What is Golden Era Productions?

Golden Era Productions is the international dissemination center for Scientology. They produce training films, videos of international events, public service announcements for various social betterment groups (anti-drug, human rights, etc.) and much, much more. But rather than bore you with a lot of words, see for yourself with this video: Golden Era Productions

A Quick Tour of the KCET Studios

Here's a quick video tour of the KCET studios in Los Angeles that the Church of Scientology just acquired:

More on the KCET Studio Acquisition

Scientology Expansion Keeps Expanding

I was just considering how to apologize for hardly blogging at all this year. Saying I'm incredibly busy, while accurate, is of course a lame excuse. It's not like there's nothing to tell you. The expansion of Scientology is becoming exponential and the problem, if you can call it that, is that there's so much news, it's almost overwhelming. So, I'll just say "sorry" and "I'll try to mend my ways."

Anyway, here is a news item that blew my socks off: The Church of Scientology just bought the KCET studios in Hollywood. This is not just a Hollywood landmark but a state-of-the-art broadcasting and production facility just walking distance from the Church's international management HQ. I remember driving past it many times on the way to Church when I lived in LA.

Here is some blurb from the press release:

This new studio is a turnkey setup that provides the Church the means to move into broadcasting for both the religion and its many social betterment and humanitarian programs. It is also ideally set up to establish a central media hub for our network of Churches around the world. Utilizing the studio’s existing satellite uplink, we will be able to provide our Churches and affiliated groups globally with instantaneous access to a wealth of content, all in high definition, ranging from the Church’s six annual international events to new educational and introductory films and even video updates for the public informational displays located in Churches around the world.

There's a lot more, so go read the entire article.

Anyway, I'll be posting more often the rest of this year, so stay tuned.

Scientology: Abuses and Injustices.

If you get into trouble in Scientology then what do you do? If you see something going on that you feel is wrong, how do you handle it?

Maybe you get fired from your position in the Church for something you didn't really do. Or maybe it's not that simple. Maybe a lot of things went on, some of which you were responsible for and some of which you weren't, but in the end you were the one who got clobbered. Maybe it's so bad that you actually get expelled from the Church. Or maybe you see someone getting in trouble and you know they are not to blame but you feel like you'll get hit if you open your mouth.

So what do you do?

In our current society it is hard to handle an injustice. More often than not, the "justice" system seems to be run for the benefit of the rich. After all, they are the ones who can afford the expensive attorneys.

The word "recourse" means "a turning or applying to a person or thing for aid or security." In Scientology there are many methods of recourse. The simplest is to write a report of what is going on and send it to the people whose job it is to handle the situation. The least simple could be getting the highest authority in the Church to convene a full investigation into the situation.

Whatever method you use, the truth is that there are many, many ways to handle any abuse or injustice and there are lots of people who have successfully done just that. Even people who have "gone over to the dark side" and have publicly attacked the Church have been able to handle their situations and get back into good standing.

How did they manage it? Well, there is now a website spotlighting the personal stories of people who were in such a situation and what they did to handle it. The accounts are in their own words and show that it can be done.

Check out Truth Be Told and tell me what you think.
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Wow! The new Scientology Dissemination and Distribution Center

I just watched the video about the new Church of Scientology Dissemination and Distribution Center and all I just kept saying "wow!" all the way through.

I guess when you have as much expansion and popularity as Scientology is experiencing right now, you need a center like this one to cope with it all. Amazing.

Here is the link to the article and the video: Church Of Scientology Flips the Switch On 185,000-Square-Foot Dissemination And Distribution Center

Scientology - Recent Statistics

Here are some recent statistics regarding Scientology from Freedom Magazine:

• Number of new Scientology Churches opened since 2007 when Panorama started its “investigation”: 14


• Number of countries and territories with members of the International Association of Scientologists: 140 (two-thirds of the nations and territories of Earth across 22 time zones)


• Number of Guinness World Records awarded to Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard in the past three years:
  
  
  
  • Most published works by a single author: 1,084
  
  
  • Most audiobook titles: 185
  
  
  • Most translated author in the world: 71 languages

• Increase since 2007 in production capability of the Church’s Bridge Publications in Los Angeles and New Era Publications in Copenhagen, the world's largest all-digital, on-demand publishers: 660 percent
  
• Number of L. Ron Hubbard Dianetics and Scientology books placed in 97,997 libraries in 155 countries since 2007: 2.4 million

• Number of L. Ron Hubbard books and recorded lectures recovered and verified under the direction of ecclesiastical leader David Miscavige, a 2-million-man-hour restoration project: 1,317


• Number of books and lectures on Dianetics and Scientology distributed in the last decade to individuals: 91 million


• Number of people helped during the last year with the social betterment technology of L. Ron Hubbard: 3.5 million


• Number of people helped by Scientology Volunteer Ministers in the last 12 months: More than 1.5 million

Not bad.

Good news for human rights in Germany

After 17 years of operation the "Scientology Task Force" of the city of Hamburg has been shut down.

Of course they didn't announce the fact that after 17 years of intrusive and unconstitutional investigation of the Church of Scientology's activities they found nothing - as in zip, nada, sweet FA, zilch - illegal going on. Nothing they could prosecute, nothing they could publish a government pamphlet about, basically nothing at all.

Must be pretty embarrassing for the Hamburg government and the notorious, human rights violating head of the "task force", Ursula Caberta. They created a task force based on rumors, lies and bigotry and after 17 years finally realized they were wasting government time and tax payer money.

Oh well, it's one more step forward in the fight for Religious Freedom and a great day for human rights in Germany.

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L. Ron Hubbard Early Years

The new L. Ron Hubbard website contains videos and articles on all aspects of his life.

Many of the videos contain excerpts from lectures that Ron gave where he talked about his life or used his own experiences as examples for the point he was trying to make.

One such short video can be seen here: L. Ron Hubbard - The Early Years.


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L. Ron Hubbard Website - Revamped

The L. Ron Hubbard Website has been totally rebuilt and looks great. It documents the life and achievements of the founder of the Scientology religion, with videos, articles, amazing graphics and more.

A big part of understanding Scientology is understanding the man who founded it. And understanding L. Ron Hubbard has become very easy now with this new site.

I could burble on about LRH and his life, but I think the site does the best job, so get started by watching this short video of his life: L. Ron Hubbard, A brief chronology.

Church of Scientology Los Angeles Grand Opening (Part 2)

Here is more on the Grand Opening of the Church of Scientology of Los Angeles. This features shots of the interior and exterior and also some footage of other grand openings over the last year.

Church of Scientology Los Angeles Grand Opening (Part 1)

Here is a video of the actual Grand Opening of the Church of Scientology of Los Angeles:

Church of Scientology Los Angeles (and more)

Another news video on the Grand Opening of the newly renovated Church of Scientology of Los Angeles:

Church of Scientology Los Angeles (More)

Another news report about the Grand Opening of the newly renovated Church of Scientology of Los Angeles.

One comment - the reporter got the definition of the word "thetan" wrong. Thetan is the Scientology word for spirit or soul. A thetan is a spritual being. In other words it's you, not you body or something you have but just "you".

Anyway, here is the video:

Church of Scientology Los Angeles

The Church of Scientology was founded in Los Angeles and the city also boasts the highest population of Scientologists in the world. The Church there was just renovated and had a Grand Opening in April. Here is a new report about the "new" church.

"A being is only as valuable as he can serve others"

That quote from L. Ron Hubbard is a wonderful description of the value of volunteers. The quote was used during an award ceremony held at the Historic Fort Harrison Hotel as part of National Volunteer Week when five Florida groups were recognized for their invaluable work.

Recognized at the event were Project Medishare, Feeding America Tampa Bay, United Way Tampa Bay, the United Relief Force Foundation and the Willa Carson Health Resource Center.

For more on the ceremony and pictures: Church of Scientology Holds National Volunteer Week Recognition Luncheon at Historic Fort Harrison Hotel

Scientology: A different view of the Sea Organization

Frank Flynn is an Adjunct Professor of Religious Studies and has qualifications about a mile long. Not only does he teach courses covering many areas of religion, but he has also published books and articles on the subject.

In addition he was a Franciscan monk for six years so they guy knows what he is talking about when he writes about religious orders.

Here is a declaration he wrote in a recent court case where someone was challenging the religious status of the Sea Org, the religious order of the Church of Scientology. In it he compares the Sea Org with other religious orders. It's a fascinating read.

Declaration of Frank K. Flynn regarding the Sea Organization

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Work begins on the largest Church of Scientology in the Midwest

The building used to be the Science Museum of Minnesota but now it is being turned into the largest Church of Scientology in the Midwest.

Work has just begun on the 80,640 square feet building in St. Paul and the good news is being reported by the local media: Church of Scientology Starts Work at St. Paul Site.

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The Sea Organization - more data

Here is more data on the Church of Scientology's religious order: The Sea Organization (aka Sea Org)

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Scientology: Legal Victory in France

Last time I studied French was in High School, so to say my French is rusty is a huge understatement. I got this story after translating the original article using Babel Fish. Babel Fish is good, but sometimes its translations are not totally clear.

So, with that disclaimer, here is a link to the original article: Victoire de l'Église de Scientologie contre l'UNADFI

and here is a link to the English translation: Victory of the Church of Scientology against the UNADFI