Scientology - Is This a Religion?

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Marburg Journal of Religion: Volume 4, No. 1 (July 1999)

Scientology -- Is this a Religion?

Stephen A Kent

University of Alberta, Edmonton/Alberta, Canada

Department of Sociology

eMail: skent@gp!srv!alberta!ca

Abstract

Alt"og" some social scientists insist t"at Scientology is a religion, t"e more appropriate position to

take is t"at t"e organi#ation is a mlti$faceted transnational corporation t"at "as religion as only one

of its many components! %t"er components inclde political aspirations, bsiness ventres, cltral

prodctions, psedo$medical practices, psedo$psyc"iatric claims, and &among its most devotedmembers '"o "ave (oined t"e Sea %rgani#ation), an alternative family strctre! Sea %rgani#ation*s

(ob demands appear to allo' little time for +ality c"ild rearing! Most distrbing, "o'ever, abot

Sea %rgani#ation life is t"at members can be sb(ect to etremely severe and intrsive pnis"ments

t"rog" secrity c"ecks, internal "earings called -Committees of Evidence,- and a forced labor and

re$indoctrination program kno'n as t"e .e"abilitation ro(ect 0orce &.0) and its "ars"est

companion, t"e .0*s .0! 1aken toget"er, t"ese "ars" and intrsive pnis"ments likely violate a

nmber of "man rig"ts clases as otlined by t'o United 2ations statements!

1"is is a revised and corrected version of a s"orter presentation given at t"e 34t" Deutscher

Evangelischer Kirchentag , 5ne 36, 7884, 9eip#ig, ermany)

• 7) ;ntrodction

• 3) ;s Scientology a .eligionsiness

• =!=) Cltral

• =!?) sedo$Medicine

• =!) sedo$syc"iatry

• =!) Scientology as an Alternative 0amily Strctre

• ?) 1"e .e"abilitation ro(ect 0orce $$ 0orced 9abor and .eindoctrination

• ) 1"e .0*s .0

• ) >rain'as"ing

• 4) Scientology and robable Bman .ig"ts Abses

• $$ >ibliograp"y

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1) Introduction

.arely, if ever, in t"e post$'ar period "ave diplomats from t"e sperpo'ers trobled t"emselves

over +estions abot t"e alleged religios natre of a transnational organi#ation! Conse+ently, t"e

recent debate bet'een ermany and t"e United States over t"e alleged religios natre of

Scientology is remarkable! 1"e fact t"at erman officials, instittions, and citi#ens are seeking

additional information abot t"is organi#ation is nderstandable, and per"aps t"is article 'ill

provide additional insig"ts t"at may "elp to clarify t"e isses in t"is debate!

0or t"e record, ; did not "ave any contact 'it" erman parliamentary officials before ; prepared t"is

article, '"ic" ; originally presented as a talk in a session of t"e 7884 Detsc"er Evangelisc"er

irc"entag! "ile in Canada and 'riting t"e talk, ; spoke by telep"one for abot ten mintes 'it"

one erman professor '"o 'as involved 'it" t"e erman government investigation &called t"e

En+ete Commission), bt 'e only toc"ed briefly on isses related to Scientology! 1"e erman

Kirchentag a bi$annal, 'eek$long, 9t"eran C"rc" eventF paid my air fare and my "otel in

9eip#ig, and Berliner Dialog a *conter$clt* C"ristian$based maga#ineF covered some of my

epenses, bt no person or instittion paid me a fee or "onorarim! ; prepared my talk '"ile in

Canada, and did not conslt 'it" anyone in ermany or else'"ere abot its content! ; "ad complete

freedom to 'rite '"atever ; 'anted arond t"e general topic of t"e debate abot Scientology*s

religios claims!

As a person trained in religios stdies, ; find t"e debate abot Scientology*s alleged religios natre

to be an interesting and important one! ;t s"old not be, "o'ever, t"e only isse over '"ic" 'e

evalate t"e erman$American debate over Scientology*s religios claims! ;ntimately related to t"e

religios +estion are "man rig"ts +estions! Some people assme t"at religios practice is a

garanteed "man rig"t, bt even a sperficial eamination of 'orld events s"o's t"at many

atrocities occr in t"e name of od or religion! Universally, t"erefore, religios belief mst receive

absolte protection, bt religios practice stemming from that belief mst receive protection only

ntil it begins to violate t"e rig"ts of its members or nonmembers! 0ollo'ing from t"is last point, ;

arge t"at even if Scientology contains a t"eology and cosmology t"at some members interpret

religiosly, its organi#ational actions and be"aviors raise serios "man rig"ts +estions! it"ot

'anting to revie' t"e prononcements from all erman officials abot t"e organi#ation, ; conclde

t"at t"e erman government "ad good reason to investigate Scientology*s activities in its contry! ;t

also "ad compelling reasons to in+ire abot t"e 'ell$being of erman citi#ens in Scientology

facilities in t"e United States and else'"ere! ; 'ill s"are (st a fe' of t"e docments t"at led me to

t"ese conclsions, and some of t"em are available in nmeros 'orld 'ide 'eb sites on t"e

;nternet! "ile ; am a'are of t"e "istorical and cltral contet in '"ic" t"e debate abot

Scientology in ermany is occrring &see Be"am and oe'e, 7888), ; remain convinced t"at

erman officials and ot"ers based t"eir concerns abot t"e organi#ation primarily pon analyses of

t"e organi#ation*s stated policies and sanctioned practices &inclding many of t"e ones t"at ; am

abot to discss)!

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2) Is Scientology a Religion?

0or a nmber of my social scientific colleages arond t"e 'orld, t"e debate bet'een ermany and

t"e U!S! revolved arond t"e +estion of Scientology*s religios claims! Many of my social

scientific colleages "ad eamined some Scientology docments and possibly participated in some

Scientology events, and t"ey "ad dedced t"at t"e organi#ation is religios in natre! >ryan .!

ilson &b! 783), for eample, '"o is a respected >ritis" sociologist of religion, conclded -t"at

Scientology mst indeed be regarded as a religion- &ilson, 7886: 3GG)! Be reac"ed t"is conclsion

after comparing Scientology*s belief system 'it" t'enty c"aracteristics sally fond 'it"in '"at

"e called -kno'n religions- &ilson, 7886: 348)! Significantly for t"e crrent debate in t"is contry,

"e dismissed "istorical information from t"e early 786s abot Dianetics presenting itself as -a

mental t"erapy and Scientology a science!- Specifically 'it" t"ese early self$representations in

mind, ilson insisted t"at -even if it cold be conclsively s"o'n t"at Scientology took t"e title of

*c"rc"* specifically to secre at la' as a religion, t"at 'old say not"ing abot t"e stats of t"e

belief$system, and it is 'it" t"e belief system t"at 'e are specifically concerned- &ilson, 7886:

3G3$3G=)!7F

7) Note: -- Undobtedly becase of t"is interpretation, ilson "as become a c"ampion of Scientology*s

religios claims &see also ilson, n!d!: =) and t"e organi#ation alldes to "im &-tF"e foremost

sociologist in t"e 'orld-) as an academic '"o conclded -t"at Scientology 'as setting t"e trend for t"e

37st centry for all religions $$ as it offers practical soltions for people*s problems in t"e real 'orld-

&;nternational Association of Scientologists, 788: 76F)! Scientology also employs "is opinion in arging

before an American cort t"at t"e organi#ation "as t"e rig"t to keep secret its pper level materials

&ilson, 788?: 77)!

;n fact, ; "ave made precisely t"e argment t"at ilson dismisses! ;n a stdy t"at F Berliner Dialog

& Heft 7$84) translated into erman, and in anot"er stdy t"at ; "ope to pblis" soon, ; s"o' t"at 9!

.on Bbbard &Scientology*s fonder) claimed t"at Scientology 'as a religion becase "e sa' t"e

claim as a marketing device to make money and avoid taes &ent, 7884b: 3ffH Miller, 78G4: 788$

36=, 336) as 'ell as a 'ay -to redce t"e likeli"ood of governmental interventions against it for

allegedly practising medicine 'it"ot a license- &ent, 788: =6)! Moreover, Scientology denies its

reptedly religios natre if it is attempting to enter a contry t"at mig"t react adversely to religios

proselyti#ation &sc" as 5apan or reece ent, 7884a: 7G$78F)! 2evert"eless, t"e "istorical reasons be"ind Scientology*s religios claims, as 'ell as t"e organi#ation*s selectivity in making t"e claims,

do not diminis" t"e probability t"at many Scientologists vie' t"eir commitment as a religios one!

