2022 Minnesota 4th District Congressional Candidate Michael Snellings says: "I'm a Christian and I'm also a Scientologist."

[Veda]

Almost everyone "knew a guy" or "was told," etc. That's always there, to some extent, because Scientolgy is in a society full of Christians.

But this would not be something natural or 'organic." At the very least, it's guided by Scientology, unless OSA has gone to sleep, which is unlikely.

From the mid 1950s, there's a missive from Hubbard about creating a specialized front group that would ease a person into Scientology by posing as a Christian group.

Although the Nation of Islam is not a front group created by Scientology, it has functioned in much the same manner by exposing NOI members to Scientology, and allowing Scientology to select a portion of the NOI membership for, tactful, transitioning into Scientology.

This would be a delicate procedure since Louis Farrakhan, as far as I know, is not under the control of Miscavige.

At the Scientology Celebrity Center​

Is there anyone with an idea of how many NOI people have done the OT levels, or joined staff or the Sea Org? (Made the transition.)

This might have excited Miscavige, who might be re-activating Hubbard's old idea of a specialized Christian front group.

Short of a specialized front group, would be coached and drilled (by OSA) Scientologists publicly announcing, "I'm a Christian!"

Asked an unwanted question about Xenu, a Scientology "celebrity" might blurt out, "I'm a Christian!," which usually changes the subject nicely. Link to the "Most Scientologists are Christians" thread.

Most people in the USA and Britain were/are Christians, at least in a nominal sense, and a Christian-friendly interface would e_a_s_e them into Scientology, so the idea goes.

Only some would transition into the cult, of course, with most being too aberrated.

Perhaps someone can dig up this old proposal from Hubbard.

What appears to be happening - although blunted by Covid 19 - is a program or op, pretty much using the same modus operandi of any Scientology op.

The primary ingredient would be deception, and then the use of dupes.

 

[ISNOINews]

Is there anyone with an idea of how many NOI people have done the OT levels, or joined staff or the Sea Org? (Made the transition.)

I try to keep track of these things as best as I am able. Unfortunately, I can't access the private Black Scientologists Facebook Group, which has 459 members and gets 3 posts a day. I do monitor other groups, pages and people online, and have some other sources.

I know that members of the Nation of Islam have done the OT levels, but I don't know how many. It appears that it is more common for them to do Super Power than to do the OT levels.

I know that members of the Nation of Islam have joined staff. Again, I don't know how many. I also know that some joined staff and then left, always remaining loyal to the NOI.

No NOI member has joined the Sea Org to my knowledge. I would be shocked if they had. Which brings me to my next point.

No NOI members have "transitioned" in the way that you mean. I don't think any ever will. At least as long as he remains alive, their primary and indeed sole loyalty is to Minister Farrakhan. Period. They honestly love him. I cannot tell you the number of stories I've read and heard from NOI members about how Minister Farrakhan saved their lives. He is a father figure to them in a way that Miscavige has never been, and could never be, to Scientologists.

Several years ago, Minister Farrakhan told NOI members not to go on the Freewinds for the Black Scientologists Convention. None did. It was inconceivable that any would. As it happened, that particular convention was around the time the Freewinds had its newsmaking flu outbreak. Thereafter, I saw a number of posts by NOI members about how wise Mr. Farrakhan was and how he had protected them.

NOI Brother Alexander Ofori-Muhammad is OT 4 and a Class 5 Auditor at the Church of Scientology of London. I have no doubt that if Minister Farrakhan instructed Brother Alexander to quit, he would quit

NOI Sister Nayyirah Tivica Muhammad has been a Power FSM for years. Yet she is very careful to continually stress that she is following Minister Farrakhan's instructions when she does Scientology. If Minister Farrakhan instructed her to quit, she would quit. If she didn't for some reason (which I don't think is possible), she would lose all of her selectees anyway, thus be of no use to the COS, be out of the NOI, and lose her identity.

Could things change when Minister Farrakhan dies? Possibly, but I wouldn't bet on it. Their identities are based on being part of a Black nationalist movement, indeed a nation, and their loyalty is to the lineage of Master Fard Muhammad, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. Their loyalty will be to Minister Farrakhan's successor. I don't see that changing.

/

 

[HelluvaHoax!]

.

Asked an unwanted question about Xenu, a Scientology "celebrity" might blurt out, "I'm a Christian!", which usually changes the subject nicely.

