tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19954516088987831982024-03-12T21:41:02.254-04:00Church of Scientology Exit ZoneA microblog for summarizing ongoing projects, events and resources for helping former members cope with leaving the Church of Scientology.<br><br>Do you want out? It's OK to have doubts, see <a href="http://tinyurl.com/2d4bbwm">Who Has Spoken Out?</a> <a href="http://tinyurl.com/262l6g4">Why They Left?</a> <a href="http://tinyurl.com/265oazo">How Far It Spans?</a> <a href="/p/resources.html">Where To Find Help</a> and <a href="/p/reading-lists.html">What You Should Know</a>.AnonLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230190228115011502noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995451608898783198.post-49340264603047710532014-04-23T20:25:00.001-04:002014-04-23T21:06:19.321-04:00The real reason people leave Scientology: ARC Breaks<div class="separator tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RgLk2nN7JWgy8LFDZ_N3Qg11KLAVwk1Z8HqWgR9z2GYXh1ntmEcxFcMpVqibkqXrNE2dnqMgWrFvAQEyMAuqq1q0IUM6XGkKS4usmaXTUVJSGOSlfbNwcrqJFaT6lYxFee9HhuWntceV/s1600/BillFranks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RgLk2nN7JWgy8LFDZ_N3Qg11KLAVwk1Z8HqWgR9z2GYXh1ntmEcxFcMpVqibkqXrNE2dnqMgWrFvAQEyMAuqq1q0IUM6XGkKS4usmaXTUVJSGOSlfbNwcrqJFaT6lYxFee9HhuWntceV/s1600/BillFranks.jpg" /></a></div>
In February 2011 and incredible testimonial account from Bill Franks, the former international executive director (ED Int) of the Church of Scientology, attesting to one of the biggest secrets behind the brainwashing aspects of Scientology Technology.<br />
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<h4 class="title icon">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/bill.franks.98" target="_blank">Who is Bill Franks?</a></h4>
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<a href="http://www.xenu-directory.net/critics/franks1.html" target="_blank">Bill Franks</a> joined Scientology in 1968 studying the Saint Hill Special Briefing Course at Saint Hill UK, directly under L. Ron Hubbard. He joined staff and went up the Org Board. In December 1979, he
was appointed by Hubbard to be "Senior Management Executive
International." Franks eventually ended up as ED Int, likewise appointed personally by LRH in <a href="http://www.xenu-directory.net/documents/franks19850403.html" target="_blank">December 1980</a>. He also served as the Commanding Officer of AOLA and was the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Church of Scientology International.<br />
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Training-wise, Franks was a <a href="http://www.robertdam-cos.dk/Bill%20Franks.html" target="_blank">Class IX auditor</a>, OT VII and OEC FEBC graduate. He reached the highest level of administrative training, doing the FEBC directly under LRH on the Flag ship. In December 1981, Bill Franks was<a href="http://www.gerryarmstrong.org/50grand/media/time-1993-01-31-3.html" target="_blank"> thrown out of his office</a> in Clearwater and fired from his position executive director. In August 1982, he was declared a <a href="http://www.robertdam-cos.dk/Bill%20Franks%20declare.pdf" target="_blank">suppressive person</a> by the Watchdog Committee.<br />
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<a href="http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?22265-Bill-Frank-s-story-about-brainwashing-%28thread-merge%29&p=541889&viewfull=1#post541889" target="_blank">Bill Franks' story about brainwashing</a></h4>
<blockquote>
Firstly, I swear that this is the absolute and complete truth even though it occurred 37 years ago.<br />
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Secondly, a little about me which might put things into perspective as to why I saw what I am about to say as very significant and in a way horrific. I was in the SO for a little under 14 years. I attained the "rank' of Lt. Commander through promotions only by Hubbard. I was OEC and FEBC (trained by Hubbard), HSDC, Class IX when I left in December 27 1981, as well as DSEC, NOTs auditor, plus assorted other stuff. I was OT V plus NOTs, plus sec checked up the wazoo over the years. I also audited between 3-4000 hours conservatively speaking-probably much more, a lot of this was under Hub as the C/S. I spent about 3 1/2 years working with Hubbard pretty directly on the ship at various posts. I got to know him as well as anybody did. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
Thirdly and to the point of all this preamble, on one night in 1974 I found myself in David mayo's office in the tween decks of the Apollo. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
It was very late or early in the morning. We were, I believe in the port of Safi, Morocco. A student of mine, I was currently D of T and Mayo was Flag Senior C/S, had blown. Hubbard was extremely angry with us due to this blown student of mine on the FEBC program. In an attempt to show Hubbard what we had done to handle this guy we collected up all the sec checking that he had received over the last 2 months, it had been a lot poor guy, and presented it to him along with an outline of this student's progress on the courses he had taken. We had also wanted to show him how we had been careful that he hadn't gone by misunderstoods, etc.<br />
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We waited and waited and about 0300 hrs a messenger came down with a Despatch written by LRH. My memory does not recall any folders being returned. The despatch was entitled Very Confidential underlined. "He went onto say that if you or Franks ever reveal any of this information that I am about to reveal, the consequences will be severe for SCN." </blockquote>
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<b>He then wrote </b><b>"a person does not blow due Overts or Witholds. He blows only due to ARC BKs.</b> </blockquote>
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<b>"However, if any of this information ever became public, I would lose all control of the orgs and eventually Scientology as a whole.</b><b>" Signed, LRH.</b></blockquote>
<blockquote>
Both Mayo and me looked at one another completely incredulously. I cannot speak for Dave but I was completely flabbergasted as I realized at that point of digestion that he is talking about something that 75-80% of the tech is premised upon. Furthermore, the OEC/FEBC was currently anchored by the latest" development" at the time -being the L's, L-10, 11 & 12. Which for those who don't know is about OW's. I don't believe Mayo or I talked about this again until we were out where I saw him at his auditing facility in Montecito, California in 1983. I believed we were a bit shell shocked about this. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
As for me, I began to see more and more that Scientology was merely a big prison camp. I stayed in for another 7 plus years but I was always mindful of this and always had in mind changing this "tech." I believe it is the key to what we have all seen and experienced as brainwashing.<br />
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That is all. I hope someone who wants to use this will do so as there is no doubt that there is good in the tech it is just a matter of where is it. </blockquote>
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How do you sort out the good and the bad and at the same time keep the good without throwing out the baby with the bath water. </blockquote>
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I regret that I could not fix this during my tenure.<br />
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Best, wogman Bill Franks </blockquote>
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<h4>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=201383003211443&id=100001929720618">Verification</a></h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QJnsNnhFTYW_ZaCDTyTLLDl91Iej82bfbvwZ0GridEiIAdaFZ1MQnKj_gilRBFckb27WdeY6ka2mJEBs1KQqRb_uQdcMoDidkeAYx0ofzo9VHHSIsolvFR5NFDRAaZUsoYQAANo0Orl0/s1600/BillFranksFB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QJnsNnhFTYW_ZaCDTyTLLDl91Iej82bfbvwZ0GridEiIAdaFZ1MQnKj_gilRBFckb27WdeY6ka2mJEBs1KQqRb_uQdcMoDidkeAYx0ofzo9VHHSIsolvFR5NFDRAaZUsoYQAANo0Orl0/s1600/BillFranksFB.jpg" height="320" width="168" /></a>The discussion board post excerpted above originally occurred on Facebook (see image to the right) in response to a message Robin Scott posted to Bill Franks timeline. It was passed on to the ESMB community by "gwells," a friend of Bill's who was helping him <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">navigate the interne</span>t. <br />
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Despite initial disbelief, <a href="http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?22265-Bill-Frank-s-story-about-brainwashing-%28thread-merge%29&p=541999&viewfull=1#post541999" target="_blank">Karen de la Carriere initially confirmed</a> it was indeed posted by Bill Franks. Once Bill navigated his way through the registration ESMB process, he <a href="http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?22265-Bill-Frank-s-story-about-brainwashing-(thread-merge)&p=542353#post542353" target="_blank">personally confirmed</a> it himself.<br />
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Additionally, Glenn Samuels <a href="http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?22265-Bill-Frank-s-story-about-brainwashing-%28thread-merge%29&p=542664&highlight=Mayo#post542664" target="_blank">independently confirmed this account with through a source close to David <span class="highlight">Mayo</span></a> who is unable to speak out directly due to a gag order he was forced to sign during a legal settlement with the Church of Scientology.<br />
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Similar to Bill, Glenn lived and worked aboard the Flagship Apollo
where he was also <a href="http://blog.scientologyrecovery.com/about/" target="_blank">personally trained as a counselor by Hubbard</a>. Glenn left
Scientology in 1982 after seeing Scientology’s corruption and greed
firsthand. His response to Bill's remarks was that "it makes sense; did you leave because you committed some huge crime? Probably not. You left because of abuse, human rights violations, or some other form of harassment."<br />
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<h4>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2r2Nd6OJT4" target="_blank">Additional insights</a></h4>
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The Edge with Tom Smith, June 2010 - a previously recorded interview with Bill Franks was re-published on YouTube in January 2014. The topics discussed include <a href="http://www.xenu.net/fairgame-e.html" target="_blank">Fair Game</a>, <a href="http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/11/paulette_cooper_scientologys_original_and_worst_nightmare_a_thanksgiving_tribute_by_the_village_voice.php" target="_blank">Paulette Cooper</a>, the
framing of <a href="http://exscn.net/content/view/134/99/" target="_blank">Mary Sue</a>, orders issued against elected officials of a major
Western government, Miscavige's psychopathy, Hubbard's psychopathy, etc. Bill also explains the story of the Hubbard despatch that admitted
people blow due to ARC Breaks (upsets) rather than transgressions.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/i2r2Nd6OJT4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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This interview was most likely Franks' original telling of his first hand account regarding Hubbard's emphasis on O/W being the source of people leaving the Church Scientology being a blatant deception instituted to control people.<br />
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Furthermore, this deception should raise questions regarding the real purpose of Scientology Ethics, PTS/SP tech and Sec Checks. If Hubbard was right when he stated that human beings are basically good, then what is it about Scientology that causes a need for all these coercive tactics, corrections and punishments?<br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Click the title of this post or ob any other entries on this micro blog to visit the related link for a given entry.</span>AnonLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230190228115011502noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995451608898783198.post-35088284376352327662012-02-03T15:31:00.008-05:002012-02-04T21:55:12.424-05:00Scientology Exit Survey - Final Results Published!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/exit-survey.html" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaubOZTSPHpJbweGgQeJtRQUaRyqPMkodc4Ha9twdK9cDq4ZaqJHy7E6UdyOzpwtQdI29Rm448uHfhwzdg7QhqQD2Ej65NVwj9GLTdKkfgtjSnxHU68e7q56mWQNTjrrPW6w-d8rJhvbKl/s200/76526017_8.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
After 26 months of online polling and promotion, the final batch of <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/exit-survey.html">Exit Survey</a> published reports has been released on scribd for this project that includes data as of January 31, 2011.<br />
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The following results are based on <span style="font-weight: bold;">451 total respondents</span>, with a +/- 9 margin of error. For more information on the available documentation that was compiled in this informal study, curious onlookers can reference the <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/40384285/Church-of-Scientology-Exit-Survey-Reporting-Index?in_collection=2343853">Church of Scientology Exit Survey Reporting Index</a> or visit the related <a href="http://www.scribd.com/document_collections/2343853">dox collection on scribd</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/23581858/Scientology-Exit-Survey-Results-Basic-Report">Church of Scientology Exit Survey Final Results - Basic Reports</a></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/23636010/Scientology-Exit-Survey-Results-Advanced-Reports"> Church of Scientology Exit Survey Final Results - Advanced Crosstab Reports</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/24055762/Scientology-Exit-Survey-Results-Analytical-Reports">Church of Scientology Exit Survey Final Results - Analytical Crosstab Reports</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/31095067/Scientology-Exit-Survey-Results-Summary-Charts">Church of Scientology Exit Survey Final Results - Summary Charts</a> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?6b48s6kw53b76fk" target="">Church of Scientology Exit Survey Final Results - Download Bundle</a> <br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/AnonLover2008/CofExitSurveyResultsJanuary312012FinalUpdate?authuser=0&feat=directlink">Jan 2012 Exit Survey Results - Infographics Album</a> </span>(<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/112037311275067360339/CofExitSurveyResultsJanuary312012FinalUpdate#slideshow/5704970986541047138">Slideshow</a>)</div>
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The 27 new responses we got in the last 4 months stacked up mostly in the time-served demographic categories for 10+ years in the official Church of Scientology. We were also fortunate to get a significant number of OT level folks participating in the final months, along with a handful of Independent Scientologists that helped to expand the range of experiences to some extent. A sample of some of the more interesting
highlights from the published reports is featured below.<br />
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<b><i>Click on the thumbnail images <br />to view full-size charts</i></b><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-smuaNCXogUE/TyoXSaLCmcI/AAAAAAAADLw/usFvu2rIY5Y/s1600/SummaryChart3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-smuaNCXogUE/TyoXSaLCmcI/AAAAAAAADLw/usFvu2rIY5Y/s320/SummaryChart3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qpeEKgV-uN4/TytuVhd-GoI/AAAAAAAADMU/QQ1f27NFfwI/s1600/SummaryChart4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qpeEKgV-uN4/TytuVhd-GoI/AAAAAAAADMU/QQ1f27NFfwI/s320/SummaryChart4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pr9NTS4f2QU/Tyh9IxMw93I/AAAAAAAADIY/c5uEjGLkcb4/s1600/SurveySnap14.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pr9NTS4f2QU/Tyh9IxMw93I/AAAAAAAADIY/c5uEjGLkcb4/s400/SurveySnap14.png" width="315" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zuexEqN75hE/Tyh9U6ZpDcI/AAAAAAAADJU/J0t6g-7o5gw/s1600/SurveySnap20.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zuexEqN75hE/Tyh9U6ZpDcI/AAAAAAAADJU/J0t6g-7o5gw/s320/SurveySnap20.png" width="318" /></a></div>
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<center><b><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/AnonLover2008/CofExitSurveyResultsJanuary312012FinalUpdate?authuser=0&feat=directlink">View More Charts & Graphs</a></b></center><br />
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This online exit survey was one of several <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/projects.html">data collection projects</a> being featured and promoted to new audiences here on the Exit Zone blog. Although this effort has ended due to the SurveyPirate service being decommissioned, all of our other projects are still ongoing. </div>
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Special thanks to all the former members of the official Church of Scientology that participated, the feedback received from current members pondering their involvement with the organization who found the published reports useful has been inspirational. </div>
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There has also been a request from the <a href="http://www.forum.exscn.net/forum.php">ESMB</a> camp to do another survey project with a different goal in the future. We hope to showcase this future survey project on this blog later this year, to continue our dedication to broadening public awareness and documenting the truth regarding the <a href="http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/scientology/">bizarre world of scientology</a> being a <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/11/is-church-of-scientology-cult.html">dangerous cult</a>.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Click the title of this post or on any other entries on this micro blog to visit the related link for a given announcement.</span></div>
</div>AnonLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230190228115011502noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995451608898783198.post-44379199550908270692011-10-10T20:20:00.000-04:002011-10-10T20:20:07.636-04:00Scientology Exit Survey Results Published for Q3 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/exit-survey.html" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaubOZTSPHpJbweGgQeJtRQUaRyqPMkodc4Ha9twdK9cDq4ZaqJHy7E6UdyOzpwtQdI29Rm448uHfhwzdg7QhqQD2Ej65NVwj9GLTdKkfgtjSnxHU68e7q56mWQNTjrrPW6w-d8rJhvbKl/s200/76526017_8.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
The latest batch of <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/exit-survey.html">Exit Survey</a> published reports has been released on the wiki index for this project as the third quarterly update for 2011.<br />
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The following results are based on <span style="font-weight: bold;">414 total respondents</span><b> as of October 9, 2011</b>. Historical results are also archived on the WWP wiki under <a href="http://wiki.whyweprotest.net/Scientology_Exit_Survey_Results">Scientology Exit Survey Results</a>.<br />
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For more information on the available documentation being compiled in this informal study, curious onlookers can reference the <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/40384285/Church-of-Scientology-Exit-Survey-Reporting-Index?in_collection=2343853">Church of Scientology Exit Survey Reporting Index</a> or visit the related <a href="http://www.scribd.com/document_collections/2343853">dox collection on scribd</a>.<br />
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<div style="background-color: white; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/23581858/Scientology-Exit-Survey-Results-Basic-Report">Church of Scientology Exit Survey Results - Basic Reports</a></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/23636010/Scientology-Exit-Survey-Results-Advanced-Reports"> Church of Scientology Exit Survey Results - Advanced Crosstab Reports</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/24055762/Scientology-Exit-Survey-Results-Analytical-Reports">Church of Scientology Exit Survey Results - Analytical Crosstab Reports</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/31095067/Scientology-Exit-Survey-Results-Summary-Charts">Church of Scientology Exit Survey Results - Summary Charts</a> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?37uwk1vdv4rzn3h">Church of Scientology Exit Survey Results - Download Bundle</a> <br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/AnonLover2008/CofSExitSurveyResultsOctober2011QtrlyUpdate?authuser=0&feat=directlink">Q3 2011 Exit Survey Results - Infographics Album</a> </span>(<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/112037311275067360339/CofSExitSurveyResultsOctober2011QtrlyUpdate#slideshow/5661918002735604978">Slideshow</a>)</div>
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We're up by another 14 responses from 2nd quarter of 2011 with an added twist this time around: Cult expert <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2011/09/legendary-robert-jay-lifton-interviewed.html">Steven Hassan</a> from the <a href="http://freedomofmind.com/">Freedom of Mind Center</a> has graciously agreed to review and critique the findings of this modest attempt by Project Chanology researchfags at amateur scholarship, once we reach 500 respondents. <br />
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The 14 new responses we got in the <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2011/07/scientology-exit-survey-results.html">past quarter</a> stacked up roughly as 1/3 in the 5-15 years spent "in" bracket, 1/3 in the 20+ years spent brackets, and the remaining 1/3 spread across all the other time spent demographics for 3+ years in.<br />
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<b><i>Click the thumbnails below<br />to view full-size charts</i></b><br />
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For an interesting comparison of how these results have evolved over the past year, check out the October 2010 versions of the same charts shown above on the <a href="http://wiki.whyweprotest.net/Scientology_Exit_Survey_Results#Past_Highlights">Scientology Exit Survey Results: Past Reporting Highlights</a> wiki page archive.</div>
<br />
<br />
<center><b><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/AnonLover2008/CofSExitSurveyResultsOctober2011QtrlyUpdate?authuser=0&feat=directlink">View More Charts & Graphs</a></b></center><br />
<br />
The <a href="http://tinyurl.com/CofSExit" target="_blank">Online CofS Exit Survey</a> is one of several <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/projects.html">ongoing data collection projects</a> being featured and promoted to new audiences here on the Exit Zone blog. Our current initiatives include continuing to publish quarterly reporting updates for the remainder of the current year (and possibly longer if active participation remains steady).<br />
<br />
If you are a former member of the official Church and haven't participated yet, please take the time to lend your experiences to the data being collected by following the link below.<br />
<br />
<br />
<center><b><a href="http://tinyurl.com/CofSExit">Click Here To Take The Online Exit Survey</a></b></center><br />
<br />