0rom a social scientific perspective, and probably from a legal one as 'ell, t"e ob(ective -trt"- of

an ideology is not t"e determinant of a grop*s -religios- designation! Mere belief in spernatral

beings or forces may be enog" to get an ideology designated as religios, even if t"e origins or

doctrines of t"e belief system are "ig"ly sspect! Along t"ese lines, t"e inspirational figre in t"e

sociology of religion, Ma eber, refsed to eclde c"arlatans from "is identification of

c"arismatic figres, since the devotion of followers was a far more salient fact than authenticity!

After mentioning t'o types of c"arismatic figres, eber added t"at -aFnot"er type is represented

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by t"e fonder of a ma(or fait"F, '"o may "ave been a very sop"isticated s'indler &alt"og" t"is

cannot be definitely establis"ed)- &eber, 78G: 3?3)! Similarly, from a social scientific

perspective, a belief system is religios if it contains spposedly spernatral elements, regardless

of t"e accracy of t"ose elements! er"aps nlike t"e religios fonder '"om eber named,Bbbard*s sop"isticated s'indle "as been eposed by a nmber of researc"ers &for eample, Atack,

7886H ent, 788H Miller, 78G4) '"o "ave s"o'n t"at "is religios alignment 'as prely epedient!

2o', "o'ever, many of "is follo'ers see t"eir lives in t"e contet of t"e doctrines t"at "e

developed!

3) Scientology as a Multi-Faceted ransnational

Even if 'e grant t"e point t"at Scientology cosmology and soteriology "ave spernatral elements

t"at classify t"e belief$system as religios &regardless of t"ese elements* sspect "istory), neit"er

government officials nor society at large s"old necessarily grant Scientology religios stats for prposes of receiving societal benefits! .at"er t"an strggling over '"et"er or not to label

Scientology as a religion, ; find it far more "elpfl to vie' it as a mltifaceted transnational

corporation, only one element of '"ic" is religios! Coinciding 'it" spernatral claims are e+ally

important seclar dimensions relating to political aspirations, bsiness operations, cltral

prodctions, psedo$medical practice, psedo$psyc"iatric practice, social services &some of '"ic"

are of dbios +ality), and alternative family strctres! A fe' eamples of eac" dimension 'ill

sffice, bt contless eamples of eac" one eist t"rog"ot bot" Scientology*s literatre and t"e

social be"avior of its members! 1"e most salient aspect of Scientology, "o'ever, is t"e totalitarian,

some 'old say fascistic, se of po'er t"at "olds t"e organi#ation toget"er! ; 'ill speak abot some

of t"ese totalitarian ses of po'er, and in doing so it 'ill be very clear t"at t"e erman government

took t"e only appropriate avene open to it!

3!1) "olitics

Scientology*s political aspirations "ave srfaced at varios times t"rog"ot its nearly fifty year

"istory, 'it" t"e organi#ation involving itself 'it" politicians or political strctres in ."odesia &in

78), reece &in 78G to 788), Morocco &in 7843), and in t"e .ssian city of erm &'"ere it 'as

training city officials in Bbbard Management ideology)! %bservers 'ondered abot t"e fate of

Scientology training to Albanian government officials after t"e recent poplar prisings and socialcollapse in t"e late 7886s &see ent, 7884a: 74$7G)!

3!2) #usiness

At times related to its political aspirations &as in erm) are Scientology*s programs designed to train

bsiness eectives and professionals, often specifically targeting personnel in medically related

areas! 1"rog" an organi#ation named ;SE &orld ;nstitte of Scientology Enterprises),

Scientology offers a bsiness consltancy and management program! A recent pblication claims

t"at -;SE mFembers form a net'ork of "ig"ly trained consltants in Bbbard Management

1ec"nology '"o can provide yo 'it" tailor$made training programs to sit yor company*s needs-

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&;SE ;nternational, 788?b)! ;SE programs target varios clients t"rog" nmeros companies,

and in ermany and ot"er parts of Erope t"e best kno'n ;SE company is U$Man &see, for

eample, ;SE ;nternational, 788?a)! 0or all practical prposes, t"is dimension of Scientology is

seclar, regardless of "o' t"e organi#ation portrays it!

3!3) $ultural

Cltrally, Scientology "as an entire indstry devoted to t"e prodction and dissemination of

Bbbard*s 'ritings and ideological material to bot" members and otsiders! 1"e Scientology o'ned

and operated &and no' ta eempt) >ridge blications, for eample, prodced a volme solely

dedicated to The Fiction of L. on Hubbard &idder, 788?), '"ic" discsses "is 'ritings of

esterns, adventre stories, mystery and detective stories, romance, fantasy, science fiction, plays,

and screenplays &among ot"ers), and makes little if any mention of "is spposedly -religios-

'ritings! 1"e actor and Scientology pblic relations officer, 5o"n 1ravolta &Anderson, 78G6: =HC"rc" of Scientology ;nternational, 788?), is 'orking on a movie version of Bbbard*s science

fiction 'ork, Battlefield Earth, '"ile a team of Bolly'ood prodcers is developing a film version

of t"e Bbbard plp novel, To the !tars &.eters, 7884)!

As t"ese crrent film prodctions sggest, Scientology is eager to be involved 'it" pro(ects t"at

disseminate its ideology to nonmembers t"rog" "ig" profile cltral ndertakings! %ne vital aspect

of t"is dissemination effort involves cltivating t"e conversion and spport of society*s cltral

celebrities! >eginning in 78, Bbbard*s -ro(ect Celebrity- targeted '"at "e called -prime

commnicators- 'it" t"e "ope t"at t"ey 'old -mention- Scientology -no' and again- &BbbardF,

78)! >y 7883, t"irteen -celebrity centres- eisted arond t"e 'orld &C"rc" of Scientology;nternational, 7883: ==), and t"eir prpose 'as -tFo flly tili#e opinion leaders and Scientologists

to permeate society and get all t"e different pblics tili#ing 9.B*s 1ec"nology in every aspect!!!-

&5ent#sc" and 0oster, 7844: 7)! 1"is organi#ational ps" to get everyone sing Bbbard*s so$called

tec"nology "as dramatic seclar implications for sc" isses of "o' to organi#e an office, "o' to

generate and "andle money, and "o' to measre office gro't"! ;t presmably also may "ave

implications for people*s spernatral belief systems, bt it is nderstandable t"at critics see

Scientology celebrities as participating in t"e dissemination of seclar Scientology goals!

;n addition to free pblicity for Scientology, celebrities also give large financial contribtions back

to t"e organi#ation! Bad Scientologist C"ick Corea, for eample, received money from t"e >aden$rttemberg state cltre ministry for performing at state$sponsored events, t"en some of t"at

income may "ave become part of "is contribtions to t"e ;nternational Association of

Scientologists! 1"e avo'ed prpose of t"is organi#ation is -tFo nite, advance, spport and protect

t"e Scientology religion and Scientologists in all parts of t"e 'orld, so as to ac"ieve t"e Aims of

Scientology as originated by 9! .on Bbbard- &;nternational Association of Scientologists, 788:

back coverF)! ;n one of t"e Association*s 788 maga#ines, bot" "e and actress irstie Alley eac"

appeared as "aving contribted &US) I766,666 &C"rc" of Scientology Celebrity Centre

;nternational, 788: GH ;nternational Association of Scientologists Administration, 788: ?8, see 6)!

>y comparison, t"e I3,666 contribtion t"at 5o"n 1ravolta made seems small &C"rc" of

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Scientology Celebrity Centre ;nternational, 788: GH see ;nternational Association of Scientologists

Administration, 788: 6)! "at many ermans kno', "o'ever, is t"at t"is organi#ation provided

grants to t"e C"rc" of Scientology ;nternational in order to fnd t"e series of anti$ermany ads in

t"e "ew #or$ Times and t"e %ashington &ost &bot" beginning, ; believe, on September 7, 788?)!Utili#ing cltral prodctions and prominent cltral figres, t"erefore, to disseminate all aspects of

Bbbard*s so$called tec" is an intimate aspect of t"e organi#ation*s overall pblic relations and &it

'old seem) financial strategies!

