I visited the Scientology Center of BR

...and lived to write about it

By Kelley Cox

Pulling up to the Church of Scientology – Baton Rouge Mission, I felt very afraid. I was intimidated not only by my own preconceived notions about Scientology, but also by the sign in front of the building with “Dianetics” written in red and an erupting volcano pictured on it.

Granted, I had absolutely no reason to be scared. The director of public affairs, Craig Gehrig, called to invite me to the center and was nothing but polite and friendly. I also watched many of the informational videos he recommended on the Church of Scientology’s official Web site (www.Scientology.org) and realized that practically everything I had heard about Scientology was untrue.

Scientology is probably the most misunderstood religion around. It’s probably also the most ridiculed religion around. Gehrig remembered the poorly researched, offensive articles that both Tiger Weekly and The Daily Reveille have published in the past two years.

Scientology actually isn’t that outlandish – it’s shockingly sane and reasonable.

“All Scientology is, is knowledge,” explained Gehrig. “There’s no faith in Scientology. You don’t believe it, you KNOW it.”

So, how did this whole thing get started? How did Scientology become the fastest-growing religion on Earth?

The short answer is just as unbelievable as the history lesson.

Gehrig explained that L. Ron Hubbard, “a pulp fiction writer,” wrote a manuscript that would later become his best-selling book, Dianetics. Gehrig handed his manuscript out to his friends and family, who copied it and passed it out, too. The cycle continued until Hubbard began to receive truckloads of letters each day inquiring about the methods and theories behind Dianetics.

Gehrig said that Hubbard allowed the book to be published “so he wouldn’t have to answer anymore letters.” Gehrig also claimed that “Hubbard didn’t make a cent off of Scientology” because all the money he made went right back into Scientology. Gehrig said that “Hubbard was already a millionaire before Scientology,” having profited from his career as a pulp fiction writer.

Gehrig said that once Dianetics was published in 1950, people really related to it and yearned to apply the teachings of Dianetics to their own lives. Gehrig said that “Dianetics can solve stress, anxiety, fear,” and almost anything else. Scientology evolved from Dianetics in 1952.

Ever since, Scientology has not stopped gaining momentum. With the endorsements of celebrities like Tom Cruise, Kirstie Alley and John Travolta, Scientology is not hurting for publicity.

Gehrig said that the Baton Rouge Mission of the Church of Scientology “doesn’t have any recruiting. It’s all word of mouth and books” that attracts people to the Church of Scientology.

Gehrig welcomed any questions I may have had, so I had to put my pen where my mouth is, so to speak. What about all the alien stuff? Do Scientologists really think aliens came to Earth 75 million years ago in airplanes? And why can’t you take Tylenol if you have a headache?

“Scientologists aren’t vitamin junkies,” Gehrig explained before letting out a small laugh. “We take medicine when we’re sick. That’s OK. We have members that are doctors. We are firm critics of psychiatry.”

Basically, Gehrig said Scientologists don’t frown upon taking antihistamines or cold medicine. Any medication that helps cure or reduce symptoms of scientifically proven diseases and disorders is legit; it’s the mental health disorders that don’t fly with Scientologists.

Gehrig said that a person can’t actually prove the existence of any “chemical imbalance” or what the correct chemical balance should be, so why prescribe medication in the name of fixing it?

He also attributed some of the negativity toward Scientology to the drug industry.

“Think about it. The drug industry is a 78-million-dollar-a-day industry. They don’t want Tom Cruise asking people to think twice before medicating their children.”

And the Xenu story about the alien dictator flying billions of his people to Earth on DC-8-like aircrafts, stacking them around volcanoes, and blowing them up causing their souls to spiritually harm Earth’s current inhabitants? Gehrig said “it’s all a myth.”

How disappointing.

Instead of Xenu, Gehrig said that “Scientologists believe in helping people.” This can be seen by the Church of Scientology’s humanitarian efforts in New York after 9/11 and in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina.

The only thing that really stood out as fishy is the “auditing” concept of Scientology. Auditing is very similar to a therapy or counseling session. The auditor asks questions to direct the individual to understand what is causing him or her trouble, anxiety, etc. in his or her life.

The individual being audited holds two tin-can-like objects connected to an Electropsychometer (E-meter) by wires. The E-meter has a needle on its screen that reads your E, not to be confused with “chee.”

Your E, Gehrig said, is the electrical impulses going through your body. Thinking about certain experiences causes these impulses to act a certain way readable by the needle on the E-meter, which the auditor interprets.

Gehrig said that it costs thousands of dollars to undergo the training needed to become an auditor.

Another shady aspect of auditing is the lack of legal confidentiality between the auditor and individual being audited. Gehrig said that auditors would never disclose the information received during a session, but the question remains: What’s stopping him?

Gehrig held that Scientologists are “extremely ethical people.” He also said that “anyone that knows Scientology, knows it’s cool.”

Send your comments to editor@tigerweekly.com

Originally Published: Issue 605 - April 23, 2008

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Comments

“All Scientology is, is knowledge,” explained Gehrig. “There’s no faith in Scientology. You don’t believe it, you KNOW it.”

I’ve tried to take an objective approach to understanding scientology. But I have yet to see one peer reviewed or any other scientific paper about any of their practices. And if it’s not faith then why are they a tax exempt religion?

To me these people are horribly confused and dangerous.

observer | 2008-04-23 - 12:44:41 PM (CDT)
Kelley, a bit too credulous. There is so much documentation available of the Scientology cult/corporations crimes and abuses. Just Google "Operation Snow White," and "Operation Freakout." Go to Xenu.net. Go to www.youfoundthecard.com. Scientology is by no means "the fastest growing religion." It has around 50,000 members (and shrinking), not the millions they claim. The Xenu story is not a "myth," but you have to pay thousands of dollars and reach the "OT III" level before they tell you about it. Their "humanitarian work" after 9/11 was nothing less tjhan a cynical recruitment drive. Scientology is not compatible with Christianity or other real religions --- Hubbard had all kinds of weird and nasty things to say about Jesus Christ. One of Hubbard’s best friends was Aleister Crowley, the famous devil-worshipper. Scientology is just plain evil and there are no two ways about it. Please, everyone, get informed with TRUE and ACCURATE information about Scientology. Go to Xenu.net, go to youfoundthecard.com, and get the real story on the Scientology cult. Don’t touch that thing with a 10 foot pole. It is dangerous and will suck the life out of you.

Janey | 2008-04-23 - 12:50:00 PM (CDT)
Poorly researched to say the least. You were talking to someone who has not done OT III. Xenu lives there. If you use drugs, you cannot be audited for six weeks, ask them. Hubbard did profit from Scientology--his wait staff, boats, homes, cars, buses, meals etc... were gifts, eh? The E-meter measures electrical resistance, not E!? You could have had an interesting article if you would have pushed the psychiatry issue. Nice try. EPIC FAIL

Bob Robins | 2008-04-23 - 12:53:08 PM (CDT)
What a worrying article; Cox writes the entire piece without giving any sort of opposing viewpoint, other than the Xenu nonsense and her own vague suspicion. (The Scientologist, on the other hand, gets to freewheel to his heart’s content.)

This is especially concerning: "I also watched many of the informational videos he recommended on the Church of Scientology’s official Web site (www.Scientology.org) and realized that practically everything I had heard about Scientology was untrue."

Any critical thinker should know to not just go to the font of a supposed propaganda-fuelled cult -- also interview the ex-Scientologists and long-time activists, or do some reading on Xenu.net. Of course the Scientology director isn’t going to freely admit to policies such as "fair game", disconnection, or the RPF (the gulag for Staff members). Nor is that stuff going to be included in one of those shiny "informational videos".

It’s nice that Cox tried to look into a serious topic; it’s a shame she did so by essentially rocking up to the cult and chirping "Want to dispel this crazy rumour? Great! Hey, I hear you have celebrities!"

Grace | 2008-04-23 - 12:55:07 PM (CDT)
I dont find this article fair or objective at all - rather it poses as a PR piece for the CO$ - and a weak one at that.

Nothing the supposed church has qualified is based in real world science - but rather through innuendo and sweeping misconceptions and redirection of general observations.

To call this a religion is a injustice of the highest kind. Historically speaking - paying for grace was equally the downfall of the Catholic church through the dark ages - why should anyone need to pay for salvation, let alone have to purchase copywrited material for the pleasure of doing so?

I call BullSh*t.

thetruthonlineisreal | 2008-04-23 - 12:59:52 PM (CDT)
For a journalist, you really are quite easily fooled. Many of the statements relayed to you were either half truths or an outright lie. As for the Xenu story, why dont you head over to wikileaks and check out their doctirine on the Operating Thetan levels. These papers were produced by LRH himself. Skim on over to OTIII and read where Hubbard went through the "Wall of Fire". He explains the Xenu Story. By the time you reach that level and have invested enough money, you are brainwashed to believe anything they tell you. You dont want to feel like a fool and that you’ve ben conned, so at this point you will listen to everything they tell you and believe it. Otherwise, you will be disconnected from freinds and family still within the cults grasp. You will be declared an SP.

Please try researching your story some more when you have all the facts, not just the "facts" scientology will tell you.

AnonyMAX | 2008-04-23 - 12:59:56 PM (CDT)
Hey Kelley.

Take a look at the interview with Jason Beghe, who was a scientologist for a long time. He talks about the Xenu story - you were lied to. It’s part of their morals - they’re allowed to lie to you.... nice, eh??

Thomas | 2008-04-23 - 01:03:30 PM (CDT)
Great article. Nice to finally get some objectivity!

RatherRep | 2008-04-23 - 01:16:44 PM (CDT)
Dear Tiger Editor
RE:I visited the Scientology Center of BR...and lived to write about it by Kelley Cox

Im not sure what kind of playground you’re running
but I would hope that you;should limit the participation of the interns to fetching coffee or
retrieving drycleaning rather than allow them the grace of posing as writers or investigative journalists
let alone for the purpose of exposing a cult.

The piece you published today by Kelley Cox was an abhorrent, poorly written piece posing as an article of investigative journalism.
I doubt that she was capable or cunning enough to ask the hard and pressing questions that would lead to some sort of informative article that would shed some light on the practices of the Church of Scientology; rather its apparent she was able to be manipulated and redirected to doing the bidding of those she sought to expose - and published those opinions without any comparison or independent verification therof.

If she represents the caliber and quality of strong willed journalistic talent you have on staff, I will be sure to not click on your site in the future and advise others not to do the same.

thetruthonlineisreal | 2008-04-23 - 01:20:13 PM (CDT)
"Gehrig said that a person can’t actually prove the existence of any “chemical imbalance”.."

If you’re going to print Scientology’s line on psychiatry, you should at least bother to read the medical papers and research journals that claim otherwise, and offer proof.

Scientology is nothing but a sham - a money-making venture masking itself in religious clothing to avoid prosecution, and doing quite well at it, I might add, thanks to their secret deal with the IRS that gives them preferential treatment over any other religion in the US.

Perhaps instead of taking Scientology’s word for everything you could do some research and make up your own mind.

Lucy | 2008-04-23 - 01:21:52 PM (CDT)
Kelley,

An E-meter is basically a lie detector -- it senses perspiration on your palms. You lie, you sweat.

The alarming thing is that this simple fact (E-meter = lie detector) is available all over the place -- in fact, most people who know about Xenu know it. So why not mention that fact?

As for the drugs stuff, they’re lying to you again. Check out Tory Christman, who was told to drop drugs for epileptic seizures. Guess what? Seizures didn’t go away. But Tory did eventually -- and would be happy to talk to you as an ex-Scientologist, I’d wager.

Anonynony | 2008-04-23 - 01:22:06 PM (CDT)
Wow, this site is getting a lot of free publicity.

haha | 2008-04-23 - 01:24:11 PM (CDT)
About Scientology’s tax-exempt "religion" status: Does your church own a full-sized luxury ocean cruise liner, based at a Caribbean island, in which you and your family can go on a nice cruise, and then write off the whole thing in your taxes, as a "donation" do your church? I didn’t think so. Scientology is a scam from start to finish, and all the shiny happy stories they tell you are either lies or gross distortions of half-truths. Check out sites like www.xenu.net and www.factnet.org/Scientology/dianetics.html

Bottom line: Scientology is not just phoney nonsense. It’s also a major criminal racket.

Laura | 2008-04-23 - 01:26:09 PM (CDT)
Oh no Scientology is great. It changed my life. I am from Turkey. I am thankful to Scientology (:

umut | 2008-04-23 - 01:37:58 PM (CDT)
Umut, if you’re sincere about liking Scientology, look up Free Zoners. All the things you like about Scientology (tech, lingo, books) with none of the things you fear about the Church of Scientology (RPF, intimidation, disconnection).

Either way, glad to see you’re on the web and looking at all sides of the story.

Grace | 2008-04-23 - 01:47:55 PM (CDT)
Nice article and not jumping into the bandwagon of the people who really don’t know much about Scientology but just are opposed to it. It is a religion and people are free to join or not, read books or not, study or not. It is up to an individual and all the hoopla currently going around about a few people who don’t like it is not representative of the real Church.

Yvonne | 2008-04-23 - 01:48:45 PM (CDT)
Scientology is far worse than you think. One needs to research all sides, then step away and research other things before deciding to join what I experienced and describe as an insidious cult. It is a wolf in sheeps clothing, deception at its finest and grandest. Google Scientology. Check out www.xenu.net ... educate yourself!

patty23 | 2008-04-23 - 01:52:31 PM (CDT)
"oh, but he told me that wasn’t true, so i was all, ’cool,’ and then i came home to totally write this article."

www.exscientologykids.com

from people who obviously know better.

manuel | 2008-04-23 - 01:53:17 PM (CDT)
This article goes to show anyone... and I mean ANYONE can can call themselves a JOURNALIST and post a ’press release’ on behalf of a cult.

The writer & editor should be embarrassed and the credibility of this internet rag is on par with $cientology itself. The fact that you are aiding in spreading this propaganda really is criminal and if only one person falls prey to their brainwashing from reading it, you should be held fully accountable.

That being said, The fact that this ’media’ source is merely one click away from ’Brazilian Fart Porn’ really speaks for itself.

Way to go Kelley! Time to change majors.

KELLYisCLEARLYaSCIENTOLOGIST | 2008-04-23 - 01:56:45 PM (CDT)
unbelievable that someone who claims to be a journalist could be duped so completely. im baffled, and disappointed. better luck next time.

ew | 2008-04-23 - 01:57:43 PM (CDT)
"It is a religion and people are free to join or not, read books or not, study or not."

That’s actually precisely the issue people have with CoS. People are NOT free to read books -- they have to pay insane amounts for the pleasure of accessing the "tech". Jason Beghe estimates he spent a million dollars on his bridge.

And you’re right, people are free to join... But they’re not as free to leave. And that’s not even getting into the Disconnection policy, where Scientologists sever ties with family and friends who are critical of the faith. We’re talking mothers who haven’t seen their children in years, here. It’s wrong to isolate people from their friends and family as a matter of "religion".

All of it put together, this is a cult that can’t bear up under scrutiny or critical thought. That’s why their religious texts are copyrighted, that’s why they sue and harass their critics individually, and that’s why people are finally standing up to the organization.

Be a Scientologist, if you really want to, that’s fine. But the Church of Scientology is a business masquerading as a religion, and it’s about time a little light was let in.

Anonynony | 2008-04-23 - 01:58:40 PM (CDT)
This is a great article - balanced...with all the negativity about Scientology, one is left wondering what the other side of the story. This article really answers that question and lets the reader make up his own mind.

With all of the posts on this site in so little time since this article came up, one would be led to believe that the internet Scientology bashers are at it again. Last time an article on Scientology was published in BR, it was the same thing...TONS of posts on the site. I would be surprised if any of them has picked up tigerweekly, is a reader of your paper, or even lives in Louisiana. More than likely this site is just linked on a Scientology hate-site. So don’t let them put you down about your journalism! It’s obvious they have their own agenda.

Rob | 2008-04-23 - 02:00:01 PM (CDT)
Dear Tiger Editor
RE:I visited the Scientology Center of BR...and lived to write about it by Kelley Cox

Im not sure what kind of playground you’re running
but I would hope that you;should limit the participation of the interns to fetching coffee or
retrieving drycleaning rather than allow them the grace of posing as writers or investigative journalists
let alone for the purpose of exposing a cult.

The piece you published today by Kelley Cox was an abhorrent, poorly written piece posing as an article of investigative journalism.
I doubt that she was capable or cunning enough to ask the hard and pressing questions that would lead to some sort of informative article that would shed some light on the practices of the Church of Scientology; rather its apparent she was able to be manipulated and redirected to doing the bidding of those she sought to expose - and published those opinions without any comparison or independent verification therof.

If she represents the caliber and quality of strong willed journalistic talent you have on staff, I will be sure to not click on your site in the future and advise others not to do the same.

^^
Ditto!

AJ Nelson | 2008-04-23 - 02:06:12 PM (CDT)
Some of us are actually trained journalists, Rob. The critiques of this article are largely accurate -- it’s got an alarming amount of editorializing, with a notable lack of sources for the "other side" of the argument. That balance you’re claiming truly isn’t present in the article, if you were to run it by an editor with a red pen.

And no need to be paranoid about "Scientology hate sites" (sigh) -- I found my way here via Google news.

Anonynony | 2008-04-23 - 02:11:15 PM (CDT)
google "operation snow white", "operation freakout" and now, look for the interview with jason beghe, longtime scientologist and OT V to learn the truth about this "religion".

well | 2008-04-23 - 02:15:16 PM (CDT)
i just want to say that for all of you pointing out the baby gloves reasearch ( prolly written by a scientologist ) your comments are well thought out and very well explained thank you for speaking the truth

ohbuddy | 2008-04-23 - 02:19:25 PM (CDT)
This article should have been titled, "What Church of Scientology staff member Craig Gehrig says about Scientology".

What do you expect a Church of Scientology staff member to say about Scientology? That’s it’s controversial? That 11 scientologists were convicted in the largest case of infiltration of the U.S. government? That it has ’scriptures’ that mandate lying? That it has ’scriptures’ that mandate destroying utterly people speaking out and opposing the systematic abuses of human rights by the organization?

Would you expect a Church of Scientology staff member, whose most important purpose is to sell you books and courses, to be impolite and rude?

What statement on Xenu would you expect from a Church of Scientology staff member, who is forbidden by his faith to disclose the secret teachings on Xenu?

That’s not reporting, it’s an ad. To the detriment of the "journalist," most will see through this poorly researched article, as these infomercials don’t work anymore in an era where anybody with access to the internet can easily type "Scientology" in a search engine.

R. Hill | 2008-04-23 - 02:23:18 PM (CDT)
Dear Anonynony,

Who is us (as in "some of US are actually trained journalists")?

I thought you found your way here on your own little lonesome?

I guess since you’re anonynony we’ll never know...

I’m outta here before you peeps start calling ME a Scientologist, too.

We should be gearing up for jazzfest and talking about the interviews over there instead of beating up some poor girl who tried to write a balanced article instead of floating with journalistic tide.

Rob | 2008-04-23 - 02:23:22 PM (CDT)
I visited the Scientology Center of BR
...and lived to write about it
By Kelley Cox

Anyone studying Scientology better do their homework and read L. Ron Hubbard’s staff policies.
Hubbard’s policies reveal why Scientology acts so disgracefully in hidden ways. Your readers must read Hubbard, such as the following policy written for people like the Scientology PR front people to execute:
"OFFICE OF SPECIAL AFFAIRS NETWORK ORDER # 15, 18 February 1988, Confidential, “BLACK PROPAGANDA” “..... To cease to be the effect of classification and become in our turn the cause of it, the classifier, is to win the propaganda game. Our propaganda is dirty.…” “… We do this trick by survey and attack.…” “… we become re-classified as attackers and the enemy as bad hats as they’re for the evil if they attack us…” “… We just run propaganda campaigns.…“ “…It reclassifies our attackers as evil people…” “…we (1) Seek to avoid opportunities for the enemy to classify us. (2) Contest or expose any previous classifications as false (dead agentry, etc.) (3) Engage in a series of campaigns which confuse past classification. (4) Achieve for ourselves a dominance in classifying ourselves and others."
L. RON HUBBARD, Founder (1972, reissued 1988)

Next time you meet the Scientology trained PR people, please ask them, for the record, if they have studied the OSA Network Orders as part of their training, just for the record.

As an informed ex Scientology staffer, I think it is important to look behind the PR nice fascade and understand the Hubbard doctrines that layer in the Catch 22 rules that members are forced to execute on us “public” (“wogs” in Hubbard’s condescending terminology).

Also, notable sociologist new religious movement scholar Lorne Dawson, in my opinion gets Scientology correctly when he categorized Scientology in with the Hare Krishna and the Moonies, in the category of “established cult.” From Dawon’s 1998 excellent book, Oxford Univ Press, called “Comprehending Cults.”

Scientology is a flimflam operation, because in the US we allow such wide freedoms, that flimflam operations like organized Scientology can exist.

Chuck Beatty
ex Scientology staffer (1975-2003)
412-260-1170 Pittsburgh, USA (anyone call me anytime!)
http://www.freewebs.com/chuckbeatty77/
http://tinyurl.com/295khy
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05205/542899.stm
http://tinyurl.com/38ptz8 buffalo video
http://tinyurl.com/ywhgaf buffalo poster

Chuck Beatty, 412-260-1170 Pittsburgh, USA | 2008-04-23 - 02:29:00 PM (CDT)
Rob:
Would the shoe fit?

Pretending to be joe schmoe with several fake internet accounts (many of which opened by Tory Magoo, former Scientologist) and giving positive PR and feedback is a known tactic of Scientology staff. They believe it raises their stats and thus allows them discounts on their religious courses (with those prices...who can blame them).

Although education is the key to discovering what Scientology is all about. They would like all information to come from them, but that is far from balanced and is simply control issues.

Anon1376 | 2008-04-23 - 02:30:53 PM (CDT)
Kelley,
I hope your or your parents can get a refund for obviously wasted money spent on your education. Your lack of journalistic research and clear dissemination of the facts is an unfortunate statement of amateur writers today. Please consider changing majors.

Sue | 2008-04-23 - 02:31:30 PM (CDT)
Sue,

Don’t worry...Kelly can overcome all of that with the Scientology TR Communication Courses. Sure it costs thousands of dollars, but you learn how to command an ashtray to stand up and sit down. Once you master how to tell ashtrays what to do, the world is your oyster (or clam which L Ron Hubbard preached we all evolved from).

