Scientology Ads Take Over the Web
Google AdSense is serving up ads from the Church of Scientology, the cult/religion founded by science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard — and Seth Weintraub, for one, can’t seem to ban them from his site. Weintraub’s Macintosh rumors page, 9to5Mac, might seem an odd place for Scientology to advertise, but the Church is in the midst of a multimillion-dollar ad blitz to promote the organization.
Weintraub noted that he didn’t have a problem with any advertiser in particular, until his readers started complaining about the adverts, especially since he hadn’t noticed any rise in ad revenue. However, when he attempted to rid his site of the ads with competitive URL filtering — one of the tools Google gives its AdSense users, they had no effect. Weintraub writes in Computerworld, “I’ve…put every Scientology URL in the filter. To no avail. The Scientology ads keep coming.” It seems this isn’t a new problem, either; other users have been having similar problems dating back to February.
Even Wired Online, which wrote an article about the backlash against the campaign, couldn’t escape the ads. Condé Nast Executive Director Josh Stinchcomb told Wired’s Epicenter blog that the Scientology ads showing up on Wired.com were delivered through Google’s AdSense service. Google didn’t respond to requests for comment.
And if it’s not Scientology itself, it’s a Scientology front group like Narconon. Those Narconon ads are everywhere, usually deceptively hiding behind another name.
What’s really annoying is how Google News indexes all the Scientology public relations releases, as if they were actually news. Scientology starts churning those out whenever some negative story appears, to bury it.
Anyways, the Scientology Office of Special Affairs internet patrollers will show up soon to comment here and explain this.
How SP of Mr. Weintraub. He needs to get clear.
As much as people are getting frustrated about this topic which is starting to appear in a large number of articles now… I am a very positive person and you must look for the positive in every situation.
For people like me who focus on making money from their websites, than this is an area that we can get some money out of Scientology group… haha! (Jokes).
Happy making money online!
Freedom of speech is good, so long as it isn’t Scientology’s. Is that what I’m hearing here? Isn’t strange that those who love the freedoms of the internet cannot see past their own (ill founded) prejudices. If you are took time to read the Scientology philosophy I think you might find a real effort to combine the wisdom of the ages into an applicable philosophical/religious movement. One that acknowledges the goodness of mankind and doesn’t try to say that some god is going to take care of it all. Scientology offers an insight into one’s spiritual self one rarely glimpses at in this over-mechanised materialistic world. That’s refreshing and for one, I think it is needed.
Freedom of speech, as in, the First Amendment, only applies to the government abridging your rights to express your opinion. Weintraub has the right to refuse any advertisement he wishes, as does any other site or publication.
Dear Jordan,
You’re right, you have the right to filter any ads you want, but above comments show prejudice. Are we a free country ?
Overly mechanized world? LOL. You ain’t seen nothing yet squire.
And what about the e-meter? Is that not a machine? Maybe you should read up on Scientology yourself before your comment about it. Try a few independent sources like WIKIPEDIA as well.
FINNIGAN – there is NOTHING independent about Wikipedia. Its bias stretches WAY beyond Scientology.
Propaganda.
1984.
John
lol dumbass scientologists
“Scientology offers an insight into one’s spiritual self one rarely glimpses at in this over-mechanised materialistic world”
And you can have all that for…wait, there’s more!!
For the low low price of $999999999999999999999999 we will also throw in two ginsu knifes ABSOLUTELY FREE!!
I think I’ve seen you Andrew, weren’t you in charge of the basketball throw at the county fair or was that the ring toss?
You know Andrew, you might make more money working for Obama selling that Healthcare plan…you’re pretty good at pulling the sheet over people’s eyes. There just might be a place for you in gov’t.
Does David Miscavige think he can repair his own reputation, so thoroughly trashed in the courtrooms, the media, the streets and in his own orgs, by spending the entire IAS slush fund on flash ads for the cult he drove into the ground?
One big ad campaign is not going to save 23 years of incompetent management.
As is typical of the shills for the psych/drug industries — many who who write under the “Anonymous” banner — they try and create some mystery using “front groups” when it is well known that L Ron Hubbard developed workable solutions and these are licensed to both the Churches of Scientology and to the non-religious social groups. Nothing hidden.