.
Isn't blurting out "I'm a Christian!" kinda the same as loudly screaming "KSW!"?

(Keeping Santa Working!)

.

 

[ISNOINews]

Mike Rinder now has an article about this:

“I’m a Christian and I’m also a Scientologist”


“I’m a Christian and I’m also a Scientologist”





/

 

[ISNOINews]

Mike Rinder mentions Scientology's representation to the IRS in his article:

Can Scientologists be Christians or Jews Too?

[Spoiler: The answer is no.]


Can Scientologists be Christians or Jews Too?


View attachment 9738

I always recommend Mike's article when the subject comes up.

/

Again, since we are on the topic, I also want to recommend Mike Rinder's essay:

L. Ron Hubbard on Christianity


L. Ron Hubbard on Christianity





/

 

[ISNOINews]

Mike Rinder now has an article about this:

“I’m a Christian and I’m also a Scientologist”


“I’m a Christian and I’m also a Scientologist”


View attachment 9761


/

I want to repeat here a comment that I made on Mike Rinder's blog.

The fact that Michael Snellings is running for Congress as a Republican in a heavily Democrat district and doesn't have any chance of winning doesn't mean that his candidacy is irrelevant or insignificant. (Not that Mike suggested that it was; I just want l to emphasize the point.)

There is a strategy where Republicans will run for office, particularly Congress, in races that they are certain to lose in order to boost their status in the Republican party and bona fides to appear on Fox News, Newsmax, One America News Network (OANN), podcasts, blogs, and rallies.

Just being nominated and being the official Republican candidate can get them on Fox News, Newsmax, OANN, podcasts, blogs, and invited to rallies. Having a Congressional exploratory committee probably helped Joy Villa raise her profile
.
I don't mean to pick on Republicans when I say this, or suggest that the strategy is improper or illegitimate. Democrats -- and often LGBTQ Democrats -- do the same thing in heavily Republican districts that they have no chance of winning in order to raise their profile and status, and mainstream their platform. Often they run unopposed for the Democrat nomination, or with token opposition, because everyone knows that the Democrat nominee is going to lose anyway.

An analogy to LGBTQ Democrats who adopt this strategy may be instructive. LGBTQ Democrats may run for office under such circumstances to mainstream and make more acceptable the idea of LGBTQ persons running for office at all. Just being nominated is the "win," and serves as the first step. Similarly, a Scientologist (or "Christian Scientologist") who runs under such circumstances may do so to mainstream and make more acceptable the idea of a Scientologist (or "Christian Scientologist") running for office. Again, the "win" would be being nominated, and would serve as the first step.

This may (or may not) be a long-term strategy.

/

 

[cakemaker]

Michael Snellings is not naive, and does not have a misunderstood word. He's been coached and drilled.

This is a program.

A while back, Mark Bunker spoke before the Clearwater Downtown Development Board, which prompted a bizarre reaction from Board member, and OT 8, Ray Cassano.

Cassano blurted out, "I am a Scientologist, also a Christian. Most Scientologists are Christians," in an apparent attempt to reassure the "wogs." ("Wog" is an old racial slur used by the colonial British, and is a Scientology term for non Scientologists.)

Link to the "Most Scientologists are Christians" thread

"The man on the cross. There was no Christ." L. Ron Hubbard, 1968

*
​

"The preclear will be found to be intensely aberrated who has sworn allegiance to some infinite beingness..."

L. Ron Hubbard, from the 1953 book Scientology 8-8008

​

Absolutely right.
No Scientologist speaks out like that unless it's a target on a program.
Probably some religious acceptance/positioning BS.

 

[Type4_PTS]

I try to keep track of these things as best as I am able. Unfortunately, I can't access the private Black Scientologists Facebook Group, which has 459 members and gets 3 posts a day. I do monitor other groups, pages and people online, and have some other sources.

I know that members of the Nation of Islam have done the OT levels, but I don't know how many. It appears that it is more common for them to do Super Power than to do the OT levels.

I know that members of the Nation of Islam have joined staff. Again, I don't know how many. I also know that some joined staff and then left, always remaining loyal to the NOI.

No NOI member has joined the Sea Org to my knowledge. I would be shocked if they had. Which brings me to my next point.

