Tom Cruise About his Online Experience: Scientology was Taken “totally out of context”

In the Oprah Show this Friday actor Tom Cruise was shown in an interview at his home in Telluride, Colorado, which did not spare any questions about Cruise’s Scientology membership and current personal attacks on him.

A video that was shown on the Internet showing an animated Cruise talking about the virtues of Scientology was taken “totally out of context,” he said, as it was out of a congregational meeting and edited before being spread online.

In reference to the past three years Cruise said he learned that there are times to communicate more and better explain his opinions. Per Associated Press he said: “I feel like definitely things have been misunderstood, and things that I could have done better”.

(Source)

Scientology Kids and Parents have a website

I was searching for some information about growing up in Scientology and how this is like. Aside from obviously dramatized and paid “stories” I was very happy to find a source which is open about its purpose and origins:  the website Scientology Kids (scientologykids.org, actually it routes to the unwieldy name correctscientology.org).  Here is the intro page:

Welcome to Scientology Kids! L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of the Scientology religion, wrote: “Save the child, and you save the nation.”

After skimming through the stories on the page I am mostly impressed with what Matt has to say about Growing up as a Scientologist. I have no kids yet but this is how I can imagine my children would grow up in Scientology.

New documentation: Scientology recognized in Europe and the World

Download the booklet Scientology Recognitions in Europe and the World (english)

Since 1954, when the first Church of Scientology was founded, the religion as grown to approximately 10 million members and is present through its churches, missions or groups in over 150 countries around the world.

Wherever the church exists, it endeavours to register as some form of non-profit ssociation with religious purposes, according to the laws of that country, with the exception of countries where such registration is not possible. The legal systems of each country often differ significantly. Some have official registries of religions  here all groups are obliged to register and meet certain criteria. Others take the opposite view and specifically prohibit keeping official lists of ‘accepted’ religions onsidering that this is not a matter that falls within the jurisdiction of the State. Governments and courts of many different countries recognize the religious character of Scientology. This booklet is intended to give some understanding of how Scientology is seen in Europe and elsewhere around the world.

Europe

The majority of countries in the European Union do not have a religious registry system within their legal framework (or even a form of official religious recognition). In those countries that do have a form of registry procedure (including
countries who are not part of the EU), Scientology has been recognized as a religion in the following - Sweden, Portugal, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia and Albania.

The majority of States in the European Union have other forms of recognition. In many of these countries, Scientology has been recognized as a religion through administrative and judicial decisions, including decisions by the highest court in the country. These decisions include the following countries – Italy, Denmark, Austria, Germany, UK and Norway.

World

There are many other judicial, administrative and registry recognitions in other countries of the world too. Some examples are - USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, Nepal, Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Venezuela, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Brazil, India, Philippines and Sri Lanka.

Courts have determined that Scientology must be treated the same as other religions throughout Europe, including decisions concerning Scientology rendered by the European Court of Human Rights and the European Commission
on Human Rights which establish binding precedent in all 46 European countries that have signed and ratified the European Convention on Human Rights. In addition to the European Court of Human Rights and the European Commission on Human Rights decisions, Scientology has also been recognized as a religion through numerous judicial and administrative
rulings in many European countries.

Finally Scientology has been recognized and registered as a religion in many countries that have a religious registry.

This booklet is currently available in english, spanish and russian.

Tom Cruise Scientology Video

Just a word on the recent media campaign about Tom Cruise and his Scientology membership: Yes, he is a member, a special person and celebrity, but a simple member of the Church of Scientology. And he talks about it, occasionally. So what’s the point? I think the Chicago Tribune puts it right:

‘De-sci-phering’ Tom Cruise video

“For me, it’s all about KSW.” So says actor and celebrity Scientologist Tom Cruise on a video allegedly circulated by a disgruntled former member of the church. What does that acronym mean? And why are people so suspicious about the Church of Scientology?

