The Faith Column

77 comments from readers

AnyAnonymous
22 February 2008 at 13:07

While I agree that psychoactive drugs have been issued far too readily to young children, I have also personally witnessed children whose lives were improved by very carefully monitored and regulated medication. While I laud the goals of CCHR as stated, I would submit that they can also go too far at times.

stewart
22 February 2008 at 13:27

A brilliant series of articles Ken! Well done.

Peter Simple
22 February 2008 at 15:26

Now the Church of Scientology needs to deal with a U.S. based group that forces its members to have abortions, forces them to divorce, forces members to disconnect from family and friends, reads members mail, monitors members phone calls, locks up members in degraded conditions if they incur the wrath of the leader...

That group is -- the Church of Scientology, one of the leading Human Rights violators in the U.S.

Anonymous9000
22 February 2008 at 15:29

May I recommend this view of the CCHR ?

http://www.daisy.freeserve.co.uk/cchr_jeff.html

Hubbard was not against Psychiatry in 1947 when he wrote to the Veteran's Association requesting treatment:

“After trying and failing for two years to regain my equilibrium in civil life, I am utterly unable to approach anything like my own competence. My last physician informed me that it might be very helpful if I were to be examined and perhaps treated psychiatrically or even by a psycho-analyst. Toward the end of my service I avoided out of pride any mental examinations, hoping that time would balance a mind which I had every reason to suppose was seriously affected. I cannot account for nor rise above long periods of moroseness and suicidal inclinations, and have newly come to realize that I must first triumph above this before I can hope to rehabilitate myself at all.”

L.Ron Hubbard October 15 1947

However when the American Psychological Association wrote to its members that they should refrain from using dianetics:

“While suspending judgment concerning the eventual validity of the claims made by the author of “Dianetics,” the association calls attention to the fact that these claims are not supported by empirical evidence of the sort required for the establishment of scientific generalizations. In the public interest, the association, in the absence of such evidence, recommends to its members that the use of the techniques peculiar to Dianetics be limited to scientific investigations designed to test the validity of its claims.” [”Psychologists act against Dianetics”, by Lucy Freeman, New York Times, 9/9/50].

Which made the psychiatric professionals a threat to his newly invented (and still unproven) theories, his paranoia and hatred towards this profession began to manifest itself.

By 1964 he was accusing them of all being murderers and the CCHR was set up in 1969 as essentially a bigoted hate group against this profession.

I think my Human Rights to receive appropriate treatment from well trained professionals, who are using TESTED, REGULATED therapies are being attacked by an organisation which can still not OBJECTIVELY PROVE any effectiveness of it's somewhat bizarre alternative treatment.

stewart
22 February 2008 at 15:56

Anonymous9000,

You have the right to be treated by anything which you believe will help you.

You also have the right to refuse "treatment" which you believe will damage you.

And that's psychiatry's biggest abuse - that damaging and often lethal practices, such as drugs, electric shock and lobotomy, can be forced on you against your will.

And by the way, there is nothing whatsoever objective about any psychiatric diagnosis. The prescription of drugs for these "disorders" is entirely 100% guesswork.

Meanwhile, a floating needle on an E-meter, is objectively verifiable.

stewart
22 February 2008 at 15:57

Peter Simple, your statement is a complete and utter falsehood.

anon7768
22 February 2008 at 16:11

Stewart, did Lisa McPherson have the right to treatment which could have saved her? Or was she kept locked up, starved and bitten all over by cockroaches until she died? I think you'll find it was the latter. This is the REALITY of Scientology, not your pathetic Scieno-babble. Shame on New Statesman for giving this cult a platform to spread its sickening propaganda.

Anonymous9000
22 February 2008 at 16:14

"Meanwhile, a floating needle on an E-meter, is objectively verifiable."

May I remind you to look at the bottom of your E-meter ? The label reads "The Electrometer is not medically or scientifically capable of improving the health or bodily function of anyone and is for religious use by students and Ministers of the Church of Scientology only."

Which is not quite what was ordered by the judge. It SHOULD say "The device should bear a prominent, clearly visible notice warning that any person using it for auditing or counseling of any kind is forbidden by law to represent that there is any medical or scientific basis for believing or asserting that the device is useful in the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of any disease. It should be noted in the warning that the device has been condemned by a United States District Court for misrepresentation and misbranding under the Food and Drug laws, that use is permitted only as part of religious activity, and that the E-meter is not medically or scientifically capable of improving the health or bodily functions of anyone."

Peter Simple's statement is backed-up by ex-members of SeaOrg, the RPF, Flag, Int, Gold et al. Disconnection is very real, read the statements from David Miscavige's niece Jenna as well as watching these videos for further information.

http://www.scientology-victims-testimonies.com/

However we in Anonymous are working on "RECONNECTION DAY" for April where we will be encouraging those who have lost contact with their loved ones to get back in touch with those their "Church" has forced them to never talk to again.

When did you last call YOUR Mom "Stewart" ? Are you still allowed to ? What about the rest of your family ?

We'll also be setting up websites and helplines for those who feel unable to leave the "Church" having lost the normal social networks and family contacts those of us outside the "Church" easily maintain. Perhaps you may want to keep your eye on

http://www.reconnect.org/

I'm sure your "stats" weren't that good last week, and you may end up "declared" and "offloaded" if this campaign continues to gain the ground it is right now...

stewart
22 February 2008 at 16:20

To anon7768,

I think you'll find your insinuation did not stand up in court.