We hope that former members of the Church of Scientology who like what they see here, take the time to participate in all of the Exit Zone <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/projects.html">data collection projects</a> dedicated to broadening public awareness and documenting the truth regarding the <a href="http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/scientology/">bizarre world of scientology</a> being a <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/11/is-church-of-scientology-cult.html">dangerous cult</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Click the title of this post or on any other entries on this micro blog to visit the related link for a given announcement.</span>AnonLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230190228115011502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995451608898783198.post-84819220740775891682011-09-09T16:01:00.008-04:002011-09-09T16:47:48.190-04:00The Legendary Robert Jay Lifton Interviewed by Steve Hassan<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Jay_Lifton">Dr. <span id="goog_2004569498"></span><span id="goog_2004569499"></span>Robert J. Lifton</a> is renowned in the field of cultic studies every since his groundbreaking work that evolved into the leading <a href="http://freedomofmind.com/resourcecenter/responsibility/lifton/">Theory of thought reform</a>, which was first published in 1956 with his book <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thought_Reform_%28book%29">Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism</a>.<br />
<br />
On July, 13 2011 <a href="http://freedomofmind.com/2011/07/19/7701/">Lifton was interviewed</a> in the following video by <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/11/steve-hassan-tory-christman-getting-in.html">Steven A. Hassan</a>, author and cult recovery expert from the <a href="http://freedomofmind.com/">Freedom of Mind Center</a>.<br />
<br />
<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/26450042?portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe></center>
<br />
<i>Adapted from the video description by <a href="http://vimeo.com/26450042">Steve Hassan's channel on vimeo</a>:</i><br />
<i> </i> <br />
<blockquote>
I sat down and had a most wonderful conversation with <a href="http://freedomofmind.com/2011/07/19/7701/">Robert Jay Lifton, M.D.</a> on the occasion the publication of his memoir entitled, Witness to an Extreme Century.<br />
<br />
Lifton talks about Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism and his work in Hong Kong in the 1950s exploring brainwashing in communist China. We then talk about his book, Death in Life, which describes the psychological effects of the nuclear bombs on the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as well as his life work campaigning against nuclear bombs and ultimately nuclear energy. <br />
<br />
Followed by a discussion of his work with Nazi Doctors, the concept of "doubling" and the mot amazing levels of atrocity done in the name of "virtue." Then to his book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Destroying-World-Save-Shinrikyo-Apocalyptic/dp/0805052909">Destroying the World to Save it</a>, about apocalyptic cults. The book focuses on Aum Shinrikyo, the cult of Shoko Asahara who ordered the manufacture and ultimate sarin gassing of thousands on the subways of Tokyo. We talk in depth about this cult and throughout this fascinating talk, the themes of how powerful situational influences can make essentially, intelligent, good people commit extreme and immoral acts. </blockquote>
<br />
For those who may be unfamiliar with Lifton's works, his earliest research and related theories along with the great works <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/11/margaret-singer-cults-in-our-midst.html">Margaret Singer on Brainwashing and Mind Control</a> have become the defacto standards in cultic studies aimed toward the harm inflicted on members of <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/11/is-church-of-scientology-cult.html">destructive cults</a>.<br />
<br />
<i>From <a href="http://www.internationalnegotiation.org/about/faculty-affiliates/53-robert-jay-lifton">Dr. Lifton's profile with The Harvard International Negotiation Program</a>:</i><br />
<br />
<blockquote>
Robert Jay Lifton is a lecturer on Psychiatry from Harvard Medical School/Cambridge Health Alliance, and Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and Psychology, The City University of New York. He was formerly Director of the Center on Violence and Human Survival at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He held the Foundations’ Fund Research Professorship of Psychiatry at Yale University for more than two decades. The recipient of many awards and honorary degrees, Dr. Lifton has sought always to combine scholarship and social activism.<br />
<br />
The overall themes of his work have been holocaust and transformation. He has developed a general psychological perspective around the paradigm of death and the continuity of life, with emphasis on symbolization and the “formative process,” and on the malleability of the contemporary self. He has studied many of the most destructive events of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries and has played an important role in the development of the field of psychohistory.<br />
<br />
His many publications include: Death in Life: Survivors of Hiroshima (winner of a National Book Award), Hiroshima in America: Fifty Years of Denial (with Greg Mitchell); Six Lives/Six Deaths: Portraits from Modern Japan (with Shuichi Kato and Michael Reich); The Nazi Doctors: Medical Killing and the Psychology of Genocide (awarded a Los Angeles Times book prize), Home from the War: Learning from Vietnam Veterans (finalist for a National Book Award, and reissued with a new introduction on the war in Iraq), Destroying the World to Save It (about the fanatical Japanese cult Aum Shinrikyo), and The Protean Self: Human Resilience in an Age of Fragmentation.<br />
<br />
From September 11, 2001, he has been studying Islamic apocalyptic violence and American responses to 9/11, including their own apocalyptic tendencies. His book Superpower Syndrome: America's Apocalyptic Confrontation with the World was published by Nation Book in 2003. Most recently, Crimes of War: Iraq (Nation Books 2006), coedited with Irene Gendzier and Richard Falk and included a number of Dr. Lifton's essays, exploring the complex legal, historical, political and psychological dimensions of America's military response to 9/11. </blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Thought-Reform-Psychology-Totalism-Brainwashing/dp/0807842532" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/51/Thought_Reform_Lifton.jpg" /></a></div>
As readily evidence in the small excerpt above, the range of Lifton's expertise since his earliest work based on his infamous <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Thought-Reform-Psychology-Totalism-Brainwashing/dp/0807842532">Study of Brainwashing in China</a> runs broad and deep.<br />
<br />
But there is still an incredible wealth of knowledge that can be gained from Lifton's perpetually reprinted book, and it ranks high on this blog's <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/46050176/Cult-Mind-Control-Recommended-Reading-List">recommended list of reading</a> for those looking to shake off the undue influences of cults.<br />
<br />
Additional references on Lifton and his related works in the fields of <a href="http://icsahome.com/infoserv_respond/icsa_periodicals.asp#IJCS">cultic studies</a> and <a href="http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=psychology+of+totalism&as_sdt=1%2C39&as_ylo=&as_vis=1">psychology of totalism</a> for further study can be found on the following links.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEn1KuE5De0">Conversations with History: Robert Jay Lifton - YouTube</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Revolutionary-Immortality-Norton-Library-Lifton/dp/0393007979/">Revolutionary Immortality (Norton Library)</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-Self-Toward-New-Psychology/dp/0465040888/">Life of the Self: Toward a New Psychology</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://icsahome.com/infoserv_respond/by_author.asp?Subject=Dr.+Robert+J.+Lifton%27s+Criteria+for+Thought+Reform">Dr. Robert J. Lifton's Criteria for Thought Reform (ICSA)</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.csj.org/studyindex/studycult/study_lifton2.htm">Study: Cult Formation by Robert J. Lifton (ICSA/AFF)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/06/10/137060498/excerpt-witness-to-an-extreme-century">Witness To An Extreme Century by Robert Jay Lifton (NPR)</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Click the title of this post or ob any other entries on this micro blog to visit the related link for a given announcement.</span>AnonLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230190228115011502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995451608898783198.post-12571580287558102302011-09-02T16:03:00.001-04:002011-09-02T16:06:36.072-04:00Disconnecting from Scientology<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Adapted from posts by <a href="http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?24411-Leaving-VS-Blowing&p=606603&viewfull=1#post606603">PandaTermint</a></b> and <b><a href="http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?24411-Leaving-VS-Blowing&p=606640&viewfull=1#post606640">Freeminds</a></b>,<br />in the <a href="http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?24411-Leaving-VS-Blowing">Leaving VS Blowing</a> discussion thread </i><i>on <a href="http://www.forum.exscn.net/forum.php">ESMB</a></i></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SkeL8EzoJOu2WB-UrfCmvtHGbPkZwcoeG-v8n3rkO-0KYTIEBRMi8aSexn9PiBTigOf0JbrLutkWqlp2eElqZ8-EsCB_0SrdISUgDXwQXdScxE0y-9lyeO9oKOZ7Kj0lpLYyvMC5pHBf/s1600/skydive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 6px;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SkeL8EzoJOu2WB-UrfCmvtHGbPkZwcoeG-v8n3rkO-0KYTIEBRMi8aSexn9PiBTigOf0JbrLutkWqlp2eElqZ8-EsCB_0SrdISUgDXwQXdScxE0y-9lyeO9oKOZ7Kj0lpLYyvMC5pHBf/s200/skydive.jpg" width="202" /></a></div>
Do you find the <a href="http://www.rickross.com/groups/scientology.html">Church of Scientology</a> to be a <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/26866233/Urban-Hugh-Fair-Game-Secrecy-Security-And-the-Church-of-Scientology-in-Cold-War-America">suppressive group</a>? Have you ever tried to handle any of the suppressive aspects or actions you've observed in the Church? Do you sometimes wonder about how the organization currently operates and asked yourself – <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/57862626/Scientology-%E2%80%93-Is-This-a-Religion-Kent">Is This a Religion</a>?<br />
<br />
If you answer yes to any of the above questions, then you are probably beginning to realize that <b><a href="http://leavingscientology.wordpress.com/2010/02/28/the-voice-of-the-silenced/">there is no way to speak out within the Church</a></b> regarding the outpoints so readily apparent nowadays.<br />
<br />
Despite these issues, over <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/big-list.html">1500 former members have spoken out</a> about the abuses that run rampant within the Scientology organization. An effort has also been completed to document the <a href="http://www.scientology-cult.com/31-factors-for-scientologists-to-consider.html">31 Factors for Scientologists to Consider</a> when they begin to <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/10/facing-your-doubts-about-church-of.html">face their doubts</a> regarding their current involvement with the Church.<br />
<br />
<blockquote style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(253, 232, 183); padding-bottom: 3px; padding-top: 6px;">
<b><i>"Sometimes others seek to crush one down, to make nothing out of one's hopes and dreams, one's future and oneself. ... The real handling of such a situation and such people, the real way to defeat them is to flourish and prosper."</i> - L. Ron Hubbard</b></blockquote>
<br />
If you find yourself unable to flourish and prosper within the <a href="http://freedomofmind.com/resourcecenter/groups/s/scientology/">Church of Scientology</a>, or can no longer tolerate the off-policy and abusive practices being adhered too, then the following post from <a href="http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?24411-Leaving-VS-Blowing&p=606640&viewfull=1#post606640">Freeminds on ESMB</a> should provide some useful food-for-thought when <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2011/08/what-to-do-if-you-decide-to-leave.html">deciding if you want to leave</a>.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>***</b></span></div>
<br />
Imagine yourself on a skydive. You're part of a large group, with a common purpose... which is to 'build' a complex formation, for the delight of a crowd on the ground. You all piled out of a couple of 'planes at 14,000 feet, and tried to take up the right grips with your buddies, just like you practiced on the ground.<br />
<br />
Have you got that? You're a skydiver. It's the most exciting thing you've ever done. It's an expensive, elite world with its own language, and special equipment. It sets you apart from ordinary mortals. It felt good to be a 'skygod', right from your first static-line jump and on up through the qualification system. People who haven't done it just can't understand. You call them whuffos, which is skydiver-speak for 'wog'.<br />
<br />
Now you're doing the thing you love the most.... but the formation isn't complete if even one person is out of position. You have to make the formation and hold it for three seconds, for it to count. During those three seconds, you'll fall six hundred feet.<br />
<br />
Some people exited their 'plane a fraction of a second behind, and the difference in their acceleration has left them struggling to catch up. Some people are in place, but the buddy they were expecting to grip is missing, or has gone low. The core of the formation has been built, but there are still a dozen or more people drifting in to make their slot. Meanwhile, you're burning through a thousand feet in five seconds. Where the fields below were just a random mosaic, you can now make out roads, and buildings. Now the scenery is Getting Big. Soon, you'll be able to see cows.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.floridaskydiving.com/Portals/0/MediaGallery/10/10-way-tracking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://www.floridaskydiving.com/Portals/0/MediaGallery/10/10-way-tracking.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The formation is not complete. Everyone is still trying to Make It Go Right. The people at the core have done everything they can. They're in place. They keep the faith. They hold their course. One hundred and twenty miles an hour, straight down towards destruction. Now the needle on your altimeter is drifting into the amber section. After that, there's only red.<br />
<br />
You don't like this. It's not right. Your instinct tells you that it's not safe! Everybody around you is sticking with it, though. You don't want to be the bad guy. The one who wrecked the formation: the person who bailed just when it was about to be a success. Perhaps you don't have the full picture: perhaps that person way above you is just a video guy, and even now the formation is being completed? Perhaps your altimeter wasn't set right, and you're just being nervous?<br />
<br />
You try to shout to your neighbour, but the wind whips the words away. Everybody else is so focused on the goal that they can't see the danger -- or perhaps they're so fearful of being the first to make a fuss that they don't dare to break formation.<br />
<br />
Your 'dytter' (digital audible altimeter) starts beeping, horribly loud in your right ear. After the beeps it will 'flatline' to let you know that you really have run out of time. There's an umpteen billion billion tonne ball of rock coming right towards you (relatively speaking) and it can crush you like a bug on a windscreen.<br />
<br />
Now, what do you do?<br />
<br />
What is the ethical thing to do?<br />
<br />
In truth, it's time to save your own life. Surviving group stupidity is not disloyalty. Show the rest of the group some nylon, and hope that they get the idea. Deploy your parachute. Live. There will be other formations to build, later.<br />
<br />
Scientology in a skydive. They really aren't all that dissimilar!<br />
<i><a href="http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?24411-Leaving-VS-Blowing&p=606640&viewfull=1#post606640">Freeminds on ESMB</a></i><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Additional Resources (for when your ready to pull the rip cord):</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://askthescientologist.blogspot.com/2009/03/seven-questions-every-scientologist-has.html">Seven Questions Every Scientologist Has a Right to Ask</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://leavingscientology.wordpress.com/2009/07/15/abuse-in-my-church/">Abuse? In my Church?</a> by Jeff Hawkins</li>
<li><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/48260979/A-Look-at-Escaping-Scientology">A Look at Escaping Scientology</a> by Tory Magoo </li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Releasing-Bonds-Empowering-People-Themselves/dp/0967068800/">Releasing The Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves</a> by Steven Hassan </li>
<li><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/143/Why-Religions-Fail-While-Heretics-Succeed?in_collection=1789765">Why Religions Fail While Heretics Succeed</a> by Bill Allen</li>
<li><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/40551232/Scientology-Losing-the-Religion?in_collection=2700213">Scientology: Losing the Religion</a> by Phineas Fogg</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Click the title of this post or ob any other entries on this micro blog to visit the related link for a given announcement.</span>AnonLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230190228115011502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995451608898783198.post-84162144061120050902011-08-29T21:04:00.002-04:002011-08-30T07:06:25.078-04:00What to do if you decide to leave Scientology<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>by <a href="http://www.forum.exscn.net/member.php?1542-gomorrhan">gomorrhan</a></b>, in <a href="http://www.forum.exscn.net/forumdisplay.php?38-Leaving-the-Church">Leaving the Church </a></i><i>subforum on <a href="http://www.forum.exscn.net/forum.php">ESMB</a></i></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/luchomosqueira/5540178492/" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Leaving Darkness by Lucho Mosqueira, on Flickr"><img alt="Leaving Darkness" height="320" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5175/5540178492_12327f9d31.jpg" width="262" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Leaving Darkness by Lucho Mosqueira, on Flickr</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Hello. This subject is one near and dear to me, because I left
abruptly, without any preparation, and made a mess of all my family
connections, work connections. Luckily I had some place to go.<br />
<br />
1) DISCUSS IT WITH YOUR SPOUSE, if you have one. You may be surprised
that they would understand. You have nothing to fear except the
inevitable non-enturbulation order, and eventual declare, and perhaps a slew of knowledge reports. Don't worry about these, they are
inevitably going to occur anyway, or it's best to operate as though you
understood this was likely. They will be used against you. If you fail
to communicate with your spouse, your family, and your friends, you may
regret it later, when you cannot communicate with them any more because
they close their doors to you.<br />
<br />
The only time I wouldn't do this is if
you are concerned for your safety or autonomy, in which case get out at
your earliest convenience and alert your family outside, or if you don't
have any, I think many people (including me) would be willing to put
you up in an emergency while you sorted things out. DO NOT FEAR LOSING
YOUR FAMILY: it has already happened, if they won't come with you.
Instead, realize that you may be able to live freely and happily with
some or all of your family if you communicate with them. If you don't,
realize they will be encouraged to close ranks against you.<br />
<br />
2) If you work with scientologists, realize that your job will be
likely threatened or lost if you leave. Prepare for this. Spiff up
your resume. Start shopping it around about a month before you go.
Don't worry about what sort of job you'll get, too much. Take something
solid that allows you to pay your bills and live independently of any
supports in the Church. Consider writing to someone on this forum and
asking for their help finding a good job. This is a huge network, and
someone here probably knows someone near you that is hiring. It's worth
a shot, and people who post here will understand the extremity or
difficulties you face.<br />
<br />
3) Realize that you are not the only person ever to have trod the path
out of the Church. If you have questions, realize that probably 90% of
the people who have ever been involved with Scientology are no longer
involved with the Church. You are not alone. I, for one, understand
what you are going through. Some here understand even better. I was
only on staff two years, very young. Some here have left after 35 years
or more involved, with their whole lives revolving around the Church.
Don't be shy about asking people what their successful actions were, and
what troubles they faced.<br />
<br />
4) If you consider that the Tech is worth keeping, realize that you
don't have to stay in the Church to have access to it. I'm not
promoting the FreeZone, here, but I do think it's important for people
concerned about "loss of Bridge" issues that these issues have been
addressed outside the Church. If you don't give a hoot about the Tech,
and you just want to be free, don't sweat that last. The FreeZone was
incredibly helpful to me when I left the Church. I learned more about
scientology through these people than I ever knew in the Church, because
the secrets are bared, and the prices people charge are subject to
market pressures, unlike in the fiat monopoly in the Church. I then
decided I wasn't a scientologist, but not everyone makes that decision,
and I respect people who decide that they remain scientologists,
although they have left the Church.<br />
<br />
5) DO NOT PAY ANY FREELOADER DEBT. This flows power to an organization
undeserving of it. You will need your money in your new life. F/L
debts don't hold up in court. The debt is not real. You don't owe the
Church anything if you've been working for them. Very likely, they
actually didn't deliver the services or training you wanted or needed,
anyway, and perhaps inflated the costs of offering you the service. I
paid my freeloader debt. I was a damned fool to do so.<br />
<br />
6) KEEP ANY CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE CHURCH. Sometimes they slip up and
say stupid things. Sometimes you are facing a divorce, as I was, and
the documents that IJC sent me would have been very helpful in
establishing a mental cruelty charge and increasing my access to my
children, perhaps obtaining full custody instead of losing it. Declares
are hard to come by, these days, and the actual physical order that you
are declared is quite a collectors item. If you never need that
correspondence, great, no harm done. If you do, but have thrown away
something because it upset you or you didn't think you'd ever take
action on it, you'll kick yourself.<br />
<br />
7) If you feel the Church defrauded you or abused you, consider suing
them. While you may feel that Scientology always wins every case, take
it from me, and others here, that this is not only not true, its
completely false. They lose cases quite frequently, although many times
settlements are obtained instead of court victories. If they told you
you'd be able to levitate an ashtray, and you did the drills and paid
your fees, and you can't levitate an ashtray, I'd say they both lied to
you and took your money from you. Generalize that to any claims of
Dianetics or Scientology services that were used to sell you on
exorbitantly priced services that almost never deliver what was
promised. You have a right to hold them accountable for this.<br />
<br />
This
last I reserve for the feisty. It requires a willingness to fight, a
little bit of resourcefulness getting lawyered up, but it is a
tremendous moral victory if you do win, and lays stronger and stronger
precedents with each person to do so. However, realize that the Church
is structured to be a bit of a tar baby. They exist to fight with
enemies real or imagined. The reason I encourage people to fight them,
now (if they want to), although I've advocated against it in the past,
is that critical mass has been achieved. The Church is overwhelmed
fighting on more fronts than they can manage, and losing on all of them.
