Scientology Suffers A Karmanic Konvergence

Scientology and the Karmanic Convergence

Scientologists assigned a position to attack their critics online often spew ad hominem attacks rather than address specific points in an argument. In some cases, they have sneered at people and called them anti-religious pagans.

One might be tempted to suspect that all those pagans and witches might have gotten together and formed a megacoven of occultic abilities.

Looking at the past four months of 2008, it almost seems that Scientology is laboring under a heavy curse. This curse has manifested in three parts; the original cluster of cyberwarriors; free speech activists, ex-members and people who think Scientology should be stopped. Second, the singular chain of events leading to the rise of anonymous, a sudden influx of thousands more eyes, ears and minds. And third, the strange series of coincidences which expose a range of Scientology lies and abuses.

I call this, the 'Karmanic Konvergence.'

In December of 2007, preparations were being made for the release of John Morton's unauthorized biography of Tom Cruise. There were a few copies floating around of a DVD featuring three hours of Scientology celebration for the 2004 International Association of Scientologists event, mostly hyping Scientology successes "somewhere else." Accolades from unamed "government officials." Miraculous acceptance in places like Indonesia.

In this insular environment, Scientologists feel free to spew hatred at the mental health professionals and enemies. The attitude that management doesn't even consider the possibility of this DVD being leaked is astonishingly arrogant.

Consider this; Scientology has become more controlling and abusive of its most devout members, people on staff, in the Sea Org (Scientology's paramilitary Navy. Hubbard had been in the Navy and did not receive the respect he felt he deserved, so he started his own.)

These people have been subjected to brutal treatment. The organization seems to view staff and Sea Org members as personal property. With its increasingly abusive treatment, the organization was bound to make enemies of former true believers. Some of whom might have access to internal Scientology DVDs.

But this DVD is special. It features a segment of Tom Cruise talking about Scientology. Set to an annoying, noodling ripoff of the Mission Impossible music, it features a turtleneck- clad Cruise going from manic glee at the thought of the extermination of millions of people (SPs, suppressive persons) who stand in the way of Scientology's aim of global conquest, to seriously assuring us that Scientologists "are the authority on the mind. We are the authority for getting people off drugs."

Tom goes on to assert that, at a traffic accident, Scientologists are the only ones who can help." I don't know about you, but I'd prefer a licensed paramedic at the very least. The very idea of a Scientologist disrupting rescue efforts by intrusive bumbling gives me chills.

On the day of Morton's book release, the clips of Tom Cruise from the event video went up on the web. In many places, it was down within hours, due to Scientology's complaints and threats of litigation. Gawker.com stood tall and told them, "It's news now. Deal with it." And so, it stayed up and began to attract attention.

This was the First Plague of 2008 to strike Scientology.

Cruise's strange rambling and insane braying was mocked, examined, and discussed. His phrase, "Wouldn't it be great if some day you only read about SPs in the history books," was dissected at length. But it wasn't his disturbing hate speech about the disappearance of millions of Scientology "enemies" that opened the portal to the next level. It was Scientology doing what Scientology always does; trying to crush free speech on the internets.

They've always done this. From clogging newsgroups with off-topic spam, to complaining about critics to ISPs to get their accounts shut down, to actively attacking Wikipedia in order to get their version of the truth nestled in, cuckoo-like, to shoulder the chick of truth into the dirt where the ants can get it...Scientology has done it all, squalling all along about religious persecution and the violation of their Ron-given right to harass, intimidate, persecute, violate privacy, obtain records illegally, frame, sue, libel, slander and lie about their perceived enemies.

An enemy is anyone who publicly disagrees with them. They are the SPs Tom was braying about. But it wasn't genocide that got the internets riled up. It was Scientology's attempt, through lawyers and threats, that caught the eye of anonymous, an amorphous collective mind of the internet.

Anonymous and the old school critics joined hands. With the encyclopedic knowledge of the old schoolers and the incredible numbers of anonymous, it is an unbeatable combination of talent, determination, and a quest for lulz. And cake.

When the hive mind of the internets awoke and looked around, it said, "Who iz tryna fek wit mah internets?"

And it did some research and became informed. And it could tell the difference between hyperbolic testimonials ("I grew new teeth!") and factual, documented information.

And it looked deep behind Scientology's religious facade, and it said, "WTF??? OMG!!!" It said, "Down with this sort of thing!"

And it bought itself some Guy Fawkes masks to make it harder for Scientology to harass and identify it. Part of the deliciousness is the use of that mask, from the movie 'V For Vendetta,' the tale of a totalitarian regime headed by a vicious demagogue opposed by a lone man in a Guy Fawkes mask.

Only this time, it wasn't a lone man in a mask. It was 9000 people worldwide, participating in what might be history's first internet based event of its kind. As the globe rolled through its spin on February 15, picket reports began going up. Pictures of hundreds of people in masks; some in sunshine, some standing stalwart in a blizzard. The event followed the morning sun. Over 90 cities worldwide. Over 9000 people protesting Scientology abuse.