A Nodding Mouse
22 February 2008 at 16:23

"stewart"(as you call yourself in this round of postings), if you are going to fake all these names, it would be more believable if you'd follow these two simple rules of sock puppetry:

1. Don't post a lot under one name, then quit, then post about the same number of times under the next name. No one is going to believe that it's a complete coincidence that y'all are taking turns posting without supposedly knowing each other.

2. Try to change up the style of your posts. As it is now, it either looks like you a sock puppetting like mad, or all of you COSers are reciting from the same lessons. Variances in opinion and style will help with the illusion.

Looking forward to improvement with your next identity.

A. Mouse

anon7768
22 February 2008 at 16:32

"I think you'll find your insinuation did not stand up in court."

Oh, so are you saying that Lisa did not die in the state I described? Was she given the treatment she needed, Stewart? Is that why she's dead, Stewart? Please, feel free to let me know exactly how Lisa did die, if she did not, as you suggest, die in the manner I described. I'm sure you'll also know why CoS settled out of court, and why they now make members sign waivers to stop their families from suing them when they die like Lisa. Go ahead Stewart.

stewart
22 February 2008 at 16:34

To Anonymous9000:

I didn't say that a floating needle indicated anything medical at all. It is very definitely an objective indicator of some form of spiritual release, large or small. It has very little to do with the body.

Medicine has its own scientific tests, and a wide variety of them.

Psychiatry, not being true medicine, has no verifiable tests: it's the psychiatrists opinion as to what "disease " you have.

As for the sanctimonious (in the dictionary under 'S') accusation about my own family: I am in good communication with my parents - they love it when we visit with their granddaughter of 7 months.

Is no insult below you?

As for "feeling able" to leave the church: good grief! If you want to leave, just leave for crissake! I know people who have, and some of them I'm still in good comm with. Your comments are nothing but "holier-than-thou" nonsense.

As for my stats - oh yes! I'm enjoying more students and more interest than ever. In fact I'm on an affluence trend of several months, with my latest "highest ever" number of students being on the weekend on Anonymous' protest. So keep up the good work! You can't buy that kind of publicitiy. Especially given Anonymous' statement of belief in cruelty, lack of pity and morality, ruing lives "because they can" and laughing at people dying in plane crashes. Makes it very easy to decide who's side you're on.

stewart
22 February 2008 at 16:39

A Nodding Mouse:

Just because I am accused of something, does not mean I am doing it!

I've been using this name for several decades, and see no reason to change now.

My identity is not hidden. Why is yours?

anon7768
22 February 2008 at 16:39

"Especially given Anonymous' statement of belief in cruelty, lack of pity and morality, ruing lives "because they can" and laughing at people dying in plane crashes."

Proof please.

A Nodding Mouse
22 February 2008 at 16:49

"stewart", if you are not posting anonymously, what is your last name? Do you even understand what "posting anonymously" means? Here's a clew for yew-it doesn't mean posting using the name "anonymous". It means posting while not producing enough information so that you may be personally identified. You claim that you post under this name all over the place. Could you provide some cites for this?

Anonymous9000
22 February 2008 at 16:51

Apologies if you found my comments "sanctimonious" (believe me I don't need to use a dictionary for simple English). However it is a fact that many, many staff have been forced to "disconnect" from family members, their own children, even their own spouses. It was only fair to see if you were in that situation (yet!) and offer you the help which Anonymous is starting to provide.

I'm sure you can leave "whenever you want". If you'd been in staff for a while you wouldn't have any money, place to stay or "real world" job qualifications though. Which doesn't make it that easy... especially for those who have severed their family ties.

Oh, and a quick google of "double-blind placebo controlled psychiatry" brings up a lot of links. "double-blind placebo controlled dianetics" has remarkably few, all of which are asking why this simple test has not been done.

Now considering that is standard scientific methodology for evaluating a treatment I wonder which would be considered more reputable ?

stewart
22 February 2008 at 16:54

"Anonymous is devoid of humanity, morality, pity and mercy. ...

We mock those who are in pain

We ruin the lives of other people just simply because we can.

A man takes his anger on a cat. We Laugh

Hundreds die on a plane crash. We Laugh

The nation mourns over a school shooting. We Laugh."

link

Anonymous9000
22 February 2008 at 17:00

I'm glad your student numbers are up. Is that because of David Miscaviges push to make all current members do his "altered tech" "Basics" course ? Not that he's "squirrelling" the "tech" or anything ...

spinurinternetz
22 February 2008 at 17:09

heh. citing myspace now, stewart?

that's the problem with anonymous for you guys, isn't it?

there's no definitive information about how anonymous formed, who the membership is, what the "tenets" or "guidelines" of this movement are... anonymous is a social phenomenon that scientology (and the establishment at large, tbh) has no experience with, and no idea how to combat.

all you need to retain from the shit you posted is this:

"Anonymous delivers".

it does.

stewart
22 February 2008 at 17:10

Oh come on Anonymous9000, even psychiatrits themselves admin their lack of science or objective testing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V96aYXnRqKw

VikingSansHorns
22 February 2008 at 17:10

Concerning the MySpace page: Considering the sparseness of the page, you'll forgive me if I don't take that as solid evidence of the policies of Anonymous.

