Mariette’s life in the church became a nightmare “I know of an anonymous call, people want to shut me up, they said that I can not continue to spread my ” lies””
While scientology is unravelling in the face of Hurricane Leah here in the US, a different storm is raining on scientology’s tiny parade in Sweden.
My old friend, Mariette Lindstein has written a book. And it is causing quite a stir.
Mariette worked at the Int Base for many years (in fact, I brought her and her husband to the Int base to man WDC posts). She was then five years in RTC under Miscavige, and yes, she was another prisoner of the Hole — even though according to its Founder David Miscavige, no such place has ever existed.
Mariette lives in Sweden now together with her husband Dan Koon, also a long time friend — former Snr CS International staff and star of the only “Tech Film” shot and directed by L. Ron Hubbard.
Here is a bit of the backstory.
Lawrence Wright is to blame. It was he who first convinced Mariette to speak out. While he was working on Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood & the Prison of Belief, he interviewed Mariette, and the idea of writing a suspense novel in a cult setting was born. Mariette envisioned a book that would reach a broad audience and not only entertain but enlighten people about the dangers of cults.
In 2013 Mariette quit her job as a teacher to write and educate in another field: speaking out and enlightening others about cults. She has done interviews with many of the most widely read morning and evening newspapers and magazines in Sweden. She has also appeared on national television shows and was featured in a recent TV series about cults in Sweden, “The Only True Way.”
Mariette’s debut novel The Cult on Fog Island is inspired by her experiences in scientology.
Released in September 2015 it has been critically acclaimed by some of the most prominent book reviewers in the country, calling it “enthralling” and a “most suspenseful thriller.” Critic Jonas Danielsson on the national TV-program “Go’kväll” (Good Evening) said the book is: “A page turner, the most interesting novel this fall.”
The Cult on Fog Island has been at the top of bestseller list of Sweden’s largest Internet bookstore for over a month and is now in its third printing. Fog Island is first and foremost a suspense novel, but has the ulterior purpose of warning about the dangers of sects.
Unfortunately the book is still only available in Swedish, but rumor is that a translation into English is on the horizon.
This is the first in a trilogy about cults and cult mentality, explaining how one can get drawn in and how hard it is to get out. The second book (to be released in Swedish, Fall 2016) is about the repercussions of leaving and being harassed if one dares speak out. The final installment (to be released Fall 2017) is about growing up as a child in a cult.
Mariette says that she is putting 25 years of cult mentality into print.
In addition to writing, Mariette also lectures to dignitaries and social service workers about the dangers of cults.
Cult Fiction is taking hold in Sweden, inspired not by Quentin Tarantino, but by the Cult of Greed.
Raise a glass today in celebration of Mariette’s work, accompanied by the traditional Swedish toast: “Skål!”
“Skål!”
hihi, skål och välkomna 😉
aw for gripes sake yes, compassion is the first order of the day
Yes.
nobody around shouldn’t know that by now
and how beautiful is that?
speak
and speaking as such be free and happy and what a lovely day inside
something new
outside it is raining
and i’m going out there just because i love and Ann is out there.
and i feel like it and yeah it feels so good
i can hear waves crashing wherever i happen to be standing
on this planet
cant say at all why my heart feels so bad
so see ya
leave knowing my heart is one filled with gratitude at times even spills over and that’s about it, as big as my problems get so i have to say it again, thanks
for the compassion, humbly mm
Hi mark marco,You are a shooting star.I can hear the waves crashing all over the planet.It is raining here and I go out there just because I love and Mark is out there and I can feel it and it feels so good.Compassion mixed with gratitude equals a rainbow that will reach over whatever problems we may face.So glad you posted here.Stardust Rainbow,Ann.
🙂
thanks starchild
Hi mark marco, You are most welcome starangel ⭐️?⭐️Ann.
btw, has anyone seen ThetaClear? TC helped me out brilliantly on the topic of “Indies” one day,
then revealed his penchant for studying stuff like quantum this and that, and… scn tech.
To quote him, he said something like, “Yeah, the tech is full of bobbie-traps, but…”
Which begs me to post:
Ok, I was here a month ago, ages, and said that, all that, and still I’m back and I have to talk again, if the period may be moved for something left unsaid, and being so I’ll go with anecdotally:
Two soldiers go walking to a minefield. Their mission upon arrival is to get to the other side and the second soldier sencing danger says I’m going to the left here. The first one says no. These are the finest land-mines in the history of mankind and I’m going through and into the middle of it, to cull the technology.
And the boys parted ways.
[ The End ]
I have a dream in which I assault the Apollo in the middle of a slightly rough sea and ask the first skinny kid I find alone as possibly could ever be to say, hey, buddy, I have an escape and a fine meal seaside, telephone and probably your moms number, if you really want to go…
If he says no I am still optimistic he knows somebody. I just gotta play James Bond for a minute.
If he asks who am I, I will just have to say Lieutenant Marco United States Marines and now lets go while the motor is still running…
I don’t mind pissing off a commander when I have to, and about getting arrested later, you know, because I’m a civilian? In fact I just might have to make a big deal out of it,
rough tho’ it may be.
9nov15
:-)))
I think that I just forgot to tell you you , dear Mark , that I just love booby-traps!
Life is a boring enterprise to me ; so I am always looking for challenges and seeking an interesting death.
:-)))
TC
Hi Thetaclear, Love your fondness for booby traps but please no interesting deaths for either one of us yet!Where would I be without one of my anchors on this blog! XO Always,Ann.
Please, do not be concerned, dear ; I was only joking with dear Mark. You and me will last for a century at least. :-)))
Love,
Peter
oh my goodness
those are just about the exact words i wanted to say, originally
(before i got all carried away with myself).
You and me will be the first and second guys to live to 160!
That’s how much i love and appreciate knowing a guy like you.
One down, 2999 to go, but at least i got you.
oh, geeze you were talking to Ann, right, good, ha!
-bets are off.
No, i still mean it.
May not be humble, but you’r something way beyond cool.-mm
Thanks ,dear Mark ; most kind.
And yes , being humble is not my strongest trait ; makes me feel weak and apologetic.
:-)))
Peter
Hi thetaclear, Now I have a new star to shoot for.You will last alot longer than a century and I hope to be able to be lucid enough at the end of my trail to say,Here I am Peter hanging out and waiting for you to walk up the path.Thank you for helping me see in more detail patterns in my life that I may have missed otherwise.May your Princess continue to bring you joy.Love,Ann.
“Hi thetaclear, Now I have a new star to shoot for.You will last a lot longer than a century and I hope to be able to be lucid enough at the end of my trail to say,Here I am Peter hanging out and waiting for you to walk up the path.”
TC : You are so sweet , dear Ann. I intend to walk down that path , and shall grab your hand and walk you through as well. :-)))
“Thank you for helping me see in more detail patterns in my life that I may have missed otherwise.May your Princess continue to bring you joy.Love,Ann.”
TC ; You are most welcome ; always my pleasure. And yes , she brings in inspiration every day.
Love ,
Peter
Hi mark marco, TC-Peter is such a bright spirit and has helped me more than he knows.He has a project going but I know he is always around.He provides a great port in any storm.When you have the adventure to help those poor kids on any ship or org a piece of me will go with you.Would that not be amazing to swoop upon any type ship or building and help all those to leave who really do wish too?You possess a sweet heart as well as the sweetness always within your posts!??⚓️✈️?♥️♥️♆⚡️?=?Forever,Ann.
You know, I believe…
that every single one wants out. I really do. They may believe they are thinking for themselves and love to say how much they love LRH and all that, but they all know…
the deal they got is rot…
There must be a direct route to this secret, “forbidden”, the secret loathing of abuse, that must come and go in one form or another,
inside the head of each and every one.
Tell you what, I feel safer knowing you got his number.
TC- If I go in by air I will be needing a good wing-man.- agent mm
:-)))
Thanks , dear Mark.
TC
Cult Fiction is the best coined term I have heard in ages.
I could see it inspiring a million exes to tell their story.
If the book is as good as they say it is perhaps a movie deal will be in the making as well.
Ditto, I hope her writings are translated.
Mariette was AVC Int boss for years, which is the top editor role and policy/orders/projects and evaluations reviewer (the one who grades the orthodoxy of all issued top management writings) of the movement.
LRH wrote in the ASI advices that the AVC Int role might belong in ASI, but that became illegal, since ASI can’t have direct control of the moment, so AVC went into RTC and back and forth from CMO Int to RTC, and Mariette did the top job for a number of years.
I would love to have Jeffrey Augustine interview her and Dan Koon!!
Actually, there are two film companies here who have expressed interest: Nordisk Film and Filmlance. So, we’ll see. It would make a fabulous TV series where you have time to explore the characters like Breaking Bad or House of Cards. That’s what I’m hoping for anyway.
And speaking of other good news:
Texan can sue Scientology for harassment, appeals court rules.
http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/texan-can-sue-scientology-for-harassment-court-rul/npHnp/
THANK YOU LESLIE BATES!
[ Say, i’ll look u up, next time i’m near 6th St. ]
Everybody understands, I trust, the significance of this milestone decision, yes?
