Aqua, in this pic , the top 1/3, it shows just the major sects of Islam. There are MANY as you can see.
https://infobeautiful4.s3.amazonaws.com/2014/07/2552_IIB_Islamic-Sects-1.png

There is a sort of de facto standard reflected in who is allowed to make the Haj to Mecca. The NOI aren’t qualified to go, though occasionally a small number attend by special invitation. But for instance the Sunni rulers of Saudi Arabia allow Shiites – even from Iran – to come, recognizing their right as followers of the Prophet.

There’s more complexity to it, as the Hashemite Kings of Jordan are actually the guardians of the holy places as patrilineal descendants of the Prophet Mohammed, which the Saud family are not actually, but you’re probably not aware of that and it’s not necessary to a basic understanding of the matter. There is also an effective consensus about who is a Muslim reflected in the fact that all the major sects effectively recognize one another as much as they disagree – but none recognize the NOI; again, there’s actually some complexity to that not worth wading into here.

Some of it is explained here; note that Islamic Centers are given the authority to determine who is a Muslim, for the purposes of the Haj:

https://saudiembassy.net/hajj-requirements

I see what you mean. But no one told me that Islam doesn’t recognize NOI. After I read your response and the link you provided I googled various things to get more informed and in reading some article (sorry, this is vague) that listed the various sects of Islam (about 7 or 8 sects or factions ) NOI wasn’t listed among them. But I get what you’re saying; there is no central, organizing body, the way, say, the Vatican is for Catholicism. I get it.

There is no coherent “Church of Islam” with a leader to make such decisions. So, it is impossible for “Islam” to recognize anything. There is no such entity. Only individual sects all over the place. It would be like saying the sect of The Russian Orthodox church doesn’t recognize the Southern Baptist church so members of the Southern Baptist Church aren’t Christians.

So if anyone tells you that “Islam doesn’t recognize” blah, blah, blah realize you are talking to a person that is ignorant of what world wide Islam IS.

That tells us a lot if HAPI has only one auditor. Again, does that show that local orgs in Europe are being hollowed out, with upper level orgs and AOs ending up taking over even more of the basic auditing business? And yet somehow they need a huge new building, as if that is going to solve their problems.

It seems to me that the local orgs and their massive new facilities may be being virtually mothballed, like unneeded military bases kept on contingency and minimally maintained in case some unexpected event requires their capacity. Except that Scientology’s stated premise, at least, is that some “boom” is just around their corner.

It may also fit with the phenomenon I’ve referred to as, the orgs are the new missions. They’re becoming mostly low-level introductory centers.

KC Baby’s silent thoughts while being photographed for staff promo with parents.:

“Well, isn’t this just swell. Of all the Moms and Dads out there longing for children I had to pick these 2 whackos. Why do I DO these things to myself? Both of them in this cult, schlepping me around to work every day. How am I supposed to get any rest? I’m a baby, I need m;y rest! Preferably in a comfortable clean crib. Is that too much to ask? And to top it off, the bitch here smokes so I can forget about any decent breast milk. What are they going to feed me, I’d like to know. Some crummy formula, probably. Oh, that’s right…barley water, I heard them say. Freakin’ BARLEY water…WTF?”

No young people? Not true, BKmole! You’ve heard the expression, “30 is the new 20”? Well in the cult, 60 is the new 40! And in wog society, “everyone knows” 40 is the new 30, and so on. See, that’s how that works 🙂
Seriously, I’d LOVE to know the average age of those who are TRULY in – NOT factoring in at all the UTRs going thru the motions but the truly active, for real still in Scientologists including Sea Org, including Class V staff – their AVERAGE age. I would love to know.

🙂

OK, ok, wow. So I didn’t do my research before spouting off. Ok. Full disclosure: I based what I said on a number of Scientologist NOIs I have known. They dressed up sometimes in those robes and headpieces now and then but not always.
I never saw them praying to Mecca or heard them mention doing so and I took courses with them. They certainly never followed the Muslim dietary laws – ribs, fried shrimp, no problem. Plenty of pork on those forks. Except for their sometimes Muslim dress there was nothing “Muslim” about them. Last but not least, Islam doesn’t recognize NOI as one of their sects. But I stand corrected on what I said, given the evidence you’ve produced – theoretical evidence as to what they’re supposed to officially believe. But now I’ve got a question: if they DO believe in Allah and all that, why DOESN’T Islam recognize them?

May he bless you with his noodley appendage!