The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that, after once being banned from classrooms, Scientology is back in California classroom spreading its controversial theories on drug use. The program is run by Narconon, an organization that was created by the Church and founded on the theories of L. Ron Hubbard. Narconon offers the lessons for free, but experts say that the theories are not only unfounded but directly connected to the religious organization that some accused of being a cult or criminal enterprise. Scientology has long objected to what it views as discrimination directed against it while ignoring mainstream religions. It also insists that Narconon is a successful and independent and secular organization.
In 2005, medical and educational experts studies the Narconon material and sessions and concluded that they were not based on actual science but unfounded and wrong concepts founded in Hubbard’s teachings. Those findings led to the removal of Narconon from the schools, but now a decade later Scientology has found its way back into classrooms — offering its materials and instruction for free to school officials. Many teachers who are trained by Narconon were not aware that they were in a Scientology offshoot.
Scientology insists that its materials have been rewritten and that there is separation between Scientology church affairs and the work of Narconon.
Hubbard, a former Science Fiction writer, created the futuristic theories of Scientology and its aggressive (and controversial) recruitment system. The Church opposes drugs and alcohol, which the Church says are impediments to achieving a state of mental purity called “Clear.”
Narconon’s lessons include such debunked theories that drugs reside in body fat for years and can cause people to feel high during times of stress. It also teaches that drugs burn up vitamins and nutrients, resulting in pain and relapse. It claims that the “munchies” resulting from marijuana use is due to a loss of vitamins and nutrients. All of these theories by Hubbard have been ridiculed by experts as ridiculous. (By the way, there is an excellent science piece in the Smithsonian on the real reason for munchies here).
After the study in 2005, Jack O’Connell, then the state superintendent of public instruction, sent out a letter on Feb. 24, 2005 that warned “Narconon’s drug prevention program does not reflect accurate, widely-accepted medical and scientific evidence.” However, the department does not have the authority to ban such programs, a decision which must be made by school districts. Some did so, however, including Los Angeles and San Francisco, which concluded their own expert reviews of the materials and theories.
However, the Chronicle found Narconon workings in other school districts including thirteen in the bay area alone, including Fremont, Los Altos, Morgan Hill, San Jose, San Ramon, Santa Clara and Santa Rosa.
The newspaper found copyrighted material being distributed in schools that directly incorporate religious Scientology concepts like “tone scale,” a Scientology doctrine dealing with emotions. It is a concept created by Hubbard who encouraged his followers to “just draw a horizontal line on the page. Put the people who are less alive on the bottom and the people who are more alive on the top.” The theory is explained in Hubbard’s 1951 book Science of Survival that a “tone” has many manifestations including appearance, chronic emotion, the way the person handles other people, how well the person can pass on a communication given to them, and other characteristics.
Scientologist and President of Narconon International Clark Carr has publicly claimed that “[i]n the last couple of years, the number of youth who heard the anti-drug message have increased from 11,000 to 22,000” and says that “Narconon has been responding to increasing demand from schools in Northern California.” He adds that “Narconon provides this program as a public service at no charge, funded entirely by Narconon centers.”
In fairness to Scientology, there is often little objection to other churches being incorporated into government programs. President Obama fulfilled his pledge to not only continue President Bush’s faith-based programs but to expand them. For those who believe in strict separation of church and state, this line has long been blurred by those who want to see public money go to religious institution for vouchers and educational programs. What is interesting about this controversy however is that the underlying theories have been debunked by experts. However, the free program clearly appeals to cash-strapped school districts.
Source: SFGate
ive seen others say this so i will ask also can anyone please retrieve my post from dang i forgot what it was called lol
thank you
reposted as half of the article didnt post here is the whole of what i was trying to post..
Marc Headley explained in his escape narrative Blown for Good that one of the ways the church controls ‘Sea Org’ workers — who sign billion-year contracts and work for pennies an hour — is by convincing them that if they leave the quasi-naval organization, they’d soon perish in a cruel outside world, bereft of skills or money. Fear of that outside world, or of being ‘disconnected’ by family members who remain in the church, can keep a person from leaving, or convince them to return even if they manage to get away.
Marc and his wife Claire struggled to get away from Scientology, where they were prevented from starting a family. Things outside haven’t been so easy either — they sued Scientology and lost, and then were asked by the church to spy for Scientology to help pay off what they owed in attorneys’ fees. (They told the church to go fish.)
Ultimately, though, the Headleys have showed that life outside Scientology can be pretty liberating. And as for starting a family? They’ve been making up for lost time.
Marc and his wife Claire struggled to get away from Scientology, where they were prevented from starting a family. Things outside haven’t been so easy either — they sued Scientology and lost, and then were asked by the church to spy for Scientology to help pay off what they owed in attorneys’ fees. (They told the church to go fish.)
Ultimately, though, the Headleys have showed that life outside Scientology can be pretty liberating. And as for starting a family? They’ve been making up for lost time.
Does Scientology do that to its followers ShakingMy Head? I wouldnt belong to such a religious cult, I don’t much like any organized religion.
