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CoS Reformation Related Postings
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The following was posted to alt.religion.scientology:
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From: Clam Baker <sloopjohne@aol.com>
Subject: OPERATION SOFT UNDERBELLY (revised repost)
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 17:51:09 -0600
OPERATION SOFT UNDERBELLY: Strategies for Deconstructing the Church of Scientology's War on the First Amendment
(Formerly "COS' Soft Underbelly EXPOSED!")
by John M. Esparolini
(NOTE to COS shysters:
The following is a statement of an editorial nature; makes no claims of factuality or actuality; is in accordance
with and protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States; and expresses the opinions
and ideas of the author, and the author alone. In accordance with the
US Copyright Law of 1977, Chap.1, Sec.107, no copyrighted materials have been reproduced herein other than in accordance
with Fair Use doctrine as defined by the US Copyright Office and interpreted by Federal courts.
Therefore, ANY correspondence, verbal or written, received by the author from ANY attorney employed or contracted
by the Church of Scientology International in response to or in reference to this article will be regarded and
construed as an act of intimidation or harassment and an attempt to violate the civil rights of the author by the
Church of Scientology, Inc. All primary and secondary sources of such correspondence will be dealt with accordingly
and in the most severe manners allowed under law.)
-------------------
". . . Resist the devil, and he will flee from you!"
-- St. James the Apostle, letter to the first Christian churches (James 4:7)
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"Every insider knows where the weak chinks are in his movement's armor. The best test of a critic's mastery
of his opponent's system is his ability to go straight for his opponent's weakest spot [i.e., his SOFT UNDERBELLY
-JME]. He will not be sidetracked. If he can do this, he will draw blood. He will create consternation and confusion
in the opponent's camp."
-- Gary North, "Christian Reconstruction: What It Is, What It Isn't", Tyler, TX: Institute for Christian
Economics, 199I, p. 175 (emphasis added)
-------------------
The key to deconstructing the Church of Scientology's war on the rest of us is through "creat(ing) consternation
and confusion" in its "camp" by openly, aggressively, repeatedly, publicly, and PERSISTENTLY attacking
it's "SOFT UNDERBELLY". Some of the strategies outlined below are ones which have been in place and in
practice for many years by ARS posters and other Net-based critics, by the FreeZone, by various cult watchdog groups,
journalists, and other analysts. Additional strategies are offered here for further consideration and discussion.
The weak spots which comprise the "soft underbelly" of the Church of Scientology are:
WEAK SPOT #1 - COS' dependency on copyright ownership and misuse/abuse of copyright law, combined with the legal
recognition of the belief system of "Scientology" as a "religion".
OUR BEST WEAPON - the Scientology's legal status as a "religion":
Become self-educated lay experts in the US Copyright Law of 1977 and all passed and pending amendments thereto.
Buy a copy of the Law from the Government Printing Office or download a copy of pertinent Chapters and Sections
from the US Copyright Office web site at "www.lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/". Frequently and regularly log
on to the US Copyright Office site and read and/or download copies of FAQs and notices of pending legislation.
Buy or borrow books on copyright law and the Fair Use doctrine. At the end of this article is a list of books on
copyright law which should be consulted regularly at your local library, or purchased for your own personal library.
Most are available through college and university libraries, and through Barnes & Noble and other commercial
booksellers.
On whether or not ideas, processes, and discoveries -such as religious or philosophical or scientific doctrines
or alleged revelations and the like-- may be legally copyright-protected, consider the following quote from the
US Copyright Office: "Several categories of material are generally not eligible for Federal copyright protection.
These include . . . Titles, names, short phrases, and slogans . . . Ideas, procedures, methods, systems, processes,
concepts, principles, discoveries, or devices, as distinguished from a description, explanation, or illustration
. . . Works consisting entirely of information that is common property and containing no original authorship .
. . (or) taken from public documents or other common sources." (WHAT IS NOT PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT, US Copyright
Office web site)
Openly and PUBLICLY encourage and support the FreeZoners and other non-COS Scientology dissidents and groups in
their growing Reformation efforts (see the Pilot's new "Reformation" page at "fza.org/reform.phtml").