Second, concerning "I didn't say that a floating needle indicated anything medical at all. It is very definitely an objective indicator of some form of spiritual release, large or small." I don't know of any objective proof of the spirit (not saying it doesn't exist, just that there's no objective proof of said). How can there be objective proof of spiritual release? Who has studied this outsid of the CoS?

stewart
22 February 2008 at 17:12

To hypocrite A Nodding Mouse,

Are you either so lazy or so stupid that you can't work it out?

lisamcpherson
22 February 2008 at 17:22

Mr Eckersley said: 'We've even been accused of belonging to the Church of Scientology. It's just not true.' Daily Mail March 1, 1997. http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Narconon/sources/media/dm010397.h...

Hi steward, I'm happy that you mentioned Lisa McPherson. The court didn't have sufficient evidence to prove that CoS is criminal. A current coroner at the time that helped CoS to challenge the cause of death is now on trial for fraud, details include large payments from CoS during and well after Lisa's death.

CoS did settled on a civil case with the family.

But Lisa did died, didn't she? Who had been taking care of her? What did she died of? What tech did CoS used on her? Failed?

anon7768
22 February 2008 at 17:26

Oh Stewart, please. I mean, surely you know how the internet works by now? Or are OSA stopping you from accessing it fully hence your apparent ignorance? MySpace can't be used as evidence of anything, surely you know that? I could get a MySpace account and write all kinds of things about Scientology and you wouldn't believe that, would you? So why would you believe it when it comes to Anonymous? Please educate yourself about the world, Stewart. I wont make fun of you for this because you're a victim of a cult. It's not your fault, it's the fault of the people the cult that controls you.

HaroldSmith
22 February 2008 at 17:32

I'm rather ashamed that the New Statesman has shilled for this sinister cult, which is reputed to force women into abortions, has been proven to use mind control techniques itself such as hypnosis and 'auditing'. Also, their ruthless cult leader, David Miscavige called for the 'global obliteration' of psychiatry and demanded that followers were to buy a 'How to destroy a psychiatrist's career" pack. This is not behaviour any journalist should be advocating.

dkaye
22 February 2008 at 17:33

Actually, Anonymous. As a Scientologist living in the middle of Missouri with no Church around, ever since your attacks (alot of my friends are "computer geeks" like myself and so we saw that a few articles were written about your "attacks"). But even though none before cared either way that I was a Scientologist, now about 4 or 5 of them are actually reading books and getting involved with Scientology. Even though you yourself can't read, pardon, duplicate, most things written, it might behoove you to actually find out what you are attacking. You must be too young to remember this, but Madonna proved any press was better than no press, and all your efforts are just helping us get the word out and what Scientology is really all about. It's not just me but nearly everwhere based on what I've seen and heard.

HaroldSmith
22 February 2008 at 17:35

For anyone minutely interested in the truths of this dangerous cult, see the following video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCGP-0545EU

anon7768
22 February 2008 at 17:37

Stewart, you still haven't explained to me how Lisa McPherson died. If it was not how I described, you are welcome to further explain how she came to die in the hands of the Church of Scientology. Why did she die, Stewart?

HaroldSmith
22 February 2008 at 17:39

The Church of Scientology has been proved to be harmful to society, and to its own members. Its institutional purpose is, as stated by its founder, its own prevalence and expansion, mainly in an economic way: Hubbard's plan for world domination states that Scientology will be successful by, "Bringing continuous pressure to bear on governments to create pro-Scientology legislation of groups opposing Scientology...The action of bringing about a pro-Scientology government consists of making a friend of the most highly placed government person one can reach, even placing Scientologists in domestic and clerical posts close to him and seeing to it that Scientology resolves his troubles and case".

That statement, put into action in Germany by Scientologists, is why Scientology is not recognised as a religion there, leading to John Travolta's impassioned pleas before Congress to sanction Germany for religious oppression. The German government claimed Scientology is largely a profit-hungry group that seeks world domination and threatens democracy, sentiments echoed by The New York Times, which in an investigative report on Scientology, noted that critics worldwide regarded Scientology as "a cult and money machine intended to bilk the faithful".( Hollywood Interrupted: Insanity Chic in Babylon by Andrew Breitbart, Mark C. Ebner ) More worryingly, we can see this is beginning to happen in the UK. (see the leaked video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj4wqRNXRds )

HaroldSmith
22 February 2008 at 17:40

Justice Latey, ruling in the High Court of London, stated the following about this cult:

"Scientology is both immoral and socially obnoxious...It is corrupt sinister and dangerous. It is corrupt because it is based on lies and deceit and has its real objective money and power for Mr. Hubbard... It is sinister because it indulges in infamous practices both to its adherents who do not toe the line unquestionably and to those who criticize it or oppose it. It is dangerous because it is out to capture people and to indoctrinate and brainwash them so they become the unquestioning captives and tools of the cult, withdrawn from ordinary thought, living, and relationships with others."

anon7768
22 February 2008 at 17:44

dkaye, you and I both know that if that were true, the CoS would not be trying so hard to stop Anonymous. Notice how I managed to respond to you there without attacking you. You should try it.

HaroldSmith
22 February 2008 at 17:46

http://www.scientology-lies.com/crimesindex.html

Scientology: Crimes comitted and Convictions

1999: Greece: Scientologists found guilty

15 Scientologists were accused of systematically keeping files on politicians, journalists, judges, clergymen and other Greek leading personalities. The Scientologists were found guilty, but they were not sentenced, due to procedural errors. (In other words, they got off on a technicality.)

In 1998, a judge ordered the Scientology organization in Athens to stop operating, since the organization was established under false pretenses. According to the ruling, the organization was not operating as a non-profit, and was putting people's mental and physical health at risk.