3!%) "seudo-Medicine

A glimpse into Scientology*s psedo$medical practices $$ in t"is case one t"at also relates to a social

service effort of dbios effectiveness $$ is its 2arconon program! 1"is program prports to rid t"e

body of drg and radiation resides, and a 788 Scientology pblication told a story abot an

American lf ar veteran sffering from lf ar Syndrome '"o -arrived to do t"edetoification program!!! complainingF of disorientation, di##iness, memory loss and mscle and

(oint pain! Be finis"ed t"e program and "as no more di##iness, memory loss %. mscle and (oint

pain $$ A99 "is symptoms "ave been "andled 1%1A99J- &C"rc" of Scientology ;nternational,

788: G original emp"asisF)! .ecently Scientologists applied t"e 2arconon program to c"ildren

sffering from radiation$related illnesses in C"ernobyl &>ev, 7884)!

.egardless of "o' Scientology portrays t"ese claims, t"ey are medical ones t"at prport to offer a

social service, bt one abot '"ic" eperts remain "ig"ly critical! ;n t"e American state of

%kla"oma, for eample, a 7887 mental "ealt" board eamined a 2arconon program and conclded

t"at -t"ere is sbstantial credible evidence, as fond by t"e >oard, t"at t"e 2arconon rogram isnsafe and ineffective- &Mental Bealt" >oard, 7887H reprodced in 9obsinger, 7887: G)!

3!&) "seudo-"sychiatry

Anot"er dimension of psedo$medical claims are psedo$psyc"iatric ones! Scientology*s "atred of

psyc"iatry is 'ort"y of a stdy in itself, and some of its o'n docments very clearly indicate t"at

Scientology*s primary social prpose is t"e destrction of psyc"iatry and its replacement 'it"

Scientology tec"ni+es! ;n, for eample, a confidential docment 'ritten for Scientology*s

intelligence branc" &t"en kno'n as t"e ardian %ffice), t"e nidentified at"or, '"o most

certainly 'as Bbbard "imself, "ad a section entitled -1"e ar!- 1"e tet in t"is section stated t"at

-oFr 'ar "as been forced to become *1o take over absoltely t"e field of mental "ealing on t"is

planet in all forms!*- 1"e net sentences "ave significant implications for t"e crrent religios

debate! -1"at 'as not t"e original prpose! 1"e original prpose 'as to clear Eart"! 1"e battles

sffered developed t"e data t"at 'e "ad an enemy '"o 'old "ave to be gotten ot of t"e 'ay and

t"is meant 'e 'ere at 'ar- &BbbardF, 788: F)! 1"e central target in Scientology*s efforts to

-take over t"e field of mental "ealing- is psyc"iatry! ;ndeed, several Scientology organi#ations,

inclding t"e Citi#ens Commission on Bman .ig"ts, t"e ;nternational Association of

Scientologists, and Freedom maga#ine are 'orking diligently in attempting to ac"ieve t"e goal of

-Eradicating syc"iatry- &eiland, 7886: 37)!

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;ndication of organi#ationally inflenced damage cased by Sea %rg parents to t"eir c"ildren

formed t"e basis of a critical article t"at appeared in a ma(or ne'spaper of t"e 0lorida city near to

'"ere t"e Scientology organi#ation called 0lag is based! ;n 2ovember, 7887, t"e !t. &etersburg

Times ran a long article entitled, -Scientology*s C"ildren,- and it contained an ecerpt abot aerman mot"er and "er son:

• Eva leinberg moved from ermany to Clear'ater 'it" "er 8$year old son, Mark, in 78G!

S"e "ad (oined a grop of Scientology staff members called t"e *Sea %rg!*

• Eva 'as told s"e 'old "ave t'o "ors a day for family time! >t 'it" "er travel time from

'ork, s"e said s"e actally "ad only one "or 'it" "er son! >ecase of t"e 73$"or

'orkdays, s"e coldn*t al'ays stay a'ake for t"e fll "or!

• *; 'old compromise 'it" my son,* s"e said! After eating, s"e and "er son 'old divide t"e

remaining "alf$"or of t"eir family time! *; 'old play a game 'it" "im for 7 mintes, and ;

'old go to lay do'n for 7 mintes and sleep!*• "ile Eva 'orked, Mark cleaned p arond t"e motel or played 'it" friends!

• Abot a year later, Eva and Mark left t"e c"rc"!

• Asked '"at "e t"inks of Scientology, Mark, no' 7?, said, *; don*t t"ink it*s good *case t"e

people!!! t"ey don*t get to spend time 'it" t"eir family and it*s real epensive!*

• C"rc" spokesman .ic"ard Ba'ort" said staff Scientologists actally spend t"ree or for

"ors a day 'it" t"eir c"ildren, '"ic" "e said is more t"an t"e average family &reger,

7887: 73A)!

; believe t"e leinbergs* accont rat"er t"an t"e one by t"e Scientology spokesperson becase ; "ad

"eard t"e same scenario &abot parents "aving little time to spend 'it" c"ildren) dring an intervie''it" a former Sea %rg member t"at ; condcted in December, 78G4! At 0lag in 0lorida dring t"e

late 7846s and early 78G6s, infants apparently stayed in a Scientology$rn nrsery dring t"e day

'"en parents 'orked, and sally parents 'old retrn from 'ork at abot :66 in t"e evening and

spend abot an "or$and$a$"alf 'it" t"eir c"ildren before taking t"em back to t"e nrsery at 4:=6 for

bed! arents t"en cag"t a bs back to t"e Sea %rg, and finally did not leave for t"e nig"t ntil

76:=6 or later! My informant told me t"at, in t"e morning, t"ey 'old pick p t"eir c"ildren from

t"e nrsery, "ave t"em dressed and in t"e dining room by 4:=6 AM, drop t"em back at t"e nrsery,

and be on t"e bs going to 'ork by ten mintes past G! 1"is former member added, "o'ever, t"at

-t"ere*d be some people '"o "ad kids '"o didn*t go "ome for t'o or t"ree days in a ro'! 1"ey*d be'orking all nig"t- &ent intervie' 'it" 0ern, 78G4: ??, see ?=)!

1"e leinbergs* accont abot limited family time also rings tre becase of a series of internal

memos &of '"ic" ; "ave copies) from Scientology*s acific Area Command &in 9os Angeles,

California) beginning in early 2ovember, 78G8! 1"ese memos centre arond an Eective Directive

t"at t"e commanding officer issed '"ic" abolished the one hour nightly family time! Be cited t'o

reasons for doing so! 0irst, "e claimed, -aF t"orog" researc" sicF revealed t"at t"ere is no 9.B 9!

.on BbbardF reference covering Sea %rg members taking 7 "or family time per day! Also to "ave

sc" break in sc"edles in t"e middle of prodction "as been fond to be detrimental to

prodction!!!!- ;nstead "e 'anted people to 'ork t"e etra "or a day in order to bild p t"eir

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prodction otpt so t"at t"ey 'old receive a -liberty day- &oessan, 78G8) once every t'o

'eeks &S"apiro, 78G8)!

Several parents ob(ected, and t"eir ob(ections 'ere revealing! %ne person asked r"etorically, -"Fo'

can one keep track of one*s c"ild 'it"ot even an "or a day 'it" t"e c"ild< ; BAKE seen staff distracted by 2%1 caring for t"eir c"ildren and t"is time cold be 'ell tili#ed for t"is- &S'art#,

78G8)! Anot"er person cited t"e tet of a Bbbard tape '"ere Scientology*s fonder complained

abot a condition t"at "e "ad seen &and '"ic" "e said "ad eisted in t"e acific Area Command): -;

'is" somebody 'old tell me '"y 'e consistently "ad to %.DE. parents to see t"eir c"ildren

'"en t"ey "adn*t seen t"em for 'eeks- &Bbbard, 1ranscript of 9.B 1aped >riefing to CS$L and

ers Comm 33 Sept 4=H attac"ed to S"apiro, 78G8)! 1"is same person ackno'ledged in "is letter of

protest t"at -iFn t"e 78 years ; "ave been in t"e Sea %rg in AC t"is condition &parental neglect,

etc!) "as several times been t"e sorce of ma(or pset and entrblation agitationF on C"rc" lines-

&S"apiro, 78G8 rond brackets in originalF)! 1aken toget"er, t"e intervie' material, mediaacconts, internal policy directive, and responses point to t"e fact t"at parents* time 'it" t"eir

c"ildren is severely constrained and sometimes eliminated becase of t"e organi#ational pressre

and (ob demands nder '"ic" Sea %rg members 'ork! ;t seems t"at Scientology, in its Sea %rg

manifestation, becomes somet"ing akin to an alternative or -fictive- family strctre to its members

&see Cart'rig"t and ent, 7883: =?G$=?8), receiving more time and commitment t"an t"eir o'n

c"ildren!

