Exciting times! Another new Scientology Ideal Org, this time in Seattle:
Sixteen hundred Scientologists and their guests packed the street in front of 300 West Harrison in Seattle today for the opening of the new Church of Scientology of Washington, a milestone for the congregation formed 54 years ago.
Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center and ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion, officiated, acknowledging the Scientologists who spearheaded the drive to build the new Church. >>
A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion
I've been following the story of the Haitian engineering student who was brought to the US for medical care and a prosthetic leg. He has his leg and he's out of the hospital. That he is alive at all is testimony to the power of a being (he was buried alive for days before his father pulled him out of the rubble of his college).
He went to a university in Delmas, on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, that completely collapsed. I've seen photos of the mounds of concrete that were left after the earthquake. That his father found him at all is a total miracle.
There was a Scientology volunteer minister who talking him into getting the amputation and arranged for him to get the prosthetic. The boy wouldn't be alive today if it were not for his doing that.
A very heartwarming story that proves there is good in the world.
A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion
Scientologists have a lot to say about Scientology. Here's a video where some of them speak their minds:
A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion
Foyer inside the Church of Scientology on Victoria Street, London.
When the new Church of Scientology of Pasadena opens its doors in the city’s historical core this summer, it will not only enable the Church to expand its service to the community, it will give back some of its cultural history. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the character of what was once a turn-of-the-century bicycle factory has been transformed into a unique blend of old and new, its four-story atrium and original façade still intact. With attention also given to 21st century detail, the restored building will also be LEED certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).
The Church of Scientology International has been working for the past six years on a program to acquire new buildings for its regional Churches around the world. Launched in 2004 by Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige, the aim of the program is to establish each Church in premises ideally suited for its many and varied religious services as well as its community outreach activities. So far, 19 such ideal Churches have opened, eight of them in unique historic buildings, with more on the horizon.
The Brussels branch of the Churches of Scientology for the European Communities situation at Boulevard de Waterloo 100-103, is an early-20th-century structure fully renovated to serve the congregation and the community. It was dedicated 23 January 2010.
“These Churches have already been in their cities for many years and their buildings need to be large enough to accommodate all their activities including a chapel, rooms for the study of our theology and introductory courses for new people and individual spiritual counseling rooms,” said Church of Scientology International spokesman, Tommy Davis.
Far from a Sunday-only meeting place, Churches of Scientology hum with activity seven days a week. In addition to common congregational services such as weddings, funerals, naming ceremonies for newborn children and Sunday service, parishioners can study days and evenings as well as receive the religion’s unique form of one-on-one religious counseling, participate in the Scientology Purification Program (a precise and closely supervised religious regimen that addresses barriers to spiritual gain) and take part in community betterment planning and activities, sponsored and initiated by the Church.
In May the Nashville, Tennessee Church of Scientology historic building took top honors in the city’s 35th Annual Preservation Awards for meeting all safety standards while preserving the beauty and grace of the 1898 building, which opened last year. Built just two years after the famous Grand Ole Opry in a similar style, its features include red brick walls, original doors and hardwood floors, 14-foot ceilings and an unusual three-floor atrium crowned with a glass cupola.
Last January, the Church opened the Belgium branch of the Churches of Scientology of Europe, an 88,000 square-foot early 20th century historic structure in the heart of Brussels. In October 2009, the Founding Church of Scientology in Washington, DC completed renovation of its seven-story, 49,000-square-foot historic building by architect Appleton P. Clark, Jr., half a mile from the White House. And another historic Church property fully restored in 2009 is the 1926 Mediterranean Revival-style Fort Harrison building in Clearwater, Florida.
The first floor hallway of the Brussels branch of the Churches of Scientology for Europe with study rooms, offices and the a Documentation Center which holds the written and recorded works of Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard.
Other cities with historic buildings now home to Scientology Churches include: San Francisco, California; London, England; Tampa, Florida; and Buffalo, New York. The Church has also acquired historic buildings that are in pre-construction stages in Detroit, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois; Boston, Massachusetts; Portland, Oregon; Montreal, Canada; and Manchester, England.
