.

Thanks also for acknowledging all the whistle blowers and those who were betrayed.

I read it within minutes of you updating the site and I see there are new sections. I look forward to perusing it again.
 
 
+1 # Eldon Braun 2009-10-16 04:54
These are interesting observations, Steve. I'm especially glad you acknowledged David Mayo, who is a kind-hearted and decent fellow -- wherever he might be laying low now.

You can expect some interesting developments on the religion front beginning October 27, when the verdict is due in the current French fraud trial. That case has been covered in English by a Brit journalist named Jonny Jacobsen as part of his research on a book. His blog is well worth reading.
http://infinitecomplacency.blogspot.com/2009/05/20-scientology-on-trial-in-france.html
(That's the introduction to 31 more articles and counting; see The Paris Trial links starting about midway down in the right column.)

In this trial, the prosecution initially sought to dissolve (legally shut down) Scientology in France as a criminal organization. Shortly before the trial began, however, a rewording of the law was mysteriously slipped through under the guise of "simplification" that eliminated that possibility. But no matter; the judge can still order that the organization cease to operate for five years; or that it cease using the OCA personality test, delivering the Purification Rundown, and using the e-meter for psychological evaluation. Those three prohibitions alone would mean that Scientology can't operate per policy.

There have been a few suicides in France by people who were financially ruined or cruelly disheartened. Last year, there was a scandal regarding a woman whose brother, an OT and medical doctor, kidnapped her for an Introspection Rundown that was as badly delivered as Lisa McPherson's. Fortunately she was rescued by the police. These tragedies are underscored by the fact that Scientology is not recognized as a religion, and that no religion is allowed to dispense or interfere with medical treatment anyway. That goes for Christian Science and the Jehovah's Witnesses, too. There have been similar problems with the Purif in Russia.

What it comes down to is that "freedom of religion" in some countries does not give an organization absolute license to extort money, practice medical quackery and engage in political manipulation as it pretty much does in the United States. If you think Scientology has a bad reputation there, check out the rest of the world.
 
 
# Inky 2009-10-16 13:38
Quoting Thoughtful:
Please forgive my edits... I write, publish, and then edit!

I love to read them more than once, so this is great!
 
 
# Cat 2009-10-17 13:06
To thoughtful, the site "ask the scientologist" has a great August post about the COS Imploding. Good post and it is happening.
 
 
# Scooter 2009-10-19 23:02
Great post, Steve and one I wholeheartedly agree with.

I've been out of the Cult of Miscavology for over a year now and I'd be still in there if it weren't for many earlier critics who braved the unknown and published what they'd experienced or found regardless of the (sometimes terrible) consequences.

Without the Net, they were lone voices crying in the wilderness. But they kept going because it was what they had as their personal integrity.

For those of us who've witnessed the miracles that can occur from even something as simple as an assist, we do need to keep pushing the message that "it isn't all bad - there is a different side than the one you have been told."

Too many have only heard one side - and that includes those in as well as those criticizing.

It's time to be different and apply that Personal Integrity - thank you again for doing that so eloquently, Steve.
 
 
# SK 2009-10-21 22:09
Awesome article. Thanks "Thoughful".
 
 
# John McMaster - not 2009-10-29 05:52
Thank you for writing the above and for the website. For me it rekindled a lot of my early intentions (scientologist since 1962, left the church 'officially' after LRH died)when I first contacted and started applying scientology.

What works, works. For me (most of) the early tech worked like a swiss watch. When "red on white" tech bulletins started becoming "beige on white", I knew we were in big trouble. "Keeping Scientology Working" was thrown out the window.

I never fully understood why in the current major portion of criticism of scientology one sees attacks on the tech along with the church, until I read the section above, "Critics of Scientology". Thanks for that too.

