Seems the wheels have come off in Austin (not only….). You may recall I happened to be in Austin for the last big event they held. That one was the “Victory Grand Slam Event.” And now this. I wonder if they even knew the XGames were in Austin over the past weekend — 150,000 showed up to watch and the opening event was a mile away in front of the Texas State Capitol. 
Almost begging to ask if anyone is interested? But here is the real story. Their last massive fundraiser and “milestone announcement” (funny these milestones seem to happen at every event) was in fact a bomb. And here is the their OWN documentation to prove that AUSTIN IS RAISING NO MONEY. 
+1
My +1 was to Espiritu’s comment above regarding Scn continuing into the future.
Screw them for getting anywhere near the name “Texas Tornados” who were once and still may be (R.I.P. Sir Douglas, Freddy) the world’s greatest Tex-Mex band.
May you continue to suck, Scientology, at separating Texans from their souls and their money. Here’s to Miscavige getting a beat-down in the Lone Star State.
WhiteStar,
If you arrive late and miss the first two acts of a play, the last act might not make too much sense and you might end up missing the whole point of the artist’s work.
Just saying.
White Star wrote:
ask a minister from scientology “what is scientology?” and a MINISTER, following standard patter will in short order say “go find out for yourself”. shouldn’t this person be able to expound as one would expect a minister would?
I’m an ordained Scientology Minister with my cert still intact.
I expound plenty on the subject.
White Star, I love the point you make here. There is SO MUCH about Scientology that most Scientologists – especially those in the Church – don’t know. They know nothing of Scientology’s court history, Hubbard’s real biography, the sources for Scientology and all the people who developed the tech. They don’t even know how the tech volumes and OEC vols were written (They think Hubbard wrote them all)
And the reason they know so little is because in the Church they are treated like little mushrooms: kept in the dark and fed bullshit all their lives.
Alanzo
Well Alanzo,
You just made my day, thank you!
I can’t stop laughing about the ‘they are treated like little mushrooms: kept in the dark and fed bullshit all their lives’. There must be something to that…
Greta
I believe it’s a million dollars for that status.
cre8tivewm, in theory you just go up the OT levels until you hit the one where you have to “drop the body” (die) to continue on. This is what we were told when Hubbard died, that he died voluntarily in order to pursue levels unobtainable in a body.
A few pesky details mar this pretty picture: the levels leading up past OT VIII are lost, especially the suicide one, there is good evidence that Hubbard died of a stroke and not voluntarily, and lots of OTVIIs and above die of perfectly ordinary causes just like all the rest of us. I don’t believe the tech actually promises bodily immortality anyway, though it is kind of implied, but I have never done any OT levels so can’t say from personal knowledge.
Most of this is covered in Jon Atack’s excellent “A Piece of Blue Sky” and in Marty’s book “Memoirs of a Scientology Warrior”. However I say this not to denigrate anyone’s belief system, but just to point out the salient facts because you asked.
Love that: He Who Is Singlehandedly Responsible. Good one.
I know this isn’t on the topic, but your comment made me wonder. What are elderly OT’s supposed to die of? Most older people die of cancer or chronic illness that eventually all rolls in to “old age.” If OT’s can handle all that, what ends their life?
cre8tivewm, the answer is that a person doesn’t die when their body dies. One just keeps going on and on. Of course I can’t prove that to you, but you will find out for yourself eventually one way or another. Same is true for those who have done Scientology OT levels. They don’t die. Just their bodies do. Their bodies die of the same things that other people’s bodies die of. For a spiritual being, there is no death. We are all spiritual beings. Of course I can’t prove that to you either, but in my experience that is the truth of the matter.
At least Davey can be completely honest about Scientology having no business in Texas. Just big empty buildings.
I’ll just say again. So sad. When I trained there in the 70’s it was hustle bustle.
Scientology had two things working against it. Change and the inability to adapt as Espiando points out and it COULD have done that if it weren’t for the second things working against it, a really bad leader. If he was going to change the bridge as he has done, he could have done it in a positive direction. Treat SO members like gold with decent pay, working conditions etc and treat it’s parishioners (the customer!) like gold and TRULY just handle the guy in front of you. I could have been easily handled but instead declared with my family torn apart. And all Dave had to say was this was what LRH intended. Oh wait! That is what Dave said. Oops Dave! If you were going to lie, lie in the direction of good. Oh but Oops. You’re a sociopath; so your idea of good is well… Backwards.
So OSA if you want to really help your boss try to guide him in the direction of good. Imagine what would happen: revocation of all SP declares; abolishment of disconnection; treat staff and public like gold.
