Yes, quietly disappearing was the best way to avoid it all. For me, it was the bullying from a dedicated staff member which had me walking away. If I had remained in his presence for a minute longer, I’d punched the SOB squarely in the mouthy. That is the way I felt at that moment. Nevertheless, walking away is what I did. After not living with my daughters during those very young years that makes a father, they walked out themselves, leaving. husbands and ex-husbands behind. Seven years later for my youngest. Eleven years for the oldest. Now with two children of her own and both gals in there 50s, I feel safe that life will open up sanely to them without the need to force people to change. One more thing crosses my mind: in my 30s, journeyman carpenter in San Francisco carpenters’ union, good wages knew my stuff, or so I thought. Working for scientology contractors, was a thing in itself. Never good enough. “My TRs where out”. That is when I got my own California state contractor’s License. It was one hell of a pain in the ass living at that time. I could go on and on. One of these days I will. Especially the marriage desolation.my kids not with me. Christ all mighty, one hell of a pain in the ass.

P S: I had thought I was on the right path: 1) stretching and yoga before heading out to work in the early morning, 2) 20-30 minutes of Zazen, 3) eating “well”, read his book and “sat” with Phillip Kapleau while in military (drafted ’65, Vietnam era as well as my zazen at San Francisco Zen Center. But HELL NO. All OF THAT HAD TO STOP. And it did. I became the perfect Scientologist. On course. Interned auditing courses. Did not want to. Nevertheless, I was the cat’s meow to my kids for doing so.

9perhaps
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Interesting history.

Dave – Great idea.
To add to that, have it video’d like a court TV show. Explain the procedure to the TV audience before starting and then, film the whole procedure.
At the end, just like American Idol, have two numbers so that the people can vote. The committee will make it’s own mind up but have, as a secondary tally, those of the public who think he’s guilty (and should be declared and ejected from the Church) or not guilty (and should be handled in ethics for the things that brought on the comm ev – and then be given 100 hours of Sec checking!).
Well, that last part was a joke I couldn’t resist but really, give the people a chance to vote. It would be an interesting survey indeed.

I can’t speak for anyone else. I would certainly do away with them. It’s what I said earlier — put it all in the free market. What works will survive, what doesnt will die.

Hi Mike, what I’m concerned about are the practices that Hubbard built into scientology: sec checking (!); informing on one’s friends and family with Knowledge Reports; disconnection; fair game; use of derogatory terms to refer to non scientologists; accepting children into the sea org; the exhortation to make money, make more money; over boarding; ‘shore stories’ and all the other lies… I could go on. These things are written into policy. In that respect I think Gloria has a point. Miscavige isn’t entirely responsible for those. Will the indie community do away with those issues? Do they see them as a problem?

I think it’s amazing that in the early 80’s (when I got in,) the course rooms were packed and the buildings were crappy. Now the buildings are nice and the course rooms are empty. I think this image that Mike posted in an earlier article really sums up the vision for the future. http://i1.wp.com/www.mikerindersblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/DK-WhatdoyougetENG8.jpg

Notice there are NO PEOPLE IN THIS PICTURE.

+100, Mike. LRH and I corresponded through the 70’s and 80’s and his humanity shown through his letters. His real care for my well being and successes were not only real in his words but in the carrier wave that they were sent on.
Ron never said he was perfect. He wasn’t kidding when he said he slept with banditos (or whichever word he used) and hob nobbed with the aristocrats. He tried things, lived life, was a scoundrel, Mary Sue had to remind him to do a danger condition when he got in a motorcycle accident. haha
Sometimes he was mean and sometimes he was bigger than life in his caring. Roll all that up and you come out with a human being.
A human being who was working diligently to go against the crashing waves of the slave-makers to free people from their grip as well as from the grip of their own, self-imposed slaveries. Seeing as how he made some headway, I forgive him for his human mistakes. It’s up to him to find his own forgiveness for himself.

Now, if all Scientologists really applied this honestly, this whole charade would be over and done with…instantly!