Anonymous | 2008-04-23 - 02:35:04 PM (CDT)
Rob, "us" is "people commenting on this article". Maybe the wording was inelegant, I’ll try again:

Hi, Rob! I’m a trained journalist -- and can confidently tell you that this is an op-ed piece, but certainly not a piece of investigative journalism. It is not impartial, and would not pass muster as impartial journalism in any course or newsroom.

If Kelley Cox was just telling a first-person story of visiting the Scientology Center, then that’s one thing. But she frames the article as an intelligent investigation of Scientology; by doing so, she creates an expectation that both sides will be aired. Instead, we get direct quotes from a Scientology rep and a drive to the Scientology main site, countered by unsourced, uncredited rumour.

The funny thing is, all it would have taken was a single phone call to an ex Scientologist, or an email exchange or statement with any of the MANY websites mentioned above that are critical of Scientology. That would’ve balanced things to some extent. Instead, we’re treated to stuff Kelley might have heard one time and the Scientologist shooting the "myths" down.

True, the article’s more attention-getting because of the subject matter, but at the root of it, this is not an impartial investigation.

And I found this article by writing "Scientology" into Google, then doing a News search. On my lonesome.

As for the name -- well, seriously, read up on "Fair Game". There’s damn good reason not to flog your credentials on a Scientology-related item.

Anonynony | 2008-04-23 - 02:41:21 PM (CDT)
Try getting some perspective from some people who are far better situated to tell you what Scientology is really about.

www.exscientologykids.com

TonyMeman | 2008-04-23 - 02:45:11 PM (CDT)
Gehrig also claimed that “Hubbard didn’t make a cent off of Scientology” because all the money he made went right back into Scientology. Gehrig said that “Hubbard was already a millionaire before Scientology,” having profited from his career as a pulp fiction writer.

We all know that comment is a crock. Hubtoad said the only way to make money is to start a Religion. Not exact but certainly in that vain.

Shikse | 2008-04-23 - 03:01:29 PM (CDT)
Speaking of poorly researched articles about Scientology, did you consider interviewing someone who *isn’t* a mouthpiece for the church? If this is indicative of your education in journalism, consider applying to Fox News in a few years. There are politicians who would love to have you around so you can transcribe their opinions and present it as news.

joey | 2008-04-23 - 03:11:36 PM (CDT)
How disappointing. You went to a Church of Scientology, a known CULT and BANNED in Germany for fraud, misrepresentation, et al. and you are going to take their word for it? You wrote this to be posted online? You have the largest library a google away and this is what you write? As someone who strongly opposes the Church of Scientology’s practices, I am offended that you wouldn’t be bothered to do your homework for something as important as this.
I bet the non-journalism students know that google is your friend.

AC2 | 2008-04-23 - 03:13:09 PM (CDT)
This is an opinion article based on my experience at the Scientology Center of Baton Rouge, hence the headline "I visited the Scientology Center of BR...and lived to write about it."
Please consider reading news articles that I have written for various publications before attacking me or insulting my journalistic capabilities after reading ONE opinion article on a controversial subject.
However, I am thankful that this article has high readership. I appreciate and welcome all feedback.

Kelley Cox | 2008-04-23 - 03:17:48 PM (CDT)
Oh Kelley?
Why don’t you go to xenutv.net and watch the 2+hour interview with Jason Beghe, the celebrity who made headlines by doing an inteview that tells THE TRUTH ABOUT SCIENTOLOGY. It was released this week. Jason spent (conservatively) ONE MILLION dollars in Scientology.. He validates that Xenu story, and I think he would know.. don’t you think?
I strongly suggest you do a follow up piece to this after you have have done more research.

mpd | 2008-04-23 - 03:18:17 PM (CDT)
I am not here to attack your article, but it is important that you speak to former Scientologists before you can make your distinction. Many people leave religions for many reasons, but the horrors that have forced Scientologists away are among the most terrible.

MrBoyscout | 2008-04-23 - 03:18:57 PM (CDT)
Kelley, you must appreciate the reason for the backlash...this is not structured as an opinion piece. This is structured as a press release from the church. There are far too many instances of "Gehrig said" for this to be considered impartial or even your own opinion.

A better story would have discussed what "Gehrig said" versus the truth. Any discerning human being who has been following this story would be willing to give you a dose of that.

sigh | 2008-04-23 - 03:31:36 PM (CDT)
Hi Kelly,

I truly don’t mean to make you feel attacked, and I know that the constructive criticism canard’s a bit hard to take sometimes. Thanks for engaging.

I actually did go and read some of your other articles, which is why I found this article so maddening -- the others I found were good, with balance and a nice impartiality. By comparison, this one came off as weirdly clumsy. For instance:

What caused you to write this story? Where did you source the alien information that you present in the article as prior knowledge? Did the Scientologist call you up out of the blue and invite you? Did you ask for an interview and that’s how this happened?

On top of that, the way you phrase things is -- well, I can only say it seems like you internalised a whole load of what the Scientologist fed you. Take a step back and reread this sentence: "I also watched many of the informational videos he recommended on the Church of Scientology’s official Web site (www.Scientology.org) and realized that practically everything I had heard about Scientology was untrue." That’s got no critical thought to it, unless it was meant to be mocking. It’s accepting propaganda as fact with no counter. And for me, it set a really ominous tone for the article.

I did reread this a number of times, and what it boils down to is that I have no idea what your motivation was in approaching the CoS, I have no idea where you sourced the information the Scientologist then (apparently) utterly disproved for you, I really don’t get what happened here other than you went to a CoS Center, went in, listened to their pitch, asked a few questions and accepted the responses without a bit of further research. Which is mind-boggling to me: if you were interested enough to approach the group in the first place, then why the sudden lack of curiosity or skepticism when you’re told EVERYTHING you heard is untrue?

I absolutely encourage you to do a follow-up article that talks with people who have exited the cult; you’ve investigated the pitch the CoS uses with members of the public, so it would be interesting to find out what’s being said by those who’ve exited on the other side.

Best of luck!

Anonynony | 2008-04-23 - 03:32:45 PM (CDT)
Dear Kelley,

When addressing a controversial issue ("controversial" meaning there is an argument concerning it, therefore implying that there are sides), one that’s caused arrests, harassment, lawsuits, forced abortions, and deaths, it’s probably a good idea to ask BOTH SIDES about it, not just the side that is under attack.

www.xenu.net
www.enturbulation.org
www.youfoundthecard.com
www.whyweprotest.org

When she answered "Not that’s not true" to some of your more criticizing questions, a simple call/email to an ex-Scientologist or even reading a website of leaked Scientology documents would have told you that it is.

Yoni | 2008-04-23 - 03:37:27 PM (CDT)
If Xenu is a myth, why are they trying to call copyright infringement on wikileaks.org?

Anon | 2008-04-23 - 03:48:21 PM (CDT)
Oh yes, Scientologists are “extremely ethical people.” Yes, if by "extremely ethical" you mean a Scientologist can "Lie, steal, cheat, destroy them utterly, with absolutely no consequences," speaking of Scientology’s critics (a quote from Hubbard); or maybe you mean "The mechanism of brainwashing which I gave you, with supercold mechanisms and so forth, is very well known, was used very extensively in the Maw Confederation of the Sixty-third Galaxy. They had a total psychiatric control of all of their officers and executives, and when they got tired of them they used this specific method of brainwashing." (a quote from Hubbard); or possibly you mean "The historic Jesus was not nearly the sainted figure has been made out to be. In addition to being a lover of young boys and men, he was given to uncontrollable bursts of temper and hatred that belied the general message of love, understanding and other typical Marcab PR. You have only to look at the history his teachings inspired to see where it all inevitably leads. It is historic fact and yet man still clings to the ideal, so deep and insidious is the biologic implanting." (a quote from Hubbard).

Lily | 2008-04-23 - 03:59:40 PM (CDT)
Dear Tiger Editor
RE:I visited the Scientology Center of BR...and lived to write about it by Kelley Cox

This is the poorest journalism I have seen in a long time.

You should be embarrassed to have published a piece as devoid of facts as this one is.

Avery | 2008-04-23 - 04:00:12 PM (CDT)
Ok folks, you guys gotta understand what "Commentary" is in the world of Journalism.

This is an Op/Ed Piece, it’s the writers opinion based on personal experience and interview with the subject.

This isn’t supposed to be an all sides objective piece, it’s supposed to be an subjective piece on the experience of visiting the Scientology Center.

If you feel that the article is fundamentally flawed, then write a letter to the editor and ask for a follow up story.

Remember, don’t kill the messenger.

PS: I’m also a journalist researching Scientology & Anonymous, I have my opinions but I choose not to voice them here.

LordNeuf | 2008-04-23 - 04:01:07 PM (CDT)
Not a bad story. But the dedicated critics keep churning out the fear stuff anyway. Same Fear checklist, same Fear channel, Same Fear screen names. I’m going to go watch the children play in the sunshine while you Fear Freaks batter your gums. Happy Ho Ho’s.

Terryeo | 2008-04-23 - 04:04:03 PM (CDT)
"Fear stuff," you say. Hubbard calling Jesus a pedophile is "fear stuff"? No, that’s more like "scientology is satanic" stuff. Sounds horrible. I have learned a lot today from these comments and the web sites they recommend.

Hal | 2008-04-23 - 04:14:59 PM (CDT)
Terryeo, why are you so obsessed with children? What are the crimes you are trying to cover? What are your crimes?
Flunk!

Anonymous | 2008-04-23 - 04:19:51 PM (CDT)
The truth doesn’t change Terryeo, that’s why you’re always reading the same stuff.

AnonaCow | 2008-04-23 - 04:24:19 PM (CDT)
Alas, poor Scientology. I could go into what research wasn’t done where. I could go into exact points as to what’s wrong. But the other commenters have that well handled, even the ex Scientologists who’re posting here!

But let’s put this into perspective, Kelley. You’ve got a long way to go before you make it in this industry. Peddling misinformation from your source makes you look bad and will hurt your credibility. You need to be able to prove the things you say, if you’re going to establish them as facts. If you say "scientology is misunderstood," you are then left with the RESPONSABILITY as a journalist to give the avenue to which you drew this conclusion. Maybe you should look into doing PR, instead if you’re not going to be objective.

Mirrion | 2008-04-23 - 04:27:03 PM (CDT)
Anyone ever notice that Terryeo is always talking about "in the sunshine" whenever they troll comment sections? Is that some more scieno-talk like "on the bridge" or "KSW" or "PTS" or "SP" or even
"COB EOC LRH R2-45"

Creepy man, just creepy

Annie Mousey | 2008-04-23 - 04:33:09 PM (CDT)
Um... Amber Alert in progress. A cult member named Terry is watching your children! Look out for anyone administering a "free stress test," accusing aspirin makers of perpetrating the Holocaust, or sitting in place for long periods without blinking.

yikes | 2008-04-23 - 04:40:27 PM (CDT)
Kelley, thanks for clearing up that this was an opinion piece. I think most people are gracious that you’ve spoken directly with scientologists, which is hard enough to do these days. Many refuse to take the time to give an interview or in-depth discussion.

I do agree with Anonynony though in that the article seemed to be an investigative piece at first, and quickly seemed to take one side unfairly. I understand this wasn’t your intention, but it was the impression I had. I’d be interested to see a follow up piece as well, based on interview with ex-scientologists. Best of luck to you in the rest of your career.

davidsp | 2008-04-23 - 04:41:14 PM (CDT)
Wow you should quit your job, you’re a very bad journalist.

Terryeo | 2008-04-23 - 04:51:32 PM (CDT)
Terryeo - That wasn’t very nice to say about Kelley!

MomAnon | 2008-04-23 - 04:54:42 PM (CDT)
Meh. Its not that bad to be honest. She went in, she gobbled up everything she was fed, she wrote the article.

What people have to get here is, Kelly is not a moron, and she certainly is not alone in taking scientology at their word. Look at the Jason Beghe. Comes across in his interview as a very nice, very smart guy, and a critical thinker to boot. But just like kelly, he bought their pr hook line and sinker. And why not? Its not like she was being lied to. Since only 5-10 percent of scientologists max have reached OT3 where you learn about xenu, of course the staffer will say its a myth. And to her it is. Its her truth. And the easiest lie to tell is the one you believe to be the truth. And that sums up 90 percent of scientologists. When you see the videos, with their gloss and professionalism, it automatically lends a volume of credulance to them. But it shouldn’t.

Scientology likes to throw out a line to the effect of, the only place to learn the facts is from the source, read the scientology website to get the facts. This is clearly some very faulty logic, given that they dont exactly follow their own advice. I dont see them advocating that scientologists get the facts about psychiatry from psychiatry. Or the facts on anonymous from anonymous. Or the facts on the bbc from the bbc. See, if you wants facts on those, you have to go to scientology too, and watch their ’dramatic’ videos.

I ask you, honestly, try and be objective about this. Imagine the situation is different. Lets say, this had nothing to do with scientology. Lets say this is a piece about pre us action iraq. There is a lot of talk about rights abuses. Videos from high placed ex members in the iraq government supporting the existence of such things.

So, in this situation, your article would be, basically. I went to iraq and got out alive. You say visit the government PR offices. You watch some great videos explaining the governments positive stance on human rights and tolerance. There are even some videos about this Saddam character, who is so nice in them! You see him playing with puppies and kids and fishing. And you learn that eveything people have been saying about him is an absolute lie! He is deeply mis understood!

I hope you see where the problem lies here.

I have no problem with you going in, and watching the videos and going... Gee what a nice guy. But its when you then presume everything he said was true, when you did not question or investigate as a journalist. Hell, when you didnt go in with some honest to god hard hitting questions based on the very very fresh jason beghe interview that has begun circulation, where the posterboy of scientology for 14 years confirms everything the critics say about it, including xenu, then you failed in your journalistic responsibility.

But the fact remains. You are human. Mistakes are made. You were lied to. You fell for it. And its your responsibility to get your ass right back to that org, having watched the jason beghe interview, and do some serious journalism.

Ask why jason say these things, and why what jason says is identical to every single person who has walked out of high level scientology. This is your chance, not only to write a great piece, but to get one of the first reactions to the beghe interview content. Hell, in case the staffer has not seen it, bring it with you on a laptop.

This is your chance. It is both your right as someone who has been decieved, as well as your journalistic responsibility to do a follow up. And since you think scientology is all roses and kittens you should have nothing to worry about if they take a dislike to you, if you get fair gamed by them, because scientology says that stopped a long time ago right?

Also lord neuf, by all means voice those opinions, but if you are not willing to back those opinions up with fact, then thats all they will be.

anonymous | 2008-04-23 - 05:03:07 PM (CDT)
In before Terryeo.

Slowpoke | 2008-04-23 - 05:06:27 PM (CDT)
The author of this article is such a gullible fuckup, I almost died while reading.

Anon Y. Mouse | 2008-04-23 - 05:08:11 PM (CDT)
Kelley,

Sorry the comments veer more towards "criticism" than "constructive," but I suppose that’s the nature of putting yourself out there. I do think an opinion piece requires some justifications for its points, far more so than straight news for that matter, and especially when you’re entering into an issue that you know from the start is controversial--hence your initial trepidation, no?

Not that you have to change your opinions, as it goes without saying. But there is something constructive behind the criticism...

Best

pieter | 2008-04-23 - 05:08:33 PM (CDT)
In the words of a well-respected personality, "It’s always funny to me when the comments are more informative than the article."

I am reasonably upset that this article made it to publication in the state it is in. It is unresearched, biased, and completely not newsworthy. While I can appreciate LSU’s journalism team allowing its staff to cut their teeth on projects such as this, this will not get anyone hired on the basis of journaistic merit. My apologies for the stark criticism, but given the nature of the topic, I’d like to believe a little more effort would be put into this work.

Steve Daly | 2008-04-23 - 05:11:03 PM (CDT)
Maybe Kelley was afraid of being sued by Scientology like Time Magazine so she just acted as a transcriber instead of a journalist. I can understand journalists being afraid of Scientology.

mom2 | 2008-04-23 - 05:12:26 PM (CDT)
SORRY

but the story about xenu has been confermed by many ex-scientologist and by documents we’ve collected

the secret docs that u learn at ot3**very expenzive level in scientology, u can handle a dwarf mace then*
http://www.wikileaks.org/wiki/Wikileaks

http://www.exscientologykids.com/
kids that grew up in the cult^

www.xenu.net
has the documents and court cases about how dangerous this organization really is.

piff but hell wanna find out for cha selfs?
google
operation snow white
lisa mcpherson
operation freakout

and for anon sites that don’t lie^_^
www.goanonymous.org
http://www.whyweprotest.net/

DON’T BELIVE EVERYTHING YOU HEAR
see for yourself

knowledge is free
religon is free
and no man should be censuring or putting a price on either

expect us
5/10

sargoanonymous | 2008-04-23 - 05:15:48 PM (CDT)
Ask the nice man who gave you a tour what an ’acceptable truth’ is.

Let us know when they threaten you for asking difficult questions. Do you think what happened to Paulette Cooper is acceptable? Gabe Cazares? Keith Henson?

If you don’t know who they are, then you did a very poor job of research, and your editor should be held accountable.

chia | 2008-04-23 - 05:25:43 PM (CDT)
Now, i dont NEED to say anything here- it has allready been pointed out that the article is innacurate, silly and one sided. I allmost expected that its actually just a joke, but the writer seems sensere... Wich dosent speak highly of her abilityes to see the truth. Either way, i just wanted to show my support for all the people who posted here correcting the article.

Expect us, 5/10

Anonisanon | 2008-04-23 - 05:29:56 PM (CDT)
Do Scientologists have real jobs? Obviously not since they have so much time to blast websites with tons of comments that ramble on incoherently. Give Kelly Cox a break, she is not a "journalist" she is a student and a writer. Do scientologists even attend college?

Tom Cruise | 2008-04-23 - 05:33:12 PM (CDT)
This article/opinion piece is painful to read.

"I watched their videos and everything anyone else says about scientology is wrong!" I’m sorry, it’s just painful.

’Gehrig said that “Dianetics can solve stress, anxiety, fear,” and almost anything else.’- This is a typical unsubstantiated medical claim that scientology commonly makes in order to lure more people into the pyramid cult scheme.

Regarding scientology, auditing, mental health and vitamins:

"On March 13, 2003, Jeremy Perkins, a 28 year old untreated schizophrenic, stabbed his mother Elli 77 times. She bled to death on her bedroom floor. Jeremy is currently being held at Rochester Psychiatric Center, having been found not responsible for Elli’s murder by reason of mental disease or defect.
Perkins, his mother and father, his sister, and her husband are all members of the Church of Scientology, a group that believes modern psychiatric medicine derives from an ancient alien civilization’s plot to drug and enslave humanity. Scientologists like Tom Cruise vehemently and publicly oppose the pharmacological treatment of mental illness. Unfortunately, Scientology’s own brand of therapy, called "auditing", is worthless."
*http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/JeremyPerkins/

Before Perkins murdered his mother, he was sent to a scientology center in Los Angeles, joined the scientology paramilitary group "Sea Org" and treated for his problems according to standard scientology practice-auditing and vitamins.

Perkins was not helped by scientology and neither was his mother.

Scientology continues to practice faulty medicine without a license. There is no peer review of their claims. There is no informed consent-if there were, people who approached scientology and being told that their methods can ’solve stress, anxiety,fear, "etc.. would be fully informed as to what the diagnosis, underlying causes were, what the proposed treatment was and what the goals of such treatment would be. In the case of scientology this means telling potential customers that human beings are possessed by 75 million year old disembodied alien spirits who cause mans ailments and which can be removed by paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for auditing and vitamins.

Scientology does not tell you these things until you have spent thousands of dollars or have agreed to sign a billion year contract of service to scientology.

This is not a game. This is not a joke. This is not harmless. This is deception, bait and switch, malpractice and fraud. I can’t believe that so little thought could go into writing about this topic. I’d suggest trying again. For the sake of your conscience and for the sake of the millions of children who will one day grow up and become targets of the scientology money making machine.

John Lawls | 2008-04-23 - 05:33:56 PM (CDT)
Kelley,

I do recommend watching the video about the dark side of Scientology recently published with former Scientology hero Jason Beghe. He is the voice over for a lot of their promotional materials. Also, exscientologykids.com is a fair site to research more about the workings of this cult. I say cult because it is my opinion after viewing all sides of the story, not just the pro nor the con side.

They paint a very nice picture to new people, but once you start to get into it it gets murkier. Please, spend the time and watch the interview with Jason, or read the forum of the Ex kids, all people who escaped this organization. I say escaped because that is the words they use. I never hear of someone escaping Christianity. Its a term reserved for cults.

Fine, your article is what this guy basically said about his beliefs....do yourself a favor and research the other side of the coin. This many people wouldnt have a problem with the cult, if problems did not exist to make them act so.

The internet is your friend.....use it.

Steve Daly | 2008-04-23 - 05:36:46 PM (CDT)
This is a late April fool’s joke right? This was in
The Onion, right? This junk was as unbiased as The Pope declaring his allegiance to Catholicism. But thanks just the same...I needed a good laugh today!

Jim | 2008-04-23 - 05:36:57 PM (CDT)
I used to live in Baton Rouge when I was on faculty at LSU. My next door neighbor was a young woman named Kelly (coincidence?) who was a new scientologist. The scientology group pressured her into taking lots of courses she could not afford, so they opened up a line of "credit" for her. She was driven so deeply into debt that the only way she could repay the debt was to begin working for scientology. She was forced to move to Clearwater, Florida - they wouldn’t even let her take her dog, so she adopted it out to a nice guy. She basically became an indentured servant to scientology because of this debt they pressured her into amassing. I have since found out that people in this situation are paid about $25 per week to work 18 hours per day 7 days per week. And they have to sign an insane "billion year contract" to the group.

