Mark Ebner Strikes Low

In 2006, Mark Ebner wrote an excellent article about Philip Gale's death. The article was such that Mike Gomez removed Philip Gale from his Scientology associated deaths page because it convinced him that Scientology really was not implicated in it (as if Scientology has that more a role in the other deaths listed on that page but that's another subject).

Philip's mother played an important role in Ebner's article, providing him with many precious information.

There was one condition she put forth, though, as Mark wrote himself in the article:

"She agreed to talk about Philip on condition that his story not be used to attack Scientology."

However, Mark is now so enthusiast at the opportunity to capitalize on the emotional wave of Jett Travolta's unfortunate death that he just could not resist to include Philip on his new page. The page tries to associate Jett's death to other supposedly similar "Scientology-related" deaths and incidents.

By using the story of Philip Gale in a vile attack against Scientology, he betrayed the trust Philip mother's bestowed on him, and which was the condition under which she released the information that helped Mark's article to become a success.

In so doing, of course, he also betrayed his own integrity.

Fitzroy House

Fitzroy House
"Fitzroy House, 37 Fitzroy Street, London. Fitzrovia dates back to the 18th century and has been for many years well known for its writers and artists. From H.G. Wells and George Orwell, to Charles Dickens and Virginia Woolf - its inhabitants have left an indelible mark. [...] 75 years later, writer and philosopher L. Ron Hubbard made 37 Fitzroy Street his London base. [...] You are welcome to visit Fitzroy House. It is open to the public by appointment daily.

Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard honored
"The House, which has been open since October 2006, has, to date, received guests from almost 50 nations. Visitors have included Ambassadors and businessmen and it has proven an interest to people from all walks of life."

Stunning photos! Have a look...

In Memory of Jett Travolta

Fallen Sparrow

A sparrow fell, and no one heard.
No body cared. It was just a bird.
From all the numberless flitting throng
of sparrows,who would miss one song"
But God leaned down and whispered, "I care,
That was one of My sparrows, and I was there."

A beautiful boy, all sunshine and laughter,
With quiet thoughts and twinkling eyes after!
With hurts to smooth over, and deed to applaud....
A boy fell ! Why weren't You there?
Is it only for sparrows and such that You care?

If you're God at all....then You could have prevented
This nightmare of pain! So you must have consented,
I've always believed You Were loving and good,
I'd like to believe still, if only I could.

But God, if You love me, how can You allow
such unbearable pain as I'm feeling right now.
Such helplessness...hopelessness...bitter Regret...
So many tears that have fallen and yet
So many more that are still locked Inside.

Oh God...out there somewhere...have You ever cried?
I'm not even sure, anymore that You are real,
But if You are God...do you care how I feel?

Beloved I care in the midst of your grief.
In the midst of your stricken and crumbling belief.
In the midst of the blackness of total despair.
in the midst of your questioning, Child... I am there.

"In the midst!" Not far off in some vague fifth dimension,
But there, where you are, giving you my attention.

My constant attention....and not just today,
Since before you were born, I have loved you this way.
You're important to Me, every hair on your head
I have numbered Myself, can these tears that you shed
Go uncounted.......unnoticed? Nay, child, here I stand
Close enough that each teardrop falls into My hand.

Nor am I a stranger to anguish, to loss.
My own Son was taken one day by a cross.
I know what you suffer, I know what you'll gain,
If you'll let Me walk with you into your pain.
I'll carry your grief, and your sorrow I'll bear.
You've only to reach out your hand....I am there.

Fear nothing . Your so special boy,
Is safe in My house, and heaven's filled with the joy
of the ring of his laughter, his quick eager smile,
And the things he's saving to show you "after awhile"
Yes, I could have prevented... but, child, you can't see,
With My perfect wisdom, trust your son to Me.

Of course, you will miss him, but while you are weeping,
Remember, it's only his body that's sleeping.
His "self" is awake, wide awake
As I said, I am God of the living, not God of the dead.
He trusted Me, and My sure will is done.
Who believes shall not die, that included your son.

Let Me walk with you now, through the long heavy days.
Let Me slowly begin changing heartache to praise.
Take hold of My hand child, take hold of My love.
I will lead you to joys that you know not yet of.
Your faith may be weak, and your trust incomplete,
But I'll walk not too fast for your stumbling feet.

Tim Kenny Commits Suicide

I just found out that Tim Kenny, the father of the autistic child quoted as the source of Mark Ebner's article about Travolta and his son, committed suicide last March.

