Scientology is not a cult: The reasoning of an OT 3 Scientologist

 
In the name of equal time, we’re going to turn over the blog today to an OT 3 Scientologist who recently posted a defense of his 50-year involvement in the organization. We look forward to reading your responses to his description of Scientology and its critics.

 
I recently had a conversation with a cousin of mine who referred to my religion as a cult. I was quite taken aback, a little ticked off at her. She is a decent human being but tends to believe some nasty rumors about what my religion is and does.

I have been involved with this organization for over 50 years. I have a lot of friends that are also part of this and most of them are pretty normal. Most. They have families, work hard and just want to get along in life like pretty much most people in the world.

I’ve heard comments like, ‘It’s not a religion.’ or ‘They believe in aliens.’ You know, Scientology.

Those comments are kind of meaningless. The people that make those statements, I believe, are just trying to make Scientology sound weird. Most of the key religions have some pretty weird stuff in their texts.

There was a TV show and has been a movie, ‘exposing’ Scientology. My sister pointed out that is like going to the Gestapo of the Nazi regime to ask their opinion of the Jews.

In this world of instant gratification many younger people don’t go past the surface. They won’t do due diligence, proper research. Sorry, not just young people. My cousin is 70+ and won’t take a proper look.

I have this friend in a nearby city, we were sitting around chatting. I thought he knew that I was a Scientologist. We had chatted a couple of times a month for several years, and knew each other quite well. Somehow the subject came up and I mentioned that I was a Scientologist. He looked at me and then looked away for a good couple of minutes. Didn’t say a word for that time; two minutes is a long time. He then turned to me, smiled, and said ‘OK.’ Then we continued our conversation. He basically tried to align the data that he had about Scientology with what he knew about me. And that was all it took for him to throw out the false information that he’d heard about my religion. We are still very good friends.

Some people can do this easily and quickly. Look at two bits of information and figure out which is true and which is false. Or maybe it is somewhere in between. Others have a hard time reconciling. They will like me as I am, hopefully, a fairly decent human being, but cannot fit that with the fact that I’m a Scientologist. The horror!

I hear some people calling my religion a cult. The problem here is the definition of terms. What exactly do you mean by ‘cult’ when you accuse my religion? Per most definitions of the word ‘cult,’ Scientology is no different than Christianity or Judaism, or Buddhism or any other mainstream religion.

The definitions, referring to something like Scientology, Christianity or other religions, generally speak of a belief system, religious rites and a deity. In Scientology, we have a belief system, sort of, we do have marriage rites and such, but the concept of a deity is left up to the individual.

There is a concept that is promoted in Scientology that ‘what is true for you is what you have experienced to be true for yourself’ — this concept is attributed to the Buddha. You can’t force belief. If it works for you, great. All is good. If not, well, that is your observation, your choice.

I have very good friends that are not Scientologists. I have very good friends that are Scientologists. I have very good friends that are no longer Scientologists.

BUT, if you attack me and/or mine, don’t expect me to be your friend. I have another relative who continually badmouths my religion online and to friends. Then complains to the same that I won’t hang out and be pleasant to him. I really don’t want toxic people in my life.

Most governments of the world have acknowledged Scientology as a bona fide religion. Religious leaders throughout the world have acknowledged Scientology as a bona fide religion. So, who are you that has not studied any religion, much less Scientology, to sit in judgement?

My wife, who is not a Scientologist, says about Scientologists: ‘they seem pretty normal to me.’

Scientology organizations have been raided by government agencies around the world. Canada, France, Spain, Germany, the USA to name a few. These agencies were always attempting to shut the Church down. When the charges go to court, the Church wins. In the decades of raids and attempts to hinder the Church of Scientology, no organizations have been shut down as a result. Nobody is that good at hiding stuff. Police organizations have had spies working in various Church of Scientology Organizations around the world, discovering no crimes. The crimes just aren’t there.

I know people that would hesitate to criticize a Muslim as afraid of being called a ‘-phobe’ of some sort, but has no issue getting on the bandwagon against Scientology. Just because it seems to be the thing to do. ‘My friends hate that religion so, as I don’t want to rock the boat, I will as well.’

Even Kanye West defends Scientology with respect to people just getting on the bandwagon and not thinking for themselves. I have no idea if he is a fan or not but he at least defends the idea that one should have the right his or her own beliefs!

I really thought by this time, religious persecution would be a thing of the past.

I know people that believe that it is OK to drive stoned on marijuana and think that I should not educate children on the dangers of pot. Then they would attack someone for their religious beliefs.

So, again, if you want to discuss the subject of Scientology, let us first define our terms. If you are going to call it a cult, then define exactly what you mean by that.

Similarly, I was having a discussion with someone regarding marijuana. It wasn’t going anywhere until I realized that, though I considered marijuana a drug, which, by definition, it is, this person completely disagreed that it was a drug. As a result, the conversation was doomed. The person refused the definition.

So, calm down, and get on the same page.

If you really want to know about the subject, instead of asking the Nazis of the world, go to the source of the subject and find out.

