A lesson from the rewritten history of the Church of Scientology. Truly a blast from the past and a sort of time capsule into how things were 25 years ago before the Vulture Culture became the order of the day.
People talk about the “good old days.” Others sometimes comment that there were no “good old days” because everything was always bad because everything sprang from the evil mind of L. Ron Hubbard. Well, this makes for interesting reading, as it is evidence that at least one thing about the church really HAS changed dramatically, and it is not because of what LRH wrote. Back in the 70’s and 80’s there may have been heavy regging — but it was exclusively for services. And that IS a different kettle of fish from today’s stinking carcass.
In today’s Vulture Culture, regging for donations, or “fundraising” as it has now been renamed, is the order of the day and nobody gives it a second thought. In fact, it is the first thought of all dedicated bubbledwellers. They are hailed or hated depending on their fundraising. They became “internationally famous celebrities” based on their ability to squeeze donations.
And even though the policies mentioned in this issue still exist — they are ignored. The justification for Ideal Org begging is that someone dug up an old plaque that acknowledges people for making the Fitzroy St building in London possible in the 1950’s. It doesnt SAY they donated money, or did anything other than attend course there or help move in, it merely acknowledges them for making it possible. But it has been twisted to “prove” that “fundraising for buildings” is part and parcel of “real” Scientology, notwithstanding the clear policy all written AFTER the Fitzroy St building had long been replaced. (No justification at all for the IAS, but nobody in the bubble would dare even think of this, let alone mention it).
When you read this issue, it is clear there was a very different attitude about the purpose and action of corporate scientology back in those “good old days.”
And there were even people on post in the upper echelons of the church — even in the International Executive Strata, all of whom vanished into the Hole 10 years ago, never to be seen again.
The policy has not changed, only the intention. “Command Intention” trumps all in today’s bubble.
Can you imagine anyone issuing something like this today? They would be SP Declared. Literally. Oh my, how things have changed.
UPDATE:
Someone just sent me a new email they received in the last couple of days using that plaque — here it is. I have gotten quite a bit of information about Birmingham from Special Correspondents in the UK and I will be putting together a posting about this subject shortly.
This latest garbage has a new twist — Fitzroy St is now the first “Ideal Org” OMG. And if that is true, then the current org in Birmingham is WAY beyond an “ideal org” — because Fitzroy St is TINY and it didnt even have any fancy furniture and no FART Div 6!
Anyone remember the Safe Environment Fund (SEF)? It was created and used to solicit funds to pay for the legal defense of Mary Sue and the others charged with infiltrating the US Govt. It was the first time I ever saw staff pressured to reg FSO public for donations for something other than training or auditing services. It was the first fundraising activity we were ever ordered to engage in. Years later it seems to have become the IAS.
Yes, I remember it well. And it was ordered SMASHED by LRH. Literally, he was incensed about it when he heard. That was way before the formation of the IAS, which he knew nothing about (though if he had known about it it would have been presented as a way of protecting money from the IRS which IS what it was originally intended to do — not be a FUNDRAISING activity)
Mike wrote:
Yes, I remember it well. And it was ordered SMASHED by LRH. Literally, he was incensed about it when he heard.
Could it have been SMASHED by LRH because it was blatant inurement, and he was already in a lot of trouble – basically a hair’s width of going to prison himself – and this legally stupid move by his loyal and devoted mushrooms would have been exactly what the Feds needed to prove their case of inurement against him?
I wasn’t there. You were.
I’m just asking if this might be a possible explanation for what you observed at that time.
Alanzo
No, none of that money was going to him. It was being sent to the lawyers representing the DC 9 defendants. He considered it was “preying on org public.” There is a LOT of stuff that happened around that time that I have written about. He called it “ConEvil” standing for confront of evil and it resulted in the formation of WISE to keep businesses and parasites “off the backs of orgs”. It also resulted in all GO publications (and anyone elses, including Ruth Minshull) being taken out of org bookstores. There is much that has been written about this time by me and others. It was positioned as cleaning up the parasites who had inserted themselves over org lines, and a lot of them had “GO connections”. It was the bloodletting these preceded the Mission Holder Massacre.
Fascinating, Mike.
You will find yourself having to repeat yourself. But you have a lot of valuable information as a first hand participant in a lot of the things that were hidden to outsiders, and even to public and other staff.
Your first hand information is vital to get out to people so that they have the data necessary to make informed decisions about Scientology.
Thanks.
Alanzo
I don’t get what all the bleating here is about LRH having a few millions as if it was some sort of criminal act? So what? Did he not write the books and courses and processes that sold round the world for many many more millions than he made? Does he not have a right to this or should he have donated it all to the Orgs or charity or something, the bulk of which of he did (let Orgs have) I believe. Seems we owed and owe him far more than he (supposedly) took off the top even at 50 mill? He had a product and people bought it hand over fist! Cheap at half the price (then)! What he created was actually priceless. Now of course it is being sold down the river, which is another matter.
+1!
I surely hope you are jesting!
LRH claimed his movement was a ‘religion’, and for the benefit of mankind. It wasn’t supposed to be a ‘business’ he was running… and yet, he’s benefitted financially. Not to mention he spent great efforts to get his organization tax-exempt… so again, he can benefit some more. The man was bankrupt when he tried the legitimate business route… but the ‘religion’ route seemed to work, worth MILLIONS at the time of his death working $cientology – didn’t inure himself illegally – are you serious?
The writing is on the wall for everyone to see. Whether he made himself rich ‘selling’ goods and services disguised as a religion, or Makemerich makes himself rich soliciting pure cash donations for no exchange disguised as a religious charity is irrelevant – they are both just working the scams the best way for their personal benefit. LRonny was smarter – he was working for the long con, Makemerich is going for greatest, quickest personal gain with little regard for the future – but either way, their cons are related and equally disgusting.
Enthralled — through history this is the pattern of religions. Look at the Catholic church.
Mike wrote –
Enthralled — through history this is the pattern of religions. Look at the Catholic church.
Did you get involved in Scientology, and sacrifice all that you have sacrificed for it, so that one day you could say this in its defense?
I got involved in Scientology by LRH telling me that Scientology was different from the abuses of the Catholic Church, and the abusive patterns of other religions throughout history.
If you are now justifying LRH’s lust for money and power using the Catholic Church as your standard, then haven’t you already lost?
I’m not attacking you here. I’m pointing out to you the justifications for LRH’s behavior that you are using.
Please examine these justifications you are using and compare them to the standards LRH used to recruit us into Scientology.
Alanzo
If you take this as a justification Alanzo, I don’t know how to respond. You are trying to find something that isnt there. Reread what I said. I don’t have any clarification. It was a comment about history, not a justification for anything. This is nothing new.
Mike wrote:
If you take this as a justification Alanzo, I don’t know how to respond. You are trying to find something that isnt there. Reread what I said. I don’t have any clarification. It was a comment about history, not a justification for anything. This is nothing new.
All right, Mike.
You were just strolling through the comments section of your blog making off-hand comments to some of the participants here. It was meant as a scholarly comment about religious history, nothing more.
It wasn’t made as a defense to what Enthralled Observer said about Hubbard or anything like that.
All right.
What other scholarly comments about religious history have you made about Hubbard’s greed?
Alanzo (:>)
I think whether L Ron Hubbard was secretly funneling money into trust accounts, Swiss Bank Accounts etc would be answered if Scientology or L Ron Hubbard ever showed its financial statements to the members? When I was in – there was no transparency.
When I left – I got involved with Non-Profits that show every dime they spend and what staff are paid. I was shocked but that is NORMAL in the Wog World. I also have been to Catholic Services with friends and each week – the Church publishes how much money they took in the prior week and what it was spent on. Another Church I was involved with has their financial statements on their website. They take in $7,000,000 and have 90 staff members. Average pay was $35,000 per year for each staff member. There were about 20 volunteers that did not get paid. EVERYTHING is transparent!
Why didn’t Hubbard or Miscavige show the books?
What is the policy on that or is there no policy?
If there is no policy on transparency, I believe the entire Organization has been a scam from the beginning. Miscavige was able to continue the scam and here is what we have today – A Criminal Cult hiding behind the Religious Cloak.
Honest Non-Profits, especially “Churches”, show their books, in my opinion!
Every Class V org needs to receive a copy of this. Talk about a wake-up call!
Datum of comparable magnitude?
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-07-02/a-money-smuggling-scandal-threatens-to-sink-the-vatican-bank
Mike,
They need to amend the policy stated on their shitty little plaque:
“Become an Ideal Org Honour Roll Member and get your name on the plaque” so it at least is true.
The above statement is factually a lie. Yes, yet another lie in the long list of continual lies form a useless cult.
It needs to be amended to include the following caveats;
1)Unless we don’t like you or suspect you might become disaffected at some future time.
2)Unless your spouse might be declared an SP sometime in the future.
The facts of the matter are that my then wife and I donated over $70,000.00 to the Sacramento Ideal Org which opened around the fall/winter of 2011 (need to verify exact date of opening). Neither my nor my wifes name was/is on the plaque. I was later declared an SP, (7 Feb 2013 is the date on the declare letterhead according to what I was told at the time). So even though I was not included on the plaque, my ex-wife, who remained in good standing and supportive of that shittty lying two faced group of back biting cheating and stealing CICSMFAH, the Ideal Org could not find it within their reality to even acknowledge her for the efforts she made to help create their Ideal Org.
