Scientology And Me

Freedom Magazine Documentary Shows Waste and Lies in their Scientology Program

2010-09-27T23:46:00.000-07:00

BBC Panorama was given a Church of Scientology International statement to air on their Scientology program. In the interest of fair reporting, the entire statement, unabridged and unedited, exactly as it was provided to the BBC is available here.

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Meet A Scientologist!

2010-09-07T22:06:00.000-07:00

How does Scientology work?

2010-08-20T13:14:00.000-07:00

The Scientology religion provides answers to many questions about life and death. It encompasses an exact, precisely mapped-out path. In developing Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard discovered a technology to free the human spirit and thereby allow Man to really know himself. He thoroughly tested all procedures and recorded those that proved most workable in bringing about uniformly predictable results. These comprise standard Scientology technology.

Through application of Scientology principles and technology in an auditing session, a person is able to remove barriers and unwanted conditions and so become more himself. As a person progresses, he often reaches out to help others in the ways he has been helped.

That which is real to the person is all one is asked to accept of Scientology. No beliefs are forced upon him. By training and processing, he finds out for himself the answers he is searching for in life.

Volunteer Scientologists to be Recognized at Historic Fort Harrison

2010-08-10T16:35:00.001-07:00

Hundreds of Scientologists in Tampa Bay have donated over 300,000 volunteer hours in one year alone

August 9, 2010 (FPRC) -- Clearwater – A Volunteer Awards Ceremony will be held in the historic Fort Harrison to honor the over 800 Scientologists in Tampa Bay who have donated over 300,000 volunteer hours to raise funds for the needy, rehabilitate inmates in Florida’s prisons, tutor children, and to spread the message of the Universal Declaration for Human Rights and that a Drug Free Life is More Fun. Pat Harney, the Public Affairs Director for the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization will be presenting the awards. She said, “In 1961, L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology wrote: ‘…a being is only as valuable as he can serve others.’ This is an ideology that Scientologists internationally practice, including those here in the Tampa Bay area and I want them to know that they are appreciated for the tremendous work they are doing to raise the standard of living of the people of Tampa Bay and throughout Florida.”

Harney continued, “Participation in Scientology volunteer groups, however, is not just limited to Scientologists. People of all faiths are welcome to volunteer, and most of our programs count a wide range of community volunteers.”

Here is a partial list of the volunteer groups established and led by Scientologists in the Tampa Bay area:

THE COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER (CLC): Holly and Brendan Haggerty founded the Community Learning Center to provide kids a safe place to learn and to go to after school for arts programs and sports. The proud parents of four children, they have now expanded their services to include literacy programs for adults. Though based right outside of downtown Clearwater, their after-school tutoring programs are running in Pinellas, Dade, Hillsborough, Alachua, Broward-Deerfield and Broward-Ft. Lauderdale counties. Their 89 volunteer tutors have helped some 500 students in the past year alone.

CRIMINON – FLORIDA: Founded here in Florida about 15 years ago, Criminon Florida is currently run by Clearwater resident Susan Broughton. A chapter of Criminon International, Criminon Florida offers character building criminal rehabilitation programs through correspondence courses in 85% of the 75 prisons in the state and has over 2000 inmates enrolled. This activity is 100% volunteer all the way, volunteer supervisors grade inmates lessons, while others ensure that the course is properly administered.

SAY NO TO DRUGS RACE: 20 years ago, Clearwater resident and world-class runner Sandra Johnson started the Say No to Drugs Holiday Classic to promote an anti-drug message through a road race. A team of 200 volunteers produces this race, which now brings over 1,000 runners a year. From executives to chiropractors, to Boy Scout troops to sponsors, all contribute to making this event a success. Now under the direction of Chris Alexander, the race continues to be a draw for elite athletes and weekend warriors alike.

THE WAY TO HAPPINESS: Written by Mr. Hubbard in the early 1980’s, the Way to Happiness is a non-religious moral code designed to help young and old make decisions about their lives that will enable them to flourish. Here in Tampa Bay, the Way to Happiness Club, led by Clearwater resident Betsy Cramb, distributed 125,000 free booklets and held 52 events last year to educate children in the application of this non-religious moral code to improve their survival and the survival of those around them.

THE CLEARWATER COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS (CCV): What originally started as the Women’s Auxiliary of the Church of Scientology, the Clearwater Community Volunteers holds fundraisers and events throughout the year for the benefit of local charities. These include Winter Wonderland in downtown Clearwater, the Easter Egg Hunt in Coachman Park, and Fashions-with-Flair Fashion show which just held its 8th annual event at the historic Fort Harrison. From these events, CCV is able to contribute tens of thousands of dollars each year to worthwhile local charitable organization such as the Make a Wish Foundation and the Children’s Home of Tampa. Realtor and self-proclaimed Professional Volunteer Pamela Ryan Anderson now heads up this group which utilizes the talents of over 800 volunteers.

FOUNDATION FOR A DRUG FREE WORLD, FLORIDA: Led by Julietta Gil, this group was founded to educate people about the dangers of abusing harmful drugs. This chapter of the international Foundation for a Drug Free World gave 30 drug education lectures in schools throughout Pinellas and Hillsborough County to about 3,500 people in one year. They also offer drug free educational pamphlets, and have distributed 75,000 over the last two years. Through partnerships with a multitude of groups, such as the Dunedin Blue Jays, the Clearwater Downtown Partnership and the Sunscreen Film Festival, youth are sworn in as “Drug Free Marshals” who pledge not only to lead a drug-free life, but also to educate themselves and others about the harmful effects of drugs.

HUMAN RIGHTS AWARENESS: The protection of basic human rights has been a hallmark of the Church of Scientology since its earliest days. Here in the Tampa Bay area, two groups have picked up the torch to educate people about what their rights are and how they can defend them: the Tampa Bay Chapter of Youth for Human Rights and the Human Rights Group. Members of Youth for Human Rights give presentations on the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights in schools throughout Pinellas and Hillsborough County. They have also passed out thousands of booklets and public service announcements depicting the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Headed up by Linda Drazkowski, the Human Rights Group held its fourth annual Walk-a-Thon this March in St. Petersburg’s Straub Park. More than 1,000 people from many different faiths and backgrounds marched in support of human rights.”

To find out more about the work of Scientologists as volunteers log on to www.scientology.org.

For more information contact Pat Harney of Church of Scientology (http://www.scientology.org)
(727) 467 - 6860

New Scientology Churches Revive Historic Buildings

2010-06-12T09:48:00.000-07:00

_{Foyer inside the Church of Scientology on Victoria Street, London.}

When the new Church of Scientology of Pasadena opens its doors in the city’s historical core this summer, it will not only enable the Church to expand its service to the community, it will give back some of its cultural history. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the character of what was once a turn-of-the-century bicycle factory has been transformed into a unique blend of old and new, its four-story atrium and original façade still intact. With attention also given to 21st century detail, the restored building will also be LEED certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).

The Church of Scientology International has been working for the past six years on a program to acquire new buildings for its regional Churches around the world. Launched in 2004 by Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige, the aim of the program is to establish each Church in premises ideally suited for its many and varied religious services as well as its community outreach activities. So far, 19 such ideal Churches have opened, eight of them in unique historic buildings, with more on the horizon.

_{The Brussels branch of the Churches of Scientology for the European Communities situation at Boulevard de Waterloo 100-103, is an early-20th-century structure fully renovated to serve the congregation and the community. It was dedicated 23 January 2010.}

“These Churches have already been in their cities for many years and their buildings need to be large enough to accommodate all their activities including a chapel, rooms for the study of our theology and introductory courses for new people and individual spiritual counseling rooms,” said Church of Scientology International spokesman, Tommy Davis.

Far from a Sunday-only meeting place, Churches of Scientology hum with activity seven days a week. In addition to common congregational services such as weddings, funerals, naming ceremonies for newborn children and Sunday service, parishioners can study days and evenings as well as receive the religion’s unique form of one-on-one religious counseling, participate in the Scientology Purification Program (a precise and closely supervised religious regimen that addresses barriers to spiritual gain) and take part in community betterment planning and activities, sponsored and initiated by the Church.

In May the Nashville, Tennessee Church of Scientology historic building took top honors in the city’s 35th Annual Preservation Awards for meeting all safety standards while preserving the beauty and grace of the 1898 building, which opened last year. Built just two years after the famous Grand Ole Opry in a similar style, its features include red brick walls, original doors and hardwood floors, 14-foot ceilings and an unusual three-floor atrium crowned with a glass cupola.

Last January, the Church opened the Belgium branch of the Churches of Scientology of Europe, an 88,000 square-foot early 20th century historic structure in the heart of Brussels. In October 2009, the Founding Church of Scientology in Washington, DC completed renovation of its seven-story, 49,000-square-foot historic building by architect Appleton P. Clark, Jr., half a mile from the White House. And another historic Church property fully restored in 2009 is the 1926 Mediterranean Revival-style Fort Harrison building in Clearwater, Florida.

_{The first floor hallway of the Brussels branch of the Churches of Scientology for Europe with study rooms, offices and the a Documentation Center which holds the written and recorded works of Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard.}

Other cities with historic buildings now home to Scientology Churches include: San Francisco, California; London, England; Tampa, Florida; and Buffalo, New York. The Church has also acquired historic buildings that are in pre-construction stages in Detroit, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois; Boston, Massachusetts; Portland, Oregon; Montreal, Canada; and Manchester, England.

“We take a lot of pride and care in adapting and rehabilitating our historic buildings,” said Davis. “The result is truly unique as these new Churches exemplify our religion and are dynamically practical and aesthetic, and enable us to practice the full range of Scientology services as laid out by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard.”

Scientology Ads Win 2010 Aurora Awards

2010-04-17T12:41:00.000-07:00

Three Scientology image ads take home the Platinum Aurora Award with highest honors for creativity, message effectiveness and technical excellence.

Los Angeles (Vocus/PRWEB ) April 16, 2010 -- Church of Scientology International received top honors this week in the Aurora Awards, an international competition recognizing excellence in independent film and video production. Contest judges accorded "Scientology: Know Yourself—Know Life" ads the highest score in creativity, message effectiveness and technical excellence.

Aurora Awards judges are panels of working film and video professionals in major cities across the country.

The "Scientology: Know Yourself—Know Life" cross-platform ad campaign was launched in May 2009, airing on 35 TV networks, including cable and satellite channels, and the Internet. The ads were instrumental in directing 20 million visitors to Scientology.org, the Church’s main website, in the past 11 months.

“Scientology: Know Yourself—Know Life” consists of three video ads that provide viewers a glimpse of what Scientology is and what Scientologists believe. "You are not your name,” one ad begins. “You’re not your job. You’re not the clothes you wear or the neighborhood you live in.” The ad goes on to tell the viewer, “You are a spirit that will never die” and ends with an invitation to visit the Scientology website and learn the answers Man has sought about himself and about life.

This public information campaign, and flash versions of the TV ads which launched simultaneously on the Internet, tells people to visit the Scientology site at www.scientology.org, where visitors may select from more than three hours of video clips to learn the answers to the questions the new ads raise and to learn what Scientology is and what Scientologists believe and do.

The “Know Yourself—Know Life” have run on TV, satellite and cable across the United States throughout the day, on MTV, Discovery, ESPN2, Learning Channel, CNBC, MSNBC, CNN, Fox News, Fox Sports and others.

Scientology is a worldwide religious movement with more than 8,500 Churches, Missions and affiliated groups in 165 countries. The Church and its members dedicate their time and resources to numerous humanitarian programs that Scientology has become known for around the world, including combating drug abuse, immorality, illiteracy, and human rights violations.

Church of Scientology: Gearing up for worldwide expansion and dissemination

2009-12-30T21:28:00.000-08:00

Led by Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board Religious Technology Center and the ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion, Scientologists are celebrating a renaissance of their faith. Today, the Church of Scientology has expanded to more than 8,000 churches, missions and affiliated groups in 165 nations-doubling the number in the last five years. This year alone, the Church completed a $40 million restoration of one of its oldest landmark buildings and inaugurated five major new Church buildings in Malmo, Dallas, Nashville, Rome and Washington, DC. Current demand for L. Ron Hubbard's books and lectures on Dianetics and Scientology has outstripped the last five decades combined, approaching 70 million distributed in the last two years. All the while the Church's ever growing humanitarian programs in the fields of anti-drug, human rights, morals education and disaster relief have positively impacted hundreds of millions of lives.

