Terra Cognita is back with another thought provoker... Exchange...or Scientology: Must Be Contributed To L. Ron Hubbard wrote that there were four types of exchange. The lowest and most undesirable of these was criminal exchange in which people take without giving anything in return. A classic example is the thief. The second type is partial exchange, where you order the world's strongest widget and it breaks the first time you try to use it. The third form is equal exchange. I give you a loaf of bread; you give me three dollars. I work at Jabberworks Computers; they pay me a monthly … [Read more...]
Clear on the 1st Dynamic? I Think Not
Our old friend Terra Cognita has provided another thought-provoking essay. Clear on the 1st Dynamic? I Think Not When people weren’t going “Clear” during Scientology auditing, L. Ron Hubbard—or someone within the church; I don’t know who—decided that pre-OT processing only cleared people on the First Dynamic. “Clears” were told that they no longer had their “own reactive mind.” In other words, people who’d been audited on Dianetics and the Grades were now superhuman and self-determined, but still screwed up on their other seven Dynamics. Apparently, seven-eighths of their problems and … [Read more...]
Hiding
Terra is back with another thought-provoking essay. Hiding I am wary of leaders who don’t show their faces in public. Since they didn’t assume their lofty positions by being shy, I assume they’re hiding something. The higher their standing, the more dirty little secrets they need to keep buried—and the more suspicious I become of their motives. Down the Rabbit Hole Ron Hubbard started down this road to reclusive behavior not long after Dianetics was disparaged by the mainstream health industries in the middle of last century. He lectured to dedicated followers via courses … [Read more...]
Groups, Collaboration, and the Bank
I know there are some withdrawal symptoms accompanying the end of the Sunday Serial. To help, here is another of Terra's signature essays. Groups, Collaboration, and the Bank In Keeping Scientology Working, L. Ron Hubbard wrote, “The common denominator of a group is the reactive mind. Thetans without banks have different responses. They only have their banks in common. They only agree on bank principles. Person to person the bank is identical.” I don’t think so. The common denominator of a group is not the reactive mind. Such a notion is not only a gross … [Read more...]
Time, Place, Form and Event – The End
My apologies. Somehow there was a screw up in the copying of the text and a chunk was omitted. Both Terra and I have been out all day and I just saw the message with the additional chapters now added. The final installment of the first draft of a novel written by our old friend Terra Cognita. Hope you have enjoyed it each Sunday for the past few months. Terra welcomes all suggestions and feedback -- this is draft -- you can note them in the comments. Chapter 73 “I don’t care what Connolly or anyone else says; seeing Mr. Macias was the right thing to do,” I said. Roxy … [Read more...]
Time, Place, Form and Event Part 12
The twelfth and penultimate installment of the first draft of a novel written by our old friend Terra Cognita. Our Sunday Serial. Terra welcomes all suggestions and feedback -- this is draft -- you can note them in the comments. Chapter 67 I thought about calling Detective Gardner as I drove to the ER at Cottage Hospital. I thought about calling Dev. I considered calling my dad. I probably should have dialed 911. But I didn’t. I mostly listened to Roxy saying how sorry she was she had gotten me into all this. I told her not to worry. A couple of hours later a young ER … [Read more...]
Time, Place, Form and Event Part 11
The eleventh installment of the first draft of a novel written by our old friend Terra Cognita. Our Sunday Serial. Terra welcomes all suggestions and feedback -- this is draft -- you can note them in the comments. Chapter 61 I walked into my bedroom and said, “We’ve been invited for dinner.” Roxy—fully clothed—rolled over on her side. “With Dev and Cindy?” “I wish. With my dad and brothers.” “They know about my situation?” “A little bit. They don’t know everything.” Roxy leaned up on her elbows. “You don’t look real happy.” “I like my dad and all that. He’s cool. … [Read more...]
Time, Place, Form and Event Part 10
The tenth installment of the first draft of a novel written by our old friend Terra Cognita. Our Sunday Serial. Terra welcomes all suggestions and feedback -- this is draft -- you can note them in the comments. Chapter 55 “You’re both here. Good,” Gardner said, grabbing one of the kitchen chairs and pulling out his little notebook. Dev and I sat on the couch. “Got any news?” I asked. “Been a bitch trying to get ahold of anyone in the church.” “That would be the Church of Scientology, right?” Dev asked. “That would be the one, yeah.” “What about Brenda or Doug down at … [Read more...]
Time, Place, Form and Event Part 9
The ninth installment of the first draft of a novel written by our old friend Terra Cognita. Our Sunday Serial. Terra welcomes all suggestions and feedback -- this is draft -- you can note them in the comments. Chapter 49 My chocolate malt had completely melted and Detective Chip Gardner was on his second cup of coffee. Dev, Cindy, and Roxy had left a half hour earlier. “And that’s what happened,” I said. Despite all the food, my stomach felt empty. “That’s all of it?” Gardner asked. “Pretty much, yeah.” “I don’t want ‘pretty much;’ I’d like all of it. Can’t help you if I … [Read more...]
Time, Place, Form and Event Part 8
The next installment of the first draft of a novel written by our old friend Terra Cognita. Our Sunday Serial. Terra welcomes all suggestions and feedback -- this is draft -- you can note them in the comments. Chapter 43 Blazer guy, his driver, Sean, Ryan, Roxy, and I sat lined up on the sidewalk outside Jupiter Donuts. The first rays of the sun flicked over the horizon as the street filled up with early morning commuters. Ryan had refused medical assistance for his fucked-up nose and the six cops had holstered their guns. Gray-haired stared down at me, his hands on his hips. His hair … [Read more...]