Another sad news for 2009 :-( My heart goes out to his family.

Update Jan 5:

Mark Ebner in fact reported the incident in May.

Through the comments, we learn that Tim was fiercely anti-COS:

"My husband Tim Kenny was a wonderful man and a huge supporter for autism awareness and a crusader against scientology. he hated scientology and all that it stood for. he was very proud that he stood up to John Travolta and his suicide was due to fnancial problems."

Anti-COSers are of course blaming his death on Scientology (who else?):

"... [various death blamed on the COS] ... Tim Kenny (a neigbor of the Travoltas who had called child protective services on them, dead of an apparent suicide"

Related blog entries:

• Why is Tim Kenny Dead?
• Scientology Treatment of Medical Conditions
  

Medical Care and Jett Travolta

(See also my other blog entry: "Scientology Treatment of Medical Conditions" that deals more specifically with Scientology stances on medical treatment)

The tragic death of Jett Travolta will no doubt see a resurgence of various myths.

1. Jett died from an untreated autism condition
   
   You can't die from autism. On the other hand, it can't be cured. There is no medication for it.
   
   So if he had it, the family wasn't endangering his life by not seeking treatment.
   
   
2. The problem with untreated autism is seizure
   
   Autism does not equal seizure. Even though it is indeed not uncommon for individuals with autism to experience seizures, it is an occasional co-morbid conditions and not part of the syndrome. Autism itself does not cause seizures.
   
   The family may have been in denial about autism, but they did acknowledge that Jett had a history of seizure. This is the important point. What they did about it, I don't know, but it certainly was taken into account.
   
   
3. Even if not lethal, he should have received treatment for autism
   
   There is no treatment for autism that would cure it. What exist may at best alleviate the condition. Whether the family acknowledged he was autistic or not, it is quite obvious seeing how he was cared for by his family that he received all the love and care a child could ever want in this respect.
   
   The important point at this juncture, however, is not this. It is that even admitting the failure to recognize the autism condition, it is not a death sentence for the child.
   
   
4. Jett did not have autism, because you can see he's smiling, cuddling and being very engaged with people.
   
   It is a myth to think that all autistic kids do not smile, laugh, make eye contact. It just depends on where they lie on the spectrum of autism.
   
   On the other hand, the fact that autism is a neurologically based condition does not necessarily mean that all neurologically based conditions are autism.
   
   It seems relatively obvious from the Paris video that was shown on the Today Show that Jett suffered some kind of neurologically based condition, but it does not necessarily mean it was autism.
   
   The important point here are the seizures, and these were taken into account by the family, who, also cared for him as much as they possibly could. Even on that Paris video this can clearly be seen.
   
   
5. Did Jett Speak?
   
   Sorry, I don't know the answer to this question. If he did not speak, then it may indeed be a further indication that he may have had autism.
   
   
6. Kawasaki typically affects children below 5, not 16 years old teenagers.
   
   The claim being made is not that he still had Kawasaki at age 16, but that he had it as a young kid, and that this could possibly have create complications of the heart and the blood vessels that supply the heart.
   
   
7. If Jett really had Kawasaki syndrome he would have been rushed to the hospital because you can't ignore those symptoms.
   
   See answer to 6 above.
   
   
8. Preston ran Jett through the Scientology Detoxification program after he was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease and declared him cured.
   
   She did not declare him cured, she only credited the program with helping to improve Jett's health.
   
   
9. Preston and Travolta mistreated Jett
   
   All concrete evidences suggest that this was not the case, and that quite on the contrary they deeply loved their children, and still do.
   
   You will find on the Internet third hand malicious gossips, such as this page (written by a notorious anti-Scientologist), but to me what is written there, such as Jett being given junk food while the rest of the family eats selected goodies, and other similar tittle-tattles, is not credible, because it is completely at odd with what we know otherwise about the couple and what we can observe for ourselves through the media.
   
   Personally, I find this kind of telltales libelous.
   
   
10. Scientology practice medicine without a license
    
    This myth has been dealt with already on my Medical Claims page. The mere fact that Scientology claims its own brand of psychotherapy can cure physical ailment does not constitute medical fraud by itself. See the page referenced above.
    
    
11. Scientology prevents you from following normal medical treatment
    
    Scientology does not prevent you from following normal medical treatment in the least. Medical treatment is required where necessary. This does not prevent the person to be helped through auditing, which is a psychotherapeutic technique, not a medical practice.
    
