http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/db/articles.asp?ID=19980

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5/23/2002

Scientology misleading and manipulative

Is the Daily Bruin getting so hard up for ad revenue that now even crassly infamous cult groups are allowed to insert their flyers? L.

Ron Hubbard, who I recall best as the man who stated in a mid-1950s interview that the best and shortest route to a million dollars was to start a new California religion, was basically a fraud. To call the nonsensical, mind-bending propaganda that Scientology represents a science is a stretch of the definition; a stretch that in fact renders the term meaningless. The Scientology organization, which over the past decades has paid out tens of millions of dollars in damage awards to victims they have harmed, is little more than a coercive, mean-spirited, money-making machine that never hesitates to prey upon the weak and confused.

Back in the mid-1970s, I lived in the Westlake-Macarthur Park area, at that time a very active center of Scientology facilities and programs.

I had many occasions to interact with the Scientologists living in the area and I can never forget how manipulative and heavy-handed their "recruiting" tactics were. Steadfastly maintaining my independence, I was variously told by organization members how much better off I would be if I joined up, and how useful it would be to turn over essentially all of my personal assets in return for Scientology's loony and disingenuously dangled carrot of "clear" enlightenment. The truths clear to me at the time centered on how desperate these folks sounded, their practice of pounding down anyone who confronted their self-serving ideas, and the look of dazed bliss they all shared in their demeanor. Resisting their irresponsible cult dogma was one of my better instincts.

While I totally support our precious First Amendment right to express and publish religious and philosophical views, I can only hope that the sharp minds of our students will see the insert for what it is:

something to be tossed into the trash can of exploitative, irrelevant beliefs. Science is a wonderful system of enquiry. Seeing it in the same sentence with the words Dianetics and Scientology will always be a disconnection from reality in my opinion.

Solomon Matsas Student Affairs Staff Coordinator Office of the Vice Chancellor

"J. R. Ford" wrote:

> On Sat, 08 Jun 2002 08:49:07 -0700, barb <bwarr1@cox.net> wrote:
>
> Nice response, Barb. Also, if you might consider making the letter
> into a standing rebuttal, please add that it is a franchise based
> religion. A rather novel concept for religion, wouldn't you agree?
> Especially since there are commissions and tax exemption involved.
>
> *******
> The cult of $cientology in action:
> http://www.newtimesla.com/issues/2000-12-21/feature.html/page1.html
>
> For more information:
> http://xenu.net

You know, that's a good point I let slip past me. A franchised religion!

That's another thing that sets it apart from true religions, and an excellent tidbit to offer the IRS should they ever reconsider their deal with the cult.

I was shocked when, after a few years, I went back to school to take some computer classes. The cafeteria had been taken over by fast food franchises; Pizza Hut, Burger King, and Starbucks! No more weird slop and mystery enchiladas! What's another franchise on campus?

I hadn't considered making this into a standing rebuttal. I'd have to generify it a bit. One thing I enjoy is creating rants. Our local paper always prints them. In this piece, I would like to expand on the "cults grazing on campus" theme. I feel that, if an institution is going to accept responsibility for young people, they shouldn't allow proven predators access to them. At the very least, they should offer some sort of awareness training in the form of lectures outlining standard cult tactics and control mechanisms in depth. People need to be taught how to recognise these techniques, and it's something campusses (campii?) generally ignore. Too many kids blunder into the traps, leave school, wastefully dedicate their lives to these various groups, and often disconnect from their families.

I'd like to see something done to address this issue here in San Diego.

We have more colleges and universities than you can shake a stick at!

In the 70s, I was approached by a Scientologist who was taking the same botany class. Her approach was the "study tech," which would improve my scholastic record with instant results! She told me all about Ron the Humanitarian and how his eevil wife and her friend (Miscavige?) had perverted his work to turn a profit. I was invited to the inevitable "workshop." I declined, being as how I had to actually study to get good grades, but I did check out Dianetics from the library. I found myself rereading the first twenty pages or so, wondering why it ALMOST made sense, but not quite...was there something wrong with my reading comprehension, or was the guy just a bad writer? Finally had a cog...here I am, studying botany, which is a pretty complex and difficult subject, and comprehending it quite well, thank you.

Therefore, the guy must be a poor communicator and a bad writer if he couldn't clearly state the information he wished to convey.

Of course, I now know that was intentional on his part. The damn book kept putting me to sleep when it wasn't making me question my intelligence!

Looking back, I can see that they used the wrong bait with me. If I'd been approached with the "you can be happy and improve your relationships with others," at the time I might have bit. I was not a happy camper back then. Life was too confusing. I probably would have taken the personality test and said "yes!" to the analysis of it. By now, I'd probably be high up in OSA, and your worst nightmare! LOL!

Well, I'm not sure how I got off target here, but Sunday is a very random day.

I've a couple of projects in the works right now regarding certain aspects of cult activity here. Once I get those completed, I've made a note on my to do list to focus on cult activity on college grounds.

Thanks for the motivation!

--
Barb
Chaplain, ARSCC
http://members.cox.net/bwarr1

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