Scientology book author reveals church's inner workings

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Scientology book author reveals church's inner workings

Postby elfismiles » Sat Jul 30, 2011 9:04 am


Scientology book author reveals church's inner workings
Analysis & Opinion By Brent Lang / Fri Jul 29, 2011 6:03pm EDT

ImageU.S. Actor Tom Cruise gives a speech at the inauguration of a Scientology church in Madrid Sepember 18, 2004. REUTERS/Paul Hanna

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Scientology operates more as a business than as a church, relying on techniques perfected by car salesmen to attract new members and celebrities to its rolls.

That's just one of the takeaways from Janet Reitman's controversial book about the world's most controversial and secretive religion. "Inside Scientology" chronicles L. Ron Hubbard's creation of Scientology six decades ago and traces its development into the faith of choice for movie stars such as John Travolta and Tom Cruise.

In an interview with TheWrap, Reitman, a Rolling Stone contributing editor, addressed blackmail rumors and talked about why Kabbalah may represent a bigger threat to it than any "South Park" parody.

A: Is Scientology still a big religion in celebrity circles?

Reitman: I totally think that celebrity Scientologists are hesitant to be public about it these days, but I don't think they've ever had as many celebrities as people think. There are really very few. Cruise is a big celebrity. Travolta is a long-time celebrity. Jenna Elfman had a TV show, but most of these people aren't huge celebrities. Kabbalah has gotten the superstars. Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Madonna -- those are big stars.

Q: How effective has Cruise been as the public face of Scientology?

A: I don't believe he's been an effective face in terms of getting new members, but he's been very effective in terms of getting the existing members excited. There was a specific strategy in place to make Cruise into the model Scientologist. It was a promotional strategy and it's been good and bad.

Existing members are not necessarily aware of how the church is perceived. They are told they should not read newspapers, they would not have watched the "South Park" episode that makes fun of them, and they would not have read the magazine article that became the basis for my book. So from their viewpoint, Cruise's behavior would be perceived completely differently than what we see. It would have made them really excited to see him jumping on Oprah's couch.

Q: There are all these rumors that celebrities like Cruise remain Scientologists because the church knows all their secrets and they fear blackmail. Any truth to that?

A: I didn't go into that too much in my book, but it seems obvious. They have the goods on everybody. A great part of the Scientology experience is the confession that happens in the auditing experience. You are constantly being asked to write up your transgressions, maybe even your unspoken transgressions. They know everything about you. They would know everything about Cruise in the same way that they would know everything about me if I were a member.

Q: How is the celebrity experience different than that of average Scientologists?

A: Basically to ensure that they have a happy experience, are shielded from anything negative. They have church appointed minders who guide them through the process. They have no idea the level of control they're under. If Scientology is a parallel universe than this is really a parallel universe.

There's been a celebrity strategy since the mid-'80s. They are seen as cash cows, as these amazing emotional tools. It's very savvy what's going on, so it's not surprising that celebrities are treated in a wonderful way, a way that's very different than an average member. They are often looked at as more important than the clergy. You have these people who have been serving the church for 35 years who have to salute Tom Cruise and call him sir.

Q: Why do you think Scientology remains so controversial?

A: I think it has to do with its history of secrecy and also its history of litigiousness. I do think that's changed slightly. In so many ways it tries to not be so secretive anymore. It tries to be less aggressive than it was in the past. You don't see them filing those giant lawsuits any longer. I think it's a residual effect. They pled guilt to conspiracy once. They conducted a domestic espionage operation. And you have all these people who left the church coming out about their experience.

Q: What shocked you the most about Scientology?

A: I didn't expect to find out how much of a business they were. They are almost like a multi-level marketing firm. They have a very shrewd marketing sense. They are drilled on how to sell. They use a book written by a car salesman that talks about sure-fire sales techniques and it shows you how to close the deal. It's an essential part of their training.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/ ... S120110729

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Re: Scientology book author reveals church's inner workings

Postby elfismiles » Wed Sep 28, 2011 3:58 pm


Inside Scientology's Super Power Building... where worshippers of the controversial religion will be told they can become superhuman $90m centre due to open in Florida before end of year
By Daniel Miller

Last updated at 3:29 PM on 28th September 2011

Image

Image

These space-age images show the inside of the Church of Scientology's new $90m (£57m) training centre where devotees of the controversial religion will be told they can develop superhuman abilities.

The Super Power Building in Clearwater, Florida, is due to finally open later this year after being beset by a long series of delays, which saw construction halt and costs spiral.

The imposing structure, a bizarre cross between a Mediterranean-style hotel and the Starship Enterprise, boasts 889 rooms, an indoor running track and Nasa-style training equipment to help worshippers boost their 'theta' power.

The building contains specially-developed equipment, which the church claims,'expands on the technology developed by Nasa to train astronauts'.

Among the most bizarre contraptions is the antigravity simulator - a gyroscope that spins a person around while blindfolded to improve their perception of compass direction.

