The latest data that I have seen with my own eyes (a couple years old now) are the s.o. guys at pac level, and they would all give their lives for him. I can't speak for higher up the food chain. Or has he decimated the food chain?I can post here the same reply I posted as acomment under the vid in YT:
"Great vid. I'm not sure that the main factor preventing politicians from tacking scientology is just fear. Back in the day the Italian mafia was far more scary and dangerous than CoS, but politicians and attorneys took them on. I think the two main factors that make politicians not want to deal with the CoS problem are:
1. Scientology is tiny, but it is hiding behind the massive elephant in the room - US religious laws. the Priest-penitent clauses, religious arbitration legislation and tax-exemption status of established religions - these are the big issues. Politicians are not afraid of scientology, but they are afraid of triggering a backlash from the Evangelicals or Muslims or orthodox Jews. Taking on the cults might falsely signal to the big religions that they are gonna be next. Especially if anti-cult legislation and activity will come from the Democratic party. The fear of secularization and "liberal atheists elites" is massive.2. Scientology is tiny, few people really care that much about it nationally. I understand its different in Clearwater and downtown LA, but far less so in swing states like Ohio or Georgia.
I think we are still far away from revoking their tax-exemption, because the incoming criminal indictments and convictions are gonna be against individual scientologists and not against any of the corporate structures of the organization itself. It would be a game-changer if anyone won a serious criminal lawsuit against any of the corporate structures.
Call me weird, but I think the greatest 'threat' to Miscavige is not external, but internal. The quickest way for the CoS to collapse (or at least dissolve into numerous non-abusive small entities) is if whole orgs in the US started to leave the church and become independent like what happened in Israel with Dror.
If for example the Pasadena Org, LA org and the Silicon Valley org would brake away taking all their people with them to become independent, the rest of the central Church would collapse within a week. That's my estimate.
Measures are in place to prevent that, and have been since LRH's day.If for example the Pasadena Org, LA org and the Silicon Valley org would brake away taking all their people with them to become independent, the rest of the central Church would collapse within a week. That's my estimate.
They have more to fear from people walking away entirely, and getting on with life.
The latest data that I have seen with my own eyes (a couple years old now) are the s.o. guys at pac level, and they would all give their lives for him. I can't speak for higher up the food chain. Or has he decimated the food chain?
By 'orgs' I didn't mean the buildings or the corporate structure. I meant the people as a group. Contrary to Davey's propaganda, scientology isn't the buildings. It isn't even really the books or the tech. It is the people and their strength as a group, as an organized body of similar-minded men and women.Measures are in place to prevent that, and have been since LRH's day.
The org buildings are all owned by corporate Scn.
You have people who have signed contracts precluding any such.
Plus "Independent Scn" is not going so well either.
They have more to fear from people walking away entirely, and getting on with life.
I agree with you here. The whole religious angle makes it very hard to come at Scientology because of how much protection they get. And the second someone comes at Scientology they get to cry about discrimination and they will work to rally as many other religious groups to their cause, so it's a very uphill battle. I also think we are a long ways from revoking tax exemption, but things have not been going well for Scientology, these court cases could turn out extremely bad for Scientology.I can post here the same reply I posted as acomment under the vid in YT:
"Great vid. I'm not sure that the main factor preventing politicians from tacking scientology is just fear. Back in the day the Italian mafia was far more scary and dangerous than CoS, but politicians and attorneys took them on. I think the two main factors that make politicians not want to deal with the CoS problem are:
1. Scientology is tiny, but it is hiding behind the massive elephant in the room - US religious laws. the Priest-penitent clauses, religious arbitration legislation and tax-exemption status of established religions - these are the big issues. Politicians are not afraid of scientology, but they are afraid of triggering a backlash from the Evangelicals or Muslims or orthodox Jews. Taking on the cults might falsely signal to the big religions that they are gonna be next. Especially if anti-cult legislation and activity will come from the Democratic party. The fear of secularization and "liberal atheists elites" is massive.2. Scientology is tiny, few people really care that much about it nationally. I understand its different in Clearwater and downtown LA, but far less so in swing states like Ohio or Georgia.
I think we are still far away from revoking their tax-exemption, because the incoming criminal indictments and convictions are gonna be against individual scientologists and not against any of the corporate structures of the organization itself. It would be a game-changer if anyone won a serious criminal lawsuit against any of the corporate structures.
Call me weird, but I think the greatest 'threat' to Miscavige is not external, but internal. The quickest way for the CoS to collapse (or at least dissolve into numerous non-abusive small entities) is if whole orgs in the US started to leave the church and become independent like what happened in Israel with Dror.
If for example the Pasadena Org, LA org and the Silicon Valley org would brake away taking all their people with them to become independent, the rest of the central Church would collapse within a week. That's my estimate.
Yep, of all the stupid scn initiatives, the STAND (SLIME) league's "OMFG they are coming after religious freedom! We are all in the same boat!" spiel is actually the one quite effective weapon they have.The whole religious angle makes it very hard to come at Scientology because of how much protection they get. And the second someone comes at Scientology they get to cry about discrimination and they will work to rally as many other religious groups to their cause, so it's a very uphill battle. I
One thing about Christianity in the US, is we have lots and lots of small independent Protestant sects, in addition to the big organizations like Catholicism. Many of them would be skittish about it being easy to label a church a cult, just because it doesn't have millions of members.Yep, of all the stupid scn initiatives, the STAND (SLIME) league's "OMFG they are coming after religious freedom! We are all in the same boat!" spiel is actually the one quite effective weapon they have.
What could be the solution? Run the opposition to cults as a bipartisan initiative. Make sure NOT to have it as a "democract-candidate-only" thing. Include prominent Evangelical Republicans and also Jews and Muslims.
That way they won't be able to hide behind the big religions anymore.
I don't know that there is an easy answer/solution. I think it starts with investigating the criminal aspects of what the Church does and focusing on those. Unfortunately the Church is pretty adept at handling attacks. No, we don't promise we can cure cancer, look at all these agreements they signed, we never promised them any real world results.Yep, of all the stupid scn initiatives, the STAND (SLIME) league's "OMFG they are coming after religious freedom! We are all in the same boat!" spiel is actually the one quite effective weapon they have.
What could be the solution? Run the opposition to cults as a bipartisan initiative. Make sure NOT to have it as a "democract-candidate-only" thing. Include prominent Evangelical Republicans and also Jews and Muslims.
That way they won't be able to hide behind the big religions anymore.
Yeah, this has been what's saved them so far. When you look at cults like NXIVM they were doing things so shocking that it couldn't be ignored. Scientology isn't quite at the same level (at least not blatantly).One thing about Christianity in the US, is we have lots and lots of small independent Protestant sects, in addition to the big organizations like Catholicism. Many of them would be skittish about it being easy to label a church a cult, just because it doesn't have millions of members.
Agreed. But I also don;t see any politicians standing up for Paul Haggis or Leah... or taking any stand at all in the matter.I will say this, if the Church comes under attack/inquiry, I don't see any politicians standing up for them. Scientology is not popular at all, no matter which party you're a member of.