— An OT 3 Scientologist

 
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Source Code

“That which men fear, they become. That’s a cinch. That which men resist, they become. Now, you know the Christian idea of turn the other cheek? Well, let’s get a comparable idea in Scientology. Not comparing Scientology to Christianity, but let’s get the comparable idea. The Christian idea of turn the other cheek had a little truth in it. Let’s get the comparable idea, and that is assume the other viewpoint. No more vicious and horrible person could possibly be alive than one who is willing to assume any viewpoint whatsoever. The MEST universe has rigged up more fairy tales to condemn people who would do this….You see, the MEST universe really wouldn’t be here at all unless people didn’t object to shifting viewpoints. People insist continually on a persistent viewpoint. They say you must have the same viewpoint over and over, day after day, year after year, century after century, and if they could enforce it they would put you into solid concrete and give you just the one viewpoint at the center of the solid concrete and say, ‘There you are and you had certainly better stay there or we’ll get impatient with you.’ You can’t control anybody who won’t assume the same viewpoint continuously.” — L. Ron Hubbard, April 26, 1954

Avast, Ye Mateys

“GOOD NEWS: With the return of 3 Missionaires a flood of good news was brought. The US Court of Appeals fired back and refused the FDA petition for a re-hearing in the meter case. So that is definitely ended. John McMasters has been touring with huge successes in the Western US and Hawaii and has been seeing many wigs in higher favourable interviews and has been on many national TV shows in the US all very well done. He has been highly commended and his mission ordered to be reinforced. We have a lovely new base all bought. We have been invited to participate in a beachhead. Plans are afoot from a new active group to open up Latin America. They already have a fine beachhead secured.” — The Commodore, April 26, 1969

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“L. Ron Hubbard was right: Christianity is today an Illuminati trap. The hearth of Judaism and Christianity, Jerusalem, is today the house of the Illuminati. ‘Biblical prophecy’ is under the control of the New World Order. According to Capt Bill Robertson of the Freezone, the auditing research indicates that the Illuminati founder, Adam Weshaupt, is the chap that has sunk planet Earth in disaster and chaos since 70 million years ago. So Illuminati disclosure is the very truth.”

 
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Past is Prologue

2001: The St. Petersburg Times reported that a Scientology-affiliated community group has reversed its decision to refuse memorial bricks donated by Scientology critics. “Lisa McPherson will be memorialized in a downtown alley next door to a Church of Scientology building. A group that sold hundreds of engraved bricks to beautify the city-owned alley has reversed an earlier decision, deciding to allow a McPherson memorial brick and two other bricks submitted by Scientology critics. ‘The decision not to order three bricks has been rescinded,’ Citizens for a Better Clearwater wrote in a letter received this week by John Merrett, an attorney for the Scientology critics. ‘Upon receipt, these bricks will be placed in the Cleveland Street Gas Light Alley with other inscribed bricks.’ The brick request by Jeff Jacobsen and Stacy Brooks, both staff members at a Scientology watchdog group named the Lisa McPherson Trust, touched off a tremor downtown, demonstrating how seemingly innocuous efforts can become controversial because of the relationship between the church and its opponents.”

 
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Random Howdy

“If it weren’t for the celebrities, David Miscavige would have less name recognition than Marshall Applewhite or whoever is running the Raelians.”

 
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Preliminary hearing set for May 18.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for May 20 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Pretrial conference set for Apr 29.

Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District. Petition for review by state supreme court denied Dec 11.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 30, Judge Kleifield granted Scientology’s motions to compel arbitration. June 7: Status conference.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Dec 17: Feshbachs sign court judgment obliging them to pay entire $3.674 million tax debt, plus interest from Nov 19.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs. Case appealed on Dec 24.

Concluded litigation:
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.

 
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SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks

The Australian Seven News network cancelled a 10-part investigation of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks. Read the transcripts of the episodes and judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.

SCIENTOLOGY: FAIR GAME

After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.

LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH

An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.

SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z

Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

 
Other links: Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?

 
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THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Scientology shows that if government gives it even an inch, it tries to take over like a virus
[TWO years ago] Scientology, breaking bad: Signs of desperation here and abroad
[THREE years ago] Kim Poff, finally free to speak: ‘I want this story out. I want people to know what Narconon did.’
[FOUR years ago] Scientology retaliates against Clearwater land deal by trying to shiv a beloved dolphin
[FIVE years ago] SCIENTOLOGY LEADER DAVID MISCAVIGE THREATENS TO SUE FATHER OVER BOOK
[SIX years ago] EXCLUSIVE: Secretly taped briefing uncovers precarious state of Scientology right now
[SEVEN years ago] Selling out, and other strange side-effects of Scientology watching
[EIGHT years ago] RAID ON SCIENTOLOGY’S DRUG REHAB CENTER IN ATLANTA
[TEN years ago] Is Tom Cruise Worthy of a Simon Wiesenthal Award?

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on April 26, 2021 at 07:00

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