The bs just keeps rolling when it comes to the “ideal orgs” campaign.
The small, failing org that was originally in Ann Arbor, Michigan has never been more than a tiny mission. This “ideal org” story begins back in 2001, even BEFORE the official launch of the Ideal Org program. They were unable to pay their rent and had to move. A building was on the market in Battle Creek for cheap.
This is a small town 50 miles west of Ann Arbor (which is on the outskirts of Detroit metropolitan area and is home to the huge University of Michigan) in the middle of nowhere. Battle Creek only has a population of about 50,000.
Here is how it was reported in the press at the time (2001):
The Church of Scientology – which has been criticized in California, Florida and other states for its business and spiritual practices – has two churches in Michigan, one in Detroit and the other in Ann Arbor.
Now that the group has purchased the 71-year-old, four-story downtown structure from a Grand Rapids bank for $235,000, the Ann Arbor church may eventually close.
Parishioners in western Michigan and northern Indiana will likely be able to attend services in a temporary location in Battle Creek by early July. It will take at least a year to refurbish the first floor of the hotel for church purposes.
No doubt it was a steal.
But there was NO logic to it except this. Battle Creek is famous for one thing — it is the “cereal capital of the world” because both Kellogg’s and Post have a long history there.
It is where one of the Kellogg brothers established a sanitarium providing “sometimes bizarre treatments” as featured in the movie The Road to Wellville.
This hotel was formerly known as the Kellogg hotel, and that made it extra valuable for David Miscavige. Just think of the cache of owning the former “Kellogg Hotel”. I recall him announcing this to a standing ovation — as if scientology had achieved a status that now put it on equal footing with the Kellogg cereal empire.
What Miscavige probably didn’t bother to look into was that the Kellogg’s also funded organizations that promoted eugenics theories such as the Better Race Institute. And of course everyone knows that eugenics is a psych program – CCHR’s “Industry of Death” museum makes that point repeatedly.
So, Ann Arbor org became “Battle Creek” org and for nearly 20 YEARS they have been waiting to raise enough money to move into the old hotel they bought.
You can see how close they are…
They can only round up 4 or 5 people for a PHOTO SHOOT, and that of course includes the symbol of dedicated determination, Tony the Tiger of Frosted Flakes fame.
The story of Battle Creek is a microcosm of the story of ideal orgs around the world. Despite the claims that it is proof of “massive expansion” it is in fact the best evidence of massive failure. As scientology tries to scrape together more money and find a handful of people interested in participating in these failed projects in city after city, the propaganda lines about “unprecedented demand” and “fastest growing” and “coolest religion on earth” become increasingly laughable.
I personally know that one of their parishioners passed away and left an unsurmountable pile of debt to his fiance. This was over five years ago. They still harass her for money.. money she doesn’t have. But they have to build that Ideal Org!! I also know that there are more members of that org, they are just not pictured. I wouldn’t want to be either. That place is an embarrassment to scientology.
Hahaha! Yes I noticed it wasn’t the real costume.
Great comment!
I love when my worlds collide! SDA – Kellogg – COS.
I was raised Seventh Day Adventist, the religion that founded the sanitarium where Dr. John Harvey Kellogg treated patients.
The book and movie were extremely embarrassing to the denomination, at the time. I was instructed not to read or watch it. Something about not making fun out of the Lord’s work. (As I have said before, some of us SDA’s were not allowed to read the Sunday Comics! Laughing is not allowed. As I’ve also said, my family was definitely more toward the culty end of the spectrum.)
One set of great grandparents worked for John Harvey and my other great grandmother worked for W.K. in his home on Kellogg Hill in Pomona.
And many of the weird, weird, weird things that Kellogg practiced were passed through the generations. Most of my extended family is still in the faith.
I got sent to an SDA boarding school one year in the eighties as punishment. There I met an engaging, handsome mod young man, who, while Adventist, was also a Scientologist. We had classes together and he told me about Happy Valley, LRH’s teachings, and showed me some glossy magazines with uniforms and swords and glowing praise.
