Former Scientologist Recounts ‘Torturous’ Past Inside the Church

The Church of Scientology believes one woman, Maureen Bolstad, is one of the worst people in the world. She is one of a few to be declared a “suppressive person.”

Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard declared so-called “suppressive” people “cannot be granted the rights ordinarily accorded rational beings.” Her crime? Talking to the media about the church.

They just keep coming out and telling their stories don’t they David? One of these days, they will be telling YOUR story … and it won’t be a pretty one!

Bolstad was recruited into the Church of Scientology at age 16. She was told she’d get an education, and the chance to see the world.

Twenty-six years later, Bolstad walks down Gilman Springs Road near Hemet where Scientology’s world headquarters is located. She walks with a sense of fear.

“I lost three years of my life staying out here,” Bolstad said, “The confessional procedures were just torture. They weren’t to help me. They were to get me to introvert and think about what I had been doing wrong as to why I wanted to leave. But the reason I wanted to leave was the sleep deprivation was killing me. I wasn’t being allowed to visit my family. I wasn’t getting paid for my work. I said, ‘I can’t do this. This is abusive.’ Physically, I couldn’t do it anymore.”

When she tried to leave, Bolstad says guards tackled her much like they recently tackled protestors. When she tried to leave again, she says they placed her in the Rehabilitation Project Force, known as “RPF.” This special “rehab center” is located at the Old Gilman House in the northwest section of the Scientology headquarters. Bolstad says she was assigned manual labor.

“Like 7:00 AM or so until the sun went down and I got $11 a week for that. And, I got meals. I basically ate in a shack over there. I had to eat separate from everyone else, because I was lower status and I was being segregated from everyone else.”

Bolstad didn’t spend all her years in the “RPF.” To prove her claims, Bolstad showed us her social security tax forms. Despite working nearly 100-hour work weeks shooting Scientology videos, many years she earned nothing at all. She says the church forced her to pay for the camera equipment she broke when she first started on the film crew.

We asked Bolstad, “What do you say to the belief that the Church of Scientology says that what happens at RPF is only counseling?”

She answered, “I say that’s a lie because there’s a lot of punishment involved. Your status is lowered. You’re only allowed to speak when spoken to, so you have to call everyone else “sir.” You don’t have the same privileges as other staff. Like I said, you’re not allowed to send mail, you’re not allowed to make phone calls. I had trouble getting medical care.”

If this place is so terrible, than why did she stay for a dozen years? Perhaps because since the age of 16, it was the only life she ever knew.

Bolstad remarks as she looks at Hemet’s IntBase, “I had laid the tiles for all those roofs over there. I painted a lot of the rooms in that “qual” building. I helped place some of these sidewalks. Everything here has my blood, sweat and tears in it. I thought it was my home. It was my home. That’s why I invested in it.”

We will have the second half of our interview with Maureen Bolstad Wednesday night at 11 on News Channel 3. Bolstad tells her account of 12 year olds working in the church headquarters and women coerced to have abortions or risk being declared a “suppressive person” by Scientology leadership.

In a letter to the St. Petersburg Times…

Money could go to better use

In this time of recession, when people are losing jobs, houses are going to foreclosure and times basically are tough all over for everyone, it’s nice to see the cult of greed spending $40 million on renovations to its lair — not for the good of the community or to help those less fortunate, but to add to its own excess.

As a “religion” and a “church,” you would think that Scientology would put that money to better use. And I like the fact that they told people that the restaurants and ballroom in the renovated Fort Harrison Hotel would be open to the public, but once the renovations were complete they had a change of heart.

Strikes me as ironic when a “reader” has to point out the obvious.

From Glosslip.com

Most people haven’t heard of Marc Headley. He’s not a celebrity, but he has met Tom Cruise. In fact, Tom audited Marc during his Scientology training courses at Gold Base. Tom may not remember Marc, but he’ll know him soon enough.

Marc Headley is a former Scientologist who worked at the Hemet, California desert compound called Gold Base. For 15 years, Marc worked long hours at the 500 acre guarded facility, also referred to as Int Base, or International Base. Marc was a member of the Church’s paramilitary group called Sea Organzation, or Sea Org. Sea Org members are recruited from within the organization’s ranks of poorly paid workers and volunteers, they are made to sign a “billion year contract” and are often forced to live away from family and friends doing the type of manual labor typically reserved for slaves, inmates of illegal immigrants.

Marc has written a book titled “Blown For Good” [along with his web site of the same name], detailing his experiences inside the cult and what has happened to him since he left in 2005.

Church of Scientology blames Pearl Harbor, 9/11 on psychiatry

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Church_of_Scientology_blames_attack_on_Pearl_Harbor,_9/11_attacks_on_psychiatry

Those folks are really amazing … living in an alternate reality really messes with your head.

In an interview on a television show called the No Drug Show, hosted by Larry Byrnes, the Church of Scientology blamed both the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States and the attack on Pearl Harbor on psychiatrists and the drugs they prescribe their patients. Scientology considers psychiatry to be barbaric and a violation of human rights.

“To take [a] person, and turn them into a killing machine, against their will or have them do things that are against their nature, you need something behind that. Psychiatrists employ drugs and conditioning techniques in order to change people from what they would normally be, into killing machines,” added Figueroa.