Of course, the psych/drug industry shills are expected to do this — afterall they are of one-lifers: those brainwashed into thinking they die when the body dies.
notice how this scientology commentor mentions nothing about the article and instead lies about science. L Ron never got an accreditted degree from any accreditted college. Next, I will be calleda bigot, racist, and intolerant of religion by the scientologists because I dared to question them,
ANONYMOUS – How BOLD you are!
You have the courage to question scientologists, but a) do not have the courage to give yourself a name and b) have no clue how to spell “accredited.”
Give your name and I might take what you say a little more seriously.
John Davis
Newsflash James: Your cult isn’t the only group that believes in reincarnation. Get over yourself. It is also really silly of you to assume that anybody speaking out against a highly controversial cult with a documented history of criminal activity are in cahoots with “big pharma.”
I make a point of following every link. They get charged for it and it screws up their stats. Many others are doing the same and it has to start costing. Xenu must have messed up my tech
I like your style, Frank. I think I’m going to do that too.
no matter what they do, scidiots are soon gonna disappear due to the word wide web – even if they use it for promotion, it will have a backlash. always and forever. and that’s good.
“Freedom of speech is good, so long as it isn’t Scientology’s. Is that what I’m hearing here?”
No, that’s just something you’ve made up, knowing full well that Scientology is a fascist organization that hates free speech. People have read what L Ron said about free speech, that’s why they’re scared. You Scientologists are the ones who attempted to frame journalists Paullete Cooper for bomb threats for writing a book a book about you. Here’s what L Ron had to say about the press and their free speech.
“We are not interested in sensationalism personalities, or the complexity of Scientology methodology being discussed by the general public. At a subdivision of this, we do not want Scientology to be reported in the press, anywhere else than on the religious page of newspapers. It is destructive of word of mouth to permit the public presses to express their biased and badly reported sensationalism. Therefore we should be very alert to sue for slander at the slightest chance so as to discourage the public presses from mentioning Scientology.” L. Ron Hubbard
That’s because Google is in bed with the Church of Scientology.
Similar problems on YouTube (owned by Google), ie Scientology allowed free reign. For example, there’s a video of high profile Scientologist Ron Savelo ASSAULTING a member of the protest group ‘Anonymous’. This video comes from his camera, and Ron Savelo has NO LEGAL BASIS on which to have it removed. Yet, he continues to misuse YouTube’s easily expolitable system for flagging videos (for DMCA or TOS violations) to have this footage, this EVIDENCE OF HIM ASSAULTING A PROTESTER, removed from YouTube. Google know this is going on and will not do a damn thing about it because Scientology is paying them a lot of money.
Nothing’s hidden or shady, ROFL? My how quickly Terryeo forgets. When 9/11 happened and there was continuos coverage of it on CNN, Scientology was running banner ads on the bottom of the screen for one of their front groups. It had a name that was almost the same as NIMH’s or the National Institute of Mental Health, a legitimate organization. It was Scientology’s intention to get people who wanted to talk to a mental health professional to call Scientology instead. When CNN found out who was actually running those ads they pulled them.
Wow, this article sure draws a lot of psychos. I like the ads and who cares where else they are showing.
Flies round a jam pot!
John
It drew YOU and several other $cientologists to it, so yeah.
Who cares if YOU like them! Some people DON’T and they have the RIGHT to turn them away if they don’t want them on their site. It seems that RIGHT is being violated and people want to know why.
C’mon Golson. You and Weintraub are really being naive. Check ye’ ole’ Wikipedia page on Scientology. The “thetans” can travel from planet to planet in re-incarnated souls. You really think they can’t get through a Google competitive filter ad block? Please.
Besides, as has been pointed out, just who’s side does anyone think Google is on? Have you seen the Google Chrome logo? Some say it looks kind of like the late 1970s electronic Simon game. But doesn’t it REALLY look more like a flying saucer. Just sit back and enjoy the revenue.