As the decade comes to a close, Scientologists world over are celebrating their religion's most expansive year to date. 2009 marked the 25th Anniversary of the International Association of Scientologists, the official membership organization of Scientology. In addressing the more than 7,000 Scientologists and guests in attendance at the anniversary event on October 16th in England, Mr. David Miscavige praised members for their dedication and contribution to the tremendous accomplishments of the Church to date and expressed his optimism for the future of Scientology:

"Our battles of yesterday were to stay alive. Our battles of tomorrow are to overcome the obstacles to eternity itself. Because we have never taken our eye off the ultimate prize, we stand where we are today. Twenty-five years of magnificent accomplishment and a future more glorious than we could have ever imagined."
_________________________

The scriptures of Dianetics and Scientology are comprised of over 500,000 pages and over 3,000 recorded lectures by Founder, L. Ron Hubbard. Since July 2007, over 67 million copies of L. Ron Hubbard's basic books and lectures on Dianetics and Scientology have been distributed. (During the Church's first 50 years a total of 39 million copies of L. Ron Hubbard's works on Dianetics and Scientology were in circulation.) With all of these materials available in 15 languages, and the nine basic books now available in 50 languages, the total number of Dianetics and Scientology translations over the last decade is 10 times the previous five decades combined. In recognition of this fact, the Guinness World Records acknowledged L. Ron Hubbard as the world's most translated author.

In-house digital publishing facilities can print over 500,000 books and 925,000 recorded lectures on CD per week

The demand for L. Ron Hubbard's materials has grown exponentially in the last year with the numbers of new people coming into Churches and Missions to find out about Scientology growing in the same fashion. Indeed, the Scientology religion is now enjoying its greatest era of expansion in history, with public demand for L. Ron Hubbard books and lectures escalating across more than 165 countries.

To keep pace with the demand, the Church operates two state-of-the-art digital printing and CD manufacturing facilities in Los Angeles and Copenhagen.

In 2009, the Church's publication arm, Bridge Publications, Inc. in Los Angeles, opened a 274,000-square-foot digital in-house printing and manufacturing facility, thereby increasing its publishing capacity to 500,000 books and 925,000 CDs per week, an increase of 660% over 2007.

State-of-the-art film and audio studios with the most advanced digital recording and editing equipment in the world.

In June 2009 the Church celebrated the 21st Anniversary of the Maiden Voyage of the Freewinds religious retreat and annual religious convocation for advanced Scientologists. During this week-long series of events and seminars, Mr. Miscavige announced "the single most momentous advance in Dianetics technology" since the original publication of Dianetics on May 9, 1950. The project, four years in the making and personally directed by Mr. Miscavige, resulted in 32 films totaling 4 ½ hours. The films have been translated into 15 languages. They put Dianetics fully into visual form, making the subject universally accessible to everyone.

June also saw the release of educational films to support Church-sponsored social betterment and humanitarian programs. The first of these was the new, full-length Truth About Drugs documentary giving addicts and at-risk youth the chance to find out from those who have lived it, exactly how addiction shatters lives. The second was The Story of Human Rights, an educational film which provides a short, concise and powerful lesson in the history and necessity of human rights and the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

October marked the completion and release of the feature-length film, The Way to Happiness. This 2-hour film presents this nonreligious common sense guide to moral living by L. Ron Hubbard.

Church-sponsored humanitarian programs touch the lives of hundreds of millions in 2009.

The Church-sponsored humanitarian programs using the latter three films reached hundreds of millions of people in 2009 and billions since their inception.

The Church-sponsored anti-drug education initiative ("Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Life") is the largest nongovernmental anti-drug campaign in the world and, through the airing of public service announcements, distribution of free drug education booklets and events promoting a drug-free life, it has reached over 853 million people since its inception.

The Church-sponsored human rights education program ("United for Human Rights") is the largest in the world and based entirely on raising awareness of the 30 articles of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Through the airing of public service announcements, human rights symposiums and events and distribution of human rights educational materials, the campaign has reached over 943 million people since it commenced.

The Church-sponsored morals program based on the common-sense guide to living, The Way to Happiness, has now reached nearly 800 million people through its public service announcements, educational materials and Set a Good Example contests.

The Church of Scientology's Volunteer Ministers, over 200,000 strong, have helped over 1.4 million people in times of disaster in 2009 alone. The motto of Scientology's Volunteer Ministers is "Something Can Be Done About It."

Mr. Miscavige is driving a movement now spanning the world with new Ideal Churches of Scientology.

Mr. Miscavige's vision sets the direction for the acquisition, design and planning of new Churches-quite literally from inception to ribbon cutting. For the past five years, the Church has dedicated itself to a program to locate, renovate and open new Scientology Churches to service its parishioners and their communities around the world. Since the launch of this program five years ago, over 70 new buildings have been acquired internationally. Real estate holdings have increased from 5.6 million square feet in 2004 to over 11 million in 2009, with over 600,000 square feet of renovations completed in just 2009.

14 March 2009: At the Church's spiritual headquarters in Clearwater, Florida, the Fort Harrison Hotel opened in March 2009 after a $40 million renovation and restoration. The building was stripped virtually bare and rebuilt from its core, including the installation of new state-of-the-art systems. This landmark still bears its hallmark historical touches, however, including replication of the lobby's original black wrought iron work and gold leaf moldings. The resurfacing of the entire exterior with added architectural detailing makes this religious retreat even more beautiful than at its legendary beginning in 1926, when she was known as "the Aristocrat of Southern Florida Hotels."

4 April 2009: Three weeks after the inauguration of the new Fort Harrison, a new Church of Scientology in the Swedish seacoast city of Malmö was formally opened by Mr. Miscavige. European dignitaries and guests from 32 nations gathered to celebrate a historic day: dedication of the 72,000-square-foot landmark Church of Scientology, acquired, designed, renovated and opened in less than six months.

11 April 2009: One week later, in Dallas, Texas, a 41,000-square-foot Church opened its doors. With Mr. Miscavige officiating, the Church of Scientology Dallas was formally welcomed to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex by City of Irving Mayor Herbert Gears.

25 April 2009: The month of April ended with the grand opening of the new 36,000 square-foot Church of Scientology and Celebrity Centre Nashville. The opening of the new Church building in Music City USA, an historical landmark, was again led by Mr. Miscavige and joined by scores of local dignitaries, residents and visiting artists totaling over 3,000 guests.

24 October 2009: In October, more than 6,000 people gathered in Rome's Casalotti de Boccea district to celebrate the grand opening of the new Church of Scientology Rome. The 69,000-square-foot Church, situated on 28 acres of parkland, marks the largest expansion to date for Scientology in its 30-year history in Italy. Mr. David Miscavige welcomed parishioners to their new home. The new Church will serve parishioners of Central Italy and other regions of the Mediterranean.

31 October 2009: One week later, the Founding Church of Scientology of Washington, DC, originally established in 1955 by Scientology Founder, L. Ron Hubbard, opened its new premises six blocks from the White House and minutes from the Capitol Mall. Attended by nearly 3,000 Scientologists and guests, the celebration was presided over by Mr. David Miscavige. The newly acquired and fully restored 49,000-square-foot historical building now represents the largest Scientology presence in DC in Church history. Its grand opening now brings the Church of Scientology's presence in the nation's capital to three very important properties: The new Embassy Building providing all Church services for parishioners of Washington DC; the original Founding Church premises where L. Ron Hubbard personally worked, now fully restored and open to the public as a heritage property of the Church's history; and the Church's well-known Fraser Mansion at DuPont Circle which will now become the Church's National Affairs Office.

The Church of Scientology looks to 2010 for further unprecedented growth, with greater expansion and success in ministering to its parishioners and their communities than ever in its history.

This year has marked the greatest expansion in Scientology's history. The Church looks to 2010 for even greater success with scores of new Churches and Advanced Organizations on the horizon. New Churches are scheduled to open in Pasadena, California; Inglewood, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; Seattle, Washington; Harlem, New York; Portland, Oregon; Twin Cities, Minnesota; Boston, Massachusetts; Cincinnati, Ohio; Quebec, Canada; Mexico City, Mexico; Tel Aviv, Israel; Melbourne and Sydney, Australia and Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Additionally and most significantly, the doors will open to the newly constructed 375,000-square-foot Church serving as spiritual headquarters for the religion, located in Clearwater, Florida.

Most importantly, 2010 will bring the completion of a decades-long project to restore and make available the complete library of Mr. Hubbard's works, including hundreds of his over 3,000 recorded lectures never heard beyond his original audience.

Grand Opening of the new National Church of Scientology in Washington

2009-11-02T19:16:00.000-08:00

Says the Church of Scientology:

"It is with great pride that we present to you our new Founding Church of Scientology of Washington, DC. The opening of this Church marks both the beginning of a new era for our Scientology parishioners and for all people who live and work in our nation's capital - the heart and center of the Free World.

Over half a century ago, the Founding Church of Scientology was established in Washington, DC. In addition to being the home of our Church, the nation's capital was also once home to our Founder, L. Ron Hubbard, and is a city he held very dear to his heart as the location of many significant events in his life.

During the formative years of Dianetics and Scientology, Mr. Hubbard frequently returned to Washington and served as the Church's Executive Director until 1959. As such, this city and church holds an integral place n our religion's history and has played a pivotal role in our expansion since that time.

The international importance in today's world of the capital of the United States of America has never been greater. At the same time, innovation on a global scale has never been higher. It has given us the Internet and a world where over a billion people can communicate to anyone anywhere in a nanosecond. Yet these and many other twenty-first century technological marvels have not been matched by commensurate advances in the humanities.

What has eluded Man in his hectic forward progress are the answers to their most deep-seated questions - Who am I? Where do I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going? Science has not solved the riddles of the mind - nor unraveled the mysteries behind broken relationships, instability in the workplace, general unhappiness, unreasonable fears and insecurity.

And what of the social challenges - those that impact on our daily lives: crime, violence, illiteracy and intolerance?

These and many other questions are the province of the Scientology religion. Scientology has answers to these problems. Real answers. Answers that work for individuals and entire cultures. Our new Church is a testament to our commitment to bring these solutions to all the people of Washington, DC.

The aims of Scientology are, "A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where Man is free to rise to greater heights."

And with more than 8,000 Churches, Missions and Groups worldwide, ministering to millions across 165 nations in over 50 languages, Scientologists are making those aims a reality by providing real answers, guidance and assistance in thousands of cities, towns and villages. "

Watch these Scientology Videos - in High Definition!

2009-06-29T18:03:00.001-07:00

Scientology Know Yourself, Know Life (http://www.scientology.org/) ads, launched May 18th, by the Church of Scientology's International office have been running in the US and Canada on MTV, Discovery, The Learning Channel, CNBC, MSNBC, CNN, ESPN, Fox News and Fox Sports. The current Know Yourself Know Life ads will air daily until the end of 2009. Now they have been published on Youtube. You can also see them here!

Scientology in Tokyo, Combating Drug Abuse and Addiction

2009-06-28T19:08:00.000-07:00

Scientology church seeks to maximize the most important resource we have – our children.

The Church of Scientology of Tokyo participated in the “Eco Life Fair 2009″ – an annual expo produced by the Environment Ministry with the theme “earth environment.”

Scientology was among more than 50 participant organizations, which included NPOs (non-political organizations), NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and businesses, which share the ministry’s purpose to care for our natural resources and take responsibility for the future.

With the belief that our most important resources are our youth, the Church of Scientology of Tokyo manned a booth at the fair to let young people know the truth about drugs. Using a series of award-winning 30 to 60 second videos that created immediate impact on those visiting their booth, awakening them to some of the most controversial aspects of drug abuse.

One local assembly member who visited the booth told the Scientologists, “This is a great activity. I agree with what you are doing. This is needed in Japan. I hope you succeed.”

A young teacher, only recently graduated from school himself, told the volunteers, “It is really necessary to improve people’s awareness about drugs through education.” He was so impressed with the quality of the drug education materials, he left telling the Scientologists he was going to see the principal of his school to get him to adopt the campaign.

A teacher who works at a girls’ school confided to the Scientologists that drugs are in very wide use among the children at his school. He asked the volunteers to come lecture his students on the dangers of drugs.

Scientology churches around the world have been involved in drug education and prevention activities for more than two decades. The videos and drug education pamphlets they use are distributed by The Foundation for a Drug-Free World, a secular, nonprofit organization that empowers youth and adults with factual information about drugs so they can make informed decisions to be drug-free.

The Foundation was established in October 2006 to meet the growing demand for the Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Life drug education materials, which were developed and refined through the drug prevention activities conducted by members of Scientology churches in collaboration with the interfaith community, volunteer organizations, education institutions and government agencies.