The (higher) appeals court has ruled that [a person] CAN sue scientology for harassment.
The world, and its relationship to the “church” has thus dramatically shifted,
legally.
Next on my list would be to sucessfully sue the church for fraud.
After a cup of tea, naturally.
More good news folks! I just stopped by the grocery store on my way home and noticed a People Mag at the checkout stand with Leahs photo and Scientology on the cover. Every person who buys groceries pretty much has to see it!
Yo Dave,
Tell your culties to forego buying groceries for a couple weeks good buddy!
Now that’s bitchin’! She’s everywhere!
I love the smell of victory in the morning.
Victory, in the court of public opinion…
Hi Newcomer,After reading your post,I thought Leah has such a lovely,serene,glow emanating from her.I look at the pictures of current still ins whales celebs and I know with my heart who is telling the truth.Always,Ann.
“Mariette Lindstein was never one of us. It’s such a joke, it’s pathetic.” ~ Excerpt from Jenny Linson’s much anticipated memoir entitled ‘Jenny: How I Survived Dave’s Hole’
Hilarious!! Laughter!! On the floor!!
um, actually, i am sensing something painfully serious there
Note to reader:There is no such religion called Scientology never was and this is total fiction. This story does not describe the above never existed religion in any respect what so ever. So with this in mind please enjoy Fog Island. Thank-you the Censors.
And LRH never had a second wife.
Skål Mariette och många hälsningar till Dan.
(cheers Mariette and many warm greetings to Dan)
What emotion should I feel.
Mariette L put me through living hell when I discovered I was pregnant and worked for Gold. She was mean and wicked to me. She made me feel like I was out ethics for getting pregnant.
Despite attempting to get me to have an abortion I weathered her storm (along with Cob, co CMO int, ED Int’s help to make me feel like a degraded being).
I have my first born son. He is magical. I am glad I didn’t give up.
Have you ever been on the receiving end of Mariette’s wrath?
Well, I certainly understand that this brings terrible experiences to the fore.
I suspect that if Mariette could speak to you, she would apologize profusely.
A lot of people have done a lot of things they are not proud of and would not ordinarily do as a result of their involvement in scientology (myself included).
I would hope that you could feel some forgiveness for her. She is doing what she can to make good.
It’s time for compassion. MAYBE IT’S ALWAYS TIME FOR COMPASSION.
that would have been so nice in lower case
Apologies at times are unacceptable. 🙂 And do not repair the damage.
Huh? This is one of the strangest comments ever. Apologies are “unacceptable”? Do you mean unaccepted?
Mike it may be different for the father, but for me I walked around PAC base forced to work 9am to 10pm. No adjustments or accommodations as I got larger and larger.
We were ALWAYS in a state of emergency so beans/rice (you know the drill), 30 minute breaks for lunch and dinner. Day after day I was trying to change my situation between being on post. That’s when I was at Bridge.
Then I was sent to LADay.
I was on the same schedule EXCEPT I didn’t get paid – at all. Like zero. I got no help whatsoever. I was on my own. I had to pay for my son being born with a set of encyclopedia britannica as collateral at the Gentle Birth Center.
Time off for pre-birthing classes? Nope. Time off for a doctor appointment? Nope. I went to Paul Fleiss after my son was born – guess how much help I got? ZILCH.
I actually wonder if the intention was for me to lose my baby. In hindsight, there are minimal steps to take when you find out your are pregnant.
IT. WAS. AWFUL.
Child rearing guidance? I got what I could from my mom (worked at AOLA) but she was also having a hard time trying to get my little brother taken care of at the CEO (the building that was torn down next to CC). She managed to throw me a baby shower at my desk at Bridge during a 1/2 dinner break. We were both written up for that.
Shouldn’t individuals be held accountable for their PERSONAL behavior?
It is great Mariette is exposing and doing what she is doing. I hate Scientology and what it did actually DO to my life and my “what’s left of a” family. It pisses me off more than anything.
Your blog keeps me up on what the courage other people have had to speak up. In my world now I am loudly open about how bad Scientology is, will be, has been.
For those that have intentionally made your life or your kids/family/people you care about awful would you be OK with an apology? I know you are swamped, but if yes is your answer please help me see how you feel that way.
The post did remind me of all of this. It wasn’t/isn’t something I think about everyday or much at all.
I am very happy with my current life, I have four kids now (two step kids), I get to see the sunrise and the sunset every day outside and I know it is a gift and I am grateful for what I have.
It must have been a very hard time for you, Toot to OT. I think it was for all of us. One decade, I was happy, then I came into scn and I’ve never known such unhappiness as I knew then and for two decades. But we didn’t leave, did we. We forwarded the movement. We were part of it. Yes, you, too.
Those same people who made my life a hell are out now and trying to make good. I’m talking to them and they to me. Some I’ll never like some but wouldn’t have liked them outside of scn either.
This particular cult mind controlled us to do terrible things in the name of saving the world. At the time, they didn’t seem so terrible when the purpose was (supposedly) noble.
I don’t judge you for your feelings. I just wanted to give your a slightly different point of view.
I agree with Lawrence, “Apologies at times are unacceptable. And do not repair the damage.”. However, I hope in time you can see it differently.
Scn cultivates a culture of cruelty and madness. It is a rogue, criminal organisation. To one degree or another, all of those who were members, adopted this culture. Some of those in higher places more so. The pressure was greater.
Thing is, we/they did it out of mistaken belief that it was for the greatest good. We/they were all in the same trap – to one degree or another.
Letting go of the bitterness, hurt and guilt is probably one of the toughest challenges one coming out of scn or any cult faces. If one succeeds at it, it is also one of the biggest achievements.
There is a cycle that people go through with abuse. First is denial, then recognition of the abuse, then anger. After these steps then forgiveness is part of the healing.
To blame someone for not being forgiving can only exacerbate the abuse.
Just a thought.
I left out grief. It’s usually after grief that forgiveness becomes part of the healing.
And some things are just unforgivable, no matter what.
Hi TOTO to OT. I do not know who you are, thus can not comment on the specific incident. But I do know that there were times when I was mean, while in the Sea Org and for that I apologize. Like many others I did thing of which I am deeply ashamed. Thank god that you do have your son. I sincerely apologize if I was mean to you in the past. If you want to talk about this you can write me a private pm on Facebook, on “Mariette Lindstein” or “Sekten pa Dimon”.
Hi Mariette, I wanted to send you a short post regarding your post on mistakes and I too know that the word can be much stronger, made by those of us in Sea Org and now OSA to other members who were under their command or affected by a comrade’s actions.To be short and sweet I found Mike’s Blog a little over a year ago and with his encouragement and desire to see me work through my journey with Ron and Asho F Sea Org 74-78 I slowly made the jump to posting here.
I blew the SO after months of intolerable GO/Intel operations where I was “it”But incredibly I have found my safe haven here and have told my entire story over the year.This has not only helped me recall past incidents I could not before I have also found the tools to help me fight 2 cancers breast twice and colon that I have been fighting for years.All my docs concur that the agent to turn these on was most probably started by endless nights at Asho and the famous blue dust I scraped off the Excalibur and basement pipes at The Manor now CCInt.No family history at all.I wanted to say that some months ago I had a post here from a person who was my direct superior on The Excalibur.I just could not remember his name, but could picture him.So on his email he gave me I sent a recent picture and told a little of my life today and thanked him.Was I surprised to get a comment back wherein he apologized for the sexual joking and such that went on.directed toward expediters on the ship.Now I loved Ron,his family and SO fiercely until I was put to the buzz saw of Intel.That was the days where all were rock slamming evil intentioned DBs and that was what I was told I was.So I saw violence verbal and physical and I know what it is like to be starved.Yet this one email touched my heart because I honestly did not recall the sexual harassment being that bad to me on the ship,but the fact he wrote that meant the world to me.I said this would be short but I love to write so got away from me!My viewpoint being we have all said and done and been part of some wonderful SO memories and some absolutely terrible ones.I certainly was no angel at times,far far from it As a letter reg and ASR at Asho F who loved my posts so much I forced many spirits into bankruptcy to get them to Asho.I am not proud of that at all! But for my path now at 64 love light laughter communication and Forgiveness to myself and all others I may have hurt has let more sunshine fall on my path.It would be ideal if the forgiveness traveled both ways but having that in my heart has allowed me to face these cancers with more grace and courage than if I was bitter and angry over this 24/7.Otherwise I would be crying all day and no use for much of anything.Anyway just my opinion and I look so forward to your books.Writing is an amazing way to get alot down on paper that may need to be done.Your choice of fiction I think is perfect.I send you love and understanding on your path.And even though I may not agree with all posts here, I love all the posters! Thank you Always Ann.
Ann,
I see your comments all the time here. Have you considered pulling all of the details of your story together into a book? I think a lot of people would be interested in reading it. The market for Scientology tell-alls is hot right now, and it might earn you a few pennies.