Scott
Disclaimer: Sadly and Pathetically, in today’s world there’s an off chance that someone reading this might think I’m actually serious here. I’d generally give OM readers more credit, but one never knows. So for the record, I’m not serious. Please don’t try to kidnap/reprogram me. (At least not today, I’ve got stuff to do later.)
Oh yeah, pumping millions into advertising is going to repair Scientology’s image, an image that the Mafia wouldn’t envy. What part of “dismantled” are you not getting Scientology? There are no more secrets. There is no more mystery. The world now recognizes you for what you are: A duplicitous crime syndicate.
You had a good 60 years of brutalizing, fair-gaming, conning, scamming etc etc. But sadly for you, it’s over.
At least the Mafia has a romantic image, at least in some movies. There is nothing romantic about paying for salvation. Google for John Carmichael on youtube. You’ll see just how nasty these people are. No one is going to ever find that romantic.
Those ads are awesome!
The more they spam, the more people will hate and ignore them.
Honk if you hate Scientology. Search youtube for it to find out what the public thought of them BEFORE anonymous. That was during one of the first raids ever. If the public didn’t like them before, after almost 2 years of relentless media coverage about their every wrongdoing that is currently known can’t have helped.
Slick TV ads and internet spam won’t save them. Nothing can now.
Vic, I’ve seen you copypaste this same comment, with just a few changes to the names of people referred to, on two sites. Are you sure you’re not a Scientologist?
I’m not a Scientologist, but have looked in to its beliefs. I certainly have seen a bit of unjustified slanderous crap coming from a select few of Xenu and Anonymous crazed followers – seems to be the same bunch too.
Xenu (or whatever your handle is today) – Via uTube, MySpace, etc. I’ve been approached by a few goons like you (cycling through names and false aliases), who hide behind masks and false names, attempting to recruit people into your little cult for a sum of money. Over drinks, several friends have mentioned experiencing the same unwelcomed offers too.
I’m curious; how much are you paid, and by who, to surf from sight to sight to sight to sight to sight (cowarding behind your protective and safe keyboard) to go after Scientology?
Hubbard’s drug rehab (Narconnon) ways saved my son’s life! He would be dead otherwise! I will forever be grateful to those underpaid folks who cared enough to help!
Until you and your little band of idiotic followers decide to really do something to help, other than make trouble, SHUT the heck up. Leave this arena to the professionals who know how to really make a difference.
No Vic, YOU “shut the heck up!”
You don’t even know what you are talking about.
This has nothing to do with this criminal cult’s “beliefs” or their scamming front groups. This has to do with a website’s RIGHT to refuse advertisers being violated by a potentailly highly controversial agreement between the cult and google. Take your ridiculous conspiracy theories about people being paid to criticize a HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL
did not get to finish…
The cult is highly controversial, so it is ridiculous of you to assume that people are being paid to speak out against it’s abuses. So you can take YOUR “unjustified slanderous crap” (as you put it) and your informercial-style testimonials elsewhere.
As for making a difference – people speaking out about abuses help prevent further abuses in the future.
If you want to continue to stick your head in the sand and pretend it isn’t true despite all of the EVIDENCE available to anyone who botheres to look, then YOU are the one hindering the people who are REALLY making a difference.
By the way, have a happy downstat staturday.
whoops. wrong reply button, i can fix my typos though, lol
Vic, I’ve seen you copypaste this same comment, with just a few changes to the names of people referred to, on two other sites. Are you sure you’re not a Scientologist?
$cientology only became a ‘religion’ when Hubbard was forced to stop presenting it as a ’science of mental health’ because he didn’t have a license to practice medicine. If you check the facts – not the ‘Church’ propaganda but the real story, you’ll find that Hubbard’s claims to be a war hero were bogus. He was a fraudster, he abandoned his wife, he hung out with satanists, married bigamously, stole money, encouraged his followers to attack his critics, was declared persona non grata in England, was found guilty in absentia in Paris, and ended his days as a fugitive in the USA.
How much proof do you need? He presided over the largest infiltration of the US government in history, as is well documented by the FBI and others. The man was insane, and I’m pleased he’s dead, and not coming back. Now, if we can just dismantle his crime syndicate and free the slaves in the RPF, we can get back to normalcy. Many thousands of $cientologists are now ex-$cientologists: healthier, happier and back in contact with their families.
