I'm still a neophyte on FaceBook, but I finally read a message on Andy Nolch's page that he finally figured it out and left the cult entirely.
:party:
I just learned Andy Nolch is free! (Mr Kink on Facebook)
:party:
lundi 26 septembre 2016
Thursday 9/29 12pm ET: AMA with Tony Ortega, author of The Unbreakable Miss Lovely
Thursday 9/29 12pm ET: AMA with Tony Ortega, author of The Unbreakable Miss Lovely.
http://ift.tt/2dmNF9v
* * * * * BEGIN EXCERPT * * * * *
Tony Ortega will be hosting an AMA right here in /r/scientology on Thursday, September 29, from 12:00PM - 2:00PM Eastern time (I think that's 9:00AM to 11:00AM for us left-coasters).
This also happens to be the day that his audiobook for The Unbreakable Miss Lovely launches. If you haven't read the book, you can now hear it while stuck in traffic!
Seriously, though, this is a very interesting book that details the story of Paulette Cooper as Scientology tried to completely destroy her credibility and life.
* * * * * END EXCERPT * * * * *
http://ift.tt/2cx0Rmc
* * * * * BEGIN EXCERPT * * * * *
Your proprietor on Reddit this Thursday
To mark the occasion of The Unbreakable Miss Lovely being released in audiobook form this week, on Thursday we’ll be subjecting ourselves to an AMA at Reddit’s Scientology board.
You’ll have a chance to “Ask Me Anything” from noon to 2 pm, Eastern time, on Thursday, September 29.
For some idea of how it might go, you might look at the AMA that Chris Shelton engaged in earlier his year.
* * * * * END EXCERPT * * * * *
.
Thursday 9/29 12pm ET: AMA with Tony Ortega, author of The Unbreakable Miss Lovely
http://ift.tt/2dmNF9v
* * * * * BEGIN EXCERPT * * * * *
Tony Ortega will be hosting an AMA right here in /r/scientology on Thursday, September 29, from 12:00PM - 2:00PM Eastern time (I think that's 9:00AM to 11:00AM for us left-coasters).
This also happens to be the day that his audiobook for The Unbreakable Miss Lovely launches. If you haven't read the book, you can now hear it while stuck in traffic!
Seriously, though, this is a very interesting book that details the story of Paulette Cooper as Scientology tried to completely destroy her credibility and life.
* * * * * END EXCERPT * * * * *
http://ift.tt/2cx0Rmc
* * * * * BEGIN EXCERPT * * * * *
Your proprietor on Reddit this Thursday
To mark the occasion of The Unbreakable Miss Lovely being released in audiobook form this week, on Thursday we’ll be subjecting ourselves to an AMA at Reddit’s Scientology board.
You’ll have a chance to “Ask Me Anything” from noon to 2 pm, Eastern time, on Thursday, September 29.
For some idea of how it might go, you might look at the AMA that Chris Shelton engaged in earlier his year.
* * * * * END EXCERPT * * * * *
.
ESMBer has academic paper published
Just over 2 years ago I was asked to give a talk at Infom's 25th
anniversy conference. They also asked if they could publish it'.
Its just been published by them in "Cult Wars in historical
perspective" I leave the conclusion here and a PDF. There have
been a couple of minor edits not included here.
bb
Conclusion
"In this essay, I have given some details of how COS is shrinking and why. Debbie Cook’s email appears to have had a strong impact on COS (Cook 2011). For example, Freedom Medal winner Wendy Honnor was inspired to leave COS by it (Rathbun 2012). The exodus of many South Africans from COS was influenced by Cook, as was the breakaway Israeli Mission Dror. Her email has most likely been seen by a large number of COS members because she asked that it be forwarded to others. In response, Miscavige initiated a lawsuit against Cook and her husband, but it backfired spectacularly, especially because Cook’s testimony was filmed by ABC television in the U. S. In her testimony, for example, she asserted that she “was put in a trash can, cold water poured over me, slapped, things like that. And it would—one time it went on for 12 hours” (Rathbun 2014). In addition to detailing what she went through, Cook also detailed indignities and violence visited upon others by Miscavige. The day after Cook testified, COS withdrew its lawsuit and a settlement was reached. Taken together, the evidence from Cook, Rinder, Rathbun, and many others points to a dramatic contraction of the COS. Course rooms which once used to have hundreds now have only a few. The COS seems no longer to bother with training auditors. Instead, the public is relentlessly pursued by a multitude of high pressure salespersons. In addition, almost every day media criticism of the COS can be found somewhere in the world. Far from prospering, the Church of Scientology appears to be in significant decline."