    
12. Scientology does not believe in taking medical drugs
    
    Scientology does not believe in taking psychotropic drugs, not medical drugs
    
    
13. Scientology does not believe in taking psychotropic drugs
    
    True.
    
    
14. Scientology pretends to be able to treat psychiatric case and therefore prevents them from receiving proper treatment.
    
    Scientology does not even accept as member or as customer psychiatric cases. They therefore in no way substitute themselves to psychiatric treatment.
    
    
15. Scientology is opposed to psychiatry
    
    Definitely
    
    
16. Scientology killed Lisa McPherson already.
    
    Lisa McPherson
    
    
    
17. Scientology Kills
    
    Scientology Kills
    
    
    
18. What is the belief of Scientology regarding the after-life?
    
    Scientology beliefs regarding the after-life is very similar to Buddhism. After a while, the individual re-incarnates, until he reaches enlightenment. There is no heaven, there is no hell. Scientology does not pronounces itself as to whether there is a God or not. This is for the individual to decide for themselves (Scientology is not faith-based).
    
    However, Scientology do claim that individuals who have not been freed by Scientology psychotherapy can still fall victim of "implant stations", where false ideas would be "implanted" on their mind. A bit like what they accuse psychiatrist and other "Suppressive persons" of doing here down on earth.
    
    See my Scientology Tenets page for more details.
    

Related blog entries:

• Scientology Treatment of Medical Conditions
  
• Jett Travolta Dies at 16
  
• Critics Already Jumping Like Vultures on Jett's Death
• Why Was He Called Jett?

Critics Already Jumping Like Vultures on Jett's Death

It is inevitable that debate would be open on Scientology influence in Travolta's decision throughout this tragedy, but can't critics at least wait a bit rather than jump in the middle of mourning comments?

At least some of them had the minimum decency to first offer their sympathy before launching in their tirade, but others just jumped in with heartless, insensitive, and cruel comments right in the middle of people offering their sympathy for this terrible tragedy.

Here is a couple of examples, among several others:

Posted by: sweetsarah | January 02, 2009 at 02:57 PM
Where's Xenu when you need him?

Posted by: Maryanne | January 02, 2009 at 03:45 PM
My sympathy only goes so far for parents that belong to a religious cult that preached that brain disorders and mental health care is a hoax.

And of course Anonymous, who saw fit to post its "we do not forget" and other unsavory statements right at the top of the mourning comments.

Needless to say, normal human beings do not take such a display of sickening fanaticism and hatred lightly, and it's hardly going to improve the image of Anonymous and other so-called critic:

tbailey said at 5:05pm Jan 02, 2009
It's a sad day when any child dies, even sadder when people like commonsense spew their hatred and stupidity where it is not welcome. My condolences to Jett's' family and to commonsense's family, your parents must truly be proud of such a fine person.

Zman said at 5:05pm Jan 02, 2009
Where is the heart and compassion for the loss of a human being, a child at that, with an illlness at that. because of someones beliefs we have become loss in world of religions, forgeting that when someone passes, it tuly is a loss to their loved ones, and much needed compassion needs to be promoted. I am so sorry John for your loss of such a young soul. I remember when Jett was born and the proud pappa you were. God bless you and your family. Screw the insesitive indivuiduals, where only Karma will prevail in the end.

by ipym Jan 02 2009 7:09 PM
To use this death as a platform to attack anyone's beliefs or lifestyle is just sad.

Related blog entries:

• Jett Travolta Dies at 16
  
• Scientology Medical Care
  
• Why Was He Called Jett?

Why Was He Called Jett?

John Travolta has a passion for airplanes. His 6,400 square foot mansion is designed to resemble an airport terminal. The house is at the end of a 1.4 mile runway from which Travolta can take off in his fleet of private jets.

Travolta is a qualified pilot and has flown for the Australian airline Qantas when not fulfilling his Hollywood commitments

Such is his enthusiasm for aviation that he persuaded his wife to name their son Jett.

Of course, he also called one of his five aircrafts "Jett Clipper Ella", and his Florida estate "Jett-Bleu", in honour of the 16-year-old lad and his daughter Ella Bleu, eight.

Just two years ago John survived an air drama aboard his personal plane when he was forced to make an emergency landing on a flight from Germany to New York. His Boeing 707 (photo above) suffered engine problems and he had to divert to Ireland's Shannon Airport. Cool Travolta grounded his 34-seater and continued his flight home on a commercial airline.

Jett Travolta Dies at 16

(Culled from various sources)

John Travolta's 16-year-old son, Jett, was found unconscious in the bathtub of the family's vacation home in the Bahamas on Friday Jan. 2 at 10 am.

