Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 4, No. 1, 2005, Page 63
Trade Center collapse, feel that it has helped them? A psychological argument rather than a
physiological one may explain the program‘s successes. This is so because there is a
similarity between the Scientology program and purification rituals found in many religious
and cultural traditions in which cleansing the body helps achieve spiritual renewal.
The language used by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, who developed Scientology‘s
program, seems related to the language of psychotherapy, as when, for example: detox
patients are said to experience ―manifestations of old traumas, or toxins when they taste
or smell long-forgotten chemicals or drugs or when they re-experience symptoms,
allergies, and wounds that ―turn off‖ again when toxins are ―flushed‖ from the body.
―Hubbard himself was notoriously hostile to psychiatry but what his method seems to offer
is a potent physiological analogue to talk therapy.‖ (Amanda Schaffer, Slate, Internet,
10/21/04)
Moving in on Tragedy Town
Twenty Scientologists have been ordered out of Beslan, Republic of North Ossetia, and
forbidden to offer their religious and psychological services in the region. They arrived in the
wake of the terrorist carnage at an elementary school, saying they were psychologists, and
advertised for people to come to their ―spiritual aid centre.‖ Beslan leaders, as well as
doctors, mainline clergy, and law enforcement officials were wary of the arrival of
Scientology and other new sects in town following the tragedy.
Specialists from the Serbski Institute, who have been working with Beslan residents, say
that under Scientology influence ―people develop an increased sense of aggression, an
inadequate reaction to the surrounding world, and people and children are subject to
negative emotional outbursts. People become uncontrollable.‖ (ITAR-TASS from BBC
Monitoring the Former Soviet Union, Internet, 10/16/04 Moscow News, Internet, 10/22/04)
Active in Hungary
The political opposition warns that Scientology, registered as a church but known
worldwide as a business that resembles a cult, is at least indirectly involved in a number of
Hungarian companies, including several working on a residential park in Nagyknizsa. Some
of the firms apparently employ the WISE business management system, developed by
Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. In addition, the local railway headquarters used a
Scientology course and test for its workers, which caused a ―scandal.‖ Scientology also
advertised language courses in local schools until the mayor banned the activity. (Magyar
Menzet, Internet, 10/26/04)
Subway Celebration Poster Promotes Scientology
A poster celebrating the 100th anniversary of the New York subway seems mainly to
promote Scientology programs. The poster, depicting a crowded Times Square subway
station, contains a call to visit the Scientology Purification Center, and the addresses of a
variety of Scientology websites festoon T-shirts and shopping bags in the picture. The
poster is the work of author-artist Kathy Jakobson, a Scientologist, who also has included in
the poster a plug for her new children‘s book. A spokesman for the New York Transit
Authority said the poster depicts the ―actuality of Times Square and what is going on there.
We have no reason to believe she tried to work in Scientology references.‖ (Gwen Moritz,
Daily News, 10/29/04)
Surveillance to Continue
A German court has rejected an appeal from the Church of Scientology to end
surveillance of its activities by domestic security services. The court said that some
Scientology activities were ―contrary to the foundations of democracy‖ and went against
Trade Center collapse, feel that it has helped them? A psychological argument rather than a
physiological one may explain the program‘s successes. This is so because there is a
similarity between the Scientology program and purification rituals found in many religious
and cultural traditions in which cleansing the body helps achieve spiritual renewal.
The language used by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, who developed Scientology‘s
program, seems related to the language of psychotherapy, as when, for example: detox
patients are said to experience ―manifestations of old traumas, or toxins when they taste
or smell long-forgotten chemicals or drugs or when they re-experience symptoms,
allergies, and wounds that ―turn off‖ again when toxins are ―flushed‖ from the body.
―Hubbard himself was notoriously hostile to psychiatry but what his method seems to offer
is a potent physiological analogue to talk therapy.‖ (Amanda Schaffer, Slate, Internet,
10/21/04)
Moving in on Tragedy Town
Twenty Scientologists have been ordered out of Beslan, Republic of North Ossetia, and
forbidden to offer their religious and psychological services in the region. They arrived in the
wake of the terrorist carnage at an elementary school, saying they were psychologists, and
advertised for people to come to their ―spiritual aid centre.‖ Beslan leaders, as well as
doctors, mainline clergy, and law enforcement officials were wary of the arrival of
Scientology and other new sects in town following the tragedy.
Specialists from the Serbski Institute, who have been working with Beslan residents, say
that under Scientology influence ―people develop an increased sense of aggression, an
inadequate reaction to the surrounding world, and people and children are subject to
negative emotional outbursts. People become uncontrollable.‖ (ITAR-TASS from BBC
Monitoring the Former Soviet Union, Internet, 10/16/04 Moscow News, Internet, 10/22/04)
Active in Hungary
The political opposition warns that Scientology, registered as a church but known
worldwide as a business that resembles a cult, is at least indirectly involved in a number of
Hungarian companies, including several working on a residential park in Nagyknizsa. Some
of the firms apparently employ the WISE business management system, developed by
Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. In addition, the local railway headquarters used a
Scientology course and test for its workers, which caused a ―scandal.‖ Scientology also
advertised language courses in local schools until the mayor banned the activity. (Magyar
Menzet, Internet, 10/26/04)
Subway Celebration Poster Promotes Scientology
A poster celebrating the 100th anniversary of the New York subway seems mainly to
promote Scientology programs. The poster, depicting a crowded Times Square subway
station, contains a call to visit the Scientology Purification Center, and the addresses of a
variety of Scientology websites festoon T-shirts and shopping bags in the picture. The
poster is the work of author-artist Kathy Jakobson, a Scientologist, who also has included in
the poster a plug for her new children‘s book. A spokesman for the New York Transit
Authority said the poster depicts the ―actuality of Times Square and what is going on there.
We have no reason to believe she tried to work in Scientology references.‖ (Gwen Moritz,
Daily News, 10/29/04)
Surveillance to Continue
A German court has rejected an appeal from the Church of Scientology to end
surveillance of its activities by domestic security services. The court said that some
Scientology activities were ―contrary to the foundations of democracy‖ and went against
