I would love to say I’d make a donation to such a crowd-sourced fund, but I am scared of ever giving one red cent to anyone these days. Some asshole would ruin the whole thing, take my money, and then say rude things about me because I am not giving more. Money, it’s always money.

I hope so too on the billboard. I’d like to see ongoing donations so that we have year round billboards and we change the subject matter every now and then, such as “Where’s Shelley?” and “Free Heber” etc. On a different topic, when will Louis Theroux Scn Movie be showing in America? I heard March but have seen nothing about when.

Jen, I’d add to Mike’s explanation, that at this point the focus on raising money gives Miscavige and the Scientology structure a mechanism to deflect attention from their failures to deliver much in the way of actual services and training, and a way to hide their shrinking membership by building grand physical facilities and then claiming that it equals “expansion.”

I’m glad if that was helpful.

The last sentence of the second paragraph should have been something more like “When the subject/follower accepts this as normal or necessary, they submit themselves to increasing control and blind obedience.”

I hope that made sense, it’s a complex principle at work. If you read some of the classic works on cults and mind control, you’ll get a better understanding of this and other mechanisms and phenomenon.

Some groups openly teach their followers to accept contradictory thoughts or principles. While there can be some philosophical or theological validity to accepting duality – and even scientific validity, in the case of the wave-particle nature of light – in control or cult environments it is used to train people to uncritically accept what they are told, and even to engage in internal thought-stopping.

I think that Hubbard, as a pathological personality and an abuser as well, intuitively used deflection of blame and imposition of responsibility on others, as a tool to control those around him, though he may have come to understand it on a theoretical basis as well. I guess I should point out that the “pull it in” thinking is part of a philosophical or practical doctrine of viewing the individual as responsible (and powerful), that does have its merits – but once again, not when taken to extremes or imposed as a top-down control tool.

The money is what Miscavige measures his success by. It is what Hubbard said was the ultimate measure of success. And for a sociopath, it is a measure of the control and domination you can exert over others to get them to keep giving you money against their best interests.

DM has living facilities in all major scientology outposts, specially constructed for him. Right now he is living in his apartment in Clearwater because he is going to be speaking at the LRH Birthday Event on Saturday. When he goes to England he stays in his rooms in Hubbard’s old Manor. He has an apartment in Los ANgeles next to Author Services. And one at the Gold Base. etc etc

I have a question regarding this. Why do they keep pandering for money? I know they have tons of wealth in owning property but don’t they also have lots of cash locked in bank accounts too? Or is this an illusion? If they do, how do they get away with tax exemption? Isn’t that money suppose to be used up?

Another off handed question. Does anyone know where DM lives? Does he have his own property? If so, how does he get away with this?

I would love to understand this as well. Good area of discussion if not already done.

I’m trying to teach my daughter about critical thinking and how important it is. Her teachers (two teachers teach each other’s class certain topics) have told them they are 75 and 105. I told her well then, I’m older then them and I’m 38. Plus a bunch of other facts. Does this make sense to you I’ll say to her? Are they really that age or they just being silly. She refuses to believe or at least state that I am correct. Sigh! Lol.

I like to look at most things with a critical eye. I like to research. But how do you know what to research when one is just not very knowledgeable? I can see how intelligent people can buy into this. I have a hard time believing how broadly educated, knowledgeable people buy into Scientology. To me, I think it boils down to, with the knowledge I have so far, when challenged with living day to day life, or wanting to find some answers to life, one can buy into this out of desperation and find the beginning courses work for them. You know the saying, hook, line and sinker. Or if one is not knowledgeable in various areas and not taught to critically think (a lot of people aren’t), they go in not knowing any better. They aren’t aware of where they should research and where to look critically. If one doesn’t know, for example, all the areas Hubbard borrowed from, and how to actually apply it, then one would take his word as of he discovered something new and that he is applying that knowledge properly. What I’m trying to say is, if people don’t know certain things, then they don’t know what to look up and think critically about. The world we know today is a lot different then the world in the 1940s/50s/60s when this way of thinking was CONjured up by Hubbard. And then you add in the people who grew up into this, either from birth like Jenna Hill Miscavige or later on in childhood like Aaron and Mike. Which to me seems like the bulk of current Scientology. I have to wonder how their thinking patterns and brain growth/development is affected? I think it also depends on the time period in one’s life where they begin to get indoctrinated. But where and what are they suppose to look up if they don’t know it exists? Were they taught to critically think as well?

There must be a glitch or something hidden inside Scientology that allowed them to see and think differently, as the truth is slowly exposed and they become more aware. I can’t put my finger on it. But are Scientologists taught to critically think in some ways that opens the door for them to see life and Scientology differently? Yet, are programmed through the brief system of Hubbard to not question things within that belief system (I know, I know. KSW)? To answer some of my own questions, I imagine just access to information outside of Scientology and giving oneself permission to look at things critically (since the tools were there?) is key. And being continuously abused and being treated horribly is one of major impetus for people to leave and then look at life under a new lens.

Has anyone considered a crowd-funded or sponsored billboard campaign across from the Celebrity Centers or the big Orgs? There are hundreds of organizations and groups that are more worthy pursuits than getting your brain washed and rinsed. I’m thinking about Veteran groups that I belong to or have used for help, real and helpful organizations like AA, and many churches that reach out to homeless and ill.

These people encourage and help inward vision to see your own potential, not blow smoke up a body part and pick your pocket. There are so many wasted lives and surrendered potential that that can be used to actually make a difference without self-appointed icons demanding fealty.