Let the media and the general public know about the FreeZone movement and its efforts. Work to get established
a LEGAL distinction between Scientology as a belief system ("religion"), and the Church of Scientology
as a repository and promulgator of that belief system. Assist any effort(s) by FreeZoners or the media or anti-COS
critics to file First Amendment-based class action suits vis-a-vis ownership or co-ownership of, and/or full access
to, and/or free distribution of all of Hubbard's writings --or to have COS' copyright and "trade secrets"
ownership removed altogether.
Grounds for such suits could be that (1) Because Scientology enjoys legal recognition and status as a "religion",
and Hubbard's writings comprise the "scriptures" of that religion and is claimed to be "revelation"
(i.e., "truth" revealed to the writer), access to and interpretation of those "scriptures"
should be unrestricted. Moreover, they should no more be copyrighted or allowed "trade secret" status
than the original texts of the New Testament, the Torah, the Koran, the I Ching, or any other "sacred writings".
(2) Because of their status as Scientology's "scriptures", part or full ownership of and/or full, unrestricted
access to them by ALL individuals and groups who profess belief in Scientology is fundamental and necessary to
the free exercise of their religion. And (3) because the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and of the
press as well as freedom of religion (FUNDAMENTAL human rights) the freedom to exercise unfettered analysis and
critique of Scientology's teachings and/or Church of Scientology policies and practices should have primacy over
"intellectual property" rights.
In my view, adopting this strategy would remove TWO major -if not the central- weapons from COS' arsenal: (1) the
abuse of copyright law and (2) the accusation of "religious bigotry".
WEAK SPOT #2 - Intellectual laziness, incompetence, shallowness, irrelevance. (No training in Logic except for
a very limited, truncated "secrets of logic" in Hubbard's "Data Series".)
OUR BEST WEAPONS:
Refrain from vulgarity, foul language, ad hominem attacks, name-calling, emotionalism, veiled threats, and the
like. Instead, STUFF THEIR MOUTHS WITH FOOTNOTES: Emphasize and repeat citations from established and recognized
experts and scholars; historical examples; documentation; and ESPECIALLY primary source materials. Emphasize and
repeat factual errors and SPECIFICALLY NAME logical fallacies presented in COS literature and posts from COS drones
and shysters (lawyers). Publish and re-publish these throughout the net. Directly pass copies when replying to
COS drones who post to ARS and ACT and to COS shysters who dirctly contact ARS posters or other critics. Let's
give them everything we write --up-front, honestly, and without fear or timidity-but let everything we write be
intellectually and factually devastating.
BRAZENLY and DEFIANTLY make sure they know what we're saying and have easy and direct access to everything we write
or publish. While we should not resort to "spamming", nevertheless, we should drop our parodies, satires,
criticisms, debunkings, exposes, etc. directly into their camp while we post them on the Net or publish them elsewhere.
This can be done WITHOUT "spamming". For example, one-on-one e-mail to identified COS posters and to
COS web pages;
faxing, the US mail, any public appearances or call-in programs in which COS reps appear, even attending COS functions,
etc., etc.
Form well-prepared and well-trained "truth squads" of articulate, erudite critics to take part in events
such as radio and televison programs, town meetings, public debates, press conferences, seminars, conferences,
promo events, etc. which COS sponsors or in which COS participates. Organize public debates and THROUGH THE MEDIA
invite and challenge COS reps to participate. When they decline, harangue them in the press and on the net for
doing so.
WEAK SPOT #3 - COS' teachings and or practices are neither "new" nor "original."
OUR BEST WEAPONS:
Keep in mind that one thing COS has an abundance of besides money and lawyers is massive shortages of original
thinking. After all, in over 30 years they can't seem to come up with a logo or icon any more original than the
Cross of Jesus Christ despite the fact that Hubbard and COS have openly, repeatedly, and vehemently denied and
disparaged him.
Therefore, repeatedly show and document how Hubbard and COS stole, borrowed, or re-wrote others' ideas and teachings.