%n a related point, t"e ne' Sea %rg family to '"ic" adlts devote t"eir lives may at times place

c"ildren in medically detrimental sitations! 1"is fictive family may not al'ays be a medically

responsible one! 1"e informant '"om ; intervie'ed in 784G, for eample, complained to me t"at-t"e nrsery conditions 'ere terrible!- S"e related t"at, in one nrsery room, -t"ere 'ere, ; t"ink,

siteen babies in t"e room, all nder a year old, and t"rog"ot t"e '"ole day, t"ere 'ere t"ree

nannies '"o did s"ifts in t"at room, looking after siteen babies all nder a year old- &ent

intervie' 'it" 0ern, 78G4: ?G)! Under t"ese conditions, c"ildren developed medical problems

&according to my informant, 0ern), becase t"e facility did not "ave an isolation nrsery!

Conse+ently, common c"ild"ood illnesses &sc" as ear infections) spread rapidly among t"e

c"ildren and remained in t"e nrsery poplation for a long time! 1o spport "er assertion, t"is

informant s"o'ed me medical records t"at s"e kept of "er c"ild*s visits to doctors '"ile t"e c"ild

'as nder nrsery care, and compared t"em 'it" similar records from after t"e time t"at s"e and "er

c"ild left Sea %rg and t"e nrsery arrangement! 1"e c"ild made seventeen visits to t"e doctor*s

office dring an eig"t mont" period '"ile in t"e nrsery, t"en only for visits in t"e t'enty$nine

mont"s follo'ing t"e family*s departre from t"e organi#ation &ent intervie' 'it" 0ern, 78G4: ?8$

6)!

.esearc"ers al'ays mst be catios in accepting as fact t"e accont of a single person, bt ; "eard

similar stories abot t"e condition of c"ildren*s facilities in Scientology*s c"ild care program on t"e

ot"er side of t"e American continent $$ 9os Angeles, California! 1"e person '"o related t"e accont

"ad occasion to visit t"e c"ildren*s facility &called t"e Cadet %rg) in t"e late 7846s or early 78G6s,

and s"e sa' an infant '"o 'as t"e c"ild of a man s"e kne'! 1"is c"ild, s"e stated:

9


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'as very, very ill and s"e 'as laying in a rine soaked crib and s"e 'as $$ s"e (st "ad "er

diaper on!!!! S"e "ad lots of, like, little frit flies and gnats on "er body and s"e "ad been so

ill t"at s"e "ad tremendos amonts of mcos plgging "er nose and "er eyes 'ere, like,

'elded s"t 'it" mcos and ;, ; (st snapped in my "ead &ent ;ntervie' 'it" at, 7884:=?)!

After t"is incident of allegedly 'itnessing severe c"ild neglect, t"e person began plotting "o' s"e

'old leave t"e organi#ation!

1"e final eample of alleged c"ild neglect is docmented in a report filed by t"e commanding

officer of t"e Cadet Estates %rgani#ation in late %ctober, 78G8, concerning t"e "ygiene of t"ree

c"ildren $$ ages ?, G, and 76 or 77! 1'o of t"e c"ildren "ad lice, and for one of t"em it 'as a

recrring problem! A gardian 'as in c"arge of t"em, bt s"e -is "erself on mission +ite often!-

1"at is to say, t"e organi#ation fre+ently sent "er a'ay on assignments!F 1"e report contined by

stating t"at, -'F"ile t"e gardian 'as on a mission, t"e kids 'ere picked p at nig"t by anot"er staff member t"at sic: '"oF lives net door, and t"e little one 'old be brog"t in in t"e morning

'"ile t"e ot"er t'o older once sic: onesF 'old 'alk to t"e Cadet %rg by t"emself sicF! 1"e

c"ildren 'old dress t"emself sicF and 'e "ave no data '"o does t"e landry or room "ygiene for

t"e c"ildren- &abriele, 78G8: 7)! e mst be carefl '"en interpreting t"is data on possible c"ild

neglect or endangerment, since none of it is crrent! Sfficient indicators eist, "o'ever, t"at

investigative officials in t"e United States and else'"ere s"old eamine Scientology*s treatment of

Sea %rg c"ildren!

>ecase t"e attitde among some Sea %rg leaders"ip appears to be t"at c"ildren "inder adlts from

performing t"eir vital assignments, researc"ers s"old not be srprised to learn of pressres t"at Sea%rg 'omen felt to eit"er abort pregnancies or give$p c"ildren for adoption! My 78G4 informant

told me t"at '"en Sea %rg operated on s"ips dring t"e mid 7846s, 'omen kne' t"at t"ey 'ere not

allo'ed to raise c"ildren on t"e vessels! Conse+ently, t"ey eperienced pressre to "ave abortions!

S"e told me t"at, -on t"e s"ip, ; kno' of a lot of people t"at sic: '"oF "ad abortions, becase t"ey

didn*t 'ant to leave t"e s"ip! ;t 'asn*t like anybody said *Jo "ave got to get an abortion!* ;t 'as

more an implied t"ing! ;f yo don*t yo*re going to leave- &ent intervie' 'it" 0ern, 78G8: ?7$?3)!

Jears later ; sa' t"e same pressres described in a 788? legal declaration by Mary 1abayoyon, '"o

became a Scientologist in 784, (oined Sea %rg in 7847, and stayed in it ntil "er departre in 7883!

S"e stated t"at in 78G, '"ile on t"e Scientology base in Bemet, California, -members of t"e Sea%rg 'ere forbidden to "ave any more c"ildren if t"ey 'ere to stay on post,F and t"e Bbbard

tec"nology 'as applied to coercively persade s to "ave abortions so t"at 'e cold remain on

post- &M! 1abayoyon, 788?: 3)! 1"e pressre came partly t"rog" '"at Scientology called -et"ics

"andling,- '"ic" involved t"e organi#ation pressing people to conform to Bbbard*s policies and

t"e organi#ation*s directives! 1abayoyon "erself -gave p my c"ild de to my greatly misgided

obligation and dedication to t"e Sea %rg- &M! 1abayoyon, 788?: ?)! S"e relin+is"ed "er c"ild after

being -indoctrinated to believe t"at ; s"old never pt my o'n personal desires a"ead of t"e

accomplis"ment of t"e prpose of t"e Sea %rg- &M! 1abayoyon, 788?: )!

1aken toget"er, t"e intervie's, legal declarations, media acconts, and internal docments present

1"


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trobling glimpses into t"e lives of Scientology*s most committed members! Sea %rg obligations

override many personal and family obligations and responsibilities, and devotion to t"e Scientology

case often appears to take priority over t"e needs of c"ildren! E+ally distrbing, "o'ever, are

acconts t"at some older c"ildren and teenagers "ave "ad to endre, along 'it" Sea %rg adlts, t"eabses of Scientology*s forced labor and reindoctrination programs! Alt"og" several labor and

intensive instrction programs "ave operated 'it"in t"e Scientology organi#ation over t"e years,

among t"e most intense ones is t"e .e"abilitation ro(ect 0orce $$ sally (st called t"e .0!

%) he Rehabilitation "ro*ect Force -- Forced +abour and Re-indoctrination

"en Sea %rg members commit '"at t"e organi#ation considers to be serios deviations &sc" as

dramatic E$meter readings, nsatisfactory (ob performance, or (ob disrption inclding c"allenges

to senior officialsF), t"en t"ey likely 'ind p in t"e .0! Even discssing t"e policies and

tec"ni+es t"at Bbbard 'rote by sing ideas ot"er t"an "is o'n 'as called -verbal tec"- andapparently 'as a pnis"able act &see Bbbard, 784: ?)! >egn in early 784? '"ile Bbbard and

"is cre' still 'ere at sea, it no' operates in several locations arond t"e 'orld! Crrently .0s are

rnning at t"e Cedars of 9ebanon bilding in 9os AngelesH on Scientology property near Bemet,

CaliforniaH in t"e facilities in Clear'ater, 0loridaH in t"e >ritis" "ead+arters at East rinstead,

SsseH and in Copen"agen, Denmark! ; cannot confirm t"e eistence of .0s in several ot"er

locations!