FYI, I know a bit about self-publishing, and would be happy to walk you through
Hi Wayne Borean aka The Mad Hatter, Thank you for your encouraging words.In the distant past I was put into one of the first anti-Scientology books,without my permission under a pen name I had no knowledge of and the chapter on me had been highly edited.In other words half of it was not me.So that whole debalcle made me book shy pretty quickly.I feel at this point I do not have enough material to sustain an entire book.All the wonderful books about escape from cos,are by those who were in much much longer than I.My time was most intense but I do so salute all those who did and saw many more of the workings of Ron and David than I did.I have thought about some essays or poems about my journey,but I have to get my 6 month check for the return of breast cancer this month so focusing on that right now.Thank you too for your kind offer to help if I did decide to move forward.I have always enjoyed your posts and viewpoint.You are sweet.Ann.
Ann,
I know people who’ve self published ‘books’ that were short story length. There’s nothing wrong with that.
And I’d be happy to walk you through the process, so that you, and only you, make the decision of what to include.
I’m teaching a writing class at our local library, have been putting together a beginning writing book, and will be including information on publishing. Yes, there are people who are far more experienced than me. But I know enough to get you started.
Ann,
Hugs and kisses. I’m sending good vibes your way, unfortunately that’s all I can do since I’m not a health expert.
Hope you wrestle cancer to the ground.
Hi Wayne Borean, So good to see your posts.Hugs and kisses are the absolute best medicine for me,and yours will go along way! All my cancer docs are huggers I let them do their thing and I do my part.I tell you with all the spiritual light coming my way not only will I wrestle these cancers to the ground.I’ll pound them so hard they will never wake up again!That is the plan at least.I will let y’all know the outcome whatever it is.I have to do this every six months for the rest of this life too.Thank you Ron I am having a” blast “with these cancers-Scientology certainly helped them along! Love Always Ann.
You’re right about one thing, Hatter…
this girl has got one hell of a story. I think if Mariette made a movie she could pen into the screenplay a scene or two from Ann’s diary… bet you a fat dime on that!
I agree. Ann, you are an amazing survivor of a life threatening cult. And in your case your physical life is threatened.
The more people can see the evil brought into people’s lives from the philosophy of LRon Hubbard the better.
There are still people cutting Ron slack. People are still in denial.
The depth and degree of implanted imprinting by Ron’s very effective and purposeful hypnotism will one day be fully understood.
L Ron Hubbard was not a good man.
Hi Brian, Thank you for your kind and understanding words.It helps to totally recall what happened so I can eventually sweep away the effects of those days.I just want to help any-one who needs help to leave cos and know there are many of us here who have been through and know how it feels.Pure Love back to you both.Ann.
Hi Wayne Borean aka The Mad Hatter, Thank you for letting me know the format need not be an entire book.I am very sure you are most accomplished with your knowledge of actual sharing and distributing one’s own book.For now I am going to get my health handled and in the future I will think about what you said.I so appreciate your input.Always,Ann.
Hi Mariete, that’s very conscientious and noble of you to give that ack to “TOOT to OT”. Recognizing when one was wrong and misguided about anything is the mark of a great individual. There isn’t any single living being free from harmful acts ; one more than others. The real virtue lies not in never having committed anything wrong in life, as that’s impossible ; the virtue lies in being willing to accept and confront past authorship and participation. Recognition of having been the cause of something, and the ability to forgive are the difference between a civilized society and a decadent one.
That you are even offering the comm lines to get to you so that you can make it up to others that feel that they were hurt by you, only speak great things about you.
TOOT to OT, the power of healing lies in forgiveness, the actual universal solvent. Allowing others to redeem themselves is the most needed trait in correct justice ; the one that truly rehabilitates. Give Mariete her chance at redemtion. Being in a destructive cult blind us to reality and change our personalities ; in the end, we all are victims here.
Peter
Amen!
:-)))
Hey, toot… it’s me, mm.
Hope you know me a little bit.
Um, my mom…
(i need to say something if i could just skip introduction…)
was really really not sane. So, why i had to say that first i forget.
but i learned so much from that because what it was, in nature, was a breakdown in the operating belief system, when mom was brutally assaulting me emotionally without even really knowing, or being the least aware… and when i was beaten and told to go outside and play, i remember, at 5 years old i cried that day and stood looking way way up to the kitchen window knowing she was standing there with veins popping out of her neck and, somehow, what I said was,
“That’s not Mom.”
and i was right. And I learned so much.
She died 2013. I, the eldest, was the only one who could tolerate her, although she would have been happy to have any visitor. Between the two of us, everybody was ready for her departure. Pretty sad for everyone else. All this time I was very confident handling my mom because of what I “felt” I had learned in scn., all this a guarded secret in the wilderness of society.
I wanted to tell Mom, hey, the reason you can’t be happy is because you can’t forgive.
Of course I knew that that would only piss her off and so I was [ lucky?] enough to be silent.
At least I know you would easily forgive all these fine ladies and gentlemen trying so hard to wish you well. Yes, I’m on the list. But I want you to know, or have a kind word from me. What would it be, lets see…
You’re entitled to your feelings just as they are.
I’m grateful to see you are the sole authority of your feelings and you know it.
You don’t need to forgive or not forgive or do, say or think anything, at all, and I for one would always regard you in a Motherly way just instinctually, which is kinda weird because I was born male. So forgive the humans and damn this church all to kingdom come, but only if it be your true hearts desire. Love, Mark
First Lieutenant of the 7th Wing, Galactic Patrol
The criminal organisation known as the “church” of $cientology makes its members do unspeakable things. Because of KSW. That’s the difference between a religion and a coercive organisation.
So, the individual members are sometimes victims, sometimes perpetrators and sometimes both. But the organisation (also known as “the defendant” in Belgium and “the guilty party” in France) is always a villain.
Anyway, this is all IMHO. I recommend Steven Hassan’s “Combatting Cult Mind Control: The #1 Best-selling Guide to Protection, Rescue, and Recovery from Destructive Cults” and Rick Ross’s “Cults Inside Out: How People Get In and Can Get Out ” to get a broader view with more general (and learned) references.
I am so proud of you TOOT to OT. You help bring out the truth. There is an old saying “All that glitters is not gold’ and “Beware of strangers bearing gifts”. I know a lot of people from the church that have done a lot of things to others they would not like others to do to them. But, usually, these topics never come up in their discussions or chit chat. Just “Please notice me. I used to be in the church and left too!” I know a woman who actually smoked tobacco when she was pregnant and told someone dear to me that she had gone to a doctor and he told her she was OK, her lungs were all clear. “And everyone says she is a good mother”. See my point. I am a better listener most of the time than a talker. 🙂
Such strange comments. Re-read these tomorrow….
See, its ok if you get someone into a cult as long as you are not to blame for what happens to them as a result. Voila, we have the “death waiver” of good ole valley life improvement center: (paragraph 2)
Here is our Release and Waiver for those of you receiving our services
(please copy, print, sign and email to us at valleylifeimprovement@verizon.net or sign and fax to us at 818.230.7964
Release and Waiver of Liability and Indemnity Agreement
In consideration of being permitted to participate in Life Coaching offered by Valley Life Improvement Center the undersigned participant named below agrees:
1. There are social and emotional risks in participating in the above mentioned activity. I fully understand and acknowledge that there may be risks not known to us or are not reasonably foreseeable to us at this time.
2. I accept and assume such risks and responsibilities for the losses and/or damages following such psychological or physical injury, disability, paralysis or death, however caused and whether caused in whole or in part by the negligence of the Release(s) named below.
3. The UNDERSIGNED further expressly agrees that the foregoing release, waiver and indemnity agreement is intended to be as broad and inclusive as permitted by the law of the Province or State in which the organization is conducting events and that if any portion is held invalid, it is agreed that the balance shall, notwithstanding, continue in full legal force and effect.
4. If, despite signing this release, the undersigned participant makes a claim against any of the Releases, the undersigned participant will reimburse the Release(s) for any money which they have paid to the participant, or on his/her behalf, and hold them harmless.
I HAVE READ THIS RELEASE AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY, ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT, FULLY UNDERSTAND ITS TERMS, UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE GIVEN UP SUBSTANTIAL RIGHTS BY SIGNING IT, AND HAVE SIGNED IT FREELY AND VOLUNTARILY WITHOUT INDUCEMENT, ASSURANCE OR GUARANTEE BEING MADE TO ME AND INTEND MY SIGNATURE TO BE COMPLETE AND UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF ALL LIABILITY, INCLUDING ANY NEGLIGENCE OF THE ORGANIZATION NAMED BELOW TO THE GREATEST EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW.
Name of Organization: Valley Life Improvement Center
Participant Signature: __________________________________________________
Printed Name of Participant: ____________________________________________
Address of Participant: _______________________________
________________________________________________________
Date: ______________
The Valley Life Improvement Center is a field group owned and run by Michael Lewis, OT VIII and Class VIII. He also is the father of actor Johnny Lewis, who had a psychotic break and killed his landlord, her cat, and then himself.
