“What did Hubbard know about running a business? Absolutely NOTHING. He had a little Navy experience, but didn’t really understand how that worked; hence his being passed over for promotion EVERY time (but one). The couple of “businesses” he tried to set up: (the “yacht brokerage” with Parsons was simply his scaming of Parsons’ life savings, and the early Dianetics centers uniformly went belly-up from financial mismanagement, Scientology seemed to have worked because it wasn’t under his control at first, then after they were established in California, scientology made more money than he could waste. Once he hit on the idea of Saint Hill, then the Sea Org, he didn’t have much use for money to live his lifestyle, though he refused to pay the staff or the government or the suppliers (which is a capsule view of his Finance policy”: Make money, make more money, make others produce so you can make more money. THEN pay no one you don’t absolutely have to pay, even if there’s no TP in the bathrooms and the power’s been cut off AND the fleet’ has been kicked out of the 3rd port in a row. I DO believe he considered some bribes a valid expense (though HE couldn’t be seen as connected to any illegal activity.)

Elizabeth, there is NO “absolute division” between church and state, just that the state can’t say what is a church or establish one religion as the official church of the US. Churches have always commented on state actions they disagreed with. That’s their god-given right (literally).

Specifically, our first Amendment states:” Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

[Separation of church & state is a different issue that probably popped up in the UK before America seceded from the British Empire, which, AFAICT, was when the British Empire started to disintegrate. Most Americans believe in keeping church and state separate, bu I don’t believe there’s any legal prohibition.

It does not seem to work in the manner for which it was intended: Namely, I should think, to protect their own citizens.

Very simplistic reason for this.

The US justice system is weighted to favor those with the most money.

When issues have arisen where the rights of the individual have clashed with the rights of the churches, the churches have usually prevailed. They have the money so they can hire the best lawyers. This has established a long history of legal precedent in the US that basically protects churches and ignores the rights of individuals. Religions are outside the purview of many laws, laws designed to protect the rights of individuals.

In this, the constitution, designed to protect the individual against oppression from the powerful has been turned on its head to protect the powerful in abusing individuals.

Many would argue that a lack of government oversight of religion is a good thing — it prevents oppressing belief. But it seems that in the US the pendulum has swung too far.

Of course, I need not ask that of all the UTRs out there.

Oh, yeah, hey David Miscavige, did you notice there are thousands of UTR scientologists out there?

And that they may be coming for you?

Sleep well in your kid-sized silk monogrammed pajamas, ya little shit.

It does not seem to work in the manner for which it was intended: Namely, I should think, to protect their own citizens.

If there’s any American cousins out there that can explain this to and why it is not use more vociferously in legal attacks and defenses for and from the CoS.

RE The :”IAS status whores” comment by yourself, I laughed out loud and I have NEVER encountered Scientology (what a neologism). There must be a presence in Canada,, where I live. Perhaps the increasing effects of unabated climate change ie very hot weather climates in Florida, California and Australia had made them initially more heavily targeted.

You look like your genetic background is as Irish as mine. The sun and heat actually can make me very ill, disorientated and can even trigger a seizure. I also become severely burnt in a short period of time.

When I went to Israel several years ago and even at home since, I have to have a hat, long sleeve shirt over whatever I am wearing and NOT wear denim, which traps heat and hurts the skin underneath (really).

One other thought or suggestion, which could be far more effective if explained by (non-Scientology) parents rather than schools, is the SURVIVAL skill of CRITICAL thinking. It would be a metaphorical innoculation, non?

Fascinating episode! Still digesting