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Subject: LYING IS OFFICIAL CULT POLICY
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** LYING IS OFFICIAL CULT POLICY **
Contents and commentary:
Part 1: L Ron Hubbard explains that the only way you can control
people is to lie to them. Ask others - does the cult really
believe and follow this advice?
Part 2: L Ron Hubbard issues a policy which says that a declared
enemy is "FAIR GAME", may be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed.
Ask others - Does the cult have an official enemies list?
Part 3: L Ron Hubbard issues a policy that declaring people FAIR
GAME will cease. However, it explicitly does not change the
treatment or handling of such people. Therefore, it retracts the
term "FAIR GAME" but does not retract the POLICY that a declared
enemy may be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed. Ask others -
Is this now-unnamed policy still in use today, and is it legal?
Part 4: Official cult training materials on how to lie, to handle
reporters, suppressive persons and others. Ask others - Do some
cult members really take these courses?
Part 5: L Ron Hubbard says why he does not want the cult to be
mentioned in the press other than on the religion page. Ask
others - Why is the cult afraid of that kind of publicity?
Part 6: Exerpt from "The Road to Xenu" by Margery Wakefield
describing an all-too-common scene for someone who has been
trapped by the cult. Ask others - Is this a true story? How
often do parental and spousal "disconnects" happen?
Some religion, eh? Perhaps you find this material hard to believe.
I know I did when I first saw it. A lot of things about the cult
are hard to believe - at first. The cult has many techniques
designed to handle its critics, and to keep others in the dark
about the true nature of its bait (dianetics, the "modern science
of mental health") and switch (scientology, you are being controlled
by aliens which must be exorcised) scam.
Don't let the cult "handle" you. Don't let a lone anonymous message
tell you what to think, either. ASK OTHERS. Wade through some messages
here, and check out some Web pages. You will be amazed! When you feel
you've found the truth about the cult, tell others what you learned.
Seek the truth,
Uhh Clem
= = = = = = PART 1 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
ON CONTROL AND LYING
____________________
THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN CONTROL PEOPLE IS TO LIE TO THEM. You can
write that down in your book in great big letters. The only way you
can control anybody is to lie to them. When you find an individual
is lying to you, you know that the individual is trying to control
you. One way or another this individual is trying to control
you. That is the mechanism of control. This individual is lying to
you because he is trying to control you - because if they give you
enough misinformation they will pull you down the tone scale so that
they can control you. Conversely, if you see an impulse on the part
of a human being to control you, you know very well that that human
being is lying to you. Not "is going to", but "is" lying to you.
[last sentence underlined in original]
Check these facts, you will find they are always true. That person
who is trying to control you is lying to you. He's got to tell you
lies in order to continue control, because the second you start
telling anybody close to the truth, you start releasing him and
he gets tougher and tougher to control. So, you cant control
somebody without telling them a bunch of lies. You will find that
very often Command has this as its greatest weakness. It will try to
control instead of leading. The next thing you know, it is lying to
the [illegible]. Lie, lie, lie, and it gets worse and worse, and all
of a sudden the thing blows up. Well, religion has done this.
[Following sentence is underlined] Organised religion
tries to control, so therefore must be lying. [end underline]
After a while it figures out (even itself) that it is lying, and then
it starts down tone scale further and further, and all of a sudden
people get down along this spring-like bottom (heresy) and say,
"Are we going into apathy and die, or are we going to revolt?"
and they revolt, because you can only lie to people so long.
Unfortunately there is always a new cycle of lying.
L. Ron Hubbard
Technique 88
= = = = = = PART 2 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
HUBBARD COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE
Saint Hill Manor, East Grinstead, Sussex Remimeo
HCO Policy Letter of 18 October 1967
Issue IV
PENALTIES FOR LOWER CONDITIONS
(Applies both Orgs and Sea Org)
LIABILITY Suspension of pay and a dirty grey rag on left arm and day
and night confinement to org premises.
TREASON Suspension of pay and deprivation of all uniforms and
insignia, a black mark on left cheek and confinement on
org premises or dismissal from post and debarment from
premises.