Nowadays I doubt that Michael puts “Class VIII” on his signature line as all certs were invalidated until the person went and did GAT II or is it GAT III now, from the bottom up. And as an OT VIII I’m sure he gladly went to the bottom of the Bridge to re-do his Purif and Objectives as did his wife, Power FSM, Divona Lewis. He inherited a lot of money from rich parents and his withhold is that he didn’t give it ALL to the church. He kept some and had a family vacation in Europe. Oops, OSA now knows this little gem. (Personally I’m glad he got to see Germany, Italy and other European cities.)
Is Mariettes own story of her life at Int webbed somewhere?
Not in english, mostly in Swedish in many, various newspapers. But maybe soon….
I was born in Sweden (to a Swedish mom & American dad) — I grew up in the U.S. but I do speak & read Swedish and have visited the country many times. I used to see the “personality test” folks on Drottninggatan in Stockholm occasionally, but nothing recently. (Sweden’s only Ideal Org is located in the southern city of Malmö; Stockholm’s suburban far-from-ideal-org was a topic on this blog a year ago: https://www.mikerindersblog.org/stockholm-syndrome-and-faustian-deals/) Coincidentally enough, yesterday I happened to stumble across an article (http://faktoider.blogspot.se/2015/05/svensk-scientologi-tresiffrig.html) that claims that at its peak in the 1980s, there were only around 1500 Scientologists in Sweden, and now that’s down to 300-400. I’m glad Mariette is helping to ensure that number will only continue to shrink, and I look forward to reading her book!
Thank you! I think the number is still shrinking steadily. Hope you like the book”
And if they start coming after you, Mariette, all you have to do is ask them demurely, “oh my, what makes you think I’m writing about YOU?”
I will definitely get a couple of copies if the book comes out in English.
They already have. Hacked computer, threats, phony twitter accounts, phone calls in the middle of the night and much more. But that is something you have to live with. But as you say it is only a fiction novel, so what are they so afraid of?
I don’t think one should have to live with it, harrassment is still illegal. Or should be.
They should get busted for it, plain and simple.
But, yeah, i guess it isn’t really so simple in the real world.
As to your hacked computer – I strongly recommend NOT using Microsoft Windows. There are too many security issues with it.
Mac OSX and Linux are far better choices (and if you aren’t a geek Mac OSX is the only choice).
Hi Wayne Borean, Liked your post. Hubby and I are far from computer geeks more like computer screw ups but he has a big desk I Mac with OSX and all the extra security stuff you get for that and my IPad Air and I phones are all tied to that.We have not had trouble with hackers per se,but I do get the cut and paste crowd who get bored and decide to make my stuff on Mike’s Blog as part of their fun and games.But hey I am still here! Good advice you gave.Love,Ann.
I can’t wait until it is out in English. Congratulations!!!!
Sounds like I better find an agent fast!
Check with Ron Snr Miscavige’s agent, whoever that might be… I am sure his book is going to be a blockbuster…
Thank you Robert. I think I will have to look for an agent here in Sweden first, but it is actually not a bad idea. Thank you.
Hope to be able to read it in English soon. Brava, Mariette. I salute You! Respect
TheHoleDoesNotExist
Cult on Fog Island, that’s Clearwater Florida .
When in a cult you are in a fog and
cut off from the general population.
Her book title is perfect.
Oh yeah, bravo Mariette and Dan, I’mp so happy to see that even if it’s supposedly a novel, it’s certainly explaining a lot of the crime cult mentality.
I’ve had a different experience: after creating with wife and later, our kids, the second scientology successful group in France (Lyon) , I was declared by one of the assistants of Davey and Guillaume , in Folo Eu.
Unhappily enough for the cult, I’m somewhat of bad temper, very fast to react to stupidity and lies, and the poor people of FOLO EU and AOSH EU had not their phone lists in order…
so, they phoned to my home isntead to the org after our departure, that is, they phoned to the large building bought some years ago for scientology, thinking they were at the org… what a joke!
The first time, perhaps 15 days after we left, I did nothing, but the second time, I answered that I was the “General of the police” in my area, going with my team after drugs in the scientology org ;-))
That joke made probably them crazy, but it was the very first thought for me to realize that Hubbard was a con man, scientology a scam, and that we had helped that scam which was not even able to have its own lists updated after a big problem in thea area:
indeed, EU management – either FOLO or AO, was under pressures from LRH and the people called to lead the cult, regarding his own crazy changes of the tech, the scn chiefs, the admin, and, worse of all, the pricelist for scn services. What we did not know was that the coward was hidden and got none of the scientologists news, with DM and others help.
That had opened my eyes, at least a bit, but the stupidity of the WWide and EU management regarding their phone lists and inabilities to look after facts during scn justice comm evs completed the first part of our decision never to come back to the cult, since at the moment these things happened, we were still “scientologists” good techies, “OTs” and so forth etc. Despite other things like the SP declare against such people as David Mayo few months ago.
We thought that the news crazies called to lead the cult were to leave in black shame after few months, and we supposed still we would have been rehabbed. It went otherwise, our org getting in debt instead of flourishing and rich, losing some 75% of its staffs and clients. Never able to come in good situation again!
So, I started to attack the cult after that joke as a general, and started to explain a lot of the cult to the tax people, justice people, and later, I wrote the book “La Secte” and went to internet (years later, having to handle our lives as anyone!).
Sure poor Mike has heard (since 1983) of the dirty ex-scnist from France, I’ve been one of his nightmares; poor Mike ;-)).
Since I did not care to be defamed neither to be shot – bad temper ,serving me somethimes – the cult could never do what it would have liked against me. And it’s continuing that way!
So this means that if you are in our courseroom and we decide you are incapable and since our policy is “we’d rather have you dead than incapable”…well, you signed the contract, didn’t you?
Thank you, everyone for your encouraging comments today. Well, I´d better make an effort to find that agent. That´s all I can say. So I get my books translated. Seems like the market is indeed ripe for cult fiction. Thanks again!!
Definitely get that agent. It sounds like you’re pretty ripe for a movie or TV adaptation. Given the worldwide success of Scandinavian Noir TV shows lately, this sounds like a winner.
Ha, ha! Well, I actually did have a couple of requests from movie companies, but it is a very slow process here in Sweden, so we will see…
Check with Paul Haggis.
Yes!
Yes yes yes. Get Hollywood to do it.
Call Paul.
Congratulations for your successful book(s), Mariette. I can’t wait to read it in English!
Rather than looking for an agent, you might want to look for a Copyright Lawyer. But before doing that, you really need to read Dean Wesley Smith’s Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing. It is one of the most incredible resources on writing and publishing I’ve ever found, and Dean, being the nice guy that he is, has made it available online.
Hi Mike, I would love to purchase the trilogy of Mariette’s books when available in English.I will add them to my expanding library of Ex- Cult of Scientology books! Love all of them so much more than I thought I could ever say,considering how much I loved Ron’s back in S.O.A different world now,and the books I surround myself with today, bring me comfort and not fear.I wish her and her family all good things.Always,Ann.
Now that’s a interesting concept you’re throwing around there Ann. To have a close look at the libraries one has collected over your life. You can tell a lot about a person by the books they have on the shelf so it is said.
I guess if I look at mine with a critical eye I can easily say I’m quite nuts, psychotic even. To have DMSMH and other Scn books alongside Lawrence Wright’s Going Clear and nutty stuff like L. Kin’s Pied Piper’s of Heaven shows a complete reversal and a confusion of thought. Wow, and that’s not even considering the vast amount of opposing stuff on the hard drive. Luckily being self critical comes pretty easy and I get a kick out of it. I’m also covered in duck dust, water just doesn’t stick!
However, I am against book burning, never much good comes from that form of extremism.
Hi I Yawnalot,I was thinking about exactly that,what books I always had around me at different stages of my life and why I had them.At eight I loved mysteries and then at 13 loved reading ancient mysteries and so it went until I hit “Ole Doc Methuselah” and off into Ron’s World I tumbled following with DMSMH..I too cannot burn any book or throw it in the trash.I take ones I no longer want or need to book fairs or donate to schools or universities.Also I look back at poems and essays throughout my life and I can say those viewpoints have certainly changed as time races by.I’m still crazy after all these years,but now guided by my spirit and heart before anything else.Feels really good after years of shame and denial thinking I had been the cause of all problems.That is one aspect of Scientology that really stinks.Love,Ann.
English book buyer here, ready to pre-order.
Me too!
Me too!
Cult .. the whole world is a cult .. we should not forget that nearly all times there were cults in history of man .. my personell cult is shaolin .. but it is still a cult .. they believe in cause over bodies and in art .. wushu .. I like it, and it has some influence to some other cults ..
Scientology as a cult is not the worsest of all .. we all did sometime agree with some part of it .. most of us here .. so we know today, it is not what it should be .. something went out of line .. some agree with the OT levels (which I have never done) .. others have lost the sense in it after David Miscavige came up as the foremost front person ..
I have studied LRH without any use of study tech. A lot of his work. The point is, that you must duplicate him perfectly before you can get an attest .. but I have never asked for an attest .. but this is not the general rule .. the cult comes up when you will have your own grade in the play or game .. then it is a cult .. before it is only something in which you may have some interest or not ..