Now is a time when you can pile on without much concern about their
nasty tactics, as the people willing to employ them are getting caught
on camera and put on youtube now, and what was once cloak and dagger is
now just another chance to put the abuse on record.<br />
<br />
I hope some of the above will be helpful to someone considering leaving. I stand by my words,<br />
<i><a href="http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?7519-What-to-do-if-you-decide-to-leave-Scientology">gomorrhan</a></i><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Additional Resources:</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/10/facing-your-doubts-about-church-of.html">Facing Your Doubts About The Church of Scientology</a></li>
<li><a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2011/01/confronting-thought-reform-coercive.html">Confronting Thought Reform & Coercive Persuasion</a><br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://leavingscientology.wordpress.com/2011/02/09/%E2%80%9Ci-don%E2%80%99t-know-why-i-couldn%E2%80%99t-see-it%E2%80%9D/">“I don’t know why I couldn’t see it”</a> by Jeff Hawkins</li>
<li><a href="http://askthescientologist.blogspot.com/2008/09/recovering-from-scientology.html">Recovering from Scientology</a> by Just Bill</li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Captive-Hearts-Minds-Recovery-Relationships/dp/0897931440">Captive hearts, captive minds : freedom and recovery from cults and abusive relationships</a> by Tobias, Lalich & Langone</li>
<li><a href="http://possiblyhelpfuladvice.com/?p=920">Church of Scientology Repayments – Get your unused account balances returned</a> by David St Lawrence</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Click the title of this post or ob any other entries on this micro blog to visit the related link for a given announcement.</span>AnonLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230190228115011502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995451608898783198.post-81657800976016092952011-07-04T00:46:00.011-04:002011-10-10T20:09:06.485-04:00Scientology Exit Survey Results Published for Q2 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/exit-survey.html" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaubOZTSPHpJbweGgQeJtRQUaRyqPMkodc4Ha9twdK9cDq4ZaqJHy7E6UdyOzpwtQdI29Rm448uHfhwzdg7QhqQD2Ej65NVwj9GLTdKkfgtjSnxHU68e7q56mWQNTjrrPW6w-d8rJhvbKl/s200/76526017_8.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
The latest batch of published reports has been released on the wiki index for this project and elsewhere as the second quarterly update for 2011.<br />
<br />
The following results are based on <span style="font-weight: bold;">400 total respondents</span><b> as of July 2011</b>. Historical results are also archived on the WWP wiki under <a href="http://wiki.whyweprotest.net/Scientology_Exit_Survey_Results">Scientology Exit Survey Results</a>.<br />
<br />
For more information on the available documentation compiled by this informal study, check out the <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/40384285/Church-of-Scientology-Exit-Survey-Reporting-Index?in_collection=2343853">Church of Scientology Exit Survey Reporting Index</a> and the related <a href="http://www.scribd.com/document_collections/2343853">scribd collection</a>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/23581858/Scientology-Exit-Survey-Results-Basic-Report">Church of Scientology Exit Survey Results - Basic Reports</a></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/23636010/Scientology-Exit-Survey-Results-Advanced-Reports"> Church of Scientology Exit Survey Results - Advanced Crosstab Reports</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/24055762/Scientology-Exit-Survey-Results-Analytical-Reports">Church of Scientology Exit Survey Results - Analytical Crosstab Reports</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/31095067/Scientology-Exit-Survey-Results-Summary-Charts">Church of Scientology Exit Survey Results - Summary Charts</a> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?7orezo9mcwdls22">Church of Scientology Exit Survey Results - Download Bundle</a> <br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/AnonLover2008/CofSExitSurveyResultsJuly2011QtrlyUpdate?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCMLn1L-IyM6YGA&feat=directlink">Q2 2011 Exit Survey Results - Infographics Album</a> </span>(<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/AnonLover2008/CofSExitSurveyResultsJuly2011QtrlyUpdate?authkey=Gv1sRgCMLn1L-IyM6YGA#slideshow/5625266274930546914">Slideshow</a>)</div>
<br />
Interesting factoids about this batch of quarterly updates - Were up by another 20 responses from 1st qtr of 2011, and methinks I really need to <a href="http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?15098-CofS-Exit-Survey-Please-Participate%21&p=590485#post590485">start trolling ESMB much harder</a> for poll takers again, or find some new venue of promoting it beyond the anon-friendly camps.<br />
<br />
The 20 new ones we got were approx. 50% in the 5-15 years spent "in" bracket, and the other 50% fairly evenly spread across all the other time spent demographics for 1+ years in.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Click the thumbnails below<br />to view full-size charts</i></b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gfR-Obq1SR4/ThD15OQRshI/AAAAAAAACgQ/opCZuy1ifbA/s1600/SummaryChart6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gfR-Obq1SR4/ThD15OQRshI/AAAAAAAACgQ/opCZuy1ifbA/s320/SummaryChart6.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-177lJUtEpq4/ThD14ukGtUI/AAAAAAAACgI/r9J3iJ8LI5k/s1600/SummaryChart5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-177lJUtEpq4/ThD14ukGtUI/AAAAAAAACgI/r9J3iJ8LI5k/s320/SummaryChart5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>Analytical factoid</b>: note the difference between the two charts above is ever so slight. Such that it sorta appears at-a-glance there is maybe a woolly mammoth sized pothole in the bridge <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/E2ch585m-foUoJ2SMuJXff68Zzf1F_d9fGT9EPaAOjY?feat=directlink">round about 15-20+ years in</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SbdB-6qkSnk/ThD15Ozj-2I/AAAAAAAACgU/oYzcaPmvtmA/s1600/SummaryChart8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SbdB-6qkSnk/ThD15Ozj-2I/AAAAAAAACgU/oYzcaPmvtmA/s320/SummaryChart8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>Scary factoid</b>: an emerging trend is brewing on this last chart above; the "got help after 10 years" quarterly increase tends to be a hair higher than equal to all the increases everywhere else. Eg: 16/20 of the new respondents for last quarter got some form of assistance with 9/16 in the "after 10 years" category. FWIW, this 55-60% vs. 45-40% ratio has persisted for the past 3 quarters.</div>
<br />
<br />
<center><b><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/AnonLover2008/CofSExitSurveyResultsJuly2011QtrlyUpdate?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCMLn1L-IyM6YGA&feat=directlink">View More Charts & Graphs</a></b></center><br />
<br />
The <a href="http://tinyurl.com/CofSExit" target="_blank">Online CofS Exit Survey</a> is one of several <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/projects.html">ongoing data collection projects</a> being featured and promoted to new audiences here on the Exit Zone blog. Our current initiatives include continuing to publish quarterly reporting updates for the remainder of the current year (and possibly longer if active participating remains steady).<br />
<br />
We also plan to seek expert review and opinion on our <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/exit-survey.html">little amateur scholarship project</a> from recognized cult experts and other academics once the accumulated results reach approximately 500 respondents. If your a former member of the official Church, please take the time to lend your experiences to the data being collected by following the link below.<br />
<br />
<br />
<center><b><a href="http://tinyurl.com/CofSExit">Click Here To Take The Online Exit Survey</a></b></center><br />
<br />
We hope that former members of the Church of Scientology who like what they see here, take the time to participate in all of the Exit Zone <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/projects.html">data collection projects</a> dedicated to broadening public awareness and documenting the truth regarding the <a href="http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/scientology/">bizarre world of scientology</a> being a <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/11/is-church-of-scientology-cult.html">dangerous cult</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Click the title of this post or on any other entries on this micro blog to visit the related link for a given announcement.</span>AnonLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230190228115011502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995451608898783198.post-22157460372499899832011-04-05T20:24:00.014-04:002011-04-06T17:36:02.727-04:00Scientology Exit Survey Results Published for Q1 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/exit-survey.html" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaubOZTSPHpJbweGgQeJtRQUaRyqPMkodc4Ha9twdK9cDq4ZaqJHy7E6UdyOzpwtQdI29Rm448uHfhwzdg7QhqQD2Ej65NVwj9GLTdKkfgtjSnxHU68e7q56mWQNTjrrPW6w-d8rJhvbKl/s200/76526017_8.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
The latest batch of published reports has been released on the wiki index for this project and elsewhere as the first quarterly update for 2011.<br />
<br />
The following results are based on <span style="font-weight: bold;">380 total respondents</span><b> as of April 2011</b>. Historical results are also archived on the WWP wiki under <a href="http://wiki.whyweprotest.net/Scientology_Exit_Survey_Results">Scientology Exit Survey Results</a>.<br />
<br />
For more information on the available documentation compiled by this informal study, check out the <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/40384285/Church-of-Scientology-Exit-Survey-Reporting-Index?in_collection=2343853">Church of Scientology Exit Survey Reporting Index</a> and the related <a href="http://www.scribd.com/document_collections/2343853">scribd collection</a>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/23581858/Scientology-Exit-Survey-Results-Basic-Report">Scientology Exit Survey Results - Basic Reports</a><br /><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/23636010/Scientology-Exit-Survey-Results-Advanced-Reports"><br />Scientology Exit Survey Results - Advanced Reports</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/24055762/Scientology-Exit-Survey-Results-Analytical-Reports">Scientology Exit Survey Results - Analytical Reports</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/31095067/Scientology-Exit-Survey-Results-Summary-Charts">Scientology Exit Survey Results - Summary Charts</a> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?6rpg35yxap06mfi">Scientology Exit Survey Results - Download Bundle</a> <br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/AnonLover2008/CofSExitSurveyResultsApr2011QtrlyUpdate?feat=directlink">Scientology Exit Survey Results - Image Album</a> </span>(<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/AnonLover2008/CofSExitSurveyResultsApr2011QtrlyUpdate#slideshow/5591597361965919298">Slideshow</a>)</div>
<br />
Interesting factoids about this batch of quarterly updates - we're only up by 20 responses from 4th quarter of 2010, which is understandable since we backed off of promoting this in order to give <a href="http://leavingscientology.wordpress.com/2011/01/19/an-open-letter-from-james-r-lewis/">James R. Lewis</a> his rightful shot to get some input on his <a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SL33DLP">survey tool</a>.<br />
<br />
Despite that drop in new responses, the 20 that we did get were chock full of old timers rich in experience and nearly 1/2 fell into the 10-15 years in the church bracket while 1/3 were in the > 25 yrs bracket. This gave us some much needed balance in the time-spent demographics so it's all good.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Click the thumbnails below<br />to view full-size charts</i></b><br />
<b><i> </i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WTpcMTHvBrs/TZlYLALMl-I/AAAAAAAACTc/ZP_NuRYTDC8/s1600/SummaryChart1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WTpcMTHvBrs/TZlYLALMl-I/AAAAAAAACTc/ZP_NuRYTDC8/s320/SummaryChart1a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4co5JUWe_II/TZlYLPnaMdI/AAAAAAAACTg/IxdRgpSdn1o/s1600/SummaryChart1b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4co5JUWe_II/TZlYLPnaMdI/AAAAAAAACTg/IxdRgpSdn1o/s320/SummaryChart1b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oV58QaD3Pdo/TZjF-scTjwI/AAAAAAAACR0/m0VMMTGgjRk/s1600/SurveySnap20.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oV58QaD3Pdo/TZjF-scTjwI/AAAAAAAACR0/m0VMMTGgjRk/s320/SurveySnap20.png" width="314" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">75% of respondents who answered this question feel certain<br />
that the Church of Scientology did them undue harm.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div><br />
<center><b><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/AnonLover2008/CofSExitSurveyResultsApr2011QtrlyUpdate?feat=directlink">View More Charts & Graphs</a></b></center><br />
<br />
The <a href="http://tinyurl.com/CofSExit" target="_blank">Online CofS Exit Survey</a> is one of several <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/projects.html">ongoing data collection projects</a> being featured and promoted to new audiences here on the Exit Zone blog. Our current initiatives include continuing to publish quarterly reporting updates for the remainder of the current year (and possibly longer if active participating remains steady).<br />
<br />We also plan to seek expert review and opinion on our <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/exit-survey.html">little amateur scholarship project</a> from recognized cult experts and other academics once the accumulated results reach approximately 500 respondents.<br />
<br />
<center><b><a href="http://tinyurl.com/CofSExit">Click Here To Take The Online Exit Survey</a></b></center><br />
<br />
We hope that former members of the Church of Scientology who like what they see here, take the time to participate in all of the Exit Zone <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/projects.html">data collection projects</a> dedicated to broadening public awareness and documenting the truth regarding <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/22925188/The-Collected-Works-of-L-H-Brennan-Volume-1">organized scientology</a> being a <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/12/what-is-destructive-group.html">destructive group</a>.<br />
<br />
Additionally, another fascinating info gathering effort to check out is Jeff Hawkin's recent <a href="http://leavingscientology.wordpress.com/2011/03/26/a-poll/">Poll on Leaving Scientology</a> that attempts to the quantify some of the gains commonly achieved with various Church of Scientology training and processing levels.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Click the title of this post or on any other entries on this micro blog to visit the related link for a given announcement.</span>AnonLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230190228115011502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995451608898783198.post-57128505919471724522011-02-09T03:52:00.022-05:002011-02-10T21:49:14.999-05:0013 ways Scientology just got creepier [Annotated]<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/02/14/110214fa_fact_wright?currentPage=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMA0M2FJJl5ZPTs_ojgUouL7RSYH-WsQm97-zsOLH3GxTWmapgR6ZdRvCDi4drK-4Y9GUjHXum2D2pbD7CfuWXlH0lkhfngvmvkCtY6o3yu2CRG_MRbc20Td4uKFmbvolWPGs20gXyl_yS/s1600/110214_r20225_p233.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Asked how high he got in Scientology’s levels<br />
of study, Haggis said, “All the way to the top.”<br />
Photograph by Mary Ellen Mark.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Lawrence Wright's penultimate essay on Paul Haggis in The New Yorker magazine entitled <b><a href="http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/02/14/110214fa_fact_wright?currentPage=1">THE APOSTATE</a></b> has unleashed yet another media feeding frenzy regarding the <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2009/reports/project/">alleged human rights abuses the Church of Scientology</a> inflicts upon it's Sea Org members.<br />
<br />
However this time the media wave comes with with with and additional one-two punch that was long overdue: A celebrity bares his soul about what he experienced and the FBI have been investigating the claims of abuse.<br />
<br />
Amongst the ensuing fallout a virtual tsunami of media articles and related coverage is currently flooding the internet, one of the best sidebar tidbits this blogger came across was the article featured on the backlink of this post from the <b><a href="http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/13-ways-scientology-just-got-creepier-2451303/">Manage Your Life blog on Yahoo!Shine</a></b>.<br />
<br />
This gem struck me as not only well worth re-posting on this micro-blog for educational purposes, but also worthy of expanding each item listed with additional source materials that support the information highlighted The New Yorker expose.<br />
<br />
<h3>
13 ways Scientology just got creepier<br />[The Annotated Edition]</h3>
<br />
Originally by <a href="http://shine.yahoo.com/blog/N6JSYE2M52LEYVQDL42REIMZPM/;_ylt=Ak7NesAQYcdJF13eZbe_40WkfqU5">Piper Weiss, Yahoo!Shine Staff</a> with additional hyperlinks, images and dox inserted after each item, and supplemental commentary by this blogger <b><i style="color: #e06666;">noted in accented text</i></b>. Click on thumbnail images for additional reference on any of the visual annotations.<br />
<br />
<blockquote style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255, 255); padding-bottom: 3px; padding-top: 3px;">
"Journalist Lawrence Wright interviews current and former members of faith, including Academy Award winning writer Paul Haggis, who denounced his three-decade affiliation with Scientology publicly. The 28-page investigation into the history and horror stories of Scientology is chock full of weird. Here are the highlights:"<br />
<br />
1. <b>The FBI probe:</b> The article reveals that the
church is under investigation from the FBI for human trafficking.
Former members have made claims of unpaid, forced labor and
physical abuse from current head of the organization, David
Miscavige.<br />
<br />
<i style="color: #e06666;"><b>See also:</b></i><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b><a href="http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=40272">New Yorker Magazine Article Reveals FBI Probe of Scientology</a></b>
</li>
<li><b><a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/02/08/133561256/the-church-of-scientology-fact-checked">The Church Of Scientology, Fact-Checked</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="http://www.tampabay.com/news/fbi-investigating-scientology-defectors-say/1150248">FBI investigating Scientology, defectors say</a></b></li>
</ul>
<br />
2. <b>The founder's fake past</b>: The church
fabricated documents about founder L. Ron Hubbard's war
heroism, claims The New Yorker.<br />
<br />
<i style="background-color: white; color: #e06666;"><b>The <a href="http://documents.newyorker.com/2011/02/hubbard/">DocumentCloud from The New Yorker</a> supports Wright's conclusions. Additionally, see the following classic body of work by <a href="http://www.xenu-directory.net/critics/owen1.html">Chris Owen</a>, a British historian who studied Scientology extensively. (click thumbnail for further reading)</b></i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.cs.cmu.edu/%7Edst/Cowen/warhero/contents.htm" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHrysXYcavld1ma686migpZClAvqqMRJc8Q4Mm75I7kv2NAb2v5CCPRnK1nASDoaUDLxFA8WZPKjnRW98KGLharoCZCYsY1U4ssnRxH8qtneMuv4A-7kjWOR1CDgfrQrIz0ul7a2geAj8r/s320/RonWarHero.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
3. <b>The celebrities</b>: A lot of them were
siphoned by a Scientologist acting teacher at The Beverly Hills
Playhouse. That's how Anne Archer joined the fold. Now her son,
Tommy Davis, heads up the church's Celebrity Centre. In other
news, bossman Miscavige was Tom Cruise's best man when
he wed Katie Holmes.<br />
<br />
<b><i style="color: #e06666;">Note the Tom & Katie photo from the </i><a href="http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/13-ways-scientology-just-got-creepier-2451303/">original article</a> <i style="color: #e06666;">below, and cross reference this bike to the motorcycle shown on the left in the photo added for clarifying item #12. </i></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDXMG13rO35urOjwy9U07y23Y5mLv4L5Fudd8abHrfNDF4kl5oisbIOkYHwboyT45PzrBzr0ifhov-HGHAzXdNVpcw5MJMbsMJVCsQxj8u5lfULrhDALjI0CHsLTI60phN6hA6bhO1Wle/s1600/mr_80b0fddcb99991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDXMG13rO35urOjwy9U07y23Y5mLv4L5Fudd8abHrfNDF4kl5oisbIOkYHwboyT45PzrBzr0ifhov-HGHAzXdNVpcw5MJMbsMJVCsQxj8u5lfULrhDALjI0CHsLTI60phN6hA6bhO1Wle/s320/mr_80b0fddcb99991.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
<br />
4. <b>The six-figure membership:</b> Members can spend upwards of
$100,000 on courses and training in the church.<br />
<br />
<div style="color: #e06666;">
<i><b>The vast number of levels on the Scientology Grade Chart is seemingly endless, and the farther up you the more outrageous the costs become. The fee schedules in the following collection of dox illustrates how easy it is for membership in this cult to lead to financial ruin.</b></i></div>
<br />
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<br />
5. <b>The fenced-off boot-camp</b>: If you don't
have that money you can work for your faith as a Sea Org member at
Gold Base, a compound in central California. Miscavige spends a lot
of his time there and most high-level members make there way to the
base at some point for brief, intensive stays.<br />
<br />
<i style="color: #e06666;"><b>The razor fence surrounding the cult compound from: </b></i><b><a href="http://publicintelligence.net/scientology-headquarters-gold-baseint-base/">Scientology Headquarters (Gold Base/Int Base)</a></b>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VPmivB4vbHxiDt-UKvZD2OODlNidYs0Jb_GzMbKdoT7XjZ8nkhvuQq5xNWXWYRKk8Dxjae_4RCcu1zf9UPms1gccMxWzQ7KiTiyg-gJKMfLL2iqR2kbjCXT2eAGBrimBRusXmFXHkmdI/s1600/goldbasefence.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VPmivB4vbHxiDt-UKvZD2OODlNidYs0Jb_GzMbKdoT7XjZ8nkhvuQq5xNWXWYRKk8Dxjae_4RCcu1zf9UPms1gccMxWzQ7KiTiyg-gJKMfLL2iqR2kbjCXT2eAGBrimBRusXmFXHkmdI/s320/goldbasefence.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
6. <b>The fenced-off prison</b>: There's also a
re-education camp near Gold Base. Here's the description:
"Sea Org members who have 'failed to fulfill their
ecclesiastical responsibilities' may be sent to one of the
church’s several Rehabilitation Project Force locations. Defectors
describe them as punitive re-education camps. In California, there
is one in Los Angeles; until 2005, there was one near the Gold
Base, at a place called Happy Valley. Bruce Hines, the defector
turned research physicist, says that he was confined to R.P.F. for
six years, first in L.A., then in Happy Valley. He recalls that the
properties were heavily guarded and that anyone who tried to flee
would be tracked down and subjected to further
punishment."<br />
<br />
<i style="color: #e06666;"><b>The following 1999 German documentary about Scientology's <a href="http://www.xenu-directory.net/practices/rpf.html">Rehabilitation Project Force ( RPF)</a> was the first to expose the world at large to the cult's POW style abuses.</b></i><br />
<br />
<embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" id="VideoPlayback" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=2742505831051424517&hl=en&fs=true" style="height: 300px; width: 374px;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed> <br />
<br />
7. <b>The escape</b>: Two former members claim to
have escaped in the middle of the night. One drove a car through a
fence.<br />
<br />
<div style="color: #e06666;">
<i><b>Mark Headley's great escape was even more hair raising, check out his book <a href="http://blownforgood.com/">Blown For Good</a></b> <b>for an unforgettable tale on escaping Gold Base.<br /> </b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpu73iZkzqr4Yh93Nmjf8C6kgCr9OeI93gC60-6XEFNfsSI29LR5Jh-KqZtSx8kyd2FR7NTrPptJm2x6HaeL2k9W48hxlZ3E1wkXl2DWR6yRnAqWhLdDKtkflyICvJxFj5F0gvuByD1U7/s1600/bfgcover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpu73iZkzqr4Yh93Nmjf8C6kgCr9OeI93gC60-6XEFNfsSI29LR5Jh-KqZtSx8kyd2FR7NTrPptJm2x6HaeL2k9W48hxlZ3E1wkXl2DWR6yRnAqWhLdDKtkflyICvJxFj5F0gvuByD1U7/s1600/bfgcover.png" /></a></div>
<br />
8. <b>The punishment</b>: According to a former Gold
Base security chief, the church is not averse to using mental and
physical tactics to bring escaped members back in the
fold.<br />
<br />
<i style="color: #e06666;"><b>Amy Scobee's horror stories in her book <a href="http://www.scobeepublishing.com/">Scientology Abuse At The Top</a> goes into even more detail on the violence surround the cult's nefarious leader <a href="http://www.whoisdavidmiscavige.com/wp/">David Miscavige</a>.</b></i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.scobeepublishing.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=93&Itemid=168" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7mT6tPTemcalDObzTgkGAZfQbHDoE5csSmHx5HKQh4nN9alGKPAlubYia0OJs0XAXcDhbEMUwpBxIznSAK_JCyO5rDpMjdClRKqIbWs7a_03AqmL5n3_Hq6ppPtnnFmD3zcCNNDo8cU2/s320/Amycover.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
9. <b>The most bizarre game of musical chairs
ever</b>: A violent version of the
kid's game set to Bohemian Rhapsody, mandated by Miscavaige,
took place one night at Gold Base. It lasted all night, and by the
ned people were punching each other. As full-time residents and
workers at the Base, they were playing for their livelihood.
