What Happened with the "Anonymous" Scientology Protests Today?

So there's this anti-Scientology group called "Anonymous", that has become a little famous for their Anonymous YouTube videos that talk directly to Scientologists.

The idea was that on February 10th (see videos below), people from across the world would join together, in masks, in a non-violent way, and protest Churches of Scientology. Protesters were urged to not engage in any criminal activity including graffiti or violence of any type. They even uploaded protest kits for their members.

There are some absolutely gorgeous L.A. protest pictures on RobSheridan.com where I found the picture I have here.

This is what Rob Sheridan has to say on his site: "On February 10, 2008, the colorful internet group known as "Anonymous" donned masks and descended on Scientology centers in major cities throughout the world to protest the Church's questionable ethics, devious practices, free speech violations, and their requirement that believers pay tens of thousands of dollars to participate in their 'religion.' "

Anonymous February 10th, 2008 protest videos from across the world:

• Adelaide Anonymous Scientology Protest
  
• Albany Anonymous Scientology Protest
• Atlanta Anonymous Scientology Protest
  
• Austin Anonymous Scientology Protest
• Battle Creek Anonymous Scientology Protest
• Belgium Anonymous Scientology Protest
• Birmingham Anonymous Scientology Protest
• Boston Anonymous Scientology Protest
• Brisbane Anonymous Scientology Protest
  
• Cincinnati Anonymous Scientology Protest
• Columbus Anonymous Scientology Protest
• Dallas Anonymous Scientology Protest
• Dublin Anonymous Scientology Protest
• Edmonton Anonymous Scientology Protest
• Hollywood Anonymous Scientology Protest
• Houston Anonymous Scientology Protest
• Kansas City Anonymous Scientology Protest
• Las Vegas Anonymous Scientology Protest
  
• London Anonymous Scientology Protest
• Los Angeles Anonymous Scientology Protest
• Manchester Anonymous Scientology Protest
• Melbourne Anonymous Scientology Protest
• Minneapolis Anonymous Scientology Protest
• Orlando Anonymous Scientology Protest
• Philadelphia Anonymous Scientology Protest
• Portland Anonymous Scientology Protest
• San Diego Anonymous Scientology Protest
• San Francisco Anonymous Scientology Protest
• Seattle Anonymous Scientology Protest
  
• St. Louis Anonymous Scientology Protest
• Sydney Anonymous Scientology Protest
• Toronto Anonymous Scientology Protest
• Washington, DC Anonymous Scientology Protest

The pictures and videos from the Los Angeles protest, I thought, were especially awe inspiring.

Back in June 2007, The Church of Scientology offered brave Anonymous members a $5,000 reward to identify key members of the group.

According to Anonymous members in the above videos from across the world, the reason for the demonstrations was to stand united and let people know the stories behind many of the "victims" of Scientology as well as to strip the Church of Scientology of their tax-exempt status.

Anonymous issued this press release video yesterday:



According to local news in Boston, Sydney, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and other cities, protests were peaceful as planned, and Churches remained closed up, and members remained hidden inside, as usual.

The final numbers from SomethingAwful.com:

Europe: 1356
North America: 5073
Oceania: 843
Asia: 5

Not exactly the 300,000 they had suggested, but still an impressive number for something based off of YouTube videos. You almost have to wonder in the back of your mind if it was a couple of 12 year olds in their parents basement seeing if they could start a ruckus. Just like you have to wonder if that hot girl on myspace you've been digging just takes her pictures at flattering angles.

Did anything get accomplished? Only time will tell I suppose, but it's good to see people getting out and trying to make a difference.

According to this video, posted today, the next protest will take place on March 13th, 2008 which happens to be L. Ron Hubbards' birthday. And whether or not it's legit, I think it's safe to say that if the video circulates enough, it'll happen.

What is Scientology?

Ok, so I wrote an article on the history of scientology, but that's different than what it is, as it exists today.