John McMaster - not
HSS VI OT VI
 
 
# Swampfox 2009-11-07 17:37
I would like to tell you that I have found David MisCavage, but that would be premature.I have found where to look for him. David is below death on the tone scale. Ron mentioned INVERSIONS of the tone scale, but I don't remember reading about inversions in the training materials of the church. Basicially, by inversion, I mean a mirror image of the tone scale. To handle something, you need to confront it, but you really can't confront it if you can't find it. To find David MisCavage, look at an inversion (mirror image) of the tone scale.(and remember, he is an OT, so don't expect him to be stuck on the tone scale). This is not meant as an invalidation of David MisCavage, but we really do have a situation that needs handling.
 
 
# Murray 2010-01-08 15:06
I am just getting to read this article you wrote and I can see why your handle is thoughtful. You said 10 mouth fulls much more eloquently than I could have and would have like to have said. This should be a must read for anyone entering this site. This is our stand

Thanks Thougtful
 
 
# Candy Swanson MSW 2011-02-08 10:52
Steve: So beautifully written and expressed: coincides with my reality precisely!

thank you all for being on this planet at this time, doing what you are doing.

Any way I can contribute, please let me know.

Aloha,
Candy Swanson
Ira Chaleff's first wife
John McMaster's companion SH Manor
Mary Sue's friend/Liability Cruise
Ron's top Power Missionaire
Yvonne's First Celebrity Auditor
friend of Scientology/Scientologists
 
 
# Ian Waxler 2012-07-13 09:35
Great job Steve..well written, lays it all out in black and white.. very appreciated by us all!
 
 
# Russell Whitehead 2014-10-03 23:23
What you have written is beautiful and although I have not paid much attention to the workings of The Church since I left in the late 70's I think you stated all that I had expected would happen to the church after LRH died. All that power and money! What more could an SP ever want and they always seen to be around when a such void is created.
Also, I really have to thank you for ending with Hubbard's Code Of Honor. I am a graduate of LRH's Personal Ethics and Integrity course and to see it again truly made my day.
 

Sorry, but you do not have the right to post comments.

Who's Online

We have 164 guests online

Statistics

Content View Hits : 12352466

New Articles

Support this website

Help keep truth flowing out.

Bookmark, Share

Embezzlement

Massive Ponzi Scheme

"So, on the model of an elaborate Ponzi scheme, Scientologists are coerced to 'invest' in the dissemination of Scientology... The Cob makes a show of carrying through, but in reality he pulls the funding..."  Learn More...

$70 Million Fraud

"The money is still coming in (approximately $70 million so far). The bank interest is about $200,000 per month and there is still over $200,000 in new donations per month... so you can see the strategy here..."  Learn More...

$100 Million Swindle

"The total amount spent to build his own office building (for Little Dickie and the few staff he has remaining) was right around $70 million... He spent another $30 million on the house next door (which is unoccupied)..."  Learn More...

Assault

Assault

"Specifically, on four separate occasions The Cob physically assaulted and violently battered individuals in my presence, sending a strong message that anyone in the room was likely to be next. Three other times he threw heavy objects at me or at my staff..."  Learn More...

Battery

"Assaulting staff members at the Int base became routine with many individuals being physically attacked over and over and over again. We are talking about repeated blows to the face, choking, dragging to the ground, ripping clothes, hitting with heavy objects and so forth..."  Learn More...

Human Trafficking

Insanity

"Only when you see the history as well as the present will you see the whole picture, the fingerprints, the moving force behind it all and its sheer madness..."  Learn More...

Coverup

"staff are "off-loaded" to far flung areas to work in "small, failing" organizations, bereft of their spouses and families..." Learn More...

Banishment

"Little Dickie in his twisted sociopath mind sees normal, productive people as “threatening” and therefore sees a need to destroy them..."  Learn More...

Elimination

"According to David Miscavige, demonstrated by his own actual statistics, 98% of the population is suppressive..."  Learn More...