;n a p"rase, t"e .0 program places Scientology*s most committed members in forced labor and

re$indoctrination programs! 1"e operation of t"ese programs raises serios "man rig"ts +estions,

and t"eir contination reflects badly on nations t"at allo' t"em to operate nc"ecked! articlar blame mst be placed on American state and federal at"orities, since at least t"ree .0 programs

"ave operated for years on American soil! Moreover, t"e American ;nternal .evene Service

granted Scientology ta eemption despite '"at almost certainly are illegal conditions nder '"ic"

.0 inmates mst 'ork, stdy, and live! Etensive material abot .0s in t"e United States "as

eisted for years in varios cort cases, and no' most of t"is information is readily available on t"e

orld ide eb! erman government officials kno' abot t"e .0, and almost certainly t"is

kno'ledge played a ma(or role in t"e government*s contined opposition to t"e Scientology

organi#ation!

etting assigned to t"e .0 is a tramatic event for most people! rocedrally, '"at is spposed to"appen is t"at leaders call a "earing, kno'n as a -Committee of Evidence,- to evalate a person*s

performance or attitde! A former member described t"is body as -a Scientology trial, '"ere t"e

Committee membersF act as prosectors, (dges and (ry rolled into one- &Atack, 7886: =6)!

Committees sometimes obtain evidence against t"e person from secrity c"ecks &called sec c"ecks

see ent intervie' 'it" Jong, 788?: ?8F), '"ic" t"e organi#ation portrays as -;ntegrity

rocessing- or -Confessional Aditing,- bt '"ic" is really a form of interrogation &Atack, 7886:

7?4)! ;n fact, in 786, Bbbard 'rote a policy called -;nterrogation- abot "o' to se t"e device

kno'n as an E$meter as an interrogation device rat"er t"an merely as a spirital aide in conselling

or aditing sessions as t"e organi#ation represents it to t"e otside 'orld &Bbbard, 786)!

11


12/23


Bbbard "ad sed secrity c"ecks on "is follo'ers since 788, bt t"e most notorios sec c"eck

probably 'as t"e -5o"annesbrg Secrity C"eck,- pblis"ed April 4, 787! ;t consisted of over one

"ndred +estions, almost all of '"ic" in+ire abot previos or crrent participation in a 'ide

range of deviant and criminal acts inclding spying, kidnapping, mrder, drgs, se, andCommnism! 1"e most revealing ones, "o'ever, involved people*s t"og"ts abot Bbbard &called

by "is initials, 9.B) and "is 'ife, Mary Se Bbbard! 1"e sec c"eck specifically asked, -Bave yo

ever "ad any nkind t"og"ts abot 9.B


13/23


&>oards of Directors of t"e C"rc"es of Scientology, 7844: ?)! 1"ey 'ore dark 'orksits and 'ere

pro"ibited from speaking &nless necessary) 'it" persons otside t"e .0, and t"ey ate and slept

separate from ot"er Sea %rg members &>oards of Directors of t"e C"rc"es of Scientology, 7844:

76)! 1"ey "ad to rn every'"ere t"ey 'ent, and often t"ey "ad to rn etra distances for pnis"ment! %n a s"ip, rnning pnis"ments sally meant laps arond t"e deck &ignotti, 7884:

7G$78)! %n land, rnning pnis"ments sometimes meant rnning arond a pole for "ors at a time,

often in "ot sn &see ent ;ntervie' 'it" ignotti, 7884: 33H S! Jong, 788?: )! Severe

restrictions 'ere placed pon visitation rig"ts 'it" sposes or c"ildren &>oards of Directors of t"e

C"rc"es of Scientology, 7844: 76)!

Acconts from former inmates indicate t"at .0 life can be etremely "ars", degrading, and

absive! Certainly eperiences varied some'"at according to year and location, bt Banna

"itfield*s description of .0 at t"e 0ort Barrison Botel in Clear'ater, 0lorida in 784G captres

many common elements from ot"er acconts t"at ; "ave "eard and read:Some of s slept on t"in mattresses on t"e bare cement floor! Some "ad crde bnk beds! 1"ere 'as

no place for clot"es, so 'e lived ot of sitcases and bags '"ic" 'ere kept on bare floors! Some

privacy 'as maintained by "anging s"eets p bet'een bnk beds and bet'een floor mattresses! 1"e

'omen and men "ad separate bat"rooms and toilets bt t"ey 'ere small! e 'ere not allo'ed to

s"o'er longer t"an =6 seconds! e "ad only to rn t"rog" t"e s"o'er and ot t"e ot"er end! 1"ere

'as no spare time for talk or relaation! e a'oke at :=6 A!M! or earlier at times, did "ard labor

and "eavy constrction 'ork and cleaning ntil late afternoon! After aF +ick s"o'er and c"ange of

clot"ing, 'e "ad to adit eac" ot"er and *re"abilitate* orselves ntil 76:=6 !M! or later eac"

evening! 1"ere 'ere no days off, for 'eeks a mont"! e ate or meals in t"e garage or at times int"e dining rooms A01E. normal meals "ad ended! %r food consisted of leftovers from staff! %n

occasions '"ic" seemed like C"ristmas, 'e 'ere able to prepare orselves fres" meals if leftovers

'ere insfficient &"itfield, 78G8: 4$G)!

A similar, bt more passionate, description eists of t"e 0ort Barrison .0 in t"e accont 'ritten by

a 'oman sing t"e psedonym 2efertiti &7884), '"o in trn reprodces ecerpts from ten ot"er

former Scientologists '"o related .0 eperiences aboard t'o Scientology s"ips, 09A at

Clear'ater, 0lorida, acific Area Command in 9os Angeles, and Bappy Kalley near Bemet,

California!

Certainly t"e amont of 'ork t"at .0 members performed varied according to era andcircmstances, bt in some instances conditions became nbelievably bad! 0or eample, ;n a

California .0, former inmate at reported t"at "er .0 cre' -'orked s"ifts of t"irty "ors at a

time- &ent ;ntervie' 'it" at, 7884: 3)! Ber .0 team 'old -start 'orking in t"e morning and

'e 'old 'ork all nig"t into t"e net morning and t"en 'e 'orked t"rog" t"e net day ntil 'e

got or t"irty "ors and t"en 'e*d go to sleep- &ent ;ntervie' 'it" at, 788: 3)!

1"e most etensive description of t"e .0 at Scientology*s facility near Bemet, California appears

in a s'orn declaration by former Sea %rg member Andre 1abayoyon &788?)! 0rom comments t"at

>avaria*s Minister of t"e ;nterior, Dr! nt"er >eckstein, made in a 5anary 7, 7884 press release,

it is clear t"at "e is familiar 'it" t"is declaration! 1abayoyon stated t"at "e spent approimately si

13


14/23


years in t"e .0 dring "is 37 years in t"e organi#ation &A! 1abayoyon, 788?: 4, G)! ;n t"e .0

program t"at "e 'as on beneat" Scientology*s Cedars Sinai Bospital bilding in 9os Angeles, "e

allegedly slept on -a slab inside t"e valt of t"e morge!- ;n t"e .0 in t"e property near Bemet, "e

stayed in -t"e c"icken coop dormitory!!! '"ic" still smelled of c"icken cop droppings sicF- &A!1abayoyon, 788?: 7GH see ent ;ntervie' 'it" Jong, 788?: 36)!