According to What is Scientology? page on Scientology.org:

"The word Scientology literally means "the study of truth." It comes from the Latin word "scio" meaning "knowing in the fullest sense of the word" and the Greek word "logos" meaning "study of."

Scientology is the study and handling of the spirit in relationship to itself, others and all of life. The religion comprises a body of knowledge extending from certain fundamental truths. Prime among these:

Man is an immortal, spiritual being. His experience extends well beyond a single lifetime. His capabilities are unlimited, even if not presently realized — and those capabilities can be realized. He is able to not only solve his own problems, accomplish his goals and gain lasting happiness, but also achieve new, higher states of awareness and ability.

In Scientology no one is asked to accept anything as belief or on faith. That which is true for you is what you have observed to be true. An individual discovers for himself that Scientology works by personally applying its principles and observing or experiencing results.

Through Scientology, people all over the world are achieving the long-sought goal of true spiritual release and freedom."

Wikipedia calls Scientology "a body of beliefs and related practices as well as a hierarchical organization initially created by American speculative fiction author L. Ron Hubbard. Hubbard developed Scientology teachings in 1952 as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics. Hubbard later characterized Scientology as an "applied religious philosophy" and the basis for a new religion. Scientology encompasses a spiritual rehabilitation philosophy and techniques, and covers topics such as morals, ethics, detoxification, education and management."

A PRO-Scientology site called whatisscientology.org defines Scientology as "an applied religious philosophy."

And.. "The fastest growing religious movement on Earth, Scientology has become a firmly established and active force for positive change in the world in less than half a century.

The Scientology religious philosophy contains a precise system of axioms, laws and techniques, exhaustively researched and documented as workable. As such, it provides the individual with the ability to dramatically improve conditions, not only in his own life but in the world around him."

An ANTI-Scientology site xenu.net says Scientology is "a vicious and dangerous cult that masquerades as a religion. Its purpose is to make money. It practices a variety of mind-control techniques on people lured into its midst to gain control over their money and their lives. Its aim is to take from them every penny that they have and can ever borrow and to also enslave them to further its wicked ends.

It was started in the 1950s by a science fiction writer named L. Ron Hubbard in fulfilment to his declared aim to start a religion to make money. It is an offshoot to a method of psychotherapy he concocted from various sources which he named "Dianetics". Dianetics is a form of regression therapy. It was then further expanded to appear more like a religion in order to enjoy tax benefits. He called it "Scientology".

Scientology is a confused concoction of crackpot, dangerously applied psychotherapy, oversimplified, idiotic and inapplicable rules and ideas and science-fiction drivel that is presented to its members (at the "advanced" levels) as profound spiritual truth."

So there you have it.

What is the History of Scientology?

People look at Scientology like it's the "Tom Cruise Cult", but infact Scientology has existed since the 1950's, and was created by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. Sign me up!

"I'd like to start a religion. That's where the money is."
- L. Ron Hubbard to Lloyd Eshbach in 1949, quoted by Eshbach in OVER MY SHOULDER: REFLECTIONS ON A SCIENCE FICTION ERA. Donald M. Grant Publisher, 1983

These are direct quotes from the thoroughly researched article on xenu.net:

• L. Ron Hubbard established the Church of Scientology (CoS) in 1954 against the following backdrop: He had dropped out of college with failing grades.
  
  
• Although he would later claim a distinguished wartime naval career, Hubbard in fact never saw combat and left the US Navy petitioning the Veterans Administration for psychiatric care.
  
  
• Hubbard took up ritual magic, the occult and hypnosis, giving demonstrations of hypnosis in 1948 and writing to his literary agent about a therapy system he was working on that had tremendous promotional and sales potential.
  
  
• Piecing together hypnotic techniques, Freudian theories, Buddhist concepts and elements of other philosophies and practices, Hubbard came up with Dianetics. He published DIANETICS: THE MODERN SCIENCE OF MENTAL HEALTH in 1950.
  
