If you have not seen the movie Glengarry Glen Ross, it is well worth watching. It's a look into the cold-hearted world of high-pressure sales. Could well be based on the IAS or any of the numerous other "regging" activities in the world of scientology. That there is even a "workshop" in a "church" that teaches "effective closing" is a pretty sad indictment of just how far afield this "church" has strayed. That they promote it to the general public and offer a free meal in order to entice people to attend is even sadder. … [Read more...]
Ideal Org “Successes” A Work In Progress
Apparently these "ideal" orgs don't have anyone actually completing anything to give "success stories" so they resort to getting (and publishing) "successes" from people "in progress" on services. This is the best they can come up with? A further indictment of the complete failure of the "ideal org" program and GAG II. … [Read more...]
Scientology’s View On Psychiatry
As I listened to Sylvia Stanard respond to a question about the scientology view of psychiatry at the Chauquatua conference (see at 1:19;45), I could not help but be amazed a the "spin" she sought to put on this. She claims that the church is only opposed to the "mind altering drugs, ECT and abuses in the field of mental health." An "acceptable truth" -- along with so many others she delivered that day -- but you have to wonder why when addressing a sophisticated audience of "thinkers and seekers" she didn't tell them the real truth? Why NOT explain the REAL beliefs of the church? No … [Read more...]
Pervasive “Black PR” On Scientology
A recent email from one of the people that delivers seminars in orgs and is touted as one of the "great disseminators" of our time. It provides some interesting insight into the general public's view of scientology and how things are going from bad to really bad. You've got to make sure you "inoculate" everyone, because all they know about scientology is bad. And this is the fastest growing religion on earth? More than doesn't quite add up.... the cognitive dissonance of these people is mind-blowing. From: Randall Michael Tobin [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, J … [Read more...]
Lessons Of History: Jonestown
Two Special Correspondents separately sent me information about the Jonestown tragedy in the last few days. And looking over what they sent, it seems there is a point to be made. First, I have long felt that there is no mass suicide in the future of scientology and I haven't changed that view. But I believe there are other fates that are the scientology equivalent of suicide (bankruptcy, destroyed families, despair at ever 'getting up the Bridge') and that the end story of scientology will be when everyone has been reduced to one or all of those states. The sign above Jim Jones' " … [Read more...]
Objectives End Phenomena: Give More Money
A quick posting before a more important one this afternoon. A couple of comments about this particular piece: 1. It is a further indicator of the increasingly prevalent pattern noticeable in the "successes" that are published by the church where they expound the "party line". "Acceptable" success stories include statements that are known to be what the church wants. Either parroting the promo for the service ("I have a clear mind now" after the Purif or "my OT perceptions are amazing now I can sense the salinity of my blood" after Super Power) or it's something like this "I went 'to … [Read more...]
Portland Ideal Org Is Pathetic
Below is the real "ideal org" in the "first clear city", Portland. We have earlier reported on the sad state of this org (see here, here and here) -- even though it is used as an "example" of how things "boom" in ALL "ideal orgs" the minute their doors swing open. A fairy tale to match the Wizard of Oz, and in many ways the analogy is apt. What you see is their OWN promotion. Proudly announcing that ALL their "most Dauntless, Defiant and Resolute IAS Supporters" were in attendance. It's THEIR shots, the best they have, not someone sneaking in for a "gotcha moment" that was taken during a … [Read more...]
Flag OTC Minutes And New Program
Well, the "minutes" have become virtually useless. With no information included, they are certainly not going to inspire anyone into action... I let a few stack up and if I don't have anything urgent I publish them just for the sake of having a record. And letting OSA know that their efforts to prevent these from falling into the "wrong hands" are not going so well. Don't forget, this is the FLAG OTC -- the biggest and baddest of them all. And they have absolutely NOTHING to say other than announce a few completions (Student Hat? Objectives?) and some vague … [Read more...]
The Most Ethical Group On Earth
Some of you may have noticed this item in the Sunday Funnies at the Underground Bunker. I found it a bit disturbing, but not for the usual Valley money grubbing reasons. This is the poster promoting the event: James Barbour hasn't been seen for many years. Back in the mid 2000's, he was one of the "A-list" musicians who was invited to perform on the Freewinds for MV. But then he got himself into trouble. Big time. Here is a summary from his Wikipedia page. In April 2006, Barbour was arrested and charged with having inappropriate relations with … [Read more...]
Some OTC Minutes
One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We’re no longer interested in finding out the truth. The bamboozle has captured us. It’s simply too painful to acknowledge, even to ourselves, that we’ve been taken. Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back. Carl Sagan This seems to be an appropriate quote to sum up the state of these "OT Ambassadors." While many OT Committees now send out their "minutes" hard copy to try and avoid them falling into the hands of the sm … [Read more...]
The Most Deluded Valley Competition
The two "Valley" orgs seem to be competing for the title of "Most Deluded Valley": Silicon opens the bidding with an announcement that on 2 August, THEY will be announcing the beginning of world clearing. Wonder what all those other orgs that are telling people that they ARE Clearing the Planet think about this? Isn't every "ideal org" already clearing the planet for real? And so is Flag with Sooper Power.... These guys are a day (decade?) late and a lot of dollars short. But running neck and neck with them in the crazy stakes is the "valley girls" Valley: These guys have a … [Read more...]
Scientology’s Irish Eyes Aren’t Smiling
Below is an article from the Irish Times yesterday reporting on the accounts statement filed for the Mission of Dublin. Of course, it is about 2 years overdue, but that really only tells us that it must be FAR worse by now. Their reported income is less than half the previous year, so it's no doubt continued to plummet since. There is no reason to believe otherwise. The photo above is what the Mission looks like currently. Remember this is the ONLY Dianetics and Scientology "organization" in Ireland. The last 30 years of unprecedented expansion under Mr. Miscavige seems to have missed … [Read more...]
Who Good Scientologists Should Vote For
Of course, the church cannot directly endorse any political candidates as this would be a violation of their exempt status (possibly the least egregious one they would be guilty of, but nevertheless very visible and thus difficult to deny). So, they grab some "OT Committee" people and have them do the dirty work for them. These ventriloquist puppets are NOT sending this out without coordinating with the church first. In fact, apparently the efforts to influence the local community are heating up -- OSA recently held a briefing (it's funny how this, like everything else, is tied to the new … [Read more...]
LA Org Is Going St Hill Size. Again.
In keeping with the theme of do and redo that permeates the world of corporate scientology, LA Org ED's are shouting from the rooftops that they are "going St Hill Size"? They have apparently (and conveniently) forgotten they did this already, back in the 90's, and with much ballyhoo. And that they sold people on joining to "get their OT levels" because they are St Hill Size and "per 339R we have a Universe Corps" (even though they never had one). So typical of Kool Aid drinkers. They have selective memory. This announcement is as silly as Obama holding a press … [Read more...]
CC Gala — What’s Missing?
Here is the latest promo piece for the annual CC Gala. JT is featured prominently - twice. Is he doing another ethics handling and has committed to attend for sure as part of his amends? Jenna Elfman and Laura Prepon, Mark Isham and Chick Corea are also shown. Jenna, Mark and Chick are card-carrying Kool Aid drinkers. Laura may be in the same boat as JT -- in a bit of trouble for being gay in Orange Is The New Black, or they just happened to use a photo of JT that she is in from a previous Gala. But the real issue here is who they are NOT showing... The greatest disseminator in the h … [Read more...]