Trainees will also be instructed to watch a special video screen that moves back and forth while flashing images to hone their abilities to identify subliminal messages.

It is not yet known how much super power training will cost. Some higher-level Scientology training courses are priced in tens of thousands of dollars.

The images, which were leaked on to the web, are believed to show artists' impressions of what the building will look like.

The project, which had an original budget of $24m (£15m), was stopped in 2003 after costs more than doubled because of rises in the price of steel and labour.

But after a major appeal to their members, which include celebrities Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Kirstie Alley, it was back on track and is due to be competed this year.

Actress Alley is described as a 'founding member' of the project and is reported to have made a donation of around $250,000 (£160,000).

But the delays prompted Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard to describe the building as 'an eyesore, surrounded by dirt and chain-link fence'.

The city's code enforcement board ordered the exterior, including landscaping and sidewalks had to be completed by early summer 2006.

But the work wasn't finished meaning the Scientologists were slapped with a series of $250 dollar fines, which by the end of 2006 had totaled more than $40,000 (£25,000).

The church had announced the building would be ready for occupancy by late 2010, but no additional work took place.

Then, in June this year, it was reported that it had passed inspection and a Certificate of Occupancy had been obtained.

Visitors will be greeted by an imposing main lobby lined with austere bronze sculptures depicting various aspects of Scientology.

There are two museums: one in honour of the Scientologists' Sea Org association and another dedicated to the religion's founder, L. Ron Hubbard.

The sixth floor houses a full-size indoor running track and the complex also features dozens of audit rooms where Scientologists can test their abilities.
There is even a special VIP audit room reserved for rich donors and the religion's highly-prized celebrity devotees.

The building, which has been described as 'Mediterranean revival-style', also boasts a bookstore and a library as well as hundreds of course and study rooms.

It has a total of 447 windows and 42 bathrooms, plus a 1,140-seat dining room and two kitchens.

There is a bridge conveniently connecting the building to the Scientology-owned Fort Harrison Hotel on the other side of the street.



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... human.html

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Re: Scientology book author reveals church's inner workings

Postby elfismiles » Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:33 pm

Moscow Police Raid Scientology cult [Vesti 2 TV report 7-10-11] with English subtitles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DghLsLNvUL8

This is the 2nd (shorter) TV report (7th Oct 2011) on the raid of the scientology cult building in Moscow on Taganskaya Street the previous day.
See my previous video upload for the NTV report. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyI_YJeO9PY
The original Russian report is here: http://www.vesti-moscow.ru/rnews.html?id=135662&cid=15
More media, see Operation Clambake Media Reports: http://ocmb.xenu.net/ocmb/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=39468
and WhyWeProtest.Net....
http://forums.whyweprotest.net/threads/ ... reet.94519



Expose' on Scientology prison gulag in Australia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6EtSv5kcoE

Ex- Cult member exposes prison centre at Dundas for "bad" scientology members.

ABC's Lateline aired this report:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-22/e ... -head-vi...

Chris Guider was a cult member for 20 years and was part of the elite guard known as the RTC reporting directly to cult leader David Miscavige.

He reports how he spent 2 years in a prison camp at Dundas near Sydney, Australia for "not following orders" of his leader to assault a fellow cult member.




Final 'Fair Work' report in to Scientology was watered down

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

Slavery references and other bits mysteriously disappear. Scientology still has to make good on wages, though.




Today Tonight - Violent Scientologists at Jan Eastgate court appearance (2011/06/16)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_8fpw1DVVs

AAP
A senior figure in the Church of Scientology has appeared in a Sydney court accused of perverting the course of justice in 1985.

Janice Meyer, 57, was surrounded by supporters in the Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday, when her bail was varied to enable her to travel to California where she lives and has a business.

RAW VIDEO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hwr2Z5HNnDg
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Re: Scientology book author reveals church's inner workings

Postby Six Hits of Sunshine » Sun Oct 23, 2011 9:09 pm

Church Of Scientology Investigated 'South Park' Creators Matt Stone, Trey Parker: Report

Marty Rathbun, a former Church of Scientology executive-turned-critic and independent worshipper, revealed to the Village Voice a number of documents that detailed the religious sect's detailed surveillance of the Emmy-winning TV moguls. Through the help of informants, public records and various other means, they searched for "vulnerabilities" in the pair's personal lives, and after exploring their personal and business connections, widened their focus to investigating actors such as John Stamos, as well.

"Phone records. Bank records. Personal letters that expose some kind of vulnerability," Rathbun told the Voice. "They'll read stuff into the kind of alcohol you're drinking and how much. Prescriptions. They'll figure out your diet. They can find out a lot about you through your trash."

Rathbun's personal site leads with a post that includes more information, including this summary: "In ’06 the creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, became targets of Corporate Scientology’s OSA. Operations were run in an attempt to silence Parker and Stone. While Corporate Scientology was ultimately unsuccessful, left behind an instructive data trail during their efforts."


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/2 ... 27538.html
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