An interesting piece in the Minnesota Daily
Another inside view of an “ideal” org — empty like all the rest.
A few highlights.
The almost obligatory mention of Shelly and now the fact Dave is in hiding: Shelly hasn’t been seen publicly since 2007, and any comment on her whereabouts from the church seems vague to say the least. David, on the other hand, has disappeared more recently in wake of a civil child trafficking suit.
The results of his OCA were, surprise, surprise “unacceptable”: My OCA results considered me to be in a largely unacceptable state, only activity being deemed normal and aggressiveness being deemed desirable, and I was prompted to schedule an appointment at the local church. I did so excitedly.
The “ideal org” is “lavish”: The whole building was very lavish. It was entirely orange and brown, with large indoor waterfalls, countless shelves of books written by Hubbard — all available for purchase in the bookstore, obviously — and large televisions with over-the-top control panels where a remote would’ve done just fine.
But, the place was EMPTY: Despite this exercise in excess, I only saw five other humans during my entire stay.
The conclusion: Scientology is dying. They have been able to live off of money from their members at higher levels, but with their terrible publicity and lack of new members, they don’t seem to have much of a future.
“Based on my ex-Scientologist sources who worked in that building, they said there’s probably 25 or so members in this church,” Joey Peters, a reporter for Sahan Journal, said.
Peters had visited the church roughly five years ago for a story and found the place was struggling to bring in new members and was ineffective at recruiting.
The Atlanta org is always dead, too. I once drove slowly around its parking lot, which did stir staff to check me out. I don’t think they saw many cars pull into the place.
The Los Gatos, California Org is always the same 3 cars in the parking lot. I drive by every day and nothing changes. I signed up 10 years ago and they called me inaccessibly. Thank god I got a new phone number. Thank you, Mike, for what you’re doing, and keep it up. your book is amazing!
Detroit Org is just as empty, perhaps more so. When I was in there a couple of months ago, I saw 4 staff total to manage the 8-story tall building.
It’s a cryin’ shame …
Probably not applying the correct condition formula …
does anyone know just how many staff and actual active members there really are in the Twin Cities?
if it’s 25 members, and even if the previously ridiculously high staff to ‘public’ ratios have gotten more out of whack as the CoS shrinks down to a few aging (many retired) diehards like a Christian Science Reading Room, it’s hard to imagine the whole complement of staff is even 10.
also, there have been some reports from overseas, that the really small and struggling orgs are only actually open limited hours. do we even know that orgs like TC are really keeping the claimed regular hours?
Considering the average winter temps in the Twin Cities, I would LOVE to know the heating bills for that white elephant of a place. Or do the handful of staff just have to wear parkas and gloves indoors?
@Sue T: Since this was formerly a major destination point in the capital city, housing dinosaur exhibits and that huge “omni-theater,” one might imagine the space is enormous. And it is – I looked online and sounds like it is upwards of 80,000 usable square feet. With all the various utility spaces (not necessarily occupied, but paid to ventilate, heat or cool nonetheless throughout the year), that probably makes it more like 90,000 square feet.
Mike, I read your book “A billion years” a few months ago and meant to tell you how formidable a read it was. Besides explaining the many odd things happening and discrepancies when I was in, I was stunned at the amount of stuff you went through! Yet came back to the surface each time!
Talk about capability and integrity!
You really nailed how much the incessant stress on “I must have done something to pull it in” keeps grabbing you back in, even in the most outrageous situations.
That continual obsession is so two-faced! The glow and humbleness of “taking responsibility” immediately throws you into self-invalidation and introversion. And it does the trick of taking your attention off of the outrageous insanity you just saw and realized.
Truth-bending assholes!
Scientology is really over. Not just slowly dying but over!
Music to my ears. The world is starting to get it. “… arguably the most well-known cult in the world.”
Maybe one of these days that tiny group with a lot of power to decide who gets to NOT pay taxes, known as the IRS will get it too.
Sadly the bldg used to be a SCIENCE MUSEUM. That’s gotta hurt 🙁 – Idiocracy marches on.
Honest reporting – got to love it!
Scientology PR only deals in lies.
This was my (Home) Org.
In 1989 the Org was in a run down upstairs of a business.
By 1992, moved to 11th and Nicollet right by TV station WCCO (what could go wrong)? Lol
That was actually a great location, an old Architect building. Foot traffic was excellent going by, coffee, resturaunts, and shopping. Parking sucked but everything else was perfect.
Then all of a sudden, not good enough. Lots of people wanted to buy the old Org, after all it was in a prime location. Leadership held off for the highest bidder, or the bidder that would offer 10 times it’s value. Times changed, they had to secure the St Paul location and had to settle for far less than it was worth, some of which was because of the greed involved in wanting top dollar.
Where they are currently located in the old Childrens Science center, there is not a lot of foot traffic, it’s a drive by location. Plus if you do walk by and linger around the building, you will be shoed off!
Most of the people I know that made all those things happened, were dedicated to it, are dead, or broke from $$$$#. I believe the ED from way back is still there, several staff who have been there for decades are there, but not many more.
I was only in the new location once when it first opened for a fundraiser featuring Nancy Cartwright. I have not been there since.