He was rushed to Freeport's Rand Memorial Hospital on Grand Bahama Island but was declared dead on arrival.

The exact cause of death is unknown at this stage. Apparently he fell and fatally hit his head.

The teenager, however, had a history of seizures which the Travolta family attributed to the sequel of the Kawasaki disease (click here to hear Travolta speak about his son's rare syndromes).

Kawasaki disease is a condition that causes inflammation in the walls of small- and medium-sized arteries throughout the body, including the coronary arteries. It mostly affects children from ages 2 to 5. Identified by a Japanese doctor, Tomisaku Kawasaki in 1967, Kawasaki disease can cause serious complications of the heart and the blood vessels that supply the heart.

However, rumors that Jett really suffered from autism rather than the Kawasaki decease have long swirled in Hollywood. Travolta and wife Kelly Preston have never publicly admitted that Jett had ever been diagnosed with the condition.

Anti-Scientologists and Anonymous have been quick to jump on the news, since Travolta and Preston are both prominent member of the Church of Scientology, and within minutes of the death announcement were already busy filling news comments with insensitive accusations and bigoted myths, while the family only started mourning their own and was at the height of an unimaginable pain.

Police said they are planning an autopsy on Monday to determine the cause of death. After the autopsy the body will be buried or cremated in Ocala, Florida, close to where the family lives. Dr. Mark Smith, the Travolta family doctor, plans to give a statement after the autopsy.

The family arrived in the Bahamas on a private plane Tuesday Dec. 30 and had been vacationing at their home in the Old Bahama Bay resort community.

"The Travolta family has become like family to us at Old Bahama Bay and we extend our deepest sympathies to them," said Robert Gidel, president of Ginn Resorts, the property's owner.

The family is of course devastated. John had in the past emphatically expressed how much his son meant to him.

Usmagazine.com quoted John Travolta as speaking affectionately about his son during an interview with the Australian media several years ago. "He's my first, and he's my heart. And he's a very special boy," John Travolta said. "He's Daddy's boy."

In 1994 the actor told People how much he loved fatherhood. "I can't imagine what life would be like without Jett," he said.

Our deepest condolences go to John and his family. Losing a child is parents' worst fear, something for which there can be no words.

Related blog entries:

• Scientology Medical Care
• Critics Already Jumping Like Vultures on Jett's Death
• Why Was He Called Jett?
  

Myths

My post entitled Comments Shed Light on Low Numbers has received a lot of visits and comments as it has been featured both on ESK and WWP.

Since I am still trying to keep comments on-topics for each blog entry, and since the discussion inevitably got down to what are my evidences for calling many of the OG allegations Myths, I am now making an on-topic blog entry here so that whoever can comment on my myth pages if they feel like it rather than on the Low Numbers page.

Here is what has been posted at the end of that comment section:

Anonymous said...

Bernie, can you VERIFY or provide evidence that these OG allegations are indeed nothing more than "myth?"

January 2, 2009 12:50 AM

Bernie said...

I have a whole Myths section on my web page.

A particularly good page that bundles many of what I consider myths is to be found on a page I wrote about The Three Types of Myths.

Another good approach, and a fairly popular page is a live example on how critics introduce Scientology to newbies, spinning many of these myths.

January 2, 2009 1:28 AM

Bernie said...

If you want to comment on the myth topic, kindly do so in the comments section of a blog entry I created just for that purpose, and aptly entitled "Myths".

Thanks.

January 2, 2009 2:02 AM

-

The Modus Operandi of Mystery

L. Ron Hubbard. Philadelphia Doctorate Course 24 What's Wrong With This Universe - A Working Package For The Auditor.

You will notice the modus operandi of mystery in this universe. You see, it doesn’t happen to be a pattern for all universes, fortunately, but the modus operandi of mystery is simply to hide nothing.

Lord Dunseny tells one of the most wonderful stories about a monastery which was scheduled to fall one day, and this monastery was up on a high hill and there was a rumor and a legend had gone forward for many centuries that on a certain day the monastery would fall. And uh… the day came, and one of the peasants in the valley walked up to the monastery and walked in the front gate. He was quite astonished to find no guards on duty because the guards were back in a corner of a courtyard weeping because that day the monastery was scheduled to fall.