Sorry about the rant……sometimes I suffer from Tourette’s Syndrome but is only seems to pop up when I think about $camology!
Over and out!
Scientology may have been controversial and a mixed bag in earlier days but under Miscavige it has become radioactive.
Admitting to being a Scientologist has become equivalent to stating that you collect glowing night soil.
If I understand this correctly LRH said “don’t fundraise,just sell more scientology,books courses etc and promote ”
I will use myself as an example.I found out about the CO$ through a utube video on adhd,some 6 yrs ago.I posted about diet and exercise and using drugs as a last resort.I was sent a message by one Vallarr about how I should check out the CCHR and get back to him/her.
The CCHR info was laughable at best and after a bit of digging found out it was connected to the COS.
I then spent the next 6 mths looking at the COS as a whole and could find very little positive info other than their sites(early comm courses seem good but you can get the same thing elsewhere)
After seeing how they treat critics(under LRH and DM),reading the OT levels,the dirty tricks operations freakout/snow white,the lies about LRH’s history,high OT’s acting like loons,the promises about the tech and what it “can”do,disconnection.threats,lawsuits…..Icould go on for quite a while,but you get the point.
The COS has nothing to sell when its all online for free, add to that their reputation and you have no way of generating new members therefore no income.
It stands to reason that DM or whomever in charge will have to find other ways of bringing in money and fleecing those so heavily indoctrinated seems to be the answer.
You have to ask yourself what would you do in DM’s position,scientology has had 50yrs to prove itself as workable,how would you sell scientology if as is the case those high up the bridge either quit,go mad(yes TC,squirrel busters,Mrs Moxon I am looking at you)or are not at cause over MEST.Could you still promote scientology knowing LRH was wrong or would you try and do anything to KSW.
Alanzo,
I am moved by what you’ve shared today of your experiences as ED of Preoria. You truly cared about your job, your staff and your public. You knew policy, observed an outness, and applied, on the correct Scientology gradient to one’s seniors, “When in doubt, communicate”. For that you were fobbed off and eventually expelled. You applied Scientology, you played it straight. They didn’t. What a huge invalidation. I am so sorry, Alanzo. This is not pity on my part but anger and grief. I hate injustice. Thank you for the way you cared, and for your courage in being there and communicating. Shame on them..
+1 Beautifully stated Aquamarine.
“Ostentatious consumption just was not his thing.”
hubbard bought and lived in an english mansion, from there he bought three yachts and sailed the Caribbean for years with his own private navy. he had custom motorcycles, multiple residences and shot movies all day long in his own studio. and that’s just off the top of my head..
As I said to someone else — this is all a matter of subjective opinion. If you had ever been on the Apollo or Enchanter or Avon River I doubt you would have called them “yachts” and the only motorcycle had was a Harley Davidson that was given to him by Toronto Scientologists (until he crashed it, he didnt ride motorcycles after that). Not sure what multiple residences you refer to. If you had ever visited the Date Packing Plant (studio where he shot films) that didnt even have air conditioning (used “evaps”) in La Quinta (his own private “studio”) I think you would have a different view. But what I say about this isn’t going to mean anything to you. The only reason I bother is that I HAVE seen these things, and there are not a lot of people who can say that.
Hey Mike,
Thanks for posting this.
Never read this ED before ’cause back then I was a lowly techy and if it wasn’t red on white I didn’t read it.
Anyway.
My only comment is that while they are pushing to get Div II to *sell* services they don’t spend a lot of time discussing *delivery* of the services sold.
A lack of balance in IMHO. Something that would lead to thorny issues like RAPs because many PCs, Pre OTs and students weren’t gotten in and serviced to.
I mean it was better than it is now where all “GI” is almost exclusively brought in by “fund raising” but it was still what is called a GI push.
A push in the right place but still a push for GI only which led to problems such as me ending up with about fifteen PCs and Pre OT on my schedule and lonely Course Supervisors handling a Course Room by themselves of over a hundred students which was the Briefing Course.
In other words they could have made an effort to handle the flow but instead they eliminated most of the non-SO which I think was one the most suicidal moves Management made aside from allowing an untrained moron who was a total psychopathic lunatic run the show.
My thoughts entirely Mike.
I believe this was a result of an eval done by Jens Urskov. Directed at handling the situation of the eval. Remember, at the time he was GI Exec Int. That is all he is supposed to focus on. Services and Qual Exec Int were supposed to focus on delivery.
Thanks Mike,
Totally explains why the ED would seem somewhat one sided.
Despite that.
The why and handling are much saner the later ones to come.
“There is no route to Gross Income than via CF”
LRH.
Nuff Said
Promising “your name engraved” on Ideal Org plaque makes me wonder what they will do with the plaque as some of those names exit and post on the Internet with their full name and tell Tampa Bay Times and Tony Ortega their story ? What will happen ? Will the plaques keep getting re-done?
Great Post MR. Rinder. I was in the S.O. from 76-89 I saw the good and the bad
and now those still in are experiencing the ugly.
Mike,
A couple of points, then I’ll let it go.
I appreciate your blog and respect your viewpoint as one of the good guys trying to correct the worst of the abuses in Scientology. We’ve met, though you probably won’t remember it well.
“A point of correction that is not a matter of legal record. Orgs did not purchase books from ASI. Orgs purchased books from Pubs Orgs. Pubs Orgs paid royalties to ASI. What was purchased directly from ASI were the fraudulent “signed prints” and fake “signed books”.
From the early 80′s Hubbard received nothing directly from orgs. No percentages and no management or “consulting” fees. Only royalties. That is a matter of legal record.”
Without splitting the hair too fine, permission-to-publish-royalties via ASI for Hubbard books “purchased” by Org’s from Pubs makes the availability of those books utterly dependent upon the ASI for-profit entity.
The rest is corporate smoke and mirrors. ASI is where the right-to-publish Hubbard’s books (via a royalty agreement) emanated, regardless of who did the final distribution (Pubs, Bridge etc.)
This was a deliberately convoluted corporate structure which allowed Hubbard to simultaneously direct supposedly non-profit Org’s to stock his books, yet reap a large percentage of the sales price from a for-profit company (ASI) that he also controlled. That is a near text book definition of inurement, not because I say so, but because Federal law says so. That Miscavige was the cut-out operating this scheme does not make Hubbard innocent. This arrangement was absolutely (and deliberately) not broadly known by most Scientologist’s during Hubbard’s lifetime and is still not known by many still-in and ex-Scientologists.
The corporate structure is a fact which speaks for itself. If there was nothing of concern about the situation, why hide it and issue statements saying that Hubbard did not profit from Scientology? Scientology was impossible without Hubbard’s books and he did profit immensely from the sale of those books via Org’s.
“Ostentatious consumption just was not his [Hubbard’s] thing.”
Perhaps not on the scale that Miscavige has demonstrated, but Hubbard owned Saint Hill outright (then “sold” it to the church) drove a Jaguar while residing there (when that car was considered a luxury vehicle unaffordable by most) and bragged on tape about the several properties he purchased for cash in Rhodesia when he made that particular foray into Africa. He also often had special meals prepared for himself and his family on the Apollo from exotic foodstuffs sourced from around the world (see Arnie Lerma’s description of the covert operation at RONY etc.) while the regular staff (including you) ate lesser food. The descriptions of Hubbard’s personal camera gear also speaks of lavish expenditure, especially to those with knowledge of that field.
Hubbard was not as ostentatious as Miscavige, agreed. But he amassed a church-admitted a fortune worth more than $50 million dollars (adjusted for inflation) while operating Scientology, with no significant other source of income.
That also speaks for itself, regardless of how visibly money was spent during his lifetime.
Thanks, and I agree with what you said about ASI. It was a way of funneling money to Hubbard for royalties and orgs were forced to purchase the books upon which the royalties were paid.
Though I still disagree that his lifestyle was ostentatious. But it’s all a matter of perspective and we are now talking opinion.
I don’t know about the “covert operation” was at RONY? I do know there was food shipped in from the US to the Apollo for the Hubbard family. I was in External Comm and dealt with all of that….
Some SP declares on David Miscavige, a few.
Teflon coated Golden rods.
Mike — your responses and care in those comments is very visible. And I appreciate it. You are more patient than I am.
That said — this comment of yours, gives me pause:
“I firmly believe that you can sort good people from bad by whether they want to help people.”
In my experience I haven’t found this datum to be all that workable. Good people will help those they feel coincide with their beliefs or further their beliefs. Usually.
Or you could take apart your comment by saying HOW good and HOW much help?
In other words — putting people into categories by some yardstick might not work that well. How about the BLACK OP who helps and helps and helps — gives money to causes etc etc and then attacks … might even take years but once the attack comes there is no home, no family, no country etc etc
My experience has been there are very few people — myself included for sure — who are as ALTRUISTIC as we might want to be.
There is usually always the “what’s in it for me” piece.
Good people try to keep things in balance USUALLY but sometimes good people fall very far from their own bus and while they would LOVE to be in the category of a good person — their actions throughout their life — fall short.