That’s almost slavery.

randy | 2008-04-23 - 05:38:45 PM (CDT)
I would really like to see the other side of this "opinion" piece. Research required. You just proved an excellent point Kelley. You have proven with one fell swoop that by all appearances, Scientology seems like a nice, harmless church, out to save the world. That is the key isn’t it? Once you have done the research, you will find until VERY recently, this is the only kind of article a journallist would write about the CoS, for fear of being "fair gamed". Did you know that the CoS spent 10 years in litigation with TIME MAGAZINE for a piece that was written against the church? 10 million dollars of litigation, that’s pretty frightening to the average newspaper journalist. Fortunately, internet junkies like myself have found out the truth about Scientology and are now protesting against this travesty that hides itself under the guise of religion. There is a reason why, people are finally speaking out against this cult, and it is because there is less fear, because the numbers against this totalitarian "church" are far greater than the numbers for it. Don’t get duped by Scientology, it is nothing short of a con. Look behind the curtain and see what you find. Best of luck to you.

Sally Edwards | 2008-04-23 - 05:41:19 PM (CDT)
I have never been a Scientologist, but I know people who are. They never answer a question directly. In fact, I don’t think they know how to think critically. People who can’t think for themselves are the ones we should pray for. Many people are stuck in the cult because leaving would mean disconnection from their loved ones who are still in it. Thank you for opening a can of worms that Scientologists want closed.

terryeo | 2008-04-23 - 05:43:08 PM (CDT)
Most other articles only interview ex-Scientologists, self-proclaimed "cult" (hate term) experts, and those with negative opinions about Scientology, and rarely publish anything positive that current Scientologists have to say about Scientology. This article is a refreshing change and is far more balanced than any of the other slime pieces out there.

theta_2008 | 2008-04-23 - 05:47:03 PM (CDT)
Kelly... I find it even more disturbing that you say this is an opinion piece... at least before you had the excuse of saying I wrote a poorly researched article.

Now that I know your opinion is so easily swayed by clear cut manufactured lies, I feel sorry for you.

I wonder if you now regret writing this ’opinion’ piece in the first place.

Andrew | 2008-04-23 - 05:48:49 PM (CDT)
It’s ashame that Anonymous has resorted to personal attacks. They seem to have lost some objectivity. I’m afraid that scientology may be getting to them as much as they are getting to scientology. Discuss the issues. Don’t stoop to scientologist’s levels with the personal attacks. Kelly conveyed what she learned from her interview. Don’t forget that many of the lower level members are good people caught up in a bad situation. You’ll never gain the media’s or the government’s attention with poor credibility.

observer | 2008-04-23 - 05:50:50 PM (CDT)
Theta_2008,
Freedom of speech allows people to say what they want about whatever they want. Your "church" seems to spend an awful lot of time rebutting these critics, and alot less time investigating their claims. EVEN THE POPE acknowledges the failures of the Catholic Church.
Perhaps your "church" should learn that humility is the key to longevity.. not "always attack, never defend."
Theta_2008 - "Come up to present time."

Sally Edwards | 2008-04-23 - 05:52:04 PM (CDT)
As a Scientologist for a few decades, OT-V, and graduate of one of America’s best journalism schools, I must praise Cox for wonderful candor, open-mindedness and courage in writing a multi-sided article. Those traits are missing from journalism broadly, far more so in the coverage of Scientology.

In the onslaught of hate from (sorry to say it) Scientology flunk-outs and hate-mongers, it takes some chutzpah to write an opinion that runs upstream to all the garbage running downstream.

CONFIDENTIALITY IS CENTRAL:
What is said during Dianetics and Scientology auditing to a Scientology minister has "priest-penitent" confidentiality comparable to the confidentiality that Roman Catholic parishioners receive.

See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clergy-penitent_privilege

Further, Scientology’s "Auditor’s Code"--consider it a counselor’s oath--forbids the counselor from discussing the secrets of people s/he counsels.

Since breaking that particular precept of the oath would undermine all Scientology counseling worldwide, any breach would be dealt with severely by the employing Church.

And--as a practical matter--in several decades, I’ve never once heard of such a breach.

Medillian | 2008-04-23 - 05:52:18 PM (CDT)
Hmm. Maybe you should consider going to a real university to learn how to investigate before reporting on things like this.

F. Uckoffensen | 2008-04-23 - 05:58:06 PM (CDT)
When Lindberg visited the Nazis in the 30’s they showed him a good time and impressed him with how Germany was better off being Nazi.

Neville Chamberlain thought Hitler was a reasonable person in ’38.

Jane Fonda thought Ho Chi Min was a great leader who was doing the right things to South Vietnam.

Are you that ignorant that you’d think that by going to your nearest scientology org they would expose all that was wrong?

You are being used as a tool for their propaganda and it just shows how incapable you are of doing any real research.

My suggestion to you would be if they are so harmless is to join them immediately and quit your job to become Sea Org so you can happily sign the billion year contract and then tell us how great your life is in a year!

Pitiful journalism. You should be whole heatedly ashamed of yourself!!!!

Fred | 2008-04-23 - 06:00:41 PM (CDT)
"Scientology is probably the most misunderstood religion around."

There’s a reason for that, they’re not upfront about their beliefs.

Chris | 2008-04-23 - 06:03:15 PM (CDT)
Don’t you mean "one-sided"?

theta_2009 | 2008-04-23 - 06:06:09 PM (CDT)
Alright people. Stick to the facts. The article is painful. The author certainly knows that it is fluff. The facts about scientology do far more in the cause of truth than berating a student who wrote a sub par piece. Why are they dead . net , you found the card . com
the info there speaks louder than anything.

Whatever you choose to do in the future Kelly, good luck. I pray that it doesn’t include joining scientology.

J | 2008-04-23 - 06:06:45 PM (CDT)
Have you ever wondered how people end up in abusive relationships? The comparison has been brought up many times before and I quite agree with it. When you meet, and throughout the romance, things are great and they seem wonderful to you. They become more and more a part of your life. You come to rely on them until soon you begin to need them. Before you know it, things begin to change. They never start off abusive. Who would fall for them if they did?
So what were you expecting to see when you arrived? Did you think they would start off screaming at you or something? No, they want you to like them so they can get you to trust them.

Then they work their "communication hypno-tech" to sucker you in. They are the used car sales people from hell, they will sell you future lives and you will thank them for the opportunity. You will work excruciating long days for $60 dollars a week and discounts on expensive "auditing therapy," and they will make you believe you’ve never been happier. You will take out loans and mortgage your house to pay for them to dangle "immortality" and power just beyond your reach for the rest of your life. You will do this gladly because they will make you believe that Scientologists are the only ones who can save the world and you must do everything in your power to help them take control of it.
Have you ever been persuaded? Are you aware of all the times you’ve acted on suggestion? Have you ever been hypnotized? Are you sure?

n/a | 2008-04-23 - 06:08:08 PM (CDT)
Kelly, good luck on the journalism thing...here are some JUDICIAL opinions that might help put some BALANCE with your story (oh, and btw, you got PLAYED, big time...but don’t be too embarrassed, the cult is really, really good at it)

Justice Anderson, Supreme Court of Victoria, Australia:
"Scientology is evil; its techniques are evil; its practice is a serious threat to the community, medically, morally, and socially; and its adherents are sadly deluded and often mentally ill... (Scientology is) the world’s largest organization of unqualified persons engaged in the practice of dangerous techniques which masquerade as mental therapy."
Kenneth Robinson, British Minister of Health:
"The government is satisfied that Scientology is socially harmful. It alienates members of families from each other and attributes squalid and disgraceful motives to all who oppose it; its authoritarian principles and practice are a potential menace to the personality and well being of those so deluded as to become followers; above all, its methods can be a serious danger to the health of those who submit to them... There is no power under existing law to prohibit the practice of Scientology; but the government has concluded that it is so objectionable that it would be right to take all steps within its power to curb its growth."
Federal prosecutor’s memorandum to the judge urging stiff jail sentences for 9 top leaders of Scientology who had pleaded guilty to criminal charges:
"The crime committed by these defendants is of a breath and scope previously unheard of. No building, office, desk, or file was safe from their snooping and prying. No individual or organization was free from their despicable conspiratorial minds. The tools of their trade were miniature transmitters, lock picks, secret codes, forged credentials and any other device they found necessary to carry out their conspiratorial schemes."
Justice Latey, ruling in the High Court of London:
"Scientology is both immoral and socially obnoxious...It is corrupt sinister and dangerous. It is corrupt because it is based on lies and deceit and has its real objective money and power for Mr. Hubbard... It is sinister because it indulges in infamous practices both to its adherents who do not toe the line unquestionably and to those who criticize it or oppose it. It is dangerous because it is out to capture people and to indoctrinate and brainwash them so they become the unquestioning captives and tools of the cult, withdrawn from ordinary thought, living, and relationships with others."
Judge Breckenridge, Los Angeles Superior Court:
"[The court record is] replete with evidence [that Scientology] is nothing in reality but a vast enterprise to extract the maximum amount of money from its adepts by pseudo scientific theories... and to exercise a kind of blackmail against persons who do not wish to continue with their sect.... The organization clearly is schizophrenic and paranoid, and this bizarre combination seems to be a reflection of its founder, L.Ron Hubbard."
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Paul Breckenridge, June 1984, in the Gerry Armstrong case:
"In addition to violating and abusing its own members’ civil rights, the organization over the years with its ’fair game’ doctrine has harassed and abused those persons not in the church whom it perceives as enemies."
California appellate court, 2nd. district, 3rd. division, July 29, 1991, B025920 & B038975, Super. Ct. No. C 420153:
"In January 1980, fearing a raid by law enforcement agencies, Hubbard’s representatives ordered the shredding of all documents showing that Hubbard controlled Scientology organizations, finances, personnel, or the property at Gilman Hot Springs. In a two week period, approximately one million pages were shredded pursuant to this order."
California Supreme Court, United States v. Lee [455 U.S. 252,257,258 (1982)*/:
"When a person is subjected to coercive persuasion [as in Scientology] without his knowledge or consent ...[he may] develop serious and sometimes irreversible physical and psychiatric disorders, up to and including schizophrenia, self-mutilation, and suicide."
USDJ Judge Leonie Brinkema 4 Oct 96 Memorandum Opinion, RTC vs Lerma:
"The dispute in this case surrounds Lerma’s acquisition and publication on the Internet of texts that the Church of Scientology considers sacred and protects heavily from unauthorized disclosure. Founded by L. Ron Hubbard, the Scientology religion attempts to explain the origin of negative spiritual forces in the world and advances techniques for improving one’s own spiritual well-being. Scientologists believe that most human problems can be traced to lingering spirits of an extraterrestrial people massacred by their ruler, Xenu, over 75 million years ago. These spirits attach themselves by "clusters" to individuals in the contemporary world, causing spiritual harm and negatively influencing the lives of their hosts ".

anonymous | 2008-04-23 - 06:11:23 PM (CDT)
Kelley,

I checked out your other articles to give you the benefit of the doubt; and I can say - opinion or PR piece; I was equally disapointed by your naive sense of penmanship. You really should pick a different career path as the journalism thing you’re trying right now might not be your strong suit.

Your’e great at transcribing, and pretty much rewriting generalities, but pretty shallow on creating a compelling argument, providing clear concise truths and connecting the dots within a logical written piece to provide your reader with a sense that they’ve been privy to a thoughful piece of writing..

I think you really should consider a different career path as youre devoid of any journalistic instinct to properly cover the tenents of effective writing.

Mind you by the comments I’ve read here, your style certainly meshes well with the pro-Scientology crowd. Which may be due to the fact they’re used to believing in poorly written materials.

But if you continue down this path I would suggest perhaps obituaries and classifieds might better suit your style - or if they have in fact paid you for this drabble you can confer with your new found $cino pals which course might better inspire your inner Thetans to write more effectively.

www.enturbulation.org - for more on the real story behind the Church of Scientology

thetruthonlineisreal | 2008-04-23 - 06:23:13 PM (CDT)
Medillian:

Sorry, I’m going to have to call BS on you. Taking one side of a matter as gospel fact, forming a conclusive opinion based on their internal propaganda is NOT good journalism (which is where I will also call BS on your claim of graduating from a prestigeous school....like LRH was a nuclear physicist right? lol).

That is like doing an investigative piece on McDonalds, and the only interview was Ronald himself, and the only research was to read the box of the Happy Meal. Hardly objective journalism and far from balanced. I’m sorry Kelley, you’ve been used as a mouthpiece whether willingly or not. That is not journalism, that is Advertisment/Public Relations.

declare_shenanigans | 2008-04-23 - 06:30:13 PM (CDT)
You wrote:

".........Gehrig remembered the poorly researched, offensive articles that both Tiger Weekly and The Daily Reveille have published in the past two years........."

and the streak of poorly written material continues on.... if nothing else you’re consistant - congratulations TigerWeekly!

Anonymous | 2008-04-23 - 06:30:50 PM (CDT)
I love that $cientologists like the one above always revert to the argument that anyone who disagrees or questions their practices are either ex-members or hate-mongers...

You might as well throw in that we are all JEALOUS of you as well... it’s just as ridiculous.

Trent | 2008-04-23 - 06:32:54 PM (CDT)
Medillian. If you can label that piece multi sided, i think you need to take a refresher course at that school of yours.

Ironically your comment does more damage to the scientology argument that anyone here could through criticism. You happily label any negative voice on the churches activities as coming from haters of those who fail at scientology. But by definition, anyone who leaves scientology is considered to have failed.

Dont you as a journalist see the circular logic in that? No one who hasnt been in scientology has the facts. No one who has left scientology is telling the truth. What is your opinion of the beghe interview? He like you is an OT5 ,and there are critics who are former OT8. How could you claim to know more then them about scientology when you are at a lower level. And why would anyone ever leave scientology after becoming an OT. Even if you were stuck at level five say, by this time you should have manifested many incredible powers, perfect memory for example. Control over objects around you. Why would you quit scientology when you are living proof it is real? As an OT5, you yourself know this more than anyone .How could someone who has gone clear, and gotten to OT 5 leave. So what if you never got to OT8 in this lifetime? You would start as a pre life clear next time round right? Breeze through the levels and crack OT8 no problem. So why leave? So what if you got stuck. How would that make you turn on something which has clearly been proven to you and given you incredible powers? You cant imagine it right?

Jason beghe left because he got to OT 5 and was told his gay friend caused a car accident he was in. That was the moment the lie was exposed for him. That was the moment he could no longer accept it.

It is a moment that comes to a lot of OT scientologists. And it is how scientology has gained some of its greatest critical voices. By its own hands.

al | 2008-04-23 - 06:34:42 PM (CDT)
1.Open up dianetics
2.Read that a clear is free from disease, and has perfect memory
3.Have them show you a clear

Spartacus | 2008-04-23 - 06:34:50 PM (CDT)
To be honest, the story about Zenu and the Galactic wars and DC-8s and all that is probably the most believable part of scientology.
Everything else is just way to crazy. It is hard to believe that this sort of thing goes on in this day and age.

J | 2008-04-23 - 06:35:16 PM (CDT)
If Xenu could only escape from his eternal battery powered prison; he’d set the record straight and open a Class-A-can-o-Whoop-Ass.

Anonymous | 2008-04-23 - 06:37:02 PM (CDT)
If Scientology is perfectly "sane and reasonable" it’s because you didn’t pay enough money to hear the crazy stuff. As a former Scientologist I spent hundreds of thousands of dollars for what was called The Bridge To Total Freedom, when in fact I got nothing but slavery in return.

Plus I think you are clearly already a Scientologist by your glowing language. You didn’t even mention the orientation video in which it is implied you should jump off a bridge or blow your brains out for never speaking of Scientology again. But since you were a good boy and did so you don’t have to do that.

Bgodley | 2008-04-23 - 06:39:03 PM (CDT)
I’m Terryeo and I’m completely insane. Insane for believing Scientology for years! I just read http://www.exscientologykids.org as well as http://www.taxexemptchildabuse.net and the Wikipedia entries for "Operation Snow White" and "Operation Freakout" and it’s horrible what the cult of Scientology has gotten away with! Child labor? Child sexual abuse? Check. Rape? Check. Terrorism? Check. Treason against our government as well as other governments around the world? Check. Framing a critic for crimes they didn’t comit? Check.

Let’s take away Scientology’s tax exempt status already!w

Terryeo | 2008-04-23 - 06:42:20 PM (CDT)
What Medillian fails to state in his/her diatribe on the confidentiality of auditing materials is that this confidentiality is limited to "online" scientologists in good standing. Should one have the audacity to ever leave the "church" they, as non-scientologists are no longer afforded any such protection.

Take for example this quote from Jesse Princes affadavit:

Members of Scientology are induced to confess to acts that, if not outright criminal, are embarrassing or possibly destructive to the person’s job, marriage or profession. For example, shoplifting, adultery, masturbation, homosexuality, drug abuse, or any other potentially embarrassing or illegal matters are recorded. Members are urged to write down these compromising facts in their own handwriting, under the guise that it is a "religious confessional" for the member’s good. The truth is that these "confessions" are kept to blackmail and extort members should they dare to speak out against Scientology. Members are also coerced to sign documents that are self-damaging in order to protect Scientology in case they dare to leave its control and speak the damaging truth. I know all this to be true, because I watched this done to others; I did it to others; and it was done to me."

http://www.xenu-directory.net/documents/prince19990820.html#23

Today is Wednesday. Scientology staffers need to have their stats in by tomorrow at 2:00PM and those stats need to bu "upstat" or else. No doubt we’ll be hearing more twisted "truths" from the likes of Medillian and others before then.

Oh, and Medillian, here’s something you might enjoy, it’s from your own prestigious journalism school...

http://www.northbynorthwestern.com/2008/04/9358/anonymous-posters-appear-on-campus/

How are your stats?

downstatmedill | 2008-04-23 - 06:54:22 PM (CDT)
As someone who had a family member ’disconnected’ and has personally experienced the kind of "ethics" Scientology uses on their own members to those they view as enemies, I find this article patently offensive.

This isn’t journalism this is poorly veiled propaganda. Scientology flagrant exploitation and systematic violation human rights abuses is hitting the mainstream and there is no stopping it now. Not even propaganda pieces such as this.

Anonymous: I will march proudly with you this May to fight the crimes of this organization. Enough is enough.

Rhett | 2008-04-23 - 07:03:09 PM (CDT)
Kelly, do your homework. Look at the videos on Mark Bunker’s site: http://xenutv.com/. He is protesting the death of Lisa McPherson. Wrongful death is something suitable to protest. Anyway, so he’s out there with a camera, and these scientologists get into his face and yell at him "What are your crimes? You evade taxes, don’t you? You smoke pot, don’t you? Maybe you like little boys?" While these are paraphrases, these exact accusations were made, in public, on camera. These videos are on his site. They are brainwashed to believe that ANYONE that talks bad about Scientology has to be a Criminal, and a bad one. That’s not the way life works, and you know it. Ethical? Does that sound Ethical? Of course they put on a good song and dance for you. But how do they treat their critics?

Guy Falkes | 2008-04-23 - 07:20:53 PM (CDT)
As far as one-sided, non-investigative, non-thought-provoking pieces go, this is excellent work. I have no doubt that this should be released on a planentary scale as *the* non-example of fine jounalism.

If you had to look up "fluff" in the dictionary, this article would be the example after the definition.

inbeforelightfield | 2008-04-23 - 07:24:05 PM (CDT)
"Gehrig said that once Dianetics was published in 1950, people really related to it and yearned to apply the teachings of Dianetics to their own lives. Gehrig said that “Dianetics can solve stress, anxiety, fear,” and almost anything else. Scientology evolved from Dianetics in 1952.

Ever since, Scientology has not stopped gaining momentum."

Except for the FBI raids in the seventies one might think. Or the recent prime time TV report in Israel where they were being exposed for using hypnotic techniques on clients and maintaining folders on members.
Of course there has been growing criticism of scientology and worldwide demonstrations in recent months, but that didn’t slow down Scientology momentum AT ALL.
Never mind there was a raid on a scientology centre in belgium just this month and criminal investigations against the organization have been going on for ten years now.
It is expanding and using various front groups such as Narconon. The only problem is that while their numbers have groen into dozends of trillions their advisory board is getting smaller and smaller, the people even leave from photographs:

http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Stop-Narconon/AdvisoryBoard/

The same thing happened with a photo of the Saint Hill Organisation with Hubbard on it:

http://www.xenu.net/archive/image_edit/

Some religion. Some journalism. Please do some research next time before writing an article. It’s not that difficult. www.google.com search for scientology.

critical voice | 2008-04-23 - 07:24:59 PM (CDT)
This is a joke, right?

A. Rosemont | 2008-04-23 - 07:26:50 PM (CDT)
"Gehrig held that Scientologists are “extremely ethical people.” He also said that “anyone that knows Scientology, knows it’s cool.”"

I suggest you do a bit more research - you are, after all, a journalist, and that goes with the job. Any number of simple Google searches will reveal that Scientology - at least the upper ranks - is completely morally bankrupt.

Rogbod Rogbido | 2008-04-23 - 07:31:35 PM (CDT)
Ms. Cox,

For your own good I suggest never investing in real estate.

David Miscavige | 2008-04-23 - 07:32:15 PM (CDT)
So...who will be writing the op-ed piece that responds to this blatant PR story and gives the other (read: researched) side of the story?

NarkAnon | 2008-04-23 - 07:35:17 PM (CDT)
"It turns out they’re quite the nice people and say all that is a lie!"

Hard hitting investigative journalism, right here.

Greg Barnt | 2008-04-23 - 07:35:46 PM (CDT)
"Gehrig held that Scientologists are “extremely ethical people.” He also said that “anyone that knows Scientology, knows it’s cool.”"

Lisa McPherson is no doubt pretty cool.

inbeforelightfield | 2008-04-23 - 07:43:21 PM (CDT)
There was a time when I too, could play in the sunshine. That was before Anonymous begin duplicating my screen name all over the ’net, before encyclopedia dramatica ran a piece on me, before idiots begin placing hate speeches with this editing identity. Well. Do you know the human reaction to persistent anger? - Last time I asked that, a Glosslip author considered the question to be a threat- The answer is BOREDOM - no lulz, just boredom.

But there is a Lulz. Critics chant snatches of knowledge, such as "disconnection" or "religion is free". While its target spells out methods to understand what you know. Critics are saying, "I don’t understand, I don’t understand". Saying it to Scientology whose cornerstone is understanding what you know. From my point of view critics are blinded by knowledge without understanding it. Critics are verbal and loud, proclaiming abuse while refusing to understand the scope of their knowledge.