The Dancing Machine is back lecturing and pontificating. LOL! Pretty slow over there?
to annie and others.. religion vs cult
religions tells you stories from a book called the bible written and rewritten time and again by MEN fanatical clerics and politicians for their nefarious reasons but after their story telling you are allowed to go home to your family and make your own decisions..
cult; forced to live where your told to live, forced to turn over all you own and all your family and friends own also. punished when you do not do what your told. told stories from books only this time in the case of lyingtology its about aliens who supposedly came to earth and threw humans in a volcano lmao .
forced to excommunicate or in the case of this particular cult disconnect from family and friends based on the whims of anything.
are harassed, stalked, threatened and beaten. many members have been disappeared into a place called the hole.
forced to have abortions, forced to sign billion year contracts, need i go on? this applies to children and adults alike there are many sites online concerning ex members of lyingtology starting with operation clambake, the underground bunker, ex scientology kids, mike rinders blog. marty rathburns blog, etc
there are differences though not to many in my eyes
Wow. Pull yourself together, Serenity now, you know the drill.
apiece, See what I have to deal w/. It is CRAZY.
Then why do you follow me everywhere??? What was your purpose in chiming in if not obsessed? Leave me alone!
Only Xenu knows what is going on tonight… But I find it verrrry interesting.
Spinelli, don’t flatter yourself, no one here is interested.
In the name of Xenu, can’t we all get along and get back on the topic of ridiculing scientology?
Another lonely person obsessed w/ me. But, that’s been going on forever.
Peter has got someone pegged, LOL!
apiece, You are an optimist, which I love. But, Vegas has the odds @ 5000-1 that any RonHead will ever see the light. But, who knows, maybe traveling limey is that 1!
I can’t give up hope that more will wise up! Thanks to the internet, more and more ronbots are getting the information they need to convince themselves that their nagging doubts are not crazy thoughts or indicative of “criminal” behavior.
apieceofbuckley, traveling limey is a big fan of the spaceship prophet. He always gets his British up when we lampoon the Ronminator. It’s not an act.
Thanks for the info, Nick. I hope he goes to that link. There is information there on how to possibly get a refund on advance purchases of scientology classes and auditing which members are pressured into purchasing on a regular basis. They’ll put $20,00, $50,000 or $100,000 on account for future classes, then wise up to the con and leave, only to be told “no refunds.” Scientology cons its members in so many ways. That is just one of them. I could go on…
Surely “traveling limey” isn’t for real? LOL at NarCONon being “definitely the most successful group for getting people off of drugs. Period.” They cook their stats to come up with a ridiculously high success rate for their ridiculous pseudoscience. So much for being “the most ethical people on the planet.” Scientology is laughable at best, but highly dangerous at its worst.
Mr. Turley isn’t the only critic of Ron the Con. There are thousands of critics of the old dude and his (thankfully) shrinking cult, including the documented 2358 on this list of people who have left the cult and have spoken out. The number of people on the list is constantly growing. Read their names and heartbreaking stories here: https://sites.google.com/site/biglistthatleftscientology/
Nick,
Here’s an example just from this thread:
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“Anyone who understands history knows more people have been killed in the name of The Lord, Allah, etc. than have been saved. I believe in God. I believe nothing pleases God more than when we help others here on earth. So, that’s my religion, helping others. My father taught me that we should help others, but never seek attention for it. For the vast majority of people I’ve helped, only they and I know it. Being a PI affords me a unique ability to help people who can’t afford my services. Tracking down deadbeat dads is something I do one a regular basis. But, I do all kinds of PI stuff helping people.
I do not preach. Most people who know me have no idea what my beliefs are because unless asked, I don’t say. The libertarian in me provides me w/ the philosophy that I have not one bit of desire to put my beliefs on anyone else.”
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Do you notice how your comment is all about you, yet you claim your father taught you to never seek attention when you help someone? You also claim that, “I do not preach,” and that your religion is helping others.
I see no evidence of either claim in your comments.
Your comments on this blog belie this perception of yourself. That’s o.k. We all think better of ourselves than what reality witnesses.
Most people, though, grow up — and become aware of their deficiencies of observation and failings of character.
Peter Saler wrote: “Do you notice how your comment is all about you, yet you claim your father taught you to never seek attention when you help someone?”
Peter, I really object. After reading Nick Spinelli for quite awhile on this blog, he opens up in a post revealing how he thinks in his heart. I really appreciated that post. Thru it, I learned a few things about Nick that I didn’t know before. Then you come along and take a dump all over it and throw it in Nick’s face. Not nice. Please, let’s avoid ad hominem attacks and uncivil comments.
Many people do not live up to their ideals. Nevertheless, it is still interesting to learn what their ideals are, their values, and what they are aiming for in their personal life. If we jump all over someone when they feel comfortable enough opening up, it will have a chilling effect on future posts of a similar nature. There will be less honesty on this site, less friendliness, and less personal relationship. I’m only one commenter here, so perhaps you don’t care what I think either, but from my perspective, that would be the wrong direction to lead us. Despite our very different viewpoints, I think we can have respect toward one another and through honest discussion examine the basis for how we view facts and the world around us.
So is Stephen King! You want to follow him spiritually?
I think the true implant station will be in the Canary Islands, not Hawaii.