Title: The Scientology Cult's "Handling" Of
The Internet
Author: Warrior
Date: 24 Jan 1998 12:59:12 -0800
The Scientology Cult's "Handling" Of The Internet
-------------------------------------------------
A few years ago, a letter from Elaine Siegel of Scientology's Office of
Special Affairs was leaked to alt.religion.scientology. It was a briefing
to all Scientologists who are on the internet. The briefing letter outlined
Scientology's planned "handling" of the internet with regards to individuals
who had the courage and "nerve" to speak out about Scientology's fraudulent
and dangerous practices, felonious crimes, abusive acts, evil nature, corrupt
activities, civil rights violations and all-around betrayal.
I would like to make a few comments for the benefit of those of you who
read and/or post to this newsgroup. My comments are particularly for those of
you who have never been a member of Scientology. To many former members of
the cult who post here, like Arnie Lerma, DeoMorto, Nukewaster, Joe Harrington,
Dennis Erlich, Neal Hamel, Robert Vaughn Young, Stacy Young, Future8008,
Ex-Scio, Larry Wollersheim, Monica Pignotti, The Worm, and many others I could
name, it is unlikely you will learn anything new from my comments below. My
posting is not news to them; they are all too familiar with the corrupt and
sinister nature of Scientology management.
Scientology's upper management realized it had (and continues to have) a problem
with the internet, particularly with the newsgroups alt.religion .scientology
and alt.clearing.technology, since they do NOT _control_ these newsgroups. In
the minds of a Scientology's management, the mere fact that newsgroups exist for
the free discussion of Scientology is a tremendous
problem for them. Scientology would define the problem as a "situation" or
a "hill ten". The ability to freely to discuss Scientology in a forum which
reaches a potential audience of millions of readers is a severe threat to
Scientology's continued _existence_ and money-making ability.
In keeping with L. Ron Hubbard's policies on the mandated "handlings"
of those who pose a threat to Scientology's survival, Scientology is bound
to attack (and NEVER defend) those who criticize the cult's beliefs and
practices, as well as those who practice Scientology's methods _outside_ of the
cult without their permission and control (regulation).
One of the functions of the Office of Special Affairs is handling "entheta",
which Scientology defines as "bad news" or criticism aimed at their cult. In
order for Scientology to continue to promote and SELL its beliefs and practices
to "raw meat" (a term the cult uses for those with no prior involvement in the
cult), the cult DEPENDS upon reaching individuals who have no FACTUAL knowledge
as to what Scientology _actually_ consists of and DOES to people who get
involved.
The existence of the internet and specifically the newsgroups (a.r.s and
a.c.t) poses a HUGE economic threat to Scientology. Let there be no mistake:
Scientology does NOT want you to read about the ACTUAL experiences of
THOUSANDS of former members of the cult. The internet makes it possible for
YOU and others to DO EXACTLY what Scientology _tries_ so desperately and
foolishly to prevent, i.e., the FREE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION.
Scientology has LOST _that_ war...
Yet the cult continues on, robotically blundering away in its pathetic
attempt to "handle" the internet.
THE CULT WILL NEVER SUCCEED SINCE IT PREDICTABLY *FAILS* TO TAKE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS _OWN_ CRIMES, LIES, BETRAYALS, VICTIMS, ABUSES
AND DEATHS IT HAS CAUSED AND CONTINUES TO CAUSE.
The internet is Scientology's Vietnam. The cult has LOST the war and
KNOWS THIS. Much like the US continued its campaign in southeast Asia
long after it was clear that the war had been lost, Scientology continues
its campaign against the internet long after the war against critics has
been lost. Much as the Vietnam War provided corporations with profitable
contracts to manufacture instruments of death and destruction (planes, bombs,
tanks, guns, etc), the cult provides LAWYERS with legal cases enabling them
PROFIT at sowing the seeds of the cult's own destruction.
Scientology is its own worst enemy - a living evil empire which
will continue to practice its self-defeating policies and "handlings"
against those who continue to EXPOSE Scientology's REAL NATURE.
Here again is the letter from Elaine Siegel:
******begin letter******
BRIEFING TO ALL SCIENTOLOGISTS ON THE INTERNET
FROM THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(NOTE: If you know any other Scientologists on Internet or
America Online, please e-mail this briefing to them).
Dear Scientologist,
As you know, there has been quite a bit of false and
derogatory information going out over the Internet by a few
detractors, squirrels etc.
The Church fired a project to collect up all this
information, and we have been in comm with some of you
already. We have obtained legal input on some of the
messages that individuals have posted that could be libelous
or in violation of copyright laws.>
We have a plan of action that we are taking, to simply
outcreate the entheta on these newsgroups
(alt.religion.scientology and alt.clearing.technology), and
get positive information to the general public on what
Scientology is, our activities around the world, successes
stories and LRH writings. There will also be some legal
actions, which you will be further briefed on. Basically, as
a group we will NO longer put up with our religion being
criticized, harrassed and denigrated on the Internet.
As a first step, I want to thank those who have posted
positive material and handled some of the entheta that has
been posted. This is very much appreciated!
Secondly, I would like to ask your assistance in
getting each one of you to post positive messages on the
Internet (at least once a week, more if you like), about
Scientology.