"ile nearly all .0 acconts speak of gards '"o 'ere posted to prevent people from escaping

t"e program, 1abayoyon reported t"at t"e gards at t"e ilman Bot Springs facility &'"ere Sea %rg

staff lived and an .0 operated) 'ere armed &A! 1abayoyon, 788?: 3)! ;ndeed, "e "elped to

constrct t"e facility*s secrity system, '"ic" inclded -t"e perimeter fence, t"e ltra ra#or barriers,

t"e lig"ting of t"e perimeter fence, t"e electronic monitors, t"e concealed microp"ones, t"e grond

sensors, t"e motion sensors and "idden cameras!!!!- Be also said t"at "e trained gards in t"e se of

force, inclding t"e se of 'eapons, many of '"ic" "ad been prc"ased 'it" -C"rc"- money and

are not registered &A! 1abayoyon, 788?: 7, 7)!1"is facility &'"ic" sometimes is called -old- and ot"er times -Bemet- in varios docments) is

less t"an a t'o "or drive from 9os Angeles and Bolly'ood, and on its property apparently are a

nmber of facilities t"at Scientology*s celebrities se! art of t"e labor sed to bild an apartment

for Scientologist and actor 1om Crise allegedly 'as from t"e .0 &A! 1abayoyon, 788?: =)! As

1abayoyon "imself stated, -Fsing .0ers to renovate and reconstrct 1om Crise*s personal and

eclsive apartment at t"e Scientology old base is e+ivalent to t"e se of slave labor for 1om

Crise*s benefit- &A! 1abayoyon, 788?: =)! ;n one instance, '"en Crise*s apartment 'as damaged

by a md slide, -prison i!e!, .0F slave labor- personnel allegedly 'ere -'orked almost arond t"e

clock- to repair it &A! 1abayoyon, 788?: =)!

&) he R"F,s R"F

More etreme t"an t"e .0 is t"e .0*s .0, an instittion even described in one of Scientology*s

o'n dictionaries! According to t"e dictionary definition, t"e first inmate sent to t"e .0*s .0 'as

becase t"e person -considered t"eir sicF .0 assignment amsing- &Bbbard, 784: ?7)! Karios

acconts, "o'ever, also sggest t"at people '"o did not perform according to acceptable .0

standards ended p in t"is etreme program!

Bbbard sccinctly otlined t"e ten restrictions nder '"ic" inmates on t"e .0*s .0 operated!

Si of t"e ten 'ere:

&7) segregated from ot"er .0 members 'it" regard to 'ork, messing eatingF, bert"ing

sleepingF, msters grop assembliesF and any ot"er common activity!

&3) no pay!

&=) no training!

&?) no aditing!

&) may only 'ork on md boes in t"e E/. engine roomF! May not 'ork 'it" .0

members! Else'"ere Bbbard identified md boes as -t"ose areas in t"e bilge '"ic"

14


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collect t"e md ot of t"e bilge 'ater- &Bbbard, 784: =?7)F!

&) si "ors sleep maimm &Bbbard, 784: ?7)!

Andre 1abayoyon, '"o spent 78 days on t"e .0*s .0, smmed p t"e program by saying t"at it

-is designed to totally destroy any individal determinism to not 'ant to do t"e .0- &A!

1abayoyon, 788?: 8)!

Acconts bot" abot people '"o 'ere on t"e program, and from inmates of t"e program itself, are

c"illing, and t"ey reinforce 1abayoyon*s smmation! Monica ignotti, for eample, spoke to me

abot "er five days in t"e .0*s .0 in 784! S"e related t"at:

AFt t"at point ; 'as in a "orrible depression and ; 'as crying almost all t"e time all day long and

;*m sre ; 'as in a state '"ere ; probably 'old "ave been "ospitali#ed if!!! any mental "ealt"

professional "ad seen me t"en *c# ; 'as severely depressed! >t t"ey sent me to t"e .0*s .0 and

; 'as made to go do'n and clean mck from t"e bilges! 1"at 'as my (ob all day long 'as to dot"at, getting p at for in t"e morning and $$ it 'as all day long! And t"en ; 'as allo'ed a s"ort

meal break to eat by myself and t"en ; "ad to go rig"t back do'n t"ere and ; "ad to clean all t"is

sldge ot and t"en paint, paint it!!!! 1"e person in c"arge of t"e .0*s .0F 'old make t"e

prisoners 'rite t"ese essays ntil t"ey got it rig"t, ntil t"ey 'ere saying '"at t"e grop 'anted

t"em to say! So t"at 'as '"ere ; really snapped $$ '"ere ; 'ent into t"is state of complete $$ '"ere ;

didn*t feel anyt"ing any more after t"at! ; 'as completely nmbed ot and ;*d do '"atever t"ey said

and ; didn*t rebel any more after my eperience on t"e .0! ; stopped rebelling for a '"ile &ent

;ntervie' 'it" ignotti, 7884: 3H see ignotti, 78G8: 3G$38)!

2efertiti reported speaking 'it" a 'oman in "er *t"irties on t"e .0*s .0 '"ose ankles 'erec"ained toget"er '"ile s"e 'as performing a -nasty- (ob in t"e basement of t"e 0ort Barrison Botel

in 0lorida &2efertiti, 7884: =)! 0inally, Dennis Erlic" reported t"at, for t"e first day or t'o of "is

time on t"e program in t"e basement at t"e 0ort Barrison, "e 'as locked in a 'ire cage and "ad a

gard otside t"e room &ent ;ntervie' 'it" Erlic", 7884: G)!

A final 'ord mst be said abot t"e .0, t"e .0*s .0, and c"ildren! Some evidence eists t"at

c"ildren may be sb(ect to t"ese programs! Monica ignotti, for eample, reported to me t"at s"e

'as an .0 inmate along 'it" a t'elve year old girl &ent ;ntervie' 'it" ignotti, 7884: =6), and a

posting in t"e alt!religion!scientologyN ne's grop by Steve 5ebson stated t"at "e "ad seen

c"ildren on t"e .0 and one c"ild &'"om "e named) on t"e .0*s .0 &5ebson, 7884)! 0inally, a poorly reprodced docment from Scientology*s acific Area Command &circa 78G8) spoke abot

t"e -need to re$institte t"e C"ildren*s .0- &Co"ee, n!d!)!

%ne "ardly "as to point ot t"at t"e .0 and t"e .0*s .0 are brain'as"ing programs!

Scientology operates t"em to break t"e 'ills of, and correct deviations of, its most committed

members, and t"en to reformlate t"em into persons '"ose personalities directly mimic t"e

organi#ational mold! 1"at mold is itself a reflection of Bbbard*s trobled personality! ; am flly

a'are t"at many of my social scientific colleages insist t"at researc"ers s"old restrict sing t"e

controversial brain'as"ing term only to sitations '"ere t"ere is incarceration and p"ysical

maltreatment &Ant"ony, 7886 :=6?)! 1"e .0 and t"e .0*s .0, "o'ever, meet t"ese criteria!

15


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1"ese t'o programs also sed forced confessions, p"ysical fatige, intense indoctrination t"rog"

etended stdy of t"e leader*s policies and teac"ings, "miliation, and fear! ersons familiar 'it"

t"e early "istory of Scientology are not srprised to see t"at Bbbard sanctioned a brain'as"ing

program for "is follo'ers, since "e almost certainly is t"e at"or of a brain'as"ing manal t"atScientology printed and distribted for years beginning in 78!

') #rainashing

1"e manal t"at Scientology distribted 'as entitled, Brain'%ashing()* + !ynthesis of the ussian

Te,tboo$s on &sychopolitics &Bbbarderia, it 'as eposed as a fake in 7846 by debnker Morris ominsky

&7846)! As ominsky noted, mc" of t"e book 'as -a vicios attack against t"e sciences and

professions of psyc"ology and psyc"iatry, as 'ell as against t"e entire legitimate mental "ealt"

movement- &ominsky, 7846: =G)! Attacks of t"is natre remain a central element in Scientology*sseclar activities, and one former member$trned$critic 'as almost certainly correct '"en "e stated

t"at t"e brain'as"ing book or manal -'Fas secretly at"ored by 9! .on Bbbard in 78!!!!- 1"e

former member also 'as absoltely correct abot t"e importance of t"e brain'as"ing manal '"en

"e conclded t"at Bbbard -incorporated its met"ods into "is organi#ation in t"e mid 786s and

beyond- &Corydon, 788: 764)! %ne t"inks atomatically of t"e .0, bt 'e kno' for certain t"at

Bbbard "ad t"e manal as re+ired reading for members of t"e ardian %ffice &Anonymos,

784?)!

%ne c"apter of t"e brain'as"ing book is especially pertinent to nderstanding Scientology*s

contemporary tactics against ermany and its officials! 1"e organi#ation*s attacks on t"e nationalc"aracter of t"e contryH its continal attempts to paint crrent events in t"e contet of 78=6s

2a#ism &for eample, Freedom Maga#ine, 788


17/23


!!!!

