Israel Calls Scientology A Cult And A Medical, Moral and Social Threat
Are there any countries left besides the United States who haven’t declared Scientology to be a powerful, sinister and dangerous cult? So far, most of the Western World has identified this organization as a threat to the very fabric of society.
When will we wake up? When will we see beyond the glamorous veneer which people like Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Kirstie Alley try to present as a “religion,” allowing THEIR money, THEIR power, THEIR influence to ruin people’s lives? These celebrities are coddled, and pampered by the Church, in the same way society pampers and coddles celebs. Anyone who knowingly shills for this organization should be investigated and held accountable for the crimes committed and should be punished and put in jail. We willingly allow these untrained, witless figures to tell us what medical treatment we should or shouldn’t have, when their entire faith was built around the delusional paranoia of a hack writer who died while hopped up on anti-psychotic meds. That is some rich delicious irony there my friends.
I read a story last night from a VERY credible witness to the atrocities of David Miscavige and it spoke to the depths of his depravity and callousness. According to this ex-Scientologist, David Miscavige, leader of Scientology, used a crude version of musical chairs during a meeting at Gold Base to slowly, cruelly and viciously teach his staff a lesson in “loyalty.” 70 adult men and women gathered in a large conference room with chairs arranged in a circle while he blasted Mozart. Each participant who was eliminated, was given a one-way ticket to nowheresville, excommunicated from his position within the Church, and ostensibly from all they knew and love, including family, loved ones and colleagues, by a sick twist of timing.
As you can imagine many fights broke out, people wrestling and pushing to find a chair, husbands being separated from wives, most with no money, no home, no life beyond the Church all because David Miscavige was going to teach them a lesson. Thank goodness this man has no children.
Even in the corporate world of sharks and villains, David Miscavige would be a monster.
There are more stories, worse stories. Google Kyle Brennan. I’ll tell you about him soon. He’s dead. His father called a Scientologist instead of emergency personnel after finding his son unresponsive. In fact, he waited 45 minutes before calling authorities. Why? Hard to say, but it could be because his dad was a Scientologist and Kyle suffered from depression. Kyle’s depression medicine was not made available to him. This is all we know. The case is under investigation. Someone did something wrong, something twisted and the end result is Kyle is dead and his mother heartbroken.
Yes, I am supposed to be fair. I am supposed to be balanced. I am supposed to write with neutrality. But I am not CNN, the New York Times or any of the elite media. I have a heart, I am not beholden to some corporate sponsor telling me what is and what is NOT newsworthy. Tom Cruise can’t threaten me and I refuse to be silent.
(Editors note: A special thanks to the many members of the public for continuing to help me stay informed, I am nothing without your help. I can’t thank you by name, as you are all anonymous.)
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Uhoh, why do I get the crazy feeling Godwin’s law will soon be fulfilled in this comment section?
Comment by bob dobbs — April 7, 2008 @ 1:02 am
Miscavige =
dirtbag
but scientologist’s love his behavior.
Comment by Del — April 7, 2008 @ 1:14 am
@bob dobbs We are well past Godwin’s Law
Thanks for the info and another well written article D!
Comment by Doctor — April 7, 2008 @ 1:27 am
Bob Dobbs, Scientology was pulling Godwin’s law in the comment section of a Scientology critical news article a few months ago. I rolled my eyes as that is the last place one should be pulling that type of crap. I don’t put it past them to do it here either. heh.
Comment by Maxwell Smart — April 7, 2008 @ 2:27 am
Thanks for linking the video! Can you add the second part of it in this post as well?
Also, you can find an all-in-one higher quality version here - though it doesnt seem to work for some people: http://vimeo.com/867898
Comment by iAnonymous — April 7, 2008 @ 4:30 am
It’s a long slow process exposing Scientology. Hope you do a radio interview with Jeff Hawkins (35 year ex Scientology staff member willing to speak up freely today). He’s very articulate and lived the top ranks world and witnessed its deterioration over the decades he’s been in the movement. In hindsight, from my own 27 years on staff in the movement, I think the movement’s problems are systemic. Hubbard’s bad rules ultimately result in the pressures that Scientology staff and followers inflict on one another. A good number of significant Scientology rules need retiring, in my opinion. As a comparison, there are non official Scientologists, loosely called the freezone, who don’t use the bad Hubbard rules. The point is that the freezone Scientologists have proved that people can do Hubbard spiritual stuff and NOT do Hubbard’s dumb vicious crappy rules on one another. Official Scientology could reform. The freezone Scientologists already have reformed! Hubbard’s full repertoire of extremist rules are only applied by official Scientology. Hubbard was so prolific, he laid down layers of bad rules. Hubbard didn’t leave them the option to contest and revise his bad rules really. One has to be outside the official movement to disagree with Hubbard and be selective about NOT applying the worst in Hubbard. In my 27 years as staff in the Scientology movement, in hindsight, the people seemed mainly good, and today I see the biggest challenge is how to persuade official Scientology to reform and drop Hubbard’s worst!