Ultimately I think that we are all BASICALLY good people but that basic might be so buried that it’s probably best to get a Ruger LCP. Although I prefer to take my chances and would never entertain that right to carry.
Life is far more complicated/complex/interesting/wondrous/ineffable/ — than I have ever thought possible.
To me — it’s a question of continuously self-reflecting, checking motives (including this one), readjusting the rudder …
The good news is — It’s finally showing signs of spring in New England.
As a pro fundraiser for many years, I am absolutely stunned by the ‘vulture culture’ policies and procedures.
Over the past 20 years, The Association of Fundraising Professionals and many other professional groups have developed and adhere to ethical best practices that include not accepting percentages of funds raised (which as I understand it is standard practice among Scientology fundraisers). AFP members will not work for organizations that do this.
There is also the ten-point Donor Bill of Rights developed by AFP:
http://www.afpnet.org/ethics/enforcementDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=3359
And the AFP guidelines to the Code of Ethical Principles and Standards:
http://www.afpnet.org/files/ContentDocuments/CodeOfEthicsLong.pdf
Reading through these is like reading the exact opposite of what Scientology teaches as sound fundraising practices.
I have a question for the group here:
I wrote a High Crime Report on David Miscavige as COB in 1987, and FEDEXED his copy to him personally.
Who else has written a high crime report on David Miscavige as COB while in the Church of Scientology?
Anyone written one on him BEFORE 1987?
Or was I the first?
Alanzo
There were a bunch written in 1982.
Yeah, probably! And from Mission staff members, too, after the Mission Massacre he led for Ron!
Did you ever write a High Crime Report on David Miscavige while still in the Church, Mike?
Alanzo
Nope
I think among the most interesting are the Ethics Order #1 on Miscavige issued by the European OT Committee World Wide, and the eventual Comm Ev that was done on Miscavige. Both were signed off on by Jon Atack.
Both described Miscavige’s behavior to a “T”.
Yes, that was the difference. One can argue (successfully in many cases) that much of the tech is a sham. But back in the time period Mike is highlighting, most of senior management believed in the tech and were truly interested in helping people. This goes for people like Norman, Marc, Guillaume, Vicki, Greg, et al. They did not always follow Green on White (some of which should NOT have been followed, some which should have) but they were sincere.
Mike, Christie, Marty, Mark,Claire, Debbie. and a bunch of other declarees are some of the finest people it is my privilege to know.
“Get your name on a plaque that will be permanently displayed….” Really? The name plates must be magnets and the plaque metal- it makes it so much easier to remove the name when the person becomes one of the small group of bitter, defrocked apostates on the fringes of the Internet. Why not just put Miscavige’s name on every Ideal Org with the following statement: “It’s mine, all mine, I own everything, so keep out!”
The Mission network was great. There was a weekly message from LRH,
Services were spot on, all things were balanced.
About 1982 the bottom fell out and once prosperous Missions went by the boards.
If somebody described the Ideal Org Program to me in 1972 without mentioning Scientology I would say it was science fiction crazy shit, like Soylent Green
( sci fi movie).
Finally I woke up, way to much Kool – Aid.
25 more places to be filled on the Indie 500 list to make 500.
Not that it was the point you were getting at however to me this just shows how obsessed scientology is about money no matter what era.
Spiritual enlightenment raising a person’s consciousness as Eastern philosophies would want their adherents to find. Or becoming more spiritual in regards to God as the Western church would want for their people.While this document deals with other issues, maybe ,furthering the enlightenment of the parishioner isn’t even given a second thought which is extremely poor form.
All churches need funds in order to thrive and further their teachings. Having studied both Eastern & Western religions I find Scientology is quite pathological in it’s over zealousness of acquiring the almighty dollar throughout it’s history. Today they are just more blunt about it bordering ever closer to resembling organized crime even more so than before if that’s even possible.
I take things like this, print a page, laminate it so it’s like a giant postcard, and mail it to my favorite still-ins. At least it’s hard to tear up, and they have to look at it.
The still-ins I know are the 2nd generation kids, who have nothing else in life, and nothing else to compare this abuse to, They’re just totally conditioned to receive it. Many very damaged by joining the SO young. It’s incredibly sad.
I thinks that a difference between earlier times and current ones was that there was a group of people – public and staff working together – that had a common purpose, which may be stated as ‘help others to get better and do well in life’. That made the group fun and a bit saner.
Is like a football team, they all have the common purpose to make goals; they do work together, coordinate, have fun and also get well paid.
So was the the earlier group of Scientologists.
Now common purpose has been altered, lied, twisted by Black Heart and doesn’t parallel the original one the group had; it is only about him and for him.
Before it was a game, today is a cult dominated by greed and abuses. Not every body likes cruelty games, that is why many of us have chosen other saner and fun ways.
Nice, Silvia! You’re right, it’s changed completely for the worst. Not even a shadow of its former self.
Thank you very much for posting this, Mike.
This is very valuable, historical data.
I do remember scientology being fun at one point. I was hanging out at CCLA when Yvonne was running it. On Saturday nights we had great fun! And, even at the OC org in Tustin where I supposedly went Clear, it seemed fun.
My auditor was Dave Petitt (now CO of CCLA). I’ve always been upbeat and postive. I mean, who would want to live any other way? Well, Dave was trying to get me to attest to Clear, I think, based on my personality. But, when I looked at the Book 1 defination of Clear: “A Clear is to a normal person, what a normal person is to the instiututionally insane,” I knew I wasn’t there and would never attain something like that. That’s quite the yawning gap between homo sapian and Clear and I just didn’t feel it.
I sat down with John Woodruff, the ED. When I started to tell him I didn’t think the grades worked for me, his demeanor changed quickly. Needless to say, I left that day (’82) and never went back.
We ALL wanted to believe so bad that what Hubbard “discovered” was in fact, the truth, we turned a blind eye to all the crap that was happening.
To be honest with everyone here, I get more “gains” hiking in Iao Valley on Maui as well as hiking through Muir Woods in northern California than I ever did in scientology. Raw nature will do that to you. But, hey, that’s just me.
Offi topic: In the Underground Bunker today, they had Miscavage’s ex-tailor talking about the dwarf’s true height: 5′ 1″! Hell, I know 6th graders that would tower over him! A strong wind would blow that little fucker away!
As a never-in I’d like for you to explain what you mean by ‘fun’. How was it fun? In what way? Please describe some examples of the ‘fun’ you had.
Thanks. 🙂
technical point Mike:
At the end of the second page of the International Management Bulletin there is no 3rd page. Instead there about 10-15 blank pages and then the
Update:
I tried this on a second computer and got the same results. It’s no big deal but someone might not scroll down far enough to see the comments…
Anyway this was a great find. Congratulations.
Robert — thanks. My bad. Messed it up when I added the update. Should be fixed now…. 🙂
So, maybe this should be obvious but it’s not to me. Is Miscavige running a scam for no other reason than to line his own pockets or does he sincerely believe he’s an apostle of Hubbard and that his policies really would clear the planet if only he wasn’t surrounded by incompetents to implement them?
Both… And more.
++++++++++++
It’s Orwellian doublethink. He probably believes both at the same time, which is why he’s so crazy.
The bulletin referenced in the article was issued after the death of LRH, but is based on several LRH quotes from earlier and more senior references.
It is also true that during the good ‘ole days of LRH policy being applied, that large suitcases of cash were being hand delivered to LRH by CMO messengers (and others.) The source of that cash was the sale of LRH Scientology books and tapes by church employees through a for-profit entity (ASI at one point) so that a very large percentage of the total sales price could (theoretically at least) be legally transferred directly to LRH.
There is also the matter of the very large bale of cash, described as a pile of neatly wrapped bills stacked three feet by three feet by three feet on a pallet that belonged to LRH and was ushered between various European banks for “security reasons” during 70’s, a time when Hubbard had virtually no income whatsoever from any source except Scientology.
It is a matter of written record in a multitude of legal proceedings that the reason Scientology lost its tax exemption in the late 60’s was concern over inurement by Hubbard and his family. For the record, inurement is “the use of the income or assets of a tax-exempt organization to directly or indirectly unduly benefit an individual or other person that has a close relationship with the organization or is able to exercise significant control over…” Inurement can be considered a felony in the United States for which one can go to prison.
The inconvenient fact is that the structure of “standard finance” that Hubbard setup during his lifetime allowed a significant cut of virtually all monies in Scientology to flow directly to Hubbard. Had Hubbard not gone off to Target Two when he did, he most likely would have had to “complete his research” in federal prison as the evidence of inurement by Hubbard from the supposedly non-profit Scientology was extremely well documented. That documentation and the posse of federal agencies seeking to depose Hubbard WERE the primary reason for him hiding out in the foothills of south central southern California for the last few years of his life. He was on the lam.
Because of the IRS closing agreement in the early 90’s, Scientology in the U.S. is now considered a non-profit entity and theoretically at least, it is more difficult for Hubbard’s heir, Miscavige, to inure funds directly from church operations.
Thus voila, the IAS and Ideal Org programs which inter alia, allow Miscavige to follow in Hubbard’s footsteps and use a significant portion of seemingly legitimately generated cash to facilitate his billionaire personal lifestyle.
