Karen#1
Well-known member
My Afternoon in Scientology — Washington D.C. Edition
Another report from someone who ventured into a scientology org — this time in Washington, D.C.
I am not sure how long ago the person had this experience, but it was before they moved into the new “ideal org” building, when the org was operating out of the old Frasier Mansion (which is now the “National Affairs Office”). Of course, the great (?) thing about scientology is that nothing ever changes. It could have been yesterday or a decade ago or in the 1980’s and the same things would have happened.
You can read the full article here. As a note for those unfamiliar with the term like me, TA is teaching assistant.
This is yet another take on the “fastest growing religion on earth” which is experiencing “unprecedented demand” — apparent to nobody outside the bubble of scientology who keep telling themselves this to make themselves feel better.
Here are some relevant sections of the piece with some commentary from me in red.
[T]he founding church of Scientology was right around the corner in DC. Ironically, for an organization historically not a fan of queer folx, the church was located in DC’s posh/gay neighborhood DuPont Circle. Tales of terrorizing “suppressive people,” and the horrors of the Sea Org left me a little apprehensive. I enlisted a friend who graciously agreed to come with me. I figured that safety resided in numbers and that, if nothing else, having a second witness would be helpful.
It seems the writer did a modicum of research before venturing through the gates of hell. Interesting that these are the main takeaways from a Google search…
“One thing to keep in mind,” she said with a perfectly warm smile, “is that if you’re in here and want to leave, you have to tell us. If you feel like you can’t leave, it could be construed as kidnapping.” As my friend and I processed this casually tossed-off factoid, she ushered us into the worship space, and the doors closed behind us.
Well, I said nothing ever changes, but I have NEVER heard this disclaimer before!
A woman in an electric red pantsuit strode over to the lectern and took her place as worship leader. Her permed blond hair was piled on top of her head. She began the service, and I was struck by how alike it was to the many Presbyterian services I attended when I was younger: there were community announcements, dates of future events, and even some call-and-response that recalled “peace be with you/and also with you.” There was a defensiveness to the tone and language the worship leader used to describe Scientology as if there was the unspoken assumption that it would all be received poorly. The unexpected cross, with little dovetail splits at the end of each arm, was finally explained: this was not a Christian cross, but a Scientological Cross. The 8 little dovetails were meant to signify different values: the individual self, sex/family/procreation, community/society, survival of humanity, life forms in general, the physical universe, spirits, and infinity. There were near-constant reminders that everyone has the freedom to believe what they wish to believe, a curious reassurance in the context of worship. Curiouser still, there were reminders nearly as often that belief wasn’t required to become a Scientologist. To be a practicing Scientologist, you didn’t need to believe everything they said, but you did have to pay. Perhaps it was a preemptive defense against disbelief of things like their wild creation myth, but when someone has to invest lots of time, energy, and money before they can know it, it shows where their priorities are.
It is interesting that they were encouraged to attend a “Sunday Service” — DESIGNED to make it appear scientology is just like other religions. As any scientologist knows, this is just for show. The REAL scientology doesn’t take place in a “chapel” it occurs in course-rooms and auditing rooms. And I love his take on “belief isn’t required” but you do have to PAY.
As with any Protestant service, there was a sermon. The worship leader opened a book of Hubbard’s essays and read one aloud before expounding on it in a lecture on parenthood and affection. Physical affection from parent to child, Hubbard claimed, was a dicey proposition. He wrote that hugging a child was an attempt to change and mold them into a shape they did not take naturally. A parent may realize this mid-hug and pull away, leaving a child in a difficult no-win situation; a child will feel torn between their desire for freedom from their parent and their desire for their parents’ love. In this moment, the child becomes a future murderer, or a “blood-letter” as Scientological parlance had it. This ominous sermon, which didn’t explain an alternative to hugs so that one may rest assured they haven’t raised a killer, ended elliptically and as my friend and I side-eyed one another, the service wrapped up with an affirmation that we all had the right to believe what we wanted to believe.
Wow, that’s quite a messageto walk away with as to scientology’s beliefs about children. Hubbard DID say a lot of really weird things about “old thetans in young bodies” over the years.
The tour of the founding offices, across the street from the church, was a mini-museum to the myth of L Ron Hubbard. I say “myth” instead of “man” because virtually every claim they make about his life has been thoroughly debunked. The petite Australian woman from earlier was our enthusiastic tour guide and she told us of Hubbard’s status as a best-selling author (he wrote dime-pulps to little acclaim) and of his sparkling career in the Navy as a war hero (he was a reservist who briefly saw action). What especially fascinated me was how easily refuted all these claims were, and yet they stood as gospel for Scientologists. It seemed notable that his followers revered him as a great author of science fiction and yet couldn’t connect that to Scientology’s overtly sci-fantastical creation myth.
