Difference between revisions of "Scientology and Money"

Revision as of 03:31, April 27, 2014

Money and Scientology would seem to be synonymous subjects if one reads anything about the church of Scientology on the web or in the news these days. Astride the stories of glitzy celebrities and scandalous revelations are the ubiquitous presentations of lavish buildings and opulence.

But what is the real story of Scientology and money?

The church of Scientology

With over 2 Billion in assets and cash reserves, the church is bloated with money due to L Ron Hubbard's insistence the organization operate on a cash basis while demanding massive "donations" for services from its parishioners.

The church also sponsors a number of affiliated organizations such as the International Association of Scientologists (IAS), well known for its bogus and fraudulent fundraising schemes ^[1], WISE, Narconon and other front groups and projects like the Super Power Building, a cruise ship and special and new editions of church books.

Scientology staff members

Underpaid and over worked is an understatement. Staff pay is allotted, per LRHL. Ron Hubbard policy, on a 'proportional' basis, depending on rank and position, which comes from the last portion of any income the organization makes. This usually amounts to a pittance due to 'upper management' raking off with approximately 40% of the income before the organization begins to pay any bills or expenses.

Parishioners

Parishioners still affiliated with the corporate church are the subject of constant haranguing and pressure to donate. They are the subject of never ending harassment to buy more and pay more with the majority awash in debt, upside down in homes (if fortunate enough to have been able to acquire one) and likely upside down on the mortgage if so.

The tales of bankruptcies, foreclosures, over extended credit card debt, defaulted loans from lenders, family and friends, no retirement savings, no college funds, and leading lives of miserable and frantic existences are well document throughout the web.

Field Scientologists

Scientologists and ex Scientologists find themselves free of the constant pressure of the corporate predations, but usually need years to recover from the emotional and financial ravages they underwent while affiliated with the church. Too many having forgone education in pursuit of spiritual enlightenment, find themselves in mid life or in their senior years without marketable skills or reliable means to make a good living let alone enjoy a comfortable retirement, are digging themselves out from debt while suffering pangs of guilt for not having provided for and adequately cared for their children while pursuing the elusive and intangible benefits promised by the church.

Additionally, parishioners have been subj Some important distinctions need to be made early on however if we are to come to a rational understanding of the role, and abuse, of the subject of money in regards to "Scientology".

The 'church' is not Scientology

Note: The word "church" is in lower casethe whole sum of past by-passed charge. (HCOB 19 Aug 63) when referring to the corporate entity known as "the church of Scientology.

Scientology is NOT the church of Scientology.

The church of Scientology is NOT Scientology.

The first thing to know about Scientology and money, and this is admittedly a tough one to get one's wits around, is that everything you may have heard about "Scientology", its lust for and obsession with accumulating money, is in reference to the corporate entity called the church of Scientology.

The SUBJECT of Scientology has nothing to do with money. Let me repeat that - the SUBJECT of Scientology has nothing to do with money.

LRHL. Ron Hubbard mum on the subject

The founder of Scientology, L Ron Hubbard, is significantly mute on the subject of money except as to how his organizations are to deal with it. (more on that in a minute) He left no direction or instructions to parishioners, none whatsoever, as to how they should handle their own personal finances. (if anyone has a reference please add it to the discussion feature)

There are many many references from him as to how the organizations are to eschew borrowing and debt. He admonished staff to always pay cash for everything, including real estate, and never allow the organizations to become insolvent or out of balance with their cash/bill ratio.

He also famously and consistently ordered staff to make money for the organization. He demanded "registrarsIn a Scn org, the person signs up people for Scn service (HCO Admin Ltr 30 Jul 75)" (organization sales people) be trained on "Big League Sales"^[2] and many other sales techniques so they would become proficient at getting parishioners to pay for church services. There is no question L Ron Hubbard was a diligent and demanding overseer of church finances.

He demanded abundant income while zealously keeping a tight rein on expenditures.

Understanding the history of the church's embattled past, taking into consideration the overwhelming opposition to its success and the forces at play that would have snuffed out the fledgling organization had it not maintained very strict financial policies, is very important to keep in mind3. a network of communications and pictures, energies and masses, which are brought into being by the activities of the thetan versus the physical universe or other thetans. The mind is a communication and control system between the thetan and his environment. (FOT, p. 56)...MORE when evaluating the origins of Hubbard's obsessions with making them solvent.

see The World L Ron Hubbard Lived In for some context

While Hubbard steadfastly monitored the income and outgo of the organizations, he also omitted giving his parishioners any advice as to how to handle their personal finances.

Some believe this was a character flaw and a self-serving intentional omission in order to do nothing to restrict the cash flow1. an impulse or direction of energy particles or thought or masses between terminals. (HCOB 3 Feb 69)...more to church coffers.

It should also be noted that throughout most of the time of LRHL. Ron Hubbard's oversight of the organization finances, prices for services were reasonably affordable for the average working person. This changed later on.

references

1. ^ IAS testimony
2. ^ Big League Sales reviews

David LaCroix