Years later we reconnected and he sold me Dianetics, which made no sense to me. But I did tell him that Paul Haggis was a hero of mine, based on that old Parade article, where he talks about succeeding despite not making it in college. (Do you smell my ruin?)
He convinced me that I could actually meet and talk with Paul Haggis…someday. First I must take, I think, the Comm class, which I dutifully made arrangements to do. I was working three part time jobs, so it meant I would have to attend the course in LA, drive back 74 miles, and do my typing job, but I had lived on little sleep for a long time.
On Wednesday, April 29, 1992, the scheduled course date, I went to my first job, then stopped by my boyfriend’s work to tell him I was driving LA, where I learned of the newly unfolding events. I watched, with the world, as chaos erupted. I opted not to go.
COS charged me anyway and berated me for my cowardice. I said, “no way,” to the organization.
But I have always wondered about the person who would have gotten me in. It appears to be him in a couple crowd shots of the Shrine for the “We Stand Tall” video.
That curiosity led me to this site, which has helped me extricate myself from cults. Yes, multiple. SDA, Mormon, New Age. Holy cow, I was a target. But not now. Thank you, Mike Rinder and Chris Shelton!
Last I heard he was in Michigan. I wonder if he is still in. (His sister appears to be.) So this would be his Ideal Org? Which, I gotta say, would have some added significance since he was once an Adventist.
As for me, I became a COS watcher. I was in a good position for it, coincidentally, as a musician at a church virtually next door to the CC. Three years ago I even saw the dwarf himself! So tiny! But then, so is Michael Trevessor, another cult leader I have “happened” to run into.
SDA – Kellogg – COS
“C” – Interesting story! Thanks for sharing. Small World as they say. haha
BTW what was happening in 1992?
The riots.
Gus – Got it. Thanks.
C – I once read a comment from a blown or bogged Buddhist who decided to get into Scientology. I guess he was looking for a faster path to enlightenment.
Wow! Absolutely fascinating when worlds collide. TY for sharing C.
Mike, Mike, you are such a suppressive, denying the reality of Scientology’s expansion.
There are 7 or 8 people in that Battle Creek photo if you look carefully! Straight up and vertical!
Seriously, this is a great examination of a classic example of a small and failing org (SFO), and how some like it exist only due to accidents of history, personality and internal organizational machinations.
I suspect that the Ann Arbor mission originally did fairly well due to being the home of the popular Ruth Minshull, who wrote some of the books that used to be sold in Scientology bookstores before they were purged of everything but Hubbard works. That, and maybe some of the stat pushes and asset grabs that were going on at some point, resulted in it being made into “church” org even though it didn’t really have enough business, and wasn’t located in an area with a large enough population to draw on, to be viable. Then, as it started to fail – probably in part due to Scientology’s no longer being able to recruit from their old prime demographic of college students in a college town like Ann Arbor – it seems that a couple of the remaining members of the org with the most influence and means got it moved where they lived, Battle Creek.
Also, about a decade ago, the org announced plans to renovate part of the space in the old hotel building they had bought, and use it until they could renovate the rest. That was of course another failed pronouncement, and they’ve been left with the typical “ideal” org project problem of paying taxes for years on property they own but can’t use, while still having to pay rent for an office. About 2 years ago they downgraded from a typical walk-up space in the downtown businessl area, to what is probably some of the cheapest commercial space in an outlying area.
Yes, the neighborhood they’re in now is on North Ave., near downtown. Not a great neighborhood. The sign outside that advertises a “free stress test,” kills me. As if. And, is it true that new and low level Scientologists are not even aware of the crazy “theology” of the group? And, they also seem unaware that LRH was most likely mentally ill, probably pyschotic? And, that he treated his wives and children shamelessly? WHY DOES SCIENTOLOGY STILL RECEIVE TAX STATUS???