This was the Second Plague to hit Scientology in 2008.

Suddenly, it seemed that someone was thrusting long pins into a voodoo doll with DM's hair glued to it. And dressed in a tiny replica of his suit, snipped from a discarded cummerbund.

Because, OUCH! Jenna Miscavige starts to speak out publicly about her life in Scientology as the niece of current "Chairman of the Board," David Miscavige.

And then, OUCH! Jenna joins with the daughters of two other Scientology families; Astra Woodcraft (whose daddy first discovered blue asbestos on the Scientology cruise ship in 1987.)
And Kendra Wiseman, daughter of Bruce Wiseman; former head of Citizens Commission on Human Rights and current treasurer for the National Foundation of Women Legislators. (a little something for anonymous to ponder, winkwink)

Jenna, Astra and Kendra; the three ex-Scientology kids who decided to speak out, did so by launching http://exscientologykids.com

Pretty bad February for the cult, you might think. Tom Cruise. Anonymous. A global picket. Kids from top level Scientology families speaking out.
This is only two months into 2008!

More needles find their mark in March. The first jab was thrust by a gentleman of the bar, who wrote a biting observation of eBay's bestowal of preferential treatment to Scientology. They gave Scientology the right to close down auctions of their e-meter, a skin galvanometer used in conjunction with preset patter, to separate the mark from his next course fee.

Suddenly, eBay was inundated by complaints from people who think if you buy a product, you have the right to resell it, it's yours. One day, someone noticed an e-meter auction allowed to proceed. And then more! While there was no press release issued, it's safe to say that the circumstances suggests eBay terminated Scientology's special privileges.

On March 15, there was another global picket of Scientology.
This one focused, as well as thousands of individuals from the internet can focus, on Scientology's special deal with the American Internal Revenue Service. This information dispersal surely left some people wondering, "Why is the IRS still stonewalling over its deal with Scientology? Why should an organization that behaves like a totalitarian regime and a history of malfeanse be rewarded in this way?

March wasn't done savaging Scientology, however. In a story horribly reminiscent of Lisa McPherson's death at the hands of Scientologists, a French woman in Sardinia was the focus of a dramatic rescue. An ex-Scientologist, she was being held against her will by Scientologists at the recommendation of her brother, a prominent French Scientologist.

The timing couldn't have been better. Following the statement that "France doesn't have cult problems," by a member of French government, it couldn't have helped but underscore what ex-Scientologist and French critic Roger Gonnet told her during a personal discussion.

Italian police reported finding a half clothed woman in a room providing a vermin infested mattress. She'd written 'help' in lipstick, and threw bits of paper out her window hoping someone would respond before she died as Lisa McPherson did.

She was saved, the Scientologists were arrested, and her brother denied the whole thing, trying to make it sound like she was just spending some time in the country for her nerves. She has been recovering in a hospital, and has expressed a determination to speak out about this inhumane, negligent treatment.

March went out like a lion sated on shellfish at an
'all you can eat' seafood bar.

April elected Scientology the official April Fool of 2008.
Oh, the organization was trying to fight back, but it was using the same playbook that got people pissed off to begin with.

Creaking and spitting steam, the large, moist behemoth of Scientology's attack machine groaned into action.

The few protesters the cult was able to identify were subjected to various harassments. Some were sent 'cease and desist' letters from Scientology lawyers. Others had parents who were sent "Do you know your kid is hanging with cyberterrorists?" letters, warning them that their offspring were associating with Very Dangerous antireligious bigots, terrorists, drug dealers and possibly gay people.

It was later noted by several demonstrators that Scientologists in some cities were sending their
own children out to harass protesters. That shows how truly dangerous they really think
anonymous is.

It was painfully clear that Scientology was desperately trying to stop this movement. Unfortunately, "I'M TELLIN MOM!' only serves to make the organization look meaner and stupider than it already does.

So, we sit back, make popcorn, and wait for the organization's next big footbullet to commence. And the cult struck again!

The cult tried to obtain a blanket injunction in Clearwater, Florida, the "spiritual headquarters" of Scientology. But even in a town where Kult is King, (and glorious source of campaign funds) the First Amendment still ruled. A judge Scientology couldn't buy or influence denied their petition.
They resubmitted.
They failed again.

Apparently, you can't get a restraining order based on a mask, the internet, and live bodies who might somehow actually happen to be near a protest outside a Scientology center.

The cult said they'd been threatened.
They said they'd received bomb threats.
They said they were getting death threats.

The judge said, "Proof or didn't happen!" The injunction was denied a second time.

Scientology needed proof. Proof conveniently fell into their laps in the form of a video posted to Youtube by "anonymous." In it, a voice claiming to be that of "an elite Anonymous" warned that Scientology buildings would be razed by nitroglycerin, and that it would be the largest attack on a religion in the world.

Apparently, they don't read current events down at the org.