1997: Italy: Scientologists jailed

29 Scientologists were sentenced to jail for criminal association.

1996: France: Scientology executive found guilty of involuntary homicide

"A former Church of Scientology leader was convicted Friday of involuntary homicide and sentenced to 18 months in prison in the 1988 suicide of a church member. Twelve other defendants facing lesser charges - theft, complicity or abuse of confidence - were given suspended sentences of eight to 15 months each. Charges were dropped against 10 others." The Scientologists were charged in the death of Patrice Vic.

1996: France: Scientologists guilty of interfering with a witness

Three Scientologists were given suspended prison sentences for interfering with an expert witness in a Lyon trial. Charges of theft were proven.

1995: Canada: Scientology pays the largest libel award in Canadian history

Scientology was found guilty of libelling Casey Hill, the prosecutor responsible for bringing Scientology to justice for its egregious illegal acts in Canada.

1994: USA: Scientology fined for filing a frivolous lawsuit

Helena Kobrin, representing RTC (a Scientology corporation), was fined $17,775 for filing a frivolous lawsuit. (Using the law to harass critics is Scientology policy.)

1992: Canada: Scientology found guilty of breach of the public trust

Scientology itself and three Scientology executives were found guilty of breach of public trust in a case involving the theft of information from government offices.

1989: USA: Scientology Found Guilty of Inflicting Emotional Distress

In 1986, former Scientologist Larry Wollersheim sued Scientology for intentional infliction of emotional distress. The jury awarded him $35,000,000, which was reduced on appeal to $2,500,000. Scientology refuses to pay, and now owes Larry more than twice that (with interest accruing).

The appeals court agreed that Larry had been badly hurt by Scientology: it found that Scientology "coerced Wollersheim into continued participation," "seized Wollersheim and held him captive," and that "the Church's conduct was manifestly outrageous." In October 1997, the court found that the Church of Scientology International and Religious Technology Center are liable for the debt.

1984: USA: Clearwater Police Investigator Recommends RICO Charges

Lt. Ray Emmons investigated Scientology as part of his duties. He found clear evidence of fraud and other crimes and recommended that federal and state authorities prosecute Scientology under anti-racketeering laws.

1980: USA: Top-ranking Scientologists guilty of burglary, forgery, infiltration, and obstruction of justice

Eleven Scientology executives, including L. Ron Hubbard's wife, pled guilty to a number of serious crimes. The stipulation of evidence included the following statement: "At all times material to the indictment, L. Ron Hubbard was, by virtue of his role as the founder and leader or Scientology, overall supervisor of the Guardian's Office."

1979: USA: Julie Christofferson Titchbourne sues Scientology for fraud

Julie Christofferson Titchbourne sued Scientology for fraud and outrageous conduct. She won her original trial and the first appeal; Scientology appealed a second time but settled with Julie before that appeal was heard.

1978: France: Fraud

Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard was convicted of fraud in a trial held in absentia.

VikingSansHorns
22 February 2008 at 17:49

To dkaye: Your point is made and well taken. Please understand that it works both ways, however. I was aware of Scientology's doctrines prior to Anonymous' campaign. I disagreed with the doctrines on philosophical and theological points.

It wasn't until recently that I became aware of why so many have issue with the Church of Scientology (as opposed to Scientology, the religion) and what exactly they are accused of.

People who become aware of this story will check out things on both sides, I hope. They will make their decisions. Some will pick a side. Others will bow out. Others will observe. But at the heart of the matter is that all sides must have their say. All voices must be heard.

If these friends of yours came and asked why people oppose the CoS, what would you tell them? Would you direct them to xenu.net or another website? Would you try to protect them from dissenting opinions?

Just a thought.

anon7768
22 February 2008 at 17:51

Let's all watch this story unfold in Australia:

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23235630-662,...

The 25-year-old, who cannot be named, is facing two counts of murder and a third of maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent to murder, after a frenzied stabbing at her southwestern Sydney home in July last year.

It is alleged that the woman, who has been diagnosed with schizo-affective disorder, fatally stabbed her 53-year-old father and 15-year-old sister in a psychotic rage at the family's Revesby home.

She is also accused of critically wounding her 52-year-old mother during the attack.

Again, shame on New Statesman for allowing this dangerous cult to spread its propaganda. Let's hope Anonymous can stop anything like this from happening again.

A psychiatric report tendered in court said the woman had been diagnosed at Bankstown Hospital as having a mental illness, but her parents denied her the appropriate psychiatric medication because of their Scientology beliefs.

theLoLrist
22 February 2008 at 17:53

Perhaps Mr Eckersley would like to address the concerns raised by this website:

http://www.taxexemptchildabuse.net/

While I have no problem with anyone's religious beliefs, as long as it harms nobody. However it does not appear that Scientology deserves the title "Church" if but a tenth of its alleged activities are true.

beebee
22 February 2008 at 18:17

Stewart, it seems that your understanding of current psychology is quite dated. fMRI scans are currently being used to study brain activity in response to different stimuli. Those scans can be compared to control groups to determine whether there are anomalies in activity that would be indicative of a mental disorder. There is much work being done in this advancement and in determining how neuro-chemical mechanisms play a role in neurological diseases and their psychological manifestations.

Now, determining someone's "spiritual release" using a device that basically functions as an ohm-meter seems a bit unusual to me. It seems to imply that the human spirit's "release" is nothing more than the flow of ions to the surface of the skin.

If so, then doesn't that coincide with the theory that personalities, thoughts and behaviors are determined by neurological impulse patterns in the human brain as some psychologists may believe?

