Donations to Scientology Churches

Jim asked:
Hi,I have for a long time wondered why the money which is paid to the cos for training(is it for books and auditing too?) is called a donation. Could you explain why that is?

The way I understand the word is that it is a contribution which is made by the giver on his own initiative. Looking at the meriamwebster dictionary it says: : the act or an instance of donating: as a: the making of a gift especially to a charity or public institution b: a free contribution : gift

This would seem to indicate that someone could choose to take a course without being required to give anything in return. I'm not suggesting that that is the way it should work - just that that is how I have so far understood the word donate.
Jim

Thanks for your question Jim. The best answer to this that I have seen is this article: How are Churches of Scientology supported financially? Please take a look at it and tell me if it answers your questions.

I have answered other question about the cost of Scientology services here, Cost of Scientology, you may find those articles of interest too.

Successes in Scientology

I just saw a couple of nice success stories from the Scientology Mission of SoMa in San Francisco. Both are from people who studied the new Basic Scientology Books. A couple of definitions are necessary so you will understand what the people are saying:

The word Postulate as a verb means: to conclude, decide or resolve a problem or to set a pattern for the future or to nullify a pattern of the past.
The word Postulate as a noun means: a conclusion, decision or resolution made by the individual himself to resolve a problem or to set a pattern for the future or to nullify a pattern of the past. For example, a person says, “I like Model T Fords. I am never going to drive another car.” Years later, no longer consciously aware of this postulate, he will wonder why he is having so much trouble with his BMW; it’s because he has made an earlier promise to himself. In order to change he has to change that postulate.

Here are the two success stories:
- Book Course Success
- Beginning Scientology Book

Scientology Thriving in Southern Africa

Several new Scientology Churches are on the way for Southern Africa. They include new buildings in South Africa (Durban, Cape Town, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, Johannesburg) and in Zimbabwe (Bulawayo, Harare). You can see artists' renderings of them here: Scientology Churches for Southern Africa

Expansion is occurring in other parts of Africa too and Volunteer Minister tours are ongoing in Ghana and Zambia. The African people are very interested in Scientology, so the Church is doing its utmost to provide the services they want.

Scientology Assist helps get rid of brain tumor

Two weeks before going in for surgery to have a brain tumor removed, the woman with the tumor and her husband attended a lecture on Scientology Assists. After the lecture they applied what they had learned and when it came time for the operation, the pre-op X-ray showed that the tumor had gone. An amazing success story!

Assists are not a substitute for medical treatment. The fact is, after any necessary medical treatment, the individual himself has an enormous capacity to influence the body and its well-being or lack of it. Assists help the individual to influence the body to recover.

Here is the full story of this remarkable success: Scientology Assists Get Rid Of Brain Tumor!!

Scientology Volunteer Ministers in Africa

The Scientology Volunteer Ministers Goodwill Tour in Africa is helping hundreds of teachers and students in Ghana by teaching them Study Technology. The VMs use the Scientology Handbook to teach people all sorts of skills that they will need to succeed in life and to handle the many catastrophes, large and small, that people hit in life.

Here is the full story: Scientology Volunteer Ministers Goodwill Tour in Ashaiman, Ghana