Yea Tony the tiger….. i smell lawsuit……
I look at that tiger suit and can only think of how unBEARibly hot it must be in there.
I still can’t figure out why they keep pushing the whole “Ideal” org thing.?
They should know by now that so many have left their cult and the die hard have already been sucked try. The only ones left are celebs and I don’t see Travolta, Kelly Preston, Ann Arber or The other woman from “CHEERS ” doing ANY new shows or movies for a LONG time now. I guess the” Ideal” org promo continues because Miscavage charges rent and such from each one?
Hasn’t this guy raked in enough money already?
The Ideal Org is being sold to Scientologists because it gives them something to look forward to. A big goal and once it happens – THEN we can clear the planet. Meanwhile – Scientology clears the bank accounts of the poor souls who fell victim to the scam.
The “ideal” org scheme is apparently still bringing in plenty of money for them, it keeps members distracted from the fact that Scientology is actually shrinking – and it keeps the IRS distracted from the question of whether or not Scientology is really serving any public benefit, given all their assets.
Thats not the Kellogg’s Tony suit, its a fake.
So is the next slogan gonna be “YOU EAT KELLOGGS CEREAL??? YOU HAVE TO JOIN STAFF!!!!!”
Wonder if they’ve gotten the tiger to join staff yet?
As L look back to 1972, Scientology was able to evolve because Hubbard claimed that he was source and original. Blavatsky had been forgotten and Hubbard was able to copy her. Having stolen her viewpoint, he was able to market it. These few who evolve into Scientology are the people prone to the occult viewpoint who cannot be educated.
Can you refer me please to Blavatsky’s work on the tone scale, objectives and running exact processes to ep? Like to read the originals.
Theosophy contains its own idea of the tone scale which Hubbard changed. You can check early Theosophy with Charles Ledbeader and a few others. There was a book written in the early 20th Century which was very popular. I’ll look up the title. You can also check Rudolph Steiner. Blavatsky was the first to originate the occult idea of an e-meter for spiritual progress. Hubbard invented a few processes. After seventeen years and hundreds of thousands, I can honestly say there was no spiritual progress from Hubbard. Good luck.
All my life I’ve taken in stray, injured and/or unwanted dogs and cats and sometimes birds, rehabilitated them and either kept them as pets or given them away or, in the case of birds, set them free. Just call me the urban or suburban version of Ellie May Clampett. I always had “critters” coming or going or staying and I’ve never purchased a dog or a cat or a bird in my entire life.
A good while back, when I had a place with a yard, a large, female mixed breed i wandered in. She was in seriously bad shape. She had mange, she had ticks. Her eyes were cloudy and dull. She was bone thin. I tried to get a leash around her neck. I was going to first get some food into her and then take her to the vet, get her cleaned up, etc. She wouldn’t let me near her. She was half dead on her feet, probably from hunger and exhaustion and God knows what else, but she was faster than she looked like she’d be. She walked away. She couldn’t run but she was tricky – she kept swerving away. I chased her like this for nearly a mile with the leash. Couldn’t get her. And at times I could see how – some might laugh at this but I could see how conflicted she was. Twice, she ALMOST let me come near enough to her to put the leash and collar on her. She’s let me approach and then she’d back away and start walking swiftly and dodging here and there. I went thru peoples’ yards…it was a little embarrassing…long story short I got tired and gave up.
I felt bad. I could have helped that dog. At the very least I could have made her final days more comfortable. But she wouldn’t let me. She was too afraid.
Sometimes, when I think of the Still Ins, and their stubborn stupidity, their seeming utter obliviousness to being duped, again and again – sometimes, I get angry at them and dismiss them with contempt.
Other times, I feel sad for them. They could be helped, if they’d only allow it. In their heart of hearts they KNOW they’re being conned. But they can’t…take the chance. They can’t trust
And my feeling of sadness for them is the same feeling of sadness I had, and still have, when I think of that dog, back in the day. That dog had been so neglected and abused that she couldn’t, just couldn’t take the chance, with me.