DOUBT Debarment from premises. Not to be employed. Payment of
fine amounting to any sum may have cost org. Not to be
trained or processed. Not to be communicated or argued
with.
ENEMY SP Order. Fair game. May be deprived of property or
injured by any means by any Scientologist without any
discipline of the Scientologist. May be tricked, sued
or lied to or destroyed.
LRH:jp L. RON HUBBARD
Copyright (c) 1967 Founder
by L. Ron Hubbard
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
= = = = = = PART 3 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
HUBBARD COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE
Saint Hill Manor, East Grinstead, Sussex Remimeo
HCO Policy Letter of 21 October 1968
CANCELLATION OF FAIR GAME
The practice of declaring people FAIR GAME will cease. FAIR GAME may
not appear on any Ethics Order. It causes bad public relations.
This P/L does not cancel any policy on the treatment or handling of an
SP.
LRH:ci:cden L. RON HUBBARD
Copyright (c) 1968 Founder
by L. Ron Hubbard
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
= = = = = = PART 4 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
INTELLIGENCE SPECIALIST TRAINING ROUTINE - TR L
Purpose: To train the student to give a false statement with good TR-1.
To train the student to outflow false data effectively.
Position: Same as TR-1.
Commands: Part 1 "Tell me a lie". Command given by coach.
Part 2 interview type 2 WC by coach.
Training Stress: In Part 1 coach gives command, student originates a
falsehood. Coach flunks for out TR 1 or TR 0. In Part 2 coach asks
questions of the student on his background or a subject. Student gives
untrue data of a plausible sort that the student backs up with further
explanatory data upon the coach asking further questions. The coach
flunks for out TR 0 and TR 1, and for student fumbling on question
answers. The student should be coached on a gradient until he/she can
lie facilely.
Short example:
Coach: Where do you come from?
Student: I come from the Housewives Committee on Drug Abuse.
Coach: But you said earlier that you were single.
Student: Well, actually I was married but am divorced. I have 2 kids
in the suburbs where I am a housewife, in fact I'm a member of the P.T.A.
Coach: What town is it that you live in?
Student: West Brighton.
Coach: But there is no public school in West Brighton.
Student: I know, I send my children to school in Brighton, and that's
where I'm a P.T.A. member.
Coach: Oh, and who is the Chairman there?
etc.
B O A R D T E C H N I C A L B U L L E T I N
OF 10 DECEMBER 1969
REISSUED AS BTB 21 JUNE 1975
CANCELS
HCO Bulletin of 10 DECEMBER 1969
SAME TITLE
PRO COURSE
Not for distribution
CONFIDENTIAL
REPORTER TRS
1. Answering non loaded questions
Purpose: To train a PRO to answer such questions with confidence and
simplicity, as are often asked by reporters. EG., What is Scientology
(R)? What's Clear, OT? How does an E-Meter work?
Method: The PRO and 'reporter' sit across a table facing each other. The
'reporter' asks the questions and the PRO must answer, without a long
communication lag and in a way which readily communicates to the
reporter. The drill is coached as in the TRs.
The drill is passed when the PRO is confident he can answer the basic
questions asked about Scientology.
2. No Answer
Purpose: To train a PRO to give a 'no answer' to questions he has no
wish to answer directly.
Method: To begin with the reporter reading the questions asked LRH by
'The Sun' reporter Victor Chapple - and the PRO reads LRH's answers.
This is just to accustom him to the idea of 'no answer'.
Then using different questions, the PRO gives 'no answers'. The trick is
to appear to answer the question by giving generalized statements in
simple terms so that the reporter doesn't realize his question hasn't
been answered.
The PRO should be completely causative over the communication and end it
with certainty, so that the reporter gets this and goes on to the next
question.
3. Non sequitur events
Purpose: To enable a PRO to practice getting his "message" across and
tag it on to any current event. Also a preparation for the day when our
PROs will be asked to comment on current events.
Method: One person has a newspaper in front of him and reads out a
headline (and perhaps a line or two of the story if necessary for the
PRO's understanding of it). Ask the PRO what comment he would like to
make on it. The PRO should comment briefly and lead from this into his
message.