Thoughts or "pictures" create such impulse patterns.

http://www.e-meter.org.uk/page06.htm

"When the person holding the E-Meter electrodes thinks a thought, looks at a picture, reexperiences an incident or shifts some part of the reactive mind, he is moving and changing actual mental mass and energy. These changes in the mind influence the tiny flow of electrical energy generated by the E-Meter, causing the needle on its dial to move. The needle reactions on the E-Meter tell the auditor where the charge lies, and that it should be addressed by a process."

AnyAnonymous
22 February 2008 at 18:33

dkaye:

What HAVE you seen and heard? I'm very curious.

Also, don't you need a lot of one-on-one time with an auditor to do Scientology?

stewart:

I did the research. There's a lot of people on the internet, and a search for stewart+scientology contains mainly links to a critical book by Stewart Lamont.

There's more then 20 "stewart"s here:

http://www.truthaboutscientology.com/stats/by-name/s/

Can you give us a hint?

will smith
22 February 2008 at 18:34

Stewie! Stewie! Stewie! Truly a most majestic of OSA foes. Several decades old. A crafty opponent seasoned with age.

Fun things in your posts.

If you wanted to leave the church, how big would your freeloaders debt be? Could you pay it, or do you think, it might in some way colour your decision to leave the church. For those watching this sporting event at home. Of course, the freeloaders debt has many wonderful uses, its a great incentive to withstand the delights of the rehabilitation project force!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rehabilitation_Project_Force

Why maybe this series of articles from the LA times is also of interest!

http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Library/Shelf/la90/la90-3.html

Also, poor peter simple, your comments wound him i imagine!

Oops, liks to forced disconnection examples!!!!

http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?p=67909

We love you stewie. And after all this is over, once scientology is reformed to the point that all these horiffic things associated with it can be honestly set aside , i hope we can have a 'brewski'.

Also, major kudos to kenneth. Fantastic reference free articles, that only dredged up by volume 5 times more words of criticism , linking to page after page of documented scientology controvercies.

AND ON THE SUBJECT OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

Right to play - childrens rpf.

http://www.whyaretheydead.net/childabuse/rpf-children.html

Right to privacy - well, there is about 40 pages of shit you could do for that. Hell since feb 10 we have tonnes of vids of bumbling Pi's stalking people. But for the sake of reference he is something legal looking.

http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/05/17/france.scient...

Right to your own things - e bay scandal to prevent selling of legal E METER's.

http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2008/02/scientologists-wor...

Workers rights - How much does rpf pay again???

Marriage and family - disconnection, rpf.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disconnection

Freedom of expression - ......... cough. haha. Linking in this instance seems..... hilarious.

Freedom of thought - out ethics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethics_(Scientology)#Critical_analysis

No unfair detainment - instances, some recent of scientologists holding people against their will in italy.

http://www.religionnewsblog.com/20402/french-scientologists-...

Innocent till proven guilty - various slanderous alligations made by cos of critics, various attemps to frame people like operation Freakout.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Freakout

Also stewart. I heard you like mudkipz? Can you confirm this?

Anonymous2
22 February 2008 at 19:56

We are David Miscavige's entheta.

David Miscavige is squirelling the tech.

L Ron Hubbard was a liar and a criminal.

lulz, i'm in ur internetz, crashin ur statz!

This is simplypropaganda and the use of such underhand tactics reflects what sort of "church" this really is.

If you want the truth look it up on Google.

This is why no-one should trust Scientology.

You have just made me into a critic.

I will now publicise the truth about Scientology.

Peter Simple
22 February 2008 at 21:06

"stewart",

My comments EXACTLY describe the conditions at Int Base, the headquarters of your church. I did not exaggerate or tell falsehoods.

Staff members at the Int. Base in Hemet California have been forced to have abortions. FACT. Staff members have been forced to divorce. FACT. Staff members have been locked up in atrocious conditions when they have incurred the wrath of the leader -- that's where all your top executive are: Heber Jenzsch is locked up there; Guillaume Lesevre is there; all the other top executives are there, except, of course, for Miscavige. FACT. Staff members' mail at Int. Base is opened and read (and, if not approved, thrown away). FACT. Staff members are not allowed to watch TV, not allowed to listen to radio, not allowed to own cell phones and, if they make a phone call, it must be monitored by security. FACT.

Those are the conditions at the church of Scientology's headquarters. That IS the brave new world Scientology is building.

All Scientologists are forced to disconnect from family and friends if those people don't like Scientology. FACT. All Scientologists are forced to disconnect from any ex-members. FACT.

The Church of Scientology, one of the leading Human Rights violators in the U.S. That IS a FACT.

D.S.
22 February 2008 at 21:26

This is a grossly irresponsible piece of writing. The Church of Scientoloy is one of the most cynical organizations I can think of. Need I remind the author of this article that Mary Sue Hubbard spent time in prison for nothing less than conspiracy against the United States Government for her part in the so-called Church's efforts to infiltrate the US Government as a part of Operation: Snow White? Need I remind the author of the so-called Church's "Fair Game" policy which is still implemented by the Church through their frivolous litigation? Need I remind the author of the smear campaign launched against Paulette Cooper as part of "Operation: Freakout" which sought nothing less than her wrongful imprisonment? Need I remind the author of the so-called Church's "Rehabilitation Project Force" which uses prison camps like "Castillo Canyon School" to control and punish the members of its own private military? Need I remind the author of the circumstances surrounding the death of Josephus Havenith, who was found dead in a bathtub of scalding water which had burned his skin off while staying at the Fort Harrison Hotel? Need I remind the author of the body found in a Scientology building boiler room -- a room which former Scientologists have identified in sworn affidavits was used as a prison by the Rehabilitation Project Force? The Scientologist understanding of "human rights" matches those of any dictator -- they strip the rights away, actively suppress them, and then convince everyone that they've been doing exactly the opposite. I wish, Mr. Eckersley, that you had enough decency in you to write an honest appraisal of this oppressive and dangerous cartel. Shame on you.