You are a good person, Aqua.
Thanks, but I don’t think so, really. I just have a way with animals. Dogs, cats, horses, even certain wild animals – bears, wolves – I could tell you stories – they like me, for some reason. Maybe because I like them.
With an animal, unless its totally just too far gone because of the way it was trained, or the abuse it suffered – with an animial you can, with time, and patience – lots of patience – and kindness, always draw out the basic personality.
Some people can do this with people. I can’t. Anyone who can do this with people is a miracle worker.
With an animal, its much easier. Its a matter of time, patience and consistent kindness. You ignore getting bitten or snapped at.
Then one day – Poof! They change. They change, right in front of your eyes. Their whole personality changes, permanently. They’re happier. They trust you, like you. Sometimes they bond with you totally. Sometimes they even look different. Its kind of fun, to create this effect on an animal. For me, anyway.
And in the instances of a bear and some wolves, maybe also because they didn’t happen to be hungry at the time 🙂
First- sorry about the gravatar change- I had to post a picture for an online class I’m teaching through blackboard and it changed all of the pictures in my account- don’t know what happened there. anyway- I see a pattern with these ideal orgs and the lack of progress. I’m hoping that it is becoming even more apparent to the “public” members and that they are quickly and quietly cutting back on participation as their first step out of the cult. Their latest posts seem tinged with a desperation that can only be seen as positive for people opposing the cult. Add to that the negative press and the publishing of stories through aftermath foundation and the recent awards that have been bestowed on both Mike and Leah, and I’m thinking the end days are coming. It will be interesting to see what happens when the only ones left are those close to DM and the sea org members….
Kat, your avi STILL depicts an attractive girl. I see no reason for you to apologize.
Kat, keep in mind that Scientology seems to be on a push to get the last of these languishing “ideal” facility projects done, finally – by bailing them out, with outside money. They’re still keeping up the illusion of “expansion” as much as they ever have, and keeping up a pace of opening a couple of new facilities a year in the US.
Kat I love this pic!! You look empowered.
Battle Creek is n WESTERN Michigan. A VERY conservative and Christian part of the US. Scamology has less of a chance there than a Church of Lucifer would have.
Wynski said:”Battle Creek is [in] WESTERN Michigan. A VERY conservative and Christian part of the US. Scamology has less of a chance there than a Church of Lucifer would have.”
Lucifer, scientology; tomAto, tomäto; 6 of one, half a dozen of another. (I couldn’t resist using a semi-colon).[Take that, Dwarfenführer!]
Someone once asked me if scientology was Satanic which of course I vigorously denied. In hindsight it might have some relation to Luciferianism in theory.
From the Wikipedia article on Luciferianism:
[The Luciferian philosophy in recent years has been defined in a collective foundation, known as the “11 Luciferian Points of Power”,[28] authored by Michael W. Ford. The basis of Luciferian philosophy cultivates and encourages individuality, self-determined choices based on strategic application and continually seeking to enhance the Will via overcoming challenges. Luciferianism is philosophically practiced with the continual cycle and process known as Liberation, Illumination and Apotheosis.
For Luciferians, enlightenment is the ultimate goal. The basic Luciferian principles highlight truth and freedom of will, worshipping the inner self and one’s ultimate potential. Traditional dogma is shunned as a basis for morality on the grounds that humans should not need deities or fear of eternal punishment to distinguish right from wrong and to do good. All ideas should be tested before being accepted, and even then one should remain skeptical because knowledge and understanding are fluid. Regardless of whether Lucifer is conceived of as a deity or as a mere archetype, he is a representation of ultimate knowledge and exploration as well as humanity’s savior and a champion for continuing personal growth.]
……………………………………………………….
Good luck with that in scientology
The Scientology philosophy has been defined in a collective foundation known as the Church of Scientology authored by L. Ron Hubbard. The basis of Scientology philosophy encourages individuality, self determined choices based on strategic application and continually seeking to enhance the Will via overcoming challenges. Scientology is philosophically practiced with the continual cycle known as auditing.
