From reading and listening, it appears that scientology does not like noise comming their way.

What would happen if a group kept these buildings in the mind and eye of the public? Simply challenging scientologies agendas for these buildings. Wordplay will have to be a priority, as it appears to be scientologies strength.

From reading and listening, it appears that scientology does not like noise comming their way.

What would happen if a group kept these buildings in the mind and eye of the public? Simply challenging scientologies agendas for these buildings. Wordplay will have to be a priority, as it appears to be scientologies strength.

Scientology’s use of “expansion” is definitely a propagandistic re-definition of the word – higher level Scientology officials almost certainly know that that they are facing contraction of their membership and activities, and are only expanding their (empty) square footage, while spinning that in a deceptive way to put a brave face on things.

The interesting question to me, is how people at various levels in the organization justify to themselves telling such “acceptable truths.” They may believe – or be trying to make themselves believe – things such as that Scientology’s influence is somehow expanding nebulously through means like ScnTV, and that though membership is lagging that it will somehow start to pick up if they just keep up their efforts a little longer.

I really hope that some day we get some insight into what local and mid-level officials really were thinking, when they said these sorts of things about supposed “expansion” and the size of their membership. In some cases it may just be as banal as that they dared not do anything other than promulgate the propaganda line that came down from higher up.

PM – You have done a lot of excellent research into scientology statistics. Another way to look at it is – Bend over and the CoS will give you an “expansion”.

Sorry, I couldn’t resist. Word games. 🙂

Wow! I wonder if that’s exactly what it DOES mean? Interesting

And, of course, the specification for an “ideal” facility is 50,000 square feet – the buildings have to be that, or very close to it. So a lot of orgs are indeed getting new premises that are right around 10X larger.

It’s not “expansion” in the normal sense of the word, if it doesn’t involve more activity, or more business. But Scientology seems to love childish word games, as if saying something in a misleading way, somehow isn’t really lying.

The rose colored glasses are off and damage control is in progress! Wynski, did you never have at least one Floating Tone Arm? (For never-ins, a Floating Tone Arm is an e-meter phenomenon which signifies a BIG win.)

I occasionally mention something in Scn which gives some logic to why people stay in Scn for years, at least in my time. Even in the current Cherch of Miscavige I suppose some people still have “wins”.

Scn had all the answers for Planetary Salvation and everlasting life. What more could anyone ask for? (joke)

Interesting about “expansion,” which of course now has been re-defined to mean building monuments while actual membership and activity contract.

Jesse Prince’s book probably gives a good idea of what was going on in Hubbard’s inner circle – but I haven’t had time to read it yet.

Generally, Scientology, like every other organization or institution that attracted young baby boomers, was probably flooded with recruits from the mid 1960s through about the mid 1970s, and likely almost overwhelmed coping with virtually organic growth.

But from the mid 70s on, Scientology was coping with problems including the end of easy pickings.

In 1976 Scientology’s spying operations against the government were uncovered, and in 1977 they were raided. In 1979 the indicted conspirators including Mrs. Hubbard were tried and convicted, but their appeals dragged out until 1982.

In 1979, the large Riverside mission was raided for loan fraud and banking crimes, which put an end to a financing scheme that a number of missions had used to fuel their operations.

During this period there was a push from Hubbard to extract the maximum amount of cash possible from operations. “Make money. Make more money.” didn’t necessarily imply expansion of the membership, though obviously it was easier for the orgs and missions if they had more customers – including a lot of turnover.

Also, I doubt there ever were really 100,000 active Scientologists, though there may have been that many people who really had read a book or taken a course, and would have identified as such in a survey. The several dozen most active orgs and missions served numbers in the low hundreds, not even thousands, at any one time, and I’d guess that added up to a number more in the ballpark of 50,000 worldwide, at most.

I was watching YouTube video of some random Sea Org members outside their org, either L.A. or Fla. Saw a rather elderly guy in sea org uniform. He looked to be in his late 60’s/early 70’s. I got so very sad seeing him, knowing what lay ahead for him-once he can no longer “pull his weight”. Kicked to the curb, bus fare to hopefully some family that will take him in.
Such blatant disregard for human frailty.