EXPLOSIVE NEWS ARTICLES ON SCIENTOLOGY

EXPLOSIVE NEWS ARTICLES ON SCIENTOLOGY

Scientology, is the subject of a series of comprehensive, explosive, & well-documented research articles published by the St. Petersburg (FL) Times, written by Joe Childs & Thomas C. Tobin. The best-known previous mainstream media investigations of Scientology were by Time magazine (1991) & The Los Angeles Times (1990). Few publishers (secular or Christian) choose to publish criticism of a movement that has gone to the lengths Scientology has to silence its critics.

The St. Petersburg three part story, The Truth Rundown (June 21-23, 2009), includes extensive information from recently disaffected Scientology senior staff. Marty Rathbun & Mike Rinder were the highest ranking staff members closely associated with Scientology president David Miscavige. Tom DeVocht was in charge of the Clearwater, FL headquarters office of Scientology (near St. Petersburg). Amy Scobee developed the Scientology celebrity program.

The revelations from reporters Childs & Tobin confirm the previous media investigations, including brutal staff & member treatment, medical & criminal misconduct charges, & the stringent punishments members experience when they violate church policy or try to leave. What is remarkable about this series is that it confirms the same standards of policy & belief that have been inherent in Scientology since its founding by former science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard in 1954. Under Hubbard the organization evolved from a "mental health" program loosely based on ideas common to Hubbard's fiction to a nascent church that narrowly qualified as such under IRS guidelines, to an international ecclesiastical program that appeared to have more in common with a quasi-military mult-national corporation than a church denomination.

Please take some time to read this fascinating series. If you have read either of the previous media investigations, you will be amazed at how consistent Scientology has been in enforcing its policies & procedures, which many people view as extremely destructive to personal stability. If you never read the earlier reports, you will find it hard to believe that ordinary people are not only drawn to Scientology, but devote their lives to it. Read the earlier reports -- Scientology has consistently drawn people into its web of belief & practice over many years. When my late husband, Bob, & I were researching Scientology in the late 1970s, an FBI agent in the Los Angeles office that was investigating the church for IRS violations warned us, "You don't want to be doing this. It is dangerous. You could be hurt. Go home and do something safe." All 3 of these reports explain why his advice was sound, although we continued to exercise our Constitutional right to speak our informed opinion about a religion that opposes orthodox Christianity.

Yes, we have the freedom in this country to believe whatever we want about religion, God, & faith: even if it seems unbelievable; even if it seems harmful to personal development & growth; even if it seems stridently antagonistic to any criticism; even if it is completely contrary to the essentials of biblical faith. To be forewarned is to be forearmed, & to be prepared to offer the grace & mercy of God through the gospel of Jesus Christ to anyone you know who might be tempted by Scientology to devote their faith to something other than Jesus Christ.

Blessings in Christ,
Gretchen Passantino
Director
Answers In Action