The drill is passed when the PRO can tack a message on to virtually any
event, smoothly and with reality.
4. Handling a suppressive T.V. interviewer
Purpose: To train a PRO to get his message across in spite of the
'interviewer', in the few short minutes usually available on television.
This is so that .... million people have no doubts after the programme
what the Scientologist stands for and what he is against.
Method: The PRO and interviewer face each other and the interviewer asks
questions. The PRO attaches his message in varying forms to as many
answers as possible. If the interviewer is SP he must be introverted as
in the hat write up, and then the PRO has his "say". The interview has
been successful when the PRO has got his message across to his
satisfaction.
5. Handling an SP
a) By overwhelm
Purpose: To train a PRO to be able to establish Ethics presence over an
SP reporter if the occasion arises, by such things as shouting, banging,
pointing, swearing. To do this completely causatively until the poor
reporter is 'caved in'.
Method: The reporter and PRO sit across a table facing each other and
the reporter asks SP questions. The PRO overwhelms without judgement in
answer to the SP question until he does it with reality, causativeness
and the overwhelm really reaches the reporter. TR 1 is a part of this
drill - there is no point saying the words if they don't reach the other
guy.
b) By being knowingly covertly hostile
Purpose: To train the PRO to handle an SP reporter by word alone without
the use of force as in (a). He uses the word as a rapier and plunges it
in at the reporter, so that the reporter introverts and drops the
question.
Method: The PRO and reporter sit across a table and the reporter asks SP
type questions.
The PRO observes what would be a button in relation to the question asked
and throws this back with good TR 1 so that it reaches home. If the
reporter is introverted the PRO is successful. If the reporter persists
with the same question the PRO should not re-press the same button - it
obviously didn't work. He should drop it and use another one. If the
PRO cannot think of a snide reply the reporter should just say "flunk,
you haven't handled me. Start" - or some such remark - but should not
tell the PRO what to say. When the confusion has come off the PRO will
be able to handle and have a big win.
The drill is completed when the PRO is willing to create a cave in with
an accurate snide remark, question or statement.
c) By stalling for time
Purpose: To train a PRO to maintain his confront and composure when
given some SP sensational news by a reporter, of which he has no prior
knowledge.
Method: The reporter asks the PRO for his comments on an entheta
situation involving a Scientologist.
The PRO maintains his ethics presence and duplicates the reporter's nasty
angle to his satisfaction. He then stalls for time and gets the
reporter to wait a few minutes or hours or so (whatever is necessary)
while he checks his facts.
The drill is passed when the PRO is confident that he could not be taken
off guard by a reporter by being presented by an unknown situation.
d) By handling the reporter in front of you (verbal Karate)
Purpose: To train a PRO to handle the reporter in front of him, with
judgement in present time.
Method: The PRO and the reporter sit across a table facing each other.
The PRO is asked a miscellany of questions. If it is a genuine
question, he can answer it, if possible tacking his message on to the
reply. If the question puts him the least bit at effect, he takes this
flow and turns it towards the reporter with an even greater velocity.
He does this either by a snide remark, question or comment, or by
physical overwhelm, whichever seems the right action to establish ethics
presence.
He should never allow himself to be put at effect, and should not
tolerate it even for an instant, but immediately attack back.
The drill is passed when the PRO no longer uses a machine or method to
handle the reporter - but he is totally there, confident and handling.
_Comment_ If your student experiences difficulty on these TRs one of two
things are out: a) Scientology TRs 0 - IV are not flat or b) he slipped
through a previous Reporter TR without a weakness or button on him being
found and flattened.
_History_ These drills have been evolved by PRO WW to train anyone on a
gradient scale to handle any situation a reporter could pose. They are
based on the HCOP/L 3.2.69 Public Image which states "Don't defend Scn,
attack bad conditions and bad hats!"
By Sheila Gaiman
PRAWW
From the hat write up of
David Gaiman
PR Chief WW
Reissued as BTB by
Flag Mission 1234 I/C
CPO Andrea Lewis
for the
BDCS:AL:DG:SG:al
Copyright (c) 1969, 1975 BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OF THE
by L. Ron Hubbard CHURCHES OF SCIENTOLOGY
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
INTELL TRs
TR 3 INT
Purpose: To teach a student Int Officer to get the answer to a question
without startling a target. To teach him not to be startled by
suspicion and accusation.
