No, Town Does NOT accept role as Scientology’s mecca
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There is a very misleading story running on CNN’s website today with a headline that reads: “Town accepts role as Scientology’s mecca.” The town of which the article speaks is Clearwater, Florida. And, the story is dead wrong.
The mayor, Frank Hibbard, and few other city officials are quoted, making wishy-washy statements that imply that people in the Clearwater area have slowly begun to build a trust and tolerance when it comes to the church of Scientology and their virtual overtaking of Clearwater.
The most telling phrase in the story, though, is: “some sources approached for this story declined to talk on the record, citing fear of harassment by Scientologists.”
That’s the most truthful statement in the article. This is a group of people known for sifting through people’s trash, going to great lengths to get individuals fired from jobs and making frightening threats. I hear local instances all of the time and if you look online, you can find literally thousands of accounts to back this claim. That is, if the church members have not already done their magic and found ways to have the websites pulled offline.
Taxpayers in the area resent that the church does not pay taxes, yet they are eating up the downtown area of Clearwater faster than a flesh-eating bacteria. Just try strolling the streets during the daylight hours and you will more than likely be shoved aside by the throngs of uniformed Sea Org members all but racing from one task to the next. The Sea Organization members, by the way, are those who sign a contract that reads, in part “I Contract Myself to the Sea Organization For The Next Billion Years.” They also sign over their entire net worth.
Yeah, we find them creepy around these parts.
Picket the church and you will find yourself denied service in more than a handful of retail shops and eateries.
It’s not the church’s teachings that most people feel uncomfortable about. In all actuality, you will find that downtown Clearwater is probably one of the only places in the world the Scientologists do not aggressively recruit. They quietly go about paying thousands of dollars for their e-meter sessions, supposedly ridding their minds of bad vibes and seeking the enlightenment that will allow them to rid their minds and bodies of the thetans, or disembodied souls of a long-ago alien race that was conquered by Xenu, the ruler of a Galactic Confederacy.
Whatever helps you get out of bed in the morning, I say. If it takes living out L. Ron Hubbard’s SciFi stories, so be it.
That’s creepy, but it’s not why people hiss internally when think about the Scientologists around here. The church’s own polling in 2003 showed that a majority of local people who had no previous contact with the church had negative opinions about it.
Maybe that is because Hubbard taught his followers to “attack” the church’s enemies.
There are downtown building purchased by the Scientologists under assumed names, convictions in Washington for a plot to steal federal government documents, the sad and mysterious death of Scientologist Lisa McPherson, and the fact that if you speak against them you can expect them to lash out at you. In fact, let’s see now what kind of response I get about this blog article. It might be interesting.
When I first moved to the area, I went on a job interview at a small publishing company in the downtown area. The job and its duties were perfect for me, but I knew something was amiss when I was waiting in the lobby and saw all the fawning posters of L. Ron Hubbard. The interview went very well until the gal interviewing me gestured to a series of books on a shelf behind her and explained that they ran the business based on the teachings of L. Ron Hubbard. Then she proceeded to ask me how I felt about Scientology. I remember thinking that asking me about religion was illegal. She remained silent until I finally replied. I couldn’t lie. And in the end, that job was not the one for me. To this day, though, I resent that the interviewer felt she had the right to talk about religion in that setting.
The reporter of the Associated Press (AP) story interviewed a couple of politicians who were trying to keep the peace. If they had actually taken the time to really find out what people thought, it would have been another story altogether.
Wonderful work, very interesting. A good counter-point to the plainly bigoted work by CNN.
I’ve studied Scientology in two graduate school
disciplines. It’s a cult. It’s really that
simple. It appeals greatly to the ego — to
those who desperately want to believe that they
can personally one day become God’s equal. It
will be interesting to see how long Katie
Holmes stays with the group. Probably until
Suri (and any other kids) have all turned 18.
Funny, but I came here via link from the CNN article! I suppose it’s not unusual for Scientology to get such an acceptable article written these days. I particularly like the statement that “the city held hearings to explore allegations that Scientology is a cult”. Scientology became acceptable when Hollywood joined in sometime in the 90’s. (The CNN article curiously leaves that part out.) As if anyone in Hollywood is, or should be, some kind of morality yard stick for the rest of us! But L. Ron was no fool. He built a religion around Sci-Fi writings and made millions. And here I am playing the lotto each week. (p.s. I’m glad the folks in Clearwater are not taken by these fools.)
