I am now making a regular Sunday feature of reposting previous articles that I felt were important.
This one is from March 26, 2013. I have added some editorial comments to this in italicized red text that seem appropriate.
New Churches of Scientology — Where Are They?
The Big Lie:
David Miscavige repeats it over and over at events and in Corporate Scientology publications
“We are expanding like never before – we have opened X new churches in the last X alone.”
Here is a representative sample (in italics) from the Tampa Bay Times – just one of the MANY letters over recent years that have been sent to the media. Apparently the Scientology spokespeople flunk their TR’s and have no concept how to handle any origination except to pretend it didn’t happen and talk about what they want to say – of course, that’s “Reporter TR’s”…).
This is just a small part of the letter which talks over and over about the growth proven by “new churches” in response to questions about The Hole, the culture of violence, the FBI investigation and David Miscavige’s beatings (everything is dismissed with the normal “it’s just lies from a small cadre of bitter defrocked apostates”).
For the complete letter, see here Letter from Church of Scientology to Tampa Bay Times
In the face of the Church’s continued and unprecedented growth….
Surely the Times — which claims a great interest in Scientology — is aware of the tremendous growth the Church continues to experience today. The month of June alone has seen the following Scientology Churches open their doors:
• The Church of Scientology Orange County, in Santa Ana, California on June 2, 2012.
• The rededication of the Church of Scientology Stevens Creek, in San Jose, California on June 9, 2012.
• The Church of Scientology Denver, Colorado on June 16, 2012.
• The Church of Scientology Phoenix, Arizona opening just yesterday on June 23, 2012.
A significant factor in the Church’s expansion has been the establishment of new Churches, known as Ideal Organizations.
The Truth
Typically, it is difficult to ever clearly prove the lies of David Miscavige and his spokespuppets.
But there has been a recent change in the information on scientology.org – the official church website. Jeff Hawkins and I had both noted in the past that the way the church website was set up there was no easy or accurate way of finding all Scientology Organizations. These days they claim 11,000 around the world, a figure closer to the total membership than the number of organizations. Of course the number is probably decreasing as the church continues to disassociate itself from any of the “groups” it so grandly takes credit for the moment they get themselves into any trouble. But for this posting, I will stick to ORGS.
Nowadays, you can find on the church website a listing of orgs and missions for each geographical region (though Australia and Russia are included under Asia?). But it is now possible to count the number of orgs in every country around the world.
Oh, how inconvenient is this for David Miscavige and his sockpuppets. Especially when he announced with great fanfare the “encyclopedia of Scientology” What Is Scientology?In 1993.
After years of “astonishing and unprecedented, straight up and vertical international expansion”, “more in the last year than in the 50 years previously”, “5 times more than has ever been experienced in history” blah blah blah de blah de blah…(the latest is that it is 47X)
Ladies and gentlemen it gives me great pleasure to announce to you tonight, that while we only counted 136 orgs planetwide in 1993, today, 20 YEARS LATER, WE HAVE THREE MORE ORGS. That’s right, we now stand at a GRAND TOTAL OF 139 ORGS PLANETWIDE!!!!! THREE CHEERS FOR DAVID MISCAVIGE!!!
The Ideal Org Scam Rolls On
The way to keep a big lie going is never to acknowledge that it may not be true. Just plow on, ignoring all facts, all doubts and all evidence to the contrary.
An utter failure in expanding Scientology (other than its real estate portfolio) by anyone’s estimation, Miscavige charges onward and upward! The same Scientology site that lists the total number of orgs also claims (they are bit out of date, but oversights like this can be forgiven when you are wrestling with growing pains brought about by opening an org every 7 years) that:
The listing below includes new properties in planning or construction stage projected to open in 2012-2013.
UNITED STATES: Albuquerque, Battle Creek, Boston, Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, Harlem, Kansas City, New Haven, Philadelphia, Portland, San Diego, San Fernando Valley, St. Louis
CANADA: Toronto, Montréal
EUROPE: Copenhagen, Budapest, Basel
LATIN AMERICA: Bogota, Las Lomas, Caracas
AFRICA: Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Bulawayo, Harare
AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND/ASIA: Sydney, Auckland, Kaohsiung
UK: Birmingham, Manchester, Plymouth, Sunderland.
Perhaps this posting will tip them off that they didn’t make a single one of these “new” orgs in 2012… We are now at the end of 2014 and from the above list that were to open in 2012/13, the following were done: Portland, Sydney, Kaohsiung. That is 3 of the listed 34 “new” orgs that were to be opened. And that is giving them an ADDITIONAL year. These are the people that charge for seminars on “how to achieve your goals”….