Position: Student & Coach facing each other.
Commands: No fixed commands. Use "Start", "Flunk" and "That's it" as in
other TRs.
Training Stress: There are two parts to the drill.
(a) The Coach assumes an identity such as Director of a Drug Firm, or
Psychiatrist, or PR Man. Coach also picks a question that the student
must get answered such as "What is my address", "What is my brother's
name", "Have I ever had any connection to the FDA". Coach gives the
student a couple of minutes to mock up a suitable cover. Then the drill
begins with the student being the interviewer who must get the question
answered. Flunks are given for being too pushy, failing to let coach
Itsa (a silent int officer invites Itsa), for making the Coach
suspicious. Coach gets gradiently tougher & evasive.
(b) The coach picks an identity. The student picks a question as above.
Flunks are given as in part (a). If the coach guesses which question
the student is trying to get answered (coaches don't go looking for the
question but if it sticks out like a sore thumb then Flunk it). Coach
is more evasive in this one & flunks are given for creating suspicion.
After the student does this well the coach throws in accusative
comments, such as "Who are you working for?", "You're a Scientologist",
"What are you, a detective?". Flunks are given for failing to handle &
for becoming startled.
This drill is passed when the student can do part (b) of this drill
flawlessly.
TR 3 INT WITH BULLBAITING
Purpose: To teach a student Int Officer to improvise and maintain cover
when confronted with something unexpected.
Position: Student and coach facing each other.
Commands: No fixed commands. Use "Start", "Flunk" and "That's it" as in
other TRs.
Training stress: Coach picks an identity. The student mocks up a cover
and picks a question he wants answered. The student interviews the
coach and must get his question answered.
The coach throws in startling accusations and suspicions and the student
must handle and maintain his cover. Coach starts off on a gradient
giving the student wins.
Flunks are give for being startled and long comm lags, for failure to
give an answer and smooth over the suspicions of the coach.
This is passed when the student can give plausible answers and improvise
with ease, so his cover remains intact, and can get an answer to his
question.
Reporting.
Set up is done as per TR 3 Int (b). Coach is not tough but does give the
student many facts. Student departs after terminating the interview.
And writes a report on it. Particularly noting whether he got his
question answered. The report should include all facts given, but not
be overly detailed and include a description of the coach. Flunks are
given for false reports, opinions, evaluation, omitted data and any
other outpoint found in the report but not the interview.
Mo Budlong
DG Info WW
= = = = = = PART 5 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
We do not want Scientology to be reported in the press anywhere else but
on the religion page of newspapers. It is destructive of word of mouth
to permit the public press to express their biased and badly reported
sensationalism. Therefore we should be very alert to sue for slander at
the slightest chance so as to discourage the public press from
mentioning Scientology - L Ron Hubbard
= = = = = = PART 6 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
[A young scientologist finally gets to see her parents. At dinner...]
"Your mother and I have been reading about this Scientology," he told me.
He took some newspaper clippings from his briefcase. "Here. I want
you to read these."
I picked up one of the clippings. It was from Time Magazine. The writer
was obviously biased against Scientology. In the article Scientology
was called a cult.
"Scientology's not a cult," I informed my father. "It's just a group of
people trying to make a difference in the world. This writer obviously
didn't talk to anyone in Scientology or he wouldn't have written these
things." I handed the article back to him.
"Well, there are other articles," he handed me several other articles. I
looked through them. The orientation of the writers was obvious.
"Dad, this is just entheta," I told him, remembering what Hubbard had
taught about this kind of journalism on one of his tapes. "That means
it is against theta, or goodness. We're not supposed to read this
stuff," I told him coldly, pushing the articles back to his side of the
table.
"But just read some of them," he pleaded with me.
"I don't need to read them. I know what they say without reading them.
They are written by the suppressive press. These writers are paid by
their bosses to write this stuff. They want to destroy Scientology
because it works.