No NOI members have "transitioned" in the way that you mean. I don't think any ever will. At least as long as he remains alive, their primary and indeed sole loyalty is to Minister Farrakhan. Period. They honestly love him. I cannot tell you the number of stories I've read and heard from NOI members about how Minister Farrakhan saved their lives. He is a father figure to them in a way that Miscavige has never been, and could never be, to Scientologists.

Several years ago, Minister Farrakhan told NOI members not to go on the Freewinds for the Black Scientologists Convention. None did. It was inconceivable that any would. As it happened, that particular convention was around the time the Freewinds had its newsmaking flu outbreak. Thereafter, I saw a number of posts by NOI members about how wise Mr. Farrakhan was and how he had protected them.

NOI Brother Alexander Ofori-Muhammad is OT 4 and a Class 5 Auditor at the Church of Scientology of London. I have no doubt that if Minister Farrakhan instructed Brother Alexander to quit, he would quit

NOI Sister Nayyirah Tivica Muhammad has been a Power FSM for years. Yet she is very careful to continually stress that she is following Minister Farrakhan's instructions when she does Scientology. If Minister Farrakhan instructed her to quit, she would quit. If she didn't for some reason (which I don't think is possible), she would lose all of her selectees anyway, thus be of no use to the COS, be out of the NOI, and lose her identity.

Could things change when Minister Farrakhan dies? Possibly, but I wouldn't bet on it. Their identities are based on being part of a Black nationalist movement, indeed a nation, and their loyalty is to the lineage of Master Fard Muhammad, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. Their loyalty will be to Minister Farrakhan's successor. I don't see that changing.

/

Some years ago I had a brief conversation with a friend (and business partner)of mine about the NOI - CoS merger. He is Black and was a pastor of a local Christian church. While he was not at all a fan of either Scientology or Farrakhan and kind of amused that they would merge together in any way, he strongly believed that Farrakhan and NOI had in the past been of real help to the Black community.

 

[ISNOINews]

Snellings either has some crashing misunderstood words on the subject of Scientology, Christianity, or both, or, alternatively, he's lying, because as a Scientologist, he believes that lying is the "greatest good".

Christianity and Scientology are not compatible.

Besides...

In its application for tax-exempt status in the United States, the Church of Scientology International states:

The Church of Scientology's representation to the IRS clearly and unequivocally establishes that it is unacceptable to the Church of Scientology for a Scientologist to practice another religion in any meaningful, substantive or indeed non-superficial way.

There is another perspective that must be considered. Another question. One that the Church of Scientology never considers, and may be incapable of recognizing, much less considering.

That question is whether it is acceptable to the other religion, in this case Christianity, for its members and adherents to also practice Scientology? In other words, can one, from the perspective of the other religion, honestly practice both religions at the same time?

For example, I noted in another thread that there is at least one fatwa that it is unacceptable for Muslims to also practice the religion of Scientology:

About Islam: What is the position of Islam on Scientology? Can a Muslim become a Scientologist? (Answer: No.)

https://exscn2.net/threads/about-is...muslim-become-a-scientologist-answer-no.2074/

Back to Christianity, the websites and authorities cited in this thread show that a person who believes in and practices Scientology simply cannot, from the perspective of Christianity, simultaneously believe in and practice Christianity in any meaningful, substantive or non-superficial way. The spiritual, moral and ethical beliefs and practices of Scientology are antithetical to those of Christianity.

/

 

[Type4_PTS]

The Church of Scientology's representation to the IRS clearly and unequivocally establishes that it is unacceptable to the Church of Scientology for a Scientologist to practice another religion in any meaningful, substantive or indeed non-superficial way.

There is another perspective that must be considered. Another question. One that the Church of Scientology never considers, and may be incapable of recognizing, much less considering.

That question is whether it is acceptable to the other religion, in this case Christianity, for its members and adherents to also practice Scientology?

For example, I noted in another thread that there is at least one fatwa that it is unacceptable for Muslims to also practice the religion of Scientology:

About Islam: What is the position of Islam on Scientology? Can a Muslim become a Scientologist? (Answer: No.)

https://exscn2.net/threads/about-is...muslim-become-a-scientologist-answer-no.2074/

Back to Christianity, the websites and authorities cited in this thread show that a person who believes in and practices Scientology simply cannot, from the perspective of Christianity, be or remain a Christian in any meaningful, substantive or non-superficial way. The spiritual, moral and ethical beliefs and practices of Scientology are antithetical to those of Christianity.