Terryeo [tm] | 2008-04-23 - 07:45:44 PM (CDT)
Kelly is either a very simple person or a cult of scientology member. Terryeo (who has posted above) a scientology OSA shill who posts all accross the internet. For the FACTS of the matter, from those who have escaped the scientology prison camps check out:

http://www.forum.exscn.net/index.php?

For the information on Terryeo:

http://www.encyclopediadramatica/Terryeo

Centurian 10 | 2008-04-23 - 07:45:49 PM (CDT)
I’m a Scientologist DONTCHAKNOW. I HAVE A WEEEESCONSIN accent YAH

Scientologist means no sex for you, is bad stay away

Pat Harney | 2008-04-23 - 07:45:59 PM (CDT)
tr0 through tr4 are brain washing techniques

ScientologyisaCult | 2008-04-23 - 07:46:25 PM (CDT)
Terryeo [tm]? Fake. The real Terryeo is [R]

Terryeo [R] | 2008-04-23 - 07:49:53 PM (CDT)
Kelley is in the right place!
The $cientologists lay in wait for airheads to enter their lair, only to pounce on them.
Watch Out!

Scientragedy | 2008-04-23 - 07:50:58 PM (CDT)
Terry, about that sunshine.... If it’s really so beneficial, why are all the windows at the larger org’s such as LA and Clearwater always shuttered closed?

Note to OSA: Open up some of the blinds already, enjoy the sun! It’s good for you.

eyeswideshut | 2008-04-23 - 07:51:33 PM (CDT)
Don’t feel too bad Kelley, Scientologists have duped a lot of people over the course of 50 years. You aren’t the first, but there are people who are trying to make sure that you are one of the last. I imagine writing a piece like this must be hard for a young journalism major. The Church of Scientology is a tough tackle, they are so very good at deception and facades. Hopefully, this particular article and the comments that follow will be a reminder to you, that you should at least know as much as your readers do. I bet you get the facts right the next time before you carelessly pat yourself on the back and think that you have been thorough in your research.
Better luck next time.

Kevin Cole | 2008-04-23 - 07:54:25 PM (CDT)
so like, they were totally cool and had crosses and stuff, and crosses are good right, so I just believed everything they said!

Kelley Cox | 2008-04-23 - 07:56:20 PM (CDT)
They had excellent Kool-Aid too.

Kelley Cox | 2008-04-23 - 07:58:23 PM (CDT)
"so like, they were totally cool and had crosses and stuff, and crosses are good right, so I just believed everything they said!
Kelley Cox | 2008-04-23 - 07:56:20 PM (CDT)"

...now you’re showing your true hand Kelley... bravo...

TJ | 2008-04-23 - 07:59:47 PM (CDT)
"They had excellent Kool-Aid too."
Kelley Cox | 2008-04-23 - 07:58:23 PM (CDT)

You should listen to the recordings of the children dying at Jonestown... they’re about as funny as your quote...

VERY classy

TJ | 2008-04-23 - 08:02:01 PM (CDT)
"we are firm critics of psychiatry" is not quite like saying we are campaigning for the "global obliteration of psychiatry". Guess that is the difference between the WOG (their term for the public) face and the "private" face of scientology. Thanks to the Internet we can now see just how two faced the cul* sorry church of scientology is and if it has to be two faced there is something very wrong.

David | 2008-04-23 - 08:04:42 PM (CDT)
Terryeo(tm) , jason beghe looked pretty informed, being an OT5. By definition to get to that point he had to understand everything that came before. How are his interview comments scraps of knowledge? He seemed pretty well informed to me. Any comment? Or will you just fail to confront it.

biggy | 2008-04-23 - 08:07:03 PM (CDT)
Obviously, those last two post aren’t Kelley, guys.

come on | 2008-04-23 - 08:07:21 PM (CDT)
""They had excellent Kool-Aid too."
Kelley Cox | 2008-04-23 - 07:58:23 PM (CDT)

You should listen to the recordings of the children dying at Jonestown... they’re about as funny as your quote...

VERY classy"

They have recordings? Well, now I know what I want for Christmas. Make it so, Santa.

Kelley Cox | 2008-04-23 - 08:09:14 PM (CDT)
Impersonating the author to make your side look better hints that your argument is weak. It’s called being a Strawman Puppet.

Stick to ethics. | 2008-04-23 - 08:10:17 PM (CDT)
The same mature individuals attacking her are now posting under the author’s name. Do you really think she is going to post on a message board that consists mostly of posts telling her she is incapable of doing her job. I doubt she wants to read insulting comments. Who would?

Josh St. Phillip | 2008-04-23 - 08:11:12 PM (CDT)
There’s more than one Kelley Cox in the world, and you’re hanging on her nuts.

Kelley Cox | 2008-04-23 - 08:11:57 PM (CDT)
Dear Terryeo [tm],

tl;dr

Dear Kelley,

I hope you will do a follow-up report, based on further research. Scientology tries really hard to "seem normal," but it is very far from normal. Do some more reading and you’ll see what I mean. Hubbard was a nutcase anti-Christian, anti-science weirdo.

Mark | 2008-04-23 - 08:16:47 PM (CDT)
An article written by a sheep.

Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-baaaaaaaaaaaaa

go do a little research on the Sea Org you sheep. child labor, sexual harassment, disconnection, and thats pretty much the heart of scientology.

brian | 2008-04-23 - 08:17:42 PM (CDT)
Bah, Kelley has a dream job. Why do real journalism when you can have someone else write it for you. Turn in "your" (nudge-nudge-wink-wink) copy and hit the bar.

Dupont, Dow Chemicals, the Bush administration all dream of these young-upstarts crossing their threshold.

ZOMG | 2008-04-23 - 08:20:59 PM (CDT)
"Impersonating the author to make your side look better hints that your argument is weak. It’s called being a Strawman Puppet. "

Is that why scientologists made fake Tory Christman accounts on YouTube and stole her videos? I really just thought you were hitching a ride on her popularity until now. Thanks for clearing that up!

Jess | 2008-04-23 - 08:23:04 PM (CDT)
Ms Cox,

It seems a good place to start with your piece would have been to ask why the recently released interview with OT5 Jason Beghe contradicts everything that was fed to you from your PR contact.

Ya know, that’s what journalist do. Ask questions. Not just nod their head.

Astonished | 2008-04-23 - 08:25:08 PM (CDT)
This is the most poorly researched article on Scientology that I have ever read. Who the hell hires these writers over at LSU? You’re a real university. Don’t you have libraries? The sole source for this article were the words of a "kindly old scientology spokesman." Why not ask a few objective outsiders? Why not at LEAST verify the claims that one "can’t actually prove the existence of any ’chemical imbalance’."

Tell that to the schizophrenic Scientologist kid who just KILLED his parents because he became convinced (through dianetics) that he didn’t need to take his ANTI-PSYCHOSIS meds.

This article is blatant Scilon propaganda.

BY THE WAY. The Xenu story IS a part of Scientology’s dogma, but you’re not allowed to learn this "terrible origin myth" until you pay $300,000 and reach the rank of OT III. THe guy you interviewed probably isn’t even high-ranking enough to know whether or not the Xenu story is true. The sad part is that Scientologists are told that if someone learns the Xenu story before they’re "ready" (before they pay the money/take the courses/do the auditing) it can lead to instant DEATH. What a load of crap.

anon902503 | 2008-04-23 - 08:25:45 PM (CDT)
By the way, dox yet on Kelley Cox?

anon902503 | 2008-04-23 - 08:29:41 PM (CDT)
LOL! I think Ms. Cox won’t have to do any research, she can just cut and paste the comments for the follow up. Well researched and thorough points made!

If you think the comments are bad for a poorly researched article such as this, wait! If you write anything anti-scientology in the future, you will be earmarked and harrassed for much longer than these comments will sting. The CoS are so horribly aggressive with their attacks, todays’ comments will seem like fun.
You write a TRUTHFUL piece about Scientology, and I think you will see the tone of the comments change.

Now, don’t be butthurt, just your research in the future.

stoplooklisten | 2008-04-23 - 08:34:30 PM (CDT)
Kelley,

Your purpose in writing this is pretty transparent. You see something getting tons of bad press in the media and assume there is another side, so you assume that sticking a microphone in the face of a PR guy is tantamount to uncovering it.

If you would have done research, any amount of it at all, your piece might have been a journalist here, when instead you became a PR tool.

Xenu is a myth? Ask why they are suing wikileaks for infringing on copywrites after posting the Xenu documents.

Scientology is about knowledge and not faith?Why then the tax exempt status of a religion? Is it just about the money?

Compatible with other religions? Ask about the R6 implant, that says that all other religions were part of an insidious alien program to indoctrinate humans with entheta.

They would have lied to you about all of this. They would have told you what is called ’acceptable truths’. If you had done your research you would know all about the doctrine of acceptable truth in Scientology.

Bgodley | 2008-04-23 - 08:35:01 PM (CDT)
What’s even sadder is that David Miscavige, the head of Scientology, is already squirreling tech. In Sci-speak, that means that he is re-writing everything so that members have to pay all over again for the courses that they already endured. He will, in fact, "do away" with the "myth" so that he can proudly point out that Xenu never existed in official Sci dogma. His own niece and his own brother are against Scientology. As are all of the kids that LRH ever had.

brian godley | 2008-04-23 - 08:38:01 PM (CDT)
Terrible journalism!You are going to take the word of a Scientologist for your article?Most Scientologists don’t even know what their religion is about,because it is based on secret teachings which cost a lot of time/money and proven obedience to learn.
This journalist needs to do more research and present both sides of the story-there is a very very dark side to this ’church’
http://www.exscientologykids.com

andyd | 2008-04-23 - 08:40:40 PM (CDT)
Kelley,

This a serious subject. The Church of Scientology has destroyed the lives of many many many people through extortion, blackmail, intimidation and the illegal practice of medicine.

Whether you know it or not, the troubling lack of critical thought and research evident in your piece here is an insult to a great many people who have been lied to, harassed and destroyed by this ’church’.

NoLulz | 2008-04-23 - 08:42:40 PM (CDT)
Kelly, don’t take all the criticism too hard but please do learn from it. And by that I mean journalistically and so far as educating yourself about scientology. I would hate to think of you inadvertantly being a part of introducing people to something that is potentially dangerous and finding out your mistake the hard way. (As in, living with the knowledge for the rest of your life.)

If there’s a chance that even half of what the critics are saying is the truth, isn’t that worth a little investigation? If your sister, mother, father, cousin, or best friend became a scientologist you might be sorry you didn’t at least look into it.

This is no joke and it is not a subject to be taken lightly. To quote Mark Bunker, "Scientology is serious business." Wise words.

Jess | 2008-04-23 - 08:42:50 PM (CDT)
reading the comments one gets the feeling that a vast majority of people aren’t buying into this obviously scientology-funded puff-piece.

And I, for one, welcome our new anonymous overlords.

weine gratzky | 2008-04-23 - 08:43:39 PM (CDT)
Next up From Ms. Cox,

"I spoke to the President of China and lived to tell about it! It turns out the Dalai Lama is a terrorist who masterminded everything bad that has ever happened in Tibet. That’s what he said anyway so it must be true."

An Ashamed Reader | 2008-04-23 - 08:46:39 PM (CDT)
Disregard that, you know what I suck

Terryeo[tm] | 2008-04-23 - 08:48:14 PM (CDT)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNUjMz9-W2I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNUjMz9-W2I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNUjMz9-W2I

Jason Beghe | 2008-04-23 - 08:48:54 PM (CDT)
Absolute drivel, how about asking anybody who thinks differently for their opinion, an utterly biased article. Why not see what ex-$cilons say about this ’church’ at exscientologykids.com

An ex-reader | 2008-04-23 - 08:54:07 PM (CDT)
tl/dr

David M. | 2008-04-23 - 09:07:50 PM (CDT)
Kelley wrote an interesting and informative article....The articles in this publication are written by college students. Some of you really need to get a life! Or better yet, get the guts to go out and put yourself on the line!!!!!!!!!!!!

Begonia | 2008-04-23 - 09:15:23 PM (CDT)
\"Scientologists are extremely ethical people.”

On the question of ethics, here are some quotes from court judgements, Justice Ministers and investigators regarding the Nature of Scientology and their “ethics”.

Why don\’t you look up some of these cases and ask Mr Gehrig some questions about these cases?

\"Scientology is evil; its techniques are evil; its practice is a serious threat to the community, medically, morally, and socially; and its adherents are sadly deluded and often mentally ill... (Scientology is) the world\’s largest organization of unqualified persons engaged in the practice of dangerous techniques which masquerade as mental therapy.\"
--Justice Anderson, Supreme Court of Victoria, Australia
State of Victoria (1965) Board of Inquiry into Scientology. Government Printer: Melbourne.
http://www.apologeticsindex.org/The%20Anderson%20Report.pdf

\"In January 1980, fearing a raid by law enforcement agencies, Hubbard\’s representatives ordered the shredding of all documents showing that Hubbard controlled Scientology organizations, finances, personnel, or the property at Gilman Hot Springs. In a two week period, approximately one million pages were shredded pursuant to this order.\"
--California appellate court, 2nd. district, 3rd. division, July 29, 1991, B025920 & B038975, Super. Ct. No. C 420153

\"Scientology is both immoral and socially obnoxious...It is corrupt sinister and dangerous. It is corrupt because it is based on lies and deceit and has its real objective money and power for Mr. Hubbard... It is sinister because it indulges in infamous practices both to its adherents who do not toe the line unquestionly and to those who criticize it or oppose it. It is dangerous because it is out to capture people and to indoctrinate and brainwash them so they become the unquestioning captives and tools of the cult, withdrawn from ordinary thought, living, and relationships with others.\"
--Justice Latey, ruling in the High Court of London
http://www.gerryarmstrong.org/50grand/cult/latey-decision-black-pr.html

\"[The court record is] replete with evidence [that Scientology] is nothing in reality but a vast enterprise to extract the maximum amount of money from its adepts by pseudo scientific theories... and to exercise a kind of blackmail against persons who do not wish to continue with their sect.... The organization clearly is schizophrenic and paranoid, and this bizarre combination seems to be a reflection of its founder, L.Ron Hubbard.\"
--Judge Breckenridge, Los Angeles Superior Court

\"In addition to violating and abusing its own members\’ civil rights, the organization over the years with its \’fair game\’ doctrine has harassed and abused those persons not in the church whom it perceives as enemies.\"
--Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Paul Breckenridge, June 1984, in the Gerry Armstrong case

\"In January 1980, fearing a raid by law enforcement agencies, Hubbard\’s representatives ordered the shredding of all documents showing that Hubbard controlled Scientology organizations, finances, personnel, or the property at Gilman Hot Springs. In a two week period, approximately one million pages were shredded pursuant to this order.\"
--California appellate court, 2nd. district, 3rd. division, July 29, 1991, B025920 & B038975, Super. Ct. No. C 420153

\"Substantial evidence supports the conclusion Scientology leaders made the deliberate decision to ruin Wollersheim economically and possible psychologically....We do not mean to suggest Scientology\’s retributive program... represented a full scale modern day \’inquisition.\’ Nevertheless there are some parallels in purpose and effect. \’Fair game,\’ like the \’inquisition,\’ targeted heretics. \"Other testimony established Scientology is a hierarchal organization which exhibits near paranoid attitudes toward certain institutions and individuals -- in particular the government, mental health professions, disaffected members, and others who criticize the organization or its leadership... During trial, Wollersheim\’s experts testified Scientology\’s \’auditing\’ and \’disconnect\’ practices constituted \’brainwashing\’ and \’thought reform\’ akin to what the Chinese and North Koreans practiced on American prisoners of war... \"Using its position as religious leader, the church and its agents coerced Wollersheim into continuing auditing even though his sanity was repeatedly threatened by this practice... Thus there is adequate proof the religious practice in this instance caused real harm to the individual and the appellant\’s outrageous conduct caused that harm... Church practices conducted in a coercive environment are not qualified to be voluntary religious practices entitled to first amendment religious freedom guarantees... \"We hold that the state has a compelling interest in allowing its citizens to recover for serious emotional injuries they suffer through religious practices they are coerced into accepting. Such conduct is too outrageous to be protected under the constitution and too unworthy to be privileged under the law of torts.\"
-California appellate court, 2nd district, 7th division, Wollersheim v. Church of Scientology of California, Civ. No. B023193 Cal. Super. (1986)

collected by factnet.org from original sources.
http://www.factnet.org/Scientology/crtquot.htm

got away alive | 2008-04-23 - 09:21:28 PM (CDT)
Kelly and everyone interested, here are some research tools. I’ll start with Scientology’s official site so you can look at both sides of the argument. (Something Scientology would never want you to do.)

www.scientology.org
Official Church of Scientology website

www.xenu.net
A well respected website with possibly the largest collection of critical information available on the net

www.xenutv.com
A large collection of free videos about Scientology including many legal proceedings, interviews with ex-members and some stuff you have to see to believe (See ’Scientologists behaving whacky’)

www.exscientologykids.com
Speaks for itself but understand that one of the founders of the site, Jenna Miscavige Hill, is the niece of the current head of Scientology, David Miscavige

www.enturbulation.org
To learn about why people protest and how to join in

www.whyaretheydead.net
To read about many (too many) Scientology associated deaths

Or if you prefer, just go onto YouTube and search for Scientology but for someone just beginning to research I would recommend beginning at www.xenu.net .

I hope this information is useful.

Jess | 2008-04-23 - 09:22:46 PM (CDT)
Begonia,

"the articles in this publications are written by college students" as if college students are not capable of professionalism. Wrong. Sorry, but some people take the things they do seriously.

Willem | 2008-04-23 - 09:23:28 PM (CDT)
"Gehrig said that a person can’t actually prove the existence of any ’chemical imbalance’"

Really...my Out-dated highschool textbook says otherwise. Are people really this foolish.

I do agree that some people are medicated needlessly however going against established, peer-reviewed medical journals is just foolish without proof to back up claims (Scientology provides none...on anything they say let alone their anti-psychology stance). The fact that you would report on what they say without any prior research or checking of facts is just poor quality journalism.

A simple look at court documents (publicly available to any who are interested) will show that many of the things said in this interview are lies. I sincerely hope that you were not paid to write this poorly researched piece.

Skeptic | 2008-04-23 - 09:24:01 PM (CDT)
The story of Xenu is available in L. Ron Hubbards own handwriting, supported by court documents.
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/OTIII/index.html

A good journalist would actually research the truth.

Mike Rinder | 2008-04-23 - 09:27:48 PM (CDT)
Dear Kelly,

You were what scientology calls "handled." Don’t feel bad about it. They are very very good. Did you know that they actually have a drill specifically on how to talk to reporters? They drill and drill and drill until they can talk in circles flublessly. It’s called TR-L (training routine- lie)

Perhaps you might look at this as a learning experience. Do your research, and then write another article.

ThetansAnonymous | 2008-04-23 - 09:28:08 PM (CDT)
I really really want kelly to do a follow up given the information thats been offered to her here and a return trip to that scientologist.

By now she has to be realising she was duped. Its not a good feeling. Please kelly, if you watch the jason beghe interview, let us know in the comments.

biggy | 2008-04-23 - 09:34:08 PM (CDT)
I’m watching my dog roll on his back in the sunshine.

ThetansAonymous [tm] [R] [B.S.] [M.S.] [Ph.D.] | 2008-04-23 - 09:35:49 PM (CDT)
I sure hope you don’t plan on making a living from journalism....unless maybe for FOX news...

You seem nearly as "Fair and Balanced".

Do some research.

www.whyaretheydead.com
www.youfoundthecard.com

otherwise, maybe you could get a job as David Miscaridge’s PR rep.

Expect Us | 2008-04-23 - 09:37:20 PM (CDT)
YES,

What ThetansAnonymous said! You were ’handled’, look up the term in the context of Scientology training. Handling people is something Scientologists are very very very good at. Don’t feel bad, read up on it go back with some questions!

then see how they handle, intimidate and otherwise attempt to suppress your freedom to report ’unacceptable’ truths.

M. Rinder | 2008-04-23 - 09:37:38 PM (CDT)
wow. do any of you anonymous commenters even live in Louisiana?

anonymous one million 1 | 2008-04-23 - 09:43:30 PM (CDT)
one million 1,

Welcome to the Internet, how long will you be staying?

lol | 2008-04-23 - 09:48:08 PM (CDT)
Do you have to live in the state to call this article crap? I didn’t get that memo.

Maybe they can borrow tech from China and keep this crap off the internet.

ZOMG | 2008-04-23 - 09:49:58 PM (CDT)
Begonia said "Some of you really need to get a life! Or better yet, get the guts to go out and put yourself on the line!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Kelley, one more thing you might take some inspiration from is the number of Anonymous who work, HARD, month after month, to shine the light of day on this vengeful, authoritarian, and facistic cult (adjectives thanks to Andrew Morton).

And so Begonia dear, I’d say Anonymous puts themselves on the line everyday (AND DOESN’T AFRAID OF ANYTHING!)

anonymousandproud | 2008-04-23 - 09:51:03 PM (CDT)
BRB, partyvan’s here.

ZOMG | 2008-04-23 - 09:51:10 PM (CDT)
"wow. do any of you anonymous commenters even live in Louisiana?"

Oh! I have to live in Louisiana to be offended by this article?
Silly me, I thought this was the interwebs!

icwutudidthar | 2008-04-23 - 09:52:56 PM (CDT)
I saw myself in this article. Sure, go ahead and check out Scientology. I did for many years, and I think I have lots of company when I say that Scientology ultimately takes more than it gives back.

Bryon | 2008-04-23 - 09:55:11 PM (CDT)
be gentle

/b/tard | 2008-04-23 - 09:55:44 PM (CDT)
the article is about the center in Baton Rouge, which (for you awesome anonymous commenters) is in Louisiana

anonymous one million 1 | 2008-04-23 - 09:56:20 PM (CDT)
Yes Begonia, from the number of comments posted, Kelley did indeed write an interesting article, even if perhaps, it wasn’t so informative. But that’s probably not her fault, assuming her own intent wasn’t to deceive, which is likely a reasonable enough assumption to make.

Deception is the corporation of scientology’s stock and trade. It’s one of the few things they have any expertise in delivering. Their pay as you go "tech" is packed with euphamisms, newspeak and just plain old fashioned lies. This act of deception is by no means limited to the "church" division of this corporation. It is extended equally throughout the long list of front groups operating under their corporate umbrella.