There are vested interests in this country who don't want to see
Scientology expand. It is a threat to them because they want to enslave
people and Scientology is in the business of freeing people." Out of my
mouth were coming the phrases I had heard over and over on Hubbard's
training tapes.
"You are in a dangerous cult," my father argued with me. "We want you to
quit this foolishness and come home. That's why I am here. I have come
to get you and to take you home."
I looked at my dad with disbelief. He was beginning to sound like a
Suppressive Person. A very unpleasant thought began to form in my mind.
Could it be possible that my dad was an SP? "How does mom feel about
this?" I asked him.
"She totally agrees. We both want you home. You can go back to the
university. If you come back now, you can still enroll for the spring
semester." He was looking at me hopefully.
"I don't want to come back. I don't want to go back to school. This is
where I belong. I have a job here. I am helping to Clear the planet.
There is nothing on this whole planet more important than Scientology.
These writers are wrong about Scientology. Scientology is the only hope
on this planet that any of us have." I was beginning to get desperate.
Could my father force me to go back with him?
"No, you are wrong," my father said, beginning to sound angry. "This
Scientology is nonsense. You are in a cult. And I am going to take you
home. I want you to get your things and come with me. I have a ticket
for you to come back with me to Michigan." He pulled the ticket from
his pocket. It was made out in my name.
I started to cry. "Dad, I can't come back with you. I don't care what
you think about Scientology, you just don't understand. You can't tell
me what to do anymore. I'm eighteen. Scientology is my life. I've
signed a contract to work here and I'm not leaving."
"What kind of contract?" he asked suspiciously.
"A Sea Org contract. I signed a contract to work for the Sea Org for a
billion years. We're going to clear the planet. Then we're going to
clear all the other planets in the universe. Scientology is the first
chance in millions of years for us to be free. And I'm not going to
mess it up. There's nothing in the world out there that I want to do.
How could I go back to music school when I have a chance here to help
with something really important?"
He looked at me with a combination of exasperation and disbelief. "How
can I get you to see the truth about what you are involved in?" he asked
me. "Can't you see the absurdity of what you are saying? A billion year
contract? Clearing the planet? This is nonsense. You need to come to
your senses." Now he was really sounding angry.
"Dad, I'm not coming back with you. I'll have dinner with you and talk
to you, but I'm not coming back to Michigan. And you can't make me." I
was not about to give in.
He stared helplessly out the window. Then he turned to me and started
speaking in a kinder, less angry voice.
"Look, I know we have never shown much affection in our family. But you
know that we love you. We care about you. Why do you think I came all
the way out here to see you? We all care. Your brothers and sister
miss you too. We all want you back home."
"And what will you do if I don't come?" I asked him.
"We'll try something to get you back. Legally. We'll fight. We'll sue
this cult if we have to. We're not going to give to up to some
harebrained cult," he threatened.
Now I knew the truth. My father was an SP. Hubbard had made it clear. I
had read all the teachings on the Suppressive Person on the course. The
basic crime of Suppressive Persons was to attack Scientology, the only
force for good and reason on the planet.
I had read about this in the Ethics book. The Suppressive Person was
also called the "anti-social personality," or the "anti-Scientologist."
"There are certain characteristics and mental attitudes which cause
about 20% of a race to oppose violently any betterment activity or
group," Hubbard had written. Such people, he said, cause untold trouble
for betterment groups such as Scientology. "The anti-social personality
supports only destructive groups and rages against and attacks any
constructive or betterment group." Of course, I thought. My father
works for the government. According to Hubbard, the government is
completely suppressive. I had listened to tapes where he had told us
all about the suppressive agencies in the federal government: the IRS,
the FDA, the FBI, the National Institute for Mental Health. The
government, explained Hubbard, was a suppressive organization that
controlled this country. But the real truth was that behind this
government was an invisible govenrnment that most people didn't know
about. It consisted of a secret group of twelve extremely powerful men
who were the real source of power in the world. They were particularly
connected with the World Health Organization in Europe. And they pulled
the strings that ran this country. And the people who worked for the
government, like my father, were just minor suppressives that were
attracted to this kind of work because it was consistent with their real
inner evil natures.
