Somehow this message doesn't seem to have much impact on the world of scientologists. How bizarre is this posting on Facebook? A non-Sea Org member is trying to find someone to "replace" the prospective SO member as an attendant at a car impound lot, earning $535/week. In the real world, you give your notice and leave. In the scientology world (the only place where you are required to find a "replacement") you would think they would be all in support of someone joining the Sea Org in order to being freedom to the people's of earth. Apparently not. He can't just leave! … [Read more...]
Sea Org “Family Banquet” Today
Another new wrinkle in the scientology world generated by outside pressure. It is a PR exercise of course, and will be of no comfort to the broken families around the world who have members who have been declared. But it is an indication that scientology is feeling the heat about breaking up families and Sea Org members who are unable to take any time to visit with their relatives over this holiday season. Of course, they will also use it as a way of making money and recruiting (hence the "special presentation") but I have never seen anything like this before (though the … [Read more...]
Visa Problems for Scientology: Less Human Trafficking as a Result?
This recent article appears to spell trouble for scientology's Sea Org recruitment efforts. For decades, scientology has exploited the immigration laws to bring foreigners into the country under the guise of them being "religious workers." In fact, the vast majority of those so brought in ended up doing menial jobs (housekeepers, gardeners, filers etc etc) that are NOT what this sort of visa is for. It has been a tremendously valuable "hook" to get people from Eastern Europe and Central and South America -- offering them a visa to get into the United States. It is a pretty attractive … [Read more...]
Leah & Mike Talk to Rosemary
After the earlier interviews Claire and I did with Mike Brown, his mother, Rosemary reached out and asked to talk to Leah and me. Hearing her experiences first-hand adds to the outrage of these abuses. Here is a copy of Rosemary's letter to David Miscavige Miscavige & Tom Cruise … [Read more...]
How Many Sea Org Members Are There?
According to the good people at AOSHUK, there 6,800 Sea Org members on earth. This is of course a high number -- every number scientology proffers is inflated. It is just how things are done. But let us take their hype figures at face value. Even they admit that every SO member is going to be responsible for clearing more than 1 million people. ONE MILLION. They have not cleared 100,000 people with ALL Sea Org members and all staff in 73 YEARS. They are so far in left field they are not even in the same country, let alone the stadium. If we give them the benefit of the … [Read more...]
Flag Christmas J&D Sing Along
Christi Gordon sent me copies of these pages which were created at Flag, Christmas 1976. They are the lyrics for a musical performance that was part of the annual Bosun's party (I wrote about the infamous first Bosun's Party at Flag in 1975 in my book). The lyrics would be considered horrendous "J&D" now -- Hubbard had not yet invented that term which was announced in his Bulletin Jokers and Degraders in February 1977 (maybe he got a report about this performance?). Some of the notable lines: No need to panic, it's just another bomb threat The citizens of Clearwater … [Read more...]
Orders of Magnitude
What is so sad about this is that they take themselves seriously. What is the correct estimation of effort to get the job done? The "job" they are referring to is attaining a "Cleared Planet." It's what every scientologist has in their mind as the ultimate objective of their efforts. "Correct estimation of effort" and "Orders of Magnitude" are Hubbard catchphrases that scientologists use routinely. In simple terms, this briefing is purportedly going to explain what they really need to have and do to Clear the Planet. Of course, it would be a momentous thing if anyone in scientology … [Read more...]
Want to be a Sea Org Parent?
Thanks to Christi Gordon for uncovering some new documents that have not seen the light of day before. This one is a fascinating glimpse into the mindset of the Sea Org with respect to children. The basic gist of this issue from 1982 is this. Sea Org members are supposed to produce 5X what it costs to retain them Babies produce no monetary exchange to the Sea Org Babies cost the Sea Org at least $3000 a year To be able to keep a child in the Sea Org you have to prove that you are providing more than adequate exchange for yourself AND for your child(ren) otherwise you are not … [Read more...]
How Many Sea Org Members Are There?
This promotional item claims there are 6,600 Sea Org members. That is the absolute best case scenario -- any figures ever put out by scientology are exaggerated, if not completely made up. It's probably a thousand or more less than that, but we will take them at their word. 1,200,000 people for each SO member to clear is a pretty tall order. Especially as in the entire history of scientology, they have not yet cleared 10% of that number. Yes, in 70 years they aren't even close to 120,000 clears. They continue to hover around half that number. There were this many SO members in … [Read more...]
Neil Sarfati Hits the Big Time
My old friend from the Apollo, Neil Sarfati alerted me yesterday that he had finally "made the big time." He didn't mean he had a new number one album of his sax playing, he was referring to becoming a target of the STAND League haters. It's familiar stuff from STAND buffoon Martin Landon. First, if you have not do so, you should listen to the interview Neil did with the BBC Outlook program. I link to it below. It is very even-handed, mild-mannered and rather gentle on L. Ron Hubbard and life in the Sea Org back in the days of the Apollo. But because Neil is a no longer a cult … [Read more...]