The movement is a closed Catch 22 world, they are stuck on auto-pilot following dead Hubbard’s rules.
Some ex members think the whole mess stinks. I’d have to admit that the freezone splinter ex official Scientologists seem to be operating free of the controversies that official Scientology generates. And the difference is the freezone Scientologists are NOT executing the full lineup of Hubbard’s bad ideas and rules. That’s the difference. So I see as official Scientology’s future, a course in the direction that the freezone Scientologists have already taken.
Chuck Beatty, ex Scientology staffer (1975-2003) 412-260-1170, Pittsburgh, USA
Comment by Chuck Beatty — April 7, 2008 @ 5:04 am
Glosslip:”Yes, I am supposed to be fair. I am supposed to be balanced. I am supposed to write with neutrality.”
Reporting facts IS being fair. There are not always two sides to every issue (see Deborah Tannen: “The Argument Culture”). Merely reporting the positions of all parties is only an illusion of fairness.
Keep up the good work. Its OK to take a stand.
Remember Edward R. Murrow.
Comment by marcab — April 7, 2008 @ 8:33 am
Hey bob dobbs, you might be amused to hear Scientology fulfilled Godwin’s law back in 1979 when they dressed up as Nazis and marched in front of the Clearwater Sun. I’m not kidding. http://www.lisamcpherson.org/images/nazis_clearwater_79.jpg
And thank you D for yet another great piece. Neutrality in the face of evil is not something I admire. I am waiting for the mass media to pluck up as much courage as you have shown.
Comment by Godwin — April 7, 2008 @ 8:57 am
Best freakin’ blog on the net.
Comment by Mudkipz like you — April 7, 2008 @ 12:27 pm
Don’t worry, americas always late to the fight….
lol j/k before it starts a America/UK flame war
Another Great article
Comment by an0n — April 7, 2008 @ 12:31 pm
Dawn, yet again you deliver. You rock, woman.
Comment by Nameless (but not anonymous) — April 7, 2008 @ 2:32 pm
“Hey, Kettle, your black!” said the pot.
Comment by Roach — April 7, 2008 @ 2:40 pm
Keep up the pressure, deny them funds at every turn and in time, this evil organization will wither, dry up and blow away…
Comment by Jim — April 7, 2008 @ 3:13 pm
A) Your story about Miscavige is unconfirmed gossip - NOT facts. And your source for this story is a disgruntled ex-member. Check your objectivity.
B) Your statements about the whole world considering Scientology a bad thing are not based on fact. Scientology is considered a bonafide religion in at least 10 nations around the world aside from the U.S.
No Country has “banned” Scientology, not even Germany where it is most controversial.
And one person in Israel speaking against Scientology does not mean “Israel” is against it.
Take a stand, by all means, but quit twisting things to suit your position.
Sincerely,
Greg
Scientologist and proud of it
http://www.liveandgrow.org
Comment by Greg — April 7, 2008 @ 3:43 pm
I’ll bet my right arm that story about Miscavige is true. That’s not even the worse. Greg, just because you live in your insular, small world of Scientology does not mean others haven’t been abused.
The end of the Church of Scientology as you know it is coming Greg. This may be hard for you to accept, but it is the reality.
In this day and age there’s no excuse for society to idly sit by and watch a corrupt organization be allowed to ruin lives unquestioned.
Comment by D — April 7, 2008 @ 4:04 pm
[...] is a cult and a medical, moral and social threat April 7, 2008 — L. Ron Brown Glosslip, from whom I picked up the following video, writes: “Are there any countries left besides the [...]
Pingback by Israel TV: Scientology is a cult and a medical, moral and social threat « The Frame Problem — April 7, 2008 @ 4:12 pm
Greg:
Hopefully, one day you will wonder how you could ever make such statements or think the way you do. But there are people out there that can & will help you once you wake up and discover the truth. And that day will be a very tough one.
Comment by Jim — April 7, 2008 @ 4:12 pm
Greg, your argument is poopoo.
Take this for an example
Former member of the mob comes forward with insider information which may lead to the arrest of the Don.
The Don says : “There is no validity to his claims, he is just a disgruntled ex-member”
I don’t know what sort of Orwellian pit of mindscrew you live in Greg but you are pretty much stating that any person who use to belong to any organization anywhere that has come forward to stop abuses are lying. Really.