Scientology in France Mobilized for Human Rights

2009-06-26T20:02:00.000-07:00

Scientology churches and missions in France sponsor a human right initiative called Youth for Human Rights (YHRI), to help make human rights known and bring about important human rights reforms.

Last year’s blockbuster film, “Taken” brought to light a Paris you won’t find in the tourist brochures—an international hub for sex trafficking.

Despite freedom from slavery being one of the 30 rights mandated by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which was ratified by the member nations of the UN 60 years ago, an estimated 600,000 to 800,000 men, women, and children are trafficked yearly across international borders. Of these, 70 percent are female and 50 percent are children, the majority of whom are forced into the commercial sex trade.

With this in mind, Scientology Churches in France have intensified their work to educate people on the basics of human rights.

The Church of Scientology is founded on the principle of human rights. In fact, the Creed of the Church of Scientology, written by L. Ron Hubbard in 1954, begins with the words, “We of the Church believe: That all men of whatever race, color or creed were created with equal rights.”

For this reason, the Scientology churches and missions of France held a weekend-long human rights education and petition drive to inform people in their communities of their rights and responsibilities, believing that education in the subject is a vital first step in making human rights a fact.

In Paris, 24 teenagers and children converged on the Beaubourg Centre in the heart of Paris and collected 3,000 signatures on a petition mandating human rights education for all youth in France, and insisting that the French government fully implement the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Six members of the Church of Scientology Mission of Marseilles set up a booth at the old harbor. With a large banner telling people, “know your rights,” they distributed hundreds of booklets that clearly present the 30 basic human rights covered in the Universal Declaration.

Members of Scientology churches and missions throughout France are making human rights a fact.

In the center of Bordeaux, Scientologists set up a display, and throughout the afternoon they played educational videos produced by the Church of Scientology that inform people of about Universal Declaration. In Angers and Vannes, eight Scientologists held their own petition drive collecting more than 400 signatures to support the UDHR.

“We believe in our country, and if everyone in France were aware of human rights and the kinds of violations that occur here and in other countries, and if we all demanded the implementation of the Universal Declaration, sexual trafficking and other gross violations would cease,” said Françoise Morel, Scientology Human Rights Director for France. “We simply wouldn’t tolerate it.”

For more information on the human rights initiatives sponsored by the Church of Scientology visit the Scientology video channel.

David Miscavige speaks the Scientology Maiden Voyage Events

2009-06-22T17:03:00.001-07:00

With this year being the 2nd Anniversary of the Golden Age of Knowledge, I am really looking forward to hearing David Miscavige talk about this at the Maiden Voyage events. I have had such incredible wins myself on the Basic books and lectures and I’m sure the wins and completions from the Basics are unprecedented!

2009-06-22T17:03:00.000-07:00

With this being the 2nd Anniversary of the Golden Age of Knowledge, I am really looking forward to hearing David Miscavige talk about this at the Maiden Voyage events. I have had such incredible wins myself on the Basic books and lectures and I’m sure the wins and completions from the Basics are unprecedented!

Scientology Volunteer Ministers Acknowledged for their Help After Mumbai Terror Attack

2009-06-07T20:21:00.000-07:00

The International Scientology Volunteer Ministers India Goodwill Tour provided help in the wake of last year’s Mumbai terror attacks. Their work did not go unnoticed.

The Scientology Volunteer Ministers were featured in a recent edition of India’s UpperCrust Magazine for their work in the wake of last year’s Mumbai terror attacks. The article acknowledges the importance of their contribution, not only in helping victims of the attack but in training emergency response personnel and health care specialists to cope effectively with any future terrorism or disasters.

The article tells how the Scientology team worked with the staff at Sir JJ Hospital to help the victims of the terrorism. Once the majority of those admitted had been discharged from the hospital, the Scientologists, consisting of members of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers India Goodwill Tour and local volunteers whom they have trained, worked with colleges and Mumbai University to train students and faculty in Scientology techniques that increase effectiveness in the face of disaster. Among those they trained were the trainers of the Maharashtra Civil Defense team.

The article featured an interview with Marion Whitta, the leader of the Scientology Volunteers. Asked why Scientology is so popular in India, Marion stated, “It’s simply a case of workability. People in India are interested in personality improvement and are seeking solutions for the work-a-day world, whether how to do better at work or how to be a great mother or how to be able to graduate as a student…who knows and can effectively apply what he or she has learned.” She went on to say that “people want solutions to their problems or they just want to improve their condition in life and when they find technology that is simple, something they can apply for themselves, then they want exactly that.”

Pointing out that this is not the first time Scientology has been acknowledged for its work in India, the article states: “As to the founder of this movement, Mr. L. Ron Hubbard, here is a man already known to many Indians as he was awarded, in March 2006 in Delhi, with the prestigious Shristi award (the first time this national award has been bestowed on a man not of Indian heritage),” and that he was again honored last August by the Indian Lions Club in Delhi with the posthumous presentation of their Humanitarian Award.

The article points out that the India Scientology tour has been traveling throughout the country since its arrival in 2005. “Training seminars have been delivered to literally thousands of professionals as well as students” and to “hundreds of police officers in Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Mysore,” including BSF (the Border Security Force) and CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) officers.

But the article also notes that the Scientology Volunteer Ministers provide help and training to anyone, as the article states, including “the ‘man in the street’ who just wants to be able to get along better in some aspect of his life.”

The Scientology Volunteer Ministers web site offers 19 extension courses which can be done over the net as a free service to anyone who wants to improve some aspect of his or her life.

For more information on the Scientology Volunteer Ministers, visit their web site at www.volunteerministers.org or the Scientology site at www.scientology.org

Churches of Scientology Disaster Response Participates in the 2009 Annual National VOAD Conference

2009-06-01T20:28:00.000-07:00

Salt Lake City—The Churches of Scientology Disaster Response (CSDR) was proud to participate with the national member organizations of the National VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters) attending the 17th annual conference last week in Salt Lake City, Utah. The theme of the conference was “Life Elevated…A Celebration of Service.”

National VOAD is the forum where organizations share knowledge and resources throughout the disaster cycle-preparation, response and recovery - to help disaster survivors and their communities.

Members of National VOAD form a coalition of nonprofit organizations that respond to disasters as part of their overall mission, promoting the cooperation, communication, coordination and collaboration needed in disaster response not only among themselves but with local, state and federal agencies as well.

“Service to those in need is paramount,” said Susan Taylor, National Director of the Churches of Scientology Disaster Response. “We do our best in times of disaster to provide whatever help is needed whether it is distributing food, water, or supplies; providing direct services to individuals in need; helping to clean up after floods; or providing spiritual care to responders, survivors or care-givers-helping them to overcome stress, shock, loss or trauma.”

Scientology Volunteer Ministers specialize in providing “Scientology Assists” — simple light, non-intrusive emotional and spiritual stress relief techniques developed by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard. These assists help, among many things, to restore order and calm in an area, address and alleviate the emotional and spiritual effects of physical pain, shock and trauma, relieve stress, help orient a confused or distraught individual and help survivors, responders and care-givers to cope with the immediate situation more rapidly and effectively.

CSDR volunteers reach out to those in need in the field or from their field base. Their large yellow tents are often used as PODs (points of distribution) where water, food and supplies are given to those in need. CSDR activities have ranged from helping at recent fires in California, to assisting during floods in Washington State, tornados in the mid-west, and hurricanes in Florida and the Southeast.

This last week CSDR participated with other organizations at the National VOAD conference’s Exhibit Hall by having a booth where Scientology Assists demonstrations were given. During the final evening’s celebration at the Salt Palace, the CSDR yellow tent was on display alongside the Red Cross and Salvation Army trucks and other agencies’ emergency vehicles. CSDR volunteers offered Assists to the attendees, demonstrating their effectiveness.

Ms. Taylor noted that it is a privilege to work with so many other organizations to help those in need. “The collaborative efforts of all of us make it possible to bring real help and relief after a disaster,” she said.

In establishing the Scientology Volunteer Ministers program more than 30 years ago, L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of the Scientology religion, wrote: “A Volunteer Minister does not shut his eyes to the pain, evil and injustice of existence. Rather, he is trained to handle these things and help others achieve relief from them and new personal strength as well.”

For more information about the Scientology Volunteer Ministers Program, visit www.volunteerministers.org or the official Scientology web site at www.scientology.org.

Church of Scientology Opens New Celebrity Centre in Nashville

2009-05-11T20:30:00.000-07:00

The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre of Nashville held a spectacular ribbon cutting ceremony to signal the opening of their new quarters in Music City’s Fall School Building. Nashville, the home of the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame, is now home to a very special new Scientology church as well.

L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of the Scientology religion, once said, “The world is carried on the backs of a desperate few.” Because these desperate few are often the most neglected, Mr. Hubbard saw to the formation of Celebrity Centres—special Scientology churches, such as the new church in Nashville, that cater to artists, politicians, leaders of industry, sports figures and anyone with the power and vision to create a better world.

But the Celebrity Centre of Nashville is also open to the general public seven days a week, offering everything from weddings, Sunday service and naming ceremonies to ministerial training and life improvement courses. Introductory courses cover a wide range of subjects from overcoming relationship problems, learning difficulties, and stress at work to improving communication skills and raising children.

This spectacular new church in Nashville is just one reflection of the unprecedented growth of the Scientology religion, which now offers service in nearly 8,000 churches and groups across 164 nations.

Each church is dedicated to achieving the Aims of Scientology: “A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where Man is free to rise to greater heights.”

Nashville Scientologists carry out their social mission through volunteer work to combat drug abuse and addiction. “We’ve been getting the word out about the dangers of drugs,” said Brian Fesler, the Church’s Director of Public Affairs. “In the past few weeks we’ve passed out thousands of booklets which cover the truth about drugs and the harm they cause.”

The Church also has an active Scientology Volunteer Ministers group, which carries out community service projects and provides emergency response and disaster relief.

The Fall School Building, the Church of Scientology’s new home in Nashville, is an historical landmark. Built in 1898 in a similar style to the legendary Ryman Auditorium, a prominent Nashville landmark erected six years earlier, the 36,000 square foot facility served the area as a public school until 1970. The Church purchased the building in 2007. Many of its original features were preserved, including the hardwood floors, doors and stairwells and eight solid wood pillars capped with iron that support a central three-story atrium.

The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre of Nashville welcomes visitors seven days a week from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm on weekdays and from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm on weekends. For more information on the Church and its programs, visit www.scientology-ccnashville.org or call (615) 320-5550.

Scientologist Tom Cruise looks younger

2008-12-15T13:14:00.000-08:00

I wondered what happened to Cruise? Is is love? Is it a lot of work?

In today's Today show with Matt Lauer, where talked about his upcoming movie Valkyrie and Scientology, he looked 10 years younger!

Church of Scientology: What's inside?

2008-12-14T17:12:00.000-08:00

Scientology Churches in France Cycle Against Drugs

2008-12-10T10:43:00.000-08:00

Members of Scientology churches and missions in France are serious about bringing an end to substance abuse in their country.

Spurred on by a recent report of a three percent drop in cannabis use among young adults in France, a group of Scientologists in Paris and Marseilles spent their weekend encouraging young people to say no to drugs.

Scoop: Anonymous member to stay away from Scientology

2008-11-05T11:00:00.000-08:00

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0810/S00535.htm

October 24, 2008

"Anonymous" Attacker Of The Church Of Scientology Given A One-Year Stay Away Order

BOSTON - A Woburn, Massachusetts man was ordered to stay away from the Church of Scientology of Boston for one year after admitting he disrupted religious services there in February 2008.

In the Boston Municipal Court, Gregg Housh, 32, admitted to facts sufficient to warrant a finding of guilt on charges of disturbing the peace and disturbing religious services for leading a February 10, 2008 disturbance at the Boston Church of Scientology. Housh's case was continued for one year, the terms of which include a court order to stay away from the Church of Scientology of Boston's locations in the Back Bay and the South End.

Housh is the self-proclaimed leader of the Boston cell of an underground cyber-terrorist group called Anonymous. He is the second member of Anonymous to face criminal charges in the past week for acts committed against a Scientology Church. On Friday October 17th, The U.S. Department of Justice announced the filing of federal criminal charges against New Jersey Anonymous member Dmitriy Guzner related to the January, 2008 attempted destruction of websites owned by the Church of Scientology. Guzner has agreed to plead guilty to felony charges that could send him to prison for ten years.

At the October 21 hearing, Boston Municipal Court Judge Thomas C. Horgan warned Housh that if he violates any of the terms of his probation he could face one year in the House of Correction.

