This is a remarkable promotional item that one of our readers just sent in. Michael Lewis demonstrates his lack of judgment and intelligence right in his own promotional piece. Aren't those the two elements of stupidity? First, the image of himself he is using -- the court jester -- represents the polar opposite of "conquering stupidity." Second, he claims he got a "bombastic" response to his announcement -- like that's a good thing. Apparently he doesn't know the word means "high-sounding but with little meaning; inflated." Then he announces that some people offered to write … [Read more...]
Thought Reform and Scientology
On one of the recent Fair Game Podcast, Chris Shelton recommended Robert Jay Lifton's book Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism . Then Mockingbird posted a comment concerning this and I thought it important to include it as a post, as he summarizes the eight criteria for Thought Reform isolated by the author. I should note, there are many excellent articles at Mockingbird's Nest blog. Here is his comment in full. I have highlighted the 8 criteria. Mike Rinder recently pointed out something that most people miss, even experts. He pointed out that the E meter is used … [Read more...]
Looking for LRH Originals — Still
Surely they are joking... People often ask "what do Sea Org/staff members do all day?" Well, this. For years after Hubbard died -- nearly 40 years ago now -- Sea Org members were dispatched all over the world to find everything Hubbard had ever written or said. This was the primary function of Church of Spiritual Technology which was created to "preserve the legacy" of Hubbard's rambling for all eternity. And the first step was to ensure they had everything. This went on for many, many years. Now, 30 years later someone is trying again? Why? Maybe … [Read more...]
John Oliver — Where’s Shelly?
John Oliver consistently focuses his unique brand of comedy/satire/social commentary on David Miscavige and scientology. Last week he threw another barb, which you can watch below at the 2 minute mark of his opening segment. All of last season he included "Where's Shelly" (in Spanish) in the opening montage of the show, and included numerous references to all things scientology. In season 5, he did a piece in his final episode that wrapped up his year long secret "advertising campaign" for scientology that he demanded they pay him $650,000... and then ultimately $700,000 … [Read more...]
Reforming Scientology?
Leah recently reminded me of this wonderful website, and in particular, this article by my old friend Jeff Hawkins. Jeff is one of the kindest, smartest and most decent people I know. When Miscavige blew him off, he lost one of the only real marketing geniuses in scientology. Jeff was responsible for the single successful marketing campaign in scientology -- returning Dianetics to the top of the NY Times bestseller list in the 80's. He is a wonderful writer -- I highly recommend his book Counterfeit Dreams -- and a thoughtful analyst of the world of scientology. I am taking the liberty … [Read more...]
We’re Open — Sort Of
This announcement is so typical of scientology. "We are officially open..." BUT... Not really. Nobody has ever had auditing without making an appointment (so no need to bold that). And you can't do courses. And it's not like some huge rush of people is going to be pouring into this mission. They might as well have been on Covid lockdown before there was a Covid lockdown. Nothing really changed. "We wish we could accommodate you all back at once..." is just wishful thinking. "All" is probably 3 or 4 paying public. If that. Scientology's pretense that there are floods of people … [Read more...]
“Big News” — Scientology-style
The latest big news from the rapidly expanding global force that is scientology. They found some people (2?) in Vienna who disinfected a local Hindu temple. This qualifies as "news" and is even worthy of press release from "Church of Scientology International." Truly an indicator of just how small and insignificant scientology has become. Though they claim "10 million" scientologists (sometimes more, though now often just "millions") there is absolutely nothing to substantiate anything close to this. Every census that is taken, the numbers are less than the people who … [Read more...]
White Bread Scientology Does Black History Month
The virtually whites-only country club that is scientology is trying to seem woke by holding a Black History Month Event. Hosted by the very white Beth Akiyama, they have to bring in some little known outsiders to talk on the subject. About the only people of color you will find in scientology organizations are members of the Nation of Islam who seem to have lost their way and ended up in the wrong building. The overwhelming whiteness of scientology caused great concern to the one real celebrity scientology has had from the African American community -- Isaac Hayes. He spoke … [Read more...]
Auditing Scientology: Reexamining Tax Exemption Eligibility
One of our commenters (ISNOINews) forward me a link to a wonderful piece by Taylor Holley, a Juris Doctorate candidate at Texas Tech University Law School written for the Law Review. It is titled Auditing Scientology: Reexamining the Church's 501(c)3 Tax Exemption Eligibility. If you click on the link above, you can download the full paper -- it is 27 pages long and summarizes all the facts and legal arguments as to why scientology should NOT enjoy tax exempt status. Below I include her abstract summarizing the paper: Abstract The Church of Scientology is one of the most discussed … [Read more...]
Another Ideal Org Taking The World By Storm
As a companion to the post yesterday about Sydney "ideal" org comes this from Perth. Since the beginning of civilization (which according to Hubbard begins with the release of Dianetics -- hence 2020 is really "AD 70") Perth has been a lonely and pathetic outpost in the scientology world. Nothing much has ever happened there with the exception of buying a new building. And literally, that was it. They got new premises out in the sticks and it has stayed as moribund as it had been for the previous 40 or 50 years. They are not even up to thinking about "going SH Size." They are stoked by … [Read more...]