“We take a lot of pride and care in adapting and rehabilitating our historic buildings,” said Davis. “The result is truly unique as these new Churches exemplify our religion and are dynamically practical and aesthetic, and enable us to practice the full range of Scientology services as laid out by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard.”
A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion
News about Scientology Churches can be found at Scientology Today web site.
A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion
Article in the New York Times tells of another casualty in the CNN lineup--"This time it is Campbell Brown, and she is leaving with an extraordinary amount of candor." The Times goes on to state: " Ms. Brown said she was leaving on her own accord, having concluded that she was unable to compete with the opinion-mongers that dominate cable news in prime time. "
I've never been much of a CNN fan. Except in the moments after a tragedy, when they seem to have the first reporters on the scene, I tune out because of the sensationalism.
But I guess I'm not alone--their ratings are taking such a dive.
I look on them as a kind of a 90's anachronism. Their recent Scientology "exposé" (hah) was so pathetic it just cemented my earlier views. But judging from their continued slide to oblivion, it looks like I'm not alone in my opinion.
A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion
LOS ANGELES—The Church of Scientology International Human Rights Department presented Founder and President of Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI), Dr. Mary Shuttleworth, a certificate of commendation Saturday, praising her completion of a 13-country journey promoting human rights education. Coinciding with the 13th International Day of Families, Shuttleworth was acknowledged particularly for empowering children and families through human rights education.
A veteran educator, Shuttleworth founded Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) in 2001 to activate youth in preserving human rights for others and themselves. “Children who have no concept of their rights are at far greater risk than those who are informed,” said Shuttleworth.
During the three-month trip across Mexico, Central and South America, Africa, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Taiwan, Japan and Hawaii, Shuttleworth lectured to thousands of students at 36 universities and schools on the articles of the United Nations Universal Decaration of Human Rights. She also met with more than 120 educators, community leaders and national and state human rights authorities to discuss ways of increasing human rights education and awareness.
In addition to carrying out international human rights educational programs and hosting an annual Youth Summit, YHRI publishes educational booklets and DVDs based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, an international document ratified by the United Nations December 10, 1948. YHRI also provides teachers a free Educator’s Kit which can be ordered online at www.youthforhumanrights.org
A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion
I've been listening to Scientology lectures called "Technique 88." These are lectures Ron recorded just before and after writing the book The History of Man. Today I learned why it is that some people tend to hold on tight to anything they conceive wronged them. I'm sure you know some like that--you bump into their chair and it's some awful thing you did to them. And God forbid you actually do something to them-- you'll never live it down. Sound familiar? He tells you what you can do to help them overcome this too, because they ain't having any fun either.
I am so grateful that David Miscavige had the project carried out to make these lectures available. Before July 2007 you just couldn't listen to them-- they had never been published before.
A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion
Scientology: Scio (Latin) "knowing, in the fullest sense of the word," logos (Greek) "study of." Thus Scientology means "knowing how to know."
Scientology is a twenty-first-century religion. It comprises a vast body of knowledge extending from certain fundamental truths, and prime among those truths: Man is a spiritual being endowed with abilities well beyond those which he normally envisions. He is not only able to solve his own problems, accomplish his goals and gain lasting happiness, but he can achieve new states of awareness he may never have dreamed possible.
In one form or another, all great religions have held the hope of spiritual freedom—a condition free of material limitations and misery. The question has always been, however, how does one reach such a state, particularly while still living amidst a frantic and often overwhelming society?
Although modern life seems to pose an infinitely complex array of problems, Scientology maintains that the solutions to those problems are basically simple and within every man's reach. Difficulties with communication and interpersonal relationships, nagging insecurities, self-doubt and despair—each man innately possesses the potential to be free of these and many other concerns.
A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion
“Los Angeles is home to the largest community of Scientologists in the world,” she begins. “I’ve often driven by the big blue church building on Sunset Boulevard but have never stepped inside until today. We spent nearly three hours here today, drawn out of curiosity.
“More than 64,000 square feet in size, the Church of Scientology boasts that its doors are open to everyone.”
To watch the video, click here.
A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion
The genius of the Scientology ads is they convey what Scientology really in all about in a little over a minute. I've been trying to find the right words for years. That's the problem. It's more than the words. It's an emotion, and atmosphere, an optimism along with a confront of things as they are and the things Scientologists do. It about using Scientology to help your kids or your folks or your friends or total strangers.