Scientology really hasn’t changes all that much.
It is just that now a great deal of the organization’s true history is now visible and documented.
Themoreyouknow
In 1970 I bought every Dianetics and Scientology book in print for $10 to $20 each for a total of maybe a couple $ hundred. And, I have never heard of LRH approving or condoning any sort of donation for something other than auditing or training or a $25 HASI Membership. Things have changed.
The books were cheaper in Hubbard’s day, agreed.
But even then then were expensive in comparison to books offered as scripture by other “religions.” The Tech and OEC volume sets sold for hundreds of dollars, which adjusted for inflation is not radically different than their several thousand dollar cost after Hubbard’s death (when they were still being sold aggressively by the church.)
It was however Hubbard who ordered the elaborate corporate structure that included ASI as the FOR-PROFIT entity from which virtually ALL Hubbard’s works were purchased by Org’s and then sold to individual Scientologists. This was done so that Hubbard could reap a huge percentage of the sales price.
This is a matter of legal record for which no substantive, provable counter-argument has ever been presented by any church official.
The situation is worse now, agreed.
But the effort to hide the truth of Hubbard personally profiting from the sale of his works was extensive and deliberate during his lifetime. It is now part of the undisputed public record.
A point of correction that is not a matter of legal record. Orgs did not purchase books from ASI. Orgs purchased books from Pubs Orgs. Pubs Orgs paid royalties to ASI. What was purchased directly from ASI were the fraudulent “signed prints” and fake “signed books”.
From the early 80’s Hubbard received nothing directly from orgs. No percentages and no management or “consulting” fees. Only royalties. That is a matter of legal record.
I am sure he had more than $18 million at the time of his death — hell, in the hey-day of ASI, orgs were being FORCED to “restock: to “minimum stocks” of books (huge numbers that rotted away in basements and closets til they were eventually thrown away when “new editions” came out). That was one of the all time stat-pushes in history, when Miscavige was COB ASI. That was his stat then and hundreds of thousands a week were being deposited in LRH accounts. Miscavige was bound and determined to prove that he was an “upstat” and could be trusted by “getting LRH’s income stat up.” It proved to be a very good strategy for Miscavige’s long term career objectives.
Themoreyouknow. It never ceases to amaze me how the facts dont get in the way of a good bitch session. For all the huge amounts of money LRH supposedly squirreled away for his own personal use, the fact of the matter is he lived in basically a trailer, in trailer parks for the last couple of years of his life near the command lines of Scientology ie California, not in friggin Europe or South America in a villa with no extradition laws.
Thanks for the posting Mike, its a great reference!
The church admits that Hubbard’s estate was worth $18 million when he died. This amount was not disputed by any church official in any legal proceeding. Other folks in a position to know have indicated the actual amount was quite a bit more.
In the early fifties Hubbard filed for personal bankruptcy, meaning he had no money. The only substantive thing Hubbard did between his bankruptcy and his death was Scientology. Since I have my facts wrong and you are such an expert, please explain where the $18 million that the church admits was in Hubbard’s estate came from, if not from Scientology.
The “trailer” that Hubbard lived in was a Blue Bird motor home. They sell new today for hundreds of thousands of dollars and were priced (adjusted for inflation) similarly when Hubbard paid cash for his in the 80’s. The Blue Bird was sitting on a multiacre CA property where a house was being renovated for Hubbard’s personal use while he lived in the motor home during construction. That multiacre property was purchase by Hubbard with cash. It is worth millions today and adjusted for inflation was worth a similar amount when Hubbard bought it.
The bale of Hubbard’s personal cash (three feet by three feet by three feet) being moved between European banks in the 70’s was reported by the (then) Sea Org members who counted it and moved it between the banks. It is undisputed by any church official in any legal proceeding.
It is also true that the church today is much more aggressive about regging than in previous times and that much of the regging done today is for direct cash donations without any service exchange. That situation is worse than in Hubbard’s day, but is not a contrary fact with the above details of Hubbard’s inurement from church monies during his lifetime.
I do recognize that it is difficult to confront uncomfortable information about someone you trusted. That’s part of growing up my friend. Welcome to some uncomfortable truths.
See my response to the other almost identical comment.
One thing I can tell you from personal experience. L. Ron Hubbard did not live like a very wealthy man. In 1979 he lived in a house in LaQuinta that was probably 2500sq ft. He could have lived anywhere he wanted. He drove a Dodge Dart and had a used Cadillac limo and a Jeep (I think it was an International Harvester Scout). The house on the property in Creston was modest.
His house at the Int Base was tiny. He didnt knock it down and build a mansion. Miscavige did that after he died.
Ostentatious consumption just was not his thing.
Cotch, if you knew about MAC and the rest you’d understand why R didn’t live it up and blow to a foreign country.
Cotch –
You’ve never heard of LRH’s Ranch in Creston California?
http://www.newtimesslo.com/cover/2628/l-ron-hubbards-last-refuge/
http://www.lisamcpherson.org/cos/ranch.htm
And you did not know that he died with a personal estate worth $26 million?
http://articles.latimes.com/1987-04-16/local/me-764_1_l-ron-hubbard
Some say way more than that, but it is firm LRH policy to lie about how much money you have.
You know that, right?
Alanzo
Thanks themoreyouknow,
You say a lot but don’t bother to back up your accusations with actual *dox*.
I mean with the CREST program by EO and all that you’d think that you’d be able to give us a link to NARA’s electronic reading room.
Out of the “multitude of legal proceedings” you mention there is only one revocation letter issued by IRS dated 18 July 1967 followed by a various appeals by the Church.
One recorded here:
http://openjurist.org/823/f2d/1310/church-of-scientology-of-california-v-commissioner-of-internal-revenue
In my opinion the whole effort of by IRS (contrary to Miscavige’s revisionist history who I wouldn’t consider a history scholar) was part of a multi-pronged attack by various US Government agencies covered in the following books:
http://www.freezone.de/english/timetrack/data/Hidden_Story/index.htm
http://www.freezone.de/english/timetrack/data/Playing_Dirty/
Both well *documented* with *documents* obtained through the FOIA.
Regarding these pallets of cash you mention.
Obviously you have no understanding of the zeitgeist of the times.
This was back when credit and credit cards were not so easily available and so most transactions for services were paid for in *cash*. In fact all staff back then were not paid by check but in *cash*.
Thus there was a lot of *cash* lying around most Orgs and on the Apollo in those days. *Cash* that had to deposited in various bank accounts such as RRF, HASI,CSC, Scientology Consultants, Building Fund etc.
So how were they supposed to get all this *cash* to these various accounts?
By courier of course.
Also if you’d seen a million dollars in small denominations you’d understand why in some cases it would be loaded onto pallets at WW which handled Orgs under the AGF and on the Apollo under the FBO for SO Orgs for transfer by courier to the various accounts in suitcases.
Personally I don’t know how much of this *cash* went to Ron but according to Ken Urquhart in the following article not much:
http://www.freezoneamerica.org/ivy/bluesky/
I mean at the time of his death his personal estate was only worth 40 million of something like that yet the Religious Research Foundation even back then had over a billion dollars.
http://rundbrief.org/kd0044/archiv/sc-i-r-s-ology/documents/1986-01-23will.html
In other words Ron would be a billionaire if he funneled the *money* all to himself.
Yet the money went to things like defense, improving buildings and buying new ones like the Cedars Complex which was paid for with a suitcase full of *cash*. Same with the Manor and the Fort Harrison.
All paid for in *cash*.
That doesn’t include all the buildings purchased in the early ’80’s during the Org upgrade program.
All of them paid for in *cash* from SORs.
From what?
*Services*.
None with extracurricular “fund raising” or raffles or other prizes in violation of the policy on *Contests* BTW but by selling and delivering *Scientology*.
With all due respect, most of the above does not merit a response as it’s both silly and fanatical.
Regardless of the “zeitgeist of the times,” folks who move large sums of cash in suitcases are almost always trying to hiding either the source or the destination of that cash, often times both. This has been true for most of the last century.
Electronic transfer of legitimately sourced money has been SOP in business for many, many decades and was most certainly available when Hubbard instead choose to have large sums of cash delivered personally to him in suitcases via CMO couriers. It is now a federal crime to move more than $10,000 via any method without reporting it to the IRS on Form 8300. And again with all due respect, I do in fact have a fairly intimate familiarity with these matters, your comments to the contrary.
As for the pallet of personal cash being moved around by Sea Org folks between banks in Europe at Hubbard’s direction, does that sound like the kind of thing upon which the founder of a legitimate religion should be involved? Especially when he had no other meaningful source of income except for his church activities for many decades?
The bulk of fund raising in Scientology today is completely disconnected from delivery of auditing and training services to parishioners, that is true. And that is worse than the earlier Hubbard period when there was a more direct connection between services delivered by staff in exchange for money received from public. The operation today is in a bizarre way more transparent in its brazenness because even the facade of exchange is gone.
Regardless, the historical truth is that both Hubbard and now Miscavige have had control of very, very large sums of money generated by church related activities performed by people who “volunteered” to work for peanuts and live communally in sub-standard conditions while the guy at the top had a quite comfortable existence on the backs of their virtually free labor. This is not new, it’s only worse now by a matter of degree.