Church of Scientology and The Freezone .pdf
ESMBer has academic paper published
anniversy conference. They also asked if they could publish it'.
Its just been published by them in "Cult Wars in historical
perspective" I leave the conclusion here and a PDF. There have
been a couple of minor edits not included here.
bb
Conclusion
"In this essay, I have given some details of how COS is shrinking and why. Debbie Cook’s email appears to have had a strong impact on COS (Cook 2011). For example, Freedom Medal winner Wendy Honnor was inspired to leave COS by it (Rathbun 2012). The exodus of many South Africans from COS was influenced by Cook, as was the breakaway Israeli Mission Dror. Her email has most likely been seen by a large number of COS members because she asked that it be forwarded to others. In response, Miscavige initiated a lawsuit against Cook and her husband, but it backfired spectacularly, especially because Cook’s testimony was filmed by ABC television in the U. S. In her testimony, for example, she asserted that she “was put in a trash can, cold water poured over me, slapped, things like that. And it would—one time it went on for 12 hours” (Rathbun 2014). In addition to detailing what she went through, Cook also detailed indignities and violence visited upon others by Miscavige. The day after Cook testified, COS withdrew its lawsuit and a settlement was reached. Taken together, the evidence from Cook, Rinder, Rathbun, and many others points to a dramatic contraction of the COS. Course rooms which once used to have hundreds now have only a few. The COS seems no longer to bother with training auditors. Instead, the public is relentlessly pursued by a multitude of high pressure salespersons. In addition, almost every day media criticism of the COS can be found somewhere in the world. Far from prospering, the Church of Scientology appears to be in significant decline."
Church of Scientology and The Freezone .pdf
NEW INTERVIEW: Louis Theroux on Joe Rogan show
..
This could be fun, I just started listening to it now.
Joe Rogan is a no BS, very creative and funny--and a guy that will say ANYTHING!
No holds barred, full contact interview, lol
NEW INTERVIEW: Louis Theroux on Joe Rogan show
This could be fun, I just started listening to it now.
Joe Rogan is a no BS, very creative and funny--and a guy that will say ANYTHING!
No holds barred, full contact interview, lol
dimanche 25 septembre 2016
Question: Am I a Minister?
I was in another chat room recently when one of the members mentioned he was a minister. This was rather remarkable (meaning "worthy of remarks) given the nature of the chat room, which I won't get into, but it requires being at least 18 years of age to participate. Anyway, turns out that he was "ordained" by some non-conventional church in California who will basically ordain anybody for a fee and his minister-ship (if that's even a word) had been upheld in court.
Now my personal opinion about the legal status of ministers is that it shouldn't be up to our US of A government to recognize them or not, since our Constitution states that no religion shall be granted special privileges (paraphrased--I'm not going to look up the wording now), but if the State decides what is and isn't a religion, then those churches that are legally recognized as churches have the tax-exempt privilege that those not legally recognized are denied; and how is that not granting special privilege to State-favored religions?
But that's my personal opinion and political viewpoint, and the fact that we live with is that the USA does favor and recognize some religions, including the Church of Scientology. Right or wrong, they are legally a church and their ministers are legally recognized as ministers. So correct me if I'm wrong, but the CofS considers its auditors as ministers---is that right? So a Scientology or Dianetics auditor can officiate at a wedding and it will be legally binding--is that right?
Now I come to my real question: Back around '76-'77, I received my certificate and was officially recognized (by the church) as a Dianetics Auditor. That was, IIRC, around the time that some auditors were starting to wear clerical collars (in FCDC, anyway). Shortly after that, I did a Doubt Formula and "cycled out" of participation in any further courses or auditing, but I did technically do Dianetics auditing and....well, I never joined staff, so I didn't consider myself a "real" auditor...except that....
I distinctly remember reading an HCOPL (I think it was) that "posted" all Dianetics and Scientology grads as Field Staff Members. It wasn't legally binding and they couldn't order me to come in (not back then anyway) and do specific tasks, but Abby Bregman (sp?) once tried to use that HCOPL to push me to take on more volunteer tasks. I was one of the many non-staff volunteers that supported FCDC selling books, manning personality test tables for fresh meat, and generally doing grunt work in the office.
So technically, the CoS _did_ list me as "staff"--I was an FSM. And an auditor. And I've never been Declared nor formally renounced being a Scientologist.
So...am I technically a minister under the laws of the USA? Or do I have the necessary credentials (assuming I can dig up my Dianetics Auditor Certif) to register as a minister in some states?