Well, shit! Wait! That would shut down all the blogs of people DM hates.
Never mind. They are my friends.
Don’t tell him anything OSA. Just keep doing what you’re doing. It’ll be over soon and then you can go get a decent night’s sleep.
Do not compare what these people are doing to Diantecs and Scientology.
They are insulting you.
Whenever the location of Ideal Org buildings come up, one of the arguments that always seems to appear is “There’s no foot traffic.” I’ve always asserted that in 2014, foot traffic, body routing, and the OCA are irrelevant. Austin Org is proof positive of my view. Its location should be perfect for foot traffic and body routing. At one time, they might have been. But times have changed. Everyone out there is wired. They’re never very far from a Google search, whether it be on their phones or an Internet cafe. No one these days is going to be body-routed into an org before checking things out on the Net. Mike criticizes the FART Div 6 screens in orgs today; why have a living, breathing Div 6 when no one’s coming in to listen to them?
It’s just another example of the ossification of Scientology due to a science-fiction writer who couldn’t anticipate the future. Scientology failed on the Net because books make booms, not websites. Ron said so, so it must be true. That led to the money grab of the library campaigns, which didn’t bring anyone in because the libraries simply didn’t want the books and threw them away. Now they’re belatedly going after television and radio audiences in the age of commercial-skipping recording devices and commercial-free satellite radio. Scientology’s technical progress stopped dead in the early 1980s (and it’s no coincidence that’s when the current junta took over). The world has moved on. Their use of telexes in the age of PGP-encrypted e-mails is a joke to us never-ins.
Scientology these days reminds me of the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages: its power depended on a static world, where everyone knew their place and function, and those could never change. That’s why it went so hard after every bit of social change and technological advancement for centuries, up to the point of executing people who wouldn’t go along with the program (from gays to proto-scientists to “bitter disgruntled apostates”). RCS, though, doesn’t have the kind of power to stop the march of progress. Their extinction is imminent, and all because they were prevented from learning the first rule of survival: adapt or die.
Dear Mr. Miscarriage.
Thank you for completely destroying the hopes and dreams of Mankind.
VWD, and a fairly thorough job, I might add.
I can now concentrate on getting the tech in on myself and my dynamics.
May Death visit upon you, the same grace and compassion he has shown upon your many victims.
WhiteStar, I’ve never thought about it this way before, so thank you for stimulating a bit of contemplation.
I have a couple of thoughts. One is that Scientology is probably not unique among religions in being difficult to define or describe succinctly. Consider Taoism, by comparison. It’s probably easier to answer a question like “What is Taoism?” or “What do Taoists believe?” if one is *not* a member of that religion. We can say, for example, that Taoism is a system of understanding based on the principle of living in harmony with the Tao (which roughly means “path” or “way”) as set forth in the writings of Lao Tzu and in many centuries of subsequent thought and commentary. We might add, if pressed, that these teachings generally have to do with living in balance with nature, with oneself, and with other people. But beyond that, it gets hard to pin down, and we run into the problem that, according to Tao doctrine itself, “The Way that can be told is not the holy Way.”
So with Scientology we could answer in a similar manner. Scientology, we might say, is a system of understanding based on the teachings and writings of L. Ron Hubbard. These teachings include the belief that a human being is not limited by the physical universe (“matter, energy, space and time”) but is immortal and capable of living in many bodies over infinite reaches of time. Beyond that, it’s hard to pin down, and we run into the doctrine that “verbal tech” — i.e. discussing the teachings of the church outside the prescribed techniques of instruction — is itself a violation of Scientology doctrine. (One might say, “The tech that can be told is not true tech.”)
You raise the point that Scientologists cannot know the *whole* answer to “What is Scientology” unless they’ve gone all the way up the bridge to OT VIII. In that respect, Scientology is probably structured more like an esoteric, initiatory organization (say, the Order of the Golden Dawn, or Freemasonry) than a more traditional religion. There is a sequence of levels or degrees through which, by design, the seeker of knowledge must pass. And there is secrecy involved at each step. But while this is unusual and may seem weird, I’m not sure it invalidates the faith in question, or means that someone partway along the path cannot call him/herself a true member.
As a practical matter, how many members of *any* religion have actually learned all the teachings of their faith? In most cases it’s not an issue of secrecy but of something more mundane, like time or motivation. Most people, I would suppose, reach a point where they feel they know enough to be going on with, or they’ve gotten what they were looking for, or maybe they’ve got more pressing things to think about. But they’d still have no problem describing themselves as Methodists or Hindus or Druids or what have you, even if they can’t answer all one’s questions about the faith.
