On today's (5/27/2000) Dayton Daily News 'Religion' page.
My commentary in [ ].

'Battlefield Earth' has prompted interest in Scientology'

But movie and religion[sic] have little in common By Kathy Whyde Jesse

'Battlefield Earth,' the new science fiction film starring John Travolta, has prompted an increase in phone calls to the Church[sic] of Scientology of Central Ohio in Columbus.

Travolta is a Scientologist. And the movie is based upon a novel by the late L. Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology.

But beyond that, the movie and the religious[sic] movement have nothing in common, says John Baker, executive director of the Columbus organization. "The book is simply a good science fiction novel. I've read it twice."

[My condolences on the loss of several hours of your life.]

But he doesn't mind it that people make the connection. If interest in Hubbard's science fiction work motivates people to pick up one of the many religious[sic] tracts he also wrote. Then that's all the better. They should start, Baker says, with 'What is Scientology?,' available in libraries and bookstores, or by visiting the church[sic]'s Web site.

But they should know, also, that Scientology has sparked controversy, from charges of financial improprieties and brainwashing to a recent criminal case involving the mysterious death of a Florida Scientology member.

At its Web site, Scientology claims to be "the only major new religion[sic] of the 20th century," founded in 1954, with "millions of members worldwide."

The church[sic] says it is a "relentless voice in search of social reform and justice" which brought to light such abuses as "enforced drugging of school children, the dangers of psychiatric brutalities such as electric shock treatment and lobotomy, and chemical and biological warfare experiments secretly undertaken against unwitting American citizens." See: http://www.entheta.net/entheta/go/ops/ops.html

And further, it describes itself as "a religion[sic] that recognizes that man is basically good and offers tools anyone can use to become happier and more able as a person to improve conditions in life for himself and others, and to gain a profound understanding of the Supreme Being and his relationship to the Divine."

[Supreme Being? Xenu?]

A darker view of Scientology can be found at www.lisamcpherson.org. McPherson is the Florida woman who died in 1995, while under the care of Scientologists. By the time she arrived at a hospital, she was underweight and dehydrated. A criminal case is pending, and the family has filed a civil suit.

Earlier, a scathing 1991 'Time' magazine piece painted a picture of a "ruthless global scam," where church[sic] members were bilked out of their money and those who try to leave were threatened and harassed.

Still, the church[sic] has been a celebrity magnet, from Travolta to Tom Cruise. In fact, the Scientology presence is greatest in Southern California, baker says.

But the church[sic], which also has an organization in Cincinnati, claims 24,000 members in Ohio, Baker says. He defines "member" as "anyone who bought something from the church[sic] (books, videos, etc.), up to going all the way with Scientology, fully applying the technology of Dianetics."

[This is the first time of heard this definition of a "member." Is this also how headquarters defines a member? Even so, I still don't know where they get that ridiculous figure of 8 million.]

Dianetics, a methodology developed by Hubbard, is said to alleviate unwanted emotions and irrational fears, through a process called "auditing." The details can be found in Hubbard's 1950 book, 'Dianetics: The Modern Science[sic] of Mental Health."

Paul Wilford says they work. He says he's one of 10 to 15 Scientologists in the Dayton area. He joined the church[sic] in 1978, after filling out one of the church[sic]'s personality tests in a health food store.

[Whew! Only 10 to 15 in an MSA of 960,000. I guess we're doing something right here in the Heartland. :-) ]

Scientology has made him a more compassionate person, he says, a better husband, father and grandfather, and a more productive worker. He is aware of the criticisms leveled against Scientology, but he's confident that "the truth will stand up."

[It certainly stood up in a Florida courtroom this week, didn't it?]

Baker would say that it already has. "Every time we get any kind of publicity --- negative or positive --- it's a boon for Scientology. Our numbers go up. We couldn't have spent enough Scientology dollars in advertising to get the same result."