Scientologists are winning!

2008-10-22T20:33:00.000-07:00

I love creative people, and especially creative Scientologists! And somehow I took the ones at the Scientology Mission in Palo Alto in my heart. They continue telling the world what Scientology really is and what it does for people, every day!

Scientology Technology, Improving Family Relationships

2008-10-20T20:18:00.000-07:00

In 1976 when he launched the Scientology Volunteer Ministers program, L. Ron Hubbard wrote, "If one does not like the crime, cruelty, injustice and violence of this society, he can do something about it. He can become a VOLUNTEER MINISTER and help civilize it, bring it conscience and kindness and love and freedom from travail by instilling into it trust, decency, honesty and tolerance."

And just how they accomplish this is through the use of Scientology technology that gives people the tools they need to do well in life and help others do so too.

With booklets based on the Scientology Handbook, and courses designed to train people in the skills covered in each booklet, Scientology Volunteer Ministers are helping people every day in towns and cities all over the world.

Here is just one story, from a man who changed his whole way of dealing with his son from what he learned on three of these courses with the Scientology Volunteer Ministers Asian Goodwill Tour in Kin Men.

"In the past, my standard of handling my son was to make him 'listen' and put pressure on him if he wouldn't. But the more I'd pressure him to listen, the less he'd listen. Then I did three courses: the 'Children Course,' 'Components of Understanding,' and the 'Cause of Suppression.' I know now how to grant him the right to be the way he is and guide him gently and then build agreement with him.

"I believe, with the guidelines from Scientology, our lives will be less trouble.

"A lot of religions in this world are built on forgiving our mistakes and sins, But Scientology technology can be applied in life easily and then you learn the most important thing — to do the right thing."

Scientology and Dianetics Help in variuos ways

2008-10-14T15:29:00.000-07:00

Here is another example about the strength of Scientology and Dianetics:

Found on the site of the SoMa Scientology Center.

New Scientology Blog: Pepper Willis desribes her Scientology experience

2008-08-11T16:00:00.000-07:00

"All I can say is WOW! If you’ve ever wondered about that unexplored territory “half an inch back of our foreheads” these books have the answers. I’ve taken some psychology courses in high school and college that were required, and I was able to spit the answers that the prof’s wanted out on tests, but I never really understood what was up with the mind. I mean, really, what makes one person in a train wreck come out a “Normal” person while another becomes a raving “Psychotic”? And what exactly are the definitions of normal and psychotic anyway? There were never any really satisfying answers in my textbooks or from my teachers. It seemed like no wonder to me why the mentally ill didn’t get better when dealing with psychiatry as a whole when even the most basic terms were only vaguely defined, if they were defined at all. Another thing my profs were famous for was the sort of condescending “pat on the head” attitude whenever I had a question starting with “why” or “how”. Then would come the inevitable “it’s over your head, you’ll never understand, but of course I understand so you should just do as I say” speech. In the end, I had concluded that they must not have known any more about the subject than I did, and gave up.

Then, about 6 years later or so, my husband and I got into Scientology. I read some of the books, out of order, and in the pre-Golden-Age-of-Knowledge formats, and I was still kind of confused, but I felt like I knew more. I did some of the courses in the Volunteer Minister’s lineup, and that data really helped. It was workable. My husband was on staff at the Church of Scientology Twin Cities Day organization for about 2 and 1/2 years, and that was really nice. We moved back to his hometown after our daughter was born, and didn’t really do any more with it for about 2 years.

Then, last summer, The Basics were released.

We couldn’t swing getting the whole linup at once right then, so we got Dianetics:The Modern Science of Mental Health, the Dianetics Lectures and Demonstrations cd’s and the DMSMH extension course. I started the course right away when I got home, and IT WASN’T THE SAME BOOK! I’m sure it wasn’t. I had read Dianetics when we started out in Scientology, and there was stuff in this book that I had never encountered before! The publishers went back to the author, L.Ron Hubbard’s original notes and manuscripts and put the book back together exactly the way Mr. Hubbard wanted it. Whole chapters that were missing are now included, and they make a world of difference. Just reading the Synopsis was a revalation. I had mind blowing, life altering cognitions during every chapter, and I came away with the knowledge and confidence that I can give anyone whom I can communicate with a Dianetics auditing session and make a positive change in that person’s life. I was never that certain before.

And as for defining terms–well, Ron was a master. Every time a new term was introduced it was defined very exactly. And in addition to that, the publishers have added a glossery of words, terms and phrases at the back of the book that is so complete, I never even had to crack a dictionery to find out what things like ergs and ohms were. And get this, Normal, Neurotic, and Psychotic are all clearly defined for the first time ever! I understand them now, and I know what to do about them, too.

We got the rest of our Basics by November of ‘07, and now I’m on the Technique 88 lectures, which are about halfway through the lineup. I definately recommend getting the full set, and start studying right away. If you can’t get to an Org for the full Books and Lectures course, there’s an extension course available for almost all of the books. That’s what I’m doing, since our Org is a 5 hour drive away, and boy! do you learn a lot! In Dianetics, I learned what a Reactive Mind is, and what to do about it. In Science of Survival, I learned what the Tone Scale is, and how to use it to predict human behavior and how to best audit someone. In Self Analysis, I have a truly valuable tool for moving from sadness, anger, antagonism and boredom up to cheerfulness. Advanced Procedure and Axioms helps you understand and use new techniques in auditing, as well as the fundamental laws of life. And the Handbook for Preclears takes you on a journey through your own mind. And to top it all off, the lectures that accompany the books are just like having LRH sitting right there in your living room giving you a personal tutoring session in how to use his Technology of the Mind.

I can’t wait to see what the next half has in store for me.

Love,

Pepper

Old: Church of Scientology Launches Video Channel

2008-08-08T18:44:00.000-07:00

Article found on PCMag.com

The Church of Scientology hasn't had the greatest track record in the world of Web video lately. Take, for example, the leaked Tom Cruise video that the church forced YouTube to pull, claiming that it was a violation of copyright. So what's an oft-maligned religion to do in the face of strengthening protest? Fight fire with fire, of course. Buzz up!on Yahoo!

The church announced on Monday the launch of a new online video portal at its Scientology.org Web site. The portal contains 82 videos tallying nearly 3 hours worth of content, "provid[ing] an overview of the basic beliefs and practices of the religion, as well as information on the many humanitarian programs sponsored by the Church--programs addressing drug abuse, illiteracy, human rights and disaster relief," according to a release issued this morning.

The videos are available to the general public and attempt to answer the question, "What is Scientology?" In light of recent celebrity shenanigans, that question is no doubt getting tossed around a lot more these days. Anyone with a few hours to kill who's already burned through GodTube's content should have a fun afternoon ahead of them.

Found: Scientology Parishioner Blog, Pasadena/CA

2008-07-28T16:04:00.000-07:00

What is a Scientology Birth?

I noticed that some people are searching online to find information about a Scientology birth. Actually it’s not a Scientology birth - it’s a Dianetics birth.

L.Ron Hubbard wrote the book Dianetics, The Modern Science of Mental Health in 1950. The book is about how past incidents that contain pain, and any degree of unconciousness, can affect us in the present. This could be as small as stubbing your toe or as big as an almost fatal car accident. What Mr Hubbard discovered was that the words said while a person is hurt, ill or otherwise not fully conscious, can affect them later.

How does this work? If you’ve seen a hypnotist then you’ve seen this at work. What is said to people while hypnotized can be reactivated when they’re awake and they don’t even remember it. Next thing they’re feeling hot, itching, or in pain - and it’s just from a command said while they were ‘unconscious.’

And the fact is that words said when you are ill, injured or in pain can have a similar effect. Birth is one such incident. Any woman who has given birth knows that there is pain involved. And I’m sure you can imagine it’s quite stressful for the baby too. It’s being shoved and pushed out into the world. Often when they arrive the first thing they experience is a slap on the rear end. There are people talking in the room while all this is happening. Sometimes labor can go on for hours.

Image: Found Photos

Preventing any later problems that could be caused by noises and words during the birth is the basis of what is called a ‘Scientology Birth”.

Here is what Mr. Hubbard says:

The mother, then, should be very gentle on herself during pregnancy and those around her should be informed of the necessity for silence after any jar or injury. Say nothing around a woman who has been struck or jarred in any way. Maintain silence in the presence of birth. It is a remarkable fact, and a scientific fact, that the healthiest children come from the happiest mothers.

And that’s all it is. We strive to give birth in a quiet, calm atmosphere, so that mother and baby will have no ill effects from the birth experience. Some families choose a home birth and others prefer to go to the hospital. But we do like to have the room quiet and calm.

More stuff at the Pasadena Parishioner Blog

L. Ron Hubbard: First Biography Video

2008-07-17T14:24:00.000-07:00

The Church of Scientology published a new biographical video about its founder.

L. Ron Hubbard as a man who maintained that to know life, one must live life. He lived life from the top down and the bottom up. He saw much suffering and wisdom, and worked for a quarter of a century to bridge the gap between East and West and between science and religion. L. Ron Hubbard has inspired a religious movement spanning all continents and cultures which now includes over 7,500 Churches, Mission and Groups in over 165 countries.

In an effort to meet the unprecedented public and online demand for more information on Scientology, and to answer the question—"What is Scientology?"— the Church of Scientology International has been engaged in a continual pro-active on-line campaign to provide accurate information to inform the general public of Scientology's beliefs and practices.

Its newest addition has been brought to the public on the Scientology Video Channel and the Scientology public information channel on Youtube.com/churchofscientology

An Introduction to Scientology

2008-07-14T19:58:00.000-07:00

Millions of people are searching the Net for information about the Scientology religion and more new people walked into Scientology churches in the year just past than at any time in history.

Most of them are seeking answers to questions such as: What is Scientology? What is the Mind? Why is Man on this planet? What is his purpose here? How did L. Ron Hubbard come to make these discoveries? What kind of man was L. Ron Hubbard?

Of course, the best answers to these questions would come from Mr. Hubbard himself.

What exactly would he say in response to the question, "Tell us, Mr. Hubbard, what is Scientology? How would you describe it?"

And now, thanks to cutting edge technology and 20,000 hours of the most exacting and precision work, it is possible to get the answer to those questions — directly from L. Ron Hubbard — with the announcement on New Years Eve 2007 of the release of the only filmed interview ever recorded of L. Ron Hubbard, completely restored and available on DVD in 50 languages.

The announcement of the release of this product came at an event held in Los Angeles, California on the 27th of December 2006. The entire New Years 2007 event was then edited, translated and shipped to Scientology churches and missions on 5 continents, in time for Scientologists in nearly every Scientology church on Earth to watch it on New Years Eve.

But as much a feat as that was, it was nothing compared to the work that went into restoring An Introduction to Scientology — a TV interview filmed 40 years ago for Rhodesian television.

The restauration work presented enormous challenges, especially because those working on it were not satisfied with simply colorizing the film. To make it possible for anyone to experience what it was like to see and listen to L. Ron Hubbard, they were determined to reproduce the exact hair color and skin tones, the qualities of the cloth, the furniture, the light in the room. In short the standard they set was that anyone watching this new DVD would be able to experience what it was like to be right there with Mr. Hubbard.

And then they took it even further, seeing to it that sections of the film that where incorrectly recorded — where it was not properly framed or the camera was jostled — were corrected, so the errors in the original film would not distract the viewer. They even had to contend with damaged footage and torn film.

And the result is a film of astonishing quality where anyone can get the full benefit of hearing and seeing L. Ron Hubbard answer the most commonly-asked questions about Scientology and how he came to discover it.

To learn more about the film or order your copy online, visit http://www.scientology.org/interview

Human Rights Advocate Describes African Leadership Project

2008-06-24T18:58:00.000-07:00

Source: American Chronicle

Tim Bowles, the Director of International Development of Youth for Human Rights International, recently returned from West Africa where he is working to implement sweeping human rights reforms. Below are excerpts from an interview of Tim by the Scientology Press Office.

I have held an abiding interest in assisting people in the most challenging areas of the world since my college days in the 1960s. I met Youth for Human Rights International President, Mary Shuttleworth, in early 2005 and agreed to volunteer on a few youth training projects. Traveling to assist the group with a regional conference in Ghana that year, I saw the need for broad human rights education in that region and this program developed from that realization.

Africa represents the worst and the best in humanity. West Africa particularly is the site of some of the most infamous atrocities since the close of World War II. Yet, for all the invitations the populace has had to descend into unrelenting hatred and retribution, I have found Africans intensely ready and willing to work for and secure survival for themselves, their communities and the continent's population as a whole.