Obviously I’m not speaking for Scientology, especially in its RCS guise. I think it’s quite interesting, though, to consider the ways it does and doesn’t resemble other systems of belief. I’m curious, too, whether some parts of Hubbard’s teaching will persist or evolve through some independent practitioners along the lines that Marty Rathbun used to write about — a Scientology Reformation, as he called it. There’s so much out there in all those lectures and books and policy letters and whatnot, vastly more than the rather minimal content of the OT levels. Many people have found good, useful stuff in there. It must be extremely disheartening to see it all being sucked into the vortex of Miscavige’s imploding criminal empire.
I was thinking about this too Richard. Great thorough comment. I also wanted to say it’s quite different to read about something than it is to do it, especially when applying it to yourself is going to produce some change. An imperfect analogy might be studying surgery, reading about all the various things that can occur. Your first actual surgery would be a lot different than the book, blood is pumping! You might want to start with some stiches before you start on the brain. Auditing comes alive when it is applied to someone at the right time, you are engaged and participating in the potential results. It’s easy to make fun of things that one has no personal relationship with. I’ve always been amazed at the complexity of Hinduism, with all it’s god’s, beautiful stories, ghosts and spirits. To Hindus, this is all perfectly normal. The Scn philosophy has never seemed that unusual to me.
Very thoughtful post, Richard Grant. My opinion as to the survival of the subject of Scientology is that it’s going to survive simply because, as you said, there is so much stuff in it that people have found to be good and useful. It is out there out there and people will always connect with these things because there is so much there that is universal Truth. People will apply these truths in their lives more and more as time goes by. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: No matter what Miscavige or anyone else does …..it’s going to be alright.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8vtfv_beatles-revolution-live-david-frost_music
WhiteStar,
Your logic is pretty dam good and actually points out to the caricaturesque nature of Scientology.
That lunacy is going away as all of the information is becoming available, and there is an ongoing public discussion of every aspect of Scientology, eventually the whole thing will change.
I find your viewpoint refreshingly funny. Thanks
That means that the Santa Barbara wave runners could not have even purchased a decent surfboard this week.
I give thanks to all everywhere that I am not a part of this spiral of madness anymore.
Thanks for the info
This was a reply to cre8tivewm’s comment.
There’s a new scale for this. It now depends on your race. Hispanic Silver New Civilization Builder is $75K, but Caucasian Silver New Civilization Builder is $100K and Jewish is $150K. African American is also $75K but Black African Silver New Civilization Builder is $25K (big discount for these 3rd-worlders). Arab Silver New Civilization Builder can go as high as $500K but varies depending on other factors.
Mike, aren’t you following Mosey’s case in Texas? David Miscavige has NO contacts with Texas. None whatsoever. He doesn’t want to be deposed by Ray Jeffrey (who was already won 2 cases against him).
We do know the last act–you go back to the beginning! 😉
Living in the Austin area I know that it was around ten years ago when they started raising money for the Ideal Org. They’re still not even half-way to the target yet, and the target approximately doubled too. I think at first they needed four million, now the goal is eight or ten million last I heard.
As someone said earlier two of their biggest whales died last year. Bruce and Pam Patterson. Both died within a few months of each other from chronic illnesses. One was OT7, while the other was OT8. So going up the Bridge didn’t handle shit. Suprise surprise.
I’m sure the bulk of their estate including the construction company was left to their daughter. We’ll see if she’s as generous as Mama and Daddy. Although they may have left her a bunch of debt. Oh, and they were actually divorced btw. It was a “strategic divorce” from what I understand, for financial reasons.
Another big whale, Jerry Boswell, moved to Dallas. I don’t know if he still gives to the Austin Org or not. He never was very active with this Org anyway. He did his services elsewhere, mostly in LA. He’s also the Prez of CCHR Texas and got the Freedumb Medal Award in 2000, or there-a-bouts.
The local Austin Scilons are the epitome of insouciant. I know their stats are essentially crashed. Not enough new blood is coming in to even register on a graph. Yet not one of them that I personally know seems worried about it at all. In fact they’re just as pumped as ever. Amazing. The koolaide is indeed very intoxicating.
Hey I live in Austin and we love this city. The promo that was created for their event shows covered wagons being pulled by horses or burros. Austin isn’t like that! There is more information technology here in Austin than there is in almost any major city in America. Big companies like Dell, Samsung, Apple, and many more all make their home here in the Austin area. The University of Texas (Hook em Horns) is right across the street from the Austin Org and the students don’t want to have anything to do with Scientology or Dianetics. The Austin Org is empty and will remain empty trying to promote their bullshit to the citizens in Austin, TX.