The endgame of this business (were it ever allowed to get that far) would be the indoctrination of the entire planet including the quiet disposal of all those who chose not to be indoctrinated by them for whatever reason.

But it won’t get that far because even though the corporation has continued to weaken on it’s own accord, thousands upon thousands of individuals the world over understand that there is no room for complacency in the presence of this kind of evil and indeed do have the guts to go out and put themselves on the line every day in opposition to it. Rest assured, as their numbers continue to grow, they will not stop until the job is done. These people do have lives. It’s also very important to them that you do too.

Many of them will be gathering outside of your nearest scientology org this coming May 10th. Come and see for yourself. It would be great if Kelley could come out too.

LongHotSummer | 2008-04-23 - 09:58:25 PM (CDT)
This article stinks of thinly veiled propaganda on the part of the Church of Scientology; shame on Kelly Cox for daring to associate this piece of biased text with the respectable institution of journalism.

Anonymous | 2008-04-23 - 10:00:11 PM (CDT)
As an outsider to this whole "internet vs. scientology" situation, I’m not seeing any "hate" from the anti-Scientologists at all. Every post seems to be offering information backed by resources, not hate-mongering. Props to them for making knowledge available, rather than offering a stubborn, one-sided article based entirely upon what an organization says. You’re a journalist, aren’t you? Research!

faith m. | 2008-04-23 - 10:00:38 PM (CDT)
"the article is about the center in Baton Rouge, which (for you awesome anonymous commenters) is in Louisiana."

Thank you for the geography lesson. The Church of Scientology is a corporation, and is run consistently throughout the world.
So, if this was about the org in New Zealand or New Jersey, the same commentary applies. THE CoS is full of lies, and this article is church propaganda and they know it!

icwutudidthar | 2008-04-23 - 10:06:44 PM (CDT)
I think this round goes to anonymous. Weak article, and the usual Scientology peanut gallery weighing in gets overwhelmed. Again.
If anyone bothers to read this far down, think about how much of your life is truly your own. Probably not much if you read all these comments.

ref | 2008-04-23 - 10:24:29 PM (CDT)
I found this article earlier today through Google news...

But it’s no longer listed there...

I guess Tiger Weekly is regretting their decision to run this piece of crap

GS | 2008-04-23 - 10:25:24 PM (CDT)
Sigh.

"Instead of Xenu, Gehrig said that “Scientologists believe in helping people.” This can be seen by the Church of Scientology’s humanitarian efforts in New York after 9/11 and in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina."

9/11 was a photo op and a chance to scam.
http://www.xenu.net/archive/events/20010911-tragedy

Nice job with the follow-through research. Better study for exams before you dish out fail and AIDS on your finals.

I guess degrees will be awarded by Cheerios and Lu | 2008-04-23 - 10:27:36 PM (CDT)
Ms. Cox,

Let me offer you the benefit of the doubt. You, my dear, have been duped. If you wish to write an informative piece of journalism, you must do the due dillgence to verify your sources. Cross-reference what you are told so as not to become an unwilling spokesperson for falsehoods.

It is alright, people are tricked and manipulated by Scientolgoy all of the time. You, as a potential member of the media, are supposed to be impervious to such mind tricks. You can smile and nod all of you want, and the minute you walk out that door, you do some investigation.

Trust me Kelley, finding undeniable evidense of some of the accusations is very very easy. Recordings in L Ron Hubbards own words, Letters of Policy in his handwriting, court records, video/photo evidense, etc.

I’m not going to read you any riot act, but I will ask that you perhaps do a follow up on this after some further independent research. Consider this a mulligan or do-over. Put a little more effort in next time and hand it in again. You will recieve partial credit.

An-Nice-omous | 2008-04-23 - 11:38:50 PM (CDT)
To sum it up:
Scientology LOL

zomg | 2008-04-23 - 12:01:12 AM (CDT)
"I visited the Scientology Center of BR- and lived to tell about it!"

The title says it all. What were you expecting? Them to tear off their human disguises, snap you into plasma manicals and drain your spinal nectar while cackling menacingly?

Of course everything ’seemed fine’ of course everyone appeared ’sane’ of course they fed you lines about their ’humanitarian efforts’ and Scientology being about ’knowledge’

You don’t think they were able to INFILTRATE THE US GOVERNMENT DURING OPERATION SNOW WHITE by being openly criminal and insane, do you?

YOU LIED TO BY A RIGIDLY TRAINED PR AGENT OF A CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION.

Get A Clue | 2008-04-23 - 12:39:07 AM (CDT)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Snow_White

What were the words you used? Sane and reasonable?

Criminal and conspiratorial really are what comes to mind more.

Google, USE IT | 2008-04-23 - 12:42:14 AM (CDT)
All hail Xenu
Killer of millions
Destroyer of volcanoes
Brainwasher of thetans
We salute you
Nao, giev money plox, thetanrecycling is expensive

Dark lord | 2008-04-23 - 12:42:37 AM (CDT)
This is the most one-sided article ever written. You call yourself a journalist and write this? I could tell you’re going to get a job at Fox News when you grow up because you don’t know how to think like a real journalist.

Objective guy | 2008-04-23 - 01:18:12 AM (CDT)
"Auditing is very similar to a therapy or counseling session."

No it isn’t, any therapist who works like that should be sued.. One example is that they keep asking for earlier similar incidents, thereby implanting the ’fact’ that there was an earlier incident to find. Very dodgy psychiatry, no wonder they want to destroy psychiatry they practice such a corrupted and dangerous form of it themselves.

Sorry to jump on the bandwagon, but this was generally a very poorly researched article, seemingly written by either someone VERY naive or a scientologist..

Joel | 2008-04-23 - 01:25:48 AM (CDT)
Guys, I wouldn’t be so quick to blame the paper on this incredibly ill-informed fluff piece. Why? I just clicked on the "About" section. These people are listed as writing members of the paper staff:

Senior Writers
Amanda Baudot
Anna Casey Nobile
Brian Fontenot
Christopher Gordy
Courtney Harper
Jenna Gibbs
Mark Talley
Matthew Stephens
Meg McInnis
Patrick Fisher
Robert Harris
Sean Illing

Contributing Writers
Ashley Ureta
Charlotte Lisbon
Courtney Belue
Danielle Williams
Jen Bayhi
John Bullock
Kathleen Davis
Lynn Kimmitt
Stacy Coco
Veronica Ly

No "Kelley Cox" anywhere. Not even in the other sections of the paper’s staff, not even the people who handle ads for the paper. It sounds suspiciously like Kelley Cox is a $cieno student plant who submitted this obviously weak piece in hopes it’d attract LSU students to this Ponzi scheme of an organization. It would make sense, particularly considering how amateurish the writing sounds. I wouldn’t even think a high school paper’s writing staff would form such ill-conceived sentences and paragraphs.

Shame on the paper maybe for running this piece (though maybe due to finals coming up soon they were strapped for pieces and decided to take a chance on an outsider?), but it’s very possible this gal’s got no dreams of winning a Pulitzer the way a real print journalism major might.

BTW, $cieno Kelley? Epic article fail is epic.

Anon Anon | 2008-04-24 - 02:46:49 AM (CDT)
I’m almost at a loss for words. Kelley, I don’t blame you. I blame your editorial staff. They should have protected you from this. Even if the piece was supposed to be an op ed, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have stepped in. Instead, they have allowed you to be exposed as a simpleton.

If you were 15 years old, the piece would make more sense - although why a reputable organisation would send a 15 year old to visit a cult would be problematic in itself. But, if you’re any older than 15, then the piece should have been pulled out of kindness to you.

Others have pointed out the flaws. Did you consider, for example, that by the following statement, you were tacitly agreeing with Gehrig that your own colleagues’ articles were poorly researched?

"Gehrig remembered the poorly researched, offensive articles that both Tiger Weekly and The Daily Reveille have published in the past two years."

It should have read "Gehrig remembered what he said were the poorly researched..."

Does this publication have no concern that vulnerable people reading this piece might be encouraged to go visit the cult and find themselves seriously harmed?

If you felt that the anti-Scientology arguments have been heard well enough, and wanted to let Scientology put its case, then you should have framed the article in that light. But, as either an investigative journalism article or an op. ed. it is horrific. Just horrific.

Max Champion | 2008-04-24 - 03:15:57 AM (CDT)
Did you enjoy the spoon feeding?

I’m sorry, but this is not journalism. This what a high school journalist can produce if they didn’t’ know how to use the internet and alternative sources.

LIAF CIPE | 2008-04-24 - 03:55:54 AM (CDT)
No need for me to reiterate what’s already been said about scientology (judge for yourself with all the info given), just agreeing about the terrible journalism.

Monsieur Jean Jacque Jean-Jean Jean | 2008-04-24 - 04:06:51 AM (CDT)
Please watch Nightline tomorrow night to learn more about Scientology.

mom2 | 2008-04-24 - 04:19:18 AM (CDT)
Is this an indication of the standards of the Louisiana State University?

Plups | 2008-04-24 - 04:53:02 AM (CDT)
Okay, we get it. Kelley wanted to write a piece that didn’t ’float with the tide of journalism’, the tide of journalism being critical of Scientology.

A naive, but noble intention.

But Kelley, honey, that doesnt mean you can INVENT a side to the argument that doesnt EXIST except in the eyes of organization’s propaganda.

Sometimes the things you read in the paper, ya know, over and over and over and over again are there because they are true.

Don’t believe me?

Do the research.

Oh wait. . .

danielle | 2008-04-24 - 05:02:34 AM (CDT)
"I went to the Scientology Org in Baton Rouge and all I got was this lousy T-shi.. propaganda."

youdontknowmeanyway | 2008-04-24 - 05:09:25 AM (CDT)
I wasn’t aware that LSU let people major in scientology. You learn something new everyday!

kellydidzeroresearchandgotbrainwashedorisalreadyas | 2008-04-24 - 05:16:25 AM (CDT)
That was the worst article I’ve ever READ

simon cowell | 2008-04-24 - 05:23:33 AM (CDT)
Kelley-

Your Op/Ed piece on Scientology leaves a lot to be desired from not only critics on both sides of the issue, but from other journalists and your readers.

Your title implies that you got information that you would die from visiting with a Scientologist for an interview. I don’t think you are representing any set of facts well in this article as a whole. I suppose your Op/Ed title is a poor attempt at a counter-piece to "balance" stories by the BBC or the most notable Paulette Cooper work titled, "Looking over my shoulder, The Inside Account of the Story That Almost Killed Me" delving into the practices of Scientology. However, your piece as many others have stated lacks depth. The most glaring of which is depth of research.

"How did Scientology become the fastest-growing religion on Earth?" I would swear you were trying to sell me something straight from a brochure. In fact, that is one of the most used lines in the Scientology "sell" so it more than likely IS from a pamphlet or flier you received from them. There simply isn’t any data to support this statement. There is also a surprising lack of data to support many of the claims made by Scientology.

Whereas there is many scientific published (done I might add by many differing agencies funding the studies not solely from a group that would benefit from a certain outcome) to show "chemical imbalances". Measurable data that when tested gives the same results within a set parameters with a proven rate of accuracy. However much of the researched data for the "wonders" that Scientology does have a very unbalanced data collection system that only allows for success without any data pertaining to failure. That suggests neglectful and inappropriate use of scientific and mathematical applications as nearly everything in science will quote a certain degree of variability and acknowledge the fallibility.

With Scientology there is no variablity in data. No acknowledgment of error in any way. All ex-members have a "grudge" against it or are criminal in some way, all outside information invariably declared incorrect. Xenu doesn’t exist despite data which shows otherwise some of which include copyrighted material by the religion.

I suppose using Co$ logic, the government created all the documents which proves bomb threats were manufactured by the Church of Scientology against itself in a nearly successful attempt to have Paulette Cooper imprisoned for said bomb threats as well.

Please follow up your piece with a better depth into the subject matter and don’t just regurgitate everything given by only one (biased) source.

M.M. | 2008-04-24 - 05:43:45 AM (CDT)
Pardon my poor reply I should have done a better job of editing to clarify. Alas, lack of sleep does that. There are scientific findings showing chemical imbalances.

Please Kelley don’t let some poor thoughts on the quality of this work stop you from being a journalist. Obviously you are a student and still learning, and many journalists do make mistakes from time to time.

I do eagerly look forward to a follow up on this article, where you can shut up some of the more negative and unhelpful critics. You obviously have talent otherwise you wouldn’t be getting your work published. This subject matter is loaded to put it lightly.

M.M. | 2008-04-24 - 06:02:48 AM (CDT)
They shoveled the space Alien Xenu BS at actor Jason Beghe:
Watch his experiences in Scientology:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNUjMz9-W2I
The bottom line is Scientologist will paint a pretty picture to get you in the door. But the longer you stay in, the more they seek to control your life & who you talk to (including family). You are the fish & they are teasing on you to pull you in.

Bob Sumeral | 2008-04-24 - 06:36:23 AM (CDT)
Please watch Nightline Tonight!! to see the niece of the Head of Scientology tell her story about how Scientology RUINED her family. I understand how compelling it must be to write a counter to everything that you usually read in the mainstream media.... But do your research!! The people who run this organization are criminals!! You got DUPED... find a new major, or a new mentality

Jay Stark | 2008-04-24 - 06:55:46 AM (CDT)
I’m afraid that most ex-Scientologists at OT level 3 or higher will be able to tell you all about Xenu. That’s where it came from, see.

At least you were objective about the practice of auditing. Maybe you’re not brainwashed yet - be careful though.

Live for the Swarm.

Anonymous Legion | 2008-04-24 - 06:58:41 AM (CDT)
Tiger Weekly should be embarrassed by this article’s existence. Kelley Cox has demonstrated an almost supernatural ability to disregard half of a controversial issue and present a completely one-sided article. It takes all of 5 minutes on Google to find that there are HUNDREDS of ex-Scientologists who attest that the Xenu story is truly part of the doctrine of the "Church". There are scans of the document in Hubbard’s own handwriting. There is a case file for the court case ’CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY V. FISHMAN AND GEERTZ’ which contains the entire documents that include the Xenu story, despite desperate attempts by the Church’s lawyers to have the documents kept secret.

One blatantly non-neutral source says "Oh, it’s actually just a myth" and that’s acceptable? Nearly everything else in the article can also be proved false just as surely and as easily; there would be no point in me writing the explanations here when they are so easily found through any internet search engine.

I hope for the sake of journalists everywhere that this person never has an article published again.

Anon | 2008-04-24 - 07:40:34 AM (CDT)
Kelley, You fail at Journalism, GTFO.

LSU, congratulations, you have proven to me once again, that journalism majors from American Universities is toilet paper.

Yours truly,
Another Joe Public

Hal Keppel | 2008-04-24 - 07:42:27 AM (CDT)
I dont think for a second kelly is a scientologist. I think she got her first serious taste of a public outcry/backlash as a journalist though. I imagine most reporters dont get that for quite a while, and better it happen now than later in her career, because now she can put it right, and hopefully never get caught out again. Best of luck kelly. As has been said previously, its hard to put yourself out in the line of fire. Thats what these anonymous are doing when they protest too. And just as you felt the backlash here, numerous peaceful protesters are currently being stalked by scientology employed private investigators. In the light of day, a lot of annoyned comments dont seem so bad when compared to that.

al | 2008-04-24 - 07:52:46 AM (CDT)
Commenters,
I’m not sure if a lot of the people leaving negative, anonymous (and often hateful) comments are regular readers of Tiger Weekly/LSU students/Baton Rouge residents. The people that I have spoken to in person that have read the article saw it for what it was - a first person account of my trip to the Scientology Center of Baton Rouge. Many said they found it "refreshing" to see what the appeal of Scientology might be.
For those calling me names such as a "sheep," wouldn’t I be more of a sheep to just go along with what everyone else is saying without consulting the source?
This article was not meant to be an expose’ of any kind, it was simply a first person account of my visit to the Scientology Center of Baton Rouge; I thought the headline made that clear, but I apologize for those of you who thought this WAS an investigative piece and not a first person account of my visit to the Scientology Center of BR - I apologize if I deceived the readers in any way about this article.
I appreciate the comments and even the suggestions that I change majors or that my parents should seek a refund for my education. Those statements really do a lot to back up your credibility.
Also, I did a lot of research for this article. Had I written an investigative piece, I would have addressed many things that I learned. Keep in mind that the person I was put in contact with is a 22-year-old OT I, not Mr. Miscavige. The reason that I wrote "Gherig said" so often is to hold him accountable for the obviously false things he told me (Xenu isn’t real).
I was able to form my own opinion about Scientology from my research and interview. I supplied this interview experience so that others may also enjoy the same opportunity to form their own opinion after hearing from the source.
As you all have stated, the internet is available to everyone. Clearly you all have Googled Scientology frequently. Now you have the opportunity to hear the other side of the story, even if it is from a 22-year-old OT I in Baton Rouge.
Also keep in mind that I am a college student and don’t have the time or resources to write a riveting investigative piece on Scientology, which is why I will not attempt to expose the "cult of Scientology." The people in charge, most likely, would not speak with me.
Thank you for reading. I truly am grateful for every comment and that so many people were moved by one of my articles. If anything, this encourages me to keep writing.
Sincerely,
Kelley

KC | 2008-04-24 - 11:00:36 AM (CDT)
i think i spoeak for all the anti-scientologists here when i say that ur a stupid faggot kelley. What a grate! piece of a journalism! yay for LSU. SIGH HAHAHAHHA

anon | 2008-04-24 - 11:41:33 AM (CDT)
"i think i spoeak for all the anti-scientologists here when i say that ur a stupid faggot kelley. What a grate! piece of a journalism! yay for LSU. SIGH HAHAHAHHA

anon | 2008-04-24 - 11:41:33 AM (CDT)"

You absolutely dont speak for all of us

AnonyMAX | 2008-04-24 - 12:11:57 PM (CDT)
Re: Commenters...

Well, for one, background research is a nice thing to do.

Fank Shoo! | 2008-04-24 - 12:12:58 PM (CDT)
Please post a picture of the side of Kelley’s neck so we can see the input jack the $cientology cult used to load that line of lies into Kelley’s brain, will you? Or did they simply send over a Volunteer Minister to type it up? Here’s an example - Hubbard was perpetually broke as a writer before Dianetic$. His agent was Forrest Ackerman, a legend in sci-fi and horror circles (the stuff Hubbard wrote). He regularly had to loan him money. Someone tell Kelley there’s a thing called Google.com that you can use for research.

Skip | 2008-04-24 - 12:37:02 PM (CDT)
...stupid is as stupid does.....

FG | 2008-04-24 - 12:37:59 PM (CDT)
you logic in citing an OT 1 as your expert source is like saying everything you need to know about Walmart can be communicated by the greeter at the front door....

You Fail Kelley | 2008-04-24 - 12:39:45 PM (CDT)
Kelley

Welcome to the internet.
How long will you be staying?

I wasnt aware they let lobotomy recipients day passes, let alone access to the internet.

Garfield | 2008-04-24 - 12:42:23 PM (CDT)
"How did Scientology become the fastest-growing religion on Earth?"

Easy - it didn’t. In the UK at least, on the last Census more people answered Jedi than Scientologist (by around 5000 IIRC) and as they hadn’t put down Jedi in any previous Census, this means that it’s the fastest growing "religion" in at least the UK.

Although they are kind of similar I guess - both are hokey religions created by terrible science-fiction authors more interested in money than in integrity.

Anonymous | 2008-04-24 - 01:01:40 PM (CDT)
Kelly,

I am pleased to see that this criticism is encouraging you to continue writing. Perhaps this is your first taste of what happens when you screw up. It’s never a bad thing to make a mistake. It’s only a bad thing to not learn from your mistakes.

From reading your reply to the existing replies, it would seem that you are playing too much on the defense of your character, not the quality of your work. That is the fault of some who cannot separate the person from the work, and I am sorry for that. However, that does not change the fact that you claim to have done "a lot of research" on this piece, yet you openly admit it was not "investigative."

Kelly, please, understand that when writing an opinion to the PUBLIC, you must be prepared for the PUBLIC to critique your opinion. Your opinion of the Church of Scientology is noted, as is your lack of education regarding the FACTS that fueled your opinion. The internet beat a path to your door because you came off as "easily-swayed" or "duped." Again, there is nothing wrong with you because of this, unless you refuse to recognize WHY the internet thinks you were "handled" by Scientology.

I whole-heartedly encourage you to continue your pursuit in writing, in journalism, and in LEARNING. Take your scars from this review of your peers, your betters, and your lessors, and move forward with a better sense of what it takes to do your job right. Better to make your mistakes now while you can recover from them.

LSU Professor | 2008-04-24 - 01:18:47 PM (CDT)
To the more hurtful people-

This young lady is a STUDENT of journalism, and obviously early in her career. She is learning so give kind but constructive criticism. Those in Anonymous who have made hateful comments have shamed themselves, and have made Scientology look much more respectful and gentler than the people trying to clean out the dangerous cult aspect of the organization. By making hateful comments you have made the group to be much of what Scientology has claimed the group to be a hateful bigot only interested in tearing things apart. Constructive critism does NOT include disparaging remarks about the woman’s intellect, choice of major, etc.

Making accusations that she is a Scientologist simply because she wanted to see and present what might be appealing about Co$. Obviously Co$ has some appeal otherwise people wouldn’t look into it. And truly what is more seductive than wanting to help the world, it is why many have joined the ranks of Anonymous to help the world by standing up to an organization that has many unethical and illegal business practices. Obviously you have forgotten your compassion that you used to help reunite families at our latest protest somewhere. I suggest you quickly find it again.

M.M. | 2008-04-24 - 01:30:46 PM (CDT)
I’m not Anonymous, but...
It seems to me that this article was poorly written and researched. There’s plenty of the Scientologist viewpoint, but where are the critics? The criticism of Scientology is one of the major topics of discussion on the internet these days. Seems to me that there are plenty of links and pages in the comments above to rectify that.

BH | 2008-04-24 - 01:35:27 PM (CDT)
198. seems like fakery tbh.

Probably designed to discredit Anonymous... Scilons go home.

AnonaCow | 2008-04-24 - 01:48:46 PM (CDT)
Kelley, you defend your article by stating that it is simply "a first person account of my trip to the Scientology Center of Baton Rouge."

Then please explain: Why did you name your article "I visited the Scientology Center of BR... and lived to write about it"?