For Scientologists, Total Spiritual Freedom is the ultimate goal. Whether L. Ron Hubbard is conceived as a deity or as a mere archetype, he is a representation of ultimate knowledge and exploration as well as humanity’s savior and a champion for continuing personal growth.
That’s religion for you.
Most Organized religion, that is.
Richard, I’d suggest a starting point of Aleister Crowley’s motto “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law” – which the Church of Satan of Anton LaVey adopted, along with a cross very similar to Crowley’s just as Hubbard used as a symbol, while Scientology carries out the spirit of the motto. Some new religious movement (NRM) scholars identify Hubbard’s CofS and LaVey’s CofS as the two offshoots of Crowley’s Thelema and OTO – siblings, essentially. It’s no accident that The Process, a rather Satanic offshoot of Scientology, sort of recombined the two.
I’d say it all falls under the broader category of Rationalist Satanism. Hubbard took a sort of space-opera Luciferian path, while LaVey took one of ritual Satanism, but they retain the same essential elements of focus on ego, will, and an ends-justify-the-means worldview.
PeaceMaker – Good points. If nothing else Hubbard was imaginative and creative in drawing from several sources in starting his own “religion”. No doubt his participation in Thelema with Jack Parson got his wheels turning in the direction of making a million by starting his own religion.
By the 1970s when I participated he had withdrawn the occult aspects from public view and presented scientology as a logical or even scientific approach to self improvement and self awareness. Myself and I think most other people accepted it as such. The background information was there but someone would need to go digging to find it.
In 1975 I was looking for something interesting to do but it wasn’t finding a new mystical religion!
Church of Lucifer, LOL!
Yes, you’re right. I live here. The churches are absolutely packed on Sundays. The Scientologist’s pitiful church on North Ave., never has more than 2 or 3 cars in the parking lot.
Some people joined because they were searching for something that was missing in their life. Some joined because it was “the” latest fashion, the elite, a display of superiority and they also had more money than they knew what to do with, a status symbol. Some are there because they didn’t have any choice because their parents were in so they had to be. Some because of their sincere belief that to do this would save the planet. (saving it from just what I’m still a bit foggy on)
But they all have one thing in common. The cult leader doesn’t care about anything but taking everything they can from them for their own personal benefit. He’s the only winner and he just keeps gorging himself with more and more money. That’s the only interest he has in this whole deal, what’s in it for him. Sort of like a big fat tick that really doesn’t care about the cost to its hosts of its blood sucking as long as they keeps supplying blood.
The up side is that truth is DM’s Kryptonite Better than a flea and tick spray!
Peggy – Good summary. In the old days something missing in a persons life was addressed in the “dissemination drill” by asking “What’s ruining your life? . . . Scientology can handle that.” These days it seems DM prefers parking people in front of video presentation.
Ya know, I just stepped out on the back porch and as I look up the alley I see a little boy swinging on swing his parents made that hangs from a tree, just simple rope and a board and he’s having a great time. Then there’s the neighbor that has a trampoline, which in my opinion, is worth its weight in gold because no matter what the weather that thing is used, the kids just giggle like crazy. Then a few houses up there’s a play house. I love hearing these children and seeing them outside just playing. The thing is it makes me sad to think of the children in this cult that are missing out on just being a child! The fun of catching lightening bugs season is almost here. That’s what’s ruining their lives and the cult sure isn’t going to handle that. I wish they could all just pay and run and ride their bikes, just be kids. Maybe one of the top two things that makes me wish something will happen to tear down this horrible abusive cult.
Now…clearing the plant of this cult is a great goal.
I have thoughts like that every day. I love to cook and sometimes I think I wish the sea org could have some!!
I hear you Ann! We have that in common too. Comfort food! I love baking too and share it. Seems like such a small thing to do but it makes me happy too.
