Burkhart asked about getting Scientology auditing from the FreeZone because it is "cheaper".
My answer:
Simple answer is that you can't get Scientology auditing from the FreeZone because the FreeZone isn't Scientology. It's like going to your buddy Joe for some open heart surgery because he watched an episode of ER. You just aren't going to get proper open heart surgery, but it's a lot cheaper.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Answer to Comment on Fair Game
Flowers accused me of lying about "Fair Game":
"Fair Game, may have been canceled, however this does not apply to enemies of the Church, or SPs as you like to label anyone that is critical of the practices of the Cult of Scientology."
How do you answer someone who is a fanatic? No matter what you say they aren't going to believe you. However, for the benefit of anyone who is reading this to find data, here is a personal story for you about "Fair Game".
In the early 1980s I was expelled from the Church of Scientology. Yup, that's right, poor little, innocent me, in whose mouth butter wouldn't melt. I messed up big time and did something that, when I look back upon it, makes me cringe, and quite rightly I was expelled and "declared" a suppressive person. So, if "Fair Game" existed, according to the fanatics I should have been attacked, spat upon, harassed, etc., etc. So what really happened? Absolutely nothing, zip, zilch, nada. Kinda boring, but that's what happened.
It took me some time, but I handled it and did the necessary steps (there are only 5 of them) to get back in good standing with the Church.
Anyone can screw up so there needs to be a way to make up for the damage and get back in good standing with your community. In the world outside Scientology you get thrown in jail and you do your time and then you are allowed back into society. In Scientology if you screw up you get tons of chances to make good the damage and change your ways, and if you don't you will eventually (after lots of chances) be kicked out. If you do get kicked out then there are ways to get back in and it isn't hard. But that is all there is to it.
There is no "Fair Game", Flowers. I know you aren't going to believe me but that's your problem not mine.
"Fair Game, may have been canceled, however this does not apply to enemies of the Church, or SPs as you like to label anyone that is critical of the practices of the Cult of Scientology."
How do you answer someone who is a fanatic? No matter what you say they aren't going to believe you. However, for the benefit of anyone who is reading this to find data, here is a personal story for you about "Fair Game".
In the early 1980s I was expelled from the Church of Scientology. Yup, that's right, poor little, innocent me, in whose mouth butter wouldn't melt. I messed up big time and did something that, when I look back upon it, makes me cringe, and quite rightly I was expelled and "declared" a suppressive person. So, if "Fair Game" existed, according to the fanatics I should have been attacked, spat upon, harassed, etc., etc. So what really happened? Absolutely nothing, zip, zilch, nada. Kinda boring, but that's what happened.
It took me some time, but I handled it and did the necessary steps (there are only 5 of them) to get back in good standing with the Church.
Anyone can screw up so there needs to be a way to make up for the damage and get back in good standing with your community. In the world outside Scientology you get thrown in jail and you do your time and then you are allowed back into society. In Scientology if you screw up you get tons of chances to make good the damage and change your ways, and if you don't you will eventually (after lots of chances) be kicked out. If you do get kicked out then there are ways to get back in and it isn't hard. But that is all there is to it.
There is no "Fair Game", Flowers. I know you aren't going to believe me but that's your problem not mine.
Saturday, March 08, 2008
A Scientologist's Life
SomethingNice asked:
I have a question about Scientology: What would you say are the most common, usual, regular, daily or weekly activities of most Scientologists, inside their Church or in their day-to-day life?
I answered:
That's almost impossible to answer because Scientologists are individuals and they have different jobs, different friends, different likes and dislikes. I guess eating, sleeping and breathing would be an answer :) It's sort of like answering "What are the most common, usual, regular, daily or weekly activities of most Human Beings?"
I can try to answer it personally and for some people that I know, but that's the best I can do.
Right now my activities are pretty straightforward.
-- Weekdays:
I go to work during the day. I come home. I sometimes do some blogging or maybe I watch a movie. I'm also writing a novel so I may do some work on that.