1"e officials of government, stdents, readers, partakers of entertainment, mst all be

indoctrinated, by '"atever means, into t"e complete belief t"at t"e restless, t"e ambitios,

t"e natral leaders, are sffering from environmental malad(stments, '"ic" can only be"ealed by recorse to ScientologyF operatives in t"e gise of mental "ealers!

>y t"s degrading t"e general belief in t"e stats of Man, it is relatively simple, 'it" co$

operation from economic salients being driven into t"e contry, to drive citi#ens apart, one

from anot"er, to bring abot a +estion of t"e 'isdom of t"eir o'n government, and to case

t"em to actively beg for enslavement!

!!!!

As it seems in foreign nations t"at t"e c"rc" is t"e most ennobling inflence, eac" and

every branc" and activity of eac" and every c"rc" mst, one 'ay or anot"er, bediscredited!!!! 1"s, t"ere mst be no standing belief in t"e c"rc", and t"e po'er of t"e

c"rc" mst be denied at every "and!

1"e ScientologyF operative, in "is programme of degradation, s"old at all times bring into

+estion any family '"ic" is deeply religios, and s"old any nerosis or insanity be

occasioned in t"at family, to blame and "old responsible t"eir religios connections for t"e

nerotic or psyc"otic condition! .eligios mst be made synonymos 'it" nerosis and

psyc"osis! eople '"o are deeply religios 'old be less and less "eld responsible for t"eir

o'n sanity, and s"old more and more be relegated to t"e ministrations of ScientologyF

operatives!

>y perverting t"e instittions of a nation and bringing abot a general degradation, by

interfering 'it" t"e economics of a nation to t"e degree t"at privation and depression come

abot, only minor s"ocks 'ill be necessary to prodce, on t"e poplace as a '"ole, an

obedient reaction or an "ysteria &Bbbard


18/23


link it 'it" bot" 2a#ism and crrent erman efforts against it! Bbbard, or '"omever 'rote t"e

brain'as"ing manal*s instrctions abot "o' to degrade a contry, ndobtedly 'old be prod of

"is follo'ers* pblic relations sccesses t"s far!

;ndeed, from a pblic relations perspective, Scientology may be 'inning t"e battle, at least back in 2ort" America! "en, for eample, t"e prestigios "ew #or$ eview of Boo$s pblis"ed an article

on -ermany vrs! Scientology,- t"e erman reporter &'"o 'rites for t"e !uddeutsche -eitung )

strongly implied t"at government officials 'ere scapegoating Scientology! Bis argment seems to

be t"at attacks against t"e grop "ave become part of a moral panic, '"en in fact ot"er social isses,

sc" as doble$digit nemployment, declining state generosity, tensions over Eropean nion, and

problems 'it" national identity, s"old be t"e real areas of concern &5offe, 7884: 36)! 1"is

argment, "o'ever, as 'ell as t"e American State Department "man rig"ts criticisms, s"o's a

profond and increasingly inecsable ignorance of distrbing if not dangeros abses t"at occr as

rotine Scientology policy against many of its members!

.) Scientology and "robable /uan Rights Abuses

Even to concede t"at Scientology may be a religion to many of its ad"erents, t"e basis for erman

governmental opposition to it "as not"ing to do 'it" '"at people believe! ;t "as everyt"ing to do

'it" '"at erman government officials kno' t"at t"e organi#ation does! Conse+ently, t"is

presentation concentrated "eavily on t"e organi#ation*s social$psyc"ological assalts on many of its

most committed members, and ; barely mentioned Scientology*s ideological system! 1"e assalts

t"at ; described are ones t"at erman government officials kno' abot, and 'it" t"at kno'ledge

t"ey "ave no c"oice ot"er t"an to see Scientology as a t"reat to t"e democratic state! ere officialsto grant Scientology religios stats, t"en even more citi#ens t"an already no' do 'old increase

t"eir involvement to t"e point of becoming Sea %rg members, and t"en at least some of t"em 'old

be sb(ect to t"e brtal conditions and programs t"at ; described! it" ermany*s ni+e

eperiences 'it" bot" 2ational Socialism and Commnism, it is nt"inkable t"at responsible

officials 'old facilitate t"e operation of a totalitarian organi#ation t"at t"ro's its members into

forced labor and re$indoctrination programs!

%ne of t"e tragedies in t"is debate is t"at normal Scientologists 'ill feel persected and t"reatened!

1"ese people likely kno' not"ing abot .0 conditions, and t"ey geninely feel t"at Scientology

involvement "as benefited t"em! 1"e organi#ation to '"ic" t"ey belong, "o'ever, appears to becommitting serios "man rig"ts abses! Conse+ently, ; conclde my article by "ig"lig"ting areas

of concern raised by eamining t"e United 2ations* 78?G resoltion entitled The nternational Bill

of Human ights &United 2ations, 788b), and t"e 788 nternational /ovenant on Economic0

!ocial and /ultural ights &United 2ations, 788a)!

0irst, Scientology*s procedres involving committees of evidence, sec c"ecking, gang bang sec

c"ecking, and t"e t'o .0 programs almost certainly violate Articles 8 and 76 of t"e Bill ! Article 8

protects people against -arbitrary arrest, detention or eile- '"ile article 76 garantees -a fair and

pblic "earing by an independent and impartial tribnal, in t"e determination of "is sicF rig"ts and

obligations and of any criminal c"arge against "im- &United 2ations, 788: 3=)!

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Second, Scientology*s pnis"ment of members for merely discssing t"e merits of Bbbard*s

teac"ings, as 'ell as its invasive probing into people*s t"og"ts t"og" sec c"ecking, almost

certainly violate Articles 7G and 78 of t"e Bill t"at deal 'it" bot" -t"e rig"t to freedom of t"og"t,

conscience and religion- and -t"e rig"t to freedom of opinion and epression- &United 2ations,788: 3)!

1"ird, t"e varios Scientology practices and procedres t"at ; discssed may violate Article 74 of

t"e Bill , '"ic" states t"at -nFo one s"all be sb(ected to arbitrary or nla'fl interference 'it" "is

privacy, family, "ome or correspondence, nor to nla'fl attacks on "is "onor and reptation-

&United 2ations, 788: ?8)!

0ort", t"e conditions of t"e .0 and t"e .0*s .0 almost certainly violate Article 4 of t"e

/ovenant , '"ic" discsses -t"e rig"t of everyone to t"e en(oyment of (st and favorable conditions

of 'ork!!!- &United 2ations, 788a: =G)! 1"e article specifically identifies fair 'ages, -aF decent

living for t"emselves and t"eir families!!!, sFafe and "ealt"y 'orking conditions!!!, and rFest,leisre, and reasonable limitation of 'orking "ors and periodic "olidays 'it" pay!!!!- &United

2ations, 788a: =G)! ;ndeed, many Sea %rg (obs t"emselves may not meet t"ese reasonable

standards of propriety, safety, and fairness!

0ift" and finally, t"e etreme social psyc"ological assalts and forced confessions t"at .0 and

.0*s .0 inmates sffer almost certainly violate Article 73 of t"e /ovenant , '"ic" recogni#es -t"e

rig"t of everyone to en(oyment of t"e "ig"est attainable standard of p"ysical and mental "ealt"-

&United 2ations, 788a: 7G)!

1"ese and probably ot"er serios "man rig"ts isses s'irl arond Scientology programs t"at "ave

ta eemption and operate 'it"in t"e bondaries of t"e United States! it" t"ese serios isses in

mind, t"e American "man rig"ts criticism of ermany*s opposition to Scientology is t"e "eig"t of

diplomatic arrogance! >y granting Scientology ta eemption, t"e United States government is

cooperating 'it" an organi#ation t"at appears to pt citi#ens from arond t"e 'orld at significant

mental "ealt" and per"aps medical risk! "ile in no 'ay do ; 'ant my remarks to be taken as a

blanket endorsement of t"e erman government*s r"etoric or tactics, on t"e battle 'it" Scientology

t"e government "as t"e "ig" moral grond!

19


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#I#+I0RA"/

Anderson, evin Kictor! 78! eport of the Board of n1uiry into !cientology! Melborne,

Astralia: A! C! >rooks!

Anderson, Se! 78G6! -Bonorary 9.B .%s Arond t"e orldO- &5ly 3G): Gpp!

Anonymos 9! .on Bbbardavaria

Against Scientology!- osted on "ttp://'''!bayern!de/S1M;/Scientology/e3784!"tmN: &5anary

7)!

