Notice: Fredric Rice may have removed segments of the replies given to questions if they contained copyrighted materials. After a very short while, Scientology "experts" refused to answer questions and started cut-and-pasting copyrighted cult propaganda. Additionally I removed URLs in some of the replies, and left them in others. And it's also important to note that eventually the unfortunate "Greg Churilov" cultist was ejected from askme.com for his typical Scientological behavior.

Subject: Are you or were you a member of the Sea Org?
Answered by: Greg Churilov
Asked By: Anonymous

Anonymous asked this question on 4/29/2000:

Given what was ask in previous questions and your responses are you now, or were you in the past a member of the Sea Org?

How long did you spend in RPF?

What did you do that resulted in your being sent to RPF?

RebaFan asked this question on 4/24/2000:

I read here that the Church has "forced labor reeducation camps." I refuse to believe it! I can barely believe that Hubbard was a Satanists, though I see that is true judging by the internet articles I've read--- but forced labor camps?! That's just too much to ask me to believe!

Greg Churilov gave this response on 4/24/2000:

Rebafan, your veiled attempts at discrediting my religion are silly and obvious. And Mr. Hubbard was no more Satanist than you or me. So skip the lies in the future.

Scientology doesn't have "forced labor camps". That would be nuts.

[In fact they're called the "Rehabilitation Project Force." It is not voluntary and cultists do get kidnapped and held against their will in the RPF - flr]

Scientology does have a special VOLUNTARY penance program for its religious hierarchy leading a monastic life. This program is NOT extended to lay people or the everyday parishioner. It is only an option for members of the Scientology Religious Order known as the Sea Organization.

[A massive cultist lie. Numerous people have been kidnapped and held against their will inside of the cult's prison work camps and have escaped with their lives to file criminal and civil charges against the cultists. Among the most notable is L. Wollersheim who proved undeniably that this cultist is lying through his ass ring - flr]

This program is called the Rehabilitation Project Force. It is a great solution for rehabilitating the Church's monastic workers who committed heavy enough infractions to be thrown out of the order, but who ask for a second chance. The program consists of a daily routine of eight hours of work followed by five hours of study and counseling, followed by a good night's rest.

[And that's utter bullshit, too. Not only isn't it voluntary (who signs up to work in a prison camp for their vacation?) cultists aren't allowed to leave until they sign mock "confessions" which often includes "knowledge reports" on their fellow cultists -- in other words, turning in their "friends."

There's no such thing as a "good night's sleep" inside of the cult's prison camps. The rations for these happless cultists are cut for the first infraction -- which often consists merely of asking a question about the validity of their mad messiah's insane notions -- which gets get thrown into the RPF in the first place. - flr]

Programs like these exist in any monastic community and Scientology is no different.

[Except that real religions have voluntary retreats and people don't have to write confessions to be allowed out. Except that real religions don't send people away into work camps if they question the dictates of their messiahs. Cults do, of course - flr]

I am not just quoting anyone, I personally participated in the Rehabilitation Project Force. In my personal case family responsibilities took priority and I regretfully left the order. It was a sad moment for me, but I was ready for a more secular life.

[As mentioned before, one of the things that cultists have to do before they're allowed out of the prison camps is to write a confession. Most often this mock confession includes statements about how wonderful it was to be sent to the RPF so that their "sins" -- asking questions about their cult master's crimes, usually -- could be forgiven.

In order to be let out of the work camps, victims must claim how wonderful the work camps were - flr]

I made some wonderful friends and had some spectacular personal gains while on the RPF.

[There! That's it exactly! The victim must write up what the cult's ringleaders call their "wins" while being subjected to the prison work camps. This cultist exhibits all of the classical symptoms - flr]

But I accept that it was a rigorous program and that some might view it as a tough life. However, here are some facts: While in the RPF, I did get three excellent meals a day in the Church's cafeteria (stuff like beef wellington, etc.); I had excellent medical and dental coverage (I had a wisdom tooth act up), I got plenty of rest as mandatory during the program (one needs to be well rested to accept Scientology counseling or to attend study), and I was treated fairly and with dignity and kindness.

[More classical cult behavior being exhibited here. There's no mention of the forced labor, of course, or of the day-long sessions of forced brainwashing which includes running endlessly around a flag pole and reading their mad messiah's insane, ranting notions. And there's not a single word about the half rations and poor food quality, nor of the fact that cultists are ordered to "disconnect" from everyone while being subjected to this prison camp.

And some how this cultist "forgot" to mention that when one has been thrown into the RPF, they're not allowed to speak unless they're spoken to. They're also not allowed to see their own children while they're in the prison camp.

Isn't it strange how this cultist "forgot" to mention the basics? - flr]

So if that is supposed to be some "camp", it failed miserably :-) For me, it was a valuable spiritual experience, and I really with I had allowed myself the time to finish the program. I know of several friends of mine who stuck with it and today they occupy positions of responsibility within the Church's management structure. I admire their commitment.

best,
Spirit

======================== Here is the real info on the RPF as taken from the Scientology website:

...cut unmitigated bullshit lies...

Here is the truth about the cult's RPF prison system: Brainwashing in Scientology's Rehabilitation Project Force (RPF)

Further facts about this criminal empire may be found at Operation Clambake and FACTNet.

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