-- Weekends:
I do the usual chores: sweep out the leaves so we don't get a flood from blocked drains, grocery shopping, etc. (exciting, eh?). Saturday afternoon I'm studying the book "Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health" as part of a longer term program to restudy all the basics of Scientology. Sunday I do some volunteer work with my Church, which often includes helping people who are having some difficulty in life. And whenever I can I work on my novel.
-- In a couple of months I will be adding daily auditing to my schedule - that should be a blast!
I have a friend who works in real estate. Her weekly activities consist of:
-- Weekdays:
She starts the day answering emails. Then she does research to find properties clients may be interested in, sets appointments with clients, takes them to see houses, etc. Three evenings a week she goes on course at the local Church. She's on the same study program that many, many Scientologists are on just now - the Basics. Every Friday night she goes to Graduation at her local Church. This is where people who completed services that week get presented with their certificates. They share their wins and gains with those attending. It is very uplifting because you get to see how others are improving their lives using Scientology.
-- Weekends:
She's mainly doing open houses and showing clients around. Usual real-estate related stuff. And of course she has some leisure time in amongst all this.
Another friend.
-- Weekdays:
Goes to work during the day, in the evenings she is on course at her local Church of Scientology, training to be an auditor.
-- Weekends:
She does the usual boring things we all have to do at the weekend: groceries, chores, etc. And in amongst all that she looks after her son and takes hundreds (and I do mean hundreds) of photos of him every week.
It seems SomethingNice asked another Scientologist the same question. Here is what she said: What is life as a Scientologist like?
So there are examples from four Scientologists. I hope that answers your question.
I have a question about Scientology: What would you say are the most common, usual, regular, daily or weekly activities of most Scientologists, inside their Church or in their day-to-day life?
I answered:
That's almost impossible to answer because Scientologists are individuals and they have different jobs, different friends, different likes and dislikes. I guess eating, sleeping and breathing would be an answer :) It's sort of like answering "What are the most common, usual, regular, daily or weekly activities of most Human Beings?"
I can try to answer it personally and for some people that I know, but that's the best I can do.
Right now my activities are pretty straightforward.
-- Weekdays:
I go to work during the day. I come home. I sometimes do some blogging or maybe I watch a movie. I'm also writing a novel so I may do some work on that.
-- Weekends:
I do the usual chores: sweep out the leaves so we don't get a flood from blocked drains, grocery shopping, etc. (exciting, eh?). Saturday afternoon I'm studying the book "Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health" as part of a longer term program to restudy all the basics of Scientology. Sunday I do some volunteer work with my Church, which often includes helping people who are having some difficulty in life. And whenever I can I work on my novel.
-- In a couple of months I will be adding daily auditing to my schedule - that should be a blast!
I have a friend who works in real estate. Her weekly activities consist of:
-- Weekdays:
She starts the day answering emails. Then she does research to find properties clients may be interested in, sets appointments with clients, takes them to see houses, etc. Three evenings a week she goes on course at the local Church. She's on the same study program that many, many Scientologists are on just now - the Basics. Every Friday night she goes to Graduation at her local Church. This is where people who completed services that week get presented with their certificates. They share their wins and gains with those attending. It is very uplifting because you get to see how others are improving their lives using Scientology.
-- Weekends:
She's mainly doing open houses and showing clients around. Usual real-estate related stuff. And of course she has some leisure time in amongst all this.
Another friend.
-- Weekdays:
Goes to work during the day, in the evenings she is on course at her local Church of Scientology, training to be an auditor.
-- Weekends:
She does the usual boring things we all have to do at the weekend: groceries, chores, etc. And in amongst all that she looks after her son and takes hundreds (and I do mean hundreds) of photos of him every week.
It seems SomethingNice asked another Scientologist the same question. Here is what she said: What is life as a Scientologist like?
So there are examples from four Scientologists. I hope that answers your question.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Scientology versus the world - Part 2
DocORock said: I've only been looking at the Scientology site for a day or so now and I've tried to stay away from the one-sided views (although many Internet roads lead to Lisa McPherson). If I were to consider becoming a part of that institution, my first apprehension would be the statements the organization makes with an undertone of "anyone who opposes our religion (and practices their own?) is a suppressor and therefore an enemy of the church. Wow - even the rightest winged Christians don't damn other religions that way!