While their desire and demand for change is obvious, they face enormous challenges. With all their natural resources, will the people of Africa be able to acquire the know-how they need to capitalize on them? Will they harness the greatest resource they have—the youth of their countries—through effective education programs? Will they be able to create and sustain the ethical, competent leadership and organization they need to actually pull out of the dwindling spiral of polarization, violence and destruction?

During my first visit in 2005 I was privileged to meet a group of committed African human rights activists. Together, we have been developing a West Africa leadership campaign dedicated not just to inspiring youth through human rights awareness but to training and equipping young people with the leadership tools necessary to play key roles in creating and sustaining just and prosperous societies in Africa over the coming critical decades.

Starting in March this year we began running a six-month-long youth leadership pilot project in the nations of Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The project is our first step in enabling young, able African men and women to make human rights a reality in their communities. By also involving prominent local proponents of human rights as speakers and instructors, we are training high school students on leadership, organization and human rights advocacy and connecting them with leaders who can greatly assist them in accomplishing their purposes. The competition involves 30 students in each country, divided into two teams of 15 each, who are creating public awareness campaigns on human rights abuses. They are documenting their work in writing and with photography and video footage. The competitions in each country will culminate in August, 2008 with large, public events, where the teams of young people will present the results of their work with the help and support of local leaders, educators and the press.

I created this project based on what I learned through five recent trips I made to the region between July, 2005 and July, 2007. With these tours, and the able help of my African program directors Sammy Jacobs Abbey in Ghana and Joseph Jay Yarsiah in Liberia, we significantly increased student community activism and won expanding support from government, civil society and media for the implementation of human rights education.

What we hope to gain from this six-month human rights project is major, long-term support for the establishment of this African leadership campaign as an innovative and product-oriented initiative to be implemented throughout the continent.

This is our second year of competitions in each of these three countries. We have been able to reach thousands of young people across the region and inspire humanitarian purposes and diligence in them to an extent we never imagined.

There is not a single young person with whom we are working in Sierra Leone and Liberia who has not been deeply affected by the bloody struggles only recently concluded there. And they see that human rights education is vital to bringing an end to the destruction they have experienced.

As one young participant put it, "Sincerely speaking I now understand my rights and how to protect those rights. As a leader I promise to teach anyone his or her rights and to make human rights expand in the world, especially in Sierra Leone."

Strong leaders dedicated to tolerance, peace and real justice are the key to transforming the prevailing despair into overriding confidence and development in these countries.

Whether we're talking about populations emerging from genocide and civil conflict such as in Liberia or Sierra Leone, or peoples simply being empowered to reach out and help themselves as in Ghana, the most important human right is education. And this is true in Europe, the United States and anywhere on Earth where people are oppressed and need tools to improve their lives. Having the opportunity and ability to learn is fundamental to constructing and sustaining a future worth living in. The education and training of young leaders based on human rights values is of course key to this. The young people with whom we are working see this, and many have chosen to research and do presentations on education rights as their topic in the competitions.

When I first went to West Africa I was troubled and almost embarrassed about being with people, particularly in the refugee camps, who have so little resources and often so little hope. How could I, one individual, help so many people in such desperate circumstances? But it is now clear to me how profoundly we are bettering the lives of the young people we reach and through their work we are bettering the lives of whole populations now and in the decades to come.

Scientology Volunteer Ministers South East Asia Goodwill Tour in the City of Cebu in the Philippines

2008-06-24T18:53:00.000-07:00

The Police Regional Office in Central Visayas in Cebu in the Philippines teamed up with the Scientology Volunteer Ministers Southeast Asian Goodwill Tour last month to launch a program to help the residents of the island cope with the problems they face in life and deal with disaster.

A long narrow island 225 km (140 mi) long, and surrounded by 167 neighboring smaller islands, Cebu is not only a center of trade, education and industry, it is also the oldest city in the Philippines.

Led by Taiwanese Scientologist Lu-Ying Yu and Filipina Scientology Minister, Rebecca Vinaviles, the Goodwill Tour has been conducting free life-improvement seminars throughout the city.

One example of the work they are doing is the training they gave to local policemen. With their responsibility to keep the peace and maintain order police have to confront some of the most dangerous and abhorrent elements of society. It is also the police who are usually the first to respond in times of disaster and emergency. With this kind of stress, police burnout is a common problem in cities all over the world.

The Volunteer Ministers addressed this with a series of seminars to 41 Cebu police, to help the officers tackle those factors they find most difficult in their jobs. As police are frequently faced with violence from unresolved and mounting friction among individuals or groups, the first seminar was "How to Resolve Conflicts," based on the Scientology Handbook, the text of which is taken from the writings of Scientology founder, L. Ron Hubbard.

Because they often have to deal with people who are belligerent, confused or overwhelmed, establishing communication with victims and suspects alike is a skill police urgently need to have. So, the next workshop covered the basic elements of communication, with examples taken from real-life situations to help the policemen apply this technology to the situations they confront on a daily basis.

The following day, the tour held a completely different kind of workshop to parents in a rough Cebu neighborhood who are concerned about their children and how to make sure they steer clear of crime and drugs.

While delivering seminars and workshops, the volunteers also provided one-on-one help to anyone who came to the bright yellow tent they pitched in prominent locations around the city.

In cities all over the world, people are faced with problems for which they have no effective solutions. In establishing the Volunteer Ministers program 30 years ago, L. Ron Hubbard wrote: "...if one is going to find fault with something, it implies that he wishes to do something about it and would if he could." The Scientology Volunteer Ministers Southeast Asian Goodwill Tour are providing the people of the Philippines with the knowledge they need to change those things they don´t agree with, and create a better life for themselves, their families and their communities.

New website about Dianetics!

2008-06-24T18:51:00.000-07:00

Accidents, injuries and psychosomatic illnesses, and sets forth effective handlings for these conditions. Further research into the spiritual aspects of Dianetics led to the discovery of Scientology.”

This is shown in a new website at dianetics.org. With the great new graphics and interaction the site gives you a feel like playing a computer game…! Fun to watch and informative as well.

New Publication: Religious Recognition of the Church of Scientology in Europe

2008-05-23T14:46:00.000-07:00

Get the booklet here

Courts have determined that Scientology must be treated the same as other religions throughout Europe, including decisions concerning Scientology rendered by the European Court of Human Rights and the European Commission on Human Rights which establish binding precedent in all 46 European countries that have signed and ratified the European Convention on Human Rights. In addition to the European Court of Human Rights and the European Commission on Human Rights decisions, Scientology has also been recognized as a religion through numerous judicial and administrative rulings in many European countries. Finally Scientology has been recognized and registered as a religion in many countries that have a religious registry.

Sweden
Scientology has been fully and officially recognized as a religion and has also been granted full tax exemption in Sweden. On November 23, 1999, tax authorities in Stockholm granted the Church of Scientology status as a religious organization exempt from tax after determining that the Church pursues a religious purpose as required under the law. On March 13, 2000, the National Judicial Board for Public Lands & Funds (National Administration of Religions) registered the Church of Scientology Sweden as a religious community and two months later granted Scientology ministers the right to perform marriages with legal validity, thereby fully recognizing Scientology as a religion for all of Sweden. In a four-page statement issued at the time of registration, the National Judicial Board outlined the religious character, permanence and organization of the Church of Scientology and concluded that Scientology fully meets the criteria for recognition as a religion.

Portugal
The Church of Scientology of Portugal was registered as a nonprofit, religious association on April 7, 1988 by the Ministry of Justice. As such, the Church of Scientology of Portugal is recognized as a religious organization and fully tax-exempt.

Hungary
The 1990 Hungarian "Law on the Freedom of Conscience" regulates the activities and benefits enjoyed by religious communities and establishes criteria for attaining the status of a religious organization. The Church of Scientology of Hungary was officially registered as a religious organization under the Law on the Freedom of Conscience in 1991. As a result of this religious recognition, each new Church of Scientology opened in Hungary is recognized as an independent religious organization under the Hungarian Mother Church.

Austria
In a decision dated August 1, 1995, the Administrative Court of Vienna ruled that "in addition to the fact that after several decades of thorough investigations, Scientology has been granted the status of a bona fide religion and charitable organization by the IRS, less than two years ago in the United States, the country with the greatest number of Churches of Scientology, sufficient evidences was also given by [the Church] to convince us that the Church of Scientology of Austria was a religion". The Court went on to note the religious nature of the Church's services, which the Court characterized as "religious acts in accordance with the religious identity of the Church of Scientology itself, which appears obvious in the statutes of the organization". In 1996, the Austrian Constitutional Court, in the case Re Fabio Rasp which concerned parental custody rights of a Scientologist, determined that any attempt to treat Scientology differently from other religions "is contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights and is therefore in violation of the law."(1). (1) In Re Fabio Rasp 2 Ob 2192/96h (23 August 1996)

European Court of Human Rights and European Commission on
Human Rights Decisions recognizing the Scientology Religious Bona fides

The European Court of Human Rights issued a unanimous landmark decision on 5th April 2007 in favor of the Scientology religion, upholding the religious freedom of Scientologists and their religious associations throughout the forty-six nations that have signed and ratified the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR), adopted by the Council of Europe in 1950. By ruling in favor of the Church of Scientology, the Court reaffirmed an important issue that the Russian Federation has committed itself to uphold, namely the right to religious freedom for not only Scientologists but members of all religions throughout Europe.

The Human Rights Court in the case entitled Church of Scientology Moscow v. Russia (application no. 18147/02), overturned the Moscow City government's refusal to register the Church of Scientology of Moscow as a religious organization. By way of background, the Moscow Church was officially registered as a religious community in 1994, but was denied re-registration under a 1997 law restricting registration of religious organizations, despite several court rulings finding that the Church fully qualified for registration under that law.

The Court found that "the reasons invoked by the Moscow Justice Department and endorsed by the Moscow courts to deny re-registration of the applicant branch had no legal basis, it can be inferred that, in denying registration to the Church of Scientology of Moscow, the Moscow authorities did not act in good faith and neglected their duty of neutrality and impartiality vis-à-vis the applicant's religious community. In the light of the foregoing, the Court considers that the interference with the applicant's right to freedom of religion and association was not justified. There has therefore been a violation of Article 11 of the Convention read in the light of Article 9."

This case is extremely significant because it confirms that the European Court of Human Rights considers that the Church of Scientology, like other faiths in the European Community, is a bona fide religious organization entitled to the same rights under the European Convention on Human Rights as any other religious organization under the Convention.

This is not the first time that the Strasbourg organs have recognized the right of a Church of Scientology to exercise the right to freedom of religion for itself and on behalf of its members. The Church of Scientology has previously been before the European Commission on Human Rights in a case that decided that a Church could represent its members to assert their religious rights under Article 9. See, X and Church of Scientology v. Sweden (16 DR 109 [Ecom HR 1979]). The Commission concluded that the Church of Scientology, as "a Church body is capable of possessing and exercising the rights contained in Article 9(1) in its own capacity as a representative of its members." Implicit in this is the corollary conclusion that Scientology is a bona fide religion.

Church of Scientology Moscow v. Russia reaffirms and definitively establishes what human rights experts, academics and a numerous national courts have already found: that Scientology is a bona fide religion and the Church of Scientology is a "religious community" entitled to the full panoply of human rights and religious freedom rights that flow to such organizations. Any attempt by governments to treat a Church of Scientology differently cannot withstand scrutiny.

Church of Scientology Moscow v. Russia stands as a landmark decision affecting freedom of religion across Europe, as the decision will impact religious rights in all states subject to the European Court of Human Rights.

European Parliament

Answer given by Mr. Vitorino on behalf of the Commission (written question: E-0775/04) - (29 April 2004)

The Commission is not aware of the facts invoked by the Honorable MEP. As regards the refusal of entry visa on their territory imposed by the German authorities to the head of the Unification Church Mr. Moon and to his wife, the Commission underlines that, on the basis of the provisions concerning the issuing of uniform visas valid for the territory of the member countries of the Schengen agreement, every Member State examines the visa demand based on a number of criteria indicated in the common consular instruction. However, the decision to issue or to refuse such visa remains within the appreciation of each member state. The common consular instruction does not impose to the Member States the obligation to justify possible visa refusal.

In the opinion of the Commission, the questions regarding the status of the Church of Scientology and other religious communities in Germany fall within the "Declaration regarding the status of churches and non-confessional organizations", annexed to the Amsterdam Treaty, according to which "The Union respects and does not prejudice the status enjoyed upon the national law by the Churches and religious associations or communities in the Member States. The Union respects also the status of the philosophical and non-confessional organizations". By the way, the Commission is not competent to intervene with regard to possible violations of fundamental rights and particularly the freedom of religion, except when these are coming within the scope of the Community law and its implementation.