For any ex: if an event you were dragged into had this few people in it. Would you still have to act as if this gathering of a handful is Epic, monumental and increased your infiniteness?
Seriously, in my mind it must be an agony in there.
You came to see what was on the menu.
Inside you figure out it is you.
XS, Succinct and brilliant!
I live in Battle Creek. The Kellogg Hotel was renamed Hart Hotel. It’s a mess. Scientologists here have done NOTHING to refurbish it. In it’s heyday, it was a beautiful building. The Scientologist center now, is a tiny building on the north side near downtown. There are usually only 2 or 3 cars in the parking lot. They have a sign hanging outside stating “Free stress test.” We live on St. Mary’s Lake in Battle Creek. On the lake is a former Education Association campus. Two local Scientologists, a married couple bought the place and turned it into a drug treatment center. I believe it was called Narconon. The couple divorced. It is still a drug treatment center, but apparently is no longer connected to Scientology.
Good intel. Thanks, Kate.
Well, they are a creepy bunch. Looking forward to the day when the IRS rescinds their tax exempt status. I watch all of Leah’s and Mike’s shows. Fascinating and disturbing! My sister works near the new Scientologist center in downtown Detroit. She said that after the big grand opening celebration last October, it mostly sits empty.
Very useful to zoom in on story and history of individual orgs like this and the others you featured to get the big picture.
Finally! I understand why most all the people I’ve ever met who attended the U of Michigan have been so incredibly strange.
I was always worried that it must have been me. But for some reason, everyone I’ve met from there behaves as if they were born and raised on a different planet where people communicate telepathically.
The 1,000 yard stare is something they all share (at least when I was in their company). My oh My! That can be so incredibly creepy.
So very strange!
Scientology is just one big sandbox and the neighborhood dogs keep crapping in it but the silly people at the Orgs just admire the pooh and say good things about it.
Forgive me if this is a dumb question…I only did a quick google search and didn’t find a definitive answer…are they allowed to use Tony the Tiger for promoting an Org anyway? I don’t know a ton about trademarks but even with the awkward Kellogg past it’s just hard to imagine many well known companies willing to lend out their mascot for this 😖
Funny, Jessi, that’s what I thought the split second I saw the picture. I would think that they would have had to get written permission from Kelloggs to use Tony the Tiger’s image in their photos. I hope Kelloggs sues their hynies off. Remember when Nancy Cartwright got a good spanking about using Bart Simpson’s voice in some scientology telephone fund-raising crap?
Ooooooh! That Bart Simpson story used to get under my skin so bad!!! I was a teen when I first heard about it, and hadn’t done any research on what Scientology was at the time (I just knew I equated it to BAD/Crazy) and I was extremely dismayed to know Bart’s voice was used in that way!! And I believe that was the first time I actually looked up some of the other celebrities in Scientology and was pretty shocked! Of course as an adult (never apart of Scientology, but having been in some tough situations I chose to stay in longer than I should have) I definitely have the compassion to see that these celebs are just duped and it’s not ENTIRELY their fault…(just wish they would open their eyes…😕). Sorry but if a tangent from Tony the Tiger I suppose 😂🤷♀️
I agree about the celeb scientologists. I think it’s just an ego stroke for them. David Miscavige probably kisses their rear ends constantly.
As for Tony – I guess, if you wore a Tony the Tiger costume for Halloween, it’d probably be no big deal (like Wonder Woman and Superman costumes for example). But if you’re using that image to promote anything, I would think that, since I’m sure Tony is trademarked, you’d be open to a big, fat lawsuit. I’m not a lawyer, but I think they ought to have the you-know-what sued out of them!
Trademarks? Scientology don’t care about no stinkin trademarks!
They care about their own.
Be ready to get sued… 😉
scientology only cares about its own (stolen) trademarks. Similarly, it knows NOTHING of its own crimes, only what it can discover or MANUFACTURE of others’
Sadly, they probably can get away with “fair use”, or a distribution too small to be considered infringement.