Repeatedly cite references to parallels of its "unique" doctrines in the literature of other, especially
pre-Hubbard or pre-COS, religions, cults or movements. For example, strong evidence suggests that Hubbard didn't
even coin or define the word "scientology" itself, but instead "appropriated" both word and
defintion from a book by a 1930's psychologist in Germany. Such examples, if clearly documented, can also be of
use in the "copyright infringement" issue.
WEAK SPOT #4 - Dependency on harassment and intimidation. Taking the first step in order to silence or discourage.
OUR BEST WEAPONS: Take the initiative and come out fighting from the getgo -on the net, in the media, in the courts.
Then the very second we get a crank call from a COS drone or even a form letter from a COS shyster RUN, do not
walk, to a notary public, lawyer, or district court and prepare and file an appropriate affidavit. This is very
inexpensive to do, usually requiring a small filing fee -about 25 to 50 bucks. In some cases, banks will do affidavits
for free for their customers. Then file ALL types and classes of suits and/or charges that are even remotely pertinent.
PLAY HARDBALL WITH THEM before they have a chance to play hardball with us. Remember that this war was initiated
by COS. COS is the aggressor, and it's NEVER WRONG or unwise to vigorously oppose an aggressor.
WEAK SPOT #5 - Dependency on manipulating critics and dissidents into hiding by engendering fear or insecurity
or self-doubt.
OUR BEST WEAPONS:
Adopt the premise that WE HAVE NO BUSINESS RUNNING AND HIDING FROM EVIL AND DARKENESS! Moses didn't, the Hebrew
prophets didn't, Jesus and His Apostles didn't, Martin Luther and the Christian Reformers didn't! All confronted
the evil forces of their times with boldness and backbone, AND conquered them! Recognize COS and its shyster army
for what they are: A pack of cowards. Then BOLDLY defy them. Take precautions for personal safety, of course, but
STOP HIDING! That's what they WANT us to do! Instead, let's DEFIANTLY and PUBLICLY declare ourselves, our views,
and our intentions on the net, to the media, and to the general public.
WEAK SPOT #6 - Messianic self-importance; UNDESERVED arrogance; UNEARNED pride; NO evident sense of humor.
OUR BEST WEAPONS:
Remember that COS does NOTHING PRODUCTIVE or LEGITIMATE by the sweat of its own brow to merit even a micron of
pride or arrogance. It parasitically leeches off other peoples' talents, labor, and hard-earned money. After all,
we're not talking about Bill Gates and Microsoft here! Therefore, continually and repeatedly apply generous doses
of parody, satire, ridicule, and sarcastic intellectual debunking -preferably all at the same time. Again, CC everything
to COS and the COS/Borg drones who post to newsgoups or have their own COS web sites.
WEAK SPOT #7 - COS' DEEP POCKETS and it's preoccupation with, focus on, and apparent worship of MONEY.
OUR BEST WEAPONS:
Identify all COS-owned or COS-tied businesses, law firms, real estate holdings, and other economic ventures and
work to isolate them or ostracize them in the business community and in the market-place: 1. Identify and
notify their clients, subcontractors, and service providers, making them fully aware of who they've been dealing
with and helping to expand. 2. Publicize and inform the media of the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all
COS or COS-tied ventures and their officers. 3. If harassed or confronted in any manner, sue -for TENS of
MILLIONS, or more.
The Cult of Scientology started this PSYWAR. It's OUR turn and OUR job to finish it -and on OUR terms:
UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!
John M. Esparolini (aka John E, aka John the Calvinist, aka Sloopjohne, aka Clam Baker)
. . . For a COS-Free New Millennium! . . . There are 705 days remaining . . .
PS: For you COS drones and shysters, here are my address and phone number:
2579 Babcock Road
Vienna, VA 22181
703-938-5416
Crank calls, threats, harassment, hate mail and shyster letters are VERY welcome! I can always use the inspiration
and the entertainment. Not to mention some o' them BIG COS BUCKS: I have my eye on a nice 39-foot sailboat, plus
I'm running outta Havanas: A few boxes of Cohiba "Esplendidos" would be a nice addition to my humidor!
And, man, are they expensive!