But for any sharp eyed observer, they will note that there is a NEW ORG on the horizon. Kaohsuing in Taiwan. The IAS bought this building a 8 years ago and it has been just sitting and rotting — see my earlier post here David Miscavige’s Idle Fraud – Taiwan.
Starting into the third decade since the listing in “What Is Scientology?” looks to be a monumental year with new org number 4 bringing the average time to add a new org closer to 6 years than 7 in one fell swoop. Now THAT is straight up and vertical!!!
If you live near one of these “new orgs” perhaps you could swing by and shoot in some latest pix. After all we want comply with “Command Intention” and not ignore the massive growth proven by the Ideal Org Strategy! (pie face)
See earlier related stories:
More on Miscavige Style Planetary Clearing
Birthday Game Smoke and Mirrors
Clearly, unlike the lies that are put out by the church, this posting CORRECTLY predicted that this was a complete failure as a “strategy”. This entire year is almost complete and 2 “new” ideal orgs have opened in the beginning of the year. And look at the list above how many of them there are that are completely stalled. And then there are all the rest that don’t even get a mention about becoming “ideal orgs”….
Chuck Beatty says
Scientology being a religion or not, it doesn’t seem to be. They tell themselves it is, fine.
This whole donor pattern though, I was just listening to Dr. Spink, Univ of Michigan 80 year old plus devoted scholar of the Ajanta caves in India, caves of merit for the donors praising the Buddha, the donors competing (I think they were local Kings in India being the donors) to create these lasting caves of praise to their Buddha and saints.
The layers of praise that devoted members, and the patrons competing to praise more than the other patrons, it’s a human pattern, even if Scientology is as odd as it is.
It might explain this whole side donation craze, it does, at least partially in my mind.
The Ajanta Caves funded by the patronage of the then opulent Kings, Dr. Spink at one point in his comments talks about one neighbor trying to impress the other with their impressively payed for new section of cave in more extravagant style than the other patron.
Competing patrons is a human pattern that Scientology’s donor patrons have just probably naturally fallen into and are being goaded by Scientology’s “Status Completion Awards” like for the Mountain View Ideal Org. (I’m standing in for the non existent “new religion” scholars who are no where on the landscape and should be commenting here on Mike’s blog, you non-existent scholars out there!)
Chuck Beatty says
I also must say, speaking for the non existent scholars who don’t take any interest in Scientology, that Dr. Spink’s observations, controversial, that when the last great patron Kings who paid for the most opulent and extravagent stages of the Ajanta Caves devotional praise for the Buddha etc, when those King or the top King was killed or lost out, the whole cave work stopped, abruptly.
Likewise, when the Scientology patrons lose interest, then the already hollowed out shell of Scientology of empty buildings, will likewise turn into abandoned sites, a repeating human history pattern of this donor class of followers who fund these buildings and sites.
Chuck Beatty says
Further, on the abandoned buildings paid for by the wealthy followers of a particular religion who were competing to fund their buildings for their religion, or temple or monk sites, whatever, Scientology’s leftovers in Clearwater and LA, I’d have hoped at least Scientology would waste their funds ultimately in something more lasting that the decaying Hotels and ex Hospitals and even the Superpower Building isn’t going to last anywhere as long as the Ajanta Caves.
Religious site/buildings ought at least be substantial, like the Pyramids or Ajanta Caves! And last, so they can at least be future tourist sites!
Chuck Beatty says
…..CST headquarters near the Int Base, and the other CST vault sites, seem to be the place where Scientology patrons ought to be gouged to pay for some great rock sculpturing if you ask me, do some Gutzum Borglum intricate Ajanta Caves stuff with Hubbard’s works, that’d be human tradition. But Hubbard was kind of superficial, and that’s current Miscavige Scientology structures mentality, and Shelly at CST doesn’t have the power of the purse to waste the Hubbard stash of money to pay for some rock sculpturing of LRH’s ideas permanently at the sites, the CST logo bulldozed into the group was so temporary, it needed to be more like the lines in the ground in Peru to make a real long range impact here on earth, pointing to LRH’s archives, etc.
Scientology is really so smalltime and shortrange. In 200 years all the buildings will collapse anyways, all these buildings they’ve chosen to use.
They ought to make a nice permanent Pyramid in the LA Org parking lot! Get the money out of the celebs fast, and then collapse, and then let their buildings in LA at least be part of the Hollywood Tourist route!