/

It would be interesting to poll religious leaders of all varieties, showing them what the CoS wrote to the IRS, then asking them "In light of this information, is Scientology compatible with (fill in the religion)?"

I don't see how any leaders of any of the major religions could honestly consider Scientology to be compatible. One of the sentences written to the IRS is:
As Scientologists, they are required to look only to Scientology Scriptures for the answers to the fundamental questions of their existence and to seek enlightenment only from Scientology.

Per this requirement, if a Christian wished to practice Scientology he would no longer be permitted to rely upon the Bible as a source of truth or wisdom. If he attended a bible study in a Christian church and lived his life in accordance with his realizations from that study, he would be in violation of this requirement from the CoS.

 

[Veda]

The big lie is that Scientology is an authentic "religious" institution; and the people running Scientology Inc., at the top, know it, which is why it's easy for Scientology Inc. to shift into "non-religious" when that's expedient.

Does the USA IRS care that Scientology Inc. is not complying with the details of its shady deal of 1993?

Probably not.

Ultimately, the "Church of Scientology" is, itself, a front group.

Scientology does most of its business in the USA, so it's oriented towards what is advantageous in the USA and related countries.

This is being treated as a political story when it really isn't. This guy is irrelevant, except that he's yet another manifestation of a PR ploy that is popping up here and there.

Scientology Inc. swings right and it swings left, the same time. It uses goobers and it uses city slickers alike.

It's also not really about religion.

It is about disguises and trickery.

All roads lead to the same
personality cult.

"I have high hopes of smashing my name into history...
That goal is the real goal as far as I am concerned..."
L. Ron Hubbard, 1938
​

 

[Type4_PTS]

Does the USA IRS care that Scientology Inc. is not complying with the details of its shady deal of 1993?

Probably not.

I agree that the IRS probably does not care.

But the position presented to the IRS by CoS when applying for tax-exempt status is generally truthful in what they expect from Scientologists.

And while the IRS may not care, I believe many other religious leaders would care.

 

[ISNOINews]

This is being treated as a political story when it really isn't. This guy is irrelevant, except that he's yet another manifestation of a PR ploy that is popping up here and there.

Well, the story is political -- Michael Snellings has declared that he is running for Congress. (It will be more seriously political if he files the required paperwork by the deadline.) Even if he ran and lost the general election, indeed, even if he ran and lost the Republican nomination, he would still be mainstreaming the idea of Scientologists running for office. He would also be test driving and mainstreaming the "Joy Villa" "Christian Scientologist" political strategy.

But I would certainly agree that the story is not only political. As you indicate, the "Christian Scientologist" stratagem is one that can be used outside of politics in regging, recruiting, forming alliances, etc.

/

 

[Harold#1]

The big lie is that Scientology is an authentic "religious" institution; and the people running Scientology Inc., at the top, know it, which is why it's easy for Scientology Inc. to shift into "non-religious" when that's expedient.

Does the USA IRS care that Scientology Inc. is not complying with the details of its shady deal of 1993?

Probably not.

Ultimately, the "Church of Scientology" is, itself, a front group.

Scientology does most of its business in the USA, so it's oriented towards what is advantageous in the USA and related countries.

This is being treated as a political story when it really isn't. This guy is irrelevant, except that he's yet another manifestation of a PR ploy that is popping up here and there.

Scientology Inc. swings right and it swings left, the same time. It uses goobers and it uses city slickers alike.

It's also not really about religion.

It is about disguises and trickery.

All roads lead to the same
personality cult.

"I have high hopes of smashing my name into history...
That goal is the real goal as far as I am concerned..."
L. Ron Hubbard, 1938
​

What qualifies a "religious" institution as authentic?

 

[Veda]

What qualifies a "religious" institution as authentic?

Not using fraud, blackmail, and harassment to obtain its designation as a religion.

 

[Harold#1]

Not using fraud, blackmail, and harassment to obtain its designation as a religion.

They have all done that.

 

[HelluvaHoax!]

What qualifies a "religious" institution as authentic?

ANSWER: That at least 51% of their claims are not easily provable lies, con games, hoaxes, scams and money-making rackets.

Scientology's FACT:FRAUD ratio is unfortunately way down in the 2:98 range.