Dean, I noticed this outpoint, too. Not a well-surveyed image or slogan for Austin. Whoever designed that poster is not, I suspect, a Texan at all.
scientology first tells you they can help you with your life and then they tell you this lifetime doesn’t matter.
these people make an enormous bet on their lives………..
Mike can you give some guidance on how much of the upper OT levels can be referenced here.
personally i don’t think any doctrine should be kept secret from their members if that group is truly a region.
and that brings to mind a big pet peeve i have with “scientologists”.
unless you’ve reached OT8 you actually don’t know what your own church believes. period, fact, no way around that.
they’ll say to someone “you don’t know what scientology is”, while in fact it is they that does not know what scientology is and…………they know it!
they know there are higher levels they haven’t reached and they know they don’t know what’s on those levels.
every time a scientolgist smirks and rolls their eyes at the word that set tommy davis off is evidence they don’t fully know about the thing they insist is the truth.
they not only advocate for, but bet their lives on something they know they don’t know the full extent of.
if you haven’t got to the top how can you tell people they don’t know scientology when neither do you?
and that’s why whenever a scientologist is asked “what is scientology?” they can’t answer, they don’t know what to say except “find out for yourself” , go read a book or watch a video.
because how can they talk about what they don’t know?
you can’t have an informed discussion about scientology with a scientologist because they know enough about the subject, they don’t know what you are talking about.
i can’t talk to a clear about scientology’s doctrine, it’s not possible, right? they would think i was talking about a different subject.
even if you had big wins, fine, ok, but still you don’t know what lies ahead, how can you go tell people THAT is the truth? because when you are telling people scientology is the truth, that statement includes ALL of scientology, all the parts you don’t know about.
no doubt you have rational to explain away why it’s kept from members and how you can know it is the truth even though you don’t know what it is. like “it’s highly personal…..etc.”, but you know it’s all patter.
all you’re doing is accepting rational rather than reason.
ask a minister from scientology “what is scientology?” and a MINISTER, following standard patter will in short order say “go find out for yourself”. shouldn’t this person be able to expound as one would expect a minister would?
if you say you know scientology the subject then you should at least know scientology the subject.
and if you don’t know what’s on OT8 then you just don’t know.
it’s like not knowing the last act of a play.
even though you know the first two acts, anything can happen in the last act, you just don’t know.
believe what you want to believe, that’s fine, but jeez get it straight.
Oh well, back on the trail to California, or Bust!
I can’t remember where I saw the list of statuses. How much does a silver new civilization builder have to give?
If you take away bonus points the stats are worse: Valley 10 and Mt View 23. Salt Lake is way ahead at 333.
I don’t understand why Tommy Davis and Jessica Fishface aren’t contributing to such a milestone event. You would think they weren’t good scientologists anymore.
Excellent observation. Certainly Jessica’s deceased father is still being promoted as a copper rod humanitarian or whatever they are called (see Sunday Funnies) — so how come Tommy and Jessica don’t trade in the BMW and Range Rover and take out a mortgage on their $2 million house and ante up for the most important strategy in the universe.
That’s a big flunk.
This morning, I googled Scientology Austin. For the first time, I noticed that there is only one c of s in Austin.
That means that the West Austin mission is no longer there. Not that there was ever much to this mission.
I called the org and they confirmed that the mission holder and his wife are still “on lines”, however the mission is closed.
As far as Austin taking in money, last year two of their whales died. One of these people was the lead fund raiser. Coincidently she died within a year of attending a special briefing by the great one himself.
What did LRH say about weak and failing people around sp’s? Everyone else in Austin is sucked dry.
What did LRH say, hahaha. What did P. T. Barnum say about how often suckers are born? And what would Scooby say about Scientology in Austin?….Rah Roh.
Good to see that Albuquerque is in a dead heat tie with Austin and the other aught naughts. I’m so proud of their “nothingness”. 😀
Albuquerque is a pale little org, looking more like a mission, in what looks like an old shoe store of about 1200 square feet in a weary old part of town. It’s peak in the early 90s had it in 15,000 square feet of executive office space in the “upstat” heights. An army of SPs must have invaded to bring it so low. Or just one big one.
I know it’s been said before, but I can’t get over this: it’s blind stupidity to pay a fee for the privilege of being harassed for more money.
The bonus point is so inflated.
What does a point designate? One dollar? One hundred dollars? One thousand? I love how Scientology invalidates and nullifies the Org’s very covertly in their own promo. Nice.
1 point = $1000
Looks like the He Who is Singlehandedly Responsible will need to mobilize Quinn and the RTC Mercenaries to try and get a pulse out of 6,7,8 and 9.