Mike’s Thursday Funnies routinely show events using trademarked characters like those in Star Wars or Pirates of the Caribbean. It’s probably not that hard to rent an unauthorized Tony costume in Battle Creek!
This is the “ideal org” that’s always fascinated me the most because my grandparents lived in B.C. and I spent a lot of time there growing up. It just seems like an insane place to put an org. It’s been a while since I was last there but downtown Battle Creek also had zero foot traffic at the time, and I can’t imagine it’s much livelier now.
I worked for Kellogg’s until early this year. This Tony wasn’t from the company – no doubt it is a cheap mail order item or, worse yet, the squirrel tech equivalent of Tony.
Hahaha! Yes I noticed it wasn’t the real costume.
It
can be stated with some certainty that Scientologists are not clever or smart people. They do stupid things for a living.
See, my Scientology training at work – thinking that the enter key posts comments on everything.
I count 21 in the crowd photo, though some of the faces don’t look right in the back row. Well, 20 years to fix up a building that only needed rehab and subdividing for auditing. Well, isn’t that special?
I wonder how many times the International Landlord drained their accounts for other purposes? Yes Dave Miscavige, I am curious.
That 21 could include supporters or visitors from outside the area, too. It definitely gives an idea of just how small this failing org is.
I’ve long said that Scientology was heading to the point where there was more space per active member in the massive idle orgs, than the members actually had in their residences. If they only have about 2 dozen active members for a building of about 50,000 square feet, they will certainly have achieved that level of “expansion” – at the cost of their members living minimally, and in quite a few cases having lost their own homes to foreclosure and bankruptcy.
That could be Scientology’s new claim to fame: the “church” with the most square feet per member.
Zee Moo commented:
“I count 21 in the crowd photo, though some of the faces don’t look right in the back row. Well, 20 years to fix up a building that only needed rehab and subdividing for auditing. Well, isn’t that special?”
It took that long for them to gather sufficient ‘donations’ so Dwarfenführer could pad his “GI” stat with $ that had no delivery liability. The locals “buy” the hotel, the Munchkin takes possession and charges outrageous “rent” vi a the ‘International landlord’; the “org” is screwed with Hubbard’s suppressive “finance policies” as interpreted by DM.
Mike, I see a small picture of the members holding a banner. By their standards that represents 2000 people in attendance. The 4 people in the other pictures each personify 500 other ideal org supporters.
Hey, wasn’t Ruth Minshull of “HowTo Choose Your People” from there?
Goodreads says the book was published by Scientology Ann Arbor in 1972. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3427660-how-to-choose-your-people
If you have a copy of the out of print book, “Big League Sales Closing Techniques” also going by the name “Sure Fire Sales Closing Techniques” by Les Dane, you can sell it for big bucks on one of the on line sites. The clams love that book and some orgs have made it required reading for all staff members.
Yes. Ruth was there when it was a small mission. She was a delight to deal with and her book was a great success. Naturally, she was forced to stop selling it…forced by the church. I don’t know if she is still “in”….but I surely hope not. She was too fabulous a person to be still connected. But odd things happen around Slyentology. 🙂
Peter, thanks for that interesting anecdote about the org when they were a mission in Ann Arbor. I had assumed that because Minshull was popular, and apparently a good promulgator of Scientology through her written works, that the mission must have done relatively well while she was there – well enough that it somehow got made into an org. Do you, or anyone else, know anything more about the history of that?
That would also have been back in the days when college students were still a fairly good demographic for Scientology to recruit from, so Ann Arbor would have been a good location. Quite a few orgs and missions were located near college campuses, and a couple still are, though I can’t even think of a single reported case of Scientology recruiting a college student in decades.
Now that $cientology has discovered ‘WhatsApp’ (See Bunker post https://tonyortega.org/2019/06/02/having-conquered-qr-codes-scientology-goes-all-in-on-whatsapp/ ), I wonder how long it will take staff to start comparing notes on how empty the orgs are??