You can get out too. And if you hurry, you can sue the ‘Church’ while they still have some money left. They always settle out of court… ever wonder why that is? Because they’re in the wrong.
BWAHAHAHAHAHA Narconcon may have saved your son’s life, but did it save your money? Did it save your son’s? With the price of auditing i prefer to buy some nice pot, and if i ever had to go to a rehab center once, i’ll choose one who doesn’t try to impose you any kind of doctrine. And one who hasn’t been banned from several countries already. kthxbye
I saw this at another site as well. Copypasta, exact same comment.
OSA much? Looks like you’re running out of “make-anon-disappear”-tech. ;p
Advertising is legal. Advertising a lot is also legal. It’s also smart if done well.
Spending a portion of income on advertising is intelligent, providing the ads reach the target market. Scientology ads DO reach their target market, which is why the church continues to expand. The target market is: able people who want help. The ads ARE awesome, and they DO reach their target market.
People who hate ads which offer genuine help are clearly not the target market. So while negative people spread their negativity and rumors, the church just keeps putting out its good, true messages. The target market comes in, buys services, donates to campaigns, and the church has the wherewithal to purchase ads.
It’s a beautiful cycle of help.
This has nothing to do with the legality or intelligence of advertising. It doesn’t have anything to do with the cult’s message or “beliefs.”
This has to do with a website’s RIGHT to refuse advertisers being violated by a potentially highly controversial agreement between the cult and google.
But hey, you are just trying to get your silly little “stats” up, and most of us already know that staying on topic and telling the truth aren’t exactly mandatory for members of your cult to raise their “stats.”
Wow Nate – or is it Xenu or Lord Xenu! – can’t keep you kids straight …I haven’t seen someone get that worked up in a while. Whew! …grab a cold glass of water the next time you feel yourself getting red in the faced, cuz your stuttering and repeated statements are kinda funny.
Have your rights as a website owner or advertiser somehow been violated? …seriously? Since this seems to be your point.
On wait… Sorry. …is your point that you’re being scammed in some mysterious way? Enlighten us all …are you looking out for everyone else’s best interests – LOL. You might consider giving people a wee bit more credit where it’s due.
You said it though. it been officially confirmed – certainly hit the nail right straight on the head sweetie. …been seeing more and more random articles lately where people like you are being paid to attack betterment organizations. …certainly explains your passionate outcry – money, money, money $$$$$ – attack, attack, attack. Kinda like the pot calling the kettle black – don’t’ ‘cha think? If someone were to exposed something illegitimate, you might want to stand up tall for your official poster child photo. – ~click~ – sign each of your nom de plumes on the dotted line…………….
Ohh, BTW … 90% of the rescue workers of 911 have gone through the same detox program as Nate’s kid – they suffered blindness, paralysis, short term memory loss, cancer, and a bunch of other awful physical problems. Since doing this detox program, EACH and EVERY one are now living healthier lives. (must be infomercial-style testimonials though or a way to keep stats up) – I guess the award that the City of New York presented was another infomercial testimonial too.
LOL – just keep on posting babie. … you’re a pro…
lv J
Interesting Nate!
I’ve noticed too your name and style of “Alarmist” type writings on other sites under different pen names. Makes me think how few of you are actually dishing out this hate non-sense. You’re not just speaking out, which I can understand, you happen to be all over the boards – like seen in those who have hidden agendas.
As if you’re not a Scientologist patrolling the Internet at the behest of the OSA? Are you a Scientologist, Peter?
“I guess the award that the City of New York presented was another infomercial testimonial too.”
Yeah, that’s exactly what it is. New York City never presented an award to that Narconon knockoff, that’s just some lie Scientology made up. But you should know this since you’re a Scientologist, right? Scientology lied and claimed that it recieved an award from New York City firefighters but that’s been debunked.
Scientology was never awarded anything by New York City or the Firefighter’s Union, they did lie about getting such an award though.
LOL, wow Jess! U R so brainwashed!!!
Now where is my check? LOL!