Nowhere in your article is there any hint of why you expected something bad would happen to you by visiting a Scientology center. Where did you learn that people die visiting a Scientology center? Was it an hyperbole? If so, why didn’t you -- however summarily -- elaborate on this?

Oh, and by the way, it is common practice for Scientologists to perceive valid criticism as "hate." Maybe you spent a little too much time at the Scientology center.

R. Hill | 2008-04-24 - 01:50:00 PM (CDT)
btw people,
longcat is
looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooong

lulz | 2008-04-24 - 01:50:31 PM (CDT)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRhTqyb_YXE

miss cabbage | 2008-04-24 - 01:59:34 PM (CDT)
I don\’t think the comments were hateful Kelly, they were harsh (justifibly so in my opinion) but not hateful.

There\’s some issues with your claim here in the comments that it was simply a personal account of a trip to an org too.

Why would an account of a trip to a scientology centre be newsworthy?

What do statements like \"ever since, Scientology has not stopped gaining momentum\" have to do with an personal reaction towards the visit? That is a statement of fact about scientology, not something that you were told, nor an impression that you got from visiting the org. Incidentally, it\’s not true either. The same could be said about \"Scientology actually isn’t that outlandish – it’s shockingly sane and reasonable\".

I\’d like to take this quote from your response
\"For those calling me names such as a \\\"sheep,\\\" wouldn\\’t I be more of a sheep to just go along with what everyone else is saying without consulting the source?\"

That is precisely what you didn\’t do. You asked a PR rep from an org. If he was the source of scientology criticism he probably wouldn\’t be the PR for the org.
The sources of what everyone else is saying are: court case accounts, news reports, books, scientology texts on wikileaks, accounts from people who have left scientology etc.

\". Now you have the opportunity to hear the other side of the story, even if it is from a 22-year-old OT I in Baton Rouge.\"

What scientology employees say about sceintology hardly constitutes the other side of the story, especially when you recognise that this PR lied about stuff

\"The reason that I wrote \\\"Gherig said\\\" so often is to hold him accountable for the obviously false things he told me (Xenu isn\\’t real)\".

\"I am a college student and don\\’t have the time or resources to write a riveting investigative piece on Scientology\"

That doesn\’t mean you have to be a mouthpiece for scientology. That\’s all this article really amounted to.

Mike Regan | 2008-04-24 - 02:04:29 PM (CDT)
As pointed out earlier in the comments section, she is listed nowhere on this site as being staff of the newspaper. Also the phrase "consulting the source" is a phrase used often in scientology terminology.

stopcallingherajournalist | 2008-04-24 - 02:06:21 PM (CDT)
Poor dear.

Eldon | 2008-04-24 - 02:14:33 PM (CDT)
I speak for a large number of students who I have personally had read this piece, who find it not only insulting to their intelligence, but degarding that LSU would actually publish anything even mentioning this cult. Regardless of your intentions, regardless of your experience, Scientology in almost every corner of higher education has been dealt with as a cult. Now, we as students of this university, are left to wonder....what does this say about the education we are receiving?!

Get out of Louisiana, Scientology! We don’t want you, we certainly don’t endorse or condone you, and we are certainly not so naive enough to believe your manipulative propaganda.

And whoever this anonymous group is, I suggest, no I emplore you, to aggressively protest, and spread your knowledge, wherever these cultists are in our state!

And to those who have benefitted from this group, more power to you, but that doesn’t take away from all the other evils this group promotes, including separating families!

Anyone who stands for a group like that, deserves the protests of this ENTIRE CAMPUS AND CITY!

And now I am left to ponder the education I receive in light of this obvious puff piece.

a mass of lsustudents | 2008-04-24 - 02:17:45 PM (CDT)
When it’s time to ponder, we will ponder hard (ponder hard).

ZOMG | 2008-04-24 - 03:13:11 PM (CDT)
the village voice blog was pulled from google news results and relegated to (the far lower traffic) "blogs" category. this should be booted there too.

what a waste of my time.

bah | 2008-04-24 - 03:48:09 PM (CDT)
google "R2-45"
google "R2-45"
google "R2-45"
google "R2-45"
google "R2-45"
google "R2-45"
google "R2-45"
google "R2-45"
www.exscientologykids.com
www.exscientologykids.com
www.exscientologykids.com
www.exscientologykids.com
www.exscientologykids.com
www.exscientologykids.com
www.exscientologykids.com
www.exscientologykids.com
www.exscientologykids.com
www.exscientologykids.com

Dagonon | 2008-04-24 - 04:01:08 PM (CDT)
I do not believe Kelley is a Scientologist, or that she should change majors, or that her parents overpaid for her education (if anything, they haven’t paid ENOUGH).

I DO believe that both stances - taking the piece as a research article or an opinion piece - invalid it and make it just bad journalism.

If it’s a research article, it fails to address both sides of the issue.

If it’s an opinion piece, it shows that Ms. Cox forms her opinions of things based on only hearing once side of the story, specifically the side under attack and not the side making the complaints.

A sophisticated journalist does not hide behind "So-and-so ’said.’"

Xenu.net
exscientologykids.com
enturbulation.org
youfoundthecard.com

Anonymous | 2008-04-24 - 04:16:14 PM (CDT)
The truth about Xenu:

meatspin.com

Pete Burns | 2008-04-24 - 04:53:27 PM (CDT)
Ok, here’s the deal: You write cutesy little "here’s how my experience went at [x]" pieces when you talk about a group of grannies power walking to fight breast cancer or a group of Gen-X’ers reviving the quilting bee. You know, quirky special interest stuff that would normally be slotted into the "lifestyles" section of any newspaper. You could talk about surviving a marathon attempt in a breezy, non-controversial manner because running a marathon is non-controversial. You do not do such cutesy little non-controversial pieces on groups that have destroyed people’s lives. Part of your responsibility as a journalist is to think of how a piece will benefit your target audience.

If you had been writing about the Amish, another mysterious group of people who live separate lives from the "outside world", you could’ve been forgiven for not being critical toward your article subject, for the Amish are mostly harmless and let their children decide for themselves whether they want to continue being Amish or not. Amish parents always love and nuture their children. And the Amish do not seek to actively convert everyone to their way of life, choosing instead to allow others their way while they confidently go about continuing in their own traditions. The Amish deserve this kind of "see, they’re not bad people" article. $cientology by its very nature needs to be looked at in a much more critical and skeptical manner.

Imagine, if you will, ten readers of this piece who are lured into wanting to try $cientology out. Even if half of the people turn away, that’s five people’s lives you’ve just ruined. And even if all five exit the cult after decades of being in a la Tory Christman, that’s 150 potential years of productivity and true living destroyed and sacrificed away to an organization so vile that the German government has banned it from operating within its borders. (So has St. Petersburg, Russia.) All because you couldn’t be bothered to show proper journalistic responsibility. Unless your aim was to lure those people into $cientology, in which case shame on you for preying on the vulnerable. And whatever your intent, shame on the newspaper’s senior editors for approving and running with this.

My only hope now is that all of the newspaper’s senior editorial staff will read every single one of these comments and decide to write an apologetic retraction of this shameful excuse of a column. And let’s hope that not a single future $cieno arises from it. Not one more lost life!

Anon Anon | 2008-04-24 - 05:08:54 PM (CDT)
At #222 Anon Anon,
Very very well said. That is the worst part about this. The potential for ruining the lives of our youth. Seconded. Not one more life lost. Not another Lisa Mcpherson. Not another Jeremy or Ellie Perkins.
No more crying mothers and heartbroken fathers.
No more abandoned children.
No more hard labor and abuse for those who cant speak for themselves.
With rights come responsibilities.
Freedom of speech also comes with the burden of using that speech wisely.
If your words are published, extra responsibility rests on your shoulders.
Not one more life lost.
It is not a joke.
Everything we do has consequences. Everything.

Anonymous | 2008-04-24 - 05:33:23 PM (CDT)
This is an honest-to-God serious question:

"What kind of psycho-sickies devote THAT much repetitive time and attention to such vicious criticism of one harmless article in a college paper/Web site?"

Who is so possessed? Who is so driven?

Did a whole murder of weirdos fail to show up for their OCD meds?

These guys’ clear cruelty and animal viciousness scares the crap out of me. They are the kind of people that plant pipe-bombs, set up Internet bitch-sites, hoping some girl will see their face on CNN in an orange jump-suit. They truly give me the shivers.

It’s one thing for someone to dislike a religion, to laugh at its beliefs, to do obviously painstaking research to find tenets they can criticize. God bless. Just remember that your own religion--if present--is equally subject to ridicule...due to the nature of religion. Take a class in comparative religions.

BUT...it’s a whole different, sicker, meaner--and more dangerous--kind of psychosis to email all your friends to attack a journalism student who had an interesting afternoon, was pleasantly surprised about that fact, and wrote objectively about it.

Bet you a month of burgers all these bitchy people would be slobbering and sycophanting all over Kelley (with an "e," you semi-lits!) if Cox had followed *their* party line and dragged up every bit of cr*p possible about the religion.

WriteWhenYouCan | 2008-04-24 - 05:51:17 PM (CDT)
WriteWhenYouCan-

If a journalist is going to do an investigative piece, is there no reason to make it balanced? That’s a serious question.

James | 2008-04-24 - 06:11:41 PM (CDT)
Hello Kelly,
I love you. My name is OJ Simpson. I would love to
give you an exclusive interview. I`ll even come to your place.
I have conclusive proof that I am not crazy. I know you are the investigative reporter who needs to break this story.
PS. My friends Charlie Manson and John Hinkley want to see you next.

randomx | 2008-04-24 - 06:15:44 PM (CDT)
I’ve heard their claims a thousand times and every clause of every sentence turns out to be a lie. Only in such a cult do people OUTSIDE of it know so much more than those within. Even the claim of the "fastest-growing religion" is a crock and their numbers are inflated twenty-fold at least - just ask them how they got the numbers and compare to census data.

The only thing you can actually KNOW about Scientology is that it is a criminal scam that enslaves people in every way it is possible to dominate someone. And they’re so good at it, you’ll gladly and happily pay for it.

Paul Riddick | 2008-04-24 - 06:21:38 PM (CDT)
WriteWhenYouCan, it doesn’t take much at all to do a little research on both sides and from that, draw a reasonable conclusion. I have seen firsthand, for 30 years now what this cult does to a community (please google project normandy). I am a forty-something professional, hardly a person who plants pipe bombs. Your generalizations of anonymous are way off base.

Does your religion stalk and harass critics, hire private investigators and have security? Scientology does.

MomAnon | 2008-04-24 - 06:22:16 PM (CDT)
WriteWhenYouCan-

It is not the beliefs of Scientology that we don’t like. Its the evil corporation that has black mailed my Government to call it self a religion. I think the article is a little one sided, but its opinion, so it allowed. It was written well, but I don’t agree with it. I think Kelley would do well to research and write a follow up, She can even hold the same opinion, but at least consider the other side. And don’t make baseless claims that a group of people would use violence, its ignorant of you.

Anonymous | 2008-04-24 - 06:22:44 PM (CDT)
Dear WriteWhenYouCan,

This is an honest-to-God serious answer.

The corporate cult is not a religion. Sometimes they do hide behind the banner of religiosity when doing so suits their agenda (and they can get away with it), otherwise they hide behind the banner of secularism.

Name a single true religion that behaves in such a manner. Just one.

Amonthof Burgers | 2008-04-24 - 06:27:51 PM (CDT)
"If you had been writing about the Amish, another mysterious group of people who live separate lives from the "outside world", you could’ve been forgiven for not being critical toward your article subject, for the Amish are mostly harmless and let their children decide for themselves whether they want to continue being Amish or not."

Also, the Amish tend to not bring fire and pitchforks out if you diss thier quilts.

ZOMG | 2008-04-24 - 07:00:39 PM (CDT)
Rarely have I read an article so credulous and poorly researched. Either that, or it’s sponsored by Scientology, which I sincerely hope is not the case; that would be quite a violation of the ethics of any serious journalism.

If you went to interview Mafia members, would you report, after the meeting; "You know, they were really nice, and as it turns out, they’re not criminals after all, they just really care about and try to promote family values!"

OF COURSE if you ask a scientology publicist you are going to get a sanitized version, and a denial of everything untoward about their organization. But if you truly think they are speaking truthfully, how about going back and trying to take a more critical attitude? Try and ask them about the criminal convinctions the organization has under it’s belt, the deaths in questionable circumstances, the harrasment of critics, the fact that they have an office of special affairs (what religion has it’s own intelligence branch?!) dedicated to shady operations. Or ask them about their offices being raided in Belgium as a part of an extensive investigation into their ongoing criminal practices, investigation which is leading up to a trial agains Scientology. Try to ask them about those things, and say that you are going to write about them, and see how "nice" they are after that.

The spell will be broken in short order, I guarantee you that! You’ll find what everyone who’s dared to voice such protests or questions has faced - harassment, intimidation, private investigators sent after you. And were you actually to publish a critical article in your own name, you’d be likely to face a smearing campaign against you.

As to Xenu, OF COURSE a scientologist is going to deny it all, even if he has reached the necessary level to be allowed to know about the story. It’s supposed to be a secret, and a scientologist isn’t allowed to talk about it with either low level scientologists, or the general public, certainly not a reporter! When asked, they’ll deny it all, but every ex-scientologist who they’ve not managed to scare into silence confirms that this is exactly what scientology, once you reach high enough level, teaches.

How naive can you get, really?

MightyTiny | 2008-04-24 - 07:08:55 PM (CDT)
As a journalist, when I do a tour and visit with any organization, I usually add some descriptions of my surroundings (where you watched the video, etc., how long it took, which videos you watched, and so on). I mean, if you’re doing first-person experiential reporting, the least you can do is be descriptive about it. It really seems you could have just exchanged an e-mail or two with the Scientology representative and achieved the same results. Oh, wait -- you didn’t have access to a computer, obviously, because you didn’t Google your subject for background.
Kelley, I have to agree -- this is really, really lame reporting, even for what you’ve claimed to attempt to achieve, which was limited to begin with.

A Genuine Reporter | 2008-04-24 - 07:21:41 PM (CDT)
I am a little confused. Kelley... in the article, he denies xenu, and your only response is how disappointing. But your comments recently, if that was you, state that you knew he was lying. Why does the article not reflect this knowledge? If its an opinion piece then the very least it should be is your actual opinion, and if you know for a fact that denying xenu is BS, how can your opinion piece reflect the idea that his denying it was accepted without question. Also, if its an opinion piece, you cant then call it the other side of the story, as this implies that its not based on your opinion, but rather was an attempt to deliver a piece from one viewpoint. And given your xenu comment, clearly not your opinion.

Also..... plant pipe bombs????......... writewhenyoucan has been watching a little too much scientology propaganda. The same kind that made the bbc out to be sending death threats.

And for your information, there are plenty of people like myself who consider 95 percent of scientologists totally harmless. Its the practices of the higher up levels of the church, the sea org and policies like disconnection and fair game that interest and have caused the world wide protests against scientology.
Scientology is the group that deals in black and white morality, you are either with us or against us etc. Thats why the jason beghe interview is so interesting, he like many anons see that the rank and file scientologist is doing what they think is right. Hell he praises the scientologists he knew as fantastic people and thats the kind of reporting i like to see. Its a pity scientologists dont think the same of anyone who chooses to leave.

When people protested the child abuse cases in the catholic church, they weren’t called bigots. But scientology is happy to label anyone who disagrees with them in this manner.

The difference between scientology and scientology critics, is that scientology backs up its claims ’ because we said so’ , where as the critics back up their claims with interviews, court documents, first hand accounts from ex members. This is why scientology loses so badly in public debate, and why they avoid it at all costs, preferring to leave statements either discrediting the source of the criticism or confusing the issues. Like when they tried to tackle their disconnect policy by quoting divorce rates in a recent radio interview.

al anon | 2008-04-24 - 08:16:58 PM (CDT)
Here, you can read the Xenu story in L Ron Hubbard’s own handwriting without paying thousands of dollars:

http://wikileaks.org/wiki/Church_of_Scientology_collected_Operating_Thetan_documents

Theo | 2008-04-24 - 08:53:48 PM (CDT)
Google Jason Beghe Interview.

He was formerly an OTV and knows alot of things that the Scientologists don’t want you to hear.

Remember, Knowledge is Free, Scientology isn’t.

Pete | 2008-04-24 - 08:59:07 PM (CDT)
"Poorly researched to say the least. You were talking to someone who has not done OT III."

Correct, this story reads like a COS press release. The writer reported exactly what they wanted the writer to report. The reporter was transparently "handled" pursuant to COS protocols.

I would recommend googling the Times Magazine article for a more realistic and informed perspective-- "Cult of greed and power" will bring it up.

Jeff | 2008-04-24 - 09:04:50 PM (CDT)
"We should be gearing up for jazzfest and talking about the interviews over there instead of beating up some poor girl who tried to write a balanced article instead of floating with journalistic tide."

I’m not sure how high your education goes, Rob, but I learned in junior high that a balanced article does NOT read like a brochure.

Kelley, though what you wrote isn’t quite the worst, it really lacks an honestly detailed first-person experience. It’s as if you went in with only one thing in your mind, and failed to do any critical thinking about it.

This doesn’t mean ONLY post negative things, but instead run a comparison, and match it up against what you already know, and add any other research you’ve done.

Critical thinking-- Scientology says it’s a religion, and has tax-exempt status. However, Gehrig himself states that Scientology is NOT a faith. There’s a conflicting statement there, since it ends up meaning that Scientology is a -philosophy-. That changes everything, because it is an admission of not being a religion.

If philosophy = religion, then anyone could open a "church" and claim tax-exempt status while preaching Voltaire or even Nietzsche.

Don’t go into a first-person account single-minded.

Kenshiro | 2008-04-24 - 09:04:56 PM (CDT)
This is the most poorly written article I have ever read. Hand down. It is dangerous, reckless and utterly lacking in critical thinking skills.

If you had done 5 minutes of fact-checking you would have learned that every claim the Scientologists made were complete lies.

Find out the truth. You alone will be responsible for anybody that is fooled by your article and ends up losing all of their money, family, friends sanity and or lives to Scientology. And no this is not hyperbole in the slightest.

Dean Cirillerey in Seattle | 2008-04-24 - 10:51:52 PM (CDT)
Gosh, I don’t know whether to feel sorry for Kelley for getting so very "handled" and failing to clear her misunderstoods (protip: Ethics in Scientology isn’t the same as Ethics in the real world, for example), for the paper for dealing with the fall out, or for the lesser informed people who are going to read this and think "oh it isn’t so bad, let’s take that free stress test!", not knowing that it’s a trap.

Maybe Kelley did have the best of intentions, but seriously, Miss Cox, use your critical thinking. There’s a reason there is so much controversy about Co$-and it isn’t because people fail to "get it". It’s because the people raising a stink get it all too well.

Please, try the research thing again...not just for your writing but also so that you don’t end up a victim of Scientology or similar.

SPbyinheritence | 2008-04-24 - 10:55:02 PM (CDT)
This ran under news? Disgusting.

R | 2008-04-24 - 11:21:44 PM (CDT)
Ms. Cox,

Congratulations on having the guts to state your opinion that Scientology is not as bad or as weird as the hordes of internet geeks make it out to be.

In the 70s and 80s, a small group of bitter and aging ex-members banded together to grouse about how they were unhappy with the Church (this happens with all religions, by the way - Google the word "apostate"). When the internet became more powerful, they all made little angry websites that linked to each other and it became a game to see who could make up the most outlandish scare stories against Scientology.

When Wikipedia came along, all of those same people became editors and admins, and created dozens of biased articles that used their own websites as "sources".

When the 4chan script kiddies discovered this whole twisted subculture of "Scientology is Evil" websites and lie-filled Wikipedia articles, they swallowed it hook line and sinker, and believed it all to be true. Now they run along like little know-it-alls, repeating the lies of the old fogies who started the whole Scientology conspiracy theory backintheday.

It’d be funny if it wasn’t so pathetic.

Lennie Tristano | 2008-04-24 - 12:02:03 AM (CDT)
Lennie, do you have links to back those claims up (other than linking directly to the pr spin from the CoS)? I’ve seen plenty of valid information from many people, but unfortunately I see none from you.

Sue | 2008-04-24 - 12:39:46 AM (CDT)
Hey Lennie,
Keep spewing cult propaganda, that’s what they pay you for, right? Check out glosslip.com today, there’s a nice piece from the Israeli’s you will enjoy. Boy, those handful of websites are sure far reaching, aren’t they?

Lennie, if anyone is pathetic, it’s the RONBOTS you people churn out. People can only sleep for so long, eventually all of them.. WAKE UP.. and they will be eating you for breakfast.
Sunny side up.

ps. Make sure to watch Jenna on Nightline at 11:35 ET.

scientologyisacult | 2008-04-24 - 12:44:50 AM (CDT)
It was terrible enough to read the original article and boggle at whether a young woman could really reach college age and still be so naive as to think that there must be nothing wrong with the Church of Scientology if the Church of Scientology says there isn’t.

Then I read the comment purporting to be from Ms. Cox herself claiming that she actually did plenty of research for the article -- enough, in fact, to determine that much of what she was being told was "obviously false" -- and yet she decided to give NOT A SINGLE INDICATION that she doubted these things that Gehrig told her, or that any of her readers should doubt. Far from it, she went out of her way to endorse Scientology as "shockingly sane and reasonable". Why? Because it’s not "an investigative piece".

There’s a middle ground between "investigative" and "credulous".

Antaeus Feldspar | 2008-04-24 - 01:33:28 AM (CDT)
http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=4702271&page=1

’NUFF SAID!

a mass of lsu students | 2008-04-25 - 02:21:18 AM (CDT)
I was sorely disappointed with this article.
there was a shortage of tough questions, and the softballs were diverted. do some research and you will find that xenu is in fact part of CoS. do some research and you will see that Gehrig lied to the interviewer.