  
• In Dianetic practice the "patient," working with a partner called an "auditor" recalls past painful experiences in reverse chronological sequence, supposedly erasing their negative effects and attaining a state called "clear," allegedly free from all ills. The auditor carefully records any intimate revelations, including sexual or criminal activities and marital or family troubles; these records are kept on file.
  
  
• Dianetics was opposed immediately by the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association, the latter recommending that its members limit use of Dianetic techniques to investigation only, until Hubbard�s claimed results could be corroborated.
  
  
• The public, however, made the book a bestseller, and it seemed that Hubbard's ship had come in.
  
  
• He created the Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation to promulgate his theories and techniques.
  
  
• Hubbard became interested in a type of lie detector called the "electropsychometer" that he believed would yield better results in auditing. He obtained a franchise for this device, which he renamed the Hubbard Electrometer, or E-meter. He began calling patients "pre-clears" and "within six weeks had created a new subject apparently out of thin air."
  
  

• Hubbard called his new subject Scientology and in introducing it, he claimed to have discovered the human soul. Whereas Dianetics had addressed the body, Scientology involved freeing souls (which Hubbard called "thetans") from supposed entrapment in the physical or material world and restoring their alleged supernatural powers.
  
  

• Hubbard established a headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, awarded himself the degree of D.Scn. (Doctor of Scientology) and in May 1952 incorporated the Hubbard Association of Scientologists International under the personal control of himself and his third wife, Mary Sue. The AMA meanwhile continued its opposition to Dianetics and Scientology.
  
  

• In 1959 Hubbard moved to England and bought Saint Hill Mansion in Sussex, from which he would direct international operations and expansion of the CoS until 1967.
  
  
• The 1960s saw the introduction of "Ethics" procedures, which include harsh punishments (even for children) and the "disconnection" policy, which requires Scientologists to sever ties with family and friends critical of Scientology.
  
  
• He created systems of "Security Checks" in which members are interrogated to ensure loyalty and extract confessions. He produced reams of policy directives on subjects varying from Scientology "tech" (technology) to church management to approved cleaning solvents to his own recipe for baby formula; all these missives are considered by CoS members to be sacred scripture.
  
  
• In the late 1960s Hubbard released the "upper levels." Scientologists who had spent hundreds or thousands of hours vainly pursuing often-promised supernatural abilities were guaranteed that these procedures would finally deliver on the promise. Based on a science-fiction-like story taking place millions of years ago and involving a cruel Galactic despot named Xenu and his evil minions (elsewhere identified as present-day Christian clergy and psychiatrists), the upper levels are kept secret until a member is deemed ready to receive them. The estimated cost from beginning Scientology courses through completion of the upper levels is today $300,000 - $500,000 in US dollars.
  
  
• Hubbard wrote his famous "Fair Game" law, which states that anyone named an enemy of Scientology "may be tricked, sued, lied to or destroyed." A year later, he would issue a directive canceling use of the term, "Fair Game," (due to negative publicity) but making plain that attacks on Scientology's perceived enemies were to continue.
  
  
• Hubbard established the GO (Guardians Office) in 1966 for internal and external security purposes. The GO's purview included attacking critics, keeping members in line and silencing defectors. GO agents "stole medical files, sent out anonymous smear letters, framed critics for criminal acts, blackmailed, bugged and burgled opponents, and infiltrated government offices stealing thousands of files...Critics were to be driven to breakdown or harassed into silence."
  
  
• In mid-1967 Hubbard bought three ships and put to sea with a small cadre of followers. Styling himself "the Commodore," he spent the next several years wandering the Atlantic, pursued by imaginary Reds and Nazis and attended by "Commodore�s Messengers," teenaged girls dressed in white hot pants who waited on him hand and foot, bathing and dressing him and even catching the ash from his cigarettes. He had frequent screaming tantrums and instituted brutal punishments such as incarceration in the ship�s filthy chain-locker for days or weeks at a time and "overboarding," in which errant crew members were blindfolded, bound and thrown overboard, dropping up to 40 ft. into the cold sea and hoping not to hit the side of the ship with its razor-sharp barnacles on the way down. These punishments applied to children as well as to adults.
  
