![Church of Scientology logo, itself a "map" of complicated doctrine.](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/hash/ee/b5/eeb50f268d6fd1cf15949022171f24f3.png "Church of Scientology logo, itself a "map" of complicated doctrine.")
Yeaaaaaaa!
Is it just me, or does anyone else feel like it's the first day of summer, every time you hear a little more about Scientology's craziness? Ever since I read A Piece of Blue Sky by ex-member Jon Atack, I've been addicted to the insanity that is Scientology. So when I heard about former Church of Scientology member and employee Marc Headley's new book, I was hooked from the get-go.
From the looks of it, Blown for Good is going to be a doozy. Headley knows the organization inside and out, from his harrowing experience with forced labor to his "auditing" (week-long bizarre talk therapy) with none other than Tom Cruise, who spent several days teaching Marc to move ashtrays with his mind (starting, of course, with moving it with his hands... you know, for practice).
It really cannot be overstated, how much courage it takes for former COS members to come out against the organization. "Suppressive Persons" (or SPs), as COS officials call defectors, have been harassed, threatened, and even the target of campaigns to have the defector imprisoned or institutionalized. Leaving the Church often means losing all social ties, including spouses and family members, and remaining members of the cult are routinely advised to cut off all contact with the SP. Leaving the Church means starting an entirely new life, and often starting out broke, physically and emotionally exhausted, and living in fear of backlash. Headley himself only escaped the utterly cree-pee religion via motorcycle chase through the compound on which he served. If a major motion picture deal doesn't come out of that, I think we can all guess who's keeping it at bay.
A big tip of the hat to Marc Headley, for publicly speaking the truth about Scientology, and paving the way for others to make a clean break. That takes courage, and a conviction that it is always right to seek the truth. Marc Headley, we could use someone like you.
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Comments
Ever since the Tom Cruise video caught my attention, the one where he envisions an all-Scientology planet with no critics (insert Cruise's maniac laugh here), I've been reading about Scientology.
Marc's story, from what I hear, is probably one of the better ones, because of all the tidbits about Cruise and David Miscavige, but my favorite will always be BARE-FACED MESSIAH by Russell Miller. While out-of-print, you can download it or read it online from sites like "Clambake."
What I like about Miller's book, it covers Hubbard's childhood, military service and school days, and the roller coaster that Dianetics became, when the scam first took off. Early on, Hubbard lied to followers and the press, boasting about doing oceanographic research for the National Geographic and Harvard. Both institutions, of course, never heard of Hubbard, let alone employed him. He was a compulsive and colorful liar. Too bad the cult ruins so many people's lives & traps people in fear from speaking out.
This book will play a major role in the total obliteration of the Scientology crime-cult. Highly recommended.
Though it's been happening since life began on this big, green planet,it always surprises me that people are THAT eager to follow something that they commit themselves to churches like Scientology. Even moreso, when committed, it becomes so difficult to remove oneself from the church that when one is able to, he is celebrated for his achievement. Kudos to you, Marc. Kudos to Carrie for bringing this book to my attention.
A Piece of Blue Sky by Jon Atack is available online for free, google is your friend!
Thanks Carrie,
If you would like to review the book, send me your contact info at marc@blownforgood.com and I will send you a copy today!
Marc Headley
aka BFG
Scientology does work, despite the lies being spread. For those of you who can think for yourself and make up your own mind......try reading a book. For those of you who have no interst in this type of self improvement.....just ignore it!
I am sure most of you beleive that the government and the large multi-national companies have your best interest at heart and everything will be all right. Sorry if some of us don't buy that, but that is our choice in a free society, right? I don't understand the anger......take a pill....that's what you have been told is the right thing to do, right?
Marc; do you deny that Scientology works?
"Steve says:
Marc; do you deny that Scientology works?
November 6, 10:11 AM"
Yeah - Scientology works and it helps people: youtube:watch?v=W949q6Mtsfk
Steve wrote: "For those of you who can think for yourself and make up your own mind......try reading a book. For those of you who have no interst in this type of self improvement.....just ignore it!"
Steve, you are assuming that anyone who criticizes Scientology has not picked up a book and cannot think for him/herself. But many of the people critical of Scientology *did* pick up a book--Dianetics and many other Scientology texts. They were in Scientology and got out. How do you account for the fact that so many ex-Scientologists are so critical of the CoS? If the tech works, how did so many people end up let down or turned off by Scientology, even fearful of it?
And,regarding your advice to "ignore it," if it were a matter of what people believe, I would ignore it. But I don't see why I should ignore people being abused.