Once more, I have to say you've been reading too many anti-Scientology sites. Your statement "the statements the organization makes with an undertone of ..." is a generality. I need specifics. Why don't you post another question/comment with links to the specific pages you are referring to and how come you get this impression from them? That way I can address specifics.
To answer the rest of what you say, let's go over this "enemy of the church" thing logically: The word "enemy" means "somebody who hates or seeks to harm somebody or something". If someone decides to "hate or seek to harm" my Church or my religion then they are an enemy by the very definition of the word and please note that they have elected themselves as an enemy, we didn't.
If someone has a disagreement, upset or grievance with my religion or my Church then there are plenty of ways to handle grievances without resorting to "hating" or "seeking to harm". The Church is always trying to improve and do better so if someone finds something wrong we have lots of ways of correcting it. For example there is an online report form to make the reporting of problems very easy.
If someone has no interest in Scientology then that's not a problem. Your religion (or lack thereof) is your own choice. The Creed of the Church of Scientology says: that "all men have inalienable rights to their own religious practices and their performance."
In his article, Religious Influence in Society, L. Ron Hubbard stated how important religion is to mankind. He said: "When religion is not influential in a society or has ceased to be, the state inherits the entire burden of public morality, crime and intolerance. It then must use punishment and police. Yet this is unsuccessful as morality, integrity and self-respect not already inherent in the individual, cannot be enforced with any great success. Only by a spiritual awareness and inculcation of the spiritual value of these attributes can they come about. There must be more reason and more emotional motivation to be moral, etc., than threat of human discipline." You will notice that he is not saying "Scientology" he is saying "religion." In other words he's covering all religions here. They are all important to the future of mankind.
My personal viewpoint mirrors this. When I meet a person who has a different religious belief than mine, I don't mind at all. I have no problem with it. The right to believe as you see fit is a basic human right. It is in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: "ARTICLE 18... Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."
I have friends who are Christian, Mormon, Jewish, Hindu, new-age spiritual and atheist as well as Scientologists. I don't have a problem with them and they don't have a problem with me. Why should we? All religions have the same basic goals of peace and salvation. We all have the same basic idea that man is a spiritual being. So why should we be in conflict?
Other references:
What does Scientology have to say about other religions?
Once more, I have to say you've been reading too many anti-Scientology sites. Your statement "the statements the organization makes with an undertone of ..." is a generality. I need specifics. Why don't you post another question/comment with links to the specific pages you are referring to and how come you get this impression from them? That way I can address specifics.
To answer the rest of what you say, let's go over this "enemy of the church" thing logically: The word "enemy" means "somebody who hates or seeks to harm somebody or something". If someone decides to "hate or seek to harm" my Church or my religion then they are an enemy by the very definition of the word and please note that they have elected themselves as an enemy, we didn't.
If someone has a disagreement, upset or grievance with my religion or my Church then there are plenty of ways to handle grievances without resorting to "hating" or "seeking to harm". The Church is always trying to improve and do better so if someone finds something wrong we have lots of ways of correcting it. For example there is an online report form to make the reporting of problems very easy.
If someone has no interest in Scientology then that's not a problem. Your religion (or lack thereof) is your own choice. The Creed of the Church of Scientology says: that "all men have inalienable rights to their own religious practices and their performance."
In his article, Religious Influence in Society, L. Ron Hubbard stated how important religion is to mankind. He said: "When religion is not influential in a society or has ceased to be, the state inherits the entire burden of public morality, crime and intolerance. It then must use punishment and police. Yet this is unsuccessful as morality, integrity and self-respect not already inherent in the individual, cannot be enforced with any great success. Only by a spiritual awareness and inculcation of the spiritual value of these attributes can they come about. There must be more reason and more emotional motivation to be moral, etc., than threat of human discipline." You will notice that he is not saying "Scientology" he is saying "religion." In other words he's covering all religions here. They are all important to the future of mankind.
My personal viewpoint mirrors this. When I meet a person who has a different religious belief than mine, I don't mind at all. I have no problem with it. The right to believe as you see fit is a basic human right. It is in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: "ARTICLE 18... Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."