Scientology Cult Fraudulently Claims “Medal of Valor” from New York Fire Department http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/07/19/18517551.php Three years later in 2004, on the occasion of the Scientology cult opening a new headquarters in New York City, a Scientologist named Stephan Hittman made the following “proclamation”:In recognition of the humanitarian efforts of the Volunteer Ministers of the Church of Scientology, and the help they provided to members of the Fire Department of the City of New York, in keeping with the principles developed by L. Ron Hubbard; and “WHEREAS: FDNY and the 911 PROGRAM recognize this unwavering commitment to firefighters, to paramedics, to other rescue workers, in keeping with our proudest traditions; and be it known, “THEREFORE: That FDNY and the 911 PROGRAM officially recognize this dedicated service to the citizens of the City of New York, and hereby bestow upon L. Ron Hubbard and the Volunteer Ministers of the Church of Scientology, the FDNY and the 911 PROGRAM’s Medal of Valor and 9–11 Service Award — on the occasion of the Grand Opening of the New York Church of Scientology.” Here is an account from New York’s Uniformed Fire Officers Association (UFOA):
OMG! So Nate – with your rational, if Coke takes over Superbowl Sunday advertisements, and maybe pushes Pepsi, along with a few other soft drink companies, aside, we’ll be certain to see you there with your spears chanting on your bongos: “The Coke company is a Cult, Coke is a Cult. I’m trying to save you all!”.
Don’t you have anything better to do than to fight other’s fights!!??!!
I think the ads are sweet!!! Keep ‘em coming!!!
Ruff
Sorry but that is completely wrong; this would be more like the guy who OWNS the airtime NOT wanting to display the Coke company ads at ALL, willing to not take the revenue the ads would generate, but still is forced to display irrelevant, coca cola ads which he even worse, doesn’t agree with philosophically, let’s say the coke company really WAS a cult, and he doesn’t like cults.
If you read the article itself it says that he attempted to filter the ads out of the rotation but for SOME reason something strangely prevents the ads from completely being filtered out… Obv. has NOTHING to do with scientology… oh noooooo.
Scientology isn’t a cult because they are displaying ads on the internet, they are a cult because.. well.. they’re a cult.
Uh, I think you completely missed the point, miff.
The point is, if the Superbowl people don’t want to advertise a particular product or service, they have the right not to.
If gigaom doesn’t want your stupid cult’s ads on their site, they shouldn’t have to go through such an ordeal to remove them. What is so hard to understand about that?
Adam – I believe you are wasting your breath. There are those who will complain and find fault with anything.
Thank you for playing these ads! I truly enjoy them!
“I’m not a Scientologist, but have looked in to its beliefs.”
Haha, yeah sure. Why do Scientologists feel they need to lie about that? It’s so they seem like an everyman. Problem is the average person thinks that’s Scientology is a creepy cult. The Office of Special Affairs, Scientology’s CIA so to speak, is now flooding this comments sections with, “Gee, I think these ads are great”. None of these people admit that they are Scientologists whose job it to around posting comments like this. Scientology is also not expanding, it can buy all the empty buildings it wants but they will just be empty buildings.
“I’m not a Scientologist, but have looked in to its beliefs.”
Rubbish. Better watch out there, $cilon… Hiding is – 8.0 on your bogus ‘tone scale’. In other words, you’ve got a whole lot more problems than any of us have.
We’re enthusiastic, cheerful and active… sounds like we’re further along the Way to Happiness than any $cientologist has been in a long, long time.
Scientologists are all hiding these days and pretending they are not who they are. They’re spamming craigslist with ads without saying who they are. Cruise and Travolta won’t talk about it any more. When’s the last time a celebrity came out proud in public about being a scientologist? Deep down they know they are a joke. What a sad life, hiding away, always worried about finding entheta. Well, they are making David Miscavige rich and powerful, so they must be happy about that!
Don’t be evil, Google, hello?
WAKE UP GOOGLE
I’m not a Scientologist, but I’m going to say a bunch of nice things about Scientology. I mean, normally someone who says something nice about Scientology would probably be a Scientologist, but since I’m not one that makes my positive statements all that much more credible, doesn’t it?
I’m also going to say nice things about organizations that hide their connections to Scientology, like Narconon, but I won’t actually claim there’s any connection. I’ll just mention it got my son off drugs and saved his life.
I’m certainly NOT going to refute any specific anti-Scientology points made up above, nor will I even acknowledge they exist. That might give them some validity and I certainly wouldn’t want that even if I were a Scientologist, which I would like to remind you that I am not. Besides, they’re all clearly made by religious bigots who are jealous that Scientology helps people’s lives and they just want to bring a good thing down.
Now I’m going to ask if other religions aren’t any weirder than Scientology. They all involve faith, right? I’m going to mention that far greater evils have been comitted by other religions in the past so why bother going after Scientology? You should go after those other ones instead. Not that I’m trying to distract you from criticizing Scientology. Why would I do such a thing?
I have to ask you, have you ever read any L. Ron Hubbard books? Like maybe Dianetics? If you did, you would probably understand more about how valid my… er.. their beliefs are. You should go and buy one. In fact, buy several! If you buy four copies, your understanding will be four times greater, right?
Also blah blah blah anonymous is paid for by the psychs blah blah conspiracy.
(HAY GUYS HOW IS MY IMPRESSION?)
Lets “CLEAR” this planet of this B.S.. It has F__k up my life from 1975 to still going but, is much less. These people came very close to having me killing myself ! By trying to “CLEAR” me and everyone I know of EVERYTHING ANYONE HAD. F. Y.I. Froges
Anonymous is making Scientlogy more and more a household name every day.
Check out this post- http://jwmadison.wordpress.com/2009/07/18/anonymous/
I can see your match.com profile now…
Occupation: flamboozaling people for their money
Good luck with that. Hope you rethink your whole career plan seriously!!
Anyways, the Scientology Office of Special Affairs internet patrollers will show up soon to comment here and explain this.
And they did!!! LOL! With their ‘official’ names even. Wow.
I’m thinking we have a new possible episode of The World’s Worst Jobs.
Hi, I’m Andrew, I google Scientology all day, looking for places where I can defend a total con that most people are in the know about. It’s really hard, since that Southpark episode! And Tom giving interviews! My job is extremely demanding and unrewarding, I’d ask for a raise but Obama doesn’t want to bail us out. If only we could get another John Travolta!!
Those Ad’s can be pretty annoying but in the greater scope of things they dont really bother me as much as hate groups do. I dont necessarily support Scientology simply because I dont know enough about it but that doesnt promt me to dress up in a mask and heckle people on my spare time like members of Anonymous do. To each his own but when freedom of expression is stifled for no reason, then I get pissed. Could you believe this kid from the group Anonymous launched a DDOS attack? and for what?
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9141236/Teen_gets_prison_term_for_attack_on_Scientology_Web_site
Rosalia, the person arrested for his attack on Scientology obviously isn’t anonymous. He’s clearly named in the article you link to.
I don’t dress up in masks and whatnot, but it’s clear to me Scientology is just a scam, not an actual religion. It’s basically a cult. I know a LOT about Scientology. I’ve read a few Elron books, both by and about him.
jwmadison makes an excellent point. Anonymous is doing stellar work for Scientology. It’s free advertising, folks! Anonymous is doing for Scientology what Microsofties did for Apple in the 90’s. And now it’s M$ that’s beleaguered.
Nice work guys!
To compare Scientology to Apple is a bit daft.
Apple at least makes things people can use to make their lives easier and more enjoyable.
And Microsoft is “beleaguered”? Haha, since when? They’re still raking in millions.
Monsieur le Monkey. I agree. Comparing Scientology to Apple is a bit daft. But daft is far too weak a word to describe some of the powerful opinions people on this site are expressing that step straight out of their or someone else’s imaginations.
What’s a “front group” about Narconon? Nothing. It’s an organization that applies LRH’s discoveries about drugs and biochemicals. It’s VERY up front with it. Nobody is trying to hide anything.
“L.Ron Hubbard never got an accredited degree from a accredited college?” He’s in good company then. Michaelangelo – no degree, Picasso – dropped out of school, Edison – a total of three months of schooling in his life, Einstein – with an amazing history of dropping out of schools and failing exams. I could go on. It’s a long list!
In any case, I don’t think you can get an accredited “degree in Scientology” at an accredited college.”
It will happen, but not for a little while.
Narconon is a “front group” because on the surface it pretends it has nothing to do with Scientology. David Miscavige realizes that Scientology has had bad press so Scientology-funded groups such as Narconon, Criminon, CAN, CCHR, etc, try to distance themselves from who funds and operates them, Scientology. This is pretty much the definition of what a front group is.
As for LRH’s “discoveries about drugs”, a lot his ideas about these issues were patently wrong and completely unscientific. It’s intellectually dishonest for Narconon to continue to promote them and pretend they’re acting on anything other than blind faith.
Also, dropping out of college does not suggest one is like Michaelangelo and Picasso and so on. Sure, there are brilliant and successful geniuses who never got a college degree. The difference between them and LRH is that LRH lied and claimed he had degrees in things such as atomic physics and the like. You can’t be an atomic physicist if you can’t even get a degree in physics. Einstein DID eventually earn a degree in physics. As for Michaelangelo and Picasso, they were artists, and everybody knows art degrees are of little practical value anyway. Few of the brilliant, famous artists had them.
Hubbard was a brilliant artist. A brilliant con artist.
Mr Singe,
Nothing about the technology behind the Narconon Program is hidden.
I suggest that you check your facts before you make derogatory statements.
This is from the web page.
“About the Narconon Program
William Benitez, an inmate of Arizona State Prison, founded the Narconon program in 1966. Benitez came upon a book in the prison library by American author L. Ron Hubbard, and after reading this book and applying the principles it contained on increasing one’s abilities, he and dozens of other inmates were able to permanently end their addictions to heroin. The Narconon program has evolved from that simple beginning to a worldwide network of over 120 drug prevention and drug-free social education rehabilitation centers. Through the tireless work of dedicated staff and volunteers, we have rehabilitated tens of thousands of addicts and brought the truth about drugs to millions of individuals.”
In this Narconon quotation of yours, I see no mention of Scientology or Dianetics. It’s almost as if Narconon is trying to avoid some excess baggage.
Monsieur Monkey (Mr Singe),
What a suspicious and negative mind you have!
The Narconon program applies a very small part of the enormous research conducted by L.Ron Hubbard. I’m sure that it also uses data of its own. Narconon exists to enable people to get off drugs. That is what it does. Dianetics and Scientology have a different purpose and a different emphasis. It might help to understand to think of the Narconon program as a manual on how to use Photoshop and Dianetics and Scientology as the whole subject of computer programming.
But it doesn’t look like you want to understand, just to try to pick holes in what you imagine Scientology, Dianetics and Narconon to be.
Narconon exists, like other Scientology-funded enterprises, to find people who are at a bad point in their life. People at a bad point in their lives are the easiest to convince to join a particular belief system if you promise to solve all their problems.
But many real religions do this too. And to be honest, as silly as I think of Dianetics and Scientology to be, my problem with Scientology isn’t with the belief system, it’s with David Miscaviage, the man who controls the entirety of Hubbard’s legacy. Miscaviage is violent and cruel to those who serve under him. Scientology would be better off if its followers stopped obeying his orders, and simply followed the “LRH tech” they’re so fond of.
Singe almost gets it, but not quite. He simply HAS to put forward his negative and suspicious slant:
“Narconon exists, like other Scientology-funded enterprises, to find people who are at a bad point in their life.”
Why? Because the technology developed by L.Ron Hubbard works. In this case, it gets people off drugs. It doesn’t matter, Singe, whether you THINK it works or not, or whether you can dig around somewhere and find someone who blagged his way through the course who says it doesn’t. And if know that something works and you see someone in the absolute mess than only drug addiction can produce and you have an ounce of care in you, you would use it, wouldn’t you?
The Narconon program is NOT a belief system. It’s a tried and tested procedure that handles the physical side of addiction, getting rid of the residual drugs in the body and the mental side of it. And finally, it gets the person to look at his own life and where he wants to take it so that he can get back on track and survive without drugs.
“Look. See what you see, not what someone tells you that you see.” L.Ron Hubbard
“Why? Because the technology developed by L.Ron Hubbard works. In this case, it gets people off drugs.”
Why? Because it finds people at a weak spot in their lives. This is one of the easiest points you can convince them to join a particular ideology.
It works? Where’s the evidence of this? There’s not a single peer-reviewed scientific study that shows any evidence that Narconon actually helps people get off drugs.
“It doesn’t matter, Singe, whether you THINK it works or not, or whether you can dig around somewhere and find someone who blagged his way through the course who says it doesn’t.”
You’re right. It doesn’t matter what I think. What matters is the evidence, and there simply isn’t any that suggests Narconon helps people in any way at all.
“It’s a tried and tested procedure that handles the physical side of addiction, getting rid of the residual drugs in the body and the mental side of it.”
Actually it hasn’t been tested at all. Not scientifically.
Pity Monsieur Singe, he obviously believes the hatchet campaign that the St Petersburg Times put out. Some people will believe anything in a newspaper.
Mr Singe writes about “David Miscaviage.” If he looked more closely – something he obviously has difficulty with, he would see that the surname is spelled “Miscavage.”
And as for the content of his writing, Singe states that David Miscavage is violent and cruel. Mr Singe knows this, does he? He has personally seen the person in question being both violent and cruel, has he? I wonder if he has even met him?
Mr Singe has a problem with David Miscavage’s orders and thinks it would be better if scientologists didn’t follow them. I wonder which orders it is that Singe has trouble with?
Perhaps Singe doesn’t know either.
Methinks Singe can’t think for himself and is just following a party line.
“Pity Monsieur Singe, he obviously believes the hatchet campaign that the St Petersburg Times put out.”
Who cares about the St Petersburg Times? It’s only the most recent example of people coming forward about the CoB’s physical assaults. There’s dozens of allegations of the CoB abusing his staffers that predate this newspaper publication which you dislike so much. For example, there’s the legal deposition of Jesse Prince back in the early 90’s.
“Mr Singe writes about “David Miscaviage.” If he looked more closely – something he obviously has difficulty with, he would see that the surname is spelled “Miscavage.””
It has nothing to do with looking closely. We’re only human and so we all make typos on occasion. So, you’re correcting my spelling now? I’m not sure what that has to do with the discussion at hand. I guess you’re running out of valid points to make, perhaps, so you’re just going for a somewhat weak ad hominem attack. But it’s alright. The points I make stand on their own. They do not require me to have any authority on any particular issue.
“Singe states that David Miscavage is violent and cruel. Mr Singe knows this, does he?”
Of course I don’t KNOW it. All I know is that 30-40 individuals who HAVE had personal relations with Miscavage have come forward to mention his short temper and his physical and verbal abuse. It’s difficult to dismiss every claim without investigating each of them first, isn’t it? I mean, there would have to be some vast conspiracy for all these people to make up the exact same fantasy.
“Mr Singe has a problem with David Miscavage’s orders and thinks it would be better if scientologists didn’t follow them. I wonder which orders it is that Singe has trouble with?”
Well, for one, The Religious Technology Center is squirreling Hubbard’s books. If you don’t believe me, compare recent and earlier editions of your LRH books. You do have some, yes?
Besides, no one has the right to sell you Scientology. It belongs to the entire human race. As LRH himself said, “The work was free, keep it so.”
“Methinks Singe can’t think for himself and is just following a party line.”
What party would this be? I sure hope you’re not going to claim I’m being paid by the “psychs” or some other silliness.
Oh, and a bit of advice… Using words like “methinks” doesn’t actually make you look more intelligent. This isn’t to say you’re not intelligent, but doing that sort of thing looks a little like you’re overcompensating.
In any case, Mr. Davis, I encourage you and everybody else to look at all sides of the issue and make up your own mind as to what to believe. Don’t just listen to what the critics claim, and don’t just listen to what Scientology says you should think.
What party would suggest that? I hope it is the party of empirical inquiry, as that really is the party line which I follow.
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