Everyone who lost would be shipped off the Base immediately,
deprived of their shelter and $50 a week income.<br />
<br />
<i style="color: #e06666;"><b>Marc Headley was the first to disclose the infamous <a href="http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?t=1935">Musical Chairs Incident</a>, and his book listed above goes into further details. Since we already featured that reference, it seems apropos to note the gut wrenching story of torture, abuse and humiliation endure by <a href="http://leavingscientology.wordpress.com/">Jeff Hawkins</a> during his days at Gold Base as featured in the <a href="http://counterfeitdreams.com/">Counterfeit Dreams</a> book.</b></i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://counterfeitdreams.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ocfBPZyxRU5YxN-qBMklUHfqfjxAUcSJEr3UMMiaPgnJxBdfnXIUMIInjikM7HlfR8ZqV2LemE0KRHIANdopf0eyZOEWvg04MZkTpqMPN56KvucN4dYeHQqEcTQwlaXMQYRNnrwGf1Ey/s320/Jeffcover.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
<br />
10. <b>The most bizarre celebrity anecdote ever</b>:
Actor <a href="http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2011/02/josh-brolin-slams-john-travolta%E2%80%99s-scientology-beliefs">Josh Brolin claims to have witnessed</a> John Travolta using his
Scientology practice to heal the wounded leg of Marlon Brando at a
Hollywood party. “I watched this process going on—it was very
physical,” Brolin recalls. “I was thinking, This is really f-------
bizarre! Then, after ten minutes, Brando opens his eyes and says,
‘That really helped. I actually feel different!’ ” (Travolta,
through a lawyer, called this account “pure
fabrication.”)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.cs.cmu.edu/%7Edst/pubs/sfn98/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx84jWfIav-S6s-3AUP_vVEQMKchzQR1Jy8Mm5WxvgTf41aDeQvfFwUj-8DPAf4YdhvR0d-SN5GhFioTv-GGjTQPxfajhtVkUwuFFRqaeusgXPLrDQAMDZGytDGaNi3PJIvkrcL52w6IVn/s320/travolta.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>
<br />
11. <b>The horror stories of Scientology kids</b>: For kids who grow up in the church, there’s a thing called a ‘freeloader’ tab. If you want to leave the church’s fold, you’re charged with a six figure debt for unpaid coursework,
according to ecclesiastical policy. Former underage members, including the niece of Miscavige who joined at 12, have formed an online support group called <a href="http://exscientologykids.com/">exscientologykids.com</a>. They talk about how hard it is to leave the fold because they never received a formal education, and instead were put to work as manual laborers.<br />
<br />
The article states:<i> "In 2009, two former Sea Org
members, Claire and Marc Headley, <a href="http://jonathanturley.org/2010/08/12/scientology-wins-major-court-ruling/">filed lawsuits against the
church</a>. They had both joined as children. Claire became a member of
the Sea Org at the age of sixteen, and was assigned to the Gold
Base. She says she wasn’t allowed to tell anyone where she was
going, not even her mother, who was made to sign over
guardianship." </i><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #e06666;">
<i><b>The appalling treatment that <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/29955827/Children-in-Scientology-and-the-Sea-Organization">Children in the Sea Org</a> receive is unconscionable. The only words that can do this subject the justice it deserves, is the <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/17681890/Ex-Scientology-Kids-Voices-In-Unison-Excerpts">voices raised in unison</a> from the kids who lived it.</b></i></div>
<br />
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<br />
12. <b>The horror stories of dealing with Tom Cruise</b>: A former member claims he was ordered to pimp Tom Cruise's motorcycles, pro-bono, of course. Haggis claims Cruise reported him to the church when he joked about Scientology to Stephen Spielberg on the set of War of the Worlds. Another former member claims a botched project for Cruise resulted in a member being sent to the work camp for a stint.<br />
<br />
<div style="color: #e06666;">
<i><b>From <a href="http://markrathbun.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/bikeshangarexcursion.pdf">John Brousseau settles it</a>, the personal account of the former Sea Org member who did the customization work to trick out Tom Cruise's favorite toys for $50 a week. Click the thumbnail to view the full-size image and notice the same motorcycle shown above with Tom & Katie is on the left:</b></i></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29rDucy4Nwleh5RBZrPwAK_xQ8kZZSnqjwf9K5kbxwxiWEn44I0QEYs7I_v-DKRZHo1sDCr_o8Z1XByq0KY6vh-hVstBVr931-bdSx37Xx0SIeyn9AeMpb2M9YTUKUDiGPS1Sbu9anEP-/s1600/DM_TC_Bikes_at_CultLeader_Palace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29rDucy4Nwleh5RBZrPwAK_xQ8kZZSnqjwf9K5kbxwxiWEn44I0QEYs7I_v-DKRZHo1sDCr_o8Z1XByq0KY6vh-hVstBVr931-bdSx37Xx0SIeyn9AeMpb2M9YTUKUDiGPS1Sbu9anEP-/s320/DM_TC_Bikes_at_CultLeader_Palace.jpg" width="320" /></a>
</div>
<center><i>Tom Cruise’s motorcycles flanking Miscavige’s Harley at his $70 million
palace. [<a href="http://markrathbun.wordpress.com/2010/05/23/miscaviges-annihilation-of-tom-cruise-part-one/">Source</a>] This is Building 50 built for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_Technology_Center">RTC</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Miscavige">David Miscavige</a> in
Hemet, California<br />at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Base">Gold Base</a>.
[<a href="http://markrathbun.wordpress.com/2011/02/10/the-new-yorker-miscavige-and-cruise-caught-lying/">Source</a>]</i></center>
<br />
<i style="color: #e06666;"><b>See also: </b></i><br />
<ul>
<li><i style="color: #e06666;"><b><a href="http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/02/inside_scientol.php">Inside Scientology's Labor Camp That Benefits Tom Cruise: The Photos</a>
</b></i></li>
<li><i style="color: #e06666;"><b><a href="http://gawker.com/#%215757217/tom-cruises-favorite-toys-were-built-for-free-by-scientology-slaves">Tom Cruise’s Favorite Toys Were Built For Free by Scientology Slaves</a></b></i></li>
</ul>
<i style="color: #e06666;"><b></b></i>
<br />
13. <b>The horror story of Scientology chief's
wife</b>: David Miscavage’s wife, Shelly, hired several
people for jobs at Gold Base, without her husband's permission.
Shortly thereafter she disappeared. When the New Yorker asked
Scientology spokesperson Tommy Davis of her whereabouts he said, “I
definitely know where she is.” He didn't elaborate.<br />
<br />
<i style="color: #e06666;"><b>Nobody knows where Shelly is, but iy is widely hell DM is inseparable from his communicator <a href="http://www.xenu-directory.net/news/library.php?mf=1&yf=&mt=12&yt=&t=Laurisse+%22Lou%22+Henley+Smith+%28aka%2C+Laurisse+Stuckenbrock%29">Laurisse (Lou) Stuckenbrock</a> as shown in the 2nd photo below from July 2008 when DM & Lou were seemingly on a double date with Tom & Katie at the <a href="http://www.whyfame.com/gossip/tom_shows_katie_his_racy_side_1953">Laguna Seca Moto GP in Monterey, California</a>. The original photos by celebuzz.com recently disappeared but highlights captured here for posterity.</b></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnBYMZqnp15oS2hKzxKVLApdxVPeE1ZQ0PxvFsSeuNRGYQ9MSSb46yIPJ2UELszjihWTbyJwDjAZ17RoFOZwOHp_6NQuNbXlEzDeZgaZGYfL6pc0-S3c8hwpUPRQRI4l_DDx_xzKUOcab/s1600/2thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnBYMZqnp15oS2hKzxKVLApdxVPeE1ZQ0PxvFsSeuNRGYQ9MSSb46yIPJ2UELszjihWTbyJwDjAZ17RoFOZwOHp_6NQuNbXlEzDeZgaZGYfL6pc0-S3c8hwpUPRQRI4l_DDx_xzKUOcab/s320/2thumb.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehoYuHQkkn_twU-LAEw2fMBRzJ2Qby0JNXx7uv1OXO7Hg6nmHI1ONZVSJ-KI8zZjfoY5vtA3RBP3pjfzEY-D4IED2mnpnVlqY5dfbz9taIMqtECJH7CKfgVELdrUUw6w_tnhxAi7IYGLP/s1600/Katie-Holmes-Tom-Cruise-0708-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehoYuHQkkn_twU-LAEw2fMBRzJ2Qby0JNXx7uv1OXO7Hg6nmHI1ONZVSJ-KI8zZjfoY5vtA3RBP3pjfzEY-D4IED2mnpnVlqY5dfbz9taIMqtECJH7CKfgVELdrUUw6w_tnhxAi7IYGLP/s320/Katie-Holmes-Tom-Cruise-0708-7.jpg" width="293" /></a></div>
<br /><i style="color: #e06666;"><b>See also: <a href="http://www.idontlikeyouinthatway.com/pictures/20080721/tom%20cruise%20katie%20holmes%20Laguna%20Seca%20Moto%20GP%20july%2020/">Tom Cruise Katie Holmes Laguna Seca Moto GP</a> &<a href="http://freekatie.yuku.com/topic/5552/t/The-GMD-and-his-Best-Buddy-the-Asthmatic-Dwarf.html"> FreeKati.yuku.com</a></b></i>
</blockquote>
YES- Long post is long, but it needed to be said because the rabbit hole runs deep in Scientology. And considering the long history of insanity surrounding the <b><a href="http://mybillionyearcontract.com/">Sea Org's Billion Year Contract</a></b>, it needs to be said again and again. Until it stops.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Click the title of this post or ob any other entries on this micro blog to visit the related link for a given announcement.</span>AnonLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230190228115011502noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995451608898783198.post-70300858243221477972011-01-30T20:51:00.012-05:002011-11-16T11:54:11.303-05:00Margaret Singer: Cults in Our Midst<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cults-Our-Midst-Continuing-Against/dp/0787967416" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHOUihKQiDGjRqYRJT3mfgH7TPMaCKO0v-4p-8BqTAp_KVvMEYm5RTLqPST9hMkWTDE3e4iMcUBjqFYewxeGQ1SHfsbWFxAQy7wJUc8wxRcvfEW3BTf1CS0Z92y9SIkJqPWDX3YSqgGN2E/s1600/Cults_in_our_midst_2003.jpg" /></a></div>
<b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cults-Our-Midst-Continuing-Against/dp/0787967416">Cults
in Our Midst: The Continuing Fight Against Their Hidden Menace</a></i></b> is
the second edition of a nonfiction psychology book on cults, by Margaret Singer
with a foreword by <a href="http://icsahome.com/infoserv_respond/by_profile.asp?elibPubauth=pubauth_lifton_robert">Robert
Jay Lifton</a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cults_in_Our_Midst">This
text</a> was first published in hardcover format during 1996, with a slightly
different subtitle with coauthor <a href="http://icsahome.com/infoserv_respond/by_profile.asp?elibPubauth=pubauth_lalich_janja">Janja
Lalich, Ph.D</a>.<br />
<br />
The second edition of this book, without Lalich as co-author, was published in
paperback form in 2003 shortly before Dr. Singer's death. This revised version
of the text was used as the primary source for this review, and includes a new
introduction and postscript section that brings the book up to date. A lively
yet comprehensive oral review of the first edition was also done in September
2008 by <a href="http://www.youtube.com/mrfyde#p/u/14/31xgxdFnq1Q">Mr.Fyde's
channel</a> on YouTube, and is featured in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=12A476581BE2A328">playlist format</a>
at the bottom of this post.<br />
<br />
<h3>
About the Author</h3>
<a href="http://www.ideajournal.com/authors.php?id=4">Dr. Margaret Thaler Singer</a>
has been called "<i><a href="http://www.rickross.com/groups/singer.html">the preeminent cult expert of the 20th century</a></i>" by those who follow in her footsteps. She was a clinical psychologist and Professor Emeritus of the Department of
Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. A <a href="http://www.factnet.org/Margaret_Thaler_Singer/Coming_out_of_the_cults.html">leading expert</a> on
thought reform and cult techniques of persuasion, she forged a path where few
had gone in her time.<br />
<br />
According to her <a href="http://icsahome.com/infoserv_respond/by_profile.asp?elibPubauth=pubauth_singer_margaret">ICSA
author profile</a>, she was known as a soft-spoken but hard-edged Berkeley
psychologist and expert on brainwashing who studied and helped authorities and
victims to better understand the destructive nature of many dangerous cults. [San
Francisco Chronicle]<br />
<br />
Well-versed with the likes of Peoples Temple, Branch Davidian, Symbionese
Liberation Army, Unification Church and <a href="http://icsahome.com/infoserv_respond/by_author.asp?Subject=Psychotherapy+Cults">Psychotherapy Cults</a>, Mrs. Singer testified in
hundreds of cases in court -- but she also assisted anyone who called her
listed home phone number asking for help. [Oakland Tribune]<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVb1KjVf8JQ17SruYDHSrs2ni4J6aFUuZYao2z-Mo-Qsp39XKq8EjN1tkgAm8BscsEwt2MoZr05uyjPIzGWIFig1DGWfb1guD8xPa42jCrgDWdkbTRHAc1pi-MLqjp2UD8D_yg-O8kRrej/s1600/singer3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVb1KjVf8JQ17SruYDHSrs2ni4J6aFUuZYao2z-Mo-Qsp39XKq8EjN1tkgAm8BscsEwt2MoZr05uyjPIzGWIFig1DGWfb1guD8xPa42jCrgDWdkbTRHAc1pi-MLqjp2UD8D_yg-O8kRrej/s1600/singer3.jpg" /></a></div>
<i>Cults in Our Midst</i> is considered one of Dr Singer's seminal works. For those who are new to the subject of cultic studies, this book and
Lifton's <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thought_Reform_%28book%29">Thought
Reform and the Psychology of Totalism</a></i> should be consider the classic
starting points for further study in regards to academic due diligence for self-healing or
self-education purposes.<br />
<br />
A formal review of the first edition by <a href="http://www.icsahome.com/infoserv_profile/debold_walter.asp">Rev. Walter
Debold</a> was published in a 1995 volume of <a href="http://www.icsahome.com/logon/infoserv_elib/elibrary_articles_byicsapub_culticstudiesjournal_idx.asp">Cultic
Studies Journal</a> astutely described the book as follows.<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<i>Cults in Our Midst is not a book about weird
people who join crazy groups. It’s about how all of us, at various times, can
fall into vulnerable states during which another person can wield more
influence over us. Alluding to Big Brother of Orwell’s 1984, Singer says:
"Instead of one Big Brother, we see herds of Big Brothers in the world
today." And she notes that they promise intellectual, spiritual,
political, and self-actualizing utopias. "Eventually these groups subject
their followers to mind-numbing treatments that block critical and evaluative
thinking and subjugate independent choice in a context of a strictly enforced
hierarchy." </i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"> [<a href="http://www.icsahome.com/infoserv_bookreviews/bkrev_cultsinmidst.htm">ICSA
Archive</a>]</span></blockquote>
<br />
<h3>
Roadmap of the Fundamental Principles of Thought Reform</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuVQat8KsFDhriULFrJbgMLTCVLuuCd2ZQsqmCTiTs0deqZ2RTcu9_3eRaHF5S-HUFm4MSELJfiNQpxgM_FBwwI6m6k4vqSFCSe0IuPnzBvP-_r5fG8UWJEsenN7kMgEXvyzIasJgIUjr/s1600/badpersuasion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuVQat8KsFDhriULFrJbgMLTCVLuuCd2ZQsqmCTiTs0deqZ2RTcu9_3eRaHF5S-HUFm4MSELJfiNQpxgM_FBwwI6m6k4vqSFCSe0IuPnzBvP-_r5fG8UWJEsenN7kMgEXvyzIasJgIUjr/s200/badpersuasion.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
In <a href="http://www.rickross.com/reference/cults_in_our_midst/cults_in_our_midst2.html">Chapter 3</a>, Dr. Singer provides a comprehensive yet down-to-earth explanation of the history and mechanics behind the process of <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2011/01/confronting-thought-reform-coercive.html">Brainwashing, Psychological Coercion, and Thought Reform</a>.<br />
<br />
The book explains that at the time of initial publication of this book (1996) there were many previously used buzzwords by various experts to describe the process of psychological coercion that include: thought struggle, brainwashing, thought reform, coercive persuasion, mind control, <a href="http://www.rickross.com/reference/brainwashing/brainwashing21.html">coordinated programs of coercive influence and behavior control</a>, and exploitative persuasion. [pg53 in the 2003 edition]<br />
<br />
The author also states that this gem of a chapter fits into the bigger field of cultic studies of the time by focusing on those aspects that are best conveyed by the first and last terms in the list – <a href="http://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/human-nature/perception/brainwashing4.htm">thought struggle (Mao Tse-tung 1929)</a> and <a href="http://www.culthelp.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=158&Itemid=8">exploitive persuasion (Singer and Addis 1992)</a>. Furthermore, the approach she takes in undressing this somewhat unsavory subject from these particular aspects, provides possibly the best basic introduction printed to date on how a member of a cult can be unduly and unknowingly influenced.<br />
<br />
Many former members of various groups have praised this book for being an all-inclusive wake-up call they desperately needed to “snap out of it.” In this blogger’s humble opinion, the magic mojo of Singer’s pen is fully unleashed in Chapter 3 because of the excellent way she covers the essential need-to-know aspects of <a href="http://icsahome.com/infoserv_respond/by_author.asp?Subject=Thought+Reform+Exists%3A+Organized%2C+Programmatic+Influence">thought reform</a> and <a href="http://icsahome.com/infoserv_respond/by_author.asp?Subject=Cults%2C+Coercion%2C+and+Contumely">cultic coercion</a>.<br />
<br />
After covering the basic background and history of <a href="http://www.rickross.com/reference/apologist/apologist23.html">persuasion and control techniques</a>, Chapter 3 goes on to explain that the tactics of a thought-reform program are organized to serve these specific functions: [pg 62 in the 2003 edition]<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.ex-cult.org/General/singer-conditions">Destabilize the person’s sense of self </a></li>
<li>Get the person to drastically reinterpret his or her life’s history, radically alter their worldview, and accept a new version of reality and causality </li>
<li>Develop in the person a dependence on the organization, and thereby turn the person into a deployable agent of the organization </li>
</ul>
<br />
Dr. Singer continues on to explain the evolutionary product of her decades of field studies research: <a href="http://icsahome.com/infoserv_respond/by_studyguide.asp?Subject=Dr.+Margaret+T.+Singer%27s+6+Conditions+for+Thought+Reform"><b>Singer’s 6 Conditions of Thought Reform</b></a>. Additionally, she provides an insightful comparison of the other two basic schools of thought on the subject that were contemporary works during her practice in the field of cult recovery: <a href="http://www.freedomofmind.com/resourcecenter/responsibility/lifton.htm"><b>Lifton’s 8 Criteria of Thought Reform</b></a> and <a href="http://changingminds.org/techniques/conversion/schein_conversion.htm"><b>Schein’s 3 Stages of Conversion</b></a>.<br />
<br />
A summary of these methodologies for identifying coercive tactics used by cults, and how the steps in each models correlate to each other, is also provided in the following table. [pg62-4 in the 2003 edition]<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
Table 3.3 Criteria for Thought Reform</h4>
</div>
<div align="center">
<table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;" width="33.333333333333336%"><i><b> Conditions<br /> (Singer)<br /> </b></i></td><td style="text-align: center;" width="33.333333333333336%"><i><b> Themes<br /> (Lifton)<br /> </b></i></td><td style="text-align: center;" width="33.333333333333336%"><i><b> Stages<br /> (Schein)<br /> </b></i></td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top" width="33.333333333333336%">1. Keep the person unaware of what is going on and the changes taking place.</td><td valign="top" width="33.333333333333336%"><br /></td><td rowspan="2" valign="top" width="33.333333333333336%">1. Unfreezing.<br />
<br /></td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top" width="33.333333333333336%">2. Control the person's time and, if possible, physical environment.<br />
<br />
3. Create a sense of powerless, covert fear, and dependency,<br />
<br />
4. Suppress much of the person's old behavior and attitudes.</td><td valign="top" width="33.333333333333336%">1. Milieu Control.<br />
<br />
2. Loading the language.<br />
<br />
3. Demand for purity.<br />
<br />
4. Confession.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top" width="33.333333333333336%">5. Instill new behavior and attitudes.</td><td valign="top" width="33.333333333333336%">5. Mystical manipulation.<br />
<br />
6. Doctrine over person.</td><td valign="top" width="33.333333333333336%">2. Changing.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top" width="33.333333333333336%">6. Put forth a closed system of logic; allow no real input or criticism.</td><td valign="top" width="33.333333333333336%">7. Sacred science.<br />
<br />
8. Dispensing of existence.</td><td valign="top" width="33.333333333333336%">3. Refreezing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Excerpt from Cults in Our Midst 2003 edition, pg63</i></div>
<br />
<br />
At the time of initial publication, these 3 schools of thought on recognizing the classic signs of cultic mind control were the widely accepted standard amongst scholars, and they still are today. However, there has also been a new school of thought on the matter of conversion through thought reform by <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/search?q=steve+hassan">Steve Hassan</a>, known as the <a href="http://www.freedomofmind.com/resourcecenter/articles/BITE.htm"><b>B.I.T.E Model of Mind Control</b></a>, which is seemingly growing in popularity amongst his peers. <br />
<br />