So I have interest in shaolin .. so it is a cult .. I looked for my grades in it .. I may have broken some bones on my way .. my heart was maybe broken, when I could not jump from ground to the top of the roof .. got fear when I could not stand free against a bunch of people surrounding me with attacking me .. but nevertheless I had to took my heart in my own hands and had to do my best .. this is cult and to get my own grade in it ..
In shaolin you have to demonstrate your skill and art .. it is not measured by an e.meter or auditor or C/S or MAA .. it is also not directed by LRH references and the interpretion of others of it .. you can do it, or you cannot do it ..
For what is this statement? Everyone who goes into a cult must know, that he will look for his grades which he can reach .. unfortenately in scientology is .. that I have never seen a Grad 0 Release ,, most more an ARC Straightwire Release “one who will get never again any worse” ..
Wow .. why complain people bad times in scientology .. it seems that they do not longer see the goal now .. something which was at all time visible .. sure, because there is no way to become an OT in this cult .. now they complain .. but the complain seems that they did not became OT ..
The word cult does not satisfy me either, certainly falls short of describing scientology.
PROFIT ORIENTED, ISOLATING, MIND-MANIPULATING (and debilitating) CORE GROUP OPERATING UNDER A CLOSED SYSTEM OF BELIEF is more like it. And let’s not forget that there is no science involved here, beyond the science of controlling mass numbers one individual at a time and making money for selling intellectual lard. My complaint is not that I did not become “OT”; my complaint is that OT does not exist.
Well, if I were speaking to the leader, yes, there would be a list of complaints…
Wow. This makes so little sense, that I have no clue what you are talking about. How about trying to explain what you mean more clearly?
I’m giving the girl a break as English is obviously a second language there and she is a newbe here. So, yeah, thanks for being. You will have a tough time selling another belief-system around here but i still appreciate the appearance of yourself being attempted here at this particular site. Hello and fare thee well, Friend.-mm
Great article Mike & well done to Mariette 🙂 I hope your book/s do eventually get printed in English.
Every new foot bullet, every new book that comes out adds to my hope and prayers that my two remaining sons will wake up and leave the Cult of Scientology. My youngest son took his own life last year after he was thrown into a Sophie’s choice of having his brothers or his parents in his life. We were once a close family until my wife Kristina and I woke up and saw the corruption of the tech first hand while we worked in the Sea Org at Flag. We always thought it came from low level misunderstandings of staff members but being right at the Mecca of Technical Perfection and seeing it there, it became obvious it was coming directly from the top. We left the SO then and soon began hearing of others observations followed by Debby Cook’s letter. Shehad been our leader at Flag.
My heart aches. So sad. I too hope that every new story, every new brick taken down from the wall of scientology brings my son closer to SEEING the truth and closer to home.
Congratulations to Mariette, I wish her and her husband continued successes.
Thanks, Mike, this was a nice surprise.
I’m sure, at some point, Mary, that you’re son will see the light. It’s what we’re all hoping for.
Best wishes on a family reunion real soon McCarran,
There is no truth to defend in scientology, its operational lies are being whittled down every day.
It will be a truly fantastic day when that house of cards comes crashing down and we can get our loved ones back.
+1!
Yes. It will be glorious for all.
How horrendous for your family and your son to be forced to choose. My heart breaks for you at your loss and I only thank God that I have been able to watch what has been going on with Scientology over the past 25 years rather than be in it myself. The rest of the world wants to embrace all of you that leave and want to have a life.
My hopes and prayers are with you and your family, and I am encouraged by your convictions and determination that refuses to let go of your boys. Knowing your story makes me stronger. My quest is to reach and bring truth and hope for a better future, and freedom, to those still inside.
Hi anomonly999, It is good to meet you and your post touched me.I am so sorry that your youngest son chose what he did.So sad and hard but this situation has occurred throughout all the years of Sea Org and staff and paying public.The cult has always taken great pains to hush any such talk of suicides as Scientologists up and most probably continues today.Thank you for your observation that the corruption of the tech came from the top.I know and agree with you.I send you both love and light outside the bubble that is long past it’s time.May your two sons see with their own eyes not through the cult’s eyes that freedom is so much better.And this from a lady who as a young young woman would have died for Ron & Sea Org at Asho F until the truth hit me and I left along time ago now.Always,Ann.
This. This is why this never-in still does his best to reveal the con and the crimes. My condolences to you and your family.
There is something strangely warming about seeing another book emerge about cults from someone who has not only suffered at the hands of scientology but is exposing the dangers of this ‘aberative social addiction’ known as a cult. Cults are dangerous things.
Never in wildest dreams would I have ever thought I would be a member of a cult and at the time I was ‘in’ I would have taken great offense if someone insisted scientology was a cult. Now I’m very glad I am out and not too worse for wear but I know of others who aren’t so lucky.
Well done Mariette and I hope you and Dan get everything you set out to achieve.
What you said. I was the same way, I Yawn. I would defend the cult vociferously to anyone who questioned it. But, again, being out and living life on my terms is the best revenge.
I’m looking forward to reading Mariette book when the English translation comes out.
And speaking of neutralizing cult mentality:
Over at Tony’s today Jeffery Augustine’s second installment of his interview with Bill Franks justifies my theory that L Ron Hubbard knowingly used psycho-manipulative techniques to control your thoughts, behavior and ability to think clearly for selfish nefarious reasons. Altitude Instruction WAS Ron’s technique which has caused so many minds to become enslaved.
Please go there and watch. Bill Franks reveals (you may know this already) that Ron sent a hyper secret memo to him and Mayo via a messenger. The message said that people don’t blow because they have overts and withholds. People blow because they are ARCXs.
Ron also in this memo warns them to not disclose this information because he would loose control of Scientology.
THIS IS PROOF POSITIVE THAT L RON HUBBARD KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING. HE CONSCIOUSLY, FOR POWER AND MONEY, MANIPULATED YOUR BRAIN TO FALL UNDER HIS SPELL OF LIES.
HE SAID IF YOU WANT TO CONTROL PEOPLE YOU HAVE TO LIE TO THEM.
MOST SCIENTOLOGISTS INTERPRET THIS TO MEAN THAT SPS OR WOGGY TYPE PEOPLE USE THIS AND RON IS SIMPLY WARNING YOU ABOUT THIS.
BUT THIS IS NOT THE CASE. L RON HUBBARD LIED TO YOU ABOUT OVERTS AND WITHOLDS TO SECURE A WORSHIPPING PUBLIC THAT WOULD SUPPLY HIM WITH POWER AND CASH.
HE, RON, LIED TO YOU TO CONTROL YOU. AND HE USED ALTITUDE INSTRUCTION AS A PAINLESS HYPNOTIC PROCESS.
THAT WHICH IS SCIENTOLOGY IS AN ADMIXTURE OF SOME USABLE USEFULL TECHNIQUES AND DANGEROUS MIND NUMBING EVIL.
THUS:
Cognitive dissonance
Hmm, I dont think this is “proof positive”. You are stretching things a bit here. What I find curious about this is that David Mayo, as far as I know, has never told the same story? Yet he has had plenty of opportunity to do so. Certainly the Blow Offs HCOB talks about conditions that are intolerable causing someone to blow, but this is never the case with scientology which is the perfect organization…
Mike, yes, I remember that line well. Also the line from the Study Tapes that you can go past all the MUs you want so long as you know you are going past MUs. There are escape clauses sprinkled all throughout Scientology.
Actually, LRH’s “reasons” for blows are many , and only the poorly Scientology trained fall for all this senseless and faulty interpretation of the subject as taught in Scn ; not that I even believe all its rubbish.
We have :
1. The overt act itself
2. The withhold itself
3. The Missed Withhold
4. Misunderstood words
5. Out-lists (as caused in self-listing, poor auditing, wrong indications, wrong items on a list, wrong lists, no item found, etc)
6. Out-Int phenomena
7. Heavy losses
8. Interference from a course supervisor when doing ok.
9. Invalidation of wins
10. Evaluation from the auditor
11. Suddenly demanding one to do other course or auditing action to the one we were already doing or was promised to receive.
12. No Auditing, which can be a lot of processing with poor or no gains.
13. Telling one made it (achieved the expected EP) when one didn’t.
14. No help from the course sup or other staff.
15. No materials to study.
16. An “Out Of” condition caused by a heavily restimulated ARC break, making the person wish to die, blow from life, halt things, etc
17. Restimulative auditing
18. PTS phenomena
19. Being treated too badly which can be summatized as INJUSTICE, the MAIN reason for blows these days.
So far, there are 19!!! reasons mentioned at different HCOBs and lectures. Others have erroneously interpreted the “Blows” HCOB as meaning that Overts are the only reason for blows according to LRH. This is only an indicator or being poorly Scientology educated.
Now, are those the only valid reasons for blows ? Well that list pretty much cover all aspects of life, doesn’t it ?
And just to point it out ; an ARC break is a incredible large phenomena which describes hundreds of different manifestations. So basically, everything in the above list can be classified as an ARC break ; EVERYTHING in that list. So Frank alleged “kept secret” doesn’t really mean a damn thing anyway, and LRH has never been that stupid neither. Misguided? Yes. An authoritarian asshole? Oh yes . A cult leader who ended up insane and totally powerless? Yes. An incredible excellent seller of false dreams? The best. Stupid? Not a chance.