Well written. It mirrors my thoughts about the CNN article. Born and raised in Clearwater, I plan on moving soon largely because of the scientology take over. I do feel that they’ll eventually murder the wrong person, whose family won’t take a hush-money. As a result the cult of greed will eventually be banned in the USA as it is in France, Germany, Belgium and other Europen countries that have correctly labeled it as a criminal organization.
I agree with all these comments. I too went on a “job interview” but no mention of L Ron or Scientology. And sadly enough, I got the job. After a day or so, it was “Clear” there was something amiss. The higher ups were Scientologist, while the workers were just plain that. The condition of the place was terrible, the workers were constantly having to work 12 plus hours a day (most seemed like zombies). If I tried to talk with someone, I was quietly hushed and asked not to speak. It was the worst two weeks of my working life.
A long time resident of the Tampa bay area, I’ll never forget the first time I had a “run in” with the Scientologists. One of my projects, as a computer animator, was to construct a city street and make it as realistic as I could. I fondly remembered some of the streets in downtown Clearwater as being perfect for the job. With digital camera in hand I strolled the sidewalks looking for various buildings with old style architecture. I was snapping a few photos of a building, (none of the ones mentioned in the article) when I was approached by a person clearly representing a security force of some type. He wanted to know why I was taking photos of the buildings. I kindly told him my reasons and he seemed to believe me but I did notice that I was followed by him as well as some others as I was walking around taking pictures. As I was leaving in my vehicle, I swear someone was jotting down my license plate. Yeah, nice place to live…NOT!
So who in CNN is taking up the cause of the Scientologists in Clearwater – and why? The whack jobs that are attracted to Scientology are no different than the Brown Shirt recruits of the Nazi Party in 1930’s Germany, except that the Scientologists are more insidious in using their evil doctrine to infect others, their neighborhoods, and, now, entire cities! Kudos to the courage of the Suncoast Scribe for exposing these monsters for the life-sucking fiends they really are as they feed on the heart of Clearwater, Florida. My family and I, not to mention our numerous friends and acquaintances, will certainly steer clear of Clearwater on our annual trek to through Florida and spend our tourists dollars where they will NOT benefit the Sociopathic Scientologists.
I never even thought about CNN having one hidden in their ranks. They must be close to the top to run such a slanted view of Clearwater. I mean really, the city went through a whole lot of work and money to move that road and bridge to Clearwater Beach far away from Sea Org land. I unfortunately work near downtown Clearwater and stay Clear of that area.
I wish it had occurred to me earlier. I bet this AP reporter did have an inside angle to paint such a one-sided picture.
oooh, you’re gonna be in trouble…
I can’t believe that CNN actually ran that article without having ANY balance whatsoever.
In NYC,there are free ’stress tests’.
Being a total goof, I took one.
I knew only too well who they were.
They told me that I was blocked due to past drug addiction.
Funny, I am the last person to have ever done drugs.
I told the guy as much.
He tried another tac but was unsuccessful. He told me that my time was up.
Didn’t even offer me anything in the way of a come on.
I told him that I wanted him to have a blessed day.
He gave me the fish eye.
It’s worth noting that the best and most informative source of information in the world today about Scientology is the series of article on the subject at Wikipedia. Scientologists and non-Scientologists alike have duked it out at the online encyclopedia, and the result is an article that presents both sides of the argument over Scientology — both positive and negative. Wikipedia should be the first stop for anyone seeking to learn the truth about Scientology.
WHO needs any organization, religious group or otherwise? Just make up your own history, facts & write your own holy book. Be your own leader & save yourself. Be your own truth & inspiration. No need for traditions or relationships with others. No need for learning how to live in a way that brings good things to your life now and in the future. Just do whatever you want, the way you want, & with whom you want (as long as it doesn’t “hurt” anyone). Declare yourself god. IF this way of life appeals to you, then GET OFF THE REST OF THE RELIGIOUS WORLD’S ASSES! Why bother criticizing & mocking them? They tolerate all agnostic, atheistic and even “Scientology” idiots. IF these cults or anti-Christian people are SO RIGHT & SO GREAT, then they at least ought to be intelligent enough to tolerate other people who don’t see it the way they do.