To further spread the word of its persecution, the Scientology organization sent out a production quality DVD to police departments, politicians, anyone they thought could help their cause. Their DVD included the threatening piece by "anonymous." But here's the kicker. It was in high resolution, where the Youtube video had been low res. Now, this road only goes one way. You simply cannot get a high res result from a low res source.

No, that DVD was made from a master original. One that Scientology likely produced in a clumsy attempt to appear persecuted.

Every single Scientology spokesperson interviewed after demos have made the same claims. Bomb threats. Death threats. It was the Whine Heard Round the World. This is an organization that calls the police when there are five people outside their door in a peaceful demonstration! And yet, not one police report was filed!

LAPD arrested a participant of anonymous for issuing a death threat to a Scientologist he was talking to during a protest. The unfortunate Scientologist was unaware that the exchange was thoroughly captured on video. After viewing the footage, LAPD dropped it. It never made the DA's office.

Turns out, calling somebody a loser is not a death threat!

April wasn't done with Scientology and David Miscavige yet. Actor Jason Beghe departed noisily, and with much invocation of the f word. Mr. Beghe reached OTV, and appeared in the cult's own promotional materials. In an interview, he pulled no punches when describing Scientology as a rip off, a fraud, and a scam.

Then Marc Headley stepped up to the plate. He was an executive at Golden Era Productions, the studio that churns out all those late-night infomercials on cable, featuring (but no longer) Jason Beghe. Mr. Headley described maltreatment, beatings, dunkings, and a concealed suicide. He describes ecclesiastical head of the "church," and Chairman of the Board David Miscagive punching him repeatedly in the face.

A tragic suicide in France focused attention on Scientology in that country and in Norway. The daughter of Norwegian politicians, she ended her life after taking one of Scientology's bogus "Free Personality Tests."

The whole point of this test is to find your ruin and exploit it. Of course, they can help you with any problems revealed by this arbitrary test. They give you the opportunity to take those first steps up the Scientology highway that leads to their Bridge to Total Freedom. It's more of a pier, actually, but what's true for them is true, and it's a bridge if they say so.

She chose not to take that route, and killed herself instead.


May is David Miscavige's birthday month. The cosmic jesters
had a couple of presents up their sleeve for the psychopathic
high school dropout on his Big Day.

But first, Belgian officials announced they would proceed in a fraud case with Scientology, the organization, as defendant. This could be the beginning of the end for Scientology in European Union countries. It will necessitate Scientology roving farther afield to find converts. Up the Amazon and out to the Australian outback.

During part of 2008, David Miscavige was spending a lot of time on Scientology's "cruise ship;" a refurbished car carrier made into a passenger ship where the highest level of Scientology training was made available.

This is the same ship Astra Woodcraft's father Lawrence renovated in 1987. The very same ship he discovered packed with blue asbestos as insulation. In 2001, Mr. Woodcraft was out of Scientology. He wrote an affidavit about his discovery on the Freewinds, and how management failed to take any action.

The government officials failed to act on this information, probably preferring to continue attending the wonderful, lavish parties thrown on board the Freewinds. Dining, dancing, a live band, and a potential slow death from mesothelioma thrown in as a party favor.

And so, it was on David Miscavige's birthday that the alert went out. Workmen had breached a wall, revealing quantities of the deadly substance. The ship, built in the 60s before asbestos was identified as a health hazard, was sealed. Davey Jones locker is likely to be the destination of her last voyage.

Incredibly, Scientology spokeswoman Karen Pouw issued a statement flatly denying the presence of asbestos. She claims that the ship is being refitted, and that no expense will be spared to make it an even more luxurious place for Scientologists to receive training. Everything is on schedule, she assures us. The ship will be ready in time for the first scheduled event of the year, a CCHR conference.

For once, Scientology's nads are caught in the wringer. Mr. Woodcraft's testimonial, made nearly twenty years ago, shows exactly the level of concern Scientology executives have toward their parishioners. They have chosen to expose thousands of people in the past twenty years to a dangerous substance leading to an incurable disease.

This is certainly criminal negligence, at the very least! It's also a window into the insane way the Scientology processing can bend one's ability to determine right and wrong.

Within Scientology, the first priority is Keeping Scientology Working. This is a convenient way to justify fraud, theft, exposure to deadly substances, or this next birthday bomb for the head of Scientology.

An article was published about the Netherlands' number one criminal; a hit man who justified his business by pointing out that all his gains went to Scientology, which is trying to save the planet.

In his mind, it was perfectly acceptable to kill a couple hundred people, because in the Big Picture, he was saving millions.

May is barely dry behind the ears, and already several significant catastrophes have thundered down upon Scientology's head. Coming up next weekend, anonymous will stage another global protest, this time focusing on Scientology's criminal and destructive Fair Game policy. Scientology will respond by demonstrating Fair Game in action.

What new and delicious secret will plop out next from Scientology's vast and titanium-lined closet of skeletons?

Only the Fates know, and they aren't telling. I'm not asking, either, but I do have one question for the spinsters of lives.

How in the world can you top a Death Ship and a Scientologist hit man?