And so he walked on through to an inner chamber and he was not stopped because all of the guards there were weeping ‘cause the monastery was scheduled to fall that day, and he walked on into an inner sanctum and an inner sanctum sanctorum sanctorum plus, and uh… finally came down unguarded corridors to the largest central room of this entire place where the mystery of all mysteries of all mysteries was kept, and here behind, at the far side of the room… obviously, the mystery was behind these huge black curtains, and he walked over and he looked at the curtains and he thought, „Well, it’s a very adventurous thing to do,“ but the monastery was scheduled to fall that day, so he adventured to do it. And he reached up and he pulled the curtains down and there was nothing there. And the monastery fell that day.

Comment by Check Xenu:

What happens when Pre-Clears pull down the curtain? Dianetic Clear
- You mocked up your own reactive mind.
What happens when Pre-OTs pull down the curtain? Operating Thetan VIII
- You mocked up your own past lives.

Hubbard went to a lot of effort to hide nothing, convince people it was really something, and get them to pay to discover it was nothing to begin with. The weird thing is how he confuses them so badly that by the time they pull down the curtain, they are ready to accept the nothing they find as if it were something valuable... well... at least until their "psychosomatic ills" return.

You know, the definition of a Static is ... nothing!

And the aim of Scientology is to bring you back to this Native State...

So there... You are warned right from the very first axiom of Scientology ;-).

Celebrity Scientologists Highlights of 2008!

Celebrity Scientologists: Celebrity Scientologists Highlights of 2008!

Holocaust 'Greatest' Love Story a Hoax

Holocaust 'greatest' love story a hoax - CNN.com

Oprah Winfrey once dubbed it the "greatest love story" she had ever heard: a boy held at a Nazi concentration camp during World War II and a girl on the outside who tossed him apples to keep him alive. They eventually married and grew old together. [...]

But over the weekend, Herman Rosenblat issued a statement through his literary agent, Andrea Hurst, acknowledging the story of how he met his wife was made up.

I am really pissed about this, though I am not sure why exactly. Might be that the fact my father was a concentration camp survivor himself may unconsciously kicks in.

Of course the guy wanted to do good, and he followed a strong dream he had with his deceased mother giving him a message to pass on his love story over the world, but really, what a BAD BAD idea!

I can understand the years of guilt the guy must have felt seeing how the whole world would be enticed by his story, knowing that it simply wasn't true. I am glad he finally came clean about it, but that does not seem to ease off too much of the upset.

Please don't do it. Don't use fabricated or strongly embellished stories, either positive or negative, to promote a "good cause". It removes credibility to whatever truth may be to valid and legitimate criticism once the hoax is revealed. In the present case, revisionists may even use it to bolster their denying that the holocaust ever existed.

The reason I am not tagging this story as off-topic is because of this, and I hope you will see the connection:

Many Holocaust scholars had long cast doubt on the Rosenblats' story.

Professor Ken Waltzer, the director of Michigan State University's Jewish Studies program, said he began raising questions to the agent and publisher in November, suggesting that the story was fabricated. But he says his numerous queries went unanswered.

He says he told the editor that the story is "at best embellished and perhaps invented."

"The idea of a prisoner being able autonomously to approach the fence not just once, but every day at the same time, ... none of it seemed plausible," Waltzer says. "That fence was right next to the SS barracks, so to go to the fence, which was also punishable by death, was to risk death."

In a letter to "The New Republic," which first began questioning the validity of the Rosenblats' story, Waltzer said he was also disturbed about why few others had come forward to point out holes in the couple's account.

"Less understandable is the widespread belief in their story -- by the culture makers, including the publisher and movie maker and many thousands of others who have encountered it over a decade," he said. "Second, such belief suggests a broad illiteracy about the Holocaust and about experience in the camps -- despite decades of books, serious memoirs, museums, and movies. This shakes this historian up."

"This memoir was at the far end of implausibility, yet until yesterday, no one connected with packaging, promoting, and disseminating it asked questions about or investigated it. Some actively resisted such investigation and tried to shut mine down."

Worst even:

New Republic special correspondent Gabriel Sherman told CNN another disturbing element is that Herman Rosenblat really is a Holocaust survivor who "didn't need to embellish his love story, because his own story is so powerful."

If you feel that you have something to tell, by all means please do so, but please try to refrain from temptations of bringing in adornments that grossly distort reality (or worst even completely make up stories) because you think your story is not powerful enough on its own.

Ultimately truth is on its own the most moving and powerful story there is, and this is one of the reasons I like Kendra Wiseman''s story best among several ex stories I read. It has the right balance of pro and con, consideration and criticism, drama and perspective. The fact that it is masterly written doesn't hurt either.