A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion
I watched the newest ad on Scientology on the Scientology site. I'm always proud to be a Scientologist, but watching that, looking at how much we are doing as a movement to help in society, I was really pumped.
A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion
I go by the Church of Scientology of Los Angeles every few weeks and I'm so impressed by the progress in the renovations. I've been going to the LA Org since it first opened in 1976 and this is such a beautiful upgrade. Another great product thanks to David Miscavige. I can't wait till it opens with the new AV exhibition just on the other side of these glass windows. Can't wait to bring my friends to tour. By the way, this photo is from the video at the new Scientology web site. If you haven't seen it lately go visit--great improvement there. Much more informational and user friendly.
A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion
Next week is volunteer week and the Scientology Volunteer Ministers really bear acknowledgment. Over the past three months hundreds of Scientologists have gone to Haiti to help in the relief effort there. These are just "regular" people -- they had family members, jobs and other responsibilities they set aside to go. People of all ages, but mostly young people, full of energy and intention. And they saved lives. The work they did in the hospitals and clinics--if it had not been for them literally hundreds, maybe thousands, would not have survived in those first few weeks.
So here's to these brave and dedicated volunteers.
A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion
ST. PAUL, Minn. —KARE11, the Minneapolis-St. Paul NBC affiliate station, gives a glimpse of the new Church of Scientology of Minneapolis-St. Paul. Renovations have begun on the the former Science Museum of Minnesota in downtown St. Paul, which is being turned into the largest Church of Scientology in the Midwest.
An article in Finance and Commerce writes that the Church, “has been headquartered in the Twin Cities at 1011 Nicollet Ave. in Minneapolis since 1991. That will change when the renovated, three-story, 80,640-square-foot building at 505 N. Wabasha St. in St. Paul reopens as a Scientology ‘Ideal Church’ and its local headquarters.”
The new Scientology.org website shows a tour of the planned church.
A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion
Matt Sedensky of the Associated Press covers the work done to release more than a thousand lectures by L. Ron Hubbard, announced at the New Years event 2010.
More than 1,000 unreleased recordings of lectures by L. Ron Hubbard and reams of corresponding writings have been unveiled in the culmination of a 25-year project to locate, restore and transcribe lost pieces of the Scientology founder’s work.
A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion
unique Church of Scientology is the Flag Ship Service Organization — located aboard the Motor Vessel Freewinds, a 440-foot ship based in the Caribbean. The ship was acquired in the mid-1980s shortly before the release of the highest advanced auditing level now available. Needing a safe, aesthetic, distraction-free environment appropriate for ministration of this level of auditing, it was decided to return to the sea, far from the crossroads of the workaday world.
Although originally conceived and established to minister the highest level of auditing, Scientologists at any point on The Bridge may now visit the Freewinds and receive a series of specialized courses in Scientology religious doctrine to further orient one as a spiritual being.
The Freewinds also serves as an international meeting place, holding religious conventions and seminars for Scientology staff and parishioners. Church staff frequently arrange gatherings for Scientology parishioners from a particular location (such as Germany, Mexico or England) to congregate aboard the Freewinds for several days and participate in religious services. An annual Maiden Voyage event is attended by Scientology parishioners from around the world — many of whom completed this advanced auditing level on the original Maiden Voyage in 1988. While there, they participate in specialized training which enables them to assume a greater leadership role in their respective religious communities.
A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion
The Church of Scientology has been a part of the Clearwater community since 1975, and a member of the broader community of religions in the United States since 1954. Although much is reported and said about Scientology — due in no small part to its rapid growth throughout the world — it is still a relatively new religion, leading many to ask: “so just what is Scientology?”
On the following pages we cover fundamentals of the religion which can be found in comprehensive reference works on the subject: What is Scientology? and Theology and Practice of a Contemporary Religion. Both texts, as well as smaller booklets defining the religion and its activities, are available through Churches of Scientology (complimentary for religious leaders, government officials and members of the news media). What is Scientology? can also be found in public bookstores. Books by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, including Scientology: The Fundamentals of Thought, are also available in Churches of Scientology and public bookstores.