“With all due respect, most of the above does not merit a response as it’s both silly and fanatical.”
Uh huh
“Regardless of the “zeitgeist of the times,” folks who move large sums of cash in suitcases are almost always trying to hiding either the source or the destination of that cash, often times both. This has been true for most of the last century.”
So you, the FBI, DEA and TD say but actually the fact is that there are many people who don’t trust the banking system Ron being one of them who would actually prefer to stash their cash in some mattress than trust it to some bank and the recent events 2008, the BCCI scandal and prior recessions and depressions.don’t tend to encourage such folks.
Also back then there was no such thing as FDIC.
True there were EBTs back then but they were also costly and unreliable.
Then of course there are your friends in the IRS that may be Dave’s ‘friends” but certainly not Ron’s.
Love what he called them:
The “Infernal Ravening Service” which pretty much applied back then. That is until a congressional committee pulled some of their teeth in the ’90’s.
Also you base his actions on a law that wasn’t extant at the time.
Really buddy you should look up what the Constitution says about applying laws retroactively and then maybe applying it to your life.
Thanks Mike and RV for jumping in on this. I guess its a matter of doing a full doubt formula on Ron and circular arguments with critics of him dont seem to get anywhere. As Margaret Lake has proved with LRHs bio on his part in the war, critics will or can not entertain the truth anyway.
Ive done my doubt formula, looked at what the critics have to say about the negative aspects, and made my decision accordingly.
Hey you’re welcome Cotch.
Many critics from what I’ve seen try to discredit or character assassinate the messenger as doing so will invalidate the technology.
A wrong target to be sure.
That said.
I personally have considered Ron a friend and I always thought it was a good thing to defend a friend.
Also I believe in the presumption of innocence and the ability of anyone charged with a crime to be allowed to defend themselves by confronting their accusers.
Funny how many of these so called “biographies” or more accurately hit pieces or hatchet were written after the Ol’man was dead or had moved on.
Unfortunately libel and slander laws do not apply to the deceased. Thus allowing various ghouls like Miller for example to desecrate the dead.
Just curious, have you actually read Miller’s biography?
I had not, but I am doing so now. I am on chapter 4 and so far I don’t find it a hit piece or hatchet job at all. I think he did some pretty amazing research into the early life of LRH and juxtaposed with the statements put out by the church at the time, he is far more accurate and believable than the hype the church was peddling. I am only up to the beginning of the pulps era and his marriage with Polly and Nibs and Katie. I find it to be quite interesting and it holds together far better than the hagiography that has been pushed by the church. And it’s really not unkind, rather than making him into some sort of miracle child who was reading “the classics” at 2 and taming wild broncs on his grandfather’s ranch and then stowing away on boats to China and wandering the far reaches of the country alone doing “sociological research” at a preposterous age, he really gives the picture of a precocious kid who was a bit of mischief and given to turning everything in his life into an adventure and a story.
I makes sense. And it squares far better with someone who’s life was a wreck at the end of the war, when he was desperate to find answers and came up with Dianetics.
I knew LRH. I sat and talked with him for hours. The most fascinating, larger-than-life person I have ever met. Without a shadow of a doubt. Brilliant. Complicated. Compassionate. Tough. Harsh even. But someone I shall always consider worthy of defending. But the defense of “everything he did and said is true” is untenable. It just is not true. He told stories about everything, including his life. He lied about things that were unflattering. Of that there is no question.
I think you should actually read the biography and see what you conclude then.
Mike,
Read much of it actually when it was first published and available at Chatterton’s Book Store on Vermont.
Problem I found with Miller was that he tends to sensationalize.
For instance his description of Babalon Working is according to John Carter author of “Sex and Rockets”:
http://feralhouse.com/sex-and-rockets/
Then there is his questionable ability as a historical scholar according to Hayden Peaks on another book of his entitled “Code Name: Tricycle”:
https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/vol49no1/html_files/bookshelf_10.html
Also Miller never bothers to find out why CIA was so interested in him. A point I take on a blog post of my own:
http://spyontology.wordpress.com/2013/07/04/hubbard-the-man-who-may-have-known-too-much/
which also includes quotes from Miller’s book and from Fletcher Prouty’s letter.
Then of course there is Margaret Lakes research on Ron’s war record which Miller obviously didn’t pursue seeming to be happy with what have been Ron’s legend instead:
http://scientologymyths.com/hubbardww2.htm
All I’m saying is by all means read Miller’s book if you wish but be aware that there may be possible inaccuracies.
Thanks. I am well aware there are potentially inaccuracies. I am certain he didnt get it all right, and I think the church hagiography (a lot of which came from LRH and began at the time of the “Source Missions” fired out from the Apollo in 1973) basically optermed him. He wanted to prove it was wrong (and it was in a lot of instances). It’s the same thing that happened with Tommy Davis and Larry Wright.
Mike,
Honestly I never believed any of those hagiographies.
They seemed over hyped to me.
At one time there was a short brief SOED that was the only officially approved “Biography” and one that was published as a PAB that was on MSH’s HQS course.
Those are the only ones I ever gave any credence to.
Especially nothing by Dan Sherman.
Personally I think if you poured water on the guy he’d sprout shoots and leaves 😉
I would have been more interested in what Fletcher Prouty would have had to say than anything by Sherman.
As far as I’m concerned he missed his calling as a romance novelist.
Cotch, you might want to read Kate Bornstein’s account of what got her declared and kicked out of the Sea Org (and Dead Agented as a child molester) – accidentally discovering LRH’s secret Swiss bank account to which Scientology monies were being diverted.
Robin — I am ending this here.
I don’t want to have to keep reading the back and forth about this which is not a topic I want to address. This will end it. If I approve you reply I can almost write the response and then your reply and then his/her response. And I don’t think it is appropriate here or anywhere to throw sexual orientation into the mix. I don’t agree with that and consider it of the ad hominem ilk.
When people start judging the character of the folks on opposite sides of the argument, it is evidence of a failed dialog.
Faith and belief will hate your guts for challenging.
Truth welcomes reasoned and unreasoned scrutiny. Because truth does not give a rats bottom about opinions of others. It is confident in itself and receives doubt openly because truth knows that truth can be upgraded with more truth. Truth does not get upset at challenge. Truth welcomes challenge because the possibility of being wrong is not offensive to truth. Because truth, not being right, is the goal.
“it takes a frighten level of bravery to use viscious and incompetent men” (paraphrase) LRH
Spin that one for me please.
Thanks Brian,
For injecting a little sanity into this discussion.
Peace bro.
LR
Probably my biggest concern in this area is the poor financial shape the “church” is quite happy to leave its parishioners. I can vaguely agree with LRH’s theory in the Book of Case Remedies where he postulates that auditing will make the pc more capable of making a dollar or two – in which case he is presumably investing in his own abilities.
But the full-court press to squeeze every dollar for new buildings, pamphlets, furniture, etc is highly criminal when it comes to folks that really cannot afford it.
My “x-best-friend” for about 50 years is a huge whale based in Clearwater. He has done a ton or regging for the IAS and has paid them a ton (at least 6M).
He is often asked to come to the org and help pound on (double team, triple team, etc) some poor sap hoping to get through his 6 month check in one piece.
Even he has gotten to the criterion, that he will not help reg someone that would be putting the dono on credit cards.
Taking Bob Duggan for 50 million when he apparently has more than a billion is one thing. But squeezing the shit out of anyone and everyone and putting them in debt over furniture is not the Scientology I joined in 1973.
Agreed. It’s immoral to bankrupt the parishioners who put their trust in the leadership of the group. They bite the hand that feeds them and whether they want to realize it or not, are dying a long, slow death that can be watched day by day.
+1
Wow, what a great response, Mike. “… you can sort good people from bad by whether they want to help people. Whether they are bitter or angry or express themselves badly or whatever, the underlying intention of someone to help gives a lot of leeway to anyone in mind.”
Yes, I certainly agree, Cindy.
It demonstrates, again, the Mike Rinder that I have never seen.
It is so good that he has a blog where everyone else can see it, too.
Alanzo
Thanks so much for publishing this Mike. I am personally a big believer that there was a “better time” in Scientology. I can still remember people saying “if it isn’t fun it isn’t Scientology”; when was the last time anyone heard that saying? There was a time when Scientology showed a friendly face and tried to help people rather than squeeze them dry. That time is long gone will I am pretty sure it will never return. But it’s good to be reminded that such a thing did exist.
There was a time, before DM re-issued the OEC vols in the early 1990’s, when there were no penalties for failure to disconnect the justice codes. ex, indy and under the radar Scientologists should try to imagine a Scientology where there is no dono regging and no penalties in the justice codes for failing to disconnect.
This is in fact one of my hobby horses. When LRH cancelled disconnection in 1968, the Scientology justice codes were revised to remove any referance to disconnection. As such, the penalties for failure to disconnection were removed. Thus even after LRH issued “PTSness and Disconnection” it had teeth but there was nothing listed specifically in the ethics codes about the subject. When DM re-released the OEC Vols in the early 1990’s he put in the Justice penalties exactly as they used to be back in 1966-1968. The ethics codes from 1968 through to 1990 were different. And funny enough, THAT was the period when Scientology experienced expansion.