Figueroa goes on to say that Japanese kamikaze pilots responsible for bombing Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in December of 1941 were “on amphetamines which is a psychiatric drug” when they attacked. However, the the Japanese did not employ kamikaze tactics until later in the war.

Like the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz, Scientology must CREATE its enemy if they are to have a CAUSE to fight. This imaginary enemy is the crucial factor that binds their ideology and gives it focus. In this case, psychiatry has always been the transcendent beast … the very one which L. Ron Hubbard used from the beginning to justify his traveling snake oil show. But it is late in the day … and THIS religion is, thankfully, finally running out of oil.

Our newest member of the Blogroll … Ask The Scientologist

This latest post sums up what has been whispered behind closed doors for a number of years …. and like the last words of the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz, Scientology seems to be saying, “I’m meeeeellllltttiiing.”

But the technology has failed. Even Scientologists can see this, though they don’t necessarily recognize the cause and effect: Fewer and fewer Scientologists are making progress “up the Bridge”. More and more are stuck somewhere. More and more are in trouble. And those that do “make progress” find that nothing happened!

The “releases” end up without the promised “new abilities”. “Clears” end up without any of Hubbard’s promised abilities. The “OTs” look, feel and act just as they did before any of this stuff.

The technology has failed.

Thanks for the “heads up.” Looks like I’ve got more reading to do :~)

You can always depend on Scientology … their special brand of psychosis will only allow them to react in ONE way – ATTACK!

First person: I escaped Scientology after 22 years

The beliefs of the Church of Scientology might sound like something from a science fiction book but The Complex reveals that the Church s growing power base is a shocking reality.

Mine was an uneasy childhood. My father was schizophrenic and had bouts of manic depression. He and my mother both died when I was 10 years old, and my siblings and I moved from Scotland to Ireland, to live with my mother’s relatives.

As a teenager, I started to find the idea of an all-encompassing God and protector alluring, and in 1984, moved to a small village in Germany. Here, I discovered Scientology. I was in a bad way one afternoon, walking the streets of Stuttgart, when a young lady approached me: “Do you have a good memory?” she asked. I agreed to join her at the local Scientology centre, to find out.

The centre was filled with friendly, efficient people. It all seemed very official and scientific. I took tests which revealed I needed counselling, or “auditing”. I found the “science” aspect very seductive, and quickly became involved in the group.

After two weeks, I was taken with the teachings of [Scientology’s founder] L Ron Hubbard. He was my guru, and I started to see less of my girlfriend and friends.

There’s a disturbing pattern in the stories of escapees … wonder what that might mean? Perhaps they are all part of a massive global conspiracy to bring down a legitimate religion? Or maybe there really is something to the claim that Scientology is a destructive cult. It’s certainly worth a 2nd look before jumping on board. For a deeper study of John’s experience, check out his book, The Complex: An Insider Exposes the Covert World of the Church of Scientology.

Lawyer again takes on Church of Scientology

CLEARWATER — Taking on the Church of Scientology in court is like picking a fight with the Russian army. When attacked, the church defends itself aggressively, wearing down opponents with a barrage of litigation while peering into their personal lives.

Ken Dandar knows this better than anyone. In the 7-year-long Lisa McPherson case, the Tampa lawyer and the church waged one of the most grueling, fiercely contested legal battles in Tampa Bay history.

The wrongful death lawsuit became intensely acrimonious, with Dandar calling Scientology a ruthless cult and church officials countersuing and calling him a liar, a religious bigot and an ambulance chaser. The David-and-Goliath fight had Dandar flying solo against a squadron of top-notch lawyers.

Now, by targeting the church in another wrongful death suit, Dandar and his two-man law firm are essentially ringing the bell for Round 2.

What is he thinking?

More power to ya!

Will Smith Gives Big Money To Scientology!

We all know that Will Smith is a pretty charitable guy.

Recently, he’s even been going to hospitals and schools to donate his time and money.

So it’s no surprise that Smith, and his beard wife Jada, have given away $1.3 million in donations this last year to a variety of charities.

The tax returns for Smith’s charitable foundation show that several donations were made to art groups, hospital, and religious groups.

Smith’s biggest single contribution was again to the Yesha Ministries of Philadelphia. The born-again Christian based organization received $250,000 from Smith.

But perhaps the most interesting thing is that Smith donated to the Church of Scientology, giving a combined total of $122,500.

Smith and Jada have also supported that new private school in Los Angeles, New Village Academy, that uses Scientology learning concepts.

Smith denies being directly involved with the “religion.” But, as the old saying goes, MONEY TALKS!

Equal opportunity at work! Thanks to Perez Hilton.

The Valkyrie star will not speak about his beliefs while promoting his films.

He told The Today Show host Matt Lauer: “I’m here to entertain people. That’s who I am and what I want to do.

“I’ve been a Scientologist for 25 years but I think there is a time and a place for it because things can get misunderstood and twisted.

“When people are tuning in to hear about my movie, that’s what I’m here to talk about.”

The actor was appearing on the US TV show for the first time since his controversial 2005 appearance in which he attracted over 10,000 complaints for an anti-psychiatry rant.

Thank goodness for small miracles. I suppose this means David MacSavage will have to start grooming another android to be the Scilon spokesperson.