To this end, as in all other Member States, since 2 December 2003 Germany is obliged to apply the directive 2000/78/EC which prohibits the discrimination based on religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, with regard to employment and work. (footnote: Official Journal L 303, 2.12.2003). In the framework of examining the implementation by the Member States of the above-mentioned directive, the Commission has sent to Germany a warning letter concerning the non-communication of the transposition measures adopted by this country.

Finally, it has to be reminded that if a person considers his fundamental rights violated, he has the possibility to make a complaint before the European Court of Human Rights, after exhausting the domestic procedures.

Germany
The German Courts have recognized Scientology's religious bona fides in over 40 cases.

On 12 December 2003, the Administrative Court of Appeal of Baden-Württemberg determined that the Church of Scientology Stuttgart is a religious organization protected under the German Constitution. The Administrative Court of Appeal also found no evidence whatsoever to support the government's allegation concerning commercial activity.

The Court held that "on the basis of recent scientific examinations that deal with the aims of the Scientology organization, there are no tangible indications that support the allegation that the teachings of Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard are used as mere pretence for a commercial activity."

Likewise, in November 1997, the German Federal Supreme Administrative Court issued a landmark ruling that the services of Scientology are spiritual in nature and do not have a commercial basis. The case concerned Baden-Württemberg's attempt to have a Scientology mission de-registered on the grounds that it was in violation of its statutes and engaged in commercial, not religious activity. The government subsequently withdrew its case and, on the court's order, paid the Church's costs. In October 2002, the Federal Labor Court ruled that staff members who work in a Church of Scientology are motivated by idealistic and spiritual aims. In reaching its decision, the Court relied on the landmark, 1997 decision by the German Federal Supreme Administrative Court finding that Scientology's religious practices are intended for spiritual gain and serve a religious purpose.

Also in October 2002, in a precedent-setting decision that the government decided not to appeal, the German Federal Tax Court in Cologne ruled that two Church of Scientology corporations headquartered in Los Angeles are exempt from tax in Germany. Ruling that these organizations qualify under the 1989 Income Tax Treaty between the United States and Germany, the Court overturned the German Federal Tax Office's May 1996 denial of their exemption applications.

Following the Tax Court ruling, in January 2003, the Federal Finance Office in Germany: 1) issued letters granting tax exemption to SMI with respect to payments of license fees to Scientology Missions International from thee Scientology Missions of Karlsruhe, Ulm, Wiesbaden and Göppingen.; and 2) issued letters granting tax exemption to the Church of Scientology International (CSI), the Mother Church of the Scientology religion, with respect to license payments it receives from nine Churches of Scientology in Germany.

On March 23, 2004, the Church of Scientology Düsseldorf received official registration as an idealistic association from the District Court Düsseldorf. In June 2004, the Hamburg State Administrative Court of Appeal determined that actions taken by the Hamburg government to discriminate against a Scientologist interfered with her right to religious freedom protected by Article 4 of the German Constitution. The Court's decision represents a clear affirmation of the religious rights of members of the Church of Scientology: "Thus it has been established that the plaintiff not only professes alone for herself a personal, individual, religious or philosophic belief, but shares this in community with others and thereby obtains the protection of Article 4 [freedom of religion or belief] of the Constitution."

Italy
The Church of Scientology has been recognized as a religion in numerous judicial and administrative decisions in Italy and is universally regarded as a religion in this country. Most significantly, the Italian Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed the religiosity of Scientology. The Italian Supreme Court issued a decision in October 1997 regarding Scientology that is now recognized as the leading European judicial precedent regarding the definition of religion.

The Court thoroughly analyzed the criteria for determining religion, concluding that Scientology is a bona fide religion whose activities, "without exception, [are] characteristic of all religious movements." In reaching this determination regarding Scientology's bona fides, the Court rejected the definition of religion applied below in the case by the Court of Appeals because it was drawn from Judeo-Christian concepts: "a system of doctrines centered on the assumption of the existence of a Supreme Being, who had a direct relationship with men and whom they must obey and revere." The Court found "[s]uch a definition of religion, in itself partial since derived - as asserted - exclusively from religions stemming from the Bible, is illegal under many viewpoints; it is based on philosophical and socio-historical assumptions that are incorrect." Moreover, the Supreme Court noted that the lower court also erred because the definition used to exclude Scientology also excludes Buddhism, Taoism or any "polytheistic, shamanistic or animistic religions."

The Italian Supreme Court also issued a decision in October 2000 in a case concerning income tax liability for the Church of Scientology of Milano in which it referred to and relied on the "numerous and by now prevailing" body of jurisprudence finding that Scientology is a religion.

The Supreme Court also criticized the lower Court for failing to take into consideration that the Church is fully tax exempt in the United States and has been found to be a religion by many experts in the field. The Supreme Court further noted that Scientology is considered to be a religious organization not only in English-speaking nations, but also in other countries of the European Community.

In December 1997, the executive branch of the government also recognized the religiosity of Scientology when the Minister of Finance exempted Churches of Scientology from tax procedures and assessments, classifying the churches as "religious and non-profit associations." The Church, the Minister's decree noted, has "as its only aim, support for the dissemination of the religion of Scientology."

This represents another European Union executive branch finding that the Church of Scientology fulfils a religious purpose as required by Article 3.2 of the Religious Liberty Law.

Croatia
Croatia is not in the European Union but does have a religious registry system. In December 2003, the Church of Scientology of Croatia was registered as a religious community in Croatia and the Church of Scientology Mission of Zagreb was registered as a local religious organization under the central Church.

Slovenia
Religious communities in Slovenia must register with the Government's Office for Religious Communities to practice in that country. Registration entitles such religious groups to certain tax benefits. The Church of Scientology was recognized as a religious community by the Government of the Slovenian Republic Office for the Religious Communities in 1995, with all of the attendant rights and privileges.

Recognitions in other European Countries

In a number of other European Union countries, Scientology is still in the missionary stage with either no formal organizations yet established or new missions that have not yet sought religious registration or other forms of religious recognition. This includes such countries as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Ireland. In other countries, such as Greece, Belgium, and France, the Church's organizations are established as religious organizations and operate as such, though this status has not been formally accepted by these countries.

Church of Scientology
Its status in the rest of the world, declared by governments and courts

Religious Recognition of the Church of Scientology in the United States of America
Following a two-year examination of unprecedented scope and depth, encompassing all the Church's worldwide operations, and review of every single allegation made by Church apostates and other critics, the US Tax Authority IRS issued ruling letters on October 1, 1993 recognizing the tax-exempt religious and charitable status of the Church of Scientology International, the Mother Church of the Scientology religion, and 150 affiliated churches, missions and social betterment organizations - all Scientology-related entities in the U.S. and many non-U.S. entities as well. In this exacting review, conducted under the supervision of the most senior officials over exempt organizations in the government, the IRS concluded that the Church is operated exclusively for religious and charitable purposes.

In issuing its favorable exemption rulings, the IRS necessarily determined that: 1) Scientology is a bona fide religion; 2) the Churches of Scientology and their related charitable and educational institutions are operated exclusively for recognized religious purposes; 3) the Churches of Scientology and their related charitable and educational institutions operate for the benefit of the public interest rather than the interests of private individuals; and 4) no part of the net earnings of these Churches of Scientology and their related charitable and educational institutions inures for the benefit of any individual or non-charitable entity.

The IRS reached its considered and unqualified opinion that the Churches are tax exempt only after conducting the most extensive and detailed exemption examination in its history.
Indeed, the examination was so extensive that the administrative record of these proceedings comprises approximately twelve linear feet. The extensive examination by the IRS included numerous queries into the corporate and financial structure of the Church of Scientology ecclesiastical hierarchy, the religious services ministered to parishioners, the organization, administration and governance of individual Churches, the receipt and disbursement of donations, compensation to ecclesiastical executives and others, and many other matters.

This examination also included the review of balance sheets, bank statements, cancelled checks and similar financial information. In addition to reviewing responses to specific questions, the IRS also conducted on-site examinations of facilities of various Scientology Churches and Scientology organizations, examined hundreds of boxes of their financial records, and thoroughly reviewed their activities. All IRS concerns were fully satisfied by this extensive and rigorous review process. Otherwise, exemption would never have occurred.

The IRS specifically examined details about the Church's fundraising practices relating both to the proselytizing practices of the Church and its policies relating to contributions for services. The IRS has confirmed that they would not have made favorable determinations if they had found that (i) the Church impermissibly served private interests; (ii) it had violated a fundamental public policy. The determinations by the IRS included the finding that the Church of Scientology meets the definition of a "Church" as well as a charitable religious organization.

In the United States, Scientology is officially recognized as a religion throughout the United States government. Ministers of the religion are entitled to minister immigration status by State Department and Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) decisions finding that Scientology is a bona fide religion. As noted in a 1996 State Department record released pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, the United States government's position is that the Church of Scientology is as much a Church "as the Catholic Church or any other commonly recognized church".

The State Department's human rights reports each year express concern when there is discrimination against the Scientology religion. The State Department has expressed concern regarding religious discrimination directed at the Scientology religion and Scientologists in certain European countries in human rights reports over the last 12 years.

Venezuela
On March 22, 1996, the Dianetics Association of Caracas was recognized as a tax exempt religious association. The Church of Scientology of Venezuela has been registered as a religious association by the Ministry of Justice since February 1, 1999.

Ecuador
Scientology was recognized as a religion in Ecuador in 1997.

Costa Rica
Scientology was recognized as a religion in Costa Rica in 1991.

Brazil
In September 2004, the Church of Scientology Mission of Brazil was registered by the Ministry of Justice in Brazil as a religious association.

Philippines
Scientology was recognized as a religion in the Philippines in 2003.

India
Scientology was recognized as a religion in India in 2003.

Australia
The Church of Scientology is fully recognized as a bona fide charitable religious organization under Australian Law. In October of 1983, the Australian High Court ruled that Scientology is a religion and "[t]he conclusion that [the Church] is a religious institution entitled to the tax exemption is irresistible." The High Court reached this conclusion on the basis of an evaluation of the definition of religion that encompassed the teachings of all faiths generally accorded religious status. This was an expansion of the previous definition of religion in English law that had restricted religiosity to a narrow Judeo-Christian concept and which excluded the majority of worshipers in the world.

The High Court decision is now recognized as the seminal decision on the definition of religion and on tax exemption in Australia. In fact, the Inquiry into the Definition of Charities and Related Organizations conducted by the Australian government cites this case as "the most significant Australian authority on the question of what constitutes a religion…. The High Court found Scientology to be a religion. On the question of the current approach to the meaning of religion, the Scientology case provides the best elucidation…."

This case is recognized internationally as a leading case on religion. In February 2005, the English Lords of Appeal issued a judgment in Secretary of State for Education and Employment and others (Respondents) ex parte Williamson (Appellant) and others in which the Court referred to the Australian High Court Scientology decision as "illuminating" on the issue of the definition of religion, noting that "the trend of authority (unsurprisingly in an age of increasingly multi-cultural societies and increasing respect for human rights) is towards a "newer, more expansive, reading" of religion (Wilson and Deane JJ in the Church of the New Faith case [Church of Scientology case] at p174, commenting on a similar trend in United States jurisprudence)".

New Zealand
On December 24, 2002, New Zealand Inland Revenue agreed with and adopted the rationale in the Scientology Australian High Court decision to recognize the Church of Scientology of Auckland as a charitable religious corporation and that Scientology is a religion operating for the public benefit. The government determined that the Church of Scientology "meets the requirement of being exclusively charitable in nature by advancing religion", and meets the requirement of being for the benefit of the public."

South Africa
The post-apartheid government of South Africa recognized Scientology as a religion in 2000. In that year, the Home Office approved Scientology Ministers to engage in civilly binding marriages, the mechanism for religious recognition in that country. In 2007 the South African Revenue Service declared the church as tax exempt.

Canada
The Churches of Scientology are exempt from property tax as religious organizations in Quebec, British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. The Church of Scientology of Montreal and the Church of Scientology of Quebec have been registered in the province of Quebec as religious organizations since December 21, 1993. Since the mid-1990s, the provinces of Alberta and Ontario have recognized the religiosity of Scientology churches and their ministers for purposes of celebrating marriages according to the Marriage Act.

Kazakhstan
Scientology was recognized as a religion in Kazakhstan in 2000.