The video, which was aired in part on Wednesday morning shows, allegedly is used to promote the Church of Scientology belief system to newcomers and features Cruise speaking about his commitment to its tenets. Cruise joined the church in the 1980s, according to Andrew Morton’s new unauthorized biography of the star, and has emerged as a spokesman for Scientology in recent years.

KSW stands for Keeping Scientology Working, a policy letter written in 1965 by L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology’s founder. In the letter, Hubbard, a science fiction writer, outlined 10 steps to ensure survival of the movement. He commends members for carrying out the first part of the mission, but urges them to take it further and eradicate what he called “incorrect technology.”

“This point will, of course, be attacked as ‘unpopular,’ ‘egotistical’ and ‘undemocratic,’” Hubbard wrote in the letter. “It very well may be. But it is also a survival point. And I don’t see that popular measures, self-abnegation and democracy have done anything for Man but push him further into the mud.”

Messages left with the Church of Scientology International seeking clarification of the letter’s meaning have not yet been returned. But scholars of new religious movements (NRMs in academic parlance) say the letter posted on the Internet is authentic. They say the letter and terminology encourage members to take an aggressive approach against people who oppose tenets of the belief system.

Cruise said his life and mission was made clear when he re-read the letter.

“We are the authorities on getting people off drugs. We are the authorities on the mind. We are the authorities on improving conditions,” Cruise said. “Once you know these tools and you know that they work it’s not good enough to say I’m just doing OK. … Being a Scientologist people are turning to you, so you better know it and if you don’t go and learn it.”

This might help explain why Cruise in 2005 publicly criticized fellow actress Brooke Shields for taking anti-depressants for post-partum depression. It also might help explain why the church has earned a reputation for being so litigious when it encounters what it calls a PTS, a “potential trouble source,” or SP, “suppressive person.”

Scientology teaches that a life force called Theta exists within all of us. Through the church’s practices, adherents believe one can realize his or her true nature as an immortal spirit, or thetan. Their path to enlightenment is a step-by-step process of achieving greater awareness. The ultimate goal is to become an Operating Thetan.

“Scientology is kind of an amalgam of eastern Hindu mysticism, science fiction and self- help,” said Mathew Schmalz, an associate professor of religious studies at the College of the Holy Cross. He compares the way the general public treats Scientology to the way Americans treated Catholics more than a century ago, and adds that Scientology is not a countercultural movement. “If you look at it in terms of other religious traditions it’s not really that strange,” he said. “What’s strange is it’s presented in a science fiction idiom.”

But there are plenty of sci-fi aspects to a number of religious traditions. So why does Tom Cruise make us so uncomfortable? Schmalz suggests that Scientologists’ frequent reluctance to answer specific questions about their faith doesn’t go over well with Americans. He suggests another reason too.

“It accepts traditional American ideas of success, which is one reason why it recruits celebrities so assiduously,” he said. “You could look at Scientology as a parody of American values and success. Reflected back on American society there are certain things we might be uncomfortable with.”

Watch the video. Does Tom Cruise make you feel uncomfortable? If he were evangelizing for a different faith, would you feel the same?

Scientology got full recognition in Portugal

(Source: www.scientologytoday.org)

Portuguese Scientologists have a very special reason to celebrate this
holiday season: the Church has now been officially recognized as a
religion in their country.

The spokesperson of the Church of Scientology of Portugal,
Betty Damasco, expressed the excitement of the Scientology community
when she said “We are thrilled with this decision. It will allow us to
disseminate our beliefs and the works of our founder, L. Ron Hubbard
much more broadly.” She went on to say, “Our members are busy preparing
to move to much larger quarters, where we will be able to fill the
increasing demand for our community services and work with local
officials to help our country flourish and prosper.”