I'm sure bits and pieces of $cientologee work. Elron simply ripped off the basics from early psychiatry and mental health experts.
If it sounds like a scam, acts like a scam and rips people off like a scam then it is $cientologee.
Steve, If Scientology "worked" I don't think he would need his hands to move the ashtray (with his mind) . I have had people tell me that Scientology "works". But nobody ever says how unless you give them a ton of money. People say that say Yoga can teach out how to fly, but you can see the demonstration on you tube of people bouncing up and down they just look silly. Scientology is the same thing with out the funny video. But at least when you take Yoga flying lessons you see the silly looking results beforehand. When you take Scientology courses, you only hear testimonials of people who claim their life has improved but don't offer any proof. It is a scam Steve. It scams you out of your money, and your mind. Then it sometimes scams you out of your life.
Steve: I, for one, have read Dianetics. Frankly, I don't know how it pulls anyone in. It reads to me like the ramblings of a crazy person. But even if that weren't the case, the fact that countless ex-members come out to reveal the financial, physical and mental abuse rampant in the organization is enough to raise eyebrows and picket signs.
It's amazing that many cult leaders throughout history follow this pattern - compulsive lying, boasting of credits they've never earned - and yet new cult leaders manage to gain followers through the same means. A cult history class might be a benefical addition to our schools.
Marc: Great! I've sent you an e-mail. =)
@Steve
Scientology works, and it helps people [delude themselves, while spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on cockamamie non-existent "super powers," or states of "clear" or signing billion year contracts, for which they are lucky to get out of alive and sane, like Marc].
Steve wrote: "For those of you who can think for yourself and make up your own mind......try reading a book. For those of you who have no interst in this type of self improvement.....just ignore it!"
Steve, you are assuming that anyone who criticizes Scientology has not picked up a book and cannot think for him/herself. But many of the people critical of Scientology *did* pick up a book--Dianetics and many other Scientology texts. They were in Scientology and got out. How do you account for the fact that so many ex-Scientologists are so critical of the CoS? If the tech works, how did so many people end up let down or turned off by Scientology, even fearful of it?
And,regarding your advice to "ignore it," if it were a matter of what people believe, I would ignore it. But I don't see why I should ignore people being abused.
I'm sure bits and pieces of $cientologee work. Elron simply ripped off the basics from early psychiatry and mental health experts.
If it sounds like a scam, acts like a scam and rips people off like a scam then it is $cientologee.
The goal of Upper Indoc TRs is not telekinesis. The goal is to hardwire an ability to put across your intention. Think of it this way: Mr. Miyagi wasn't teaching Daniel-san how to paint fences and wax cars, he was hardwiring the ability to defend himself; to make it second nature.
You're reading too much into the ashtray. There's plenty of stuff to make fun of in Scientology without assuming we're trying to defy the law of gravity. "The Piltdown Man," for instance.
ARC: It's not that we can't conceive of a system in which the subconscious mind is developed beyond the usual levels of ability. It is that such a state is not supported by any scientific evidence, and that the very organization that purports to provide this therapy is founded by a fraud, well-known for systemic abuse of staff and members, and notoriously deceitful with media and the public.
Carrie: Regarding your first point, The Church of Scientology may have abandoned all pretense of scientific inquiry, but there is at least some scientific evidence to be found in the work the Dalai Lama has conducted with MIT. Regarding the second point, you'll find no argument here about the organization or even Hubbard himself. The man had a PT Barnum streak a mile wide. So did Edison, but his light bulbs still manage to work in spite of it.
Carrie, I am looking forward to your review. So far reviews have focused on Cruise talking to bottles. Even juicier is the chapter "Happiest Girl" (pp. 275 - 278)on the project to find Tom Cruise a girlfriend via David Miscavige's "Celebrity Pimp Service."
This book answers the questions always asked, never B4 answered:
1) How can anyone get involved in this cult?
2) Why don't they just leave and get on with it?
3) Why aren't the FBI, Attorney General, IRS, etc. shutting
this reign of terror down?
4) How can it be worse/crazier than I've been told?
5) Why should I care if I'm not a Scn? (believe me you need
to know, including all their front groups)
You'll find all these answered in Marc Headley's "Behind the Iron Curtain of Scientology"
Definitely blockbuster megahit movie material. I never buy DVD movies. I'd buy a dozen of this.
Response to Rosy:
This book answers has no answers:
1) Why does Atheist call all religions cults?
2) If you don't believe in a religion then why comment on a religion?
3) Why have the FBI recently charged Anonymous members with federal crimes?
