The New Yorker’s massive article about Oscar winning screenwriter Paul Haggis and his association with Scientology is a fascinating read, pulling together a lot of the revelations about the organization that have been revealed over the last few years. Scientology takes quite a beating in the article, but the most damaging aspects are focused on David Miscavige, the leader of the “church” and Tom Cruise BFF, who apparently randomly beats up his underlings, subjects them to cruel games of fate, and might have made his wife disappear:
Miscavige’s official title is chairman of the board of the Religious Technology Center, but he dominates the entire organization. His word is absolute, and he imposes his will even on some of the people closest to him. According to Rinder and Brousseau, in June, 2006, while Miscavige was away from the Gold Base, his wife, Shelly, filled several job vacancies without her husband’s permission. Soon afterward, she disappeared. Her current status is unknown. Tommy Davis told me, “I definitely know where she is,” but he won’t disclose where that is.
This article appears in Feb 3-9, 2011.
David Miscavige is a tiny tyrant.
Scientology is, on the surface, a new age self-help scam that bilks money out of its followers through various bait-and-switch tactics. However, there is a much more sinister atmosphere of unethical activities at its higher levels. David Miscavige is indeed scary, and most likely a sociopath. As the Church of Scientology continues to lose members and eventually burns through its sizeable cash holdings, it will be interesting to see what Miscavige is capable of.
taxthecult(.)com
Lawrence Wright and Paul Haggis are hardly believable sources, so as a discriminating reader, I wouldn’t believe what they say without real proof. Both have questionable motives for releasing an “expose” about this: Wright is selling a book, and Paul Haggis has a personal grudge against Scientology and seems to be trying to get publicity as well.
Come on Batononfire, hardly believable? Wright is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist! What’s hardly believable is the story L. Ron Hubbard tells in Dianetics about being crippled and blind after WW2 and curing himself with his new religion. Real proof? How about information from the Department of the Navy via the National Archives? How about 6 months of fact checking by a highly reputable news organization? My guess is that you are a true believer, getting paid $50 a week.
V_Mathison: Calling whistle-blowers ‘hardly believable’ is insane. Haggis was in the cult for decades and has a very valuable perspective to share. He, like many others who were in the cult of scientology, have come forward to expose the criminal cult for what it is, and to save innocents from getting involved with it. This is a heroic service to humanity. I was in the cult of scientology myself. It’s worse than you think.
Sorry, that comment was for Baton on Fire.
This cult is a criminal organization. The last FBI raid in the 70’s uncovered hundreds of crimes. The founder’s wife, along with 10 other executives, all went to jail because of the crimes uncovered. They need to be investigated, not because they believe in Xenu, but because of their crimes.
Hey guys, remember….Scientology is a body of beliefs and related practices created by L. Ron Hubbard (1911–1986), starting in 1952, as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics.[4] Hubbard characterized Scientology as a religion, and in 1953 incorporated the Church of Scientology in Camden, New Jersey.[5][6]
Scientology teaches that people are immortal beings who have forgotten their true nature.[7] Its method of spiritual rehabilitation is a type of counselling known as auditing, in which practitioners aim to consciously re-experience painful or traumatic events in their past in order to free themselves of their limiting effects.[8] Study materials and auditing courses are made available to members in return for specified donations.[9] Scientology is legally recognized as a tax-exempt religion in the United States and some other countries,[10][11][12][13] and the Church of Scientology emphasizes this as proof that it is a bona fide religion.[14] In other countries, notably France, Germany and the United Kingdom, Scientology does not have comparable religious status.
It’s all just contrived, by L. Ron Hubbard a self help and fantasy writer….
Nice try, BatonOnFire. Would you be able to provide me with a free personality test?
is this an article, one paragraph and a copied and pasted paragraph? am i missing something?
BatonOnFire is the Scientology Office of Special Affairs agent sent to “handle” this article.
More than thirty years after my three years in the Sea Org, I wouldn’t ‘take’ for what I learned about myself, but wouldn’t wish the experience on a dog.
nufsed