In the Old West, rustling livestock was a tempting and lucrative crime. It became such a grievous offense that it frequently resulted in lynching by vigilantes. In light of such grim consequences, history does not reveal that the rustlers ever organized an official committee to register complaints about the harshness of the crimes THEY were committing.
Fast-forward to Scientology’s Stand League
STAND’s mission is to end forever the defamation and bigotry toward Scientologists and the Scientology religion, and to protect everyone’s basic inalienable right to practice their chosen faith.
We fight all forms of antireligious hate and champion freedom and equal rights for all, because we want a world of respect and understanding—one that is safe and inclusive for members of every faith.
We’ll note what Tony Ortega has said about Stand League: “The STAND League is Scientology’s fake grass-roots organization that attacks former Scientologists and journalists in the church’s grand tradition.”
The word, “hate” occurs 1,530 times on their website.
Let’s unpack how Scientologists have their logic and reason jacked up by their so-called religion…
Exhibit “A”
From the Stand League newsroom:
“What We Scientologists Wish You Knew About Us,” by Eva Mahoney, Scientology Troll Extraordinaire (added for dramatic effect).
I am a Scientologist of over 35 years, and my friends and I are here to tell you that we are no different from you. And we are disheartened and angry at what appears to be increasing attacks on our first amendment rights to religious freedom by an increasingly irresponsible national media. What is this country coming to?
Do you see me or my fellow Scientologists condemning your religion, harassing and degrading you and your beliefs? No you don’t. That’s because Scientologists respect the religious beliefs of others.
1st Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;
or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;
or the right of the people peaceably to assemble,
and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Actually, Eva … condemnation, harassment, or degrading your beliefs is not protection provided in the 1st Amendment. Allow me to adjust your understanding of the Constitution. The following is taken from UScourts.gov:
The First Amendment has two provisions concerning religion: the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause. The Establishment clause prohibits the government from “establishing” a religion.
The Free Exercise Clause protects citizens’ right to practice their religion as they please, so long as the practice does not run afoul of a “public morals” or a “compelling” governmental interest.
If someone disagrees with the tenets of your belief, your opinions, or anything else you happen to hitch your wagon to, it doesn’t mean your First Amendment rights have been violated. It simply means you have not won over your audience.
Exhibit “B”
From the Stand League newsroom:
“Inside Scientology: The Art of Critical Thinking,” by Rodger Clark
At this point it’s safe to say that nothing and no one in recent history has received a more intense, relentless and sustained public smear campaign than the Church of Scientology, the religion itself and its founder, L. Ron Hubbard. If you compare the list of real, actual problems in the world today, anyone can quickly see that the campaign against Scientology is so far out of proportion that even the average person begins to get the sense that something is not quite right.
So why would so much ink, time, terabytes and money be spent with the sole purpose of frightening as many people as possible away from Scientology? In the words of Agatha Christie’s famous fictional detective Hercule Poirot, “There are too many clues in this room.” For those of you who like puzzles and a good mystery, let us begin.
Whoa, there Hoss. You wanna talk about “Smear Campaigns?” A picture is worth a thousand “clues.” (Totally not trying to mix my metaphors)
Google is not known for its religious preference.
The following rudimentary search experiment illustrates how Scientologists view life from inside their “bubble,” refusing to believe there is an overwhelming general consensus that is diametrically opposed to their point of view. Does anyone recall the story of the proud mom remarking to her friend as they watched the marching band pass in the parade: “Helen, would you look at that … the only one in step is my little Jimmie.”
Let’s review some recent web searches…you can Google the phrases yourself.
- Scientology Ramps Up ‘Going Clear’ Smear Campaign …
- The Church of Scientology Targets Documentary …
- Mike Rinder Exposes Scientology’s Brand New Smear …
- How Scientology Silences Its Critics …
- Scientology Is Starting a New Campaign to Smear Leah Remini …
- Scientology smears ‘Aftermath’ guest with info from his …
- Scientology makes life a living hell for former members …
- Scientology smears of Ron Miscavige …
- Church of Scientology targets film critics …
- Scientology on the Offensive Against an Array of Suspected Foes …
- Church of Scientology’s Bad Twitter Campaign …
- Scientology’s worst abuses against Paulette Cooper revealed …
- Scientologists Kept Files on ‘Enemies’ …
So, Hoss … you wanna mention Hercule Poirot’s quote again, “There are too many clues in this room?”
Calling out the Stand League BS
Claiming itself to be the target of persecution and harassment, Scientology brings ZERO credibility to the table. If they were to bring actual proof, it would be an irony reaching to the outer limits of the cosmos because it would involve presenting the actual “scripture” that they live by … THE WORDS OF L. RON HUBBARD. We will be assisted by a well-known target of their own “smear campaigns,” Mike Rinder.
Facts Don’t Care About Your Thetans.
~ Xenu, probably
Rinder explains the “Standard Operating Procedure” ALL Scientologists must operate by in his post, “Dealing with Critics of Scientology – The L. Ron Hubbard Playbook.”
I thought it might be useful to lay out just why the church continues to respond the way they do. They do it every single time and it can be somewhat baffling — their tactics blow up in their faces every time, but they keep repeating them. The answer is simple: their responses are dictated by unalterable “scripture” that MUST be followed. The words of L. Ron Hubbard. All good scientologists must follow them. And you can be sure the Office of Special Affairs (the “dirty tricks/Fair Game department”) knows every one of these references almost verbatim.