  
• Hubbard made bungling attempts to take over Morocco and Rhodesia and was banned from further entry into Britain. He began the Sea Organization (SO), whose members wear pseudo-naval uniforms, adopt naval ranks, sign billion year contracts and are pressured to have abortions when they become pregnant because children are perceived as interfering with their SO obligations. Hubbard created the infamously abusive Rehabilitation Project Force as a special punishment for SO members who fail to follow orders, make mistakes or fall short of production goals.
  
  
• During the early 1970s the IRS "proved that Hubbard was skimming millions of dollars from the church, laundering the money through dummy corporations in Panama and stashing it in Swiss bank accounts. Moreover, church members stole IRS documents, filed false tax returns and harassed the agency's employees."
  
  
• A US federal court in 1971 ruled that Hubbard's medical claims were bogus and that E-meter auditing could not be called a scientific treatment. The CoS responded by "going fully religious, seeking First Amendment protection...counselors started sporting clerical collars. Chapels were built, franchises became missions, fees became fixed donations, and Hubbards comic-book cosmology became sacred scriptures.
  
  
• Ater years of running the Scientology organization from aboard his flagship, the Apollo, in 1975.
  
  
• Hubbard bought the Fort Harrison Hotel and a former bank building in downtown Clearwater, Florida under the name United Churches of Florida, to hide Scientology�s connection. He moved his crew to Clearwater, establishing the Flagship Land Base, a.k.a. "Flag."
  
  
• Hubbard went into seclusion following the "Operation Snow White" debacle and in the early 1980s David Miscavige, a second-generation Scientologist, took the reins of Scientology at age 21.
  
  
• During the power struggles and purges of the 1980s, many people left the church.
  
  
• In recent years, hundreds of longtime Scientologists have quit the church (many charging emotional and physical abuse) and are criticizing it, despite the CoS�s well known reputation for ruthlessly harassing critics. (19) (20) Some have continued practicing Scientology outside the CoS. Others have sued the church and won; most notable perhaps is Lawrence Wollersheim, who was paid over $8 million by the church in 2003 after winning a case in which he claimed that Scientology practices had nearly driven him to suicide.
  
  
• In 2003 Fox News and other media outlets reported that the Church of Scientology has begun requiring its members to sign a release form agreeing to be held against their will for indefinite periods, isolated from friends and family and denied access to medical care (particularly psychiatric care) and absolving the church of responsibility for any resultant harm. The document was apparently drawn up in response to a wrongful-death suit brought against the church in 1997 by the family of Lisa McPherson, a 36-year-old Scientologist who died in 1995 after being held in isolation for 17 days while undergoing Scientology "processes" at the Fort Harrison Hotel in Clearwater. At the time of her death, she was comatose, severely dehydrated and covered in cockroach bites. Following a seven-year legal battle, an out-of-court agreement settling the suit was reached in May 2004; the terms of this agreement were sealed.
  
  
• Today, directly across the street from the Fort Harrison Hotel, where Lisa McPherson suffered and died, Scientologys new 380,000-square-foot headquarters is under construction. It is called the "Super Power" building, after the "Super Power Rundown" ("rundown" in Scientology parlance = a series of steps designed to produce a certain result) which, according to Hubbard, "consists of 12 separate high power rundowns which are brand new and enter realms of the tech never before approached... [giving a Scientologist] the super powers of infinity."

Read the rest of the article here.

Resources used in this article by xenu.net:

• Scientology: Anatomy of a Frightening Cult
• The Total Freedom Trap: Scientology, Dianetics and L. Ron Hubbard
• Scientology: The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power
• Scientology's Tax Exemption Should be Rescinded
• Scientology at Ground Zero
• Scientologists settle death suit

You can also read my article What is Scientology?