Bottom line Brian , choose your arguments better. You are right about a few points ; you are just using faulty and flawed arguments when there are so many good ones to pick up to support your ideas. Don’t fall for the trite, my friend, but be original.
Best regards,
Peter
that was so creepy
In what way ? ; please elaborate. Perhaps you missed my point to begin with. Let’s give you the benefit of the doubt here , my friend. :-)))
TC
More benefit than I deserve, my thoughtful friend, for I was enjoying rattling your cage. It absolutely breaks my own rules, policy of self-governnace, submitting an opinionated and apparently pointless comment like that.
You ride a mighty high horse. Nothing wrong with that especially given your wealth of experience, but no doubt you know where the target materializes as you parade through the crowd. I was appealing to that crowd, timing my one-liner after your healthy helping, dose of “source data” that you provide, capped off with that, what you said, that which put the originator’s post into the category of the trite and unoriginal. Ug, creepy, and so the majority of the audience, made anxious by that closing, would laugh, I think, at the line. Always the remorseless comedian, I am so guilty.
But, actually, that wasn’t at all what I really meant by that, “creepy”. And you did say please.
Let’s first take scientology (refusing to grant the upper-case) for what it actually is.
“Profit Oriented” does come to mind first. The whole point of scn is to make money. (btw, I can confirm the court of the Hague did indeed revoke the tax-exempt status of The Church of scn, deciding the question for the tax authority for The Netherlands, citing the prices for services as “obviously commercial”) Regardless of what the church says it is, the obvious reason, motive and purpose for being out there is to make money and I for one refuse to forget that, I refuse to accept the idea that helping people is more important to this “church” or that anything, anything ranks higher in the realm of relative importances than accumulating capitol and material wealth. Next on that list would be manpower. An idividuals’ mental/emotional health is actually wagered and spent, mechanically, in the endeavor to get rich and richer and what the [___] is left to consider.
I guess that says it.
So, yeah, start quoting LRH and i begin to get creeped out rather quickly.
Every goddam word is geared towards the goal of protecting this imaginary thing, The Bridge to Total Freedom and keeping you and the rest of humanity TRAPPED somewhere, anywhere near the middle of it. Every Policy Letter, every bulletin from the Hubbard Communications Office, every whatever with his signature at the end can be traced with very little examination to this covert and sinister purpose, and so I say creepy.
Sort of a knee-jerk thing. Can’t help it.-agent mm
“More benefit than I deserve, my thoughtful friend, for I was enjoying rattling your cage. It absolutely breaks my own rules, policy of self-governnace, submitting an opinionated and apparently pointless comment like that.”
Peter : That’s quite all right, my friend ; you are entitled to. :-)))
“You ride a mighty high horse. Nothing wrong with that especially given your wealth of experience, but no doubt you know where the target materializes as you parade through the crowd.”
Peter : Yeah, I know ; can’t help it though. :-)))
“I was appealing to that crowd, timing my one-liner after your healthy helping, dose of “source data” that you provide, capped off with that, what you said, that which put the originator’s post into the category of the trite and unoriginal. Ug, creepy, and so the majority of the audience, made anxious by that closing, would laugh, I think, at the line. Always the remorseless comedian, I am so guilty.”
Peter : Jjjj , I get it.
“But, actually, that wasn’t at all what I really meant by that, “creepy”. And you did say please.”
Peter : Ok, I am listening.
“Let’s first take scientology (refusing to grant the upper-case) for what it actually is.”
“Profit Oriented” does come to mind first. The whole point of scn is to make money. (btw, I can confirm the court of the Hague did indeed revoke the tax-exempt status of The Church of scn, deciding the question for the tax authority for The Netherlands, citing the prices for services as “obviously commercial”) Regardless of what the church says it is, the obvious reason, motive and purpose for being out there is to make money and I for one refuse to forget that, I refuse to accept the idea that helping people is more important to this “church” or that anything, anything ranks higher in the realm of relative importances than accumulating capitol and material wealth.”
Peter : I am afraid that I don’t have competent arguments against that assertion , though I am still deciding whether LRH was ill motivated or was just delusional.
“Next on that list would be manpower. An idividuals’ mental/emotional health is actually wagered and spent, mechanically, in the endeavor to get rich and richer and what the [___] is left to consider.”
Peter : I see your point , and am beginning to consider this money-motivated scenario.
“I guess that says it. So, yeah, start quoting LRH and i begin to get creeped out rather quickly. Every goddam word is geared towards the goal of protecting this imaginary thing, The Bridge to Total Freedom and keeping you and the rest of humanity TRAPPED somewhere, anywhere near the middle of it.”
Peter : Actually, I fully agree with you on that. My post was intended for Brian to improve his debating skills as he chose a very weak argument to “prove” his thesis. He is good and challenging which I admire , but he chose a “wrong Source” namely Bill Franks, with his nonsense “secret memo”. My point was that LRH was a lot, lot smarter as a cult leader than Bill Franks attempted to portray him ; and LRH would have never made such an horrendous strategic error. I was only attempting to improve the skills of what can become a very excellent critic of Scn, making justice to your comment that I “ride a mighty horse”.
:-)))
“Every Policy Letter, every bulletin from the Hubbard Communications Office, every whatever with his signature at the end can be traced with very little examination to this covert and sinister purpose, and so I say creepy.”
Peter : Yeah, I totally got you ; it is difficult to read my real intentions sometimes, I agree. I just like sometimes to test others, push bottons, and thus test real human emotion , and there is where I get creepy.
;-)))
“Sort of a knee-jerk thing. Can’t help it.-agent mm”
Peter : Jjjj , I got you, my friend.
TC
Then the only other conclusion Mike is that Jeffrey Augustine’s interview is with a liar. Or someone with a faulty memory.
He claims Ron knew he was controlling Scientologist’s with this lie.
If that is the case, that Franks is lying, what would be his motivation?
No clue. But now someone else just posted here saying he talks about a British MP being murdered by scientology?? WTF is his motivation for that?
Ha ha, I guess it’s the types of questions assumptions that are asked of a crazy cult where up is down and down is up and cognitive dissonance reigns as knowledge. Where violence is accomplished by secret black ops and crushing enemies is religious doctrine.
They are reasonable questions or assumptions though, taking into account “just when you think you know how crazy it gets it gets crazier with Scientology.”
And also taking into account that “ruin utterly” as an acceptable concept from one’s “spiritual teacher” may reap some diabolical results. Especially when the religious teacher says” don’t tell me about those pink legs sticking out.”
None of this is far fetched when violence against critics is a religious duty. IMO
And why scoff at the possibility when Sarah said Ron pistol whipped her or this declaration by Paulette:
“Next, my cousin who was also short and slim like me– was in my apartment alone when a man arrived with a flower delivery. When she opened the door, the intruder pulled a gun out of the flowers and put it to her temple. Fortunately, the gun jammed, misfired or was empty. The man then began to choke her, and when she pulled away and screamed”
I cannot understand that you can’t see the possibility with all of this evidence.
“Do away with them quietly and without sorrow”
It’s not a matter of not seeing the “possibility” but I can assure you, Bill Franks was not privy to more data about the supposed murder of a British PM than me. So, I know he just made it up or has turned something he might have heard or some speculation into “fact” if that is what he said.
I agree in the generality. Just doesnt apply to the specific.
Thanks Mike, Maybe Mayo will come out of the woodwork and deny or agree regarding blowing.
It seems some people do not trust Bill Franks. Not knowing him I am just an observer with no direct knowledge of his level of integrity.
David Mayo! Come in David Mayo. Are you there?
A fleeting chance for some sort of fame (15 minutes)?
I’m surprised the Jeffrey Augustine and by proxy – Karen — find Bill Franks a credible source …
Windhorse
Have any of you guys actually listened to the interview before passing judgement?
Passing judgment? I’ll do you one better — have you ever worked with Bill Franks in a scientology organization? That’s what I base my view on.
All I know is this: if you get a bunch of Exes into the same space, real or virtual, and the names of David Mayo, Bill Robertson, or Bill Franks get mentioned, I take a few steps back, grab some popcorn, and watch the fur fly.
From what I have heard Bill Franks was
extremely unreal in his demands while
an exec in the Sea Org (much more than
run of the mill SO seniors).
No I haven’t worked with Bill Franks. I don’t know him at all. I really have no knowledge. So I am left with differing views impossible to verify coming from my two dimensional iPad.
Thanks for yours Mike.
Mike,
I do take your word as a certain verification within itself,
but especially in regards to upper-echelon church activities.
I’ve had the same thoughts Mike. It’s an interesting story that Franks puts out, but I would like back-up from Mayo. They have both been on ESMB and Mayo has not commented on Frank’s statement. Perhaps because of his settlement agreement with the C of S?
I do enjoy the different viewpoints on the history.
