Why are they not doing an episode on the e meters and auditing? The miracle cure surely should get the spotlight. Show us what it’s like to be audited.

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Then I couldn’t even get to the main page. I had no problems with any other Web pages.
So I tried Internet Explorer (I’m running Windows 7). Same error. I wonder if Scientology is somehow messing with the Web site…

Thanks Joe. So good to hear from you and with such a thoughtful comment which is in the hopper of Season 3 ideas now. Hope all is well with you. Mike

Initially I believe it prudent to keep my ideas as brief as possible, to be elaborated on should the need arise. First off it is my assumption that the purpose behind the series, “The Aftermath” is to bring an end to the C of S’s manipulation of people and self-enrichment, through its various toxic policies and methods. Seasons 1 and 2 seems to have done a pretty good job of exposing the damage done which obviously has had an impacted on the C of S’s stats. Nonetheless, the question remains; will the C of S survive in the long run? Before I express my views, which include my suggestions for a 3rd season, I believe it useful to provide some relevant background.

My personal involvement in scientology is partly covered in a post of several years ago. If need be the post can be Googled; “Birth of The Sea Org by Joe van Staden”, For now, all that is required is a brief outline. I know the subject of scientology as well as anyone. All my training up to class 8 auditor was done pretty much under LRH. Even my earliest training on the HPA course in Joburg (1960/61) was kept an eye on by LRH when he was in South Africa for the first SA ACC. My two SHSBC’s and class 7 course were done at St Hill under LRH while my class 8 course later, also under LRH, was done on the Apollo. My last technical post was on the Apollo as flag Qual-Sec where I was instructed by LRH to develop all the internships up to class 12 auditor. The point being, I am as familiar with the technology and philosophy of scientology. Moreover, I spent a considerable amount of time with its author, LRH, on a one on one basis during my stint in the SO. .

Outside the tech domain I was one of the original SO members that took the Avon River (Athena) to Las Palmas. Later I served as captain of the Athena and Apollo each of which was at various times designated the flag ship making me the flag captain second only to the commodore. At some point the Commodore’s Staff Org was created which changed the org-board structure. Where was the guardian’s office during the SO’s rise to power? For an indication of this, suffice it to say that on more than one occasion I simply told the G O to fuckoff and stay out of my way. No wonder I was on their hit-list for years. Guardian office types and OSA types are of the same breed. Anyway, after the SO got chucked out of Corfu my then wife and myself along with the staff designated for the “University of Scientology” to be set up in Corfu set up the AO in Denmark.

Since AO DK was set up in what was essentially virgin territory at the time (Europe) there was a desperate and immediate need to develop a public for the AO. Long story short, with a handpicked team I ran around Europe doing just that, The first org being Munich. When Jill and I returned to South African in the early 1970’s, on a leave of absence Europe was opened up for scientology and AO DK was brining in the big bucks. After several months in SA I returned to flag without Jill. Back on flag I sensed an atmosphere I didn’t like – very cold and unfriendly. Writing knowledge reports had become standard practice. Gone was the laughter and spirit of play I used to share with my shipmates. Seriousness was the order of the day. That was when I decided it was time to go. My final brake with the organization was probably around 1980. In 1990 and 1991 I attended conventions for independent scientologists in Switzerland and Denmark. Since then I have kept in touch with old shipmates like Janis Grady and other ex scientologists Moreover, I have continued on the path I was on since childhood long before I made contact with scientology – a curiosity on “how things work”. It was probably due to my insatiable inquiring mind that it was easy for me to “let go” of scientology. As far as I was concerned the subject and its organization had passed its use by date – as simple as that. My shift in perspective on how things work since I walked away from scientology is reflected in my many posts on face book in recent years.

Regarding my suggestions for series 3, it seems that one of the most frequently asked questions of ex scientologists is; how is it that bright, seemingly intelligent people, can get caught up in the C of S’s web. As far as I am concerned the answer should be obvious. Everyone, including those asking the question, are at any given moment dependent on a belief system of some kind to keep them “in touch” in an ever changing world. Of course everyone thinks that his or her belief system is IT. They have to; it is what keeps them oriented in terms of identity, time, space, meaning, relevance and value. The point being that the value of any frame of reference, belief system or perspective is not to be found in its content or structure but in how well it does its job of keeping the individual oriented – located in a believable reality. The Flat Earth notion satisfied people at the time and allowed them to get on with their lives. Since then several different notions about the universe have each in turn provided what seemed to be a reliable frame of reference for the purpose of orientation. But, as evidenced throughout history, every notion of how things worked is sooner or later replaced by something else.

Here is the thing, as soon as the context within which a truth or fact is defined is widened that truth or fact is no longer sustainable regardless of what it is. Even Einstein’s equation E= MC squared is context specific. With the development of quantum physics context widened and Einstein’s equation changed from a constant to a variable. Belief systems, including the laws of physics, are creations of one or more individuals. Credibility and sustainability is achieved by getting others to buy into the belief system. Scientology is LRH’s creation. This is not to say that those who have bought into it didn’t or don’t experience something unusual beneficial and desirable, even “magical”. The same can be said for many other belief systems, classical and new age.

Hard as it may be to grasp in this modern age of facts arrived at through the scientific method the development of alternate belief systems have become a cottage industry. Check out the internet. Largely responsible for this is that the time and space provided by traditional frames of reference (orientation) has been seriously undermined by the rapid widening of context in all spheres of life due to the information age. Can there be any doubt that humanity has lost faith in BIG government, BIG business, BIG media, BIG pharma as well as BIG science. In spite of the marvels of modern technology, at some level humanity is increasingly “loosing touch” and becoming disoriented. Hence, the propensity to grab for anything that promises to ease the distress and confusion. The implication of this being that the potential public for scientology is growing not getting less. Even the “bizarre” story of OT 3 and Xenu is gaining credibility in light of what has become acceptable on the internet Quite frankly the C of S is well positioned with its TV etc to take advantage.

Where the aim is to shift people’s mindset telling them what they believe is stupid is probably the worst strategy. You are up against two powerful forces. (1). The individual’s need and desire to be oriented. (2). A poorly understood yet omnipresent placebo effect. The point being that what the person really believes, however stupid it might sound to you and me, it will be experienced as real in every way by the believer. .

(As a scientology auditor I encountered some very strange happenings. In retrospect I realized it was largely due to the power of the placebo effect. The individual so strongly believed in the methodology that it delivered what was expected).

In conclusion what I am suggesting is that season 3 should to a greater and more in depth extent get involved in a conversation about belief systems in a way that will resonate with the millions out there holding on to stuff out of necessity or habit not based on freedom of choice. Freedom of choice is a key button with most people. How exactly this conversation will unfold will obviously develop once given attention. .

I hope this is useful. Warm regards,

Joe van Staden.

And not just confirms but reconfirms and re-reconfirms.
Hey, c’mon! We’re going for authenticity here!

Aqua, I so much admire your ability to combine experience, imagination, and empathy.

Everyone is different, and even one person feeling the way you describe being helped to reconnect with loved ones on more comfortable terms is worth being prepared for.

I’m doing okay. What part of ca are you in? Thanks so much for the kind words.

What smorbie just said.

Wow. An offer of help, sincere, simple, spontaneous, from someone, somewhere, for no particular reason other than as another example of the goodness woven into the basic nature of most people. Thank you, Kati.