Fortress Scientology:Why Media Exposes Fail
- "If this is the general intent of the public press, then it is our experience that interviews are better forgotten and that press releases should not be engaged upon and that reporters should not be granted interviews, whatever they promise. Dianetics and Scientology would have made far more progress had there been no single word about them in the public presses.”
- L Ron Hubbard - Ability Mag ca. March 1955
The above gives a glimpse into one aspect of the mindset Scientologists embrace vis-a-vis "the press". The distrust "church" Scientologists express came originally from the top but was repeatedly reinforced for them over the years.
Time and time again the press had mis-characterized their religion and movement, held it up to scorn and ridicule, made outlandish assertions about it being a cult and accusing its members of everything from being brain-washed zombies to drug dealers or traffickers in porn and human flesh...or any of dozens of other wild assertions about its principals, members and practices. (any report starting with "Scientology, founded by Science Fiction writer L Ron Hubbard..." is a sure-fire tip off to Scientologists, that the subsequent article will be biased and inaccurate)
Most of the outlandish charges espoused by the press were sourced as intentionally planted false reports originating in various government agencies around the globe. Scientology's own investigation agency, The Guardian's Office, documented the sources of false information and thus the membership to this day considers the media to be little more than tools of hidden suppressive forces dedicated to the destruction of the Scientology movement.
The net result of the biased and false reporting on Scientology since its inception in 1950, created a "siege mentality" within its rank-and-file - an important fact when trying to understand the seemingly impenetrable stone-walling encountered when even the most blistering media bomb-throwing occurs.
It's ironic that the history of "fake news" about Scientology is now a factor in resistance to a much needed reform of the organization.
Aftermath[edit | edit source]
The recent A&E TV (a US cable network) expose of abuses perpetrated by the "Church" of Scientology, Scientology - and The Aftermath, with Leah Remini hosting, is the latest example of broad media exposure with yet the same result as all previous efforts - Failure!
This most recent episode comes on the heels of a long long list of previous failures - each in its turn having raised the Scientology protest movement's expectations to be the final nail in the Scientology coffin - but in the end did nothing or very little to erode the parishioner base, inspire reforms or result in the removal of David Miscavige and dissolution of the Sea Org.
A few examples below:
- Time Magazine
- Los Angeles Times expose
- CNN - Anderson 360 expose
- Lawrence Wright's "Going Clear" book
- Alex Gibney's Going Clear Movie
- ...and now Leah's show
So how could Leah's show and all the others before it be considered a failure?
Failure?[edit | edit source]
With millions of people having watched Leah's show and the attendant media onslaught and public outrage as expressed via Twitter and massive public demand for change - how could it be considered a failure?
The answer lies in ones definition of success or failure.
Another misconception, or mis-judgement, on the part of those seeking to have an impact on the abuses being documented in the media comes from a failure to understand that Scientology is not some fly-by-night cult like the 'Moonies' or 'Jim Jones' or some polygamist offshoot of Mormonism hiding out in rural Utah.
What would 'Success' be?[edit | edit source]
The measure of "Success", in our estimation, would consist of:
- A. Large numbers of parishioners leaving the "church" and joining in demands for reform. (as happened with the Debbie Cook email
- B. David Miscavige stepping down or being removed from his management role. (indictment, mutiny, fleeing the country...)
But this is at odds with the objectives of those new to the subject matter and those who harbor a silent hatred of religions or L Ron Hubbard, or both, and seek nothing less than the total annihilation of both the "church" and the subject. Ideally in their estimation, making even the practice of Scientology illegal and banished from the land. (note: will never happen but that is their desire)
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