Cult News

Ellen Simonson, an employee of the Psychology Department at the University of Houston wrote an article sharply critical of both Scientology and its founder L. Ron Hubbard. Her critique was published in the school newspaper The Cougar.

Simonson points out that the founder of Scientology didn’t exactly present his bio correctly. According to her research Hubbard was expelled from George Washington University for failing grades and though he claimed to be a “nuclear physicist,” he failed the only physics course he ever took.

It seems the man, who would later denounce mental health professionals, ironically once sought their help and was diagnosed twice as a “paranoid schizophrenic.” Maybe they might have cured his apparent rages. Hubbard “beat, tortured and strangled his wife.” He would later even kidnap his child.

Honesty was also a problem for Mr. Hubbard. He was convicted for petty theft, passing bad checks and sentenced to “four years for fraud.”

Is this the man Scientology celebrities like Tom Cruise and John Travolta tout as their hero? Apparently he was no “Top Gun,” but maybe his official Scientology bio reads like “Pulp Fiction.”

No doubt Scientologists will dismiss the writings of Texan Simonson as the rant of a biased proponent of psychologists and psychology, their avowed enemy. And she might be on the receiving end of one of their “fair game” attacks soon. But whatever they do or say the real history of Scientology’s founder L. Ron Hubbard can’t be changed.

A band called the “Jive Aces” sponsored an “anti-drug” event in Scotland, reported John Rutter of the Evening News in Scotland. But despite the fact that the band has promoted Scientology all over Europe and its “Say No to Drugs” campaign, they claimed that Scientology will not be promoted through their festival.

Scientology spokesman Graeme Wilson stated, “Any material we give out is for drugs education. None of the information we will be giving out will have any message about Scientology.” But this is often simply “Scientology Speak” for promoting Narconon, which is an essentially Scientology controlled drug treatment program.

Self-professed former “drug addict” and actress Kirstie Alley, a long-time Scientologist, credits Scientology for curing her drug habit. She is a strong supporter of Narconon, but now seems hopelessly hooked on Scientology.

Perhaps the band in Scotland not only plays “jive,” but talks it too.

The founder of Scientology L. Ron Hubbard liked uniforms and bragged about his military service record, Scientologists called him the “Commodore.” Many of Scientology’s full-time workers are assigned to its “Sea Organization” and they often wear blue uniforms.

Now Scientology has bought new uniforms for some Florida firemen, as reported by the St. Petersburg Times. Scientology has been quite active with firefighters since September 11th and received a certain amount of attention and publicity for that involvement.

So for the first time since Scientology moved into Clearwater, Florida in 1975, they donated money to the city. Scientologists gave $3,300 to make sure the city’s fire department “honor guard” looks good.

The “Commodore,” though now deceased, probably would have approved; he liked brass buttons and navy blue too. And the donation offered yet another photo opportunity for Scientologists, when they posed for pictures presenting the firemen with a big check.

Shortly after Scientology moved into Clearwater it began buying up downtown, which at first caused controversy. Some say they have increasingly come to dominate the community and that their influence expands annually.

Once upon a time there was a BBB (Bored Boston Banker) sitting in front of his computer screen surfing the Internet. He discovered that the Church of Scientology was waging war on the Worldwide Web against its critics, and he didn’t like it. So that BBB, named Bob (Robert Minton), decided to begin a personal crusade.

The multi-millionaire banker, some see as eccentric, then became fixated upon Scientology as his nemesis. He spent millions of dollars to fund lawsuits against the organization and generally dug into his deep pockets to help its critics. He even created a trust exclusively for this purpose. But Scientology, always vigilant when it comes to its perceived enemies, targeted Minton and apparently made him “Number One” on its hit list. The two foes then locked horns for years of mortal combat.

However, this saga has now come to an ironic end within a Florida courtroom. Despite years of battling with Scientology, Mr. Minton has become its star witness. He now essentially supports Scientology’s current effort to dismiss and/or undermine a wrongful death lawsuit filed against the organization, which he once financed. In an increasingly bizarre turn, Minton seems to have friendly meetings with his former foes to discuss his new role helping them.

It is said that Scientology stalked, harassed and ultimately forced Bob Minton through increasing pressure to flip and change sides. Whatever happened one thing is certain, Mr. Minton is no longer a BBB, but he probably hopes to become one again soon.

Most media seem to be taken in by the spin and/or the spam from Falun Gong devotees. A recent example can be seen within the Jewish publication the “Forward.” Correspondent Benjamin Soskis laments that “religious groups offer little support to Chinese sect.”

But had Soskis spent more time on hard research and less on politically correct hand wringing, he would have found that Falun Gong founder Li Hongzhi, is both a megalomaniac and a bigot.

