There are so many avenues you can go down when you fall into Scientology’s rabbit hole. Today we’re going to touch on a period we really haven’t gone into with much rigor: The early 1980s, and Scientology’s ideas about computerization.
If you know Scientology’s early history, you know that much of what lies behind “Dianetics” was Hubbard’s superficial understanding of computers at the time, the late 1940s. He had read about “memory banks” and data input and imagined that the human mind worked much the same way.
Despite that early interest in computers, Scientology remained famously old fashioned in many ways, valuing paper records over digital ones. Even telephones, Hubbard said, were “psychotic” and should be avoided. But by the early 1980s, it was pretty plain how useful computers really were, and Hubbard finally decided that Scientology should begin catching up.
But naturally, Hubbard got very creative about it. According to a couple of former Scientologists who were familiar with Hubbard’s “advices” at the time, Hubbard laid out a vision for a computer system that he wanted to be so sophisticated and comprehensive, it could run Scientology itself. And here’s the best part: Hubbard claimed that he got the idea from something that had happened millions of years ago in another part of the galaxy.
Such a computer system had existed on a planet named Chug. Jeffrey Augustine describes what happened next in Hubbard’s tale:
Hubbard said that the Duke of Chug was a secret criminal with hidden evil purposes. The Duke had raised income taxes to obscene levels. But even with higher taxes, societal conditions were getting worse and not better. The planet was on the verge of a massive and bloody revolution. But then the computer system, impervious as it was to weak-headed human emotions, performed a dispassionate analysis and discovered that the Duke of Chug was embezzling gigantic sums of tax money. Acting with speed, precision, and ruthless ethics, the computer system ordered the Duke of Chug executed. Peace, harmony, and financial sanity returned and the planet was saved from ruin. L. Ron Hubbard wanted this same type of ruthless computer management system for the Church of Scientology. This computer system would not be influenced by any “human emotion or reaction” as Hubbard called it. In his “Chug Advices,” Hubbard ordered Scientology’s computer unit INCOMM (International Network of Computer Management) to devise such a system.
So, given that background, we have a couple of treats for you today. First, Karen de la Carriere explains the significance of the Chug Advices in a new video, and then we have a great 1985 brochure from INCOMM explaining how the computerization of Scientology was going to boom expansion! Ah, such heady times.
Scientology INCOMM 1985 Newsletter by Tony Ortega on Scribd
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More safe pointing in Los Angeles
Emily Jones, daughter to Phil and Willie Jones of billboard fame, and her husband John Goodwin make the scene as reps for Scientology’s fiction pubs wing, Galaxy Press. Emily’s caption: “Here we are with LA City Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell at the State [of] Hollywood luncheon today. He gave us a very nice mention about what we have done with the Hollywood Christmas Parade.”
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Chris Shelton talks to Nora Crest
Says Chris: “I’ve been having some informal chats about Scientology and the Sea Org and our mutual experiences with former Scientologist friends of mine and this is another of those. Nora is great because there’s never a dull moment in talking to her. We discuss the Sea Org, the two worlds of Big Blue and Celebrity Centre, the RFP and celebrities in Scientology. Enjoy.”
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HowdyCon 2017: Denver, June 23-25. Go here to start making your plans.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on January 28, 2017 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, Kindle, and audiobook versions. 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.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2016 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2016), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
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: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | 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 | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | 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 | Scientology boasts about assistance from Google | 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