LSU student | 2008-04-25 - 02:39:18 AM (CDT)
http://forums.enturbulation.org/15-breaking-news/lsu-tiger-weekly-i-visited-scientology-center-br-lived-write-about-10823/

ur gay Kelley

MomAnon | 2008-04-25 - 02:44:37 AM (CDT)
Kelly, Kelly, Kelly! What in the world were you smoking before you visited the $cn. Mission, BR? As an ex$cn who went to England in the 60’s to "Go Clear", then paid thousands more to achieve OTIII in LA, I can tell you the Zenu madness is absolutely true, written in ElRon’s own handwriting. I’m sorry to grade your journalistic efforts at F-. Google Lermanet.com, ExScientologykids.com or Zenu.com and have smelling salts at the ready.
Hopefully, you’ll be begging your editors to let you do a major retraction, soon.

fablanocrh | 2008-04-25 - 03:32:37 AM (CDT)
Regarding the psychiatric related statements made by the commenters I provide the following in response:

"Almost every person, who sees a psychiatrist at the moment, is prescribed at least one sort of psychotropic drug"
http://www.critpsynet.freeuk.com/Moncrieff.htm

Consider vitamin therapy as described at: "alternative to psychotropics" at http://www.drpodell.org for virtually any mental condition before resorting to a psychotropic prescription.

Learn about "The dark side of psychiatric drugs"
http://www.stopshrinks.org/reading_room/drugs/dark_side_1.htm

"Biopsychiatry is a belief system, no more scientifically valid than any religion or philosophy...106,000 Americans died in 1994 from medications that were administered properly..."
http://www.antipsychiatry.org/abolish.htm

"Most people think psychosurgery, or lobotomy, is not done anymore..."
http://www.antipsychiatry.org/psychosu.htm

Curiouser | 2008-04-25 - 06:07:42 AM (CDT)
#250
TAKE YOUR SPAM SOMEWHERE ELSE.
We aren’t interested in the CCHR’s agenda.
CCHR is a Scientologist front group that calls for the "global obliteration of psychiatry."

OSAis fail | 2008-04-25 - 07:23:38 AM (CDT)
If you take vitamins for a psychiatric condition, you are still attempting to alter your neurochemistry through ingested substances.

THUS you are practicing psychiatry, just with different, less regulated pills.

L Ron died shot full of Vistaril, hmm

Natural =/= safe | 2008-04-25 - 07:26:23 AM (CDT)
lol, in the butt.

lrhdrugfiend | 2008-04-25 - 08:41:52 AM (CDT)
Great story Kelley, finally someone writes a non biased approach to Scientology and how great it is. Bravo Kelley, you are a great journalist, dont listen to these hate mongerers.

Shame on the hate mongerers on here. Xenu does not exist, and I am VI, someone forged that document online, and our church is only suing because its a lie, its all false and made up by bigots like you all. OSA is a made up abbreviation by anonymous, it does not exist. Lisa McPherson never existed, search birth records, she NEVER LIVED. ITS ALL FAKE. You are all lying to justify your hate campaigns. David Miscaviage is NOT the leader of Scientology, it’s all just lies. L.Ron was a very honerable family man and just because he had an obsession with abortions, does not make him evil. He was researching for the sake on mankind, cut him a break (RIP L.RON). He needed to do that research because his job is very important, he needs to save mankind from the chaos and hatred you see on this channel.

David Miscaviage, while short, is of great mental stature. His rediscovery of lost technology has ensured that the countless millions of Scientologists worldwide can find new hope on their journey up the bridge. I am sick and tired of people putting him down because he earns heaps of money and lives in luxury. HE DESERVES IT for all the threats he has to put up with, i mean the media harass him, the psychiatrists stalk and harass him and want him dead. Do you really blame the guy? They are trying to kill us all.

Honestly, if anyone wants to learn about Scientology you dont have to fork out all that money. You can work for the church, sure the pay is low but you get SO MANY BENEFITS. You get berthing, food (sure its not gourmet but it is FREE!! I’ve lost 12lbs since becoming staff) and you get about $50 to yourself per week, which is heaps considering that all of your needs are taken care of, and plus you end up wanting to spend all of your time at your org that you never end up needing any money anyway!

Most of all Scientology is fun, you get to read interesting books and you get to make heaps nice friends who all have the same thoughts and opinions as you, they never diss you and they dob you in if you do anything wrong because they want you to be a better person, what are friends for if not for truth? Ethics is the way of the world.

I’m so sick of hearing about Tom Cruise, he is NOT EVEN A SCIENTOLOGIST, all of his videos have been edited and taken out of context, HE WAS NEVER A SCIENTOLOGIST.

Keep up the great work Kelley.

scientologyroolz | 2008-04-25 - 10:21:12 AM (CDT)
"As you all have stated, the internet is available to everyone. Clearly you all have Googled Scientology frequently. Now you have the opportunity to hear the other side of the story, even if it is from a 22-year-old OT I in Baton Rouge."

I don’t have any problem with that and I think it’s important to hear from people that experienced positive things through Scientology. However, you were doing more than telling the other side of the story. When you say things like

"Granted, I had absolutely no reason to be scared.

Scientology is probably the most misunderstood religion around.

Gehrig remembered the poorly researched, offensive articles that both Tiger Weekly and The Daily Reveille have published in the past two years.

Scientology actually isn’t that outlandish – it’s shockingly sane and reasonable.

Ever since, Scientology has not stopped gaining momentum. "

you are clearly doing more than just reporting on another point of view. Especially the last quote to me sounds like a commercial for Scientology, when Scientology has had a -rather fascinating- story of ups and downs.

I think some comments here are going too far, especially personal attacks clearly shouldn’t happen. Don’t let those deter you from writing future stories. But i think that most of them are valid criticism.
It’s true that most people commenting here are probably not regular readers of the tiger weekly, including myself. This doesn’t make their opinions less important though.

critical voice | 2008-04-25 - 11:48:30 AM (CDT)
Hey Kelley,
Did you happen to catch Nightline last night? Jenna Miscaviage Hill, Scientology’s leader’s niece spoke of the abuses within the organization.

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJu-j4aa90Q)

In case you missed it. You might benefit from the information that is available for you and not spoonfed from endentured representitives

Anon1376 | 2008-04-25 - 12:18:28 PM (CDT)
i think i spoeak for all the anti-scientologists here when i say that ur a stupid faggot kelley. What a grate! piece of a journalism! yay for LSU. SIGH HAHAHAHHA
anon | 2008-04-24 - 11:41:33 AM (CDT)

The author of this article is such a gullible fuckup, I almost died while reading.
Anon Y. Mouse | 2008-04-23 - 05:08:11 PM (CDT)

...stupid is as stupid does.....
FG | 2008-04-24 - 12:37:59 PM (CDT)

ur gay Kelley
MomAnon | 2008-04-25 - 02:44:37 AM (CDT)

CLASSY.

one more | 2008-04-25 - 12:58:44 PM (CDT)
"Journalism" at it’s finest.

Seriously though; How much was Tigerweekly paid to publish this obvious Scientology advertisment?

John Doe | 2008-04-25 - 02:44:28 PM (CDT)
Someone have Tory "Magoo" Chrisman call this girl!!!!

-AL

AnonLuvn | 2008-04-25 - 03:39:48 PM (CDT)
Corrections:

“How did Scientology become the fastest-growing religion on Earth?”

FACT:
It is not. The US Census shows that there are less than 150,000 people that would call Scientology their religion. Scientology likes to manipulate the numbers by including as a “member” anyone that has ever taken a course since 1953 or even bought a book.

“Hubbard didn’t make a cent off of Scientology because all the money he made went right back into Scientology.”

FACT:
Hubbard became a paranoid psychotic wanting a million dollars in cash brought to him every week as he’s share of the profits. This is why he was persecuted by the US government and died in hiding. The “Church” didn’t gain tax exception status until close 7 years after his death.

“Hubbard was already a millionaire before Scientology.”

FACT:
Hubbard was on a government pension and a dead beat who was convicted of writing bad checks and not paying his debts.

“He also attributed some of the negativity toward Scientology to the drug industry.”

FACT:
The negativity is attributed to hundreds of thousands of ex-scientologists that finally realized that the organization is scam ( think Anyway for the mind ).

The Xenu story? “Gehrig said “it’s all a myth.”

FACT:
Listen to every ex-scientologist that has been beyond OT III. Case closed.

“Scientology’s humanitarian efforts in New York after 9/11 and in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina.”

FACT:
Scientology shows up at every tragic event hoping to lure people into joining. It’s a recruitment process. L. Ron Hubbard recommended searching the obituaries and targeting the surviving family members as potential recruits. Scientology doesn’t help the needed or the poor or the less fortunate. They want the “able” only. Their creed is a world without insanity, war or crimes. Why not a world without hunger or poverty? Because they don’t want to house, feed or clothe people. They need their money to produce more books and cds and to build more churches and missions. How else can they make more money and keep their stats up, which they have to report on every Thursday at 2 PM.

Scientologists are “extremely ethical people.”

FACT:
Search Fair Game, Operation Freakout, Operation Snowwhite, Lisa McPhearson, Ex-Scientologists, RPF Scientology Lies, the list is endless for an organization that is “ethical”.

Scientology Ethics: 13. Don’t be afraid to hurt someone in a just cause.

Here’s what Scientology is all about.

Scientologists believe that they’ve lived previously and take on a new body when the old one dies.

Scientologists believe that in each life time, they suffer traumatic events subconsciously. Scientology helps find and resolve these, in order for you to achieve greater ability.

Scientologists believe they can exteriorize. ie.leave their body and travel across time and space and return.

Scientologists believe that earth is a prison where an evil alien ruler brought souls of people from his galaxy 75 Trillion years ago to die. These souls are now attached to your body which restricts your ability.

I’m sorry, but Scientology is not a religion. We need to stop calling it that. At best, it’s a corporation that sells self-help books and courses ( think Amyway for the mind ). At worst, it’s a well organized crime syndicate that uses lies and deceit to gain world domination.

:-)

Been There, Done That | 2008-04-25 - 04:05:44 PM (CDT)
For the benefit of anyone who makes it this far through the comments, in the ongoing "discussion" between Scientologists and Anonymous, of which this thread is a very small part, a practice has sprung up where members on each side impersonate each other. Thus, if you see a particularly horrible comment which appears to be by Anonymous or by a Scientologist, it would pay to withhold judging the group.

Kelley, I can only imagine how difficult it must be to read these criticisms of your work. They are criticisms of only one piece of your work, not the sum of it, nor of you. I hope you can keep them in perspective, learn from them, even laugh at the hornets nest you managed to stir up, and go on to greater excellence. I also hope that the editorial staff and especially the faculty at LSU give you the support you need to move on from this.

All the very best

AnonymousinAus | 2008-04-25 - 04:32:01 PM (CDT)
To poster #261, at last a temperate human being speaks. Bravo. And to Kelley, one of the biggest tests for you out of all of this, is to realize the challenge and bravery required to choose one’s personal integrity over the temptation to succumb to the influence of the masses, on EITHER side. We would not have had a Gandhi or Martin Luther King Jr., or Mother Teresa etc., if they had chosen to succumb to pressures from those who did not agree with them. "the truth often winds up in the middle."

M | 2008-04-25 - 06:53:02 PM (CDT)
If you write about a "hot" issue, and it is biased (in this case extremely biased), you should expect it to have a chance of causing a "storm". Do not listen to the personal attacks though. These "storms" usually attract idiots and internet trolls anyway.

-A New Orleans college student

A New Orleans college student | 2008-04-25 - 07:52:20 PM (CDT)
fetus.

George W. Bush | 2008-04-25 - 12:40:19 AM (CDT)
Kelly, I have read widely and to completely honest, you are either a complete journalistic hack or a scientologist freak. In either way you are to be disregarded as having an opinion worth even a microseconds consideration.

Centurian 10 | 2008-04-25 - 12:44:53 AM (CDT)
Centurian 10 ^^

Ouch! .... but very true.

minime | 2008-04-26 - 03:25:48 AM (CDT)
all the anti-scientologists who protest to this degree are basically in their own cult. How long until the supreme anonymous intarweb leader starts charging money to join the fruitless attacks? Both sides of this argument should just leave the planet.

water | 2008-04-26 - 11:08:45 AM (CDT)
"A walk down the path of history is crunchy with the crispy corpses of
those who pooh-poohed or ignored the clown car of ridicule when it pulled-up
to the curb. Who would have thought such a tiny car could contain so many
infectious and revolutionary guffaws? Satires, parodies, blue humor, pants
to the ground ass-wavings, tea-dumping, Modest Proposal submiting, 7 dirty
word spewing, flag burning, frankly impolite, just plain rude and improper
expressions of ridicule have either ignited reform, fanned the flames or
kicked the corpse to make sure it was dead."
-- Stephen Jones

Ask not for whom the clown car honks, Scientology, it honks for *thee*.

Clown Car | 2008-04-26 - 11:18:13 AM (CDT)
yeah, water. the "attacks" sure are fruitless.

NIGHTLINE. | 2008-04-26 - 11:51:32 AM (CDT)
I think most people have already explained the flaws in your article in great detail. So, all that remains for me to comment is that it is the biggest pile of dumbfuckery I have ever read. You have absolutely no enquiring mind or critical analysis and you’d make a great scientologist.

Sponge | 2008-04-26 - 12:51:03 PM (CDT)
LRH used Vistaril as an antihistamine!!!

Great! Except that Vistaril wasn’t used as an antihistamine until after he died. Sorry.

And Lenni... it’s ok if you wanna believe you evolved from clams and that LRH was a nuclear physicist and believe him when he says he almost got run over by a choo choo train on Venus (yeah, he said that and it’s searchable audio, was in one of his lectures) but there is no way that you or WriteWhenYouCan call this anything even close to objective reporting, even as an opinion piece. You know that just isn’t true. At least - at least - be honest about that even just to yourselves.

I am very sorry to inform the scientologists present in this thread that you have been duped and are living a fishbowl existence and I will honestly and sincerely hope that one day you wake up and get to live your life in the real world.

Jess | 2008-04-26 - 12:54:48 PM (CDT)
unbelievable, I couldn’t believe my eyes while I was reading this.
I really hope someone else at the paper writes a follow-up. I bet you’re real embarrassed by this.

good luck with your little career, I suggest you leave this out of any future references

turbulated | 2008-04-26 - 04:31:37 PM (CDT)
Kelley, you did well writing a piece, and I’m sure you’ve read all of the criticism thusfar. I understand now that you’ve commented that it was meant to be an opinion piece, but that is not what I got when I first read it. This is critical in writing, especially when you have such a large audience.

As for Craig, do some background research on him. He is obviously a very intelligent man. Many Scientologists are and are merely misled with the impressively attractive propaganda dished out to interested parties.
The issues with Craig come with his PR experience which strongly suggests that anyone he speaks to should take his words with a grain of salt. I’m sure he seemed the peak of politeness and full of information when you spoke with him, but the kindness was merely a way of disarming you and the information is made up mostly of lies he’s been fed and believes strongly and information he’s been told and may agree with but continues to tell others because he knows it makes Scientology look better. I am sure he has his own doubts, but he would never tell them to you.
I should also mention, that all that I type is based on personal observation and research and that I do represent Anonymous protesters in Louisiana. I had the unfortunate luck of speaking with Craig directly. My message was only to let him know that we encouraged and hoped for the Scientologists to make an appearance and speak with us for the better understanding of both sides in the situation and told him who he could speak with (not everyone present wished to speak to them directly or felt that they could, though a few volunteered based on age and speaking experience).
I was greeted with mute hostility, a forced smile that came more as a sneer, a camera jabbed in my face, very clipped and rude responses, and a disturbingly hostile hounding of me for my name and the names of those I said he could speak to. Research "Fair Game," and you will see exactly what he was planning on doing with that information.

Aside from the Scientology side of him, I believe Craig could be a wonderful person to get along with and a great conversationalist given his academic achievements, but it is obvious that his experience as a Scientology PR worker has changed his view of the world around him in what may be a permanent pessimism.

I personally hope never to have to speak to him again alone because I felt the hostility he felt towards me and could practically see the lead wall he had set up against all of us, in spite of our attempts to be friendly and cooperative and interactive.

Het Gezicht | 2008-04-26 - 07:38:51 PM (CDT)
Ms. Cox:

I am a Baton Rouge resident and an LSU graduate. I have a copy of your paper in front of me as I type. I pick it up occasionally, having obtained this copy from the WalMart grocery on Highland. Your article appears on page 48 and on the opposite page are two cartoons and two quarter page articles. I mention these details so you do not discount what I have to say because I could be from another state, or unconnected with LSU, or unfamiliar with your paper.

Your article presents Mr. Gehrig’s lie about Xenu not being part of Scientology as the truth. To quote from your comment, "The reason that I wrote ’Gherig said’ so often is to hold him accountable for the obviously false things he told me (Xenu isn’t real)." There is nothing in your article that indicates Mr. Gehrig lied and that you knew he lied.

The only thing you found shady or fishy was the auditing and the lack of a legal requirement to keep the information revealed during auditing private. As you said, however, the religion overall is "shockingly sane and reasonable" plus it’s the fastest growing religion on Earth. From your article, I came away with the impression that Scientology is a little bit out there, but mainly helpful and quite misunderstood.

Not everyone is as familiar with Scientology as you are, having done a lot of research for your article. If I had not read the comments associated with this article and looked at the websites repeatedly mentioned, I would have continued to think of Scientology as a perhaps kooky, but benign religion.

I now know better thanks to those who took the time to comment. I am moved to contribute to the discussion because of their efforts. Had there not been a flood of commentary and websites with additional information, I would have taken your article, Ms. Cox, at face value.

Your intention, apparently, was to write a refreshing opinion piece giving a young Scientology director of public affairs a voice in your newspaper. Luckily, your newspaper inadvertently gave dozens of opposing voices a chance to say what you would not say, as you are "a college student and don’t have the time or resources to write a riveting investigative piece on Scientology."

Thanks to their efforts, I have begun to understand the dangers of the organization of Scientology. I am intrigued by the strange new form of activism that has cropped up against the church. I would love for a reporter from your newspaper to do an article on Anonymous. I understand you "will not attempt to expose the ’cult of Scientology,’" so perhaps a more eager reporter might do so.

jle | 2008-04-26 - 10:15:15 PM (CDT)
I’m a Scientologist, say what you want it. Just answer this one question for yourself.

You personally, have you ever really helped someone?
I know personally how Scientologists have spent weeks upon weeks at disaster sites, 9/11, huricane katrine, etc simply there to help people (give out food, water, just listen etc). Go ahead, critisize their help (ther’re recruiting, blah blah blah).

Well, what the hell have you done to help?

hateraide | 2008-04-26 - 10:51:37 PM (CDT)
Do you have to be part of a dangerous cult to help people?

hate soda | 2008-04-26 - 11:10:25 PM (CDT)
"Well, what the hell have you done to help?"

Pulled people out of burning vehicles, prevented a few of my friends from committing suicide, and saved a teenage girl who was left by her newly-ex boyfriend in the middle of the street to die, after berating her.

I had no hidden agenda of trying to convert people, to boot.

Dio Brando | 2008-04-27 - 05:28:14 AM (CDT)
"Well, what the hell have you done to help?"

What have you done to help? You don’t state that any of the people doing any of the things you listed are YOU, which would lead me to believe that you were involved in none of it.

Bill Billson | 2008-04-27 - 11:40:26 AM (CDT)
Millions of lives changed for the better in over 100 countries. A few people appearing over and over again on different sites spreading malicious rumors. Find out for yourself.

Stephen Paul Reid | 2008-04-27 - 07:49:07 PM (CDT)
Yes, there are many people who help others, firefighters, police, doctors, teachers etc.

How do I help people? I talk with them. I listen to their problems and I show them tools they can use to improve their lives. I know Scientology works because it’s common sense stuff that I’ve used and seen countless others use to help them with everyday problems of life.

Go ahead call it the evil cult, who beleive in aliens and brainwash you and this and that, a science fiction writer.....

My point is this, with all the energy and time you spend listening to crazy stories about how evil and crazy Scientology is, why not do something to actually help others with your time, join a local volunteer group, clean up your environment, help the elderly etc. With the amount of war, drugs, violence and hate on this planet there’s plenty that needs to be done. But how many of you actually do ANYTHING worthwhile with your time?

Go on critisizing if that’s what make you happy. Just know that as a Scientologist I know I help people and I know what other Scientologists do to help.

hateraide | 2008-04-27 - 07:51:54 PM (CDT)
hateraide, you say "My point is this, with all the energy and time you spend listening to crazy stories about how evil and crazy Scientology is, why not do something to actually help others with your time, join a local volunteer group, clean up your environment, help the elderly etc. With the amount of war, drugs, violence and hate on this planet there’s plenty that needs to be done".

Well, I for one do PLENTY of volunteer and community work and "actually help others!"... poster above has no information to support his ridiculous assertion.

BTW- his post is a good example of a scientologist failing to acknowledge or address the critique of others and instead attacking the character of the critic. (text-book classic example IMHO)

Anonymous | 2008-04-27 - 08:57:43 PM (CDT)
Dear hateraide,

If you’re sooooo into helping people, and that’s truely genuine how you feel, then why don’t you help reunite some of the families you’re organization has ruined, fractured, and/or bankrupted, just in the past year.

Puh-leeeze! You wanna help people? Or do you wanna help people further your cult’s obviously skewed and ego driven principles?

This is a documented, verified practice of Scientologists.....and one of many that exist under blankets of denials. Such cruel and suppressive tactics are not undone by small acts of kindness or delusional ideals of what it means to actually help someone.

Personally, if I’m going to "clear" my mind with anyone, it certainly won’t be with someone who isn’t legally bound from revealing anything I say and using that information against me. Whether they would or wouldn’t, there’s absolutely zero intelligence in utilizing any form of your cult’s so-called "auditting".

lsu grad | 2008-04-27 - 08:58:00 PM (CDT)
WTF is this shit?

RAWRZ | 2008-04-27 - 09:20:54 PM (CDT)
most. comments. ever. for this college newspaper

lol | 2008-04-27 - 09:50:47 PM (CDT)
compliments of anti-scientologist cyber stalkers

get a life | 2008-04-27 - 10:02:39 PM (CDT)
Dear Isu grad,

Send me a list of people you know personally that "you’re organization has ruined, fractured, and/or bankrupted in the past year" Where are you getting your facts?

I know what I know because I am a Scientologist. What experience do you have in Scientology? Have you read a book? Have you done any actual study of it at all or have you just read a bunch of things online "about Scientology" via anti-Scientology websites and gossip columns?

And as to your statement: "Personally, if I’m going to "clear" my mind with anyone, it certainly won’t be with someone who isn’t legally bound from revealing anything I say and using that information against me. Whether they would or wouldn’t, there’s absolutely zero intelligence in utilizing any form of your cult’s so-called "auditting"."