Krygyzstan
Scientology was recognized as a religion in Krygyzstan in 2001.

Taiwan
Scientology was recognized as a religion in Taiwan in 2003.

Nepal
Scientology was recognized as a religion in Nepal in 2004.

Tanzania
Scientology was recognized as a religion in Tanzania in 2004.

Sri Lanka
The Church of Scientology was registered as a religion in Sri Lanka in 2006.

Religious Bona fides

In addition to the official recognitions of the Church of Scientology, many leading academics specialized in the field of religion, philosophy, sociology and theology have studied Scientology and come to the undeniable conclusion that it is not only a bona fide religion but has a relevant place in our society today. "L. Ron Hubbard and Scientologists extend the use of instruments of rationality in the service of a mystical path, a self-transformation and a transformation of the world. It is probably for that reason that it appears unique among the religions." Régis Dericquebourg, Professor, Sociology of Religion, University of Lille III, Lille, France.

"It is clear to me that Scientology is a bona fide religion and should be considered as such."
Bryan Wilson, Reader Emeritus in Sociology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.

"In the light of this review of Scientology in relation to the elements of the modern scientific definition of religion, it is apparent that Scientology is a religion."
M. Darrol Bryant, Professor of Religion and Culture at Renison College, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

"My conclusion is that Scientology, whilst clearly differing from the majority of Christian churches, denominations and sects in beliefs, practices and organizational structures, nevertheless satisfies the criteria conventionally applied by social scientists in distinguishing between religion and non-religion."
James A. Beckford, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology, University of Warwick, England.

Something can be done about it

2007-10-27T20:44:00.000-07:00

This is from a booklet which I found and read today.... recommended, if you care.

"We move forward into the 21st century armed with extraordinary technological advances. The
decoding of the human genome promises cures for cancer, AIDS and a host of other illnesses. Computer technology has changed everything from the cars we drive to the way we listen to music. The Internet has given us unprecedented access to information from anywhere in the
world. Yet have these things made our lives that much better, happier or secure?

The world is far from what we wish it to be. War and conflict dominate the headlines and
airwaves. Terrorism poses a potential threat to every individual and nation. How much job security does one really have living in a wobbly economy? Is it truly possible to enjoy a happy, stable relationship, or are broken homes and single-parent families now a normal part of the social landscape? And what of the future we have created for our children? In most countries, education has failed to a marked extent and millions across the world are functionally illiterate.
Amphetamine-like substances — drugs — are dispensed to schoolchildren as the solution to
“learning disorders” while beyond school walls, illegal drugs fuel the social scene.

This is the fundamental problem — the advance of science has not been matched by the same
progress in the humanities. Is that just the way things are, or can something be done about it?"

I'd say: SURE

A magnet for Scientologists, Clearwater comes to terms with its status as a mecca

2007-10-15T20:16:00.000-07:00

It is very seldom to find such a thoroughly researched article!

Source: NC Times
By: MITCH STACY - Associated Press

CLEARWATER, Fla. ---- Sure, says Mayor Frank Hibbard. It can be a little unsettling sometimes ---- throngs of Scientologists wandering Clearwater's streets in their blue or khaki trousers and crisp dress shirts.

Sometimes, it makes the neighbors a bit uneasy.

"When you come to downtown, no one likes being a minority," Hibbard says.

But mostly, folks in this picturesque Gulf Coast city have come to accept that Clearwater is to Scientologists what Salt Lake City is to Mormons, what Mecca is to Muslims. Though not everybody is happy about it.

"I think there's been a slow shift from a very strong adversarial relationship to a tolerance," says Ron Stuart, who clashed with church officials as an editor of the now-defunct Clearwater Sun in the '70s.

"There's still a lot of people in the city who don't trust them and wish they weren't there," says Stuart, who now works for the county court system. "But you can't deny that they contribute, particularly to the economy. Without them, there probably wouldn't be a downtown."

It's all unfolded over more than 30 years, since 1975, when L. Ron Hubbard came ashore.

The science-fiction writer and his associates, who for years operated from aboard a yacht at sea, secretly bought a historical hotel in a dying downtown with a vision of making Clearwater a spiritual home for his Church of Scientology.

The mysterious newcomers made waves almost immediately with secretive, aggressive expansion and ---- according to church documents seized by the FBI ---- a covert plot to discredit their enemies and "take control" of the city.

Today, downtown Clearwater is an international Scientology stronghold and a destination for elite members (including celebrity devotees like Tom Cruise and John Travolta) who come from all over the world for the highest levels of the church's spiritual training.

The empire's thumbprint on the downtown corridor is considerable and conspicuous, from the uniformed church workers on the streets every day to the two dozen or so Scientology-owned buildings and other properties in the low-slung skyline, many of them fully or partially exempt from property taxes.

Scientology's gem is the new seven-story Flag Building, which covers a full city block just down the street from the county courthouse where the Terri Schiavo legal drama played out a few years ago. Also known as the "Super Power Building," it will be the largest Scientology structure in the world when completed late next year and is expected to draw thousands more visiting believers to Clearwater.

By church tallies, around 12,000 Scientologists live and work in and around Clearwater now, the old attitudes and prejudices in town softened by the passage of time and aggressive community outreach by the church. Scientologists now sit on the boards of civic groups. They own businesses downtown. No longer is it political suicide for local leaders to associate with them.

Hibbard, mayor of the city of around 110,000 residents, can hardly forget that the church is the largest private property owner downtown. His seventh-floor offices at a downtown investment firm offer panoramic views of the massive Mediterranean Revival-style Flag Building and other Scientology holdings.

"They are a large presence," he said. "To ignore that fact is like sticking your head in the sand."

Hubbard established the Church of Scientology in 1954, based on theories he conceived in his best-selling book, "Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health." Today, the Los Angeles-based church claims 10 million members and more than 7,000 churches, missions and other groups around the world.

Scientologists believe spiritual enlightenment is possible by ridding your mind and soul of the accumulated, unwanted effects of this lifetime and innumerable previous lifetimes through an intense counseling process called "auditing." Auditors use a device called an "e-meter," similar to a polygraph.

Parishioners pay hundreds and even thousands of dollars for the auditing services and progress through various levels of "Operating Thetan." Those seeking to achieve the highest "OT" levels come to Clearwater, where the church inhabits the 80-year-old Fort Harrison Hotel and a cluster of other beautifully restored buildings.

Hubbard chose Clearwater, the church says, because it was accessible ---- the Tampa airport is a half-hour away ---- and warm year-round. There is also a tory, perhaps apocryphal, that he liked the name ---- "clear" is the state of being Scientologists strive to attain, and Hubbard loved the sea.

About 1,400 members of the church's elite staff ---- known as the Sea Organization ---- work in the buildings, church spokeswoman Pat Harney said. They live in former tourist hotels and motels around town that have been bought and refurbished by the church.

Despite the church's longtime presence and outreach efforts, Scientology is still mysterious and intimidating to many in Clearwater. The church's own polling in 2003 showed that a majority of local people who had no previous contact with the church had negative opinions about it.

And some sources approached for this story declined to talk on the record, citing fear of harassment by Scientologists. Hubbard urged his followers to "attack" the church's enemies, and many in town believe that the policy didn't die with him in 1986.

"There's an aura of mistrust still," said Ray Emmons, a former Clearwater police detective who investigated the church in the 1980s and still lives in the area.

By many other accounts, though, the Church of Scientology has made huge strides mending fences in Clearwater.

The saga began when the church bought the Fort Harrison Hotel under an assumed name. Then, according to evidence seized later by the FBI, church officials plotted to discredit their "enemies," including the mayor and local newspaper reporters and editors.

Suspicion grew in the late '70s when Hubbard's wife and 10 other top church officials were convicted in Washington in a plot to steal federal government documents.

In the 1980s, the city held hearings to explore allegations that Scientology is a cult, but no action was taken. Clearwater residents protested the church. Church members protested right back.

In 1995, 36-year-old Scientologist Lisa McPherson died after being cared for by church staffers for 17 days in the Fort Harrison Hotel. A wrongful death suit by her family was a public relations nightmare for the church for years until it was settled in 2004. Charges of criminal neglect and practicing medicine without a license were filed but later dropped.

Attitudes started a slow shift in the '90s.

Local politicians, recognizing a sizable voting bloc, started showing up at Scientology-sponsored candidate forums. Scientologists shored up their image by getting involved in many civic groups and community improvement projects. Outsiders were invited into the Fort Harrison Hotel.

A local watchdog group that dogged the church after McPherson's death moved out in 2002.

"Little by little, the barriers just disappeared," said Mary Repper, a political consultant who advised local candidates in the 1980s and '90s. "Now if you go to one of their events, you see more business leaders, more community leaders, more elected officials than any other event in the county. They recognize the church's value now, they see it was an integral part to the solutions of Clearwater."

Pinellas County Commissioner Susan Latvala was one of the first local politicians to warm up to Scientologists in the early 1990s and remains friendly with church officials.

"They've become part of the community because they reached out and made an effort," said Latvala, who got a $250 campaign donation from a Scientology-affiliated political action committee last year. "It's really changed in the last 10 or 12 years."

Said Harney: "We've done some growing up, we've gotten to know people, we're better understood. I think it is more understood that we are people from all walks of life."

With a new causeway to the beach rerouting tourists away from downtown, Clearwater leaders are desperately trying to figure out how to fill the many vacant storefronts and attract a mix of people to the city center.

Meanwhile, Scientology continues to spread out in Clearwater, turning a former assisted-living complex into an upscale hotel for visiting Scientologists, fixing up a run-down apartment complex to house more staff and opening a new parking garage.

Though many of its buildings are tax exempt, the church paid nearly $900,000 in taxes on its properties in the city last year. And a church consultant in 1999 estimated that Scientologists pump more than $80 million a year into the local economy.

Still, there is disagreement about whether Scientology's large presence has helped the redevelopment of downtown Clearwater or hampered it.

New condo buildings are rising on the harbor and a long-awaited streetscape face-lift is in the works, but some people wonder if a diverse downtown culture is possible with a Scientology building on nearly every corner and church staffers on the streets every day.

"When you have a mystery, people stay away," said George Kelly, owner of the landmark Downtown Newsstand.

Not everyone agrees. Omar Alexander, 21, who sat sipping a frozen coffee drink at the downtown Starbucks recently, said he isn't bothered by the ever-present Scientologists and doesn't believe they keep other people away. Every Scientologist he knows is a good person, Alexander says.

"They're working hard, doing what they need to do," he says.

Scientology "Basics"

2007-08-28T21:39:00.000-07:00

In July 2007 David Miscavige presented the "Basics" of Dianetics and Scientology, a series of 18 books with accompanying lectures, published in 16 languages. This was the end of a major project to get L. Ron Hubbard's standard works compiled and published. I bought my pack (the price is a joke!) and started reading the first books.

I am impressed! The huge glossary has more words as I ever want to look up, the typesetting is so fluent that I did not even notice that I was reading for hours in a row! All the technical and other barriers to real understanding of the text have been fully removed. The "Basics" give me an unshakable certainty on the subjects of Dianetics and Scientology. I can explain it to anyone. I am not backed-off any more. My reach has increased tremendously. I feel that I have the tools necessary for every situation I could ever encounter!

These books need no sales pitch. Read them.

Just in case...

2007-08-17T16:44:00.000-07:00

...you wouldn't know where to find information on Scientology and so on:

- The most important one on Scientology: scientologyandme.org ;-)

- Then the official ones: www.scientology.org, www.scientologyhandbook.org, www.scientologyreligion.org and www.bonafidescientology.org.

- On Dianetics: www.dianetics.org, www.essentialdianetics.org, www.dianetics-theevolutionofascience.org, www.bridgepub.com

- On L. Ron Hubbard: www.lronhubbard.org, www.writersofthefuture.com,
www.scientologyreligion.org/solutions/lronhubbard.html and a good description is also here www.volunteerministers.org/aboutlrh/index.html

- On David Miscavige: miscavige.rtc.org and www.scientologytoday.org/bio

Scientology works, always!

2007-08-14T20:36:00.000-07:00

What AP is talking about is covered in the (free) Scientology Handbook here.

Hubbard teachings embraced by faiths

By Matt Sedensky
Associated Press
August 12, 2007

TAMPA, Fla. -- Rev. Charles Kennedy preaches the brilliance of L. Ron Hubbard's words. Children in his after-school program learn with the Scientology founder's methods. Church members study one of his books. The minister calls Scientologists the kindest people he's met and their programs the best he's found.

But he and his congregants are not Scientologists. They are Christians.