I have friends who are Christian, Mormon, Jewish, Hindu, new-age spiritual and atheist as well as Scientologists. I don't have a problem with them and they don't have a problem with me. Why should we? All religions have the same basic goals of peace and salvation. We all have the same basic idea that man is a spiritual being. So why should we be in conflict?
Other references:
What does Scientology have to say about other religions?
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Scientology versus the world - Part 1
DocORock asked a couple of questions buried in a comment. I'll answer the first one here and the other one tomorrow. If I missed any then, DocORock, you'll just have to post an actual question rather than a comment.
DocORock said: I think the problem most people have with Scientology is that it comes across as warring the world.
Grahame answered:
You could only get that impression if you read anti-Scientology web sites. The anti-religious extremists (aka "critics") want to create that impression. In fact that is not the way it is at all. If you could give me some specific examples (just post another comment) then I can address them.
The way your statement is worded is rather general and makes answering it difficult. But I'll do my best. Here are some examples of how the world really views Scientology and what the views of Scientologists really are:
- Scientology Founder Awarded
- For tsunami survivors, a touch of Scientology
- Who is Scientology Open to?
- The Scientology Blogosphere (blogs by Scientologists)
- Yalama Scientology! Thank you! - One Volunteer's Story
- Scientology Volunteer Ministers Join Grassroots Initiative to Tackle Illiteracy, Conflict and Substance Abuse in the Northern Territory of Australia
- Scientology Volunteers Help in One of Southern California's Worst Fires Seasons-
- Scientology in Society
Actually this site, Scientology Today, contains tons of articles on how Scientologists are helping others all over the world.
Here are a few of the other things we do to help mankind:
- The largest volunteer organization in the world
- The largest human rights educational program in the world
- The largest drug educational program in the world
- The largest and most effective drug rehabilitation network in the world
- A grass-roots literacy movement helping kids from deprived areas learn how to read and write
Here are statistics of Scientology, Scientology Statistics. I don't think you'd be getting expansion like this if you were in constant conflict with the rest of the world.
The only time we (Scientologists) get into conflicts is when we step on the toes of a vested interest. We help someone or expose some activity that is damaging people and this takes money from the pocket of some greedy person who cares only for his own bank account and doesn't give a damn about other people. In such a case we are tenacious in getting blocks to helping others handled. Luckily the vast majority of people in the world are good hearted and welcome all the help they can get.
DocORock said: I think the problem most people have with Scientology is that it comes across as warring the world.
Grahame answered:
You could only get that impression if you read anti-Scientology web sites. The anti-religious extremists (aka "critics") want to create that impression. In fact that is not the way it is at all. If you could give me some specific examples (just post another comment) then I can address them.
The way your statement is worded is rather general and makes answering it difficult. But I'll do my best. Here are some examples of how the world really views Scientology and what the views of Scientologists really are:
- Scientology Founder Awarded
- For tsunami survivors, a touch of Scientology
- Who is Scientology Open to?
- The Scientology Blogosphere (blogs by Scientologists)
- Yalama Scientology! Thank you! - One Volunteer's Story
- Scientology Volunteer Ministers Join Grassroots Initiative to Tackle Illiteracy, Conflict and Substance Abuse in the Northern Territory of Australia
- Scientology Volunteers Help in One of Southern California's Worst Fires Seasons-
- Scientology in Society
Actually this site, Scientology Today, contains tons of articles on how Scientologists are helping others all over the world.
Here are a few of the other things we do to help mankind:
- The largest volunteer organization in the world
- The largest human rights educational program in the world
- The largest drug educational program in the world
- The largest and most effective drug rehabilitation network in the world
- A grass-roots literacy movement helping kids from deprived areas learn how to read and write
Here are statistics of Scientology, Scientology Statistics. I don't think you'd be getting expansion like this if you were in constant conflict with the rest of the world.
The only time we (Scientologists) get into conflicts is when we step on the toes of a vested interest. We help someone or expose some activity that is damaging people and this takes money from the pocket of some greedy person who cares only for his own bank account and doesn't give a damn about other people. In such a case we are tenacious in getting blocks to helping others handled. Luckily the vast majority of people in the world are good hearted and welcome all the help they can get.
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