As a Scientologist who lived in Clearwater for a dozen years, I can tell you that I had many friends in town who were not Scientologists. For the most part all the locals were often curious to meet a Scientologist and asked me whatever burning questions they had on their minds Once they heard an answer from a real Scientologist, they stopped believing what they heard on the grapevine. Do we worship aliens? No. Are we a UFO cult? No. Making claims along that line is comparable to saying that the foundation of Christianity is ritualistic cannibalism — because they take communion.
I had a house on Drew Street and our neighbors (who knew we were Scientologists) were decent enough. If they were bigoted against Scientologists, they kept it to themselves. Bigotry is mostly a personal decision.
My adult daughter (a Scientologist who worked at one of the hotels) wore a white hotel uniform and she suffered some verbal abuse from passersby yelling insults at her. She took it calmly and noted there were always a fair percentage of jerks in any crowd.
To claim that the Scientologists don’t pay taxes is to spread an obvious lie. The church owns about a dozen hotels that they have renovated, as places for the thousands of visiting Scientologists (from all over the world) to stay when they study or receive auditing (a form of pastoral counselling). They pay plenty of taxes. And the hundreds of Scientologists who have bought homes in Clearwater pay the same taxes as anyone else. It is my belief that the economy of Clearwater would more closely resemble that of St. Pete, if the Scientologists were not there. St. Pete was a dead city last time I drove through it, full of pawn shops and second-hand stores — seedy and boarded up. Downtown Clearwater is comparatively vibrant and alive.
By and large, individual Scientologists are not the demons they are made out to be in the press and in various websites online, or in blogs like this one.
My advice, if you want to know about what Scientology is up to, is find a Scientologist and ask him or her about it.
I got my introduction to Scientology from an ex-Scientologist, who couldn’t say enough bad things about what the Church of Scientology had done to her. She had become a drug dealer and heroin addict. I figured anything she was against had to be a good thing, so I checked it out myself and made up my own mind about it.
I’ve never been sorry to have become a Scientologist or to study it or receive auditing. Personalaly, for me, Scientology’s whole influence has been overwhelmingly positive, and I expect that the same holds true for Clearwater.
While I’m proud to be a Scientologist, it’s not for everyone. No one will twist your arm trying to convert you, or try to tell you you have to believe something you don’t.
Jay
Who in the world said individual Scientologists don’t pay taxes? Don’t divert the issue. The “church” paid all of $900k in taxes last year when they OWN more buildings in downtown than I can count. They are certainly not paying the same taxes a legit business might pay.
Yes, most people in Clearwater would rather thr HQ just find a new home. I cannot think of anyone who honestly believes they have made Clearwater what it is. Clearwater is a charming town on the Gulf, with sugar sand beaches and a thriving tourist industry. Tourism is what makes this area what it is.
If you live in Clearwater and you want to know more about Scientology you had better be ready to look online or ask a member, for sure. Why? Just TRY and find info in our local libraries. It is, curiously, missing.
My experience with Scientologists have been largely negative.
Why is that? Well, it’s because they’ve not been forthcoming.
If you ask me about my faith, I will give you loads of information and take you to services if you wish to attend.
This isn’t an issue of demonizing an organization as far as I’m concerned, it’s about all of the secretiveness. (Is that a word?)
IF it’s on the up and up, why all of the mystery surrounding it and why all of the anger?
If you don’t agree with my beliefs I won’t shout you down.
That’s it and that’s all.
The ’stress’ tests all over the subways in NYC are indicative of a recruitment process not unlike the other folks handing out pamphlets…but UNLIKE the folks handing out pamphlets, it’s gonna cost you. Big time.
Who was it that went to prison for her part in the largest infiltration of Government Offices in U.S History in 1977, and what was her relgion?
What was the religion of the persons that perpetrated the largest ponzi scheme fraud in U.S history?
Who was convicted for fraud in absentia in France 1977?
What religion has a disconnection policy?
What religious philosophy dictates that telling lies (acceptable truth) is okay?
What was the religion of those who forged bomb threats in an attempt to utterly destroy a writer who wrote a not so flattering book about said religion?
What was the religion started by the professed war hero who was actually a failure in the Navy that only ever recieved the requisite medals all other serviceman recieved from WWII?
What religion set about trying to destroy the late Mayor of Clearwater Gabriel Cazares?
What was the religion of those who held a woman 17 days in isolation and did nothing until she was dead?
What was the religion of the aforementioned woman?
There is one common denominator in every instance of the above……SCIENTOLOGY