There is an interesting story about this month that shows the success of the Church of Scientology in pursuing its signature litigation abuse by hitting critics with lawsuits and injunction motions. One of the chief targets of Scientology lawyers has been “Bare-Faced Messiah: The True Story of L. Ron Hubbard,” a British book that has been hounded by the Church in an alleged attempt to keep it out of the United States. If that was the motivation, it worked for 27 years. However, that book has now been published in print this month in the United States and joins “Going Clear” by Lawrence Wright as a “new” account of the life and controversies surrounding Hubbard’s life and creation of his own religion.
The book details what it says were a series of bizarre lies by Hubbard that raises questions of his sanity and pathological tendencies. It explores how Hubbard claimed that he was one of America’s earliest nuclear physicists. He also claimed that he was a medical doctor. In reality, he went to my school, George Washington University, but dropped out. The book also discusses his claim that he spent his childhood breaking horses in Montana and traveling Asia in a quest to find truth among the mystics. None of this the book says was true.
We previously discussed other books detailing allegations that the Church itself falsified Hubbard’s military service. New Yorker article by Lawrence Wright on the Church of Scientology looked at the alleged heroic war record and severe battle scars claimed by Hubbard. The Church has long maintained that Hubbard was a war hero who was left blind and a ‘hopeless cripple’ at the end of World War II. The story is the basis of Hubbard claim that he healed himself with his own science that later became the basis of Dianetics. When confronted, official Tommy Davis responded with what Wright says were forged documents:
“Eventually, Davis sent us what is called a notice of separation — essentially discharge papers from World War II — along with some photographs of all of these medals that [Hubbard] had won. … At the same time, we finally gained access to Hubbard’s entire World War II records [through a request to the military archives] and there was no evidence that he had ever been wounded in battle or distinguished himself in any way during the war. We also found another notice of separation which was strikingly different than the one that the church had provided.”
What is interesting about such books is that, despite its litigious reputation, the Church officials do not appear to have sued. While I have been a lifetime critic of the rule, you cannot defame the dead. Thus, Hubbard’s family cannot sue on his behalf for these books which accuse him of being the worst form of liar. However, this last allegation suggests that officials have played a role in rewriting history and then misrepresenting facts of Hubbard’s life. They would presumably have a claim if they are identified directly or by implication.
The book by Russell Miller was quickly targeted by the Church which sued to block its printing in the United States. It worked. After two years, Miller’s lawyers gave up and figured that the book could be obtained from foreign publishers. However, Independent US publisher Silvertail Books has decided that it would run the risk of litigation from the Church and print the Bare-Faced Messiah in America. Miller is pulling no punches. He recently is quoted as saying “It’s always been an utter mystery to me that anybody could read Bare-Faced Messiah and then still take Scientology seriously.”
The book joins a growing list of publications recently by high-level defectors who alleged a variety of abuses and potential crimes by Scientology officials. These publications are likely to fuel the existing pressure in Europe where the church is considered by many to be a criminal enterprise or cult rather than a religion.
Of course, one of the tenets created by Hubbard was for followers to avoid reading any criticism of the Church and to shun anyone who questions the religion. That however does not appear the audience for these authors.
Source: NY Post
What a bunch of bollocks! That goes for practically every comment and certainly for Turley, but then Scientology has been his blind spot. Someone sold him a bill of goods about the subject and he’s been loopy about it ever since. You’re talking about a whole bunch of things that really work and make people better in some way. Even includes stuff like assists for injuries & how to study. I don’t care if you call it religion or not. The stuff works so who cares? Hardly one of you guys want to sit still long enough to check it out. You confuse the prolific writings of one amazing man and childishly assume it must be science fiction if the author also wrote a little science fiction. And I did say a little as all his many fiction stories are possibly only 2 per cent of what he wrote.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” –Voltaire
If you think L Ron(s) could quash a publication;
you should take a hard look at what Pitten’s team has quashed!