In the months ahead, we plan to explore all four (Singer, Lifton, Schein and Hassan) of these methodologies for identifying <b><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/47832688/Cults-102-Commonly-Used-Thought-Reform-Tactics">commonly used thought reform tactics</a></b> used by cults. Thus the recent series of posts on this matter, including this book review, are an attempt to lay the basic groundwork for future reference. (See also <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2011/01/confronting-thought-reform-coercive.html">Confronting Thought Reform & Coercive Persuasion</a> and <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2011/01/glossary-of-wog-words-2.html">Glossary of Wog Words #2</a>)<br />
<br />
<h3>
Definitive Work on the Various Types of Coercive Persuasion</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkmo8Sov3_7p9MCqzCd3cnFAjNUWX9ItFoJAUA-5zGz_Px4PMDs-wnT1KMgYxHQqGZwdQEY-oOVpM7r30IL6FymnqLqN4yIFjLutxhM8im4hcue13yiYTpPZPTuElUR-M10Ol8_YsglT3/s1600/persuasion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkmo8Sov3_7p9MCqzCd3cnFAjNUWX9ItFoJAUA-5zGz_Px4PMDs-wnT1KMgYxHQqGZwdQEY-oOVpM7r30IL6FymnqLqN4yIFjLutxhM8im4hcue13yiYTpPZPTuElUR-M10Ol8_YsglT3/s200/persuasion.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
In Chapters 6 and 7, Dr. Singer provides an informative description of exploitative persuasion tactics that <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/11/is-church-of-scientology-cult.html">cults like the Church of Scientology</a> employ, and the effect each has on unsuspecting parishioners.<br />
<br />
She takes a very common sense approach in addressing this material in laymen terms, and categorizes these tactics as physiological vs. psychological <a href="http://psychology.about.com/od/socialpsychology/a/persuasiontech.htm">persuasion techniques</a>. An outline of the general topics covered is summarized in the following table.<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;" width="33.333333333333336%"><b><i> Physiological Persuasion Techniques</i></b><i><b></b></i><br />
<i>(<a href="http://www.rickross.com/reference/cults_in_our_midst/cults_in_our_midst3.html">Chapter 6</a>)<b><br /></b></i></td><td style="text-align: center;" width="33.333333333333336%"><b><i> Psychological Persuasion Techniques</i></b><i><b></b></i><br />
<i>(<a href="http://www.rickross.com/reference/cults_in_our_midst/cults_in_our_midst4.html">Chapter 7</a>) <b><br /></b></i></td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top" width="33.333333333333336%"><ul type="disc">
<li>Mass Marketing of Experiential Exercises</li>
<li>Techniques Producing Predictable Physiological Responses </li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
- Hyperventilation<br />
- Repetitive Motion<br />
- Change in Diet, Sleep & Stress<br />
- Body Manipulations<br />
- Relaxation-Induced Anxiety</blockquote>
<ul>
<li>Meditation May Not Always Be Good for You</li>
</ul>
</td><td valign="top" width="33.333333333333336%"><ul type="disc">
<li>Trance and Hypnosis </li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
- Naturalistic Trance Induction<br />
- Guided Imagery<br />
- Indirect Directives</blockquote>
<ul>
<li>Trickery</li>
<li>Revision of Personal History</li>
<li>Peer Pressure and Modeling</li>
<li>Emotional Manipulation</li>
<li>Psychotherapy Cults</li>
</ul>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Summary of major points from Cults in Our Midst 2003 edition, pg125-81</i></div>
<br />
<h3>
Additional Material</h3>
There is so much valuable material in Singer's <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cults-Our-Midst-Continuing-Against/dp/0787967416">Cults In Our Midst</a></i>, this quick synopsis of the major highlights barely does it justice. Suffice it to say, if former cult members or their loved ones only read one book on the subject of subversive influences a <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/12/what-is-destructive-group.html">destructive group</a> asserts over its followers, this book is definitely the one you need to get.<br />
<br />
Don't have time to read it? Well then, check out the following series of videos that take the time to provide a more comprehensive review of the first edition of the text.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>MrFyde on Cults in Our Midst </b><br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Further Reading in the <a href="http://www.scribd.com/collections/2686572/Church-of-Scientology-Exit-Zone-Dox">Exit Zone Dox</a></b></div>
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Click the title of this post or ob any other entries on this micro blog to visit the related link for a given announcement.</span>AnonLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230190228115011502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995451608898783198.post-21294510143270811232011-01-16T16:41:00.007-05:002011-08-30T07:03:28.710-04:00Confronting Thought Reform & Coercive Persuasion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://rhondahavlock.com/?p=97" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRr0fLWa82Ui0aAcidQzDgZMPvzSF_wx9LP_3B_04HafX7GIdczHaDNXRjNOUXZjklsEvPkhLky9JRgIos6aePDRGjGPqk9fEb04BfbvzgCaF9luZJl28c2aAaU5cr62OSomoOAqhpPFY2/s200/HAVLOCK-ATC-Caught-Behind-a-Mind-Trap-suffocation-sensation.jpg" width="141" /></a></div>
The last entry on this blog offered a <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2011/01/glossary-of-wog-words-2.html">humble introduction as well a list of common terminology</a> for one of the hardest topics that former members of<a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/12/what-is-destructive-group.html"> destructive groups</a> have to face when they reflect back on the trauma inflicted on them by an <a href="http://www.churchabuse.com/">abusive church</a>:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><a href="http://leavingscientology.wordpress.com/2010/07/23/thought-stopping/">Thought-Stopping</a></b> cultic influences in the form of: <b><a href="http://www.spiritwatch.org/mincondef.htm">mind control</a></b>, <b><a href="http://www.factnet.org/Thought_Reform_Exists.htm">thought reform</a></b> and <b><a href="http://www.solonline.org/res/wp/10010.html">coercive persuasion</a></b>. Big scary words that basically mean the same thing but are often blown so far out of proportion that they become another form of dangerous disinformation.</div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Soothing the Soul with Laughter</h3>
The subject of thought reform and similar cultic influences is often affectionately referred to by fully recovered ex-cultists that are typically several years down the road to healing through educational therapy as: <i>"<b>WTF Did They Do To ME!?!?!!!</b>"</i><br />
<br />
When you can honestly face the answers to that question - and laugh more than you facepalm - you can rest assured that worst of the harm done to your psyche is well on its way be to be sufficiently healed.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, it takes time to get that point of being thankful enough to have survived that you can wholeheartedly laugh at the whole affair <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/17681890/Ex-Scientology-Kids-Voices-In-Unison-Excerpts">no matter how tragic</a> it may have been. The recommended approach by many modern cult recovery experts for reaching that point in your life is by learning everything you can in relation to subversive influences a <a href="http://www.factnet.org/rancho5.htm">destructive cult</a> exerts over its unfortunate members.<br />
<br />
<blockquote style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(253, 232, 183); padding-bottom: 3px; padding-top: 6px;">
<b><i>"We can only feel sorry for ourselves when our misfortunes are still supportable. Once this limit is crossed, the only way to bear the unbearable is to laugh at it."</i></b><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>- <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marjane_Satrapi">Marjane Satrapi</a> </i></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
As dually warned in the last post, this subject matter is not for the faint of heart. We strongly recommend that those who have only recently left the Church of Scientology take the time to <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/10/facing-your-doubts-about-church-of.html">sort out their doubts</a>, and then <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/search/label/Becoming%20Informed">become informed</a> on the basic issues and controversies first, while saving this material for later.<br />
<br />
Then ideally, once you can pass the basic litmus test of using laughter as a sign of readiness — tackle the subject matter outlined in these recent posts on <a href="http://www.caic.org.au/general/culthyp.htm">thought reform</a> and <a href="http://www.rickross.com/reference/brainwashing/brainwashing8.html">coercive persuasion</a> once you find yourself a little further down the road of cult recovery through education. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQY-P1VUJeE-6MEEH7VapqbsqTb_APU-woDbtKMbnz14N4VJwbWgSUFyog-AxrHhsbFcZxolGqHH4jAAZi5oLjmAUGX1hxeIBjmZo1vfNvZ53iLi-qpg03eYRI705jKL3ctriDos4BNcI/s1600/knowledge+is+power.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQY-P1VUJeE-6MEEH7VapqbsqTb_APU-woDbtKMbnz14N4VJwbWgSUFyog-AxrHhsbFcZxolGqHH4jAAZi5oLjmAUGX1hxeIBjmZo1vfNvZ53iLi-qpg03eYRI705jKL3ctriDos4BNcI/s200/knowledge+is+power.jpg" width="182" /></a></div>
<h3>
Healing the Mind with Knowledge</h3>
Once your ready to proceed digesting this unsavory plate of need2know material that comes bundled under a variety of words for basically meaning the same thing in conversational usage (brainwashing, coercive persuasion, mind control, thought reform, and cultic influences).<br />
<br />
The first step of this learning curve journey is to get comfortable with the basic clinical explanation of mind control in the academic context from the <a href="http://www.icsahome.com/infoserv_articles/langone_michael_cultmindctr.htm">International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)</a>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-top: 6px;">
<b>What is Mind Control? </b><br />
<br />
Mind control (also known as "brainwashing," "coercive persuasion," and "thought reform") refers to a process in which a group or individual systematically uses unethically manipulative methods to persuade others to conform to the wishes of the manipulator(s).<br />
<br />
Such methods include the following: <br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>extensive control of information in order to limit alternatives from which members may make "choices"</li>
<li>deception</li>
<li>group pressure</li>
<li>intense indoctrination into a belief system that denigrates independent critical thinking and considers the world outside the group to be threatening, evil, or gravely in error an insistence that members’ distress-much of which may consist of anxiety and guilt subtly induced by the group-can be relieved only by conforming to the group</li>
<li>physical and/or psychological debilitation through inadequate diet or fatigue the induction of dissociative (trance-like) states via the misuse of meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, and other exercises in which attention is narrowed, suggestibility heightened, and independent critical thinking weakened</li>
<li>alternation of harshness/threats and leniency/love in order to effect compliance with the leadership’s wishes isolation from social supports pressured public confessions </li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: right;">
by <a href="http://www.icsahome.com/infoserv_articles/langone_michael_cultmindctr.htm">Michael D. Langone, Ph.D.</a>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<h3>
Further Reading</h3>
The published report below is a compilation of recommended books for those seeking to understand more about these types of <a href="http://www.factnet.org/coercivemindcontrol.html">coercive mind control tactics</a> that destructive cults typically employ as a means of mind control over their members. Many of these written works will be reviewed for providing a summary of key highlights and valuable excerpts on the Exit Zone blog in the months ahead.<br />
<br />
For a checklist of established strategies for counteracting these forms of thought-stopping cultic influences, see <a href="http://www.systemiccoaching.com/coercion.htm">Prevent and Remedy Coercive Persuasion, Brainwashing and Mind Control</a>.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/46050176/Cult-Mind-Control-Recommended-Reading-List" title="View Cult Mind Control: Recommended Reading List on Scribd">Understanding Cult Mind Control: Recommended Reading</a></b><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
For additional reference with the above reading list, please see:<br /><b><a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2011/01/glossary-of-wog-words-2.html">Glossary of Wog Words #2</a></b><br />
<br />
For more insights from a former scientologist turned expert:<br />
<b><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/43537092/The-Use-of-Mind-Control-in-Scientology-Pignotti">The Use of Mind Control in Scientology (Pignotti)</a> </b><br />
<br />
Other similar materials<b> </b>for further study are also indexed<br />under <b><a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/resources.html">Resources</a></b> and <b><a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/reading-lists.html">Reading Lists</a></b>.<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Click the title of this post or ob any other entries on this micro blog to visit the related link for a given announcement.</span>AnonLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230190228115011502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995451608898783198.post-33595051360487147742011-01-16T03:33:00.002-05:002011-01-16T09:39:55.761-05:00Glossary of Wog Words #2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/reading-lists.html" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbdAUWc8SfF9yAgeQA67iomymwMHrGBLRYINYeDiPIQhS5oZPNMVk7AYNxbhSt5SwPYv_SVGTYk8kGy3UHQWo3F55Ld99BUkT0Ud_uH_BefPNCH1VDa-q7TCPjvTtCVNjz8DQFBWbkg4Y/s200/openbook.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<h3>
Chapter 2: Cultic Mind Control, Thought Reform & Coercive Persuasion Definitions</h3>
<br />
The following glossary of terms is the second installment of a <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/10/glossary-of-wog-words-1.html">series of posts</a> humbly offered as an aid to Scientologists who may be struggling to leap over the language barriers between the various different camps who find fault with the Church of Scientology.<br />
<br>
This post will also be used as supplemental material for supporting upcoming entries on this micro blog that explore the subject matter further, and as such the blogger felt the topic deserved a introductory preamble beforehand.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWz8oZGMMAsEkwDbS99ku70H8CYcglddec0DPQQYrkjtotI7W0lx3Wc-7dUucvH5F896UAne4jOL-Rq-i1h3wmWUvEt8RSQwnhuyoe21h0wfBGQiYWgbpYrpszKUdDLs4sDCUTmhAetbxA/s1600/11698_Slippery_surface_sign-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 6px;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWz8oZGMMAsEkwDbS99ku70H8CYcglddec0DPQQYrkjtotI7W0lx3Wc-7dUucvH5F896UAne4jOL-Rq-i1h3wmWUvEt8RSQwnhuyoe21h0wfBGQiYWgbpYrpszKUdDLs4sDCUTmhAetbxA/s200/11698_Slippery_surface_sign-2.jpg" width="149" /></a>
<h4>
Proceed with caution</h4>
Just like the word "cult" can be a <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/11/is-church-of-scientology-cult.html">tough nut to crack</a> for members of a <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/12/what-is-destructive-group.html">destructive group</a> that are heading down the path of <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/search/label/Becoming%20Informed">becoming informed</a>, the words "mind control" and "brainwashing" and the forms of abuse in which they manifest can be a frighten hurdle to own up to.<br />
<br />
The reason being is horror stories of POW ordeals and MKULTRA fiascos has attached a certain stigma to the words "mind control" and "brainwashing" that infers something being done under physical restraint and with much force. <br />
<br />
However, in terms of established academic standards of <a href="http://www.icsahome.com/">cultic studies and research</a> into abusive groups "mind control" and "brainwashing" is seen a synonymous with "coercive persuasion" and "thought reform," which infers a more subliminal form of abuse being done subconsciously and over time. Therefore, when approaching this type of subject matter from an educational perspective former victims of destructive cults are encourage to see "mind control" and think "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destructive_cult">coercion</a>" as an intermediate step of digesting the material without the shock and awe impact the more flamboyant buzzwords can induce.<br />
<br />
This approach allows for a better dissection of the definitions for this area of formal study where a distinction can be made between the general definition of "mind control" and the more targeted definition of "cultic mind control". Therefore, as shown in the glossary document at the bottom of this post, <i>cultic mind control</i> is the more contextually accurate term for understanding the forms of psychological abuse the Church of Scientology is inflicting on its members.<br />
<br />
For further insights into the specifics of this distinction, check out the information from Spiritwatch Ministries featured on the backlink of this post that eloquently answers the question: <i><b><a href="http://www.spiritwatch.org/mincondef.htm">What Is Cultic Mind Control?</a></b></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxNh-323XGyVY__8mcFFCpBQrzUHTwJQDdj11-nc8xIkqIxfleGa-Tc8_hbU0wKSuQGYCw3j3Zkt76m1kz7TFVL39cnVogSnt5V20Q8SiEs_9QT4l7HqECIHuvN1FkV9PDp3jFUZEf5M_/s1600/backpacking.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxNh-323XGyVY__8mcFFCpBQrzUHTwJQDdj11-nc8xIkqIxfleGa-Tc8_hbU0wKSuQGYCw3j3Zkt76m1kz7TFVL39cnVogSnt5V20Q8SiEs_9QT4l7HqECIHuvN1FkV9PDp3jFUZEf5M_/s200/backpacking.gif" width="200" /></a></div>
<h4>
Come prepared</h4>
Another important aspect to keep in mind when trying conquer the acceptance factor of what was done to you while under the influence of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coercive_persuasion">coercive persuasion</a> is that it basically boils down to one thing: <b>devious and subversive forms of abuse</b>.<br />
<br />
It is not necessarily torture, nor is it in your face force to do something you adamantly refuse to be apart of. Rather, coercive persuasion (and its many synonyms) is simply <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_conditioning">mental conditioning</a> secretly done over time to inflict abuse on members without them even realizing its happening.<br />
<br />
Thus, a basic understanding of abusive relationships and the ways in which abuse surfaces in escalating fashion to violent behavior when a deeply personal relationship feeds it, can almost be considered a prerequisite area of the learning curve in regards to building a better understanding of the abuses inflicted on members by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destructive_cult">destructive cults</a>.<br />
<br />
The Power & Control Wheel is a particularly
helpful tool in understanding the overall pattern of abusive and violent
behaviors, which are used by an abuser to establish and maintain power
and control over his/her victim. One of the most blatant or obvious
ways is through physical or sexual violence. However, there are many other ways one can exert power (such as emotional, financial, verbal abuse). These are the tactics that can be harder to see can be used independently or in combination with the physical violence.<br />
<br />
The power and control wheel diagram shown below is a condensed version of this widely respected model, excerpted from the <a href="http://www.fafinc.org/pandcwheel.php">Friends of Abused Families</a> website and originally developed by the <a href="http://www.duluth-model.org/">Domestic Abuse Intervention Project</a>. Although the emphasis is towards identifying domestic abuse, there are many other variations of this wheels for other applications and it still holds a great deal of relevance for a general understanding of abusive relationships. For more information, see the <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/46932903/Power-and-Control-Wheel-of-Abusive-Behavior">full document</a> mirrored in Exit Zone Dox collection of <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/resources.html">resources</a>. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwlf7yHllVfozcMOCZc2X9t9_v2EXjKAjO-rS7vJuFi4HrM0VWBNXM039qnimngbMC1N8rTFqTl2E6XIz1tXNaolLIOAIhCIboyJ3fdAgHwwB05BKBNz8wmW5qXx5IEly3QbZ9QbRcp7oC/s1600/clip_image001.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwlf7yHllVfozcMOCZc2X9t9_v2EXjKAjO-rS7vJuFi4HrM0VWBNXM039qnimngbMC1N8rTFqTl2E6XIz1tXNaolLIOAIhCIboyJ3fdAgHwwB05BKBNz8wmW5qXx5IEly3QbZ9QbRcp7oC/s320/clip_image001.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Power and Control Wheel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Once a former cult member can begin to see the correlations between the characteristics of abusive relationships in the above diagram, and the <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/40783804/Cults-101-Checklist-of-Cult-Characteristics">characteristics of a cult</a> covered in a previous post, the unsavory realization of how abuse was subliminally inflicted on them by the Church of Scientology should be a bit easier to swallow.