If Scientology was a fast food joint, the health inspectors would have closed it down back in 1950. In the food industry you need at least a score of 60 on the sanitation inspection report to remain open. One Hubbard started selling his McEngram burgers, the health hazard (to customer's mental heath) earned one of these:

.​

 

[ISNOINews]

Steven Hassan, Ph.D. weighs in on the story.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1367663875366260747

/

 

[Harold#1]

Not using fraud, blackmail, and harassment to obtain its designation as a religion.

If you are you referring to their reobtaining tax exempt status in 1993 as obtaining their designation as a religion, it didn't. LRH designated Scientology a religion. Does not breaking the law and not harassing make a religion authentic?

 

[Veda]

If you are you referring to their reobtaining tax exempt status in 1993 as obtaining their designation as a religion, it didn't. LRH designated Scientology a religion. Does not breaking the law and not harassing make a religion authentic?

Sometimes people can be suggestible, sometimes foolish. It's a human frailty and we're all human, but at least we can try to learn. It's not necessary to be tricked over and over again, like the dim witted kid, whose class mate sends away for a practical joke from the Johnson Smith catalogue and uses it, again and again, on his poor classmate, who never wises up.

Scientology's abuses - including towards children - are made possible, because of its fraudulent religious cloaking.

"LRH designated Scientology as a religion" for tax evasion and law avoidance purposes.

Scientology is a for-profit operation - a business, and a system of psychology.

From Hubbard's 1946 Affirmations: "Your psychology is true and wonderful. It hypnotizes people. It predicts their emotions, for you are their ruler."

Most fundamentally, Hubbard created his own fan club where he would be identified with the SURVIVAL! and well being of his fans. It becomes particularly nasty when the fans become fanatics, circa (1965) KSW and (1967) Pink legs, and other writings.

In the autumn of 1955, he described the manipulative use of the impulse to SURVIVE! in a booklet that was his secret blueprint for the Scientology operation.

This has all been covered, in detail, elsewhere.

Below is a re-post. Read it, or not. as you wish.

*​

Despite the impression that Scientology Inc. seeks to create, it is not universally regarded as an authentic religious institution. There are counties that regard it as a for-profit psycho-political operation. What's remarkable is that Hubbard, albeit inadvertently, admitted as much, but that's another topic.

This has been discussed so much, and explained in such detail, that I am slightly amazed that there are some people who still don't get it. But, as with Big Lies, repeated so often, with Scientologists trained to use the words "religion," "the Scientology religion," "my religion," "parishioners," "ecclesiastical," "religion, religion religion," especially when in the presence of "wogs," I shouldn't be surprised.

It wasn't always that way, back in the 1960s and into the 1970s, only the dumbest people in Scientology regarded Scientology as a religion. All but a few knew the religious pose was a defensive and protective measure to allow Scientology's tech to be applied.

As early as 1952, Hubbard wrote and stated that religion was an "implant." It was degraded. People who were "religious" who came into Scientology were regarded - quietly - as Degraded Beings who were dramatizing one or more implants.

In late 1954, guided by the notes of his confidante, and editor, John Sanborn, and having activated what he called "the religion angle" (for tax purposes and to avoid various laws), Hubbard lectured about Scientology's similarity to Buddhism, Taoism, and the Vedas. There was even a quote from the Bible prominently placed in the front of a latter edition of the book Creation of Human Ability.

Link to the Hubbard, Buddha, Crowley thread (Note: Crowley despised religion, and did not regard his teachings as religious, and warned that any attempt to make them a religion would lead to "a rather stupid kind of mischief.")

For the record, Buddhism was originally a Wisdom School, Taoism was wisdom, the Vedas were a collection of writings quite varied. Over long stretches of time, these became debased, and descended into propitiation and ceremony. Yet, even today, Yoga is not a religion, Buddhism, in its highest expression, is a discipline and a system of psychology, etc.

The Rosicrucians are not a religious. The Monroe Institute (Out Of Body etc.) is not religious. The various societies of Psychical Research, etc., are not religious. Psychotherapists, who do past life recall therapy, do not claim to be religious. And the list goes on.

Why does posing as a religion give Scientology power? It only gives it power in some places. Where it's not expedient, and it doesn't give it power, it doesn't pose as a religion.

"Why" should be obvious.

Maybe these links will be helpful:

Link to Religious cloaking thread

Link to Scientology's Sharia Law thread

Link to Scientology's Religious Angle: A Twisted History by Mike Rinder