Update: BRINGING DOWN THE HOAX - I know the link is in the comments but sometimes people don't check out comments. Interesting backstory of the backstory, and an enjoyable read. Also, I believe the guy, for what it's worth.

Second Chance Tries to Garner Support

Rehab Center Tries To Garner Support: Letters Sent To State Legislators

On Wednesday, [Joy Westrum, president of the soon-to-be evicted Second Chance rehabilitation program], sent out an e-mail to several state senators and representatives asking them to "encourage the mayor and the city of Albuquerque to do everything possible to resolve any legitimate concerns regarding the lease with Second Chance" for the old West Side jail building. [...]

Judges, law enforcement officials and elected officials have been critical of the program for its unconventional treatment methods, its unwillingness to disclose financial information and its alleged ties to Scientology.

Religious Freedom Watch

I was not prompted to make a blog entry when I observed the reaction of Scientologists to the hideous Anonymous harassment I just posted about, in which they seemed to genuinely believe critics still indulge in the type of forcible deprogramming depicted in the deprogramming manual.

However, I was prompted to do it when I read this blog entry, because the two situations are very similar.

It surprised me to see this entry because the Life Repairman has been blogging for quite a while now... I thought he would be more knowledgeable about criticism. Yet, he only now discovers a site that existed for years already, and he is quite stunned by it. Of course, he does not realize that almost for sure, that web site is created and maintained by the CoS.

What is more, he actually beliefs that critics are really the way they are being depicted in this web site, and of course he is horrified:

These scumbags are the lowest of low. The crimes many of these wackos are accused of include kidnapping, child molestation, theft, extortion, copyright infringement, stalking, drunk driving, frivolous lawsuits, harassment, forgery, embezzlement, to name a few.

Then, he of course falls in precisely what the CoS wants him to believe:

EVERY negative or crazy sounding rumor (all lies) about Scientology or L. Ron Hubbard on the Internet was started and spread by one or more of the criminals exposed on this site.

And now see how reading the kind of (xenu.net) horror stories critics run against Scientology (in the same spirit and manner the CoS run its horror stories against critics), just confirms him in his belief that the CoS is right regarding critics:

Every one of the usual negative rumors I've ever seen on the Internet about Scientology was either a flat out lie, or was something completely normal that was twisted and slanted to sound crazy and weird.

We are in a situation similar to what I wrote in my Deprogramming Manual blog entry above, in which critics are demonized by the CoS, and in which critics, by their own beligerent attitude, confirm Scientologists in the depiction made of them by the CoS.

Not that what either side say about the other is necessarily false. It may have a basis of truth, and sometimes more than just a basis, but eventually each side end up demonizing the other to the point that it completely distords reality.

This is the tragedy of the Scientology controversy, and why we see so much ugliness on each side.

The Deprogramming Manual

The other day I was looking at this video, which I commented otherwise on Nov. 30. Apart from the sheer harassment factor, something else caught my attention.

In response to Anonymous' attack (frankly distasteful and ugly, it remains to be said nevertheless), the Scientologists accused them, with all apparent seriousness, to be associated with deprogrammers who horribly torture their victim.

And I thought to myself: "What? They still believe that?"

When I was in the CoS (and that's nearly 30 years ago now), I was also given to read horror stories, mostly based on the "Deprogramming manual", supposedly written by Ted Patrick, but in reality almost for sure a forgery by the CoS itself. I found it horrible that this kind of crime would still be allowed to go unpunished in our modern society. It is only when I got to read the actual Ted Patrick book, "Let Our Children Go", that I realized I had been lied by the CoS regarding forcible deprogramming.

Don't get me wrong. I still think forcible deprogramming is a terrible crime that should not go unpunished. But, compared to what the "Deprogramming Manual" depicts, it almost is child play.

And there I see Scientologists, 30 years later, who still believe this is what forcible deprogramming is, and who still think critics are criminals who indulge in it... Incredible...

They can't be more wrong. First, what the deprogramming manual describes is extremely exagerated, to the point it has little to do with it anymore. Second, forcible deprogramming itself has almost entirely dissapeared and is almost not practiced anymore. Third, not all anti-cultists supported it at the time, see Nan McLean, for example. Even less now. Fourth, not all critics are anti-cultists.

But, apparently, this seems to be what at least some Scientologists still believe. And you know what? Anonymous coming up with their frightening masks and gross slogans, harassing Scientologists and taunting them with Xenu, are playng right into the CoS' propaganda. It confirms to them that critics are indeed evil people associated with evil deprogrammers.