Comment by Maxwell Smart — April 7, 2008 @ 4:29 pm
How corrupt of a religion is Judaism? Should we really even care if one fake belief structure calls out another fake belief structure. I think scientology is awful, but I wish those movie stars were coming out against Israel. What a corrupt nation full of hatred and bloodshed they are. Scientologists have not caused nearly the harm of the nation of Israel. Save your false gods and thetans. Wake up!
Comment by Roach — April 7, 2008 @ 4:38 pm
Balanced and Fair??
Well that all depends. If/When you cover a news story then yes a journalistic distance is called for, that without a doubt.
But, as I am sure you are well aware, your local daily from the NYT all the way down to the paper for a town of 4,000 is a mixture of news and editorial.
It is perfectly fine for you to publish an editorial such as this, as well as the news you regularly cover.
As a publisher I think it is incumbent on you, if you publish news, to also publish analysis and opinion of that news.
You have done a brilliant job of covering this story and the injection of an op-ed piece is expected, if not welcomed, by your readers.
Your lead in:
“Are there any countries left besides the United
States who haven’t declared Scientology to be a
powerful, sinister and dangerous cult? So far, most
of the Western World has identified this
organization as a threat to the very fabric of
society.”
Intelligent and cogent, if not sometimes emotional (and it is an emotional subject on many levels so no insult intended), op-ed and analysis of questions such as the one you put forth assist the reader to better comprehend the significance of dry and terse “just the facts ma’am” news stories.
IMHO when it comes to news, just the facts, when it comes to op-ed and analysis, let it rip!
Keep up the good work and fine reporting. Sleep tight and don’t let the OSA bugs bite.
Comment by anonymous — April 7, 2008 @ 6:09 pm
Thanks Glossy.
You are courageous and
you are helping children
and others who may be
sick and helpless.
Stay the course.
Comment by LaNon — April 8, 2008 @ 12:09 am
Greg and Roach? We’ve all already read your tactics and you are proving our case. Attack not defend? Toss in a few “$cientology is awful”, BUT …
You? Are so lost and deluded. Lost little sheep. But it’s okay - all you need to do is start listening to people outside the Crime $yndicate you’ve been brainwashed into thinking is a “church”. Sad, you.
I will pray to all that is good that you see the real light and stop feeding the Misgavige Machine of Hate and Fear.
Comment by nonni — April 8, 2008 @ 7:57 am
Nonni - I agree with you completely. You take everything out of context because you are so angry. Do not ever believe that Israel saying something is wrong should help your case against it. Israel and the administration there has no idea about right and wrong. I believe in your convictions, but do not focus on Scientology. Focus on all bogus religions that steal our money, our hearts, and our minds. All organized religion is a blight on humanity. Scientology and christianity are used for one purpose - control.
Comment by Roach — April 8, 2008 @ 11:06 am
Some control is more, shall we say, “overt” than others.
Christianity has had its dark times, its ugly periods. It’s reformed and moved on; while it still wields secular clout, it is no longer the absolute authority in the Western world.
The only text you need to be a christian is a bible, and it can be obtained for free. The religious tenets and the total belief structure are available up front and immediately. If you leave christianity, you aren’t prevented from speaking to still-christian relatives. In most churches, donations are encouraged but not required; confession and counseling is always free and never recorded. There is no secret police to harass critics. If you disagree with how one church worships, you are free to look around to find another church that worships in a way that better suits your sensibilities.
Invert that ENTIRE paragraph, and you have scientology in its present form: control, greed, needless secrecy, and religious cosmology bait and switch. A modicum of “control” via suggestion and homily is far less offensive and harmful than direct control and active behavioral alteration to fit a specific mold.
“Whats true for you is true for you” right? Its a lot easier to encourage that when you make everyone think the same. Funny how the leaders of scientology stop applying that tenet the moment someone believes something critical of the CoS is true. Funny how they believe in free speech until it is speech they don’t agree with.
Only it’s not funny. It’s abusive and oppressive. And that has to change. Scientology can survive, but not if your current leadership doesn’t change its ways. The next cult bunker to be raided just might be “Gold Base” otherwise.
Comment by Anonymous — April 8, 2008 @ 11:58 am
Fascinating Chuck. Yes, there comes a time when reformation is necessary. It might be painful at first and heads will (should) roll, but once it’s over, people will be free to worship via their own choice.
This is my new favorite current events blog.
Comment by Capcom — April 8, 2008 @ 7:29 pm
If as the CO$ would have us believe there is nothing to hide and they are all above board so to speak; why do they seem so threatened by all of this coverage.
Good reporting D. I applaud your courage and all of your efforts to find the truth. Thanks for being willing to go there and look into the dark corners and shed some light.
Comment by Leslie — April 9, 2008 @ 9:39 am
Bringing down this cult has been my personal crusade since the early 1990s.
Some interesting reading, albeit not the latest news.