Hallie Jane says
These older articles are great to revisit Mike. It’s a living history of the revolution! haha! These strange and irrational “programs” can sometimes feel exasperating, because talking about something that doesn’t make any sense racks the brain. Seeing the chronology of the false promises and assertions adds comparative data. I continue to be shocked and appalled of the complete abandonment of the true reasons for Scientology’s existence,the wins of pcs/preots and well trained auditors.
Robert Almblad says
Telling the truth (exact time, form, place and event) is a problem for Miscavige’s Scientology.
Inside the bubble this is not issue, but outside the bubble it has become very cumbersome.
Like a snowball in hell, it will never survive. It will melt in the PR heat…
Chuck Beatty says
Looks like Scientology has to cut the gradient back.
Maybe it’s time to begin pitching “CENTRAL ORGS!”
Chuck Beatty says
Just collapse all the orgs of one continent back into the old Central Orgs, like maybe six spread out across the world.
and when that doesn’t work, cut it back to a Bayhead New Jersey seaside home.
Jere Lull (37 years recovering) says
Yup!, CENTRAL ORGS is the answer; Just like the USSR’s “central planning”, 5-year plans, and similar…. THEY did just grandly, didn’t they? Bankrupted the topheavy hegemony, despite the MANY resources available to them. Dwarfenführer doesn’t have similar resources, and none renewable.
Snowflake says
I live in Maine, and the entire state had only 1 mission up in Bangor (which isn’t even the largest city in the state), and even though it’s still listed on the Scientology website, I’ve driven by and it is closed. It was in a commercial building with doctors and now it’s gone with no sign up.
Beryl says
Karin Pouw states in her letter that the Church has printed all 18 of the LRH books in huge quantity and put all his lectures on CD. That is all well and good, up to a point. But with the technology we have today, the books could be read on Kindles and Tablets and the buying public would not have to fill up their garages with overpriced extension courses using books and CD lectures. I think it is time for Scientology to get up to speed with the information age.
Mike Leopold says
The continued diminution of all things Scientological suggests that in the information war of Scientology’s “Big Lie” campaign vs. the bitter defrocked apostates, a verdict has indeed been rendered that does not bode well for Scientology.
As John Adams observed, “Facts are stubborn things.”
statpush says
DM and Int “Management” worked very hard to get the Scn public to BELIEVE in the Ideal Org strategy. And they did. They went above and beyond the call of duty to help finance DM dream strategy of clearing the planet. There are countless tales of bankruptcy, financial irregularities, financial crimes, divorces, SP declares and so on. The public have bled.
All of this pain was because (presumably),to raise Scn org’s MEST to a level which demonstrates in the physical universe and to the non-Scn public that Scn is the bee’s knees. And as a result, these wogs, so impressed by the cool shit Scn has, would whip out their checkbooks and rocket up the Bridge.
Now, the fact that DM and his merrymen, rarely dip into their BILLIONS of reserves, indicates to me that DM and Co, themselves, DO NOT BELIEVE in this strategy. Their lack of investment indicates they do not consider it an action worth funding.
Which begs the question – What is the REAL reason behind the Ideal Org strategy? Because the end product has been ruined lives and failing orgs; these are not qualities of a cleared planet.
McCarran says
Good one, statpush. I like your whole post.
DollarMorgue says
The point? To see how far people can be pushed, to discover how much they will endure, and to extract their every last dollar from them in the process.
Foolproof says
To pretend he is doing something (and also getting funds to “keep going”) while deflecting attention and resources away from training auditors and thus getting PCs audited, which is the product of Scientology. This is either by (evil) design or stupidity, or both. In my comments on the North Korea story I give a more detailed list as to why and how.
Hallie Jane says
I’m with LDW above, he’s just having fun torturing people. I heard the term psycho-sadist recently. It’s someone who enjoys inflicting pain on others. Physical, emotional, financial,….. it sounds familiar. It really is just nuts.
Robert Almblad says
The problem with telling the truth is that no one would come to an event and donate money!
Makes perfect sense to me…
Martin Padfield says
Mike sometimes I think you are maybe being a little harsh on the level of delusion. Then I see this on an OFFICIAL EUS flyer being put out (see Tony O’s funnies): “with the Golden Age of Tech Phase II now released we have 47Xed our production internationally….Once all Orgs are opened we will be making 100,000 Clears a year”.
Oh dear God. One might think that living in such a cosy fantasy land would be kind of nice. Not for me.