ElRonAnon
22 February 2008 at 23:42

Of course lest we forget; This war is being fought in the hearts and minds of the populace, which befalls its own jurisprudence. In the light of day, we win.

ElRonAnon
22 February 2008 at 23:43

Of course lest we forget; This war is being fought in the hearts and minds of the populace, which befalls its own jurisprudence. – In the light of day, we have already won.

CarefulNow
23 February 2008 at 03:23

Eckersley tells us that Scientology's "Freedom Magazine" is "award-winning".

True enough. It has won precisely ONE award, that bestowed in 2006 for Best Feature Article Written for the Web, by the National Federation of Press Women.

http://www.nfpw.org/competitions.htm

One of 461 possible awards that year by that organisation.

The article in question rightly criticises an horrific incident of state incarceration that was not well handled by the authorities. But this is an isolated incident that happened in the late 1940s. If psychiatry is as evil as Scientology teaches, then they should be able to point to significant numbers of recent and current abuses as evidence of their claim and justification for their agenda for the "global obliteration of psychiatry".

Can they? Or will they continue to rely upon scare stories about psychiatry's difficult past, whilst failing to address their own?

AnyAnonymous
23 February 2008 at 04:58

Again, I have to state I don't mind the /stated/ goals of the CCHR. There has been too much focus in the West on quick solutions and use of drugs for my comfort.

However, given all of this information, I must come out firmly against their /actual/ goals.

Paul Riddick
23 February 2008 at 05:50

The CCHR is a disgusting propagandist machine whose influence on the real issues they claim to combat is all but fabricated. They are a ruse to hide their vast huamn rights violations, fear mongering a topic for the sole purpose of creating cedibility wehre there is none.

They are dilusional with conspiracy theories linking psychiatry to Hitler and Al Quaida. They are as out of touch with reality as Hubbard and the writer of this article.

In agreement with the UNDHR? My arse. Read the Daes report suggestions of theirs and contrast it to what actions were actually taken by the UN.

Besides, it is run by a man who seems to have a prediliction toward physcially assaulting anyone he doesn't like. Don't even think of calling me a liar ... there is video to prove it.

Bottom line:

What is the last thing you see when you leave thier "Psychiatry: Industry of Death" sham of a museum? "You are safe as long as we are here."

If anything, humanity is safe as long as people like "Anonymous" are here. Who are the real terrorists? Scientology thrives on fear inside and out.

excultmember
23 February 2008 at 06:28

Another paradox about the Church of Scientology -- they preach that they are saving the world from "mind control" when in fact they operate very extensively in that industry.

andy d
23 February 2008 at 11:49

These articles are outrageously biased propaganda for the Church of Scientology-a notorious cult which has ruined countless lives since it's inception.The hypocrisy of these articles is unrivalled-Scientology denies some of it's own members some very basic human rights and holds people against their will in it's internal prison camps.Google 'Sea Org' or 'RPF' to find out more about these hideous practises.

The New Statesman is being highly irresponsible in printing this cult-friendly view of Scientology,with no critical view of the cult to balance it out.

bystander
23 February 2008 at 13:19

Well, I don't know if it's the same one, but a Kenneth Eckersley has been a Scientologist for 47 years.

http://www.myhomepage.org/keneckersley/myself.htm

Aren't authors meant to disclose any self-interest in a topic?

Funny, I'm pretty sure every pro-Scientology article I've seen has been found to be written by a Scientologist.

bystander
23 February 2008 at 13:21

Disregard my comment, it states it at the top of the page :o

parker1
23 February 2008 at 14:07

I too would like to thank Anonymous for their continued support of Scientology in making it searched by interested millions of people on the web and in libraries around the world. The fact is that intelligent people do think for themselves and want to know the facts. Well done! We thank you!

AnyAnonymous
23 February 2008 at 15:37

Anonymous appreciates your recognition of its efforts, parker1. We also urge everyone, both within and without the CoS, to inquire freely and search reliable, neutral third party sources for information about its philosophies and practices.

Dark Pan
24 February 2008 at 00:11

Look at that.... see Scientology haters popping up like leaches on a healthy body, excuse me, article. Hail Anonymous, you one person trying to emulate "many", you are abusing democratic principles to stir up hate and crime. Disgusting. Kudos, Mr. Kenneth Eckersley, for this article. It is so seldom that real Scientologists speak up.

beebee
24 February 2008 at 00:52

Sure Dark Pan, I guess the 9000+ people standing outside your "churches" in cities world wide on the 10th were all just an optical illusion.

hypermellow
24 February 2008 at 03:47

Thanks Ken for an excellent article. I remember when Freedom Magazine, a Church of Scientology publication, broke the news story that the then president of Interpol was a former Nazi, complete with photos of him in his Nazi uniform.

BTW, these "Anonymous" creep(s) show up and vomit all over every pro-Scientology posting. Ignore them, it will drive them closer to apathy. We had a handful of them show up in Portland and they were carrying some crazy signs that said things like: "Psychiatry is the only true religion" and "This Protest brought to you by Big Pharma". Oh, wait, that's what their signs SHOULD have said.

nawawimohamad
24 February 2008 at 04:18

The sceintologist thing is a whole load of rubbish.