It was a HUGE mistake to move from Nicollet, over burdening public, no new public, bad PR, and dedicated public dying, the internet. It is actually impossible for that Org in that location to survive let alone thrive. Oh, not to mention OTs in that area finally figuring out that the whole thing is bull shit, I know some of them. Yeah
DM screwed the pooch and could not be killing his own meal ticket better.
Twin Cities Morgue is the classic example of the ideal real estate scam put on by the Church of Scientology.
Scientology resorted to “eating their own” and destroying lives in exchange for money.
That is the tone level of the organization. Criminal and canabalizing their own members.
They will never recover. Too far gone.
There is not one Org on the planet doing well.
Scientology has been at “being nothing” on the Tone Scale slowly circulating the drain on a spiral down to “total failure”.
It’s over for Scientology.
I predict we will see the Ideal Org buildings now being sold.
I don’t think they can….most IRS scams involving so-called “religions” require continual reinvestment (regardless of profit or true benefit to the people around). That’s why Mormons build their many temples in areas where perhaps 100 Mormon people live.
Yeah… but Mormons have MEMBERS
and Scientology does not
and will not due to the continuous exposure of their many abuses and crimes against humanity in the best interest of Hubbard and now …for Miscavige.
The PR has damaged them beyond repair
Thanks to the internet
You are right of course. I just thought, when I watched Mike and Leah’s documentary that the two organizations had a LOT of similarities: a singular, charismatic founder who was and IS deified, whose writings are considered scripture; a metaphysical origin story that is significantly different from traditional Christianity; a financial trust fund of billions (funded by members’ tithes and offerings) which is never audited openly or investigated; secret ceremonies for the select; and in the past and possibly present time, shunning of those who questioned where families would split over belief/nonbelief.
“Over and Out”.
A very fitting name for someone who may have once belonged to this cult. I just wish I had thought of that name.
I recently made a post that predicted Little David would soon sell off everything he could and stash the cash and then dump and dash.
I hope we all get to witness him in handcuffs very soon.
“Fuck Scamatology”!
“Plus if you do walk by and linger around the building, you will be shoed off!”
Ruth, does the org own the sidewalk or area adjacent to the building? Serious question! I’m curious. Because if one “walks by” and lingers and yet is lingering on public property adjacent to private property one cannot be made to leave by owner of that private property. Of course, taking photos without permission of private property, that might be a different story. But just lingering in front of it for a while, just watching who goes in and who goes out, just standing there, not creating a disturbance of any kind, one could legally stand there all day, to my understanding, provided one’s feet were on public property. That’s how it is in my city, my state, at least.
Sidewalk is city. There is a you tube guy named First Amendment Auditor. He does just that. Videos on the street. He did a Twin City Org Audit. The staff came out, asked him to not film, and called the Cops. He did step on a step I think? Then apologized and got on the sidewalk, still no Bueno.
When they had the Org on the Nicollet Mall downtown, we had cookies, cider, all kinds of fun stuff so people could get out of the cold to watch the Parade of lights. There were nice big windows. It truely was open to the public.
“…they don’t seem to have much of a future..” Well, imagine that. An expensive, mind-bending fake cherch, a destroyer of family and finances, a cesspool of mentally enslaved victims, and it doesn’t have much of a future? And their only hope for rescue is an eighth grade dropout with delusions of grandeur, and anger-management issues?
Well, la de da.
p.s. To the many fine people still following, or wallowing, in Miscavige’s footsteps, a clear enlightenment, and much forgiveness, and a much better future awaits. Just walk away from whatever org holds you in thrall, with or without passport. Freedom is only a few steps and a few minutes away. Heck, the Aftermath Foundation will probably call a cab, and pay the driver, if that’s what will help you get free.
“A cesspool of mentally enslaved victims”…
THAT ^^^^^
IS a perfect description of
WHAT IS Scientology.
6 words describes it all!
Absolutely brilliant.
Thanks Ammo!
Is a Jonestown event possible? I don’t know.
In Scientology doctrine (if I recall correctly) the Spirit is immortal. Permanent death isn’t possible. If David Miscavige gives the order a mass suicide is possible.
I don’t think so.
If not for their #1 rule to not complain/natter between each other, there would be no one left long ago.
Once they each heard a little but now many are hearing a lot!
The comedians all get it and the audiences too.
There is no way they can unknow what they’ve heard and I think we are up to 5 news podcasts/utube chanells exposing their crimes.
No one will listen to orders from DM anymore.
Get your own Micellians….
I could be wrong, but I feel like Scientology is too “suburban” and “bookish” to get everyone emotionally revved up to a point of mass suicide. Then again, if an order was decreed from the top, I can imagine at least a small percentage, especially in the Sea Org, might go all the way.
Scientologists are committing suicide by being stuck in the dangerous organized criminal organization hiding behind the religious cloak.
Their dreams are dead. They have no life of their own.
They are unduly influenced with no awareness of that fact
They are abused and used then discarded without sorrow
They are trapped with no abilities or skills to think for themselves.
They die sometimes fast, mostly slow
But they are dead long before they are gone.