<h4>
Brace for impact</h4>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEPiYD-PcDRWNuY_6zWG0oHOAxCkaGS0KcggZEe9K9nMER8EPkX2AM-tSB0r7JfvSou6s2PNT-4jSAT3r4sdTW4JyXoK6f99yvDvKeNhPk5Hwauvh8cItfGCWMFVxLaEkgySYwdVRwn2L/s1600/parachute_sous_le_soleil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEPiYD-PcDRWNuY_6zWG0oHOAxCkaGS0KcggZEe9K9nMER8EPkX2AM-tSB0r7JfvSou6s2PNT-4jSAT3r4sdTW4JyXoK6f99yvDvKeNhPk5Hwauvh8cItfGCWMFVxLaEkgySYwdVRwn2L/s200/parachute_sous_le_soleil.jpg" width="149" /></a>Once the prerequisite need for a basic understanding of abusive relationships and forms of abuse is surpassed, the next step on the road to cult recovery via educational means is to become knowledgeable on the subject of cultic mind control, coercive persuasion, brainwashing, thought reform...<br />
<br />
Lions and tigers and bears OH MY!<br />
<br />
Yeah we know - scary stuff to confront at the onset, but there is decades of research and scholarship on these subjects that have been proven to aid the healing process with minimal study. Hopefully, the following addition to the Exit Zone's <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/10/glossary-of-wog-words-1.html">Wog Word Glossary</a> will help make the journey down this road of discovery an easy series of steps to a greater awareness of the coerced influences a destructive group exerts on its members.<br />
<br />
Stay tuned for upcoming posts that will attempt to map out a guideline of recommended reading and additional resources for aiding folks on the self-education road to cult recovery.<br /><br>
<blockquote style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(253, 232, 183); padding-bottom: 3px; padding-top: 6px;">
<b>"The truth will set you free. But first, it will piss you off."</b><div style="text-align: right;">
- <a href="http://www.gloriasteinem.com/">Gloria Steinem</a></div>
</blockquote>
<center><iframe align="center" height="440px" src="https://docs.google.com/View?id=dgb4wckx_85hnszmjfp" target="_top" width="400px"></iframe></center><br />
For more definitions commonly used on this blog, check out the related <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/search/label/Glossary">Glossary label</a> readily available on the sidebar. Also, see the <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/10/exit-zone-glossary-classifications.html">Exit Zone Glossary Classifications</a> post for further explanation on how these definitions are categorized.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Click the title of this post or ob any other entries on this micro blog to visit the related link for a given announcement.</span>AnonLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230190228115011502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995451608898783198.post-18925187940668813392011-01-02T20:52:00.010-05:002011-01-14T01:52:41.210-05:00Scientology Exit Survey Results Published for Q4-2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/exit-survey.html" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaubOZTSPHpJbweGgQeJtRQUaRyqPMkodc4Ha9twdK9cDq4ZaqJHy7E6UdyOzpwtQdI29Rm448uHfhwzdg7QhqQD2Ej65NVwj9GLTdKkfgtjSnxHU68e7q56mWQNTjrrPW6w-d8rJhvbKl/s200/76526017_8.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
The first year of <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/exit-survey.html">CofS Exit Survey Project</a> has finally come to a close, and with much thanks to all who participated - we're proud to announce that <b>we officially passed our 2010 endoyear goal</b> for 350 total responses gathered!!! <br />
<br />
The latest batch of published reports has been released on ESMB and elsewhere as the final quarterly update for 2010. The following results are based on <span style="font-weight: bold;">359 total respondents</span><b> as of January 1, 2011</b>.<br />
<br />
For more information on the available documentation compiled by this informal study, check out the <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/40384285/Church-of-Scientology-Exit-Survey-Reporting-Index?in_collection=2343853">Church of Scientology Exit Survey Reporting Index</a> and the related <a href="http://www.scribd.com/document_collections/2343853">scribd collection</a>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/23581858/Scientology-Exit-Survey-Results-Basic-Report">Scientology Exit Survey Results - Basic Reports</a><br /><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/23636010/Scientology-Exit-Survey-Results-Advanced-Reports"><br />Scientology Exit Survey Results - Advanced Reports</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/24055762/Scientology-Exit-Survey-Results-Analytical-Reports">Scientology Exit Survey Results - Analytical Reports</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/31095067/Scientology-Exit-Survey-Results-Summary-Charts">Scientology Exit Survey Results - Summary Charts</a> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">**</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?7uc5m2e7tcyldm9">Scientology Exit Survey Results - Download Bundle</a> <span style="color: #cc0000;">*** </span><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/AnonLover2008/CofSExitSurveyResultsJan2011QtrlyUpdate?feat=directlink">Scientology Exit Survey Results - Image Album</a> </span>(<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/AnonLover2008/CofSExitSurveyResultsJan2011QtrlyUpdate#slideshow/5557659238287676738">Slideshow</a>)</div>
<br />
<i>NOTE</i>: the <a href="http://wiki.whyweprotest.net/CofS_Exit_Survey">project wiki page</a>
that normally serves as the central square for this effort isn't
currently available due to technical difficulties, but it's in the
process of being resurrected and shall return to its proper place on the
interwebz in near future.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">**<span style="color: black;"> - </span></span></span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;">Now includes 1/3 more data points in the original charts, plus 3 brand new summary chart comparisons (shown below) as /r/ by armchair analystfags on WWP who were charting participation stats and wished to see additional layers of detail on progress up the processing side of the <a href="https://secure.wikileaks.org/w/images/Grdchart1ri8.gif">Church of Scientology Bridge</a> related to Auditing & OT levels.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">***<span style="color: black;"> - </span></span></span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;">Now with more files for summary chart sauce (source files). Fellow number crunchers & researchfags are welcome to play with the new spreashsheet included in the download bundle to spin custom charts just for grins and/or offer suggestions on summary chart improvements/additions for including in future versions of these published reports.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Click the thumbnails below<br />to view full-size charts</i></b><br />
<b><i> </i></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_131bG1PFxSQ/TSDFoajOFUI/AAAAAAAACBI/B5TPDsxpLVs/s1600/SummaryChart9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_131bG1PFxSQ/TSDFoajOFUI/AAAAAAAACBI/B5TPDsxpLVs/s320/SummaryChart9.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Straight-up and Vertical" anoyone?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_131bG1PFxSQ/TSDCg_SvlBI/AAAAAAAACAg/8FB5MsgUlWY/s1600/SummaryChart1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_131bG1PFxSQ/TSDCg_SvlBI/AAAAAAAACAg/8FB5MsgUlWY/s320/SummaryChart1a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why so many retreads on Clear? No doubt it's the GAT.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_131bG1PFxSQ/TSDChPCwP-I/AAAAAAAACAk/mLfW5A_svzw/s1600/SummaryChart1b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_131bG1PFxSQ/TSDChPCwP-I/AAAAAAAACAk/mLfW5A_svzw/s320/SummaryChart1b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of retreads on OT Eligibility and unfinished OTVII. Hmmm.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br>
<center><b><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/AnonLover2008/CofSExitSurveyResultsJan2011QtrlyUpdate?feat=directlink">View More Charts & Graphs</a></b></center><br>
The <a href="http://tinyurl.com/CofSExit" target="_blank">Online CofS Exit Survey</a> is one of several <b><a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/projects.html">ongoing data collection projects</a></b> being featured and promoted to new audiences here on the Exit Zone blog.<br />
<br />
We also hope that former members of the Church of Scientology who like what they see here, take the time to participate in these various efforts dedicated to broadening public awareness and documenting the truth regarding <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/22925188/The-Collected-Works-of-L-H-Brennan-Volume-1">organized scientology</a> being a <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/12/what-is-destructive-group.html">destructive group</a>.<br />
<br />
<center><b><a href="http://tinyurl.com/CofSExit">Click Here To Take The Online Exit Survey</a></b></center><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Click the title of this post or ob any other entries on this micro blog to visit the related link for a given announcement.</span>AnonLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230190228115011502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995451608898783198.post-59258250534245744602010-12-30T22:57:00.011-05:002010-12-31T20:41:53.739-05:00Cult Awareness: What Is A Destructive Group?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzt1TTEf7szcKCuUrf_nRYATl61BgsT3YkM9W8DmRC0oIKGEOfw6KXxsXEII4__yFzetStXdUoJaQKTYgke8htZmLsywTBriUygaAr5lgt4ZH63FqhuqnDqJ2b__VNQmtiiu3qzlcYoy92/s1600/WendyFordcover.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzt1TTEf7szcKCuUrf_nRYATl61BgsT3YkM9W8DmRC0oIKGEOfw6KXxsXEII4__yFzetStXdUoJaQKTYgke8htZmLsywTBriUygaAr5lgt4ZH63FqhuqnDqJ2b__VNQmtiiu3qzlcYoy92/s200/WendyFordcover.png" width="138" /></a></div>
In <a href="http://www.wolfberg.net/book/atauthor.htm">Wendy Ford Wolfberg</a>'s 1993 classic handbook <b><i><a href="http://www.wolfberg.net/book/toc.htm">Recovery from Abusive Groups</a></i></b>, a vast amount of ground is covered regarding how to recover from the damage done to a person involved in a destructive cult in a very straightforward yet eloquently buffered manner.<br />
<br />
This book is a must-read for anyone recently out from under the omnipresent influences of the Church of Scientology, who is at the stage of <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/11/is-church-of-scientology-cult.html">coming to terms</a> with the ruin brought about by pursuing their religious beliefs and the harm done to their psyche by coercive tactics. The author is a former cult member herself, and the material is presented in the form of a courseware style guide that maps out a path to fully healing oneself from the trauma of abuse. She does this by providing a set of constructive exercises combined with a recipe for recovery with three main ingredients: Time, Discipline, and Courage.<br />
<br />
Mrs. Wolfberg's text is readily available online in a professional PDF format from the <b><a href="http://icsahome.com/infoserv_respond/free.asp">FREE ICSA Archives</a></b> (via shared googledocs), and is partially featured on her website at <a href="http://www.wolfberg.net/book/toc.htm">Woflberg.net</a>. You can also purchase a hard copy from <a href="http://icsahome.com/infoserv_respond/bookstore.asp">ICSA (aka American Family Foundation) Bookstore</a>, although that area of ICSA's snazzy new website appears to be somewhat under construction as of this post.<br />
<br />
Under the Introduction section of Wendy's book, she features the following information to answer the important question: <b><i>What is a Destructive Group?</i></b> This material was reprinted from a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult_Awareness_Network">Cult Awareness Network (CAN)</a> brochure that was widely distributed prior to <a href="http://www.apologeticsindex.org/c19.html">Scientology's hostile take over</a> of the organization that helped so many people escape and recover from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destructive_cult">destructive cults</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.barpfoto.com/blog/?p=473" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHLoFaxd9CW1GAGEaSuMc4bI7YqLXrdSp9yVnlWCcSwJ4lJuDSMUUztucNQ30zUj3MJJWcAdqUULsELPd3E90KUE9nBvkLjqg33LsBILtmntwHFwOhoFQ3HJ5N6xZ4zqPfJXE4MD7zVuO/s200/barbwire.png" width="200" /></a>
<br />
<h3>Marks of a Destructive Group</h3>
<br />
The marks of a destructive group are as follows:<br />
<br />
<b>1. Mind Control (undue influence):</b> manipulation by use of coercive persuasion or behavior modification techniques without informed consent.<br />
<br />
<b>2. Charismatic Leadership:</b> claiming divinity or special knowledge and demanding unquestioning obedience with power and privilege. Leadership may consist of one individual or a small core of leaders.<br />
<br />
<b>3. Deception:</b> recruiting and fundraising with hidden objectives and without full disclosure of the use of mind controlling techniques [group psychology]; use of "front groups."<br />
<br />
<b>4. Exclusivity:</b> secretiveness or vagueness by followers regarding activities and beliefs.<br />
<br />
<b>5. Alienation:</b> separation from family, friends, and society, a change in values and substitution of the cult as the new "family," evidence of subtle or abrupt personality changes.<br />
<br />
<b>6. Exploitation:</b> can be financial, physical, or psychological; pressure to give money, to spend a great deal on courses or give excessively to special projects and to engage in inappropriate sexual activities, even child abuse.<br />
<br />
<b>7. Totalitarian Worldview (we/they syndrome):</b> effecting dependence, promoting goals of the group over the individual and approving unethical behavior while claiming goodness.<br />
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<a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/danperez/art/1298567-4-isolation" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha24-fIRcbadI__Jfctc8AlIZHL7GKp1nsHrPd_m4ce8KxMZZhQpnhSRkPZxaPou7Yb2S3tCNxE6JB-9-82xp7P_7xArTD4AwkeHXgOU2HCqGuELkPVxaccL9-o5qLhyINVrXckqQiXeQ_/s200/isolation.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<h3>Techniques of a Destructive Group</h3>
<br />
The techniques of a destructive group are as follows:<br />
<br />
<b>1. Group Pressure and "Love-Bombing"</b> discourages doubts and reinforces the need to belong through use of child-like games, singing, hugging, touching, or flattery.<br />
<br />
<b>2. Isolation/Separation</b> causes an inability or lack of desire to verify the reality of information provided by the group.<br />
<br />
<b>3. Thought-Stopping Techniques</b> introduce recruits to meditating, chanting, and repetitious activities which, when used excessively, induce a state of high suggestibility.<br />
<br />
<b>4. Fear and Guilt</b> induced by eliciting confessions to produce intimacy and to reveal fears an secrets, by creating emotional vulnerability through overt and, covert threats, and by alternating punishment and reward.<br />
<br />
<b>5. Sleep Deprivation</b> encouraged under the guise of spiritual exercises, necessary training, or urgent projects.<br />
<br />
<b>6. Inadequate Nutrition</b> sometimes disguised as a special diet to improve health or advance spirituality, or as rituals requiring fasting.<br />
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<b>7. Sensory Overload</b> forces acceptance of complex new doctrines, goals, and definitions to replace old values by expecting recruit to assimilate masses of information quickly with little opportunity for critical examination.<br />
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Not all of these techniques need to be present simultaneously for a mind control environment to be operative.<br />
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<br />
<h3>
Harmful Effects of a Destructive Group</h3>
<br />
The harmful effects of a destructive group may include:<br />
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<b>1. Loss of free will</b> and control over one's life.<br />
<br />
<b>2. Development of dependency</b> and return to child-like behavior.<br />
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<b>3. Loss of spontaneity</b> or sense of humor.<br />
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<b>4. Inability to form intimate friendships</b> outside the cult or enjoy flexible relationships.<br />
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<b>5. Physical deterioration and abuse.</b><br />
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<b>6. Psychological deterioration</b> (including hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia, disorientation, and dissociation).<br />
<br />
<b>7. Involuntary, de facto servitude or exploitation.</b><br />
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Not all of these harmful effects will be experienced by everyone who has a destructive group experience.<br />
<br />
For additional insights on <i>Recovery from Abusive Groups</i> by Wendy Ford Wolfberg, checkout the ICSA book review from <a href="http://www.icsahome.com/infoserv_bookreviews/bkrev_recoveryfromabusivegroups.htm">Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 10, No. 2, 1993</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Click the title of this post or ob any other entries on this micro blog to visit the related link for a given announcement.</span>AnonLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230190228115011502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995451608898783198.post-26520770468107057772010-12-25T19:06:00.015-05:002010-12-30T23:43:10.631-05:00Philip Zimbardo Explains the Lucifer Effect<a href="http://counterfeitdreams.com/">Jeff Hawkins</a> recently featured a fantastic pair of articles on the <a href="http://leavingscientology.wordpress.com/">Leaving Scientology</a> blog that are a must-read for anyone considering leaving the Church of Scientology, or attempting to recover from the duress inflicted on them during their involvement with this pervasive cult.<br />
<br />
These enlightening essays explore one of several key concepts included in <a href="http://www.zimbardo.com/">Dr. Philip Zimbardo</a>'s well-established theory based on extensive scholarly research regarding how good people are easily conditioned to do evil deeds. Zimbardo's studies contend that situational factors in certain institutional settings can become a diseased breeding ground for evil acts, and the ultimate cure for this type of evil is acts of heroism.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://leavingscientology.wordpress.com/2010/11/21/bad-apples-or-bad-barrels/">Bad Apples or Bad Barrels?</a><br /><br /><a href="http://leavingscientology.wordpress.com/2010/12/01/the-dirty-dozen/">The Dirty Dozen</a></b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bPEsGl4dqW1LCQMXIOQY-8xXNDuZKGWmqUUJpiGngpkZObXvmJhMOhzX0g-qzRw_WK3K9WadnXptdZGHyDa32cGrGwUJYNnR7B8lt8Bk12iRCkbj0t86HuF3FptYnDhrbT3f2UtjZKyT/s1600/aphilphotos61.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bPEsGl4dqW1LCQMXIOQY-8xXNDuZKGWmqUUJpiGngpkZObXvmJhMOhzX0g-qzRw_WK3K9WadnXptdZGHyDa32cGrGwUJYNnR7B8lt8Bk12iRCkbj0t86HuF3FptYnDhrbT3f2UtjZKyT/s400/aphilphotos61.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr.Z and Robin Williams, TED Conference (2008)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The underlying theory behind <b><a href="http://www.lucifereffect.com/about_synopsis.htm"><i>The Lucifer Effect</i></a></b> book initially evolved from Zimbardo's infamous <a href="http://www.prisonexp.org/">Stanford Prison Experiment</a> that former cult members, from many different <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/12/what-is-destructive-group.html">destructive groups</a>, often find reassuring for proving that anybody can be rapidly indoctrinated into a dangerous cult mentality no matter <a href="http://youarenotsosmart.com/2009/11/09/cults/">how smart or naive they might be</a>.<br />
<br />
As always, Jeff's articles listed at the top of this post not only hit a nail on the head, they also raised a great deal of positive discussion on the systematic factors inherent in the <a href="http://www.rickross.com/reference/scientology/Scien10.html">Church of Scientology that makes it such destructive cult</a>. Thus, we thought we would add the following video to help amplify that recently raised awareness of Zimbardo's seminal works on <i><a href="http://www.lucifereffect.com/">The Lucifer Effect</a></i> for further reflection.<br />
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This clip is a quick but thorough introduction that Professor Zimbardo gave to a distinguished <a href="http://www.ted.com/"> TED|Talks</a> audience in 2008 that applies <i>The Lucifer Effect</i> theory to the travesties that happened at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Ghraib_torture_and_prisoner_abuse">Abu Ghraib prison encapment</a> in war-torn Iraq. The above photo with comedian Robin Williams was taken at the same TED event, with the appropriate credit (and thanks!) going out to <a href="http://www.lucifereffect.com/aboutphil_photo.htm">http://www.LuciferEffect.org</a>.<br />
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<blockquote style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(253, 232, 183); padding-bottom: 3px; padding-top: 6px;">
<b>"The shift [needed] is towards a public health model that recognizes situational and systemic vectors of disease. Bullying is a disease. Predjudice is a disease. Violence is a disease."</b><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
- Phil Zimbardo [18:18]</div>
</blockquote>
As <b><a href="http://zimbardo.socialpsychology.org/">Dr. Zimbardo</a></b> explains in the lecture above, the main principle of the Lucifer Effect theory is to explain how institutional situations can affect human behavior. He touches upon the bad apples concept that Jeff highlighted, as well as briefly defining the other key concepts developed during his decades of research.<br />
<br />