It is only in the past few decades that
Portugal has adopted a policy of pluralism. Like neighboring Spain,
religious tolerance came late to this country. Just as Spain expelled
all Jews and Moors who refused to convert to the Roman Catholic faith
in 1492, in 1497 Portugal followed suit. Portugal also officially
carried out its own Inquisition for nearly three centuries, from 1536
until 1821. And although separation of church and state was mandated in
the first half of the 20th Century it was not until 1976, when a new
constitution was implemented, that religious freedom was actually put
into practice.

Despite this constitutional protection,
and state recognition of the Scientology religion in 1988, in 2001
Portugal enacted a new religion law, requiring certain religions,
including Scientology, to re-apply for official registration as
religious communities.

The turning point for the Church occurred in April of this year with a unanimous decision by the European Court of Human Rights in favor of the Church of Scientology of Moscow. Spain also officially recognized the Scientology religion in November.

Scientologists throughout Europe are
optimistic about what they see as a trend that will ultimately not only
protect their own rights, but the rights of all men and women in Europe
to practice freedom of conscience and religion, particularly as the
European Court has jurisdiction over all 47 member-states of the
Council of Europe.

Scientology in Germany and the world

Not only thanks to its prominent members like Tom Cruise or John Travolta Scientology is a hot news items every day. But aside from glamor and gossip the Church of Scientology can mark some major recognitions this year.
 Since the opening of a series of new major Churches (in Berlin/Germany, Madrid/Spain and New York/USA) the religious status of the Church of Scientology has been further acknowledged all over the world.

 On the 24th of September 2007, the European Court of Human Rights confirmed the Court’s unanimous decision of April 2007 affirming that the Church  of Scientology is entitled to the rights and protections of religious freedom that flow to religious organizations pursuant to Article 9 of the European Human Rights Convention.

 The principles enunciated in that decision upheld the religious freedom of Scientologists and their religious associations and apply throughout the forty- seven member states that have signed and ratified the European Human Rights Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, including Germany and other key European countries.

 On the 31st of October 2007, the National Court in Madrid issued a landmark decision recognizing that the National Church of Scientology of Spain should be entered in the Registry of Religious Entities as a religion.

 On the 5th of November 2007, the Church of Scientology of Portugal was officially recognized as a religious organization.

 On the 3rd of December 2007, the South African Revenue Service granted the Church of Scientology the status of a Public Benefit Organization as a religious entity with full tax exemption.

 The Scientology religion was founded by L. Ron Hubbard. The first church was established in the United States in 1954. It has grown to more than 7,500 churches, missions and groups and ten million members in 163 nations.

Scientology in Durban

The Times South Africa

GOOD WORKS: The Church of Scientology plans to turn this
prime site in Durban into a centre for community project

What does Scientology do for society?

The Church of Scientology and its members are committed to social betterment and provide assistance in a wide range of activities across society.

Indeed, Scientologists who bring their individual expertise to the service of the community are volunteers like no other.

For they bring more than their willingness and spirit to the task at hand. They utilise L. Ron Hubbard’s breakthroughs and technology for helping - and so are able to provide a broad range of practical skills to remedy conflict or upsets, improve communication, resolve study problems, restore personal integrity, and even handle failure in virtually every aspect of life.

Social betterment groups

Many Scientologists work actively within social betterment organisations that use Mr. Hubbard’s technology in secular settings to resolve the broad societal problems of drug abuse, crime, failing educational systems and moral decay.

For decades now, Narconon International has provided a phenomenally successful drug-free drug rehabilitation and prevention programme - and through the support of the Church and its members, the benefits of Narconon’s methods have been felt across the continent. Today Narconon comprises a network of 143 rehab centres and drug education programmes in 37 countries, including Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Dedicated to restoring drug-free lives to drug-dependent people through the application of Mr. Hubbard’s drug rehabilitation methods, Narconon also provides comprehensive training to other professionals and organisations who seek workable drug rehabilitation and prevention solutions.

The Narconon Drug Rehabilitation Programme has been acknowledged internationally for its high success rate in getting addicts off drugs for good. Narconon now operates 143 rehabilitation centres and drug education programmes in 37 countries.