I stared at my father with amazement. My eyes were being opened. Now I
understood why there had been so much trouble in our family. My father
was, as Hubbard put it, a "blazing SP."
"Look, I'm not coming home. And I don't want you to cause any trouble
for Scientology. That would just get us both in trouble." I looked at
him coldly. I got up from the table. "I'm going back to the center. I
can't stay here with you. I'm sorry you wasted your trip but you did
that on your own determinism, and I can't take responsibility for it
(more Scientology-talk)."
I walked out the door, not looking back at him.
I ran back to the center, and burst into Aileen's office. "Aileen, my
dad is threatening to sue Scientology. He says it's a cult. He wanted
me to go back home with him," I said, obviously upset.
She looked at me, concerned. "Why? What happened? Tell me exactly what
happened and what he said."
I related the whole event to her. She looked troubled.
"I'm afraid I'll have to write up a knowledge report about this," she
told me. "It seems that your father could be a source of trouble for us.
You'll have to work this out with Ethics. And until it's handled, I'm
afraid you won't be able to go back on course. But the first thing that
you need to do is to go and report everything that has happened to the
MAA."
She pulled a routing form out of her top drawer. At the top it said,
"Ethics Routing Form."
Several minutes later, I sat in the chair opposite the teenage Ethics
Officer, telling him the same story I had told Aileen.
"I would like to indicate that your father is a Suppressive Person," he
looked across the desk at me as if I were infected with a deadly virus,
"and the policy on suppressives is very clear." He handed me a policy
letter written by Hubbard. I read through it carefully. The policy on
suppressives, according to Hubbard, was to "handle" or "disconnect."
"What does that mean?" I asked the young boy sitting across from me.
Wrong question. "What word don't you understand?" he looked at me with
emotionless eyes.
"I understand the words. I just don't understand what I'm supposed to
do," I said.
"Very simple. Either you handle your father. That means to the point
where he is willing that you continue in the Sea Org, or you will have
to disconnect from him. You will have to send him a disconnect letter."
"Disconnect letter?" It sounded ominous.
"Yes. I can help you write it. You will tell him that you want no
contact with him or with the rest of your family now or at any point in
the future. You will formally disconnect from your suppressive family.
And until you handle the situation in one way or the other, you won't be
allowed back on course. That's policy. I'm going to give you twenty
four hours to make your decision. You are to report back to me at this
same time tomorrow." The policy, I realized, was black and white. Like
everything else in Scientology. There was no room for feeling. Not
that I minded the lack of emotion with which this and similar situations
were handled in Scientology. I had already done enough TR 0 bullbaited
to not feel much about anything. But to tell your parents goodbye
forever... I squirmed inwardly at the thought. Yet I believed in the
policy. I was already conditioned to believe that if Hubbard said it,
it must be right. I knew that Hubbard's way would always be the best
and most rational solution because he was "Source." In just a few short
weeks, Hubbard had already assumed occupancy of the place in my mind
allocated to Father, or Dad. He loved me, I believed, even more than my
own father did. He was father to us all.
I walked back to the house, having been barred from the course until this
problem was resolved. I thought of my dad. He'll be home in a couple
of hours, I thought. I'll call him and maybe he'll be more reasonable.
Maybe he can be "handled."
But in my mind the decision had already been made. My father had taken
on the color of the enemy. I no longer thought of him as father. All
these years, I thought, I had been living with an SP and not known it.
This explained all the conflict in my family. And by virtue of being
married to an SP, my mother was by (Scientology) definition a "PTS," or
Potential Trouble Source. And both of them were now endangering my
Scientology career.
If they didn't agree to back off, I thought, I will have to disconnect. I
have to get back on course. Already my stats for the week are crashed,
I thought dismally, wondering what ethics condition I would be assigned
for the week.
I lay on my bed, thinking back over all the years with my father. I
thought of the twelve characteristics Hubbard lists in the Ethics book
as being characteristic of an SP.
"1. He or she speaks only in broad generalities." Yeah, I thought, my
dad is always talking about "they this" and "they that."