I want to lay out in some detail (though there is MUCH more than would just be too dense to wade through), the big picture of what scientology must do to respond to this show, including the most pertinent references. This way there is one place for anyone who is dealing with scientology to get briefed — whether an individual, the media or a government agency. And this will serve a primer on the subject for time immemorial as scientology cannot change what L. Ron Hubbard has written for them to follow.
L.Ron Hubbard reserves special treatment for his enemies. This is the infamous “Fair Game” policy letter published in October 1967 which tells scientologists that when it comes to SP’s they may be deprived of property or injured by any means, they may be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed.
RINDER: Scientology says Fair Game was cancelled as it caused bad public relations. True enough. This is the “policy letter” that “canceled” Fair Game. But this also says “this P/L (Policy Letter) does not cancel any policy on the treatment or handling of an SP.” And you can be sure, not one of those references has been canceled. How to treat SPs/enemies/critics is laid out in detail in church policy that must be followed to this day.
…Anyone who criticizes scientology is a criminal. For scientology ONLY does good. Anyone who criticizes scientology is trying to hide a criminal past and Scientology can uncover that.
DOES SCIENTOLOGY HAVE A SCRIPTURE?
Scientology: Yes. The written and recorded spoken words of L. Ron Hubbard on the subject of Scientology collectively constitute the scripture of the religion.
RINDER: Hubbard wrote an extensive volume of “scripture” for the Guardian’s Office — the arm of the church charged with dealing with enemies. Including a lot of policy for the “Intelligence” Branch (euphemistically called “Information Bureau” to sound less sinister), the covert operations arm of scientology. All of this remains church policy today, it cannot be canceled. But more importantly, scientology does not WANT it to be canceled. In their minds Hubbard was right about everything he said, if it seems unsavory, so be it. Best to keep it confidential. These (and many other references) are now the policies of the Office of Special Affairs that direct their actions to be taken against “critics.
Administering the “Scripture.”
“An examination of the text upon which modern Scientology was built,” by Brian Ambry
Hubbard established, as basic Confidential applied doctrine, the tech of Covert Data Collection and the tech of Covert “dirty tricks” Operations. Scientology won’t talk about this aspect of Scientology publicly, but Hubbard was privately very proud of his Intelligence tech.
Collecting information on people, and keeping files, is one side of Scientology Intelligence tech. As virtually anyone could be considered a potential enemy, the range of possible subjects for investigation and filing is great. In Scientology “Covert Data Collection” is an entire study in the use of disguises, clever lines and created situations, used to cause the unsuspecting to provide information they might not otherwise reveal. Infiltration, with active and “sleeper” agents, of government agencies, law offices, and newspapers has been standard practice. The practices of illegal entry, burglary, and theft of documents can be found in court records.
Data collection is done as a precursor to an attack (“Support”) action or Covert “dirty tricks” Operation. One item of Scientology “Intelligence tech” revealed in Federal Criminal Court case 78-401 is a checklist of questions to be answered regarding someone who is to be attacked covertly.
The title is “Data Needed by Ops On Each Located Who.” A “Who” is an enemy or potential enemy.
Ambry: Scientology’s “Fair Game” tech, including its tech of Propaganda and covert Intelligence, if allowed to be fully known by the general membership, would “leak out” and result in PR and legal problems.
(While much of this material has been exposed over the years, Scientology has worked industriously to deny its accessibility to others, while presenting a PR line that simply denies its existence. There is a pattern, over time, of certain “In-Organization” writings becoming “Confidential,” and certain “Confidential” writings becoming “Highly Confidential.” Scientology, rather than reforming, has become even more secretive. Another interesting document from Scientology’s covert Intelligence Branch is entitled “Ops Planning.”
From official Scientology “Scripture.”
HUBBARD COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE
Saint Hill Manor, East Grinstead, Sussex
HCO POLICY LETTER OF 16 FEBRUARY 1969: ISSUE II
REISSUED 24 SEPTEMBER 1987
L. RON HUBBARD, Founder
Adopted as official Church policy by
CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
Confidential: BATTLE TACTICS
We must ourselves fight on the basis of total attrition of the enemy. So never get reasonable about him. Just go all the way in and obliterate him.
One cuts off enemy communications, funds, connections. He deprives the enemy of political advantages, connections and power. He takes over enemy territory. He raids and harasses. All on a thought plane – press, public opinion, governments, etc.
We will make it all the way providing we look on this is in terms of active battle and not as ‘if we are saintly good we will win.’ The people who win wars have a saintly image but they win the war by clever and forceful use of the rules of tactics, strategy and battle.
Wars are composed of many battles. Never treat a war like a skirmish. Treat all skirmishes like wars.
Final Thought
Mike Rinder perfectly summarizes the un-alterable nature of L. Ron Hubbard’s multitude of words that comprise the “Micro Management Directives” for every aspect of Scientology life.
In scientology, the words of L. Ron Hubbard are NOT treated as allegorical. They are not taken as suggestions. They are given the weight of absolute, unalterable truth. The most heinous crime you can accuse a scientologist of is not fully understanding and applying the words of L. Ron Hubbard exactly as he wrote them. The expected attitude of a scientologist is to take his words and apply them with “a fixed, dedicated glare.”
So, when you see outrageous smear sites, vitriolic videos and ridiculous statements to the press, know where they come from. This is not a case of “where there is smoke there must be fire”. Scientology blows smoke and thinks that because L. Ron Hubbard told them to do it, it makes it true. They are blind to everyone else’s view of the world (and their actions) and believe anyone who disagrees with them is evil. But this is just how cults operate.