Applied Scholastics International assists parents, teachers, students, tutors and educators in eradicating illiteracy, through the use of L. Ron Hubbard’s revolutionary breakthroughs in learning which culminated in his development of the Study Technology. With more than 400 licensed schools and community-based programmes, literacy has been brought to millions in Europe and around the world - from Denmark to South Africa, from the United Kingdom to Greece.

The Way to Happiness Foundation is dedicated to restoring trust and honesty through the publication and widespread distribution of The Way to Happiness, a common-sense guide to better living. Wherever it appears, the publication acts like a calming oil on troubled waters - reducing crime, restoring understanding and fostering peace. Since 1981, a total of 61 million booklets have been distributed in 95 countries, in 35 languages, including 1.75 million copies distributed throughout Israel and Palestine.

Criminon International helps incarcerated criminals learn to be productive members of society with effective reform programmes that provide prisons the means to actually rehabilitate. Active in 2,000 prisons in 28 countries, the programme utilises The Way to Happiness booklet to restore self-respect and personal pride to prisoners - a priceless gift which allows an individual to return to society as a productive and contributing citizen.

Each of these international organisations are separate, secular organisations in their own right, and each has its own history of vital contributions to society. Through the application of Mr. Hubbard’s technology, they have successfully improved the lives of millions in this troubled world. Their activities, while secular in nature, are supported by churches of Scientology and individual Scientologists around the world who volunteer their
time and talents.

Helping in the community

Scientologists are actively engaged in helping those around them in many ways, from drug prevention programmes to blood drives, from emergency relief services with the Red Cross to Walkathons sponsored by the March of Dimes. They collect holiday toys for foster children and donate food and clothing for families in need. Many contribute to initiatives to preserve or clean up their local environment.

In Germany, church volunteers provide musical entertainment at homes for senior citizens, and during the winter give warm clothing, food and hot drinks to the homeless.

International drug prevention: As a group, Scientologists are 100% drug-free and work tirelessly to help others to discover the hope and promise of a drug-free life.

In France, volunteers regularly distribute food and clothing to disadvantaged families, while volunteers in Spain distribute The Way to Happiness booklets in the streets of Madrid as a calming influence, in areas where delinquency and prostitution are of great concern to the community. Similarly, Italian Scientologists visit homes for the elderly and provide entertainment and companionship.

At Saint Hill in Sussex, England, the Church of Scientology’s headquarters in the United Kingdom, Scientologists hold events and charity fetes, attendedby thousands of people, to support charitable organisations such as the Royal National Lifeboat Institute and the Youth Trust, a national group working to keep children off drugs.

Drug prevention actions

The Church of Scientology also spearheads an international grass-roots campaign against drugs, uniting concerned community groups and staging public awareness forums, drug prevention rallies and educational conferences.

Scientologists believe that the real answer to keeping youth off drugs is to provide them with a full understanding of the dangers of drugs so that each can make his own self-determined decision to be drug-free. This is the thrust of the Say No to Drugs programme, sponsored by the Church of Scientology and its members - its purpose to help bring an end to the international scourge of drug abuse through effective coaction and drug prevention initiatives.

Volunteer Ministers

Many Scientologists have also become Volunteer Ministers for their local churches of Scientology, providing help and compassion through simple, basic assistance to people in overcoming difficulties they may be having in life - small or large. Volunteer Ministers have also assisted in the aftermath of earthquakes, floods, fires and explosions. Elsewhere, they work quietly to improve conditions within their communities - employing fundamental tools for effective volunteerism. They use techniques easily learned by anyone and provide people of all faiths the know-how to actively contribute in a volunteer capacity.

Thus, wherever one finds a Church of Scientology, one also finds a steady, dedicated effort by its members to provide effective help wherever needed.

Scientology “Basics” - what is it?