Another concept from this theory that is also worthy of highlighting is mentioned in the run-up to Zimbardo's concluding remarks around the 20 minute mark in the above clip, where he briefly recaps his supporting points that <b>certain situations can have the power to do three things:</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>The very same situation that can inspire <b><a href="http://www.lucifereffect.com/dehumanization.htm">Hostile Imagination</a></b> in those who become perpetrators of evil, can also inspire the</li>
<li><b><a href="http://blog.richmond.edu/heroes/2010/10/18/phil-zimbardo-and-the-heroic-imagination-project/">Heroic Imagination</a></b> in others of us, or</li>
<li>Render <b>most people</b> passive and guilty of the <b><a href="http://www.zimbardo.com/downloads/2003%20Evil%20Chapter.pdf">evil of inaction</a></b>.</li>
</ul>
These factors are extremely relevant for former cult members who beat themselves up over not doing anything to stop the abuses they witnessed. Admitting that <a href="http://www.scobeepublishing.com/">abusive practices run rampant within the Scientology organization</a> is the first big step of fighting off the cult's influence over one's mind. While recognizing that previous inaction towards stopping institutional abuses has been proven a common response in an abusive group environment, is a giant realization for recovering cult members to make towards seeing that they are not alone in their experiences.<br />
<br />
Dr. Z's points regarding the normal situational responses to the influence of an abusive institution are also expanded upon further in the <b><a href="http://www.lucifereffect.com/guide.htm">Resisting Influence</a></b> guide that is featured on <i>The Lucifer Effect </i>website.<br />
<br />
For a much more comprehensive lecture from Philip Zimbardo on the Lucifer Effect (where he has the time to thoroughly explore all of the aspects of his theory and hypothesis) along with other related interviews and discussions, check out the following playlist available on YouTube compliments of the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/PLMSTube">PLMSTube</a> channel.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=90F616ED0064DC64"><b>Philip Zimbardo on the Lucifer Effect</b></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Click the title of this post or ob any other entries on this micro blog to visit the related link for a given announcement.</span>AnonLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230190228115011502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995451608898783198.post-58880220870523891972010-12-22T22:52:00.008-05:002010-12-31T19:23:23.786-05:00Warning Signs of a Dangerous Cult<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9x6O7TdVWKiur5Qj79WREE1PjnuXiQTWu-XtvjLNu7fBXqxxXyCUvYtB9lZaoldY-clCKTirlwlwnJxBCResS7WBvpcWps9K1TBtx9eCj27yFeSSME_DtyVWkhoO4QgvMiTTXNRHdTpg0/s1600/Warning1sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9x6O7TdVWKiur5Qj79WREE1PjnuXiQTWu-XtvjLNu7fBXqxxXyCUvYtB9lZaoldY-clCKTirlwlwnJxBCResS7WBvpcWps9K1TBtx9eCj27yFeSSME_DtyVWkhoO4QgvMiTTXNRHdTpg0/s320/Warning1sm.jpg" width="181" /></a>For current members who may be wondering if they have truly gotten involved in a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destructive_cult">destructive cult</a> the internet holds a wide variety of lists of warning signs, checklists of dangerous factors, and classification charts for differentiating a <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/12/what-is-destructive-group.html">abusive group</a> from a harmless sect.<br />
<br />
The wealth of information is readily apparent even on Wikipedia where they have <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult_checklist">10 different checklists indexed</a>, including a fascinating historical reference to a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:1979_Whittier_CultAddendum1.jpg">1979 addendum</a> from a United States Congressional Research Service report. <br />
<br />
Although at a cursory glance, the Church of Scientology pretty much fails on all or most points no matter which list you investigate, sometimes too much information is a bad thing.<br />
<br />
Thus, in the hopes of identifying one singular reliable resource for those who are still actively involved with the Scientology organization, that may be <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/10/facing-your-doubts-about-church-of.html">Facing Their Doubts</a> and asking that gut-wrenching question "<i><a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/11/is-church-of-scientology-cult.html">Is Scientology a Cult?</a></i>" we humbly recommend the following classic article from the Factnet.org website.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.factnet.org/headlines/destructive_cult_warning_signs.html">Warning signs of a destructive cult</a></b></span></div>
<br />
This excellent work provides an easy-to-digest outline of key warning signs and factors of concern that current members of the Church of Scientology should evaluate for themselves once they begin the process of <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/search/label/Becoming%20Informed">becoming informed</a>. The following is an abbreviated checklist excerpted from this article for the sake of a quick reference.<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<b>
1) A destructive cult tends to be totalitarian in its control of its members' behavior.<br /><br />
2) A destructive cult tends to have an ethical double standard.<br /><br />
3) A destructive cult has only two basic purposes: recruiting new members and fund-raising.<br /> <br />
4) A destructive cult appears to be innovative and exclusive.<br /><br />
5) A destructive cult is authoritarian in its power structure.<br /> <br />
6) A destructive cult's leader is a self-appointed messianic person claiming to have a special mission in life.<br /> <br />
7) A destructive cult's leader centers the veneration of members upon himself or herself.<br /><br />
8) A destructive cult's leader tends to be determined, domineering, and charismatic.</b></blockquote>
Do any of these warning signs resonate with your experiences in the Church of Scientology? If so, checkout the following fair usage video based on one of Scientology's own propaganda PSA that makes several false claims about their stance of human rights, but edited here to reveal the truth about the harm the organization is currently inflicting on their followers with no remorse.<br />
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<br />
For additional recommended references, see the <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/40783804/Cults-101-Checklist-of-Cult-Characteristics">Checklist of Cult Characteristics</a> that was covered in an earlier post. Also be sure to review <b><a href="http://www.rickross.com/warningsigns.html">Cult Warning Signs by Rick Ross</a></b>, which features the following useful checklists for similar areas of concern that are likewise applicable to the Church of Scientology.<br /><br>
<ul>
<li> Ten warning signs of a potentially unsafe group/leader.</li>
<li>Ten warning signs regarding people involved in/with a potentially unsafe group/leader.</li>
<li>Ten signs of a safe group/leader.</li>
</ul><br>
<i></i><span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Click the title of this post or ob any other entries on this micro blog to visit the related link for a given announcement.</span>AnonLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230190228115011502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995451608898783198.post-21807262611292899622010-11-26T20:12:00.002-05:002011-02-03T16:57:03.201-05:00Professor Stephen Kent on Scientology and other cults in AmericaThe following lecture on Scientology is an oldie but a goodie from the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/XENUTV">XenuTV video archives</a>.<br />
<br />
This segment is from the Leo J. Ryan Education Foundation <a href="http://wn.com/cultinfo">CULTinfo conference</a> series in 2000, featuring <a href="http://www.sociology.ualberta.ca/en/FacultyStaffandGraduateStudent/AcademicStaff/KentStephen.aspx">Professor Stephen Kent</a> from the University of Alberta in Edmonton.<br />
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<br />
Stephen A. Kent, Ph.D is a Sociology Department Professor who teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on
the sociology of religion and the sociology of sectarian groups.He has <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_A._Kent#Works">published extensively</a> on his research into various cults including <a href="http://www.arts.ualberta.ca/%7Eskent/scientology.html">Scientology</a>, the <a href="http://www.arts.ualberta.ca/%7Eskent/childrenofgod.html">Children of God</a>, other<a href="http://www.arts.ualberta.ca/%7Eskent/cults.html"> alternative religions</a> and <a href="http://www.arts.ualberta.ca/%7Eskent/satanic.html">Ritual Satanic Abuse</a>.<br />
<br />
His more poignant studies in regards to <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/search/label/Becoming%20Informed">becoming informed</a> about the ramifications of the <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/11/is-church-of-scientology-cult.html">Church of Scientology being a cult</a> include the following published works.<br />
<br />
<b><ul>
<li><a href="http://www.solitarytrees.net/pubs/skent/isc.htm">International Social Control by the Church of Scientology</a> (1992)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.solitarytrees.net/pubs/skent/creation.htm">The Creation of 'Religious' Scientology</a> (1999)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/48126209/Brainwashing-In-Scientology-s-Rehabilitation-Project-Force-Kent">Brainwashing in Scientology's Rehabilitation Project Force</a> (1997)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.icsahome.com/infoserv_profile/kent_stephen.asp?elibPubauth=pubauth_kent_stephen&1=Submit">Other cult education articles featured by ICSA</a></li>
</ul></b>
<br>
<a href="http://www.xenu-directory.net/news/library.php?mf=1&yf=&mt=12&yt=&t=Stephen+A.+Kent">Professor Kent</a> is also one of the few cultic studies researches that looks extensively at the testimony of ex-members and is vocal in his criticism of the groups that his finding indicate to be dangerous.<br />
<br />
Thus, he has weathered many a storm with major<a href="http://www.solitarytrees.net/pubs/skent/attack.htm"> blow back from the cults he exposes</a>. Additionally, he's also been a frequent target of the <a href="http://www.rickross.com/apologist.html">legions of paid-for cult apologists</a> who earn a living criticizing the real scholars while trying to publicly brand a cult's enemies as the so-called "critic" so as to buffer the damage their academic works inflict.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Click the title of this post or ob any other entries on this micro blog to visit the related link for a given announcement.</span>AnonLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230190228115011502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995451608898783198.post-24390653816957920592010-11-26T00:35:00.004-05:002011-08-29T21:05:28.945-04:00Steve Hassan & Tory Christman: Getting In & Getting Out of a Cult<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-wLUeJilVsHWGydb-b9wo5nWNd66wFmYkHU-rEw9LG5F5E4BfdzfJlOKpJIHN8ywuY2voeZIgxhH1Z9nAHsR8C7vtOGu6giQXQ4S4Bq0887gr0HVgccKfgae0b4KuKE0E4OflgJixHv5v/s1600/Part+Two+Ex+30+yr+Scientologist+Tory+Christman+and+Steve+Hassan+11-20-10+on+Vimeo_1290727998049.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-wLUeJilVsHWGydb-b9wo5nWNd66wFmYkHU-rEw9LG5F5E4BfdzfJlOKpJIHN8ywuY2voeZIgxhH1Z9nAHsR8C7vtOGu6giQXQ4S4Bq0887gr0HVgccKfgae0b4KuKE0E4OflgJixHv5v/s200/Part+Two+Ex+30+yr+Scientologist+Tory+Christman+and+Steve+Hassan+11-20-10+on+Vimeo_1290727998049.png" width="200" /></a></div>
The notable <a href="http://www.freedomofmind.com/stevehassan/biography/">cult expert</a> and <a href="http://www.freedomofmind.com/resourcecenter/books/">author</a> Steve Hassan, who is also the founder of the <a href="http://www.freedomofmind.com/">Freedom of Mind Center</a>, recently gave a talk in Los Angeles in conjunction with an event hosted by the <a href="http://sinaitemple.org/">Sinai Temple</a>.<br />
<br />
Afterwards, he had the opportunity to tape the following 60 minute discussion with Ex-Scientologist <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/ToryMagoo44">Tory Christman</a> on November 20th, 2010.<br />
<br />
From the video description on the <a href="http://vimeo.com/freedomofmind">Freedomofmind Vimeo Channel</a>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<i>I got the chance to sit down with my friend Tory Christman, a former 30 year Scientologist (OT7 and did it twice!), who was directed to do some
of the very first "dirty tricks" on the internet, and who left the group
and has been one of the most courageous, outspoken critics. Tory has a
simply amazing experience to tell. She went all the way "up the bridge"
to discover it was not what she ever wanted to be involved in. She knew
John Travolta and other celebrities in the group.</i></blockquote>
<br />
<center><iframe frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/17042250?portrait=0" width="400"></iframe>
<br /> </center><center><i>For additional reference on Steve's comments at 12:50 mark see:</i><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XMNsDYlBeM"><b>Derren Brown - New Age Belief Systems-Voodoo Dolls, Reiki</b></a></center><center><b> </b></center><center><i>For additional reference on Tory's remarks at 18:05 mark see:</i></center><center><i><b><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4dcig_road-to-february-10-2008-final-vers_news">ROAD TO FEBRUARY 10, 2008 - FINAL VERSION</a></b> </i></center><center><i> </i></center><center><i>For additional reference on Steve's comments at 24:29 mark see:</i><i> </i></center><center><a href="http://lisatrust.freewinds.be/Media/us-geraldo-heber.htm"><b>Geraldo: Scientology<i> vs. Prozac (Jentzsch vs. Hassan)</i></b></a> </center><center><br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/17044043?portrait=0" width="400"></iframe> </center><center> </center><center><i>For a good general reference on this discussion see:</i></center><center><b><a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/11/is-church-of-scientology-cult.html">Is the Church of Scientology a Cult?</a></b></center><center><br /></center>
Looking for more information on leaving a cult? Then be sure to check out the <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/resources.html">Exit Zone Resources</a> index and related <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/reading-lists.html">Reading Lists</a>.<br />
<br />
Need someone to talk to? Tory is a fabulous resource to reach out too, and she helps many former members far and wide. Just stop by <a href="http://torymagoo.org/">ToryMagoo.org</a> to find her personal contact information.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Click the title of this post or ob any other entries on this micro blog to visit the related link for a given announcement.</span>AnonLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230190228115011502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995451608898783198.post-49260265860703638572010-11-16T22:53:00.001-05:002010-12-25T23:59:08.467-05:00Karen Pressley Presents Not In My Back Yard to GSA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://karenpressley.com/picts/karencu6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://karenpressley.com/picts/karencu6.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
The <a href="http://georgiasociology.com/">Georgia Sociological Association</a> (GSA) held its 2010 Annual Meeting on October 29, in Decatur, Georgia that featured Ms. <a href="http://karenpressley.com/">Karen Pressley</a>, Scientology expert and <a href="http://www.christianindex.org/1468.article">former 16-year member</a>.<br />
<br />
The GSA was formed in 1964 and is an organization of academic and applied professional sociologists and students who strive to improve research, teaching, and discussion among persons in the State of Georgia engaged in the scientific study of society and culture.<br />
<br />
The conference theme for this year's annual GSA meeting was <a href="http://georgiasociology.com/AnnualMeeting.html">Healthy, Just, and Sustainable Communities</a>. Ms. Pressley was amongst the guest speakers and gave the following presentation entitled <b><a href="http://karenpressley.com/GSA2010kpressley.html">Not In My Back Yard: Cults, Communities, and Concerns</a></b>.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksslV5um5rg">GSA Pressley Presentation Part 1</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZddlVcejR_M">GSA Pressley Presentation Part 2</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cwd_5H2Qg_0">GSA Pressley Presentation Part 3</a></div>
<br />
Karen also participated in a panel discussion on the subject of "<i>Rehabilitation or Religious Reeducation? The Intersections of Therapeutic Communities, Synanon, and Narconon</i>" thats available on the following links.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bmk9qHgxvYM">GSA Panel Discussion Part 1</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jug3Pz5asTo">GSA Panel Discussion Part 2</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v7ofwXTYlY">GSA Panel Discussion Part 3</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBu1Q-nP2Ow">GSA Panel Discussion Part 4</a></div>
<br />
According to the <a href="http://www.sptimes.com/2006/06/25/Tampabay/SP_profiles.shtml">SP Times in 2006</a>; Pressley left Scientology in 1998 and refused to come back for sec
checks. She has publicly denounced "substandard" child care at church
facilities around the world and criticized the church for the "condition
of poverty" that staffers lived in. She endured <a href="http://www.scientologydisconnection.com/">disconnection</a> from her husband along with the usual <a href="http://www.xenu-directory.net/practices/deadagent1.html">dead agent</a> attacks in the aftermath, yet managed to find her own salavation along the path of Christian ministries.<br />
<br />
Ms. Pressley also went on to successfully pursue a higher education that she now puts to good use when speaking out critically against the <a href="http://www.americamagazine.org/blog/entry.cfm?blog_id=2&entry_id=2193">abusive practices</a> the Church of Scientology inflicts upon its parishioners.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Click the title of this post or ob any other entries on this micro blog to visit the related link for a given announcement.</span>AnonLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230190228115011502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995451608898783198.post-38289810014502093252010-11-02T22:43:00.008-04:002011-02-07T17:44:18.848-05:00Is the Church of Scientology a Cult?<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tracietaylorphotography/1796819933/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-right: 1em;" title="hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil by Tracie Taylor Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil" height="169" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2139/1796819933_d96c957da1_m.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
The word "cult" can be a tough nut to swallow for current members of the
Church of Scientology who are <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/10/facing-your-doubts-about-church-of.html">struggling with their doubts</a> about the
organization.<br />
<br />
Just for the record - the context in which the word "cult" is frequently used on this blog is to denote a <b><a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/12/what-is-destructive-group.html">destructive group</a></b> that does more harm than good, which has been <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2009/reports/project/">proven beyond a doubt</a> to apply to the Church of Scientology.<br />
<br />
The defining characteristics of determining if a group is a cult was first established in 1961 by Robert Jay Lifton's seminal work on mind control, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Thought-Reform-Psychology-Totalism-Brainwashing/dp/0807842532/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1">Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A Study of Brainwashing in China</a>.<br />
<br />
Currently, the widely accepted standard amongst cult education experts is the following checklist by Janja Lalich, Ph.D. & Michael D. Langone, Ph.D. A publicly available version of this checklist is also available (outside of Scribd) on the backlink for this post's title compliments of the <a href="http://www.cifs.org.au/index.php">Cult Information and Family Support</a> network in Australia.<br />
<br />
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<br />
This list of defining characteristics of what makes their so-called "Church" a cult by modern standards may possible help to gently adjust a current member's perspective. And hopefully - enable someone to see beyond the indoctrination PR in order to <a href="http://www.scribd.com/collections/2836079/Basic-Cult-Education-Awareness">critically evaluate</a> for themselves whether or not the Church of Scientology is the type of group they want to be an active participant in.<br />
<br />
If this list resonants with your own experiences in the Church of Scientology, you might also want to checkout the related text it's excerpted from, <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Take-Back-Your-Life-Relationships/dp/0972002154/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1">Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships</a></b>, by Janja Lalich and Madeleine Tobias circa 2006.<br />
<br />
For further reading on this blog, recommended reading continues under:<br>
<br>
<ul><li><a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/12/philip-zimbardo-explains-lucifer-effect.html">Philip Zimbardo Explains the Lucifer Effect</a>
<li><a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2011/01/confronting-thought-reform-coercive.html">Confronting Thought Reform & Coercive Persuasion</a>
</ul><br>