We want to make these messages "high ground". In other
words, don't get tempted into a two way comm with some l.1
jerk on the Internet. Ack him and continue to post POSITIVE
and HIGH TONED messages that really explain what Scientology
IS doing, how it helped you or a friend, community activities
of the Church, Church expansion. It is easy to get into an
opp term situation with the detractors over this system, but
this doesn't necessarily communicate very well to the broad
public who may read this.
There is an excellent issue by LRH which is PR Series
27, THE ENEMY LINE. In here, LRH says that you never forward
an enemy line, nor do you get into just attacking. YOU COME
UP WITH A BETTER CAMPAIGN OF YOUR OWN.
This should be applied whenever you post a message on
Scientology, as we want to keep this on a theta,
dissemination comm line to the broad public.
The Church of Scientology International is getting our
own site onto Internet, and we'll also be posting messages
regularly in there, so if you feel you are getting attacked
by some detractor or jerk, let us know right away, and we can
get you material to counter whatever is being said.
If you imagine 40-50 Scientologists posting on the
Internet every few days, we'll just run the SP's right off
the system. It will be quite simple, actually.
CSI will be e-mailing around various briefings and good
news messages to individuals for posting also, so that you
are getting new material to post. If you need material or
want to get your material cross-checked with us for content,
e-mail it (to this address for now, until CSI gets our own),
and we'll get you the material you need.
The two newsgroups on the Internet are
"alt.religion.scientology", and also "alt.clearing.technology"
(which was set up by Homer Smith, a squirrel and declared SP).
We need to fill up both of these newsgroups with positive
information on the Church.
For those of you with access to America Online, you
know there is a similar situation with Scientology being
attacked on that system. So this would apply to this
newsgroup as well (posting positive messages on Scientology).
The Planetary Dissemination Org (PDO) will be
getting their own site onto Internet, which will be for the
dissemination of LRH's works, WIS book, and other materials
and campaigns. We intend to put these works onto laser
discs, and utilize all the tools of the Internet to
disseminate Scientology internationally.
This is very exciting, and will be a new era for
computer users as regards the subject of Scientology.
Look for CSI's first posting very shortly. We WILL
outcreate anything that is on there.
I would like to hear from you on your ideas to make the
Internet a safe space for Scientology to expand into.
Thanks.
ML,
Elaine Siegel
Office of Special Affairs International
******end of letter******
Scientology _says_ in its "Creed of the Church [sic] of Scientology":
"We of the Church [sic] believe:"
"That all men have inalienable rights to think freely, to talk freely,
to write freely their own opinions, and to counter or utter or write
upon the opinions of others."
"That all men have inalienable rights to their own religious practices
and their performance."
"That all men have inalienable rights to their own lives."
"That all men have inalienable rights to their sanity."
The Office of Special Affairs of Scientology through its spokesperson
Elaine Siegel wrote:
"If you imagine 40-50 Scientologists posting on the Internet every few
days, we'll just run the SP's right off the system. It will be quite
simple, actually." -- Elaine Sigel, OSA
In my opinion, Scientology PRETENDS to support freedom of religion,
freedom of speech, and civil rights. If one is a Scientologist _in good
standing_, he/she has rights, SO LONG AS HE/SHE IS A MEMBER OF SCIENTOLOGY
*AND* SO LONG AS THAT MEMBER _IS NOT CRITICAL_ OF THE CULT.
In support of my opinion, I offer the following:
Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, wrote in HCO PL 18 October 1967
Issue IV, "Penalties For Lower Conditions", (aka "FAIR GAME POLICY"), that an
enemy of Scientology (called a "Suppressive Person") is assigned a "Condition
of Enemy" and:
"May be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist
without any discipline of the Scientologist. May be tricked, sued or lied
to or destroyed."
In the same policy Hubbard wrote that a member of Scientology who is assigned a
"Condition of Treason" is to receive the following treatment:
"a black mark on left cheek and confinement on org premises or dismissal
from post and debarment from premises."
A Scientologist assigned a "Condition of Doubt" is:
"Not to be communicated or argued with."
In HCO PL 21 July 1968 "Penalties For Lower Conditions", Hubbard mandated
the following treatments for members assigned various "lower conditions":
"Liability: Dirty grey rag on left arm. May be employed at any additional
work. Day and night confinement to [cult] premises."
"Doubt: May be confined in or be barred from [cult] premises. Handcuff
on left wrist. May be fined up to the amount carelessness or neglect
has cost org in actual money."
"Enemy: Suppressive Person order. May not be communicated with anyone
except an Ethics Officer, Master At Arms, a Hearing Officer or a Board
[of Investigation] or Committee [of Evidence]. May be restrained or
imprisoned. May not be protected by any rules or laws of the group..."
"Treason: May be turned over to civil authorities. Full background to
be explored for purposes of prosecution. May not be protected by the
rights and fair practices he sought to destroy for others. May be
restrained or debarred. Not to be communicated with."
From my experience in Scientology, one is "safe" so long as he or she
does NOT express any disagreement with Hubbard or Scientology's policies
and practices.
The more vocal one is in opposition to Scientology's ABUSE, the
more one can expect to be "FAIR GAMED" (harassed, lied to, investigated,
sued, tricked and destroyed).
Thankfully, the internet allows former members and victims of the cult of
Scientology to warn others BEFORE they get involved.
Thank GOD for the internet!
Warrior
Read my postings at http://warrior.offlines.org