The new ad that Scientology uploaded to its website right around midnight on New Year’s Eve is now on Scientology’s YouTube page, and so we can embed it, below.
As we said on Jan 1, we assume that this is new ad, which we now learn carries the title “Who Am I?”, will probably be the one that Scientology airs during the Super Bowl this year.
In the last few years, Scientology has purchased the local ad spots in some cities in order to air one of its Apple Computer-like commercials during the big game. This enables Scientology to avoid the huge cost of a national spot, which this year is nearing $5 million for a 30-second ad. The Scientology spot tends to come up right at the end of the first half of play, and, as in past years, we’ll be checking for Twitter reactions to find out which cities get to see it.
There’s actually a pattern to which cities see the ad. We learned from an internal Scientology communication that leader David Miscavige rewards cities that complete their “Ideal Org” purchase and renovation by showing the ad in their city. The notion behind that is that the Super Bowl commercial will produce a rush of interest in the church, and so an Ideal Org has to be in place to handle the crowds. (There’s actually no evidence that Ideal Orgs are attracting new people.) It’s also a subtle way to punish the Scientologists in those cities that haven’t come up with the cash to finish their Ideal Org projects.
Will that pattern hold this year? We’ll soon find out. Super Bowl 50 will be played on February 7 in Santa Clara, California at Levi’s Stadium, where the 49ers play their regular season games.
The video you see here is just over a minute long, so the ad that will air will be a cut-down, 30 second version. Imagine the tough choices that Miscavige will have to make deciding which lines to cut from this epic tone poem….
We live in an age of technological wonder
Extended life
Endless connections
Limitless possibilities
At the touch of a button
In a fraction of a second
The world’s knowledge at our fingertips
A seemingly infinite source of answers
To any question we might ask
Except for one
The one we thirst for
The one that leads to understanding
Our world
Our choices
Ourselves
The question that lies at the intersection of technology and spirituality
Who am I?
The ad is very much a “mystery sandwich,” the product that L. Ron Hubbard said he was offering the public in Scientology. Of course the ads never give a hint that getting involved in Scientology will mean constant pressure to fork over huge amounts of money to assure your “eternity,” and eventually using its counseling techniques to rid yourself of invisible alien soul-entities.
But then, Super Bowl ads aren’t really known for their truth in advertising.
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Bonus photos from our tipsters
More images from the New Year’s Eve party at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on January 5, 2016 at 07:00
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Our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information about the book, and our 2015 book tour, can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…
BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts
Other links: The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | Scientology’s Private Dancer | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Our Guide to Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear,’ and our pages about its principal figures…
Jason Beghe | Tom DeVocht | Sara Goldberg | Paul Haggis | Mark “Marty” Rathbun | Mike Rinder | Spanky Taylor | Hana Whitfield