Thanks for the perspective there. From my experience, I have never had problems with Scientology itself, the philosophy, the data, and the tech. All my problems have come from misapplications – and there have been many. From my intelligence, common sense, judgment, evaluation, reasoning, study, comparative study, and all … Scientology is correct and invaluable.
(If anyone would like to help me … I am trying to word-clear the word “compassion”. I have some vague sense that it means “don’t hate people because they are obviously hopelessly stupid and malicious beyond any hope of redemption,” but it doesn’t go much beyond that, and I have trouble making up sentences using the word. I don’t personally feel the word is all that important, but it is in the materials, and I am stuck at that point.)
Carcha,
There are a lot of online dictionaries but I will try to help you out.
Compassion is the sympathetic consciousness of another’s distress with a desire to alleviate it. In my own words, its the awareness of the suffering of another accompanied with the desire (wish) to lesson that suffering or take it away if possible.
Some sentences: I called my mom every day after her surgery out of compassion because she told me she always feels better when she talks to me.
I helped the disabled man who fell down in the theater stand up and get to his seat because I felt compassion for him.
Mother Teresa was famous for her compassion for the lepers in India.
I had compassion for my dog that was 18 years old and having seizures so I had her euthanized.
I hope this helps. I also agree with what you said about Scn itself not being a problem to you but it’s the misapplication of. Same here.
Regarding compassion, I do think compassion has its value and place in society and in our interpersonal relationships. We wouldn’t survive very well without it, I don’t think.
Caracha,
I forgot this one.
One last sentence: Regging people to the point of bankruptcy demonstrates a lack of compassion on the RCoS’s part.
I could go on that vein…
Carcha not “Caracha!”
I’ve never had any problems with the tech and philosophy Scn either Carcha. But I have made a point of always doing things on my own determinism and code of honor. When you violate yourself, it’s very hard to get over it. I feel it’s irresponsible to blame Ron for every shitty thing that’s been done.. The admin staff at my org would regularly disregard policy even after cramming, over an over again. It was very hard for me to understand. Tech did not function this way.
Pepper…nice word study!
This golden age period stopped around late 1981 when DM and his initial gang took over and somehow convinced LRH that the Missions and other networks were “criminal” and ripping off or attempting to “destroy” and take over Scientology. Probably LRH’s biggest mistake in believing this. Although the 5 or 10% monthly price rises had started just before this around 79 or 80 I think.But the main thing was Scientology as a group then was more or less still somewhat correctable. After DM took over it became all “personality” based decisions and style of “management”. Even if some (very few?) Missions were skimming off a bit of dough if 90% were still reaching the main coffers then LRH shouldn’t have batted an eyelid or handled them with miild ethics (if they were sending a million dollars and kept 50Gs for themselves – so what?) Now the Missions send nothing in terms of GI. Which then was the right course to take? A rhetorical question. But I don’t know or believe if that was actually the case (that some Missions were skimming). And then of course after that the tech became altered and training was busted due to no internships and experience being shared and there went the whole show – down into the “reasoning” of Miscavige’s dark reactive mind and others letting him get away with and supporting this now.
Any policy against abusing staff? Slapping and forcing abortion, denying sleep or breaks?
What is it rj65 where lrh canceled disconnection, obvioulsly the demand to do that is here again?
Surveying public and providing what’s wanted?
There’s a Flag Order forbidding HAZING. http://possiblyhelpfuladvice.com/?p=1421
OEC Vol 0 HCOPL 29 April 1965 III Ethics Review (the one that has the Ethics gradients),
“The above is a rough guide to the severity of discipline.
Note that none of it carries any physical punishment or detention.”
I’m not sure about Sea Org issues – would have to do some research unless someone remembers. There are policies on beaching and the RPF but I don’t think any on physical punishment or detention.
Another example where LRH wrote one thing but did another.
Regarding sleep deprivation, LRH says in “The Way To Happiness” on page 16
Precept one
” Take Care Of Yourself”
“Get Rest”
“Although many times in life one has
to work beyond normal sleep periods,
a person’s general failure to get proper rest
can make him or her a burden to others.
Tired people are not alert. They can make mistakes.
They have accidents. Just when you need them
they can dump the whole workload on one.
They put others at risk. Insist that people
who do not get proper rest do so.
Dianetics Modern Science Of Mental Health page 161, 2007 edition.
LRH says,
“A society which suppresses sex as evil and which is so aberated that any member of it will attempt an abortion, is a society which is dooming itself to ever-rising insanity. For it is a scientific fact that abortion attempts are the most important factor in aberration. The child on whom the abortion is attempted is condemned to live with murderers, whom he reactively knows to be murderers, through all his weak and helpless youth! He forms unreasonable attachments to grandparents, has terrified reactions to all punishments, grows ill easily and suffers long. And there is no such thing as a guaranteed way to abort a child. Use contraceptives, not a knitting needle or the douche bag, to hold down the population, Once the child is conceived, no matter how “shameful” the circumstances, no matter the mores, no matter the income, that man or woman who would attempt an abortion on an unborn child is attempting a murder which will seldom succeed and is laying the foundation of a childhood of illness and heartache. Anyone attempting an abortion is committing an act against the whole society and the future; any judge or doctor recommending an abortion should be instantly deprived of position and practice, whatever his “reason”.
“A large proportion of allegedly feebleminded children are actually attempted abortion cases whose engrams place them in fear-paralysis or regressive palsy and which command them not to grow, but to be where they are forever.”
“However many billions America spends yearly on institutions for the insane and jails for the criminals are spent primarily because of abortions done by some sex-blocked mother to whom children are a curse, not a blessing of god.”
I think that LRH had his heart in the right place modified by his own ego. The idea that he gave us all the answers to the universe and all that is a bit extreme but I do think he cared about people.
The fund raising quotes are spot on. And he is right about the “donations were for their own gain”.
I agree Tony. Since I was only ever interested in auditing people, 90% of the LRH I read was that. My respect for him grew and grew as I saw excellent results occurring from following the tech precisely. At one point I thought to myself, wow, this guy really wants to free beings, and I believe that because I read and saw it myself. I didn’t agree with many policies and just didn’t apply them, but then, I just locked the door and did my thing, leaving the madness on the other side.
P.S. One time I got declared for refusing to be a reg. I just couldn’t do it! haha! My foresight was excellent.
I was the ED of the Peoria Mission when this issue came out, and I studied it as part of my post. We didn’t have a problem “solving it with Scientology” in Peoria. We had 2 Class 8s and a Class 6, one of the 8s was trained personally by Ron and whose first cert was Hubbard Dianetic Auditor dated June of 1950.
We had a problem with the prices we were being forced to charge the people we were getting in the door and who wanted auditing.
At this time, I queried the pricing structure for auditing, which was around $4,000 for a 12.5 hour intensive, and which violated HCOPL 24 September 1964 Auditing: Dissemination and Programmes. This LRH policy set the pricing for auditing and training. Existing pricing for auditing that time was about 5-7 times higher than LRH supposedly said it should be in that HCOPL.
People in Peoria were absolutely not able to afford auditing to Clear with prices like that, and as ED I could see that there was no way we were going to “clear the planet” with those prices.
So I started with an “Orders, Query Of” report to GI Exec Int, ED Int, Qual Exec Int, and a few other Int Strata “terminals”. All policies were listed in my reports and everything was without “HE&R” and VERY respectful. These reports were trembling with respect, let me tell you.
What I got back was a hodge-podge of weird, off topic responses that, basically, told me to shut up and mind my own business. But what was the most puzzling was that the responses from my seniors there at Int Strata made no sense. They crammed me on issues that had nothing to do with pricing at all, and they completely avoided HCOPL 24 Sept 1964.
I didn’t really know what to do. I certainly didn;t expect non-sequitur replies from the most sane terminals on the planet.
But because the prices were set by an SOED, a junior issue to an HCOPL, the pricing was a violation of the Seniority of Orders PL, which made it a HIGH CRIME for junior issues to contradict an HCOPL. And 24 Sept 1964 was definitely contradicted by this SOED.
So, upping the gradient, I wrote a “Things That Shouldn’t Be” report and CCed more Int Strata Terminals. This got me more sneering responses with threats of ethics actions hinting in the background.
But HCOPL 24 Sept 64 said what it said, and Seniority of Orders laid out the seriousness of what we were supposedly dealing with (within the Standard tech hamster wheel LRH set up for Scientologists).
And…why was my neck so precious?
So I wrote a HIGH CRIME REPORT on ED INT and David Miscavige and FEDEXED copies to them and to every Int Strata terminal.
Guess what happened to me for doing that?
Just guess.
If there really were on-purpose, on-policy “good old days” in Scientology, where servicing the public was what we were really doing for blood, what do you think happened to me for getting in standard LRH pricing on auditing as the ED of the Peoria Mission in 1987?
Alanzo
A — you were right. I am not trying to claim all was well. But certainly, more people had the idea at the time (you being an excellent example) that what you were doing was trying to help people. Whether Jens Urskhov was good or bad or things were good or bad then was not really my point. It was to highlight how things have changed. These days, there are no missions with 2 Class 8s and a Class 6. And certainly there is no Mission ED that would even DARE to question the authority of “Command Intention.” Nor is there anyone in international management. Nor does anyone even give lip service to whether something is “on policy” or not, let alone the sophisticated concept of seniority of orders.
