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Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Scientologists: What Freedom?

Dear Scientologist,

You are on your way, perhaps well on your way, up the Church of Scientology's "Bridge to Total Freedom", right?

So, I want to know exactly what increased freedoms you're experiencing. After all, if this is a path to "Total Freedom", you must have greater freedoms.

So, what, in your life, is more free?

Can you speak freely? Can you think what you want? Say what you think? Or are you only "free" to think and speak those things sanctioned by the Church of Scientology? Free people do not think, talk and act just like everyone else in their environment; trapped people must only agree. Which are you? Can you speak freely?

Are you free to question what you are told by L. Ron Hubbard, David Miscavige, or anyone else in authority in the church? Do you honestly think these people have never, ever made a mistake or caused a problem? You know you may not question what you are told by the Church of Scientology. Such questions will only get you in trouble. This is not increased freedom.

Are you free to participate, or not participate, in activities of your own creation and choosing? Or are you under duress to participate and give money to activities exactly as defined and executed by the Church of Scientology? It isn't "volunteer" if you are forced to participate. It isn't freedom.

Are you free to ask about the church? Do you know what the real overall statistics of the Church of Scientology are? Do you know what the IAS actually spends your money on? Do you know who is really running your church? When you hear rumors about your church, do you feel free to ask someone about those rumors? Do you feel free to ask those sorts of questions? If you do ask such questions, you know you will get reported to Ethics.

Are you free to talk to anyone you want to? Are you free to talk to everyone in your family? Are you free to talk to all of your friends? Or must you only talk to Scientologists and those who are careful never to disagree with the Church of Scientology? If there are restrictions on who you can talk to, can you consider yourself free?

Are you free to leave Scientology? This is the ultimate freedom that Scientology could impart, freedom to leave, if you so wish it. But, according to the church, this must never happen. According to the church, you are not free to leave. Your church doesn't want you really free.

So, the question for you, on the "Bridge to Total Freedom" is, what freedom? What freedom have you gained from being part of the Church of Scientology? In what part of your life is there more freedom?

There is no evidence that there is any increase of freedom for those on the "Bridge to Total Freedom". Instead, all that happens on this "Bridge to Total Freedom" is less and less freedom.

And where does less and less freedom end up? Slavery. You don't reach freedom by becoming a slave. There is no freedom at the end of the Church of Scientology's "Bridge to Total Freedom".
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5 comments:

  1. Another great entry, but I have a suggestion for you. In this line:
    "Are you free to leave Scientology? This is the ultimate freedom that Scientology could impart, freedom to leave, if you so wish it. But this can never happen...."

    My suggestion is to change it to read that is is *difficult* to leave, rather than impossible to leave. You don't want to discourage a reader completely from getting out.

    I think there is great encouragement for getting out when Scn members see that people such as Mike Binder, Ron & Jenna Miscavige, Lawrence Brennan, L. Ron Hubbard Junior, etc., etc. have gotten out.

    Just my 2¢...

    Keep up the great work!

    And to anyone reading this: Get out to the protests in your city on the 16th!!!

    -- WagTheWog

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  2. Interesting point. I've modified it.

    Thanks.

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  3. Another good one. It is interesting that Scientology's "elite," the Sea Organization, lives in near-prison lockdown conditions. They are not free to come and go, are watched every minute by Security Guards and Ethics Officers, are not allowed access to the internet, cell phones, TV or radio, and have their mail and phone calls monitored and censored. And this is freedom?

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  4. From the point of view of the dedicated followers of Hubbard the answer must be yes. All of the Wog world constantly attempts to prevent the necessary clearing of the planet. These controls are essential to prevent infiltration and disruption. The discipline involved means to keep the group concentrating together.

    Of course within this system there is an underlying corruption. How people allow themselves to accept another concept of freedom can be understood by their early experiences with the TR levels.

    There are those who think scientology can be reformed and therefore these abuses within the Sea Org, for instance, will be stopped. I think this is impossible once you have examined the character of Hubbard. The whole organisation has to be disbanded.

    I've just arrived onto this excellent site so I don't know if this theme is discussed elewhere. Also, 'just Bill', what opinions do you have on the freezone?

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  5. Yes, the Church of Scientology is too far gone to be "fixed", in my opinion. I covered that, somewhat, in Scientology's Leader, Miscavige, is a Failure. Miscavige made a complete mess of things.

    I am, in many ways, fascinated by Hubbard, now that I'm out. I've touched on this subject a bit. It is obvious that he started the whole Dianetics/Scientology thing as a con. He was smart enough to create something that "worked" and was wise enough to let others contribute (taking complete credit, of course) to improve the "workability". But it is obvious it was, to Hubbard, a con.

    But did he start to believe his own technology? From various stories, it appears that he actually did believe later. Maybe.

    Someday, when people are free to talk about it, we may learn more.

    Obviously, given the way that Hubbard died, and given his last years, his "technology" didn't work. He was sick, confused, betrayed and miserable. He, and the monster he created, harmed a lot of people. Perhaps his final years were only fitting.

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