Nick;
Of course I am. Have been battling him for 13 + years;
and sued him for RICO (civil) in Los Angeles.
He responded seeking an extension of time,
I agreed and the court so Ordered (till April 7th).
His co-Defendants seek to quash the case;
and the evidences coming out at trial.
Liar, liar, pants are on fire.
Laser, Remind me, are you involved in litigation w/ Romney???
I hope you have success…..
Hey AY;
On the subject of snakes – Pitten’s is purportedly answering today.
(As per the deadline order – mutual agree).
What do you think of all the banter he is going for 2016?
It’s a coin flip on whether – Or NOT – my case of “Haas v Romney”
will go forward.
Religion which invokes science is like a science which relies on religion– inherently flawed. Now you take rocket science. You have a whole body of so called scientists who think that they can send a man or woman into space and that they will see angels on clouds as they head upward. All they see are little stations on clouds set up by Microsoft and Google. Lately, the news is all about finding the crashed plane somewhere in one or two oceans. It will take an L. Ron to find that plane. And another thing, who would listen to some sap named L. Ron to learn about religion. And who would combine religion with science to begin with. For any of you chumps out there who believe this apCray, get some comic books.
All one has to do, in order to turn narcissistic fascism tendencies of unjust enrichment pursuits into a quarantined ideology; is to simply call it a Religion and/or Political party.
Wherefore a ubiquitous “we” is created against any of thee, your or me..
JT, Lord Xenu is bound to comment on this and you will be struck down!
“…that raises questions of his sanity and pathological tendencies”–Where there questions?
Actually, this does raise the same questions we have been going over in the political field. Why do people continue to both believe and follow those who tell lies and harm others? What is going on with this? This is not meant as a snide question. It is profound and we need to understand why people will believe things that aren’t true, and in the name of leaders, commit atrocities.
Scientology is religious fiction. But then I guess that definition could apply to a lot more than just scientology in the magical mystery tour that is the world of religion.
The author’s name is Russel Miller, not Robert.
“You don’t get rich writing science fiction. If you want to get rich, you start a religion.” ― L. Ron Hubbard
Just last night, I heard about their ship on a travel show…
http://www.freewinds.org/
Interesting, but doesn’t Scientology have a strong following? Or I heard that there is a new or reformed version of Scientology? Yes? No?
When growing up ( still a work in progress) my neighborhood pal belonged to a mainstream church that published quarterly lists of “banned” books and movies that they were not suppose to read or see. Guess what books and movies were on the top of our list? If someone wants to ban a book I want to know why, and what better way than to get a copy to read.
Snake oil salesmen come in many forms…..
Religions are notorious for being anit free speech. The new trend afield in the US and internationally is to silence those who utter any word or phrase that OFFENDS the tender ears of “religious” adherents. Calle it blashemeny laws or “freedom of religion” laws they all result in the same thing silencing anyone who isn’t considered acceptable to the community of believers who happens to be in charge or allowing them to dictate who does and who does not have to follow the law.. The punishment can go from a fine, death or in the US having your employer tell you how to live your life.
There is a another trend that would be laughable if it weren’t so dangerous and that is the one that says if you discuss facts and highlight them you are hating Christians or creationists. There are facts and then there are opinions. You can have your own opinions but not your own facts. Opinions that are based on other opinions and made up facts deserve to be criticized. Criticism is not hate.
While scientology may be a fraud, what religion isn’t? Not much different is that some people believe what they read in a newspaper or see on TV so-called news. Many people are unable to reason and analyze information to test it’s potential accuracy. They rely on others to provide them with the “truth”. That is the job of charlatans and scam artists like Hubbard, as well as political propaganda developers. They are quite successful at their jobs.
The hallmark of error is censorship of opposing points of view. The reaction of the church toward critics is enough evidence for me. It reminds me of the modern reaction of positivist scientists toward creationists.