<span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Click the title of this post or ob any other entries on this micro blog to visit the related link for a given announcement.</span>AnonLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230190228115011502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995451608898783198.post-74072806639939626622010-11-01T12:57:00.004-04:002012-03-08T22:26:15.191-05:00Deciphering Scientology: A Primer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyItLPVGTBO6d4-Qt4WAHN4FBjkvnETg4l9v6mC1-mi-54n7NoIxy7pKBm-Mznphom-i-giaaxDbR_6sqOEoOZ8ljtaCFXXjLnbP-IsRX8kCOHecGVRV1OfLcHq9Ikll3q8XjkpwyB_Rk/s1600/confused+face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyItLPVGTBO6d4-Qt4WAHN4FBjkvnETg4l9v6mC1-mi-54n7NoIxy7pKBm-Mznphom-i-giaaxDbR_6sqOEoOZ8ljtaCFXXjLnbP-IsRX8kCOHecGVRV1OfLcHq9Ikll3q8XjkpwyB_Rk/s200/confused+face.jpg" width="106" /></a></div>
As previously stated in the <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/10/blogspot-do-over-underway.html">mission statement for this blog</a>, one of the demographics we hope to reach is non-scientologists who have family or friends in the Church of Scientology, and are seeking to understand what they are dealing with in terms of helping get their loved ones out of this <a href="http://www.cultwatch.com/hcwindex.html">destructive cult</a>.<br />
<br />
To further this goal, we've assembled a subset collection from the bigger document archive of <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/resources.html#books">Exit Zone Resources</a>, which is featured on the backlink for the title of this post and embedded below. All of these essays are a quick read, and provide introductory info for the uninformed to become more knowledgeable. These articles are also readily available for download by anyone with a free account on <a href="http://www.scribd.com/">Scribd</a>.<br />
<br />
The cornerstone pieces in this collection are the first and last essays by outspoken former members of the Church of Scientology: <b><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/40572038/What-Scientologists-believe-Schofield">What Scientologists believe</a></b> by Paul Schofield, and <b><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/40551232/Scientology-Losing-the-Religion">Scientology: Loosing the Religion</a></b> by Phineas Fogg.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
Additionally, the "<a href="http://www.scribd.com/document_collections/2700213"><i>Deciphering Scientology</i></a>" segments in between the cornerstone works cover all of the major areas of concern that outsiders tend to loose sleep over when they first learn of their loved ones involvement in the Church of Scientology. These additional works in the middle of this series were salvaged from various archives of past usenet and forum postings, and include well-known writings from other former cult members such as <a href="http://www.xenu-directory.net/news/library.php?mf=1&yf=&mt=12&yt=&t=Stacy+Brooks+Young">Stacy Brooks</a>, <a href="http://www.skeptictank.org/hs/lcos2.htm">Charlotte L. Kates</a>, <a href="http://warrior.xenu.ca/">Mark Plummer</a> and <a href="http://www.freewebs.com/chuckbeatty77/">Chuck Beatty</a>.<br />
<br />
Special thanks to <a href="http://www.xenu-directory.net/news/library.php?mf=1&yf=&mt=12&yt=&t=Paul+David+Schofield">Paul ("Scooter") Schofield</a> for contributing his paper to the Exit Zone to help aid our outreach efforts, and for providing the inspiration for developing a primer on deciphering Scientology!<br />
(/hat tip)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Click the title of this post or ob any other entries on this micro blog to visit the related link for a given announcement.</span>AnonLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230190228115011502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995451608898783198.post-57276253843714391052010-10-28T04:34:00.102-04:002011-08-30T09:06:54.890-04:00Open Letters for Open Minded Scientologists to PonderThere is a long standing tradition on the internet and elsewhere in regards to outreach efforts to help current members of the Church of Scientology find their way free from the organization - <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/search/label/Open%20Letters">Open Letters</a>. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://littledoubt.wordpress.com/category/open-letters/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 8px;"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRn2gro9ST5YPWwbZ2J8SzWfvVcreDPwBgKJaabgzPSsFukc6hh8WmKyBZtD0xHo4uTN2R2A8WjAsH2NiAhLt-tY0oN4xjyX4tHMOFtK265rgW_HVfLeJYffEvDY32-clfe0EWMgO3LYl/s200/LittleDoubtLogo.png" width="200" /></a>A search of the internet reveals a treasure trove of insights in these open letters ranging back for decades, all of which match the general pattern of opening with:<br />
<br />
<i> Dear Scientologist(s)..</i>, <i>Dear Church of Scientology...</i>, <i>Dear Scientology Executive...</i>, <i>Dear Scientology Staff..</i>. or <i>Dear Family Members Still in Scientology... </i>and so on and so forth. <br />
<br />
In fact, the tradition of open letters encouraging Scientologists to do what is right in regards to straightening out the problems within the orgs was seemingly started by <b><a href="http://www.suppressiveperson.org/sp/archives/1293">L. Ron Hubbard in his HCO Bulletin of 27 May 1960</a></b> where the following paraphrased advice seems to have done no good in the long run.<br />
<br />
<blockquote style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(253, 232, 183); padding-bottom: 3px; padding-top: 6px;">
<b><i>Dear Scientologist: ... Clearing the executives, the auditors, the people of Scientology is your job now. </i></b><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>- L. Ron Hubbard </i></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
A great new blog has recently been launched by <a href="http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?p=486822#post486822">Jim Little</a> featured on the backlink of this post's title, which does an excellent job of archiving the most recently released open letters. However, the extended time line of open letters is just too valuable of a reference to miss.<br />
<br />
Thus, we offer the following greatest hits list of links to other open letters that deserve to be remembered for posterity. There is lots of great food4thought here, all you have to do is look.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellspacing="6" style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<tbody>
<tr><td><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="http://wiseoldgoat.com/papers-scientology/popup-windows/scn_david_mayo_open_letter.html">David Mayo 1983</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="http://www.freezone.org/reports/e_otc_01.htm">Captain Bill Roberts 1983</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="http://www.cs.cmu.edu/%7Edst/Library/Shelf/townsend/append.htm#d">Eric Townsend 1985</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="http://www.lermanet.com/scientologynews/nytimes/lyle-stewart.htm">Lyle Stewart 1988</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="http://www.factnet.org/Scientology/child6.htm">Indira and Manu Bajaj 1994</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="http://www.holysmoke.org/cos/steve-allen.htm">Steve Allen 1997</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="http://www.skeptictank.org/hs/jpcos2.htm">Jesse Prince 1999</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="http://www.freedomofmind.com/resourcecenter/groups/s/scientology/rvyopen1/">Robert Vaughn Young 2000</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="http://www.freedomofmind.com/resourcecenter/groups/s/scientology/rvyopen2/">R. V. Young 2000 [Cont'd]</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/xseaorg/anopenletterfromanot8">Michael Pattinson 2005</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="http://www.lermanet.com/scientology/dear-scientologist.htm">Michael Leonard Tilse 2005</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="http://gkscn.org/ANOPENLETTER.htm">George Kelly 2007</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc5G65wshyY">Anonymous 2008</a></b></span></td>
<td><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="http://www.xenu-directory.net/accounts/20080125-miscavigehill.html">Jenna Miscavige Hill 2008</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="http://www.torymagoo.org/brakout.htm">Tory Christman 2008</a></b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="http://askthescientologist.blogspot.com/2008/03/open-letter-to-all-scientologists.html">AskTheScientologist 2008</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="http://www.religionnewsblog.com/22280/open-letter-to-scientology-why-can-my-daughter-not-visit-me">Susan Lentsch 2008</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?t=7903">Neo [on ESMB] 2008</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="http://anonforgreatjustice.blogspot.com/2008/12/mac-stevens-letter-to-fellow.html">Mac Stevens 2008</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?t=11800">Reasonable [on ESMB] 2009</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?t=15039">Carmel Underwood 2009</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="http://londonparticulars.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/an-open-letter-to-the-church-of-scientology/">Resident of London 2009</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2009/10/crash_director.php">Paul Haggis 2009</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?t=16550">Christopher Eisenman 2010</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="http://possiblyhelpfuladvice.com/?p=1169">David St Lawrence 2010</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="http://littledoubt.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/jim-meshell-little-open-letter/">Jim & Meshell Little 2010</a></b></span></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
And lastly... because we're STILL here for you,<br />
whether you like us or not - from <a href="http://www.anonstillalive.com/">Anonymous in 2010</a>.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<blockquote style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(253, 232, 183); padding-bottom: 3px; padding-top: 6px;">
<b><i>"To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards out of men."</i></b><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>- Abraham Lincoln </i></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
Do you have something to get off your chest in tune with this established tradition of <i>Dear Scientologist(s)...</i> letters? <br />
<br />
If so, please consider doing so and releasing it publicly on your own coming-forth blog like <a href="http://littledoubt.wordpress.com/">Mr. Little did with LittleDoubt</a>, or amongst the online community of your choice. Or post a
comment on this article if you need help getting it online, and the
anon-friendly human rights advocates managing this sector of the interwebz will be
happy to help.<br />
<br />
<b>The more <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/17560374/Former-Church-of-Scientology-Members-Who-Have-Spoken-Out">voices who speak up</a> - no matter where they stand when they come forward - the easier it becomes to set others free.</b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Click the title of this post or ob any other entries on this micro blog to visit the related link for a given announcement. </span>AnonLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230190228115011502noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995451608898783198.post-59095527276834467982010-10-27T13:41:00.020-04:002011-01-07T22:14:07.278-05:00Blogspot Do-over Underway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhQI20HB7lGWPvLee9-ThwxBKdwCRmW7zxn_fAtLzic-t9F_V15wNLuVcLa9qcuY1RsvyaYcMXluX-DinDafWwGOdGPNLh4Ux06x2c8JpTU7CrfI9oFWCI0akxi6JENTZrMGf0dGEB2H0/s1600/underrenovation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhQI20HB7lGWPvLee9-ThwxBKdwCRmW7zxn_fAtLzic-t9F_V15wNLuVcLa9qcuY1RsvyaYcMXluX-DinDafWwGOdGPNLh4Ux06x2c8JpTU7CrfI9oFWCI0akxi6JENTZrMGf0dGEB2H0/s200/underrenovation.jpg" width="188" /></a></div>
For those who might be wondering "what's going on here" with this blog, yes - it's currently under re-construction with a cross-camp <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/projects.html">collaborative effort</a> do-over.<br />
<br />
What was previously just a simple web repository for showcasing the published reports from the <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/exit-survey.html">Exit Survey</a> project, is in the process of being re-branded as the new <i><b>Church of Scientology Exit Zone</b></i> - or 'jus plain Exit Zone for short.<br />
<br />
So the new purpose of this blog is to setup a central square, outside the world
of forums, for promoting multiple data collection projects that span several different camps within the Scientology critic circles (<a href="http://forums.whyweprotest.net/">WWP</a>, <a href="http://ocmb.xenu.net/ocmb/index.php">OCMB</a>, <a href="http://www.forum.exscn.net/">ESMB</a>, and the <a href="http://forum.reachingforthetippingpoint.net/index.php">Tipping Point</a>). Our hope is to build a respectful common ground index of tools and <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/resources.html">resources</a> that will serve as a comfortable <a href="http://www.scientology-cult.com/great-middle-path.html">middle-path</a> stop on the <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=interwebz">interwebz</a> from the conservatively <a href="http://www.xenu-directory.net/">critical side</a> of the fence.<br />
<br />
Furthermore, we aim to host information adhering to a single-focus theme that all those with interests in seeing changes in regards to the Church of Scientology modus operandi can mutually agree on - more help is needed for getting people OUT of the church. Ultimately, <i><b><a href="http://askthescientologist.blogspot.com/2008/08/new-bridge-to-freedom-for.html">the way out is the way out</a></b></i> - and that is all that matters here on the Exit Zone. Once current members are free of church's destructive hold on their lives, they are likewise free to choose their future path beyond organized scientology as far as we're concerned. <br />
<br />
All of the <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/projects.html">data collection projects</a> showcased here aim to help current members of the Church of Scientology <a href="http://icsahome.com/infoserv_respond/by_topics.asp?Subject=Deprogramming%3A+A+Case+Study+Part+I">see that their doubts are valid</a> and find their way out of the Church of
Scientology organization. Our target audience is for people who are
still actively involved with the official church, but on the fence and beginning to open their eyes to the more
critical viewpoints. As well as helping non-sci family or friends concerned about
their loved ones' involvement understand what they are dealing with in trying to help someone to see the light. <br />
<br />
As of this post, there is still a few unfinished spots when you surf through the newly added pages available from the site navigation links at the top of the blog. Tentative launch date for making a formal public announcement in the various online communities introducing the Exit Zone is likely a month or so away.<br />
<br />
<b>Update Dec. 27, 2010:</b> We're basically done with all the under construction zones, and just waiting to see where the pending wwp wiki resurrection stands after the holiday season passes. Please excuse the delay & temporarily busted wiki links, shi- happens, and when its hardware related - its not easy to find the time to make things right on a site thats solely supported by volunteered/donated resources.<br />
<br />
<div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(253, 232, 183); padding-bottom: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: justify;">
<i>Having trouble making sense of the lingo and slang used on this blog? Check out the glossary of terms specific to this announcement in the <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/10/glossary-of-wog-words-1.html">post below</a>, and/or following the related sidebar link under Labels to see an informal index of glossary definitions that will grow over time as more materials are posted here at the Exit Zone.</i></div>AnonLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230190228115011502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995451608898783198.post-22117161780682138342010-10-26T22:15:00.011-04:002011-02-08T18:45:45.065-05:00Glossary of Wog Words #1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZlgWp2Yj1iySZ1EHpSN-HYokQKeTanWLAp9AKAxFLBlxDQf8xMfidn1Oj-XFBwKK5dlxOlh_24GVr120DnrlbdvRnHORPdr7gkojK2A0a3S8VJNwueMz9ZXheMadAT49YjzH8hm8nEQv/s1600/64c9c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZlgWp2Yj1iySZ1EHpSN-HYokQKeTanWLAp9AKAxFLBlxDQf8xMfidn1Oj-XFBwKK5dlxOlh_24GVr120DnrlbdvRnHORPdr7gkojK2A0a3S8VJNwueMz9ZXheMadAT49YjzH8hm8nEQv/s200/64c9c.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Chapter 1: Basic Internet-savvy Vocabulary</h3>
<br />
The following glossary of terms is the first installment of a series of posts humbly offered as an aid to Scientologists who may be struggling to leap over the language barriers between the various different camps who find fault with the Church of Scientology. <br />
<br />
For additional information on the purpose behind this series of posts, and further explanation of the "Type of "Lingo" classification in the embedded document below, please refer to the previously posted<a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/10/exit-zone-glossary-classifications.html"> <b>Exit Zone Glossary Classifications</b></a>.<br />
<br />
A hardcopy version in PDF format that isn't so hard on the eyes will eventually be made available in the Exit Zone documents collection on <a href="http://www.scribd.com/document_collections/2686572">Scribd</a> once more entries are posted, and indexed for greater ease of references at the bottom of the <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/p/resources.html#books">Resources</a> page.<br />
<br />
<center><iframe align="center" height="440px" src="https://docs.google.com/View?id=dgb4wckx_83dnktgmf8" target="_top" width="400px"></iframe></center><br />
For more definitions commonly used in the Scientology activism and reformation communities, check out the related <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/search/label/Glossary">Glossary label</a> readily available on the sidebar. (More posts like this one coming soon!)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Click the title of this post or ob any other entries on this micro blog to visit the related link for a given announcement.</span>AnonLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230190228115011502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995451608898783198.post-36665782094064411892010-10-26T21:56:00.005-04:002011-01-15T20:35:09.274-05:00Exit Zone Glossary Classifications<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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With an aim towards spanning the language barriers that current members of the Church of Scientology often struggle with when they first venture out of scieno-speak indoctrination and seek answers on the internet in response to their <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/2010/10/facing-your-doubts-about-church-of.html">growing doubts</a>...<br />
<br />
An upcoming series of posts entitled the <i><b>"Glossary of Wog Words"</b></i> will soon be launched here on the Exit Zone blog.<br />
<br />
Unlike all of the other Scientology-related glossaries on the web that define scieno-speak terms for the un-initiated to understand the world inside the CofS, our <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/search/label/Glossary">glossary</a> will cater to helping the initiated understand the outside world from within the bubble that cults tend to enveloper their members in to filter outside influences.<br />
<br />
The list of terms included will be classified by type of lingo or language standard being defined, according to the following list.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">
<br />
<b>Type of Lingo - Glossary Classifications</b><br />
<b> </b>
<br />
<ul style="background-color: white;">
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>General </b>:: General-purpose definitions of common vernacular meaning of words as it relates to the subject matter and content on this microblog.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>Sci-speak </b>:: Scientology’s own internal form of language that's essential knowledge for interpreting their doctrines and teachings.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>Web-speak</b> :: Common pop culture slang or familiar technical terms used by those who are internet-savvy.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>Anon-speak</b> :: Common subculture slang terms that are often derived from memes or offensive language being neutralized with satire.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>Clinical </b>:: Standard medical, academic and/or scientific terms.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>Universal </b>:: Specific-purpose definitions widely excepted as the norm by the world-at-large.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
The glossary will be published in installments, usually accompanying an important announcement or another post of some significance. The segments will be released such that the home page of this microblog (set to show 2 posts per page) will show a feature article on top, and the supplement glossary post as /b/ackup underneath.<br />
<br />
<div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(253, 232, 183); padding-bottom: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: justify;">
<i>If you find this glossary series helpful and wish to see other words defined, feel free to add comments on any given post with the <a href="http://cofsexit.blogspot.com/search/label/Glossary">Glossary label </a>to relay your requests & suggestions.</i></div>AnonLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230190228115011502noreply@blogger.com0