OT VIII

Something that is often discussed with regard to Scientology is the money that one is required to pay if one wants to become a higher-level Scientologist. The specific amounts, however, are far more jarring. According to the 2006 FLAG processing price list, the base cost to progress from OT VII to OT VIII is $24,000. To progress from being a newly registered Scientologist to OT VIII costs a minimum of $365,000.

One inevitably becomes curious as to what kind of material one receives in exchange for such a large amount of money. This is an excerpt I have chosen from the OT VIII documents themselves. The OT VIII documents contain the promise of being able to leave your own body and visit others, as well as the ability to heal yourself of illnesses using only your mind. In this excerpt, L. Ron Hubbard expresses his concern for a problem of universal gravity. Keep in mind that many people have payed tens of thousands of dollars just to read these words.

Physical Abuse

It has long been rumored that RTC President and Scientology demigod David Miscavige physically beats higher-level members of the Church. Stories posted anonymously throughout the internet have supported this claim. It was not until just a few months ago, however, that a definitive and personal account of Miscavige's actions was given. Marc Headley, a 15-year veteran of Scientology who left in 2005, describes to us his personal experience with the leader's abuse. This is a transcript I authored from an interview by Dawn Olsen. For the entire 90-minute interview, click here.

Testimony

In another example of how Scientology uses its faithful members as parts in its paranoia machine, former Scientologist Vibeke Daman gives revealing testimony in court against the Church. This document is an excerpt from the case transcript. The truths people will tell under oath can be a dangerous thing for an organization like this.

Crowley and Hubbard

One aspect of L. Ron Hubbard's life that Scientologists prefer not to discuss is his relationship in the mid-1940's with British occultist and heroin-addict Aleister Crowley. Mr. Crowley was a groundbreaking, if disturbed, artist and thinker who recorded many of his drug-induced experiences in his book The Diary of a Drug Fiend. Hubbard lived under Crowley's guidance for a time, practicing the dark arts with his good friend, Dr. Jack Parsons. The excerpt below is from a ritual performed by Jack Parsons with the assistance of L. Ron Hubbard in January of 1946 called the "Magic Masturbation":

On every occasion before sleep let the Adept figure his goddess before him, wooing her ardently in imagination and exalting himself with all intensity toward her.

Therefore, with or without an assistant, let him purge himself freely and fully, at the end of restraint trained and ordered unto exhaustion, concentrating ever ardently upon the Body of the Great Goddess, and let the Offering be preserved in Her consecrated temple or in a talisman especially prepared for this practice. And let no desire for any other enter the heart. Then shall it be in the end that the Great Goddess will descend and clothe Her beauty in veils of flesh, surrendering her chaste fortress of Olympus to that assault of thee, O Titan, Son of Earth!

Psych Vendetta

It has been long known that Scientologists, and more specifically L. Ron Hubbard, have an intense disgust and rejection of psychiatry and all that it stands for. The reason they give for this is that the mind should be able to heal everything, but my personal belief is that psychiatry is one of the only fields producing tangible results for human health and well-being that Scientology generally does not.

Whether their stance on psychiatry is genuine or inauthentic, the way the CoS tries to exploit this field of medicine is immoral and wrong. I will once again allow this document, written by L. Ron Hubbard, to speak for itself.

The Rumors are True

In so many interviews and conflicts, the CoS has been continually accused of stalking and threatening any reporter trying to expose the organization for what it is. David Miscavige and the higher-ups have flatly denied this in the face of clear proof to the contrary. I sometimes think their denial is not so much intended for the public, who is already skeptical; rather, their denials seem to be aimed at practicing Scientologists who usually aren't interested in or don't have access to interviews and reports against the CoS. Therefore, the only thing they see are the higher-ups' repudiation of a "ridiculous claim" that Scientology threatens challenging reporters.

This is a document from the Church's Office of Special Affairs. See for yourself.

Lying Classes

The Church of Scientology is an organization built on the foundations of falsity, secrecy, and an intense fear of exposure. This document is from an Intelligence Specialist Training Routine written by L. Ron Hubbard. In it, he instructs Scientology's faithful employees how best "to output false data effectively". Now, I don't know about you, but I certainly don't remember being given a "how to lie" pamphlet very often.