>ev! 7884! -CoI, C"ernobyl, .adiation, and t"e rif!- osting on alt!religion!scientologyN

&5anary 76): 3pp! >oards of Directors of t"e C"rc"es of Scientology! 7844! -1"e .e"abilitation

ro(ect 0orce!- !ea 3rgani7ation Flag 3rder =?=?.>! .evised by Ens! Ssan alker, ;/C, and 9t!

&(g) Art ebb, 3ndH .e$.evised by Commodore*s MessengerH Approved by 9! .on Bbbard,

Commodore! &5anary 4, 784?H .evised Agst 37, 784H .e$.evised May =6, 7844): 7?pp!

Cart'rig"t, .obert B! and Step"en A! ent! 7883! Social Control in Alternative .eligions: A

0amilial erspective!- !ociological +nalysis = 2o! ?: =?$=7!

C"rc" of Scientology Celebrity Centre ;nternational! 788! /elebrity! Minor ;sse 3G?!

$$$$$$! 788! /elebrity! Minor ;sse 38!

C"rc" of Scientology 0lag Service %rgani#ation! 7883! Flag Tech "ews! ;sse 4: Gpp!

C"rc" of Scientology ;nternational! 7883! %hat s !cientology8 9os Angeles: >ridge blications!

$$$$$$! 788?! -Bonorary .%s in Action!- Hotline 1"e 2e'sletter of 9! .on Bbbard ersonal

blic .elations %ffice ;nternationalF K;, ;sse =: !

$$$$$$! 788! -2arconon Celebrating =6 Jears of Saving 9ives!- nternational !cientology "ews,

;sse 3! 9os Angeles: C"rc" of Scientology ;nternational!

$$$$$$! 7884! -1"e erman roblem: .eligios Discrimination!- Advertisement in 2eorge

Maga#ineF! &5ne): 766$767!

C"rc" of Scientology of California! 784G! %hat is !cientology8 9os Angeles: blication

%rgani#ation United States!

Circit Cort for t"e Sit" 5dicial Circit of 0lorida! 788G! -State of 0lorida vs! C"rc" of

Scientology 0lag Service %rgani#ation, ;nc!!!!!- 0elony ;nformation!C.C8G$36=44 C0A2%$!

2"


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inellas Conty &2ovember 7=): 3pp!

Co"ee, 2edra! n!d! circa 78G8F! -ids Scene in AC!- Memo: 7p!

Coryden, >ent! 788! L. on Hubbard0 9essiah or 9adman8! 0ort 9ee, 2e' 5ersey: >arricade

>ooks!

Freedom Maga#ine! 788


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Ansprc"e nd Beilngssc"'indel!- Berliner Dialog Beft 7$84 &%stern, 7884): 33$3!

$$$$$$! 7884a! -1"e lobali#ation of Scientology: ;nflence, Control, and %pposition in

1ransnational Markets!- Unpblis"ed Mss!, pp!

$$$$$$! 7884b! -1"e Creation of *.eligios* Scientology!- Unpblis"ed Mss!, ?8pp!

ent, Step"en A! &;ntervie'er)! 78G4! -;ntervie' 'it" 0ern sedonym, on ScientologyF!

- &December 4): 46pp!

$$$$$$! 788?! -;ntervie' 'it" .obert Kag"n Jong!- &Agst 7=): 47pp!

$$$$$$! 7884! -;ntervie' 'it" Dennis Erlic"!- &Marc" =6): 7Gpp!

$$$$$$! 7884! -;ntervie' 'it" at sedonym, on ScientologyF!- &Marc" 73): =pp!

$$$$$$! 7884! -;ntervie' 'it" Monica ignotti!- &April ): =7pp!

ominsky, Morris! 7846! The Hoa,ers) &lain Liars0 Fancy Liars0 and Damned Liars! >oston:

>randen ress!

reger, Crtis! 7887! -9ittle 1ime for C"ildren!!!- !t. &etersburg Times &2ovember 76): 73A!

9ippman, 1"omas ! 7884! -U!S! Critici#es Cermany on Scientology!- %ashington &ost &5anary

34): A7, A8!

9obsinger, .obert ! 7887! -State Mental Bealt" >oard Denies 2arconon Certification >id,- in

The "arconon !tory in 3$lahoma +s ecorded in the &ages of the ;"ew$ir$ Herald ?ournal; : 4$6!

Miller, .ssell! 78G4! Bare'Faced 9essiah. The True !tory of L. on Hubbard ! 9ondon: Mic"ael

5osep"!

2efertiti sedonymF! 7884! -1"e C"rc" of Scientology or t"e r*s lags! Story of An

Escape!- "ttp://'''!cnbc!cm!ed/Qdst/9erma/englis"!"tmlN! &May)!

ignotti, Monica! 78G8! -My 2ine 9ives in Scientology!- Do'nloaded from t"e orld ide eb:

=pp!

.eters! 7884! -Bolly'ood Does Bbbard!- &Marc" 7G)H do'nloaded from

"ttp://'''!ya"oo!com/"eadlines/846=7G/ent!!!ment/stories/N, file:

-entertainmentRsmmayR7!"tml-!

S"apiro, en! 78G8! -%rder, ery %f!- 9etterF! &December ): 7p! &ls Attac"ments)!

S'art#, 0red! 78G8! -AC %rgs Sc"edles and 0amily 1ime- 9etterF! &2ovember 8): 7p! &ls

Attac"ments)!

1abayoyon, Andre! 788?! -Declaration of Andre 1abayoyon,- in /hurch of !cientology

nternational vs. !teven Fishman and @we 2eert7 ! United States District Cort, Central District of

California, Case 2o! CK 87 ?3 B9B &1), &April ?): ?pp! &ls Attac"ments)!

1abayoyon, Mary! 788?! -Declaration of Mary 1abayoyon,- in /hurch of !cientology nternational

vs. !teven Fishman and @we 2eert7 ! United States District Cort, Central District of California,

Case 2o! CK 87 ?3 B9B &1), &April ?): =pp! &ls Attac"ments)!

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1obin, 1om! 7884! -Scientology Bad oman in ;solation!- !t. &etersburg Times 0lorida, U!S!A!F!

&0ebrary 37): 7Aff!

United 2ations! 788a! The /ommittee on Economic0 !ocial and /ultural ights! eneva: United

2ations!

$$$$$$! 788b! The nternational Bill of Human ights! eneva: United 2ations!

eber, Ma! 78G! Economy and !ociety! Kolme 7! >erkeley: University of California ress!

eiland, rt! 7886! -Eradicating syc"iatry!- mpact Maga#ine of t"e ;nternational Association

of ScientologistsF! ;sse ==: 37!

"itfield, Bana! 78G8! -Affidavit!- &Agst G): 77pp, do'nloaded from alt!religion!scientologyN!

"itney, Craig .! 788?! -Scientology and ;ts erman 0oes: A >itter Conflict!- "ew #or$ Times

&2ovember 4): A73!

idder, illiam 5! 788?! The Fiction of L. on Hubbard ! 9os Angeles: >ridge blications!

ilson, >ryan .! no dateF! eligious Toleration A eligious Diversity! >ooklet! Santa >arbara,

California: ;nstitte for t"e Stdy of American .eligion!

$$$$$$! 7886! The !ocial Dimensions of !ectarianism. !ects and "ew eligious 9ovements in

/ontemporary !ociety! %ford: Clarendon ress!

$$$$$$! 788?! -Epert %pinion Sbmitted to -C"rc" of Scientology ;nternational vs! Steven 0is"man

and U'e eert#, United States District Cort for t"e Central District of California, Case 2o! 87$

?3 B9B &1), &2ovember 3): 76pp!;SE ;nternational! 788?a! -2e's in >rief!- &rosperity Maga#ine, ;sse =: !

$$$$$$! 788?b! -1"e rpose of ;SE!- &rosperity Maga#ine, ;sse =: ;nside 0ront CoverF!

Jong, Stacy >rooks! 788?! -Declaration of Stacy >rooks Jong!- in /hurch of !cientology

nternational vs. !teven Fishman and @we 2eert7 ! United States District Cort, Central District of

California, Case 2o! CK 87 ?3 B9B &1), &April ?): G3pp! &ls Attac"ments)!

$opyright 4 Stephen A! Kent 1555

0irst pblis"ed in Marbrg 5ornal of .eligion

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Scientology - Is This a Religion?