I am writing to thank the Chicago Reader for printing the article, "Death of a Scientologist", written by Tori Marlon. Having been witness to the devastating effects that the scientology processes and the doctrine of the Cult of Scientology has had on a loved one for over 20 years, this article hits home hard.

Deception and dollars are what the Cult of Scientology are all about, at the expense of individuals mental stability, financial stability and society stability starting with families and Scientology's "disconnection"

policy.

Fortunately, with well researched and documented articles such as this one, more and more disillusioned members are "waking up" from to the deception.

I trust I speak for my whole family in saying our hearts go out to Greg Belshaw's family and I hope that your article gives more families the courage to speak out and tell their experiences with the cult of greed.

Respectfully,

Tanya Lennox Durni

Message-ID: <3D67B15E.3C325647@cox.net>
Date: Sat, 24 Aug 2002 09:16:30 -0700
From: barb <bwarr1@cox.net>
Subject: Re: Letter to the Chicago Reader

Tanya Durni wrote:

>
> I am writing to thank the Chicago Reader for printing the article, "Death
> of a Scientologist", written by Tori Marlon. Having been witness to the
> devastating effects that the scientology processes and the doctrine of the
> Cult of Scientology has had on a loved one for over 20 years, this article
> hits home hard.
>
> Deception and dollars are what the Cult of Scientology are all about, at
> the expense of individuals mental stability, financial stability and
> society stability starting with families and Scientology's "disconnection"
> policy.
>
> Fortunately, with well researched and documented articles such as this one,
> more and more disillusioned members are "waking up" from to the deception.
>
> I trust I speak for my whole family in saying our hearts go out to Greg
> Belshaw's family and I hope that your article gives more families the
> courage to speak out and tell their experiences with the cult of greed.
>
> Respectfully,
>
> Tanya Lennox Durni

Thank you for displaying the courage and integrity needed to expose this cult masquerading as a religion. It is interesting that your paper also displays a 'help wanted' ad placed by the "Church" of Scientology. This is one of the many tactics used to suck in victims, as is the free "personality test."

People are drawn into Scientology by a variety of dishonest schemes.

Offering work to unemployed people is one such scheme. Victims have reported working long hours for little pay, and are immediately pressured to take "free" courses, which can run into thousands of dollars. If they quit, they are hit with what Scientology calls a "freeloader debt," which is an illegal demand for payment of courses.

People who are unaware of the illegality of the freeloader debt can spend years paying it off.

People who are drawn into the cult in this fashion have a potential to wind up like Greg Bashaw. Scientology processing is very dangerous to the mental health of its victims. When you are convinced that your only hope for salvation lies with Scientology, when you've spent your last dime on processing and it's not working, when you've become isolated from family and friends and are convinced that qualified mental health practitioners are worse than the devil, as Scientology teaches, where can you go from there for help? To some, suicide may be the only solution. But then, Scientology teaches that you are an alien spirit occupying a "meat body," and you will come back. People who join Scientology's toy Navy, the Sea Organization, sign a billion year contract.

We as a society have seen the results of this dangerous mindset, the notion that meat bodies can be easily shed for a better future. Heaven's Gate was an excellent example of where that belief can lead; 42 dead by their own hand to catch a space ship lurking behind a comet.

I acquired a copy of Scientology's job application form last year. It starts off with questions you would expect of a prospective employer.

Around question 39, it segues into the truly bizarre, with questions relating to sexual practice, probing questions about psychiatric history and affiliation with intelligence organizations. A person desperate for employment may be tempted to overlook the escalating weirdness of the application. Here are a few questions as an example under Fair Use:

41. Have you committed any felonies for which you weren't caught?

42. Have you ever been involved in prostitution, homosexuality, illegal sex, or any sexual perversion? Give who, where, when, what on each instance:

43. Have you ever seen a psychologist or pshychiatrist? Give details, including dates, number of times and what kind of treatment:

48. Have you ever had any other shock treatment or psychiatric brain operation?

50. Are you related to or connected to intelligence agencies or either by past history or immediate familial connections?

53. Are you here to obtain news stories?

54. Are you here to disrupt the organization?

55. What types of security clearances have you received in the past?

56. Have you ever worked in a high-security section in the government or armed forces?

The story of Greg Bashaw is a tragic case that, unfortunately, isn't unique among Scientology members. Their 'Help Wanted' ads run in papers nationwide, and every Scientology center displays a Help Wanted sign prominently in the window.

Now, I'm not saying you should refuse to run their ads. I do think, after courageously printing a lead story on the death of one member of the "Church" of Scientology, you should be aware that the Help Wanted tactic is a gateway that leads into the maw of the cult. I believe you owe it to your readers to make them aware of this, so that more innocent victims are not destroyed by this destructive cult that walks like a church.

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

"$cientology sees the world this way: One man with a picket sign:

terrorism. Five thousand people dead in a deliberate inferno: business opportunity.

$cientology oozes _under_ terrorists to hide."

-Chris Leithiser

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