That is such a great point Dan.

Hi Bonnie — welcome! Thanks for your comment.

As far as the Demented Maniac, I can’t help but compare him to Hitler and his charismatic take-over of Germany, complete with cutting communication lines, burning books he didn’t agree with, killing off all the radicals, free thinkers, and the rich (after stealing their wealth) and the Jews, Gypsies, etc. What difference is there between that situation and the current scene with China, North Korea, radical Islamic countries and what Miscavige is doing? People aren’t allowed to search the Internet or even have full access in many cases in those countries. Scientologists are forbidden to research the “black PR” on the Internet or read any unapproved books or they risk great censure including sec checks, rollbacks, harassment by MAAs, threat of losing family, business associates and friends. No one is allowed to have an opinion other than the accepted one as defined by Miscavige. The fact is that everyone who still believes that he is “doing great things for Scientology” have their heads up their butts and obviously prefer THAT view to what’s actually going on in the real world shows how really messed up Scientology has become. I, for one, am looking forward to the day when we can all quote Martin Luther King: Free at last, free at last, praise The Lord we’re free at last!

I totally agree with you. Hubbard created a lot of suppressive policies. This created tyranny in the organization. DM is just following orders. It doesn’t matter if he changed this or that. This midget made things worse. I spoke with a friend who was a Scientologist in the 70’s and he said it was oppressive back then, but he commented that his generation made it more fun to be there.

If the RCS really intended for Scientology to expand I believe they would do surveys on this. Personally, I don’t believe that anywhere near the majority of people are searching for a new religion per se, but its quite obvious that the majority of people are searching for ways to solve their living problems.

Sad Sheeple, Wallowing Whales, and others in the RCS, can’t YOU figure this out? I’m not that smart, trust me!

I have a question: Does the Cathedral of Notre Dame attract new public to Catholicism? I don’t think it does. For whatever reasons people have for being Catholics, I don’t think the fact that the Church of Rome has vast real estate holdings and that many of their churches contain priceless works of gorgeous art, and that many of their churches are themselves works of priceless art – I don’t think that the aesthetics and wealth inherent in all this catapult people to adopt the Catholic faith. Now, the Church of Rome has many, many humanitarian and betterment programs. They feed people, they care for the elderly, sick, the homeless, the orphaned – on and on, all over the planet, they do it all. Now, I could see getting new converts that way to some limited extent, but not many. I think most Catholics are Catholic because their parents were, or, they are marrying a Catholic spouse.

I have used the Catholic religion purely to illustrate my own opinion that I do not believe that people can be depended upon to convert to a religion via 1) MEST, or 2) being helped by a social betterment program.,

I mean how many people have you ever heard say, “I became a Catholic (Protestant, Muslim, Jew etc) because they have vast real estate holdings and, man, their churches are just amazing!”

What is the percentage of starving, homeless, ill, drug addicted, etc. etc. people who adopt the religion of the group who fed, housed, cured them? Not many, I’d bet. I’d bet they accepted the help very gratefully and then continued on with their own faith.

So what does make people convert to a new religion, as a choice, on a self-determined basis and not because of a 2D and/or family connection?

In my opinion, it would be the experience of a difference in their thoughts and feelings. Something really changes for that person, something positive and wanted happens, some change for the better occurs, some sort of relief is experienced, he or she is happier in some way, less bothered about something, some ability gained or re-gained , etc., and this positive change is attributed directly o the practice of the new religion or philosophy, which is then taken up and practiced, to hold onto the win, and possibly to get more of the same.

I would say that’s a pretty good paraphrase Aqua.

I sort of repeated this in response to a comment from John P yesterday.

Martin, a few articles back I asked Mike these same questions and his answer to me was that, yes, its impossible to make sense out of insanity, but also, and very key, that that the Dwarf’s power and prestige depend on the perception that Scientology is expanding because of his leadership. This perception of expansion is being caused by the continual acquisition of new buildings as well as the PR about all of the humanitarian activities that are profoundly effecting and salvaging the planet via the IAS. I’m paraphrasing Mike rather badly but the gist is that these programs are his props which create the illusion (delusion) of expansion of the religion along with the profoundly good effects on the planet being created via programs funded by the IAS. In my ack of his answer was my cog that what is also being communicated is the illusion of an Affluence Formula being done – you know, these programs, Ideal Org, IAS, etc., are so-so-so successful that the cause of the affluence is to be strengthened (which would be, of course, more-more-more money for these programs, more and better fundraising, etc.

Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that while it is a fact that DM is uneducated, he is also unpredictable and might be a little smarter than many give him credit for. From the things I’ve read, it is clear to me that DM *does not* “believe in the tech” and doesn’t practice Scientology at all. I doubt he ever gets audited, or gives auditing. He’s not a Scientologist and is far closer to being a mobster.

I think that DM has an escape strategy. I think that he looks down on the Scientologists/Sheeple around him and is constantly amazed that people “buy his shit.” No doubt he gets figures and updates about the state of the Church of Scientology and knows that it’s straight down and vertical. It’s going straight to shit, and even he knows it. The CoS has been unable to lure any high profile actors to the Church, so even the most gullible people on the planet have wised up. This must worry DM.

The Ideal Org strategy is great because it means his coffers are enlarged with property. By now, their real estate portfolio must be quite impressive. IANAL, but if the local parishioners who paid for the property passed it on to another entity, I am guessing there is probably a way for the property to end up where DM’s grubby little fingers can find them.

Does anyone else think DM has an exit strategy? And can he extricate himself from the situation if the heat becomes too much? Can he step down, like the Catholic Pope, claiming it is the “right time to pass the torch?” Or would that open him up to prosecution not from without, but from within?

Sorry I rambled so much, but I’m interested how the readers of this blog think that Church of Scientology end game will play out. And I have no doubt that the end game has already begun.

VERY WELL SAID LANA!