June 9, 2024 By Mike Rinder
www.mikerindersblog.org
Another report from someone who ventured into a scientology org — this time in Washington, D.C.
I am not sure how long ago the person had this experience, but it was before they moved into the new “ideal org” building, when the org was operating out of the old Frasier Mansion (which is now the “National Affairs Office”). Of course, the great (?) thing about scientology is that nothing ever changes. It could have been yesterday or a decade ago or in the 1980’s and the same things would have happened.
You can read the full article here. As a note for those unfamiliar with the term like me, TA is teaching assistant.
This is yet another take on the “fastest growing religion on earth” which is experiencing “unprecedented demand” — apparent to nobody outside the bubble of scientology who keep telling themselves this to make themselves feel better.
Here are some relevant sections of the piece with some commentary from me in red.
[T]he founding church of Scientology was right around the corner in DC. Ironically, for an organization historically not a fan of queer folx, the church was located in DC’s posh/gay neighborhood DuPont Circle. Tales of terrorizing “suppressive people,” and the horrors of the Sea Org left me a little apprehensive. I enlisted a friend who graciously agreed to come with me. I figured that safety resided in numbers and that, if nothing else, having a second witness would be helpful.
It seems the writer did a modicum of research before venturing through the gates of hell. Interesting that these are the main takeaways from a Google search…
“One thing to keep in mind,” she said with a perfectly warm smile, “is that if you’re in here and want to leave, you have to tell us. If you feel like you can’t leave, it could be construed as kidnapping.” As my friend and I processed this casually tossed-off factoid, she ushered us into the worship space, and the doors closed behind us.
Well, I said nothing ever changes, but I have NEVER heard this disclaimer before!
A woman in an electric red pantsuit strode over to the lectern and took her place as worship leader. Her permed blond hair was piled on top of her head. She began the service, and I was struck by how alike it was to the many Presbyterian services I attended when I was younger: there were community announcements, dates of future events, and even some call-and-response that recalled “peace be with you/and also with you.” There was a defensiveness to the tone and language the worship leader used to describe Scientology as if there was the unspoken assumption that it would all be received poorly. The unexpected cross, with little dovetail splits at the end of each arm, was finally explained: this was not a Christian cross, but a Scientological Cross. The 8 little dovetails were meant to signify different values: the individual self, sex/family/procreation, community/society, survival of humanity, life forms in general, the physical universe, spirits, and infinity. There were near-constant reminders that everyone has the freedom to believe what they wish to believe, a curious reassurance in the context of worship. Curiouser still, there were reminders nearly as often that belief wasn’t required to become a Scientologist. To be a practicing Scientologist, you didn’t need to believe everything they said, but you did have to pay. Perhaps it was a preemptive defense against disbelief of things like their wild creation myth, but when someone has to invest lots of time, energy, and money before they can know it, it shows where their priorities are.
It is interesting that they were encouraged to attend a “Sunday Service” — DESIGNED to make it appear scientology is just like other religions. As any scientologist knows, this is just for show. The REAL scientology doesn’t take place in a “chapel” it occurs in course-rooms and auditing rooms. And I love his take on “belief isn’t required” but you do have to PAY.
As with any Protestant service, there was a sermon. The worship leader opened a book of Hubbard’s essays and read one aloud before expounding on it in a lecture on parenthood and affection. Physical affection from parent to child, Hubbard claimed, was a dicey proposition. He wrote that hugging a child was an attempt to change and mold them into a shape they did not take naturally. A parent may realize this mid-hug and pull away, leaving a child in a difficult no-win situation; a child will feel torn between their desire for freedom from their parent and their desire for their parents’ love. In this moment, the child becomes a future murderer, or a “blood-letter” as Scientological parlance had it. This ominous sermon, which didn’t explain an alternative to hugs so that one may rest assured they haven’t raised a killer, ended elliptically and as my friend and I side-eyed one another, the service wrapped up with an affirmation that we all had the right to believe what we wanted to believe.
Wow, that’s quite a messageto walk away with as to scientology’s beliefs about children. Hubbard DID say a lot of really weird things about “old thetans in young bodies” over the years.
The tour of the founding offices, across the street from the church, was a mini-museum to the myth of L Ron Hubbard. I say “myth” instead of “man” because virtually every claim they make about his life has been thoroughly debunked. The petite Australian woman from earlier was our enthusiastic tour guide and she told us of Hubbard’s status as a best-selling author (he wrote dime-pulps to little acclaim) and of his sparkling career in the Navy as a war hero (he was a reservist who briefly saw action). What especially fascinated me was how easily refuted all these claims were, and yet they stood as gospel for Scientologists. It seemed notable that his followers revered him as a great author of science fiction and yet couldn’t connect that to Scientology’s overtly sci-fantastical creation myth.
June 9, 2024 By Mike Rinder
My Afternoon in Scientology — Washington D.C. Edition
www.mikerindersblog.org