The Basics of Scientology and Dianetics are comprised 18 books and accompanying lectures on CD. Every Scientologist studies that as part of his/her basic training, hence “Basics”. These materials were re-issued recently. Here is what “old timers” have to say:

“The Basics really form the fundamental knowledge that comprise Dianetics and Scientology. I have been in Scientology since I was five and there is data in these books and lectures I have never heard of before. I though I knew what Scientology and Dianetics were, but I was really mistaken in that assumption. In doing the Basics it’s as if I’m on a journey with Ron, exploring new realms and finding out about areas Man never dreamed of before. Because of the consecutive study the data becomes one big concept and it is really easy to understand and makes sense because of its chronological sequence. If I hadn’t listened to the lectures, I’m certain I wouldn’t have gotten the full understanding I have of everything in the books. Because the lectures give all the data of importance that lead one from the last book to the next one. (And just because the books were written in close intervals, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t a lot of data in between, because there are!) They are my driver’s license to freedom. Everyone who wants to call themselves a Scientologist has to do these courses to really know what they are. - J.S.

I haven’t felt like this for years. I felt like I had twenty intensives. When I have a look at the Axioms they’re actually the thetan’s operating manual. They’re truths. The concept that anything that persists contains lies really hit home. I looked at a problem I had and why it resolved so quickly and it was when I as-ised the source of the problem - me. Now I understand why the problem was solved. The Phoenix Lectures also put this concept in perspective for me, where Ron explains the relationship of God and why cultures have a God and that blew charge. - M.C.

I always thought I was very good at communicating , but while studying one the Dianetics 55! Extension Course I cognited that I was not “in comm” but obsessively outflowing - annoying people no end. It’s not because I did not care about other people because I prefer listening to myself - quite the opposite. Factually, most of the time I have not just BEEN THERE, and let the circuits just “do the talking”. This resulted in people telling me “you always have to have the last word.” Dianetics 55! put me in comm without having to talk. I found my position in space. I found my own communication lines and I feel that I got in communication with people to whom I have not ACTUALLY spoken for a long time. I can JUST BE! - L.U.

The Scientology Handbook Made the Difference

“Nothing could be done about it.

“I knew the brain, a mechanism created by cosmic chance, decayed and died. And that was it. Nothing followed or preceded life. I wanted to have faith, but every time I asked, ‘Is there something more out there?’ all I heard back was silence.

“Worse, I didn’t feel like I had any control over what was in front of me right now. Nothing in this purposeless existence could be bettered or significantly changed.

“Then a few months ago, I discovered my neglected copy of the book, Scientology: The Fundamentals of Thought. Hubbard’s words re-ignited in me an awareness of myself, where before I had gone numb.

“Energized, I looked online for more which lead me to the Scientology Volunteer Ministers website.

“From there, I started reading the Scientology Handbook online, still cynical and skeptical—until I applied an assist* to my wife and it miraculously worked!

“Purchasing and then studying the Handbook several times, cove-to-cover, I incorporated its teachings into my life. Nothing but success occurred with every application.

“Previously a cynic and a blossoming atheist, I found myself a hesitant believer in the idea that there is more to life than the physical, and that something can be done about both spiritual and material problems.

“My abilities as a father increased. My abilities as a husband increased. Problems at work became easier to iron out. I understood why certain people made my emotions spiral, and how to handle them. Pain from injuries became treatable without medication. Conflict and miscommunication were now diffusible.

“Life simply became better.

“I will keep learning more, keep doing more—keep getting to know my real self and the real selves of those I meet as only Scientology can teach me to do.

“Cynicism and skepticism still crop up. Some days my hope falters. Something in me says, ‘Nothing can be done about it.’ And every day Scientology proves something can.

“Thank God for the Scientology religion that has filled my world with both spiritual and practical light.

“Scientology is truly good. Because of the Church, I have faith. I believe: Something can be done about it!”

*Scientology assists are techniques developed by L. Ron Hubbard that bring the spiritual element into healing, thereby greatly speeding the healing process.

 Source: Scientologytoday.org