How much "auditing" have you had? Are you a lawyer, "legally bound," are you serious? Do you need permission to wipe you ass?

Are you so afraid of what you have done that you have to have it "legally bound."

Sounds like Scientology is definately not for you.

hateraide | 2008-04-27 - 11:59:40 PM (CDT)
"I know what I know because I am a Scientologist. What experience do you have in Scientology? Have you read a book? Have you done any actual study of it at all or have you just read a bunch of things online "about Scientology" via anti-Scientology websites and gossip columns?"

Considering the CoS refuses to let anything but the cheery side books(meaning nothing from the OT series) be crammed down gullets for free, it’s hard getting any info except from those who were previously in it-- be it critic, former member, or freezone member(who share all of the Scientologist practices, minus the ones involving money, stalking, harassing, or goading into suicide).

"Sounds like Scientology is definately not for you."

The following things are not for you:

-English
-Writing
-Comprehension
-Individuality
-Free Will
-Monetary conservation
-Tolerance
-Acceptance
-Critical thinking
-The concept that someone can actually be critical of Scientology WITHOUT having committed any "crimes", or holding any major bigotry!

"compliments of scientologist cyber stalkers

get a life | 2008-04-27 - 10:02:39 PM (CDT)"

Fixed it for you.

P.S.: Any of this can be found on Google News. You, on the other hand, get orders handed down from some jerkwad.

Dio Brando | 2008-04-27 - 01:04:19 AM (CDT)
No opposing viewpoint equals serious, serious FAIL. All it would take would be a visit to
xenu.net or
xenutv.net or
enturbulation.org or
whyaretheydead.net.
But you couldn’t do that? Try hearing from Ex-Scientologists before you declare the cult missunderstood by it’s critics.

Jeanie | 2008-04-27 - 01:31:47 AM (CDT)
WOW....epic fail
poorly researched to say the least..

Anonymous | 2008-04-27 - 01:47:33 AM (CDT)
Tiger Weekly will explode if this reaches 300 comments

DO ITTTT | 2008-04-27 - 01:48:33 AM (CDT)
291

do it | 2008-04-28 - 02:18:08 AM (CDT)
Dear Author,

I hope that you have taken any constructive critism that you can from the varied comments here. I do hope that you have decided that perhaps it is time to do a bit more research before giving any implied endorsement to a cult that has destroyed families, extorted money, and been involved in numerous questionable deaths. I look forward to reading any further, more objective coverage on this subject.

Thanks

Anonymous | 2008-04-28 - 03:34:38 AM (CDT)
Your article is a work of false propaganda. I hope you sleep well at night knowing your article may very well have induced a weak minded individual to hopelessly seek help from the fraudulent cult.

Karma is a bitch, just remember that next time your life falls a part.

Anonymous | 2008-04-28 - 04:36:06 AM (CDT)
hateraide,

" Have you done any actual study of it at all or have you just read a bunch of things online "about Scientology" via anti-Scientology websites and gossip columns?"

Well, how about a video documenting how Scientology deals with critics, like this one from 2:09 onwards?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPol_m8wm8Y

BTW, we’re not talking about gossip sites or "malicious rumours". We’re talking about government raids, court documents and judgements, affidavits, results from official commissions, video documented harassment...
Also, there is a lot highly questionable stuff in scientology writings, such as in KSW:

"And I don’t see that popular measures, self-abnegation and democracy have done anything for Man but push him further into the mud."

I find that scary, no matter how many people you claim to have helped personally. That’s good for you and the people you helped. IMHO exposing Scientology is also a way of helping people, of course it shouldn’t replace other help.

I think most of the recent crtitics know quite a lot about basic ideas in scientology: how auditing is working, how to get to clear by removing engrams, the TRs, some basic and not so basic OT stuff, what a SP is and connected to this what a PTS is. What ethics is (the department). And of course the all important concept of upstat/downstat. But we don’t stop there: There’s also the fabulous world of the RPF, the RPF’s RPF, DSA invest, Lisa McPherson, the noble fight for the obliteration(!) of psychiatry, the billion year contract at Sea Org and the insane work/payment relation there laughing at the concept of minimum wage. How about disconnection and fair game (and if you say it’s cancelled at the end of the cancellation it says that this doesn’t change the way SPs should be treated and in the cancellation it cites bad PR as a reason)? Of course there are also confessionals asking indecent questions over and over again for hours.
There are reports of people being physically mistreated by David Miscavige and reports on high Scientology executives being locked up in a "SP Hall" at gold base.

critical voice | 2008-04-28 - 09:20:16 AM (CDT)
Most Scientologists only get one version of the ’truth’, and that is straight from the ’church’. In other words, there is no objectivity because they only believe what the organization of Scientology tells them. This complete control of information and media and environment of seclusion is pretty common amongst dangerous cults:
-Jonestown
-Branch Davidians
-Polygimist Ranches

It rarely ever ends pretty. I hope when Scientology finally comes down (as a result of a RICO case I would wager) it goes much smoother than the above examples.

Anonymous | 2008-04-28 - 01:53:26 PM (CDT)
"Send me a list of people you know personally that "you’re organization has ruined, fractured, and/or bankrupted in the past year" Where are you getting your facts?"
1. Arbuckle, Mary – ex Typesetter I/T R Comps
2. Bellin, Russ – ex CO CST
3. Biggs (Knapmeyer), Alison – ex R Comps Programs Ops
4. Blankenship, Angie – ex COB Project Ops, Local Programs Ops
5. Bloomberg, Dave – ex MEI, ED ASI
6. Bolstad, Pam – ex CO’s Comm CST
7. Buglewicz, Pat Lawrence – ex Incomm Rep Int
8. Cruzen, Richard Gilman – All–around man (has been Audio Prod Sec, Manufacturing Sec, R Comps Sec, CMU Sec, AVEI, RAV, etc.) most successful as Audio Mixer
9. Greilich, Russ Lyle – ex LRH Lecture Mix I/C, Audio Prod Sec
10. Hughes, Gregory Kenneth Snr. – ex Int Finance Dir, GIEI, WDC WISE
11. Ingber, Liz – ex Admin Compiler, CO CMO Gold
12. Ingber, Mark Allen – ex Admin Comps I/C R Comps, CO CMOI, WDC Pubs
13. Jaramillo (Yager), Michelle Lynette – ex Book Editor RComps, Proofreading I/C, Port Captain CMOI, Snr Messenger
14. Jentzsch, Heber – ex President CoS
15. Koon, Susan Jane – ex Compilations Dir RComps (RTRC Dir)
16. Lemmer, Kathy – ex CO Incomm, CO Gold
17. Lemoine, Robert – ex Dir Maintenance & Policing Incomm Int
18. Lesevre, Guillaume – ex ED Int
19. Light, Janet – ex President IASA
20. Linson (DeVocht), Jenny – ex CO CMOI, CO CMO CW
21. Mason, Aron – ex IMPR Scriptwriter, IMPR, Dir PR OSA I, Freedom Mag Editor OSA I
22. Mithoff, Raymond H. – ex IG Tech, Snr C/S Int, Tech Compiler RComps
23. Moresi, Bruno – ex Int Project 4th CST
24. Reynolds, Wendell A. – ex Berthing Construction I/C, Int Finance Dir, CO Gold
25. Rinder, Catherine Albertina – ex R Comps Tape Editor, Compiler, D/CO Prod CMOI
26. Schless, Peter Harrison – ex Music Dir Gold, Freedom Medal Winner
27. Schwartzgruber, Rita – ex ED Int, CO CMO IXU?
28. Spurlock, Lyman Doyle jr. – ex Int Finance Dir, Building 36 Sanitation Engineer, RTC Legal man without a post title
29. Starkey, Norman F – ex MCI Cleaner, AVC Aide, Trustee ASI
30. Swartz, Fredric Samuel – ex Shrinkwrap Operator Dissem, GIEI
31. Tisi (Feshback, Charbonneau), Katherine – ex Qual Sec Gold
32. Trussell, Bert – ex Int Project 3rd CST
33. Weiland, Kurt – ex CO OSA Int, CO CMOI
34. Weinberg, Rena – ex ED ABLE Int, Freedom Medal Winner
35. Wheelis, Michele – ex O/O CST
36. Wilhere, Sue – ex Compilations Dir R Comps
37. Willis, Tom – ex Dir R&D CST
38. Vorm, Tom – ex D/CO Prod CST
39. Yager, Marc A. – ex IMPR Events Execution Off,CO CMOI, D/CO Prod CMOI, IG Admin, Snr Messenger

www . xenu . net

bgodley | 2008-04-28 - 02:20:48 PM (CDT)
TERRYEO...OSA SHILL...INFO ON "HIM" AT:

http://www.encyclopediadramatica.com/Terryeo

Centurian 10 | 2008-04-28 - 06:08:52 PM (CDT)
Kelley Cox visits Anonymous - and hopefully lives never to write about anything.

http://forums.enturbulation.org/24-personal-experience/anonymous-practice-what-you-preach-11589/

Max Champion | 2008-04-28 - 01:00:11 AM (CDT)
Dear hateraide,

I believe bgodley hit the nail on the mark! I’m not a big responder where these type articles are concerned, but you know what, this has made me. And thanks to this article, and the responses especially, I now know the FULL story behind your cult, and I am horrified that an organization like yourselves actually still exists.

But there is hope. In Texas, a large group of polygamists who have operated for many years "under the radar" is now facing the wrath of America’s conscience, and your org too will face the same one day. May not be today, may not be in next year, but any organization that claims to be a church and practices illegal (auditting) therapy, uses the legal system as a bully tactic, and is responsible for more fractured families than the Iraqi war, will one day be put out to pasture, with the rest of the Jonestown and Manson folks. Hopefully before something tragic occurs to provoke it, and believe me, your group’s practice’s aren’t spiritual or religious or healing. Your cult, and that’s what it is, a cult, is nothing short of a mind controling, egotistical and narcissistic operation, flying under a blanket of lies purporting yourselves to be people who help others.

You’re not growing, you’re reducing in numbers, DAILY.

You’re not anything new, Jonestown and Manson to name a couple, practiced your same ethics. Oh, I realize you don’t kill people, but you might as well pull the trigger in someone’s life when you cut them off from their family and friends.

The funny part is, most people, with only a couple brain cells, can see through your BS, and wouldn’t buy it if it came with a glass of water in the Sahara.

And the more you guys try to convince us otherwise, the more we find out from the web you guys really are a group that needs to be elliminated. These anonymous people, or whoever else, there’s actually substantial reasoning backing up their actions.

Their not zealots or weirdos or uneducated, unsocial web junkies, these are very intelligent people who realized how your cult has survived this long, and decided to take a stand.....against a group who have manipulated not only their members, but also the United States Of America’s government.

So thank you, Hateraide, for your comments which now I can honestly tell you, have fueled my curiosity about your org, and helped me ...and many many many others in the alumni org understand just how insane your cult is, and how ridiculous it is that no one’s done anything about it till now.

Oh, and kudos to the individuals doing what needs to be done to rid our precious state, coutry, and world of such a malicious self-serving group.

Keep up the good work, and thanks to this article, I and many others may take part in your June protest.....simply because we’ve never protested and if we were to ever protest something, this is as good a reason as any.

I cannot believe the things I have read.....not just the opinions or commentary, but the officail documents! OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS!

You Scientologists need to go!

Oh and as for having done anything that I should be worried about someone else repeating....;let’s be frank, any idiot who would fall for such a rationale, well, quite frankly, deserves the financial loss that cult induldges upon them. That’s like saying, "why have tax laws, and for that matter, why be a part of a country where individuals would need tax laws to keep them from screwing over the government".....whether I have skeletons or just a femar in my closet, either way, you’re suggestion that I simply trust someone with their word screams of the very naivity necessary to dillusionally believe in an organization like scientology.

No scientology isn’t for me. Of course not. I live in the REAL WORLD. I suggest you give it a visit at some point.

Oh, and yes, I read the book. Years ago. Big deal.

Illegal, unlicensed counseling, with absolutely zero training, and no binding agreement is insane. No matter what your issues are.

If I’m going to sit down with someone and tell them my life’s problems, even just how mad my neighbor made me, and they don’t have to do anything, anything at all, but sit across from me and demand I be truthful..... lemme tell ya, they better be my closest friend or a licensed therapist. You might as well sit down with a Montessori pre-school’s principal and tell her your deepest thoughts on everything. And as laughable as that is, at least she’s got a license to do something, what does an auditor have a license to do? Last I checked it was my taxes, not my mental thoughts.
And a scientology auditor? What’s he got? A bunch of scientology training? Which at it’s highest levels suggest even headaches disprove everything your cult professes to achieve through ascending your ranks.

PEEEER-AHHHHH-MID!

Pyramid!

My gosh, I could go on and on! And that’s just from the hour I spent surfing for info on scientology.

Doing a little good here and there, doesn’t take away from the massive, documented, evils.

If you wanna worship aliens or some drunk who matter-of-factly stated "if you wanna be a millionaire, create your own religion", go right ahead. More power to ya! To each their own. But scientology doesn’t stay within a benevolent wall of religion or spirituality. It crosses lines that separate families, create havoc, financial ruin, and all for some dillusional purpose of a "higher cause" which many in life seek- especially at low points in life, where you scientologists congregate and recruit. Ya’ll went to Virginia Tech, you came here for Katrina, even set up tents outside Office Depot in Covington, you even went to Ilinois....all under some ruse of "Volunteer Ministers"....and what did you do? You offered support, yes, but under a guise for recruiting!

I thought ya’ll were a sham before, now after reading up on you, I think every LSU student needs to help protest this organization, simply because we all should be wondering who it is that that organization has in our midst, that allowed this BS to get published.

$cientology....what a laugh.

Go re-unite a family, hateraide, and then maybe you’ll get an idea of what religion/spirituality truely is.

lsu grad

lsu grad | 2008-04-29 - 02:41:37 AM (CDT)
300 Posts!

Couldn’t resist!

;)

Bah-bah-bah-bahhh, Go Tigers!!
Bah-bah-bah-bahhhh...Go Tigers!!
Bah-bah-bah-bahhhh...Go Tigers!!

Kick their A$$!

...scientology a$$ that is...!

lsu grad | 2008-04-29 - 02:44:43 AM (CDT)
Hey LSU students! Watch Kelley make an ass of herself.

http://forums.enturbulation.org/24-personal-experience/anonymous-practice-what-you-preach-11589/

We asked questions with dignity (most of us) and expected a dignified response. Nice job.

AnonLSU | 2008-04-29 - 04:30:40 AM (CDT)
Thanks for the post on Enturb, Kelly. I had missed this poorly researched, poorly written piece of tripe before that. Protip: Not all publicity is good publicity. Your lack of skill in researching and writing this article is now going to keep people AWAY from the site. Good luck with your "career".

C_Van | 2008-04-29 - 08:32:08 AM (CDT)
Wow... it takes my breath away. This fluff piece on the Corp of Scientology was completely pathetic.

No investigation into the claims of the person interviewed.

No presentation of info available in the public record about labor camps, forced detention, disconnection, fair game, high rates of suicides, disappearance and "accidents" among members, fraud, abuse, child neglect, etc.

Instead you just talked about Xenu and accepted their denial and went on your merry way.

If you had a chance to interview big tobacco corporations would you spend your time asking about Joe Camel or would you instead challenge them on their horrible track record with info that is in the public domain? Same situation here no?

I can only hope this can be a learning experience for you and the rest of the staff at TIger Weekly.

LSU for the Win | 2008-04-29 - 03:42:45 PM (CDT)
PRs Marketing Series 12
You’re offering a service that’s going to rehabilitate the thetan and that is lasting.

Hard sell means insistence that people buy. It means caring about the person and not being reasonable about stops or barriers but caring enough to get him through the stops or barriers to get the service that’s going to rehabilitate him.

That is the sole reason for our use of surveys and promotion and marketing in the first place.

When that one fact becomes real, it all falls into place and it should be a short step then for a copywriter to produce an ad that attracts, interests, creates want and sells Scientology products and services. 1979 by L.Ron Hubbard

Actually the COS is NOT a religion, but a big business - religiousflavored.

anon002 | 2008-04-29 - 08:54:42 PM (CDT)
This article makes a fine drinking game. For everytime she "Gehrig says" something, take a shot! For everytime a counter-argument by the opposing side is not posted, have a shot! Don’t look to me if your liver hates you afterwards.

Anomnomnomnomnom | 2008-04-30 - 03:37:02 PM (CDT)
Take a shot for every wound the dead horse sustains.

vmc | 2008-04-30 - 03:52:01 PM (CDT)
Kelley visited the enturb forums and lived to tell about it!

She says: "** dox? Were you actually trying to do a sort of background check on a college kid who wrote an opinion piece that you didn’t agree with? Isn’t that what Scientologists do to their members who disobey and other suppressive persons?"

If Kelley knew about Fair Game practice and the ‘suppressive persons’ bit, why didn’t she mention it in her testimonial above?

Kelley, maybe you’ve been watching too many info-mercials, but your writing style isn’t “laid-back.” It’s grade 5 comprehension-level parroting. The only interesting and original thing about it was when you mentioned being frightened by the volcano picture.

Go find another anon forum quickly. Maybe you can get the comments up to 400.

BTW. It’s “chi.”

op ed... lol | 2008-04-30 - 04:42:22 PM (CDT)
enuf, kthxbai

Anonymous | 2008-04-30 - 04:48:19 PM (CDT)
people are still posting on this?

poop | 2008-04-30 - 05:11:49 PM (CDT)
Dear Ms Cox,

In my opinion, your article was poorly researched fluff. Perhaps you should change your major to art appreciation.

regards
Arnie Lerma
Lermanet.com Exposing the CON

arnie lerma | 2008-05-01 - 01:54:15 PM (CDT)
Kelly --

Thanks for your thread on Enturbulation.org (see below) informing me of what a horrible prick I’ve been to you. Considering the fact that I was not aware of your, this paper’s, or this article’s existence, I can only conclude that you are an idiot or purposefully sabotaging my and our image a la OSA. I’ve now read the article, and I’m incredibly torn between my basic desire to give everyone the benefit of the doubt and assume the former and my common sense telling me NO ONE is that horrible a journalist.

Please clarify which of the above categories you fall under so that I may adjust my opinion accordingly.

Also, lern2research and lern2blessbutthurt. I’ve done more research for fifth grade journal assignments about what I did on my summer vacation. And next time maybe stop to think that your assumption of OHMYGOD IF ONE PERSON CALLS THEMSELVES ANONYMOUS THEY MUST MEAN EVERY SINGLE FREAKIN PERSON ON THE PLANET WHO HAS EVER PROTESTED ANYTHING might be a tad wrong.

Thread:
http://forums.enturbulation.org/24-personal-experience/anonymous-practice-what-you-preach-11589/

--Anonymous612

Anon612 | 2008-05-01 - 02:56:27 PM (CDT)
Wow, I am going to try to say this in a kind and reasonable fashion but you do need to do your research, and no anything from scientology or it’s affiliates does not construe research as it is only one source. You walked into the scientology centre and they were nice to you, what exactly were you expecting? They need all the positive pr they are getting these days, even if it is a college mag. After all what better place to recruit than a campus? And what’s better they didn’t have to spend a dime on it. So they showed you a couple of nice happy ads where scientology makes you better and how it’s all about knowledge? If that is so then why do they restrict their followers access to the internet? (go to xenu.net for this and other fun facts which you did not look at before writing this piece) Why do they make you pay so much money you put yourself in debt?(once again xenu.net) If they make you better then what happened to Jeremy Perkins and his mother? (whyaretheydead.net) (xenu.net) (exscientologykids.com) If they are a misunderstood religion then why did they try to frame paulette cooper? (google operation freakout) If there is nothing sinister then why did they infiltrate the government in order to get rid of all the nasty documents about them and get material to use against the people who were investigating them?(google operation snowwhite) And if they are just a poor misunderstood religion then why do they harass their critics (look up fair game on xenu.net, exscientologykids.com, why are they dead.net, enturbulation.org, youtube (see also bullbaiting), wikileaks (also has the otIII to VIII materials) And as for them saying xenu is a myth? Either he’s not an OTIII yet or else he lied, which is their way of handling anyone who is a journalist. Why would they lie to a journalist? once again i direct you to xenu.net. Take care and please do the research next time, especially about a topic like this, contoversy always requires research, even in an opinion piece. Don’t do the research and there will be people royally po’d and they would have reason to be. You are trying to be a journalist so people demand integrity and research. Don’t do the research and you sell your integrity. If you want to find out more about scientology go to the above mentioned sites as well as xenutv.com, scientomogy.com, read the scam of scientology by paulette cooper, read the bare faced messiah, and then after that look up the court documents on each case involving scientology, they can be found in almost all of the above mentioned sites as well. Please next time you do a piece on a controversial subject do not present only one side and negelect to research it even if it is an opinion piece.

kiddo | 2008-05-07 - 03:02:09 PM (CDT)
Good article. More people should walk into a Church of Scientology. Ron Hubbard is a genius, and Dianetic auditing works, and because it works so well, it will eventually go mainstream.

Scientology Rocks!!!

Albert | 2008-07-30 - 01:04:10 AM (CDT)
Kelly,

If you ever were to write a book on the subject of Sci. you might have a best seller even if, like Howard Stern, the only people who bought it were the people who hated it.

Boy this is one hot subject. I’ve never seen such an outpour of hate for a religion or the person writing the story. I suppose I could compare it to the Nazi’s hate of the Jews, but that might be unfair.

I hope this teaches you one thing, support a hated group and you will be hated yourself. I suppose that you did not know before you wrote this how much hate mail you would generate. And it seems that a lot of your biggest critics are hiding under the name "Anonymous." Par for the course on the web.

You might even write a book on all this hate mail. As a matter of a fact, you should save all the hate mail and publish it. Someone once said that there is no such thing as bad press.

Howard Stern made it big by being hated.

Best of luck,

Thomas Smith | 2008-09-24 - 02:13:34 AM (CDT)
vyhovi | [url=http://hacyty.com]paryra[/url] | [link=http://kuxoko.com]hykito[/link] | http://kopiha.com | zawoty | [http://cypocu.com texiwa]

xvusopa | 2009-06-03 - 12:15:25 PM (CDT)

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