Terrorism

Climate of Fear - Reign of Terror

"Ever-increasing savage actions created a climate of fear. You could be screamed at, ridiculed, spat on, embarrassed, threatened ferociously or beaten. You could lose Scientology, your friends, family, parents, split off from your spouse, no money, no job, cast out into the world penniless and alone if you ever dream of defying The Cob" Learn More...

Coercion

"For example, through his destructive policies Miscavige forced hundreds of female Sea Org members at International Management to get abortions when they got pregnant. When the media started to investigate that, he came up with the solution: he ordered that husbands and wives at International Management get divorced...."  Learn More...

Racketeering

Shaking Down Scientologists for Cash

"Through his programs and subverted staff he extorts Scientologists into 'donating' huge sums of money, forcing thousands into debt. It's a protection racket no different from thugs 'shaking down' local business owners for cash. His specialty is crushing people..."  Learn More...

How Church Financials Really Work

"It's a lot more viable to chase down millionaires who will donate $10 million for a hand shake, some applause and a metal pin. It's not a matter of saving the planet and all the poor suffering people... it's 'Where's the BIG, FAT, EASY MONEY?' -- that's what we're talking about!..."  Learn More...

Blackmail

Tax Exemption by Blackmail

"Miscavige bragged that he collared the IRS Commissioner Fred Goldberg in the hallway outside his IRS office and threatened to expose him. Private investigators hired by Miscavige had caught Fred in some unethical activity. Miscavige told Fred if he didn’t cooperate, he’d immediately ruin him with full-page ads in USA Today..."  Learn More...

Extortion of a Federal Official

"He also bragged to a number of staff who were close to him about how he illegally obtained information which he was able to use to blackmail the IRS official who granted the church tax exemption..."  Learn More...

Torture

Annie Tidman: Imprisoned for 2 Years

"Annie Broeker Tidman, Hubbard's personal assistant right up to the time of his death, realized that Miscavige was systematically and forcefully taking over the church. She attempted to escape to rejoin her husband but was caught and brought back to California, isolated and kept under guard on a remote property for over 2 years..."  Learn More...

Sadism in the SP Hall

"His most infamous sadistic moment was when he told them they were going to play 'musical chairs' and only the last person to get a chair would stay and the rest would vanish without even a chance to say good-bye to friends and family, husbands or wives. The game went on for hours as staff wept bitter tears. This delighted The Cob."  Learn More...

Abuse

Lisa McPherson's Demise

"Miscavige said he knew what was wrong and proceeded to write three paragraphs on what was to be said to this girl. The staff wondered how The Cob was even qualified to supervise auditing and even if he was, why hadn't he studied the folders first? The girl's name was Lisa McPherson and you know the rest."  Learn More...

Night of the Living Dead

"Moments later came a wail of inhuman agony unlike anything I have every heard in my lifetime, before or since. The screams were so incredibly loud. Louder than any sounds I could imagine a human could make. They filled the sky and the valley and my lonely office. 20 or 30 minutes they lasted..."  Learn More...

ScientologyReviews.com

scientology-reviews-website

Discover what people really say about all things Scientology

Shocking, unbiased consumer reviews covering every Scientology book, lecture, course, auditing level, organization and program — more than 300 in all. Probe the depths or write your own honest reviews.

Click to see Scientology Reviews

The Voice of iScientology

iscientology-website

An answer to the corrupt monopoly of Scientology

This website is a simple answer to those who tried to monopolize and corporatize spiritual freedom: An open gateway dedicated to helping people move up to higher levels of awareness and ability under their own steam.

Click to visit iScientology.org

31 Factors for Scientologists to Consider

The Pertinent Manifesto"Scientology has been taken over by a self-appointed dictator, David Miscavige, who has turned the Creed of the Church of Scientology, the Code of a Scientologist, and the Credo of a True Group Member on their heads and instituted the virtual practice of Reverse (Black) Dianetics..."  Learn More...

Opinion poll

Is David Miscavige a crook?
 
Website conceived, designed and optimized for search engines by Logo for Steve Hall Creative, Web Designer in Dallas, Texas