What Bill Franks said or not regarding this issue is pointless ; it is just a technical rubbish in that the alleged LRH’s comment, “People don’t leave (blow) because of O/Ws , they leave because of ARCXs” , is just a senseless technical statement that LRH would never have uttered. LRH was never this sloppy to begin with. He was a technical master-mind whose primary error was dishonest research ( as in copying from other sources pretending they were his, and alleging “scientific” tests never actually carried out) , and a cultish , authoritarian approach to knowledge.
The alleged comment lack technical accuracy, and is actually a comment from an amateur ; LRH was no amateur at all. The alleged comment doesn’t mean a damn thing. It is like saying, “Did you know that married couples fight and separate from each other? “. The normal response to that would be, “Dah, what else is new about it ?”
Guys and gals, almost EVERY human phenomena can be classified as an ARCX of some kind. An Out-list is an ARCX on reality ; a reality has been enforced, denied or been curious about. An Out-Int phenomena is also an ARCX ; one doesn’t want to be at certain places (rejected spaces and locations and a wish to leave) , which can classify as enforced Affinity, refused reality, refused communication, etc.
“No help from the Sup” , is a rejected affinitity, a refused communication, a refused reality, etc. A withhold is a “no communication” , a “no reach” , and a lowered affinity. An overt is a refused reality, a “protested reality” , a refused affinity, etc. “No auditing” (another reason for blows) is a refused reality, a no reality, a refused communication, etc.
See ? , every manifestation from the 19 reasons for blows as described in several HCOBs and lectures, is some kind of ARCX. So saying, “You know? , people don’t leave because of O/Ws, they leave because of ARCXs” , is just nonsense and rubbish. How so many have fall for Frank’s stupidity, totally escapes my understanding. Frank just has an issue with revenge, and a personal agenda which I assure you guys, is not the greatest good. This is my professional perspective on this.
TC
You may be right Theta Clear, but I remember a post on Marty’s site where I started the dialog about the original OT 8.
Marty flat out said that it did not come from Ron. That it was not his language, not his style.
So I just let it go thinking Marty knew best because he was trained.
Then:
At least three original OT 8 completions posted that yes, indeed, that was the original OT 8. They took it, studied it and said Ron claimed to be the anti Christ from the bible.
It’s possible that our image of who and what we think Ron is can prejudice us against any far fetched negativity leveled against him.
Marty was certain it was not Ron. Then proof came to the contrary.
I got what you said , Brian ; though I wasn’t defending LRH nor disbelieving that he was capable of destructiveness and betrayal. I only said he wasn’t that stupid as to utter such a nonsensical and meaningless comment ; that’s all. The alleged “secret memo” from “LRH” , is just a technical rubbish , Brian. LRH was a clear cult leader , not a stupid one. He knew how to trap others well , and uttering such a comment would be like saying that Einstein said “gravity is a force that depends in quantity of mass” , instead of saying , “gravity is an attractive force” , as a “profound comment” from him. The reply to that would be , “Dah , what else is new ?”.
I think that you missed my whole point. My point was that LRH had ALREADY said in MULTIPLE (even if not in that exact words , but implicitly so) occasions that ARCXs causes blows , and that only non-Scientology educated individuals would fall for Frank’s “confession”. Frank is just full of shit , my professional opinion.
TC
Ok, I understand. Thanks thetaclear.
You are most welcome , Brian !
“Tip-toe through the mine-fields with me-e-e…”
Brian, you should work for the tabloids. You certainly have the UPPER CASE tech down!
Psycho manipulation would be considered by me to be LOWER GARBAGE (reverse processing) tech. Yes, it is an interest for me to understand the imprinting techniques that Ron used on us. It’s fascinating stuff. And can cause healing in my view.
An OT 8 completion, George M. White agrees with me on labeling Ron a hypnotic operator.
Anyone who can be convinced that all Scientology critics are criminals has been hypnotized by Altitude Instruction as this claim is unquestionably absurd.
No doubt that this fascinating view of Hubbard being a Hypnotic Operator from his writing Altitude Instruction has captured my imagination and caused an “as is” of Ron in my world.
It is my very strong belief that L Ron Hubbard knew that he was manipulating us with mind techniques.
Brian, you must see (i strongly implore) Chris Shelton Critical Thinker at Large; the latest post on his blog tells very neatly the structure of just exactly that, what you describe (nicely) as reverse-processing tech.
[ He has an introduction there on the signifcance of Leah’s release… ]
Hi mark marco,❤️your recent posts.Ann.
Hi Mark, yes I’ve seen it. Thanks
cool
The young and fertile mind of little Ron quickly grasped his hold on other mens’ minds. What began as a talent for telling stories morphed into an interest in hypnotism. A penny per word as a pulp fiction writer morphed into dreams of countless billions, a potential thousands of dollars for every being on Earth.
Now what was that, that question, one or the other. One said i dunno, maybe he was just delusional. The other asks this, question, no doubt a doubt has been raised, then, damn, he speaks that forsaken language (“as-is”) and [____] if I know what it means. But, by his conclusion i so certainly agree:
Scientology did not happen by accident.-mm
so, before all this gets tossed into the archives,
Chris explains this sort of reverse-tech, in which the subject is subjected to a pummeling. To the point of creating harm, pummeling. Bricks off the forehead until thought of any magnatude becomes quite painful. Unable to contemplate, he is rendered for manipulation, in the very same, defined cycle of auditing (some standard therapy of the real world) called “Truth Rundown” until the “preclear” feels better, presto, floating needle, “scn WORKS”, hallelujah, and out the door he goes, thinking very strongly something like thank god scn works when in fact he, the subject, is and continues to be quite traumatized…
Whew.
I know, you are expecting an end to this story, like a humane poet would provide… Sorry, there isn’t one, as the preclear does not actually matter here. What matters is keepping you stuck on The Bridge, a very well-fortified trap, until um, oh alright, the end.
Thanks Chris. That sums it up awfully well. Yes the Bridge is a trap. Yes, you will get through a few years and be told sorry you have to do another start-over because the sterling tech had an unexpected flaw, now corrected, that’ll be only an additional $4,500 dollars which of course we can put on plastic.
Pass. You’r welcome, i mean, for getting done your homework (i get away cause i work for free, and i am rather nimble love)-mm
Wait just a damn second. Are you not the same Brian that just clamored for the healing benifit of studying Hubbard-authored imprinting techniques, what, for the health of it?
You do see the kink in the logic there.
This tech obviously victimized me so that to this day, etc.
Therefore I will facinatedly bury myself into it for the evening, to begin with…
Is this not the same page in which i related the mine-field anecdotal story? Oh, i get it, you are kidding me.
Ha, expotentially hilarious. Ok, i’ll have fun with my kids you have fun with your eMeter and toy philosophy…
(sadly, i have none, but in spirit i share with all kids, you know, naturally) Keep it safe.-mm
I had to look of the definition of ARCX. Which is apparently a break of the ARC. (http://www.scientologymyths.info/definitions/arc.php) I won’t address the entire definition of ARC but I will touch on the concept of reality. The definition given is that Reality is: “that which appears to be. Reality is fundamentally agreement — what we agree to be real is real.”
Really?
So A isn’t A? So to exist is not to have a definite identity? And consciousness is not the act of identification?
Uh, no. The truth is the truth regardless of what anyone wishes to believe. Otherwise sense data and thus knowledge and the communication of it is simply not possible.
What else can I say?
Just for the record I actually had a copy of the Ayn Rand Lexicon in arm’s reach, I actually picked it up and looked up the concept of Identity, and decided to think for my self.
What can I say? Thinking is fun.
To agree in the principle of avoiding the scn. language altogether, I take it as a foregone conclusion that anything tagged “LRH” is poison, period. To ask what is the first thing scientology takes away from you, when one makes that big transition towards becoming a scn-gist? Well, that’s identity. And perhaps that should indeed be a capitol “I”.
Identity is what we are, next to god, which makes
Ann Rand is a very good read, indeed, and gives us the opportunity to be Captain of our own ship. Tis fun, especially since the church is burning down and the lady leading the crusade is the most beautiful Joan of Arc in the history of mankind, ha, fun indeed.
Leah Remini.
There’s an interesting thread on ESMB that mentions Frank’s claims that a British MP was murdered and Scientology was behind it. No idea if there’s any truth in that.
http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?27336-The-Edge-interview-with-high-level-scientology-defector-%28Bill-Franks%29
Well, if he said that, his credibility is hovering down around 0…
And I repeat — how is it possible that Jeffrey Augustine and by proxy Karen would even consider to host and spend time with Bill Franks. He brought Alan Waters to teach or reteach the FEBC at Flag — the entire auditorium was taken over by Alan — a real whack job …
The list is nearly endless of the Franks stories — it’s meaningless whatever Franks said. Meaningless.
Windhorse
How credible are you, Christine, when you don’t even know how to spell Alan’s last name?
espi, you’re too smart for a comment like that.
I would love Karen and Jeffery to comment on this. Otherwise we are all left with assumptions, prejudices and people’s experiences regarding Bill Franks.
Mike, it is my humble opinion that the “nomnom” post immediately above should be immediately moderated. If the replies to the post have to go in order to delete the entire string, then so be it. Hope it’s not too late.
-agent mm, first leutenant of the Galactic Patrol of this sector.
