Sure makes me wonder how this particular quote "helped me so much." It’s pretty convoluted — sort of sums up to not being careful I guess... Because in primitive societies if "he got too messed up, he didn't have any tremendous strings on him..." Apparently a high mortality rate was a good thing? The more distance I have from Hubbard-think, the more crazy I think it is. And things that I probably would have just accepted as great wisdom a decade or more ago now seem merely silly. It’s always a reminder how deeply ingrained the “think” is. Gibberish as inspiration. And when shared … [Read more...]
Clearwater Follies
Leah and I were speaking with our old friend Mark Bunker, who was telling us about the injunction scientology obtained against him and other members of the Lisa McPherson Trust back in 1998. Amazingly, scientology still seeks to enforce this injunction against him to this day – its language prevents him from protesting in front of some specified scientology buildings and from coming within 10 feet of any scientologist (it’s a mystery how he is supposed to know who is or isn’t a scientologist…) but they tried to get him thrown out of his condo because a scientologist lived next door, and … [Read more...]
That’s Some Ideal Mission
The big push to "go ideal" is happening at the perpetually moribund Foothills Mission. There is in fact no such thing as an "Ideal Mission" -- there is a policy by Hubbard called "The Ideal Org" which is what is used to name the concept Miscavige has foisted off of raising money to buy and renovate a new building for an old church. In fact, the "ideal orgs" don't resemble the Hubbard policy. But there isn't even a policy about "Ideal Missions" so this is even more squirrel... BUT, it's being touted as a new fundraising cause: Now for the big reveal of what is going to become the … [Read more...]
Regraded Being
Thursday Funnies
Huh? All you know from this poster is they will be asking for money... The point being? Give us your money of course. Better off sticking with the first 5 words After that, it's just about taking your money. It's vitally important news You need to give us more money. Not so much... But REALLY concerned about whether downtown Clearwater has any future at all How to be unstoppable Brought to you by the people who cannot get anyone to come to their ship even though it's the only place in the universe where the first … [Read more...]
Dublin Ideal Org Fail
More "ideal org" fail. This one is a complete enigma. A single, bankrupt Mission suddenly became an "ideal org". For no good reason. Staff were imported from around the world and Miscavige displayed his ribbon yanking prowess for all to see (well, "all" being scientologists only, who had to be flown in for the occasion to make it look like there were at least a couple of hundred interested enough to pay their respects). Now, reality has set in. Someone alerted me to their Facebook page where they are trying to get people to use their auditorium. This posting has ONE comment … [Read more...]
Quebec Ideal Org Fail
This was a recent article in Canada about the Quebec City "ideal" org. There are a few things of note. The sleaze that scientology staff are "volunteers" has worked in a lot of countries and states. Apparently, their luck ran out in Quebec. It is a farce to claim that people who often work 60, 70 or 80 hours a week on a "staff pay system" with contracts that have enforcement clauses if the full term is not served are "volunteers." It strains all credibility when you see the recruitment pitches to join offering $500 to $1000 per week (see last Thursday Funnies). As the … [Read more...]
Scientology Hype
It's Maiden Voyage season again -- "A celebration so spectacular it will take your breath away" -- and the hype-o-meter is peaking. Actually, it's that time of year David Miscavige makes a scuba diving trip to the Caribbean and "the elite" (used to be OT VIII's only, but there are no longer enough of them with enough money to fill the ship) are told to attend to listen to 4 events "up close and personal." Each year it is the same pattern. They start with an event recognizing the "amazing work" of the "OT Ambassadors" doing crazy fundraising events, along with some false stats they … [Read more...]
Groups, Collaboration, and the Bank
I know there are some withdrawal symptoms accompanying the end of the Sunday Serial. To help, here is another of Terra's signature essays. Groups, Collaboration, and the Bank In Keeping Scientology Working, L. Ron Hubbard wrote, “The common denominator of a group is the reactive mind. Thetans without banks have different responses. They only have their banks in common. They only agree on bank principles. Person to person the bank is identical.” I don’t think so. The common denominator of a group is not the reactive mind. Such a notion is not only a gross … [Read more...]
Make Money (So We Can Sucker You In)…
Companion to the post of a couple of days ago Make More Money (So We Can Take It)... This is another twist on the "prosperity doctrine" that informs everything in scientology. Creflo Dollar and his prosperity theology have nothing on scientology. This one is a new approach. Offer to teach "wogs" how to make money, and use that as bait to get them to do a Comm Course! Scientology: It's all about the money. … [Read more...]