Tony DePhillips says
Great article. The cobb is a flop.
McCarran says
Total flop as predicted. The only difference between today’s Ideal Org Scam and back then’s Ideal Org Scam is that HE is scaming fewer people.
I thank Mike and several others for their relentless exposure of this evil man.
SILVIA says
And those who are Ideal Orgs have about 30 +- public if lucky.
But besides this unprecedented disaster of strategy, I can’t imagine DM’s anguish who, day after day, does know that his blind followers are dwindling as minutes go by. He can shout, and claim, and proclaim, and parrot, and spurt all the words he wants about his 47X yet, deep inside he does know it is a matter of time before his faked empire collapses.
Additional to the anguish, he may have a feeling of failure – how good is it to be a leader of blind, robotic, indoctrinated cult followers? How glorifying is to lead people that can’t think for themselves? How much power can he get from feeble, cowed, weak individuals?
If you want to experience the most terrifying nightmare you could ever imagine, then, simply step into the shoes of dear leader; the anguish and terror you may experience is not worth a billion dollars, nor a few Ideal buildings.
LDW says
The guy has upwards of 50 million in his personal stock portfolio. I don’t think he gives a shit about any of it. He’s just having fun torturing people and getting his jollies by making them look like assholes.
With that last airport video, he’s all set up to let Jenny and company take the fall. In his own warped universe he’s going to continue to be a hero in his own mind, and a number of his minions will adore him forever. What more could a dedicated sociopath hope for?
McCarran says
I agree with you, Les, I don’t think the black hole of a mindset of a person like Miscavige feels “anguish.” Nothing that he does is a failure; the problem is that he is surrounded by so many lesser or degraded beings.
Beryl says
I think the ones that adore him probably have only seen him on video and have never had to work with him or take orders from him.
Deniece says
How do you know David has 50 million?
If he does have 50 million
it makes sense that he would donate that money to building the ideal org or at the very least a large portion of the 50 million.
Aquamarine says
I agree with all your points, LDW. David Miscavige could care less how empty the orgs are. What’s he’s doing now is milking money from whoever and whatever he can, for as long as he can, before he is cued to implement one of his pre-planned exit strategies. But I also think that he is dreading what will be at some point his very necessary exit, because he’ll be giving up the control of people and the admiration that he craves.
SadStateofAffairs says
Boston Org predicted to open in 2012-2013. Now in 2014, sold a great building after property values crashed, could not get their new building completed, got evicted from their former building, now renting in a suburb, and no indication their new building is anywhere ready to even get renovated, let alone opened.
Mahakala says
http://idleorgs.com/2012/06/02/zurich-switzerland-idle-org/
Meanwhile they have given up on Zurich, push the “Swiss Alliance” and concentrate on the fundraising for the renovation of Basel.
It has been reported in the news in Switzerland a few times (http://www.20min.ch/schweiz/basel/story/29470889) and a call for resistance here http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/schweiz/standard/Aufruf-zum-Widerstand-gegen-Scientology/story/31709407
threefeetback says
Dave,
How long before your Titanic slips beneath the surface?
McCarran says
Yes, threefeetback… Or how long before HE starts another mind-blowing strategy that the Still-Ins Still Buy?
Cooper J Kessel says
It should be coming up soon, say at the new years event. It turns out that the why all along was lack of having the correct definition for Dear Leader.
Watch for the new Gat II Tech Dictionary with a correct definition of Source: He who above all others knows the exact correct estimation of effort needed to SCOHB. Now and forever yours, the king of kings, Mr. lip balm himself………….Daaaavid Misssssssscavige!!!!!!!
cindy says
Excellent article and new commentary, Mike!
And let’s not forget the white elephant, “Valley Org” in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. That building was purchased over 10 years ago and still it has not gone “Ideal” and had their ribbon yanking, despite the fact that per capita there are more Scns in the LA area than anywhere else on the planet, beating out Clearwater and everyone else. The building is so monstrously big that they can’t even pay the light and heating bill on it and have resorted to renting it out to other churches and groups for their functions.
Valerie says
Hey Mike,
Since you seem better at predictions than Scientology, maybe they should hire you to make their predi. . . Oh wait…..:0)
Jose Chung says
Actually the tech of the”Big Lie Theory” can be found
Chapter 10 Vol. 1 of Mein Kamph written by Adolf Hitler.
A lie repeated to large groups often and to more and more groups
becomes the truth is often credited to Joseph Goebbels , Hitlers
Nazi minister of propaganda but source is Mein Kamph Chapter 10.