4) How can it be worse/crazier than covering up your body with Vaseline and running necked through New York City Blocks and Church doorsteps?
5) Why should I be so focused on this topic? (Believe me you probably have nothing better to do in life, that is why you should leave comments on such a minimal topic)
Ho
You'll find all these answered in G. W. Bush "Dumb and Dumber" how to lead the blind.
The book is available at wwwDOTblownforgoodDOTcom And here's a copy of the sheriff's office report about headley's escape from the desert compound: wwwDOTscribdDOTcom/doc/12831004/Riverside-County-Sheriffs-Department-Police-Reports-regarding-Marc-Headleys-Escape
Enjoy!
Janal.
1) "Why does Atheist call all religions cults?"
I'm assuming you meant "Why do atheists call all religion cults?" We don't. However, this one is, because it is a relatively small religious movement, headed by a very mentally ill person, which severely punishes members who attempt to leave, and abuses current members. We can quibble about designations, but this certainly has all the earmarks.
2) "If you don't believe in a religion then why comment on a religion?"
If you don't agree with us, why comment here? Because discussion is important. Because we desire to fight wrongdoing. Because we believe in truth.
3) "Why have the FBI recently charged Anonymous members with federal crimes?"
I don't know. Nor do I see the relevance here. We are not here to defend the actions of Anonymous, especially given that they are a non-centralized "group" which anyone can join.
4) "How can it be worse/crazier than covering up your body with Vaseline and running necked through New York City Blocks and Church doorsteps?"
Really? How can it be worse? This is the worst thing you can think of: a panty raid in New York City? Okay. Here's how: systemic physical, mental and psychological abuse of members, violent attacks and documented plots to ruin peoples' lives for leaving or speaking against the Church.
5) "Why should I be so focused on this topic? (Believe me you probably have nothing better to do in life, that is why you should leave comments on such a minimal topic)"
Thank you for that well-crafted sentence. However, we are "focused on this topic" because people are suffering at this Church's powerful hands. However, if you think it's trivial, wouldn't it be even more trivial to comment on our triviality? Mmm. Enjoy digging that hole.
Steve, The problems that Scientology now face is due to the fact that people are reading.
Innocent people have died and lives have been ruined. Headly, is one of the lucky ones - he's alive.
Headly, deserves a huge round of applause for writing his book. It could save someones life. Rest in Peace Kyle Brennan, your day is coming.
Carrie: Scientologists are not allowed to read articles like this; just one of many things they will be interrogated on, and if discovered, punished. All except the "intelligence arm" of this group. It's Scn policy to "attack, never defend" and then to "deflect the subject matter). As you can see by comments like Janal's, he's been an obedient Scn troll. The general deflect "button" these days is religion haters. What you will never see is the slightest hint of remorse or compassion.
The fact that you've been trolled means you did a good job!
OK....LOOK PEOPLE!!!
THIS IS ACTUALLY A BIGGER PROBLEM THEN YOU THINK.
BOTH SIDES ARE WRONG, HOW ABOUT THAT.
THE ANON ACTS ACTUALLY GIVE SCIENTOLOGY MORE ATTENTION, NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY.
THE CHURCH IS HUGE AND GROWING, THAT MEANS SOME PEOPLE ENJOY THE SUBJECT BUT ARE POSSIBLY BEING RUN MY A MANAGEMENT CONNECTED TO THE SAME IRS AND MEDIA ELEMENTS SO OF COURSE THEY WON'T SHUT DOWN THE CHURCH....DOES ANYONE SEE THE PROBLEM..
L. RON HUBBARD HIMSELF BOTH ASPECTS OF THIS FIGHT..
Scientology isn't growing. It is just buying more real estate with all that tax-free cash. I think most people are beginning to understand that Scientology is a toxic cult.
*****
Hubbard was good at developing a system for hooking people and slowly brainwashing them, but if you skip the brainwashing and turn to the last chapters of the book...hahahahahaha...what a joke. Once a science fiction, always a science fiction writer.
Scientology is finally starting to be held accountable for it's own crimes.
Funny how Scientology beats on it's members to take responsibility yet the organization itself can't do what it preaches.
The truth is out there, it just takes an internet seach to find it.
Scientology is not a religion. Stop making religious arguments about it. It's just a scam that pretends to be a religion to avoid paying taxes. Not a religious issue at all.
Just for fun ... if the Blown For Good ever gets made, Marc should get a cameo role as Danny Dunigan, the security guard who ran him off the road as he tried to escape.
Pete
Where do I sign up?
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