Friday, January 16, 2015

Taking On A Giant

There are many critics of Scientology who operate in many ways with different agendas . Some want to reform Scientology only marginally , or get a single SP declare lifted or get David Miscavige removed from power . Some want to reconnect with a family member . Some just want a refund or an end to harassment and character assassination by the cult's terrorist wing OSA .

Others , including myself , want the practice thoroughly exposed as a fraud and harmful crime against the mental health and even sanity of those who receive it . There have been many attempts to via courts and press and the use of free speech to honestly , ethically and legally expose the cult and honestly inform the press , public and current and former members of the true nature of Scientology and the  actual character of L Ron Hubbard. Many people of different backgrounds and educations have acted in ways that have , even  sometimes unknowingly , helped this effort . They are all to be applauded for the good they have done and far too many have been involved now to even list them all . But their efforts have created an environment where getting information on Scientology is much , much easier than in the past and that has certainly saved tens of thousands from being taken advantage of . I am referring to authors and journalists and many , many sites and posts online . Of course protesters including Anonymous have helped inform millions .

Some say the cult will suffer the death of a thousand cuts - as though thousands of small separate uncoordinated efforts will take it down .  Perhaps , perhaps ...I encourage all honest ,  law-abiding  efforts with compassion and humility in this cause . They have many positive effects and have in all likelihood saved many thousands , but there is so much more to be done and things that , now can be done .

As arduous as it sounds documenting many details about the life of Hubbard and his crimes can be very helpful for a variety of purposes . Obviously to expose him to people never in first as a preventative measure , then to help people who have been in Scientology so they can understand the grim reality that the " technology " is a well hidden fraud and all too similar to other cult's methods of deception and false mystical enlightenment . Same old game new name . Also , some use Scientology , Dianetics or parts or most of them with no understanding that they are not " workable " or beneficial and very , very often  covertly harmful .

There are literally tens of thousands of ex-Scientologists who have realized it is a fraud and harmful who want to take meaningful action but may lack ideas on what they can do without huge financial resources and political connections .

Well , protests do help , as they show the cult is a cult to public who listen and hurt recruitment of new victims.  Websites and videos can help too as when Scientology is Googled the critical info shows up and can help people leave or learn etc. .

Honestly , some exes have a tremendous knowledge of Hubbard's doctrine and  many can easily recall hundreds of Hubbard's phrases and sayings from his tapes and written works .  They have something a journalist simply cannot match without investing thousands of hours studying the materials , and even then the quick verbatim recall some Scientologists get over a lifetime of intensive indoctrination  cannot be equaled .


I found in my own initial investigation of a claim by Jon Atack that Hubbard used material from the insane cult leader Aleister Crowley  that it was very easy to evaluate as I read the Book of Law , a very short work by Crowley , and found immediately forty-one points that I saw as obviously placed in Scientology. I have found parts stolen from Hitler , Marcus Aurelius , Lao Tzu , Confucius and many , many others . I plan on doing some write ups detailing some of this to make the point perfectly clear for Scientologists , exes , and press and public. I think the press would run with this more if someone simply helped them with Hubbard's own words as the damning evidence against him .

I am not going to have the time to personally review all of the millions of words in Hubbard's insane cult doctrine myself and can only recall portions of the materials I myself was indoctrinated with . I actually intend to only start with what I can easily recall and have others help with portions I may never have even been exposed to .

But for those who when in prided themselves on recalling a quote or phrase for every occasion can now put that ability to good use . Many exes have little money but some or a lot of free time , I suggest some can take apart Hubbard's lies to show he stole, stole and stole some more to fool and control . Some exes have others they greatly trust and can work together to compile lists easily . Simply looking at quotes on Google or Pinterest on subjects can easily show authors Hubbard stole from and once an actual source for Dianetics and Scientology is found that authors works can be zeroed in on .

Jon Atack and Arnie Lerma have great articles and lists as starting points . Hubbard stole a tremendous amount from psychology and psychiatry that is often under-reported as well . The greatest assets a cult has are being legally allowed , the ignorance of recruits ,  and the members themselves . I call cultists slaves myself . If you spend a decade or two in you may share this definition , at least for some members . The members may be far less enthusiastic and obedient if they see the actual sources of the doctrine they follow. Some will certainly think about stopping and carefully examining the group , Hubbard and the methods . The members are trained and conditioned to deny any criticism automatically . That is part of why any exposure of Hubbard and the doctrine must be undeniable . It must be presented in a way that is well beyond any reasonable doubt if a person confirms the facts stated to tear down the fraudulent technology and the false prophet who presents it . When dealing with never ins , a small sample will not get the whole message across and for the fanatics and zealots often a comprehensive and thorough presentation of any idea will often be needed to prompt any degree of critical and independent thinking .


I also think interviewing people who actually knew Hubbard and witnessed his methods and behavior can be invaluable at exposing where and how to look . I have heard stories of Hubbard telling SO members damning lines such as " it's all hypnotism , really " and " WE made these rundowns so we would have something else to sell " and several others .  I would love to gather a collection of relevant quotes and interview individuals who knew Hubbard and can personally say what he studied , and did and how he behaved . To some this may be a frivolous attention to detail but in talking to exes I never know what will help them . Sometimes I write a very long piece of several thousand words on a topic and a person reads it . We'll say Sally . Sally reads  a dozen extensive online posts by me and has even read many others and some books on the same exact topic as well . Okay , great . Then I write a small , one or two hundred word piece on the same topic ,  barely exposing one idea ,  and Sally says " OH , that helped me figure it out ...blah is what happened to me ..."
So , I do not want to sell short any idea's chance for helping someone . It can be a joke or idea from cultic studies or psychology or anything - you never know .

But not everyone will have the temperament or talents or interest in taking on the cult in this way . That is fine and this is just one suggestion for some and I will have , and listen to many more .  I hope to help end the abuses and many , many crimes the cult of Scientology engages in and hope to find like-minded people to share in this activity .

Note: here is a link to my blog archive by topic which has almost all my older posts at the blog sorted into categories for your convenience.