A Nodding Mouse
24 February 2008 at 06:34

"Kudos, Mr. Kenneth Eckersley, for this article. It is so seldom that real Scientologists speak up." Real Scientologists speak up all the time-the trouble is getting them to admit that they ARE real Scientologists. Like that time Kenneth denied that Narconon was affiliated with the COS.

A Nodding Mouse
24 February 2008 at 06:37

Is "hypermellow " STILL complaining about people not using their real names? What's his first name-"hypocrite"? He had to make up what the posters said for a good reason. Tell them what the posters really said, "hypermellow".

LafayetteBeacon
24 February 2008 at 10:27

Setting aside the fact that the Church of Scientology clearly does not walk the walk it talks with regards human rights, the religion itself is based on a dangerous piece of false logic.

The entire religion is founded on the use of galvanic skin response as validation. A common occurence in one's first auditing is the "pinch test", where a wavering needle is demonstrated by the auditor giving the subject a little pinch. The needle wobbles and then the auditor asks the subject to simply remember being pinched. When the subject is remembering, the needle waves before. So the e-meter is straight away established in the mind of the subject as a tool by which memories can be validated.

Then in the process of "going clear", of desensitizing the subject to past traumas, the subject is asked to recall "similar earlier incidents". And when there are no similar earlier incidents, the subject is asked to invent them for the purposes of the audting. When such experiences are imagined, the needle waves as before, and the subject must then ask himself whether the experience he thought he imagined was real or not. The co-operative subject is then looking not to himself but to the ability of his skin to conduct electricity as to what his past is.

More worrying still the journey up the bridge to total freedom [though LRH explains in Dianetics that such freedom did not exist] will require the subject to remember incidents prior to being born, again being seemingly validated by the machine. Such imagined events will often take place within alien worlds, amogst alien races, which, along with the Xenu event, accounts for Scientology's reputation as a UFO cult.

What is happening is a kind of artificially constructed schizophrenia, with the process of auditing serving to severely blur the boundaries between the real and the vividly imagined. That means not only that the misconduct of the Church is dangerous, but that the belief system itself is.

http://myurlisname.blogspot.com

L RON HUBBARDS CORPSE
24 February 2008 at 11:28

Absoluteley disgusing article.

As a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists i will be informing my fellow members of the fact New Statesman openly allows evil men like Kenneth Eckersley a platform which to spread his cult propaganda.

sickening.

mesamarg
24 February 2008 at 15:05

Wonderful article ... was great to see a Former Magistrate / Justice of the Peace -- and Scientologist -- speak up about his views and the works of his Church. I knew that the mind-control experiments were exposed in 1970s or 1980s, but hadn't seen the reference that Hubbard had been credited. Thank you for that!

Jinkii
24 February 2008 at 16:24

the best piece of information in this whole series of stories is the fact you are an Ex-Magistrate, i recommend an investigation into your past magisterial works so any miscarriages of justice you have perpetrated to further the goals of L Ron Hubbards Mindtrap. at least you cannot do this any longer.

beebee
24 February 2008 at 16:25

"hypermellow" are you serious?? You really think shinks are behind this? I am petty sure those guys see scientology as nothing more than a case study... and hubbard a head case.

Got any more hilarious conspiracy theories?

Goodness, and all this time I thought scientologists didn't have a sense of humor! ;^P

Peter Simple
24 February 2008 at 21:22

Dear Scientologists,

Wow! Things are really not going well for you right now. Your "stats" are crashing and people are learning all sorts of things about your church that the church has worked so hard to hide.

What have you done to pull that in?

Better start looking at your ethics, and get your ethics in right away so these things won't keep happening to you.

parker1
25 February 2008 at 02:10

Hmm... I am not sure that I agree with your police work there Norm (Fargo)... I mean Peter. As of late Scientology courserooms are packed and book sales are out the roof! Best investigate your source of your "stats". Ours are anything but crashing!

Vernony
25 February 2008 at 12:21

Well speaking of human rights. Where tenants of council houses opted to transfer to a Registered Social Landlord, they simultaneously lost their ability to challenge their housing provider under the Human Rights Act. This is because the Government has decreed that RSLs are private companies and that the Human Rights Act does not apply to private companies !

The thing is nobody told the residents when they were asked to transfer from council owned to an RSL that they would be voting away a part of their human rights protection. That omission, in it self, is surely a denial of human rights ?

beebee
25 February 2008 at 12:33

Peter, you forget they consider anyone who so much as takes a "personality test," buys a book or stops in to ask questions to be a new recruit. That's how they account for all their "millions of members" worldwide.

parker, even I have stopped in to a local "church" to give Scientology a fair chance. The experience ended up helping me confirm my stance AGAINST the CoS.

Anonymous9000
25 February 2008 at 21:49

Parker1: of course the course rooms are packed, and sales are up. David Miscavige is forcing all current members to do the "Basics" course he created as "alternate tech". When a squirrel forces the masses of Scientology to redo a corrupted version of the "source" for his own enrichment - under pain of "heavy ethics" one wouldn't expect any different.

These are not new converts - new converts have better information these days. They are people scared of the pressure the corrupt management are putting on them to do the new "alternate tech". If you were a good Scientologist you'd stand up to such disgraceful manipulation of your beliefs...