Being serious, I know I'm probably not a Member in Good Standing with the Cherch, since I haven't paid them any money in half a lifetime, but _legally_ if a person is once "ordained"/certified as a minister, does he lose that ministership by not paying dues, or is it something that's permanent unless formally retracted by his/her church? I have heard cases of former ministers conducting legal weddings even though they hadn't participated in their ordaining church in decades. Who knows how that works, legally? Does the CoS itself have any requirements to maintain standing as a minister?
Question: Am I a Minister?
Now my personal opinion about the legal status of ministers is that it shouldn't be up to our US of A government to recognize them or not, since our Constitution states that no religion shall be granted special privileges (paraphrased--I'm not going to look up the wording now), but if the State decides what is and isn't a religion, then those churches that are legally recognized as churches have the tax-exempt privilege that those not legally recognized are denied; and how is that not granting special privilege to State-favored religions?
But that's my personal opinion and political viewpoint, and the fact that we live with is that the USA does favor and recognize some religions, including the Church of Scientology. Right or wrong, they are legally a church and their ministers are legally recognized as ministers. So correct me if I'm wrong, but the CofS considers its auditors as ministers---is that right? So a Scientology or Dianetics auditor can officiate at a wedding and it will be legally binding--is that right?
Now I come to my real question: Back around '76-'77, I received my certificate and was officially recognized (by the church) as a Dianetics Auditor. That was, IIRC, around the time that some auditors were starting to wear clerical collars (in FCDC, anyway). Shortly after that, I did a Doubt Formula and "cycled out" of participation in any further courses or auditing, but I did technically do Dianetics auditing and....well, I never joined staff, so I didn't consider myself a "real" auditor...except that....
I distinctly remember reading an HCOPL (I think it was) that "posted" all Dianetics and Scientology grads as Field Staff Members. It wasn't legally binding and they couldn't order me to come in (not back then anyway) and do specific tasks, but Abby Bregman (sp?) once tried to use that HCOPL to push me to take on more volunteer tasks. I was one of the many non-staff volunteers that supported FCDC selling books, manning personality test tables for fresh meat, and generally doing grunt work in the office.
So technically, the CoS _did_ list me as "staff"--I was an FSM. And an auditor. And I've never been Declared nor formally renounced being a Scientologist.
So...am I technically a minister under the laws of the USA? Or do I have the necessary credentials (assuming I can dig up my Dianetics Auditor Certif) to register as a minister in some states?
Being serious, I know I'm probably not a Member in Good Standing with the Cherch, since I haven't paid them any money in half a lifetime, but _legally_ if a person is once "ordained"/certified as a minister, does he lose that ministership by not paying dues, or is it something that's permanent unless formally retracted by his/her church? I have heard cases of former ministers conducting legal weddings even though they hadn't participated in their ordaining church in decades. Who knows how that works, legally? Does the CoS itself have any requirements to maintain standing as a minister?
samedi 24 septembre 2016
It’s no quiet life for Scientology leader’s father
Miscavige, 80, has chronicled his life before, during and after Scientology in a book, “Ruthless: Scientology, My Son David Miscavige and Me.” It paints an unflattering portrait of his son and the church, and it echoes the views of other disaffected ex-members.
“David runs Scientology with an iron fist and, to my mind, it has become a cult, pure and simple,” he writes.
Miscavige’s book includes no blockbuster revelations, but it has evoked an unusually vehement response from the church, which has mounted an aggressively negative publicity campaign, including a website dedicated to discrediting him.
http://ift.tt/2cVAFYz
It’s no quiet life for Scientology leader’s father
“David runs Scientology with an iron fist and, to my mind, it has become a cult, pure and simple,” he writes.
Miscavige’s book includes no blockbuster revelations, but it has evoked an unusually vehement response from the church, which has mounted an aggressively negative publicity campaign, including a website dedicated to discrediting him.
http://ift.tt/2cVAFYz
Scientology and a broader perspective on cults
To my dear fellow Ex-Scientologists,
I have been on this board for a while now, and have posted (at some length) on various topics over the time I have been here. I have been receiving therapy, mostly in regards to issues which predated my long involvement in Scientology. You may not be surprised to learn that those issues were not addressed in any meaningful fashion while I was involved with L. Ron Hubbard's (and now Miscavage's) delightful little cult.