A girl with crippling shyness gains confidence and an ability to easily communicate with others. A man who never thought he could be happy learns how life can indeed be fun and rewarding, and becomes happy.
A married couple embroiled in bitter arguments realize they actually do love each other and don’t need to file for divorce after all.
These are not a series of random happy endings. These are daily occurrences in a Church of Scientology.
Thus the question “what is Scientology?” is answered to a significant degree by the results and successes of those who apply its principles to their lives.
Such results also answer why Scientology is one of the fastest growing religions on the planet today.
The word Scientology itself comes from two Latin words, scio — meaning “knowledge” or “wisdom” — and logos — meaning “the study of”. Literally translated, Scientology means “knowing how to know” or “knowing in the fullest sense of the word.”
In its simplest terms, Scientology is an applied religious philosophy. The emphasis is on application of its scriptures to achieve higher states of awareness, improved conditions in life for self and others, and ultimately spiritual freedom.
The Scientology philosophy is comprised of the research, discoveries and observations of L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the religion. The application is achieved by means of exact technology developed by Mr. Hubbard, through which tenets in the religion can be put to use for self and others.
For example, it is one thing to know that one should have loving and constructive relationships with family, and resolve conflicts or disagreements for the good of all concerned. But it is quite another to know and be able to apply precise tools that can bring that about.
Fundamental Truths
Scientology is based on these fundamental truths:
* Man is an immortal spiritual being.
* His experience extends well beyond a single lifetime.
* His capabilities are unlimited.
Scientology auditing
A central practice of the Scientology religion is individual spiritual counseling called auditing (from the Latin word “audire” meaning “to listen”). The counselor, or auditor, is using an electropsychometer (“E-Meter”) — which does not do anything to the person, but helps the auditor to locate areas of spiritual travail in the person’s life and past.
Scientology further holds that man is basically good, and that his salvation depends upon himself and his fellows and his attainment of brotherhood with them. Scientology is concerned with the spiritual rehabilitation of the individual, and all church services have this as their ultimate goal.
Scientology is a non-denominational religion. A person need not “convert” to Scientology in order to be a Scientologist. This is because Scientology addresses the individual’s own spirituality, a quality that is inherent in all people. While Scientology affirms the existence of a Supreme Being, it holds no dogma or faith system on the subject. Rather, following the spiritual path of Scientology leads the individual to come to his own understanding of the nature of, and his relationship to, God.
In commenting on that relationship, founder L. Ron Hubbard wrote, “No culture in the history of the world, save the thoroughly depraved and expiring ones, has failed to affirm the existence of a Supreme Being. It is an empirical observation that men without a strong and lasting faith in a Supreme Being are less capable, less ethical and less valuable to themselves and society ... A man without an abiding faith is, by observation alone, more of a thing than a man.”
Scientology deals with man as a spiritual being — not his brain or his body, but with his true, spiritual nature. The idea that man is a spiritual being is very old, one that Scientology shares with all great religions.
The aims of Scientology are quite simple, and the ideals expressed are ideals that are held by many other religions. The aims as stated by Mr. Hubbard are: “A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology.”
The exact path of how one attains these aims is laid out in the scriptures of Scientology. These scriptures came about after many years of research, which began in the early part of this century.
A Brief History
Mr. Hubbard, born in 1911, began his avid research into the mind and life at a young age. In his travels around the world with his father, an officer in the U.S. Navy, Mr. Hubbard saw civilizations that possessed great wisdom or technology, but also possessed much misery and poverty.
Over several years, he studied more than 21 different cultures to find out what was the one common denominator that made all man kin. After two decades, he discovered what this was. Whether royalty, criminal, or an average businessman, what all men shared was the effort to survive.
Thus Mr. Hubbard’s most fundamental discovery was that survival itself is the dynamic principle of existence. From there, he was able to understand and find a means to resolve a vast many problems that plagued man’s behavior.
Mr. Hubbard’s research first culminated in 1950 in the publication of the book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. The book became a national bestseller, and Mr. Hubbard was flooded with letters and other requests asking for more information. He began teaching others in his New Jersey home while continuing his research.
