Truth versus Hatchet Job

A hatchet job is defined as "a very strong and unfair criticism, especially in the form of a newspaper article". That's a rather mild definition. I'd call it a deliberate attempt to harm or destroy in a news media article.

In an attempt to recover his dismal ratings, Anderson Cooper, that handsome CNN presenter (I won't call him journalist as that would insult real members of the profession), did a hatchet job recently on Scientology . The facts of what happened may fascinating reading. You can read all about it (and see some really good videos) here: CNN The Least Trusted Name in News - AC360: See Anderson Cooper Run for Ratings

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Guest Post - No Agenda News

For the first time on this blog I'm having a guest post and it's not from a Scientologist.

It's a guest post from Anthony Fox, the editor of No Agenda News.

It will be posted in the next couple of days. So stay tuned.

Scientology 2009 - The Year in Review

This has been an amazing year for Scientology. In fact it has been the greatest year of expansion in the religion's 59 year history (if you start from the publication of Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health).

I won't repeat all the great wins here, I'll just link to places where other people are talking about it:

- David Miscavige presents 2009 for the Church of Scientology
- Church of Scientology: 2009 the best year ever
- All Scientology and Dianetics Materials have now been fully restored!
- Church of Scientology Announces Biggest Expansion in Scientology History

And as a special bonus, just to round out the year:

- The Church of Scientology Recognized as Public Benefit Charity in Spain

Have a Happy New Year!

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The guy who leads the Church of Scientology

So with all the great things I've been talking about over the last couple of days the obvious question is: Who is behind all this expansion?

The answer is Mr. David Miscavige. He has been the leader of the Church since the 1980s and has taken it into the greatest period of expansion it has ever seen.

You can read more about him below.

References:
David Miscavige And The Scientology Renaissance
David Miscavige: The Peacemaker
David Miscavige: International News
David Miscavige Biographies and Articles
Mr. David Miscavige
David Miscavige Opening Speechs
A Most Special Guest, Mr. David Miscavige

Scientology: Social Betterment Campaigns

I've been talking a lot about the huge expansion of Scientology and perhaps if you are not a Scientologist you are thinking, "Big deal, so the Church is expanding, so what?"

Well, believe it or not, all this expansion benefits you too. The Church and its members sponsor many social betterment campaigns which help improve life for everyone, not just Scientologists.

For example,

• The massive human rights campaign that the Church sponsors: Human Rights.
• The largest non-governmental anti-drug campaign in the world: Foundation for a Drug Free World.
• The campaign to bring about a calmer and safer world: The Common Sense Guide to Better Living
• The largest non-governmental volunteer disaster relief force in the world: Volunteer Ministers

These programs benefit all of mankind, not just members of the Scientology religion. As the Church of Scientology expands, so do these programs and so do the benefits felt by all.

Ideal Churches of Scientology

It's not an easy thing to meet the world wide demand for Scientology, but in 2004 David Miscavige came up with a way to do it.

It is called the Ideal Orgs Strategy and the idea behind it is to transform all existing Churches of Scientology into Ideal Churches of Scientology. So what does Ideal mean?

Here is a quote from L. Ron Hubbard that gives you an idea:

You are creating an island of friendliness, decency and succor in the sea of a violent world.... Sometime in the future the islands will become the sea.

A more formal definition would be: An Ideal Org (for “organization”) is a Church configured to provide the full services of the Scientology religion to its parishioners and to the community.

You can read more about it here: Meeting the Global Demand for the Scientology Religion

More Scientology Expansion in Florida

Yesterday I wrote about the Fort Harrison hotel, today I'm writing about the building right next door to it, which is called the "Scientology Mecca" because it represents the spiritual center of the religion.

This beautiful building will be delivering some of the most advanced and spiritually beneficial services that exist in Scientology. When the renovations on the Fort Harrison were completed, the final phase of construction began on the Scientology Mecca. You can read more here: Planned to Perfection: Scientology Mecca Enters Final Construction Phase.

Scientology Expansion: The Fort Harrison

The Church of Scientology's spiritual headquarters is the "Flag Land Base" in the Florida city of Clearwater. The HQ used to be on a ship, but moved to Clearwater in 1975, hence the name "Flag Land Base".

Clearwater is a beautiful city, with one of the best beaches in the world, so its a great place to visit or to live in. Thousands of Scientologist live here and thousands more visit every year to avail themselves of the services offered at Flag.

Not surprisingly the Church is the largest property tax contributor on the tax rolls of downtown Clearwater. And also not surprisingly is very active in maintaining and improving its properties.

Just this March the renovations of the Fort Harrison hotel, a cultural landmark purchased by the Church in 1975, were completed and the building reopened. The work done to beautify the FH was just a typical example of what the Church and its members are doing all over the world to new Church buildings that are being purchased as part of the enormous expansion Scientology is experiencing.

You can read more about it here: Fort Harrison Grand Re-opening

Scientology Expansion since 2004

Wow! I knew Scientology was expanding but I had no idea of the magnitude.

For example: 60 million books and lectures distributed in the past two years—more than the combined total in the first 50 years of Dianetics and Scientology.

That's amazing.

Or: Church premises increased from 5.6 million square feet to more than 11 million square feet since 2004

Or: 2.4 million L. Ron Hubbard Dianetics and Scientology books placed in 97,997 libraries in 155 countries since July 2007.

And that's just a small taste. For a longer list check out: The True Face of Scientology: Unparalleled Growth Since 2004

Gulf War Syndrome - A Solution?

Here is an article by a Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps (retired) who is a veteran of the Gulf War and was suffering from Gulf War Syndrome. He found a program that handled the symptoms. Let's hope this solution can be more broadly used to help the vets who still suffer from this terrible affliction.

Gulf War Illness: Effective Treatment for Veterans Needed

Latest Freedom Magazine

The latest edition of Freedom Magazine is now available for online reading: Psychiatric Screening: Destroying Lives for Profit.

The magazine contains great articles, I especially recommend the "A License To Print Money" article by Alexander Cockburn, an eye-opening expose of the ties between Big Pharma and the Media.

Scientology Mission of SoMa has moved

Here is some news for anyone who lives in San Francisco, the Mission of SoMa has moved to a new location.

They'll be posting pics soon put in the meantime you can go visit:

We have moved!!

They have a map and everything you need to locate them.