Sarah Lubman of the San Jose Mercury News did her homework and actually read Mr. Hongzhi’s racist rants. Li says that “mixed-race people…[are] instruments of an alien plot to destroy humanity’s link to heaven.” And that these interracial unions are somehow part of “a plot by…evil extraterrestrials.” Hongzhi appears to be homophobic too when he calls gays “disgusting,” and prophesizes that one day they will be ”eliminated” by ”the gods.”

Much of Hongzhi’s writings seem paranoid and ramble on about beings from outer space who are “embedding their technology and science in human bodies” so they can “control” humanity through “their thoughts.” This is a little like L. Ron Hubbard’s theories, which form the basis for Scientology.

Washington Post reporter Peter Carlson, like Lubman looked beyond the group’s rhetoric. He discovered that the followers of “Master Li” believe not only that he can “personally install” falun (a wheel of law) in their abdomens, but he can “levitate,” “become invisible” and knows the “top secret of the Universe.”

Canadian reporter Brian Hutchinson of the National Post, found that Falun Gong is based upon the “idea that life on Earth is doomed, that it is rotting and that it needs to be ‘rectified’ in order to proceed to the next stage of existence.” And “Master Li…has succeeded in preventing the cosmos from decomposing altogether, as other ‘higher beings’ were willing to allow.”

Hongzhi has also made this sweeping claim, “What I do today is for the purpose of rectifying humankind and the substances of the entire Earth.” This statement appears to match the hubris of Rev. Moon, founder of the Unification Church, who says he is the messiah.

Hongzhi eerily parallels the claims made by Marshall Applewhite of “Heaven’s Gate“? Like Li, Applewhite believed he was on a mission to fight against evil planetary forces. Just like Applewhite, Hongzhi sees himself in a singular and pivotal role. And he warns, “Not acknowledging the Master in the human world is not acknowledging oneself as a disciple.”

Yes, Mr. Soskis might have done a little bit more research, and then he would have better understood why, as one Jewish leader he quoted observed, “It’s hard to get [Jewish groups] to speak out on behalf of Falun Gong,”

Jeanette Walls at MSNBC reports that Oscar winner Nic Cage recently married Scientologist Lisa Marie Presley. The sole heir to the Elvis estate, was once wed to the self-proclaimed “King of Pop,” Michael Jackson. That marriage apparently tanked when Jackson rejected Scientology. Many observers said the union seemed like little more than a business arrangement. Now Cage seems set to become involved in the controversial church through his new wife.

Many in Hollywood question the influence of Scientology. Actor Wil Wheaton (Stand by Me, Star Trek) advises would-be actors, “Avoid anything that tells you they’ll give you a free book by L.Ron Hubbard. It’s a scheme to recruit you into Scientology.” Maybe veteran actor Nic Cage should now note that advice.

A brilliant and expansive article was recently written by Siva Vaidhyanathan, an assistant professor of information studies at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, who will become an assistant professor of culture and communication at New York University this fall. He is the author of Copyrights and Copywrongs: The Rise of Intellectual Property and How It Threatens Creativity (New York University Press, 2001).

The professor’s piece titled “Copyright as Cudgel” published by the “The Chronicle Review” discusses how through the 1998 “Digital Millennium Copyright Act” passed by Congress, copyright law has become largely a “cudgel” used by some special interests, as a means to control information and silence or constrain critics.

This legislation has often been the preferred weapon of choice used by Scientology to silence its critics on the Internet. Interestingly, it was now deceased Scientologist, California Congressman Sonny Bono, who sponsored the “Copyright Term Extension Act in 1998,” which extended the term of copyright protection by 20 years. Scientologists must have sung the refrain, “I’ve got you babe.”

Heading a herd of lesser-known Hollywood celebrities at a recent Scientology anniversary bash was none other than Tom Cruise. But ex-wife Nicole Kidman has apparently lost interest in the Sci-fi group since Tom dumped her, though her career hasn’t suffered any.

Super star Cruise led the long list of lesser-known TV and film personalities, who are all apparently hooked on “Dianetics,” that “religion” created by Sci-fi writer L. Ron Hubbard. Well, “religion” at least in the US, while some other countries just call it a business.

According to the “Hollywood Star News” it’s the “power religion of Hollywood.” However, Time Magazine calls it simply the “Cult of Greed.” Whose got that right? The Star News says “Scientology has almost 9 million adherents,” but more critical observers say that unless you count mailing lists, the real number is more like 100,000 or less.

Anyway, one thing is for sure; they know how to hook some big fish. After all, they seem to have caught the never-ending attention of Mr. Cruise.