The Glorious Church of God in Christ here is among a number of houses of worship across the U.S. -- how many is not clear -- that embrace some Church of Scientology programs.

Scientologists say their interfaith partnerships show people of all faiths clamor for solutions to real-world problems. Detractors say it amounts to a cloaked effort to attract new members. And the clergy who have adopted aspects of the Scientologists' outreach say they're simply making use of programs that work.

"When I see something effective, I embrace it. I took what we could use," said Kennedy. "I haven't found anything that deals with man better than what Mr. Hubbard has written."

Kennedy isn't alone among clergy outside the Church of Scientology in his steadfast appreciation of programs linked to it.

In neighboring St. Petersburg, Imam Wilmore Sadiki's mosque uses one of Hubbard's texts.

At Wayman Chapel in Houston, Rev. James McLaughlin's drug treatment center uses Scientology principles and refers addicts to Narconon, its rehabilitation program.

And at Word Evangelism Ministry in Washington, Rev. Catherine Bego has distributed booklets spreading Scientologists' messages against drugs and for moral living.

Scientology was founded in the 1950s by Hubbard, a science fiction writer. It teaches followers they are immortal spiritual beings, or thetans, who live on after death. The church says there is a supreme being, but its practices do not include the worship of a god.

The Scientology programs being established in other faiths are from the Association for Better Living and Education, a nonprofit established in 1988. It has four main programs: the anti-drug Narconon; the criminal rehab program Criminon; the morality code of The Way to Happiness; and the educational efforts of Applied Scholastics.

ABLE considers its programs secular, and their non-Scientology champions say they are no affront to their faith.

Sadiki has allowed Scientologists to stage a "Good vs. Evil" skit at his St. Petersburg Islamic Center, offers a children's class using "The Way to Happiness" and is considering offering Narconon and Applied Scholastics programs too. Not all of his followers were pleased.

"What is in it that's not advantageous to everyone else?" he asked those in opposition. "They couldn't say anything."

McLaughlin said he was seeking a drug program with more staying power than what his African Methodist Episcopal Church runs. He heard about the Scientologists' efforts and established a new outpatient center after Narconon training.

He says he's seen nothing but good come of it: a higher success rate, saved lives and his own strengthened faith.

What are Scientology "Basics"?

2007-08-09T13:13:00.000-07:00

In July 2007 David Miscavige, the leader of Scientology, re-released the full set of books written by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard in the 1950s with accompanying lectures giving more details as the books. The full set contains all the "basics" of the Scientology belief system (called Scientology technology by Scientologists) and present the core of Dianetics and Scientology. Certainly it is very important for Scientologists - and anyone who wants to find out about Scientology - to read those books, in chronological sequence as the system developed over several years.

I read some of those, and let me tell me you what I thought Scientology is no longer holds true. This is the real stuff. Like the book "Dianetics". You grab the book, read it and start auditing with someone. Just like that! I found a partner now to work with and keep you posted how it went.

Call for vids!

2007-06-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

Just as SAM (ScientologyAndMe) I also have a YouTube channel. When the BBC scandal exploded I got a lot of comments and video responses and published quite a few of them. So if you want to send me your vids, you're very welcome to do so. It can be on Scientology or anything else. Go ahead and do it.

Carnegie Mellon University's David Touretsky Caught Faking Credentials As Religious Expert

2007-05-24T14:04:00.000-07:00

David Touretzky was caught faking his credentials as a religious expert while being interviewed on CNN last night. Touretzky was making highly inflamatory and untruthful remarks about the Church of Scientology and the Church supported social betterment programs in which many Scientologists engage such as the Narconon drug rehabilitation program and Applied Scholastics, a program to help teach children how to study and learn.

It struck me that having Mr. Touretzky on a show like this is a disservice to CNN's viewers as Mr. Touretzky is pretending by inference to have credentials as a religious studies scholar, yet his only expertise is in computer science. More specifically, he is a research scientist who studies rat brains. His specialty is rodent navigation i.e. which way a rat turns his head when given an external stimulus. He is attempting to map their neural networks in order to create rat-like intelligence in a computer. This has been wholly unsuccessful to date, yet he receives millions in taxpayer money for this type of research project.

Factually, Mr. Touretzky has no expertise whatsoever in any religious or theological field. For some reason he was allowed to go on CNN and rant about Scientology. They were most likely unaware of his history of anti-religious / anti-Scientology extremism and bigotry, his lack of credentials and history of bigoted statements. My real complaint is that he gets booked on shows like this by people who don't do the research on Touretzky. He is then allowed to go unchallenged by commentators.

To fill you in, the dispute between Mr. Touretzky and the Church of Scientology stems from his involvement in a blatant copyright infringement campaign he participated in years ago that violated the Church's copyrights. When he was forced by CMU's attorneys to take down the offending material from his website (located on the CMU computers) Touretzky began an imature campaign of harassment against the Church. Over the years this has included childish acts such as putting up pornographic photos on his website at CMU pretending to depict Scientologists, participating in hate pickets of the Church and his direct support of persons who have in engaged in illegal and/or tortious conduct against the Church, including persons who have made terrorist threats against the Church.

Simply put, Mr. Touretzky a bigot. However his bigotry is not just against the Church of Scientology. He has made some pretty outrageous and disgusting statements of a similar nature against blacks, Mexicans, Moslems, and women. These have been competently documented by Joel Phillips on his Religious Freedom Watch website which you can find at David Touretzky.

Mr. Touretzky has taken to lying that he authored these racial slurs when asked by the media, but the computer logs don't lie and he did in fact make them. As you can see these statements are much worse than what Don Imus said, yet CMU has chosen to ignore his conduct and continues to retain Touretzky. (Maybe they feel this is the sort of thing young adults should be taught.)

Several years ago Mr. Touretzky was also exposed for having used his CMU office phone for ordering sex toys from an outfit in California see David Touretzky.
You can find the invoice, put up by some enterprising CMU students at David Touretzky sex toys. What anyone wants to do in private is their business, but CMU is supposed to be an institution of higher learning and it receives a lot of taxpayer funding. It is not some wacky professor's personal domain.

Professor Touretzky was also forced by CMU at one point to take down bomb-making instructions from his website hosted on their computers. Yes, that's right, bomb-making instructions, complete with how to make a draino bomb and how to blow up a police car. Again, after outrage from various individuals, CMU forced Touretzky to move the materials off the CMU website. Information about this can be found here: David Touretzky bombmaking instructions.

This was once covered in a local Pittsburgh news station which did a story on the Touretzky bombmaking site. Although he claimed it was free speech, he refused to go on camera and answer questions at that time. You can see this piece here:

In my opinion, Mr. Touretzky is not the sort of person that any news organization should be presenting to their viewers for information about a group that he has spent much time trying to demean as all they are going to get is a spew of bigotry. Or, if he is going to be allowed on a show like CNN, it would be very interesting to see how Touretzky responds to questions about the above points.

Wow! You Can Get Your Own John Sweeney Ring Tone!

2007-05-23T21:01:00.000-07:00

Some enterprising person uploaded the audio file of BBC reporter John Sweeney losing it while visiting with members of the Church of Scientology and trying to do a hatchet job of a show on them. I say hatchet job because when you look at the documentary that was put together by members of the Church, called Panorama Exposed, you will see a whole host of unethical, sleazy tactics that are just not what you would expect from a respected current affairs show.

The audio file of Sweeney's now famous rant can now be downloaded as a ring tone.

Hey, Hey APA, How Many Kids Did You Drug Today?

2007-05-23T12:42:00.000-07:00

Child druggings is a shameful, disgusting abuse of children who are being subjected to powerful mind altering chemicals. The psychiatric profession freely admits that they have no scientific test for any so-called mental illness, yet the pharmaceutial / psychiatric industry reaps in billions of dollars each year marketing new "mental illnesses" in order to create new markets to expand their profits. The result is that they are pushing drugs to our next generation all for the profits

Members of the Church of Scientology have been speaking out about this growing epidemic for years and we will continue to do so until those who are engaging in this practice cease. This is why we support organizations like the Citizens Commission On Human Rights.

We let members of the psychiatric profession know what we think about this during their annual convention which took place in San Diego this past weekend. Attended by over 700, the psychiatrists at the APA convention were stunned by the protesters on their front doorstep.

You Can't Run, You Can't Hide, Drugging Kids Is Homicide

2007-05-23T11:13:00.000-07:00

The American Psychiatric Association held their annual convention in San Diego this past weekend. About 700 plus supporters from the Citizens Commission On Human Rights turned up to protest and let them know what we think about their mass drugging of children in this country. Psychiatrists have become major drug pushers. It is clear by the number of pharmaceutical companies present at the convention, that the whole basis of this push by the psychs is to make money for big pharma and themselves. Our children are seen as a way to expand the drug market.

The Church of Scientology oppose putting children on drugs under the guise of "treatment" which has become an epidemic in this country.

Inside the psychs could be heard saying, "There's thousands of Scientologists out there!"

Did John Sweeney Suffer From Militant Episode Disorder?

2007-05-18T15:25:00.001-07:00

BBC Panorama reporter John Sweeney, who was caught on camera exploding at a Scientologist during an interview, triggered a new disorder known as "news rage." Learn about the symptoms. Medical science does not yet know what the cause is.

read more | digg story

Did John Sweeney Suffer From Militant Episode Disorder?

2007-05-18T14:15:00.000-07:00

Living in Los Angeles, you hear a lot about “road rage” in the news. After all, we have more clogged freeways than the American Psychiatric Association has mental disorders (which they invent all the time). You would expect that sitting in the middle of one of our world famous traffic jams for hours while you are missing a Laker’s game, there would be a few displays of violent behavior by motorists manifesting accumulated stress.

According to the “authorities” at the APA road rage is really only a manifestation of “intermittent explosive disorder” or “militant episode disorder”. Apparently the psychiatrists have categorized this behavior as a disorder of the brain (possibly caused by a chemical imbalance or an as yet to be identified errant gene) which is characterized by explosive outbursts disproportional to the provocation.

In light of this, I began to wonder about what was really behind the recent outburst by BBC Panorama reporter John Sweeney, who millions of people witnessed having a major public meltdown when he was caught on camera going insane while interviewing a Church of Scientology spokesman and the footage was posted on YouTube. Sweeney’s apology, which included the fact that he was dramatizing a regimental sergeant major in the play “Oh, What A Lovely War,” gave me the clue that Sweeney’s behavior had all the earmarks of “militant episode disorder.”

The APA was duly notified and a team of psychiatrists got working on it and in a matter of days solved the problem. They are now proposing a new mental disorder, called “News Rage” as a sub-category of “militant episode disorder” and a cousin to “Road Rage.” This disease apparently only afflicts arrogant news reporters. The APA plans on voting this disorder in at this weekend’s annual convention in San Diego.

The symptoms of "News Rage" are:

Experiencing impulses that are impossible to resist
Non-premeditated aggression
Disproportionate reaction to provocation
Alteration in Awareness
A feeling of relief or pleasure when engaged in the outburst
Followed by a feeling of remorse, then paranoia
Accompanied by lame excuses due to delusions of brainwashing

Et voila! Freedom publishes BBC documentary

2007-05-14T15:18:00.000-07:00

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Or here: www.freedommag.org

Wow, new Scientology Documentary

2007-05-14T14:01:00.000-07:00

I saw parts of this documentary on YouTube but here is the full story about John Sweeney, BBC Panorama and Scientology: www.freedommag.org or www.bbcpanorama-exposed.org

Newest developments: Sweeney found screaming again!

2007-05-13T22:25:00.000-07:00

This time at the London premiere of "Wildhogs" with John Travolta:

Well, all right! If you want to see something inappropriate and weak....

2007-05-12T19:14:00.000-07:00

.... you will want to see this weak excuse for pretending to be a drill sergeant. Whatever play this guy was playing in his youth, what he did not learn is any discipline nor any sense of manners.

Voila - a great mind he is, betraying not only his professions values, but ...

2007-05-11T19:57:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the link!

2007-05-11T10:27:00.000-07:00

I had heard about John Sweeney doing a show, but here is what it seems to be about:

Scientology And Me

2007-05-09T16:15:00.000-07:00

I understand that the BBC is doing Panorama show about Scientology. They did one in 1987 which was a ridiculous attempt to paint a false picture of what Scientology is and the type of people who are involved in it.

I read an article recently that talks about some of the antics that John Sweeney, the reporter who is working on the current show was involved in.

If you want to find out about Scientology, I will post some links on this site that will give you information. For now, please see the Official Scientology site.