I love the smell of desperation and delusion in the morning; it smells like…….. victory.
Thank you Mike for the continuance in exposing the facts about scientology’s scam and failure.
True, most of the photos in the posters show usually a small group. The most I have counted were 32-34 and was somewhere an LA event or something like that.
It is a fact that, as time goes on, this cult membership diminishes…and this are good news, though.
Being involved in “Scientology” is like having a brain cancer.
For those of terminally infected with this diseased cult ideology I can only imagine how you managed to escape this Alcatraz-like prison of belief.
Mike Rinder, how did you do it? What was the step down or step or process? I think might be interesting especially for the “still in” victims trapped in that dystopian scientology bubble now manned and managed by the sick little one David Miscavige.
If you want to know what David Miscavige is like check out this interview with one of his Doppelgänger-like entities Kenneth Copeland. This is EXACTLY the type of scamologist that Miscavige is. He and Copeland are cut from the same sociopathic cloth.
This is why Miscavige never does interviews — only canned garbage in front of closed crowds made up of the scientology sheep. Because this is how his interviews would come off.
Anyone remember little Davie’s interview with Ted Koppel all those years ago? An unmitigated disaster for Miscavige. It was his last public interview. Ever.
And speaking of look, look how unhinged Copeland is. You don’t need to be a psychiatrist to tell the guy is nuts. Just like Miscavige is.
What about it Mr. Miscavige? We all know you’re reading these comments on Mr. Rinder’s blog.
See:
https://youtu.be/9LtF34MrsfI
There is no “LRH tech”, no state of clear, no bridge to total freedom, no OT powers or levels, no body thetans, no NOTHING.
GET OUT
Hmmm …. Brain Cancer?
I’ve always thought that belonging to this scam is very much like being infected by a Brain Slug. Do you remember them?
There was once a very funny TV show called “Futurama”. It was produced by many of the same people responsible for the show “Family Guy” which was also very funny.
Brain Slugs are the creatures that inhabit the planet called, “The Brain Slug Planet”. They attach themselves to people’s brains and intercept all their thoughts – both the thoughts that are incoming as well as those that are outgoing. Brain Slugs are like the scam in that they can take over your brain and force you to think certain thoughts and behave in a certain way.
They are almost a perfect representation of how Brain washing operates. (but always remember to use old newspapers for washing most anything).
I would highly recommend that anyone who enjoys this site would very likely enjoy if you spent some time visiting their planet and see if you consider any of your friends and relatives to live under control of a Brain Slug.
Yikes! Sorry! I didn’t mean to say “visiting their planet”.
Yeesh! I meant to say watching a few episodes of Futurama that dealt with the Brain Slug Planet.
LOVE Futurama, I’ve seen the whole series multiple times lol.
I believe one episode dealing with brain slugs had them being passed out at a baseball game as if it was the “free gift” of the day.
Actually, Futurama was created by the same people that created The Simpsons. I remember the brain slugs episode very well. Great show!
Mike Rinder’s escape is one of the best stories ever told on the A&E TV show: Aftermath.
There have been a few episodes of that show featuring some heroic escapes and I would strongly recommend those episodes featuring Mike Rinder as well as Mark and Claire Headly and there have been a few other people whose stories of their escape were just terrific.
I’m sorry that I no longer remember her name. It may have been Valerie Haney. But see if you can find the story of the lady who escaped in the trunk of a car. It was a truly great story.
Skyler:
in truth, EVERY story of someone escaping that mindfcuk is a GREAT one, whether or not it’d make good TV. That’s why the “Aftermath Foundation” is such a wonderful idea, IMO. I had a relatively uneventful escape, since they basically just opened the door and said, “Go home.” I’d LOVE to know if I had some sort of goldenrod as a result. *I* don’t have a copy of it, and it wouldn’t change my life materially, but just like knowing my ‘clear’ #, it’d be a bit of trivia to have and hold. LITERALLY. The two things are of equal ‘importance’ in my current & future life.