A Nodding Mouse
26 February 2008 at 05:47

parker1, "Hmm... I am not sure that I agree with your police work there Norm (Fargo)... I mean Peter. As of late Scientology courserooms are packed and book sales are out the roof! Best investigate your source of your "stats". Ours are anything but crashing!" Is this what being a "clear" does for you, intellect-wise? I pointed out to you how we know that all those names you use are from the same source(posting in a group, then dropping the name, then getting a new name and never going back to the old name, repeat until you run out of names or until the word Scientology pops up somewhere else, combined with a very recognizable writing pattern). Saying the same thing back even though those patterns aren't there on behalf of the person you are responding to is, well, juvenile. About as juvenile as your conspiracy theories about psychiatry being being most(if not all) of the world's ills), and making fantastic claims that defy science and reason then charging people tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of dollars for the (ultimately extremely silly) answers.

The silliest part about all this is that I already told you how to avoid being caught sock puppeting(switch the names back and forth while posting instead of dropping a name entirely before starting a new one, writing using different styles, and not using the same terms), but you continue to respond the same way. It's as if you are incapable of responding in any manner other than in the way you were taught. Do they provide you with examples of arguing this way in a convenient book or pamphlet, or are you required to memorize this (much overused and extremely ineffective) writing style?

tploe7
03 March 2008 at 02:33

I would like Kenneth Eckersley to try to justify or explain how Scientology claims that you can be a Christian and a Scientologist, please?

beebee
04 March 2008 at 05:12

THE UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Article 1.

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

[‘Clearing’ the planet doesn’t seem to fit in here, nor attacking critics of CO$.]

Article 2.

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

[Hmmm, excepting homosexuals, transgender, single mothers, Africans, Chinese, non-$cientologists, etc, etc…]

Article 3.

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

[Except it seems anyone who signs up to the SEA ORG]

Article 4.

No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

[Please read that one again CO$]

Article 5.

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

[RPF - a classic CO$ example of abuse…]

Article 6.

Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

[Except when they are sent to another country and their identification documents are taken away…]

Article 7.

All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

[Except when they decide to criticise or leave CO$]

Article 8.

Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

[Woops! Hope no one uses the Constitution on you CO$…]

Article 9.

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

[Sums up what CO$ does in a nutshell…]

Article 10.

Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

[Except when they are accused of crimes that are arbitrarily set by CO$]

Article 11.

(1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.

(2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

[See above]

Article 12.

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

[Operation Freakout for example – anyone?]

Article 13.

(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.

(2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

[Except when they are trapped at SEA ORG or on the Fairwinds…]

Article 14.

(1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.

(2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

[See – you can’t use this as a defence CO$…]

Article 15.

(1) Everyone has the right to a nationality.

(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

[BTW CO$, OT is NOT a nationality…]

Article 16.

(1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.

(2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.

(3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

[But obviously not by CO$]

Article 17.

(1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.

(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

[Unless they have to pay for all that auditing…]

Article 18.

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

[But if they leave CO$, this right is ignored.]

Article 19.

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

[Apparently CO$ critics are not allowed this right…]

Article 20.

(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

(2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

[Anonymous has rights – and we’ll be seeing you soon!]

Article 21.

(1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.

(2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.

(3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

[So when the Government decides that you are not a ‘church’ – suck it CO$]

Article 22.

Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.

[Instead of being coerced and abused into the Borg mentality that is CO$]

Article 23.

(1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.

(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.

(3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.

(4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

[Except when you work at SEA ORG – where you will be lucky to see any money for your efforts, and if you try to leave – be presented with a ‘bill’ for expenses…]

Article 24.

Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

[Doesn’t happen at SEA ORG…]

Article 25.

(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

(2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

[Where’s the proof, CO$, that this actually happens?]

Article 26.

(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.

(2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.

(3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

[Don’t just look at #3, CO$ - #2 is where you fail 100%]

Article 27.

(1) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.

(2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

[Only if they are LRH]

Article 28.

Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

[Except when they are members of CO$]

Article 29.

(1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.

(2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.

(3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

[But CO$ uses the words “Human Rights” to fool WOGS into thinking that they actually follow the former principles. How false and misleading can you get?]

Article 30.

Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

[WE ARE LEGION. NEVER FORGET. WE ARE COMING]

Mr Stanley
04 March 2008 at 13:30

Ken get a life

Elron
14 March 2008 at 02:55

Ken, Stewie, CoS,

Let me finish this off a final word of truth that is based on sworn testimonies and reasonable conclusions.

And most importantly, a peek into the future,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ-3JQGwps4

stewart
27 March 2008 at 23:34

To AnyAnonymous:

That was a very lazy search, with no intelligent thought behind it; but you have too many clues already.

Oh, and also, what you did was "search", NOT "research".

True research involves direct observation, not just reading someone else's opinions. It involves thinking for yourself, not just succumbing to peer-pressure.

Outonymous
10 May 2008 at 02:03

Anonymous makes themselves look like fools. They sure have crazy ideas, and since no one will take them seriously, they have to start committing crimes against other people and then they wear masks so they thing they wont ever get caught for their oh so shady past.

-Outonymous

Outonymous
10 May 2008 at 02:10

project chanology ("anonymous") destroys, even themselves.

Because their evidence is distortion,

officials dismiss them

so they resort to criminal activity

when you notice them,

they say "Dont look at me you stalker!"

and then

they accuse you of anything they can come up with

Outonymous
10 May 2008 at 02:13

The "ex-scientologist" "officials"

are most likely the ones forging and planting

while they were aboard!