Scientology training
In addition to auditing, a central practice of the Scientology religion is training, the study of Scientology scripture. Parishioners find out for themselves how to better their own and others’ lives.
In 1951, he was led to the inescapable conclusion that man is fundamentally a spiritual being, and he began a new line of research to determine what can be done to help an individual regain his natural abilities. Mr. Hubbard called this study Scientology, and lectured on the results of his research throughout the United States and England.
In 1954, in recognition of the spiritual nature of this philosophy, a number of Scientologists in Los Angeles formed the first Church of Scientology. Since then, the one church in Los Angeles has grown into thousands of churches, missions, study groups and field ministries in nearly 150 countries around the world.
The Practice of Scientology
The application of the Scientology religion breaks down into two parts, spiritual counseling and ministerial training.
In counseling (known as auditing from the Latin root audire, meaning “to listen”), an individual is helped by an auditor (one trained in the Scientology scriptures and their application) to locate areas of travail and upset in their life. Using exact processes, the auditor directs the attention of the individual to these upsets, and through precise questions, the individual comes to answer for himself and understand the roots of his spiritual troubles.
The auditor is greatly assisted by the use of a “Hubbard electrometer” known as an E-meter.
The E-Meter device does not diagnose or cure anything. It measures the mental state and change of state in a parishioner, helping the auditor to locate areas of spiritual distress or travail so that they can be addressed.
Ministerial training (known simply as “training”) is encouraged, as when one knows the ideas and principles behind why auditing works, one can not only himself be helped, but he can help his family and friends to lead happier lives. The training usually starts before a person even enters a Church of Scientology. Books such as Dianetics contain the exact steps and information a would-be auditor can know to bring about an improvement in those around him.
For further training, he would go into a mission or Church of Scientology where he would attend courses to gain knowledge of more scriptures and more means of application.
Scientology training perfects the auditor’s ability to communicate and help the parishioner. Auditors in training become completely familiar with the E-Meter and how to use it in a counseling session.
Both auditing and training are arranged in levels which an individual ascends to achieve further and further degrees of spiritual awareness and freedom. The route or path in Scientology is likened to crossing a bridge from man’s current troubled state to one of total spiritual freedom.
Nothing in Scientology need be taken on faith. Its truths are self-evident, its principles are easily demonstrable and its technology can be seen at work in any Church of Scientology. The Scientology philosophy is available to anyone who wishes to reach for it. And no matter how different Scientologists may be, they hold one vital factor in common: having significantly bettered their lives, they know that Scientology works.
Scientology recognized for its work to improve the community
The Ministry of Interior of Taiwan recognized the Church of Scientology for its humanitarian and social betterment activities with its Excellent Religious Group Award. Mr. Liao-Yi Liao, Minister of Interior of Taiwan, presented the award at the NTUH International Convention Center in Taipei. This was the sixth such acknowledgment received by the Church for its work to improve conditions in Taiwan.
Dedicated to helping the next generation avoid the tragedy of drug abuse and addiction, over the past year the Church of Scientology conducted 99 drug education events in Taiwan and distributed 45,150 anti-drug booklets.
To promote human rights and ensure students know their rights and stand up for the rights of others, last year the church delivered 144 human rights lectures to 4,780 students.
Scientology missions in Kaohsiung, Taichung and Ping-Dong did volunteer work in local prisons, helping over 2,500 inmates with a program that promotes morality and helps the individual regain his or her self-respect.
The President of the Church of Scientology Taiwan, Dr. Mei-Tsu Lee, accepted the award from the Minister Of the Interior on behalf of the Church. Scientology and the other religious groups honored by the Ministry were acknowledged for their charitable contributions to social programs or their direct participation in activities that improve the community.
L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion, once wrote “A being is only as valuable as he can serve others.” Through their service, Taiwanese Scientologists have truly proven their value to their community.
A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion
An enormous amount of work has gone into planning and acquiring new buildings for all existing Scientology churches. With most of these new buildings located and a great many purchased, the new churches are being opened, with facilities that make it possible for these new Scientology organizations (orgs) to really service their communities.
Conceived and spearheaded by David Miscavige these church renovations and grand openings are happening now at a faster rate than ever before.
A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion