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/9363363/inside_scientology
http://www.time.com/time/archive/collections/0,21428,c_scientology,00.shtml
http://whyaretheydead.net/
http://www.scientomogy.com/
Comment by audit_this — April 9, 2008 @ 6:42 pm
The slow process of “exposing” Scientology is actually the becoming the process of discrediting the anti-Scientology movement once and for all.
Why aren’t you guys talking about LMT anymore? = DISCREDITED beyond reasonable doubt.
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/04/20/TampaBay/Church_s_leading_foes.shtml
Yes, new rumors come up, and they just keep getting discredited one by one. Soon, even some of you will get tired of the constant epic fail. Your “facts” from “very reliable sources” are not so reliable.
Comment by Scendy — April 10, 2008 @ 10:18 pm
Roach is a troll. He’s either trying to paint Anonymous as religious bigots by lending his support while simultaneously bashing all religions or he’s some zealous atheist trying to use Anon as his personal army…Anonymous is all faiths. Atheists, agnostics, Christians, those of the Jewish faith, the Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and yes, Scientologists. Run little roach. Run back to your hole and find your own army. The Germans, Marcabians, Psychs, Russian Mafia, and Big Pharma already have control of this one!
Scendy,
You chnaged your name but not the copyapasta. You suck. I don’t think we talk about the LMT any more becasue we never really did…we talked about Lisa, but not the trust. Get over it. There are still several thousand other allegations to debunk…those nasty convictions, on the other hand, will be hard to debunk…
Greg,
Do some research…
Places CoS has been banned (past and present):
Greece
Russia
Australia
Great Britain
Places that have proposed bans:
France
Germany
The United States of America (TX)
I’m not going to list the places where Scientology isn’t recognized as a religion.
That took very little research on my part. Confirmed from multiple credible news sources. I think there are actually more, but Terryeo told me to go outside and enjoy the springtime or something…
Oh, doo dah day, right, Terry?
Comment by Anon, Anon, My Boyfriend's Back! — April 11, 2008 @ 12:57 pm
“A) Your story about Miscavige is unconfirmed gossip - NOT facts. And your source for this story is a disgruntled ex-member. Check your objectivity.”
“Gee, Bob, I sure am happy being a Scientologist on this happy day! What do you want to do on this fine day??”
“Well, Don, I think that we should work for what our current leader, David Miscavige, stressed as one of the top priorities for all Scientologists: the global elimination of psychiatry!”
“That’s awesome, Bob! As we all know, psychiatrists are all evil, and psychiatry itself is part of a massive plan by a sinister conspiracy!”
“That’s right, Don! We all know that! … er… wait. How do we know that?”
“What do you mean, Bob?”
“Well, it just occurs to me that whenever I hear about any crimes or misdeeds being committed by anyone in the Church of Scientology, I always sneer at the person saying that such a thing has taken place. I call it ‘unconfirmed gossip’ or ‘just a rumor’. But when it comes to psychiatrists instead of Scientologists, I not only believe that any psychiatrist could do something reprehensible and criminal and evil, I automatically believe that every psychiatrist has done something reprehensible and criminal and evil! There is some psychiatrist out there, call him Psychiatrist X, about whom I know absolutely nothing — I don’t know his name, I don’t know his town, I don’t know his politics or his religion or his race or or his orientation or his philosophy — how can I possibly pretend that I know this person to be evil??”
“Hang on, Bob, just want to finish up this Knowledge Report and I’ll be right with you — do you spell ‘treasonous’ with an ‘n-u-s’ at the end?”
“No, ‘n-o-u-s’.”
“Ahhh, many thanks, Bob. Well, Bob, it seems like you’re starting to question things for yourself, and show some freedom of thought. This is, of course, one of the rights that you were promised as a Scientologist.”
“Which is good, Don, right?”
“No, Bob, I’m afraid it’s very bad. You see, no one but an out-ethics Commiesymp doubleplusungood traitor would actually choose to exercise that right.”
“But isn’t it hypocritical for me to insult others for not questioning their sources when I’m not –”
“You don’t need to question. You don’t need to think for yourself. Who do you think you are, trying to think your way to the truth? The Church will issue you the truth, Bob. The truth is whatever the Church of Scientology issues you to think. Now I think it’s time you had a good old-fashioned gang-bang sec-check; several consecutive hours of coercive interrogation ought to turn up whether you hold any other Suppressive opinions. Goodbye!”
Comment by AF — April 11, 2008 @ 11:02 pm
[...] response to the release of this video, Dawn of GlossLip wrote: “Are there any countries left besides the United States who haven’t declared Scientology [...]
Pingback by CarnivUL of The fraudless: exposing the CULT « The Frame Problem — April 29, 2008 @ 5:35 pm