Maybe nobody told you this before, but clearly your intentions were good and you were absolutely right in what you were saying.
Whatever your view is of scientology today and whether you believe you were doing people harm or just taking their money or whatever, I firmly believe that you can sort good people from bad by whether they want to help people. Whether they are bitter or angry or express themselves badly or whatever, the underlying intention of someone to help gives a lot of leeway to anyone in my mind.
Great response Mike.
I very much appreciate your sincere reply, Mike.
Really. I can not tell you how much I appreciate it. No one from Int has ever acknowledged what was done to me for doing exactly what I was supposed to do as a Scientologist.
But there is a reason that Scientology did not work in the Church back then, and it is the same reason that Scientology is not working in the Church today.
The grim reality of Scientology is as Philip Arlington says in his comment above:
David Miscavige is just the last dupe holding the bag.
And he is trying to keep the stats up any way he can, given his life-long training and experience, and given what he has to work with.
Just as we all were.
Don’t get me wrong: David Miscavige is a special kind of violent psychopath, and he needs to be dealt with by law enforcement.
But L Ron Hubbard’s Scientology never did “work” as he said it did, and that is the whole reason for everything you have seen in Scientology, and especially for what you are seeing now in Scientology.
The quicker a person comes to accept, embrace and work with this truth in his life, the better it is for them.
A person CAN avoid the bitterness and negativity which can come from this truth, and I believe that you are doing a great job in helping people to avoid that – much better than what has been available to people on the Internet in the past – but the sooner a person who has been involved in Scientology embraces this, the better.
Alanzo
You are welcome Alanzo.
Very nicely expressed Mike.
Mike – well said and that is the crux of the matter: Is someone really trying to help and how they express themselves in so doing.
It’s a good question for people to ask themselves while being regged for donations or going through Sea Org recruitment or being interviewed to go to Flag. I have often applied this concept to people I was in these cycles with and would spot many interesting manifestations of tone levels and intentions at play. It’s works in the “real world” too.
Excellent common sense. Bravo.
Hitler believed he was “helping” mankind. I’m not sure I could define him or his actions as “good”.
Doesn’t DM genuinely believe he is “helping” people? In his own warped way?
Mike, I’d like to say that I feel safe posting on your blog because you see the wisdom in allowing people to express their viewpoints honestly. I enjoy debating and the exchange of viewpoints in a respectful manner. What people really think is always interesting. I’m never bored when people tell me their truths. :Lies are boring. Truth is always interesting. Thank you for providing this space for our truths, while duly moderating the context in which they are spoken.. .
Hi Alanzo, I’m afraid my curiosity has gotten the better of me. I was so used to Cl IV orgs in 1987, that I’ve long forgotten what training a mission could offer to public at that time. Could you please remind me of the training services offered? Thanks, Rachel
Hi Rachel –
Missions could not offer any Classed Auditor training. Only Intro Route services such as Book One, Intro Demo and Assist Auditor training, etc. We had to send all auditor trainees to the orgs in Chicago or St Louis, which was really stupid. Because our mission had the expertise to train any auditor all the way to Class 8.
But we could deliver auditing to “Clear”.
And that was our goal: To Clear The Planet.
Right from Peoria.
But each Clear we made in Peoria would cost around $75,000 minimum at 1980’s prices, probably more. That pricing structure, and all the other stupid trips people had to make out of town to higher orgs and elsewhere, acted as a major block to getting anything going.
In fact, there were so many stupid blocks to “getting the product”, it was clearly dysfunctional and crazy. I vowed never to take any money from anyone, or to even eat, if it was not from the staff pay I earned as a Scientology staff member creating “Clears” in pursuit of a Cleared Planet.
What a chump I was.
Alanzo
Replying to Alanzo here as I cannot find a reply button to his response. Is it me? Or a glitch in the system?
Nevertheless, my reply. OK, Alanzo, now I get the full picture. You see, in a Cl IV org, we pushed training heavily, including training to co-audit to Clear. There was even a statistic: Money Paid for Training (MPT). If I recall correctly, there were also scholarships. You, in the mission, did not have that option.
I well recall when the prices starting increasing. (Yes, I disagreed when the price increases kept on going and going and going …like the Energizer bunny.)) We still pushed training as the most effective/economical route to Clear. You certainly didn’t have that option. So, you were between a rock and a hard place and took your best recourse. I’m sorry it didn’t work out THE WAY IT SHOULD HAVE. Rachel
Alanzo,
You did the right thing .
I can well imagine what could have happened in the worse case.
As the saying goes, Anything that does not kill you makes you stronger.
Very Well Done
The Marine
Thanks for your story Alanzo. Whether in Scn or not, I still feel it’s very very important that you stood up for what was right. Your pride in your integrity can never be taken away from you. For what it’s worth, I think you were awesome!
To mwestern, “Doesn’t DM genuinely believe he is “helping” people? In his own warped way?”
What you express is a genuine and generous thought from yourself as a sane person.
However, a sociopath truly has no concern about helping others — even though he or she will loudly proclaim such concern. For us typical people who are not sociopaths, that total lack of care and empathy is nearly incomprehensible. That incomprehensibility makes us want to think that somewhere, deep inside, the person _must_ care. How could they not? But they don’t.
The number of sociopaths I’ve had to interact with in my life numbers about three. They are remarkably destructive. Hubbard was right in his assessment of such people. And I have yet to have seen a single “SP,” so declared by the Church, who is an actual sociopath.
By making Criticism of the Church = Criticism of Hubbard = Criticism of Truth = Crime Against the Greatest Good = SP = Sociopath, the Church has done itself a profound disservice, reducing any effort to find a real “Why” to a tortuous A = A = A which will eventually destroy the organization.
This issue was considered important enough to be “updated and reissued” 18 months years later. I wonder – do these issues have an expiry timeline, or are they to be taken, unless cancelled, as “irrevocable”? If so, then the entirety of the IAS, every fundraising outfit, Ideal Org reg action, SooperPower fundraisers et al are all “squirrels” per this issue.
Funny, when I pointed out to OSA UK that perhaps DM shouldn’t be beating and imprisoning his staff and engaging in fraud and deceit OSA Int missionaire “Minerva” wrote on one of the infamous OSA hate sites that I had become a “squirrel”. I guess words mean anything you want them to mean when you are a true blue Miscavige loyalist.
Back to my point though – if this issue is still valid then the only on-source action would be to get it printed off in volume and distribute it widely among Org public. If anyone would like to format it in the original format, colours and so on I would be delighted to forward Command Intention by seeing that it reaches as many public as possible in the St Hill area – other willing volunteers will help I am sure.
No, by policy EDs expire in a year. But there is plenty of other policy that mandates no fundraising.
PLs are senior to EDs and anything Miscavige says is senior to PLs so this is unfortunately just a strange little writeup from the past, probably written by SPs. Since it conflicts with current command intention and programs it most certainly is wrong and not “on source”. Even mentioning it is a suppressive act.
That’s my bubble dweller viewpoint.
As I recall, that’s pretty much the essence of what Debbie Cook was saying. The so-called “church” response was to sue her ass.
The average “scientologist” reading this would have no cognitive dissonance at all. They would simply KNOW with certainty that this is not a real issue but was mocked up by some SP blogger on the fringes of the internet. It’s just so not command intention.
It really isn’t a good thing that Scientology used to be a more subtle and effective con. The bottom line is that from the day Dianetics was published it has been selling things that don’t work under false pretences. Today’s Scientology is a natural progression from early Scientology. The gradual ramping up of the pressure to hand over money is a natural consequence of the increasing difficulty of hiding the reality that it is all a con.
Mike, You shouldn’t have let this post into your blog.
My view is that if people are not abusive, off topic or engaged in ad hominem attacks, I generally allow them to comment. Frankly, there are not a lot of comments that I agree with 100%. By definition they are always going to be someone else’s viewpoint. I don’t agree with Philip Arlington. I have repeatedly said that those who are of the “burn down scientology and hang Hubbard in effigy” are just the other side of the “scientology contains the answers to everything and is always right and if you disagree you are an SP” fundamentalism. If I had to try and weed out the “bad” comments from the “good” then why bother having any comments at all. I believe readers here are smart enough to look at different views and reach their own conclusions. They don’t need censorship, they need information and perspective.
Seriously, did Philip Arlington’s comment hurt anyone?
Maybe it even helped someone to understand something about their experience. I doubt it persuaded anyone to change their mind about their personal experience.
Morris –
I think that Mike is just demonstrating that he has completed Grade Zero, and that he possesses the intellectual honesty to present all sides of a discussion in the pursuit of the free exchange of ideas.
Isn’t that what Scientology was originally supposed to have been about?
Seeking to live with the truth?
To me, that Mike Rinder allows comments on his blog like Philip Arlington’s proves that he is a Scientologist as the term was originally meant to be used.
Don’t you?