"2. Such a person deals mainly in bad news, critical remarks,
invalidation and general suppression." Bulls eye, I thought. My father
had a definite tendency to be critical. I thought of all the times he
came home complaining about his co-workers, criticizing what they had
done during the day.
"3. The anti-social personality alters, to worsen communication...
passes on `bad news.'" Again I thought of times when my dad told us
less than flattering stories about the "imbeciles" he worked with.
"4. He does not respond to treatment or psychotherapy." Once, I
remembered, my mother had tried to get my dad into counseling to work on
their marriage and he refused to go.
"5. Surrounding such a personality we find cowed or ill associates or
friends who, when not driven actually insane, are yet behaving in a
crippled manner in life, failing, not succeeding." My mother is always
sick, I thought, and what about my problems. And my sister is always
having trouble in school. I didn't need to read any further. There was
no doubt in my mind. My dad was an SP. And now he was trying to
interfere with me trying to help Scientology clear the planet. I began
to feel angry. I'm not going to let him do this to me, I thought. I'm
going to get ethics in on my family. If I have to disconnect, then
that's what I'll do.
I waited for the hours to pass. I was dreading the call. Finally I
walked down to the convenience store a couple of blocks away and placed
the call. My mother answered the phone. She sounded cheerful. "Hi,
dear. We were just thinking about you."
"Is dad there?" I asked her coldly. I knew what I was up against. My
mother had no idea of the situation she was in, that she was PTS to a
deadly SP. "Yes, he just got in. I'm so disappointed that you didn't
come back with him. But you need to know that we love you and we'll
always be here for you." "Could I just talk to dad?"
He came on the line. "Margery, we're not going to give up without a
fight. You tell Scientology that they will hear from my lawyer. I'm not
going to stand for this nonsense."
"OK, dad. I'm sorry you feel that way. Tell mom goodbye for me," I
said, then quickly hung up the phone.
There's no going back now, I thought. I went back to the house and spent
a sleepless night tossing to and fro, my sleep haunted with nightmares
about my father. In one dream, he had a gun and was standing outside
the center shooting through the windows.
The next morning I walked over to center and went directly to the Ethics
office.
"I need to disconnect from my family," I stated calmly. "There's no hope
of ever dealing rationally with my father. He's insane on the subject
of Scientology. Hubbard was sure right about SP's. They hate what we
are doing to save this planet."
"So what do I have to do?" I looked across at the teenage Master at
Arms. "Here's what you have to write," he replied, handing me a blank
sheet of paper and a pen. He began to dictate. "I am writing to notify
you that I hereby disconnect from you." He paused as I wrote. "I want
no further contact with you at any time or under any circumstances.
This decision is irrevocable." I wrote down exactly what he said.
"Now sign it," he commanded. Then he handed me an envelope. "You can
make this out and we will mail it for you."
I addressed the envelope.
"That's all there is to it," he said matter of factly. "I will give you
a form to get you back on course. You're going to have to push to get
your stats back up."
"I know," I answered. "But I'll do it. Thursday is still three days
away." I walked back to the courseroom. Just like that, I thought. I
tried to comprehend the fact that I would never see or write to my
parents ever again. Somehow, it didn't seem real. I couldn't quite
imagine life without mom and dad to fall back on.
"Well, I guess I'm on my own now," I thought. "I know I did the right
thing. I just wish I felt better about it."
For a moment I had a fleeting thought to run back up the street to the
store to call my dad and ask him for the ticket back home.
But I quickly pushed the thought from my mind. "Family," I thought to
myself, "is the second dynamic. The Sea Org is the third dynamic."
Then I repeated to myself the phrase I was to hear many times in the
coming years. "The greatest good for the greatest number of dynamics,"
I thought. "Scientology must survive. My relationship with my family is
not important. All that is important is clearing the planet."
I can't think about them any more, I told myself as I approached the
center. They are no longer my family. Scientology is my family. And
this is my real home.
I walked resolutely into the courseroom. I was more determined than ever
to do well in Scientology.
I didn't think about my family again for a long time. I read the letters
from my mother that would arrive periodically at the center, but I would
throw them in the trash, feeling no emotion whatsoever.
I had passed my first initiation.
I was now a real Scientologist.
ÿ