My opinion is that Bill Franck was as shitty as Miscavige. And know nothing reallly of the subject of scientology quite unable to audit anyone. Scientology is no longer itself under the guidance of such moron.
Finally they utterly failed to keep scientology working, my personnal conclusion. The proof is that it’s not any government which will sink the ship but inhability to apply the tech, starting with an ethics why : Miscavige is an SP, And they failed utterly to declare him. This more than 30 years that scientology is sinking under the guidance of an ennemy of spiritual freedom.
And to be simple I would say, scientology is to audit people to make them feel better and it works mostly especially if the auditor has in mind to help his customer and the whole organization works in this direction. It was ment for that. Hubbard didn’t do that to become rich as a prime intention, of course he was flawed in many way like any of us but his prime intention was to help.
Now the organization growing bigger there were other people than Hubbard. The Gardian Office before Miscavige was a forrunner of a totalitarian organisation. Those guys in the 1960 thought they were kind of secret agents James Bond type! And the Jane Kember was looking like the old KGB smersh woman in From Russia with Love.
Scientology is stuck on the sixties. Look at the apparachick hair cut of Miscavige. He is a ridiculous moron. There is no word to express my hope to see him put in jail.
Scientology has been destroyed and now there is only a ghost of it which is an embarrassement.
FG you said:
‘of course he [Ron] was flawed in many way like any of us’
Do you know anyone else who
1) Pistol whipped their wife
2) Allowed their wife to go to jail for them
3) put little children in chain lockers
4) Created a para military to destroy people
5) Said they were the only being in the history of forever to find the truth that can free mankind
6) Said they did not get a penny from their organization they created and said he was owed money while sending suit cases of money to Liechtenstein
I can list endlessly.
It always amazes me that Ron is let off the hook with “he was only human.”
I know of no humans that act like this. Ron is not like a normal human.
Ron was an amoral psycho manipulator that had an insatiable need for power and money. This is in writing by David Mayo.
He used peoples belief in him, that he implanted in us via Altitude Instruction, to serve his own megalomaniacal desire to take over the planet and the universe.
He was no average flawed human. As time goes on his influence will be studied.
“amoral psycho manipulator”s have a tendency to be completely forgotten in due time.
Life is so short, and any other study would be a better wager for success.
It’s just not that simple Brian. Put three people together to discuss it and that theory is shot to bits in seconds. Get ’em to agree on scientology as a mediator in the affairs of life, wait a little bit and a cult emerges.
“Proof Positive” is just about always an individual pursuit and recognition. We all know God exists – right?
i forget. does god exist?
I’m not talking about the subject Scientology I Yawn. I am talking about the man Ron. Sometimes truth can be simple in my view.
I believe the highest truth is also the simplest truth.
(i think)
Funny, but true: she says in a TV4 (Swedish TV) interview that if she was to write a true story about her life in scientology no one would believe her.
Thanks for bringing this book to my attention, Mike, I’ve just ordered my copy.
Hi Johnny! Thanks for ordering my book. Get in touch when you have read it. you can find me on Facebook, private. Mariette Lindstein and my book page. Sekten på Dimön. Looking forward to hearing from you again.
Great to see the Swedish Lioness is out too (i had no idea you were out)…. So many people out and telling their stories its hard to keep up.! Way to go Marriette!
Thank you Mariette and let us know when the english version is out so we can get it and promote it.
Glad to see you and Dan doing very well.
Excellent Mariette, wish you all the best with your book (and future books).
This really comes as no surprise. If you look at what we all have in common as one-time Scnists. For decades we have been overtly and covertly threatened, convinced, tricked, or persuaded – NOT TO SPEAK.
Now that we are outside their sphere of control and manipulation…well…let’s just say we have a backlog, and have a lot to say (and are saying it on every available channels).
Nothing the cherch despises more than uncontrolled, unvetted, real communication containing actual facts. Drives ’em nuts.
Hi statpush,Your post is a rocket today.Great stuff! Love,Ann,
go stat!
justify my love
She is doing an amazing job. While the novel is not a straight memoir, it lets you feel what it can be like to be captured, and not adding scientology terms makes it much more accessible to the common reader, but ex-scn will recognize many parts (such as being thrown off a tall cliff into the sea for punishment, to name one). I saw the book is featured on a list of Christmas gift recommendations at the largest Internet bookstore (Adlibris), and when I last visited a physical bookstore, the novel had a prominent position under “recommended by our staff”.
To further brighten David’s day, the Swedish public service television channel, which is the largest in the country and one that everyone has, showed a re-run of Going Clear the other day, and it will be available on their website until January 4th.
Skål!
Thank you Mike for a great article. You are damned right, something can be done about it! Cult fiction is awakening here in Sweden.
Way to go, Mariette! Will your book have an e-book that can be downloaded to my Kindle?
Hi! It exists as an e-bok in Sweden already and the moment it is translated and released it will be an e-book as well. Of course!!
Mariette, thank you so very much for telling your story! It seems like critical books of this vicious and toxic cult are falling from the skies now. I’m looking forward to downloading the electronic version of your book. And, hey! You’ve got a lot of fans in Sweden as well as all the posters here! Bravo, Mariette, bravo…….
Bravo Mariette! I do hope it becomes available in English. As one commenter dryly noted on a recent thread – BOOKS MAKE BOOMS! Give my very best to Dan.
Look forward to reading the English edition… “truth being stranger than fiction”, I am sure cult of scientology is worse than her fiction novel.
You are absolutely right Robert! One of the reason i wrote a novel is because some people here in Sweden just could not believe the truth. It was so utterly unreal to them that something like that could happen. But another reason is that a novel can hit a broader target group. Namely young people. Hot prey for sects.
Thanks Mariette,
Yes, Scientology is always worse than you think…. and I wish you and Dan the best and hope your novel spreads to the US and other English speaking countries. You are truly helping young innocent people…… as we all were 40 years ago when we joined this cult thinking we were saving humanity. It has taken me years to remove my slave chains and it continues to this day. So, all the power to you for writing this book.
Soon as Mariette finds an agent here who realizes the potential she will be off and running big time. There is already interest from two large film companies. It would make a great TV series which allows time to develop the DM, er, the Franz Oswald character.
Mariette –
I am genuinely excited to learn of your work. Scientology is the model sect that teaches the world of the real danger of closed-belief systems, the fancy way to describe cults, and their secrets…
-but only if somebody writes the story down!
So, in advance, let me commend you for your efforts. The entity that threatens to trap our youth must be clearly identified. No doubt, your book will be a learning experience for me as I have the idea to write in the novel form as well. Together, we (all who speak) are building the new bridge of escape from cults and their game of mind manipulation and giving the next generation a safer world-environment in which to nurture personal creativity. It really is that wonderful. Thank you.
And, what a pleasure it is to see you post here as well! – mm
Thank you Marco for your kind words! Looking forward to your novel!
Wow. I mean, yes. Now it feels like your signing my book! Thanks.
(i’m just sorry i missed that New York thing.) 🙂
Making a novel is undoubtedly a smart move! it is very nice to see it get such attention,
Mariette, that is brilliant to make it into a novel so it would have broader appeal. Thank you for writing it. And speaking of books, I started reading Leah Remini’s book. She was very brilliant to dead agent herself in the forward. She tells all the overts and peccadillos before the church can print it up in their Dead Agent pack on her. And she then goes on to say that if all the church says about her is true, then what does it say about the tech that she spent decades studying and receiving auditing from? If she is such a bad product of Scn, then maybe the tech doesn’t work is what she seems to be saying. It is basically beating the church at their own game, a very strategic move.
“Cult Fiction is awakening in Sweden.”
I would imagine way worse….
Totally true. I have to say, though, that her second book, which she is finishing up at the moment is better than her first. It covers what happens when someone leaves Scient–er, leaves a cult and what OSA–er, the cult tries to do to after they speak out. Of course, in the end, in true Sea Org style, there is one thermonuclear footbullet delivered by the cult to itself. Art imitates life in her novels complete with staff members saluting dogs.
Dan,
Great to see you and Mariette having a wonderful (and cult free) life. An old friend of mine who originally gave me the Dianetics book to read (no, I don’t hold it against him!) has very good things to say about you.
You were friends back in the Berkeley/ Walnut Creek era. His name is Kurt Dambacher and he and his wife are doing well and I’m sure he would be happy to see that things are going well for you. He does not get involved in the blogs or the cult issues. If you want to contact him you can send me an email via Mike’s blog and I will pass it on to you.
Coop
Yeah, I remember Kurt and Val well. Great folks. Give them my best.
Thank You Mariette for speaking out and taking those who promote cult think (and actions) to task. I plan to purchase your new book when it comes out in English.
Ending Scientology, one country at a time. Cheers!
What a wonderful thought, Lori S! This could be the critics logo.
Yes!
And on that note i just heard that The Netherlands has declared scientology’s tax-exempt status:
REVOKED
Imponerande!!
[ that means, Spectacular!!, in Swedish of course.]
Fantastic – great job Mariette.
Congratulations Mariette. I’m looking forward to reading your book in English.