Alanzo
Mike – I appreciate your clarification on why you post some comments which are, to my mind, clearly off the wall in not-is-ness. But when I am unprepared, reading such anti-intelligence comments is like getting a slap in the face. The people who post these are NOT tolerant at all, and are NOT open to any viewpoint other than their own, yet gleefully and maliciously accuse Scientologists of being brainwashed. I personally see no more value to their viewpoints than someone who insists that all alphabets are fabrications, and that languages cause wars. But I don’t run a blog with 25,000 hits a day (or however many) and I don’t have to sit and screen 500+ some odd comments every day, day after day, and handle coming up with topics, and reading all the e-mail you get – all for free. All the work you do is very admirable. Trying to be helpful, I would suggest that your blog is, AFAIK, not open to debate about whether or not Scn works or is true. It is, rather, an exposition of current events in “the bubble” and I don’t see ANYONE contesting the opinions that the Co$ is mismanaged and abusive. – Carcha.
Thanks Carcha. That’s one approach. But not the one I choose at this time. Perhaps I will change my view — I am sure I have changed in my approach over the last year. Generally, it’s easier to go with the flow than try and resist any view that isn’t 100% aligned with mine.
Your broad and tolerant views Mike are truly appreciated by many.
To censor reasonable ideas, especially if they are opposite to what we consider “the truth”, is a failed approach, and one that quickly reveals itself to be based in fear and fixed ideas.
Being scrutinized was an intolerable experience for Ron. Reasoned scrutiny, about any subject, anytime, anywhere and about anybody, is a quality of freedom.
Condemnation of reasoned scrutiny is authoritarian. This new age of open sourced information is allowing us all to research freely and come to our own conclusions about our experiences in Scientology.
Thank you Mike for your tolerant views.
I mean “comment”. Your own post is great!
Mike,
Just made me mad. But I see your point. Thanks for your reply.
OK Morris. In a way, I am happy it DID make you mad. It means you are engaged and thinking about the subject. That’s healthy.
Here is a video Scientology did not want you to see. LRH rare interview. Please comment on your thoughts after you watch it. I am interested in what the old timers think. I appreciate the fact that Mike is allowing us to “think freely, speak freely etc”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=L_w-YWwC1lI
Idle Morgue, I have seen this video countless times. I have watched it at various times over my being out of the “church” since it have been available to watch. This is my take now:
1) The people lined up on deck look terrorized. The little boy looks very squashed for a young boy. He has no youthful ebullience. Why? I thought it was about happiness and truth? How come these people look so dark? That’s one thought.
2) The other is Ron. His physical teeth are atrocious! He suffers from lack of hygiene.
3) I have listened to folks who are expert in the ever growing art of facial expression characteristics. How they read people as a result of certain physical reactions. He exhibits certain expressions that universally, in the body language studies, points to hiding the truth.
4) He smiled, grinned from ear to ear when he said that of Polly, “she’s dead”. That personally unnerved me. I could never grin when saying someone was dead. Especially to a TV crew! Weird.
5) He lied that he was married to Sara. Read up on body language. If he knew as much about body language then as now, I am sure LRH would have mastered the technique of masking the truth with facial manipulation.
It would probably be a course. But he did not know about it then. That is why this tape is a good study. Come to your own conclusion.
Those are a few of my experiences when I have viewed that vid. Thank you fir asking.
I agree with Carcha. I wondered also why Mike let Phillip spew like he did since there are other sites that cater to that viewpoint.
Morris, most scientology watchers like me agree with Phillip 100%. You can cover your ears and choose not to see the truth. But todays scientology is a natural progression of LRH’s teaching. DM can justify everything he does from the teachings of LRH. The independent movement doesnt seem to want to debate Scientology. Just like you said, you shouldnt post these type of comments. And you think you have an open mind?
So if people don’t agree with you, they choose not to see “the truth”, ie. I’ve decided to be deluded and stupid if I don’t share your version of truth? And you think you have an open mind?
I did not find Philip’s comment above to be inappropriate at all.
For those who feel that certain speech should be blocked, how is that different for us than being in, where we could not inquire, debate, or dispute?
Frankly, I think made a valid point, though it is a hard one to take for anyone who believes in Hubbard. If you could actually achieve the results of the Bridge, Scientology would sell itself. There would be no need for fundraising. So the fundraising may indeed be an organizational reflex at realizing it cannot deliver the claimed product.
I use some aspects of Scientology. I don’t think Hubbard was either all bad, or all good. But given some of his blatant falsehoods, his other claims become suspect, fairly or not. As I’ve said before, one objectively verifiable clear or OT VIII as originally defined by Hubbard would seal the deal forever.
There’s no need for debate. Just so the product. But if there’s no product, I guess you fundraise. That may be the point Philip was making and I would suggest it be carefully considered.
I disagree 100% with Philip. “It’s all a con” is a very weak, simplistic argument. It’s disrespectful and abusive to say that about an entire religion where thousands of people have dedicated decades to help others. It qualifies as an ad hominem attack IMO.
Phillip – I can only note that I joined staff in 1970 and that I experienced some wonderful wins and abilities gained in auditing and training. And I observed many others experience these as well in my capacities as an auditor, CS and course supervisor. These were MY experiences and are valid for ME.
Joe, I was probably in around the same time range as you. I also had significant wins both as PC and auditor. I would not invalidate those for myself or anyone else.
My assessment over the years has led me conclude that Scientology is a very intricate, complex, and often workable means of triggering changes in states of awareness, self-responsibility, and self-reflection (cognitions and perceptual changes).
However, the organization of Scientology seems profoundly disabled in any ability to attain new awareness, self-responsibility, or self-reflection. (I cannot speak from personal experience to the OT levels, only up to clear.)
And it seems equally arrogant in its refusal to acknowledge the “wog” sources of many of Hubbard’s techniques and insights.
As someone who is research and objective-reality minded, I have to continually ask myself tough questions like: Why does it work when it does? Are there alternate explanations? How do we account for other religions or applied philosophies whose followers are equally convinced that their belief systems work? How do we study and verify (or not) the claimed abilities that are outcomes of states — especially clear and the higher OT levels? If those states are true, and if the technology does work for the reasons it is believed to work, why would Scientology have the slightest qualm about opening up to broad and wide scientific research? Wouldn’t proving the efficacy be the greatest good for the greatest number of dynamics?
I think Hubbard was a deeply flawed and troubled man who was possibly both paranoid and schizophrenic. However! That does not mean all he said was false (though it rightly makes people wary and suspicious). On the contrary, there is actually some correlation between leadership and madness and genius. (See for example this book that studies some of the connections: http://www.amazon.com/First-Rate-Madness-Uncovering-Between-Leadership/dp/0143121332.)
I do not think anyone should feel they have to defend against challenges to Hubbard, the Church, personal gains, or the Tech. In the end, they will stand on their own merits or not. Right now the Church and all it includes are being pounded in the hot forge of increased public scrutiny and the revelations of persons formerly in. The Church will either change and evolve and become more of what it truly could be, or it will become a smaller and smaller fringe group until it drops into history. It really is the Church’s choice as to survival of the organization. The Church will either open itself up to objective research or not — and in the latter case, it will forever forfeit any claim to science and simply become the latest religion to hit Earth (well, actually they pop up regularly).
What is the current status of HCO PL URGENT – ORG PROGRAMMING?
Extant
I take it HCO PL 18 FEB 1982 CHANGING WORKABLE FINANCE SOLUTIONS has been cancelled by DM.
Correct why as to empty Orgs
There is no $cientology being delivered anymore.
The only exchange is look what you purchased for me
Brilliant find, Mike.
I loved reading the entire reference. Thanks Mike! I tried to copy it and paste it into word so as to save it but it won’t. I loved the last section above the last section where he says that those that do fundraising without selling a service in exchange, are doing it for their own gain, which is bad. This captures Dm to a ‘tee.’ I wish this entire article or at least that section, could be sent to all the org sheeple.
What a great reference to post as a comparative to how things are now. I hope some still-ins are seeing this and reading how things used to be run all those years ago. The attitude was definitely one of exchange, a vast difference from how things are being run now. Great for putting this out there, hoisting RCS on its own petard, so to speak. This posting will be a valuable reference, in fact, for my next video.
It also shows that there was a command structure and actual management which is apparently all but gone now.
I remember when this came out. I was the Cope Officer CMOCW. We were busy trying to get the FSO to sustain 1 million a week in GI. This was the big COMMAND intention push from WDC/CMOI. This lead to many missions into Div 2 FSO. Some of which had the potential of becoming Garrison missions. It seemed back then that all of the COS was intent on producing some sort of exchange for the money being taken in. But the push back then was more about money than giving something back for the GI taken in. Now that is long gone and it is more about just donating. Great article MIke thanks.
I also remember this issue. Interesting how times have changed. Actually, pretty spot-on. Also, the bit about people pushing it for their own gain, anyone think of DM? I would suspect orgs heavily engaged in “fundraising” probably have shitty GIs and non-existent staff pay as well.
I remember when it came out too. I never had a problem with regges or the amount of money I paid in to Scientology because i always got my moneys worth in auditing or training. But criminal exchange no thanks. BTW The above policy probably was cancelled because it was authorized by.INT…and not signed directly by LRH. At least that would be a justification for not following it.
“get the FSO to sustain 1 million a week in GI”
dylan what year was that? it’d be nice to sketch in another year.
yesterday we heard up 2005 they were still grossing over a million per week.