Still, I did some work with my therapist to understand how and why I got involved with, and stayed involved with Scientology for way too long. A key part of the work was reading the book "Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships" by Janja Lalich and Madeleine Tobias (ISBN-10: 0972002154 / ISBN-13: 978-0972002158) . This book was written for people who had suffered or who are suffering because they, or a friend or loved one, have been or are still involved in a cult.
Ever heard of the term 'assymetric power relationship'? It is a common element found in abusive cults. How did we relate to the Ethics officer, the Course Supervisor, the Registrar? When the overbearing Sea Org Missionaire cornered us at an event, were we freely able to express our discomfort about being forced to do things we knew weren't good for us?
Yeah, those assymetric power relationships…as designed by Hubbard.
As I worked my way through that book, and read about how many different types of cults all prey on our human needs, and manipulate us using our common human weaknesses, I began to realize that those of us that have had the dubious pleasure of being exposed to the 'wisdom' of Hubbard are not unique in our experiences.
This is not to say we did not suffer, emotionally, physically, or spiritually.
People trapped in many different cults all suffer. The problem is not just Scientology. The problem is not just 'religious' cults. There are political, spiritual, family, psyco-therapeutic and even martial arts cults. Folks, please don't be offended, but we victims of Hubbard's foul scam are not special snowflakes. We are members of a much broader collection of folks who get trapped in cults, large and small, that prey upon their victims in the name of (fill in the blank) using methods that are eerily similar, once the window dressing is stripped away. ("Bridge to Total Freedom", anyone?)
In studying this book I realized that cults are much more varied than I knew, and that humanity still has much to do to educate itself about the hazards of allowing others to gain total control of our lives.
What IS special about us is that we unfortunately do know far more than most people about the particular cesspool that is Scientology. Therefore we have the ability to share our bitterly-earned experience with others who can then avoid Scientology, or limit its so-called "reach", or otherwise bring Hubbard's and Miscavage's thralls back into the light of truth, reason, and freedom.
To you, my fellows, I highly recommend this book, as it could help you gain a wider perspective to your times and experiences within this cult we know all too well. I found it helped me much better understand and recover from my experiences in Scientology.
Be well!
Scientology and a broader perspective on cults
I have been on this board for a while now, and have posted (at some length) on various topics over the time I have been here. I have been receiving therapy, mostly in regards to issues which predated my long involvement in Scientology. You may not be surprised to learn that those issues were not addressed in any meaningful fashion while I was involved with L. Ron Hubbard's (and now Miscavage's) delightful little cult.
Still, I did some work with my therapist to understand how and why I got involved with, and stayed involved with Scientology for way too long. A key part of the work was reading the book "Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships" by Janja Lalich and Madeleine Tobias (ISBN-10: 0972002154 / ISBN-13: 978-0972002158) . This book was written for people who had suffered or who are suffering because they, or a friend or loved one, have been or are still involved in a cult.
Ever heard of the term 'assymetric power relationship'? It is a common element found in abusive cults. How did we relate to the Ethics officer, the Course Supervisor, the Registrar? When the overbearing Sea Org Missionaire cornered us at an event, were we freely able to express our discomfort about being forced to do things we knew weren't good for us?
Yeah, those assymetric power relationships…as designed by Hubbard.
As I worked my way through that book, and read about how many different types of cults all prey on our human needs, and manipulate us using our common human weaknesses, I began to realize that those of us that have had the dubious pleasure of being exposed to the 'wisdom' of Hubbard are not unique in our experiences.
This is not to say we did not suffer, emotionally, physically, or spiritually.
People trapped in many different cults all suffer. The problem is not just Scientology. The problem is not just 'religious' cults. There are political, spiritual, family, psyco-therapeutic and even martial arts cults. Folks, please don't be offended, but we victims of Hubbard's foul scam are not special snowflakes. We are members of a much broader collection of folks who get trapped in cults, large and small, that prey upon their victims in the name of (fill in the blank) using methods that are eerily similar, once the window dressing is stripped away. ("Bridge to Total Freedom", anyone?)
In studying this book I realized that cults are much more varied than I knew, and that humanity still has much to do to educate itself about the hazards of allowing others to gain total control of our lives.
What IS special about us is that we unfortunately do know far more than most people about the particular cesspool that is Scientology. Therefore we have the ability to share our bitterly-earned experience with others who can then avoid Scientology, or limit its so-called "reach", or otherwise bring Hubbard's and Miscavage's thralls back into the light of truth, reason, and freedom.
To you, my fellows, I highly recommend this book, as it could help you gain a wider perspective to your times and experiences within this cult we know all too well. I found it helped me much better understand and recover from my experiences in Scientology.
Be well!
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