(c) 1998 by John M. Esparolini
This article may be copied, posted, and distributed electronically WITHOUT ALTERATION but may not be printed in
whole or in part without written permission of the author.
----------------------------------------------------------
Books on the US Copyright Law of 1977 and the Fair Use doctrine:
"Copyright, Fair Use, & the Challenge for Universities: Promoting the Progress of Higher Education"
by Kenneth D. Crews (University of Chicago Press, 1993)
"Exemptions & Fair Use in Copyright: The Exclusive Rights Tensions in the 1976 Copyright Act" by
Leon E. Seltzer (Harvard University Press, 1978)
"Technology & Copyright Law: A Guidebook for the Library, Research, & Teaching Professions" by
Arlene C. Bielefield and Lawrence Cheeseman (Neal-Schum, 1997)
"Copyright and Educational Media" (Association for Educational Communications & Technology, 1977)
"Copyright & Fair Use: The Great Image Debate" by Robert A. Baron (Gordon & B, 1997)
"The Fair Use Privilege in Copyright Law" by William F. Patry (BNA Books, 1995) |
The following was posted to alt.religion.scientology:
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From: Clam Baker <sloopjohne@aol.com>
Subject: Did COS sign its own Copyright "Death Warrant"?!?
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 1998 13:51:25 -0600
"...Scientologists are expected to and do become fully devoted to Scientology to the exclusion of other faiths.
As Scientologists, they are required to look only to Scientology Scriptures for the answers to the fundamental
questions of their existence and to seek enlightenment only from Scientology."
-- Fom Footnote 6, Section 170(b)(1)(A)(i), Response to Final Series of IRS Questions Prior to Recognition
of Exemption of CST Under Section 501(c)(3) As a Church on October 1, 1993.'
Is this COS' ultimate foot-bullet?!?
With this statement to the IRS, did the Church of Scientology also sign a Constitutional "death warrant"
for its copyright ownership and/or "trade secret" status of the "Scientology Scriptures"?!?
If (1) said "scriptures" are BY COS' OWN DEFINITION "fundamental" and "exclusive"
for the Scientologist's "enlightenment" and (2) FreeZoners are BY THE FREEZONERS' DEFINITON "Scientologists"
and thus would be recognized as such by any court in the land, then (3) restricted and/or unreasonable access to
said "scriptures" through copyright law or "trade secret" law is, ipso facto, an act of suppression
of and/or interference with the FreeZoners' First Amendment rights by COS. Moreover, the Federal government's indirect
support of that act by allowing COS' copyright ownership and "trade secret" claims to stand ALSO consititutes
an act of suppression of and/or interference with the FreeZoners' First Amendment rights.
If so, would this also have RETROACTIVE repercussions for COS in all copyright-infringement cases it has litigated?
For example, reimbursing every cent awarded to COS by previous court decisions?
Something to think about . . . . and perhaps argue to the Supreme Court? |
The following was posted to alt.religion.scientology (15 Jan 98):
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From: Clam Baker <sloopjohne@aol.com>
Subject: COS vs FREEZONE: Same Game, Different Players
In post titled "Harassment", Secret Squirrel sez:
(clip)
>Just imagine it this way. Let's say you were Protestant, but the Catholic church owned the copyright on
the Bible. They sue you, and anyone else who owns a Bible, any version of the Bible, even "derivative"
works, without having paid them 360,000 dollars.
>It's quite obvious that the majority of lawmakers, lawyers and judges in this country are quite deficient in
their knowledge of history. This is EXACTLY the situation that caused the original formation of the Protestant
church in >the 1400's. Same game, different players. They are so caught up in the "trees of the law"
that they are missing the forest.
(end clip)
YOU ARE QUITE CORRECT, SECRET SQUIRREL!
We ARE seeing a replay of history in the COS versus FreeZone situation. And therein lies a great deal of the solution
both for the FreeZoners and the rest of us who recognize COS as an out-of-control threat to everyone around them.
As I had noted many times on previous posts to both this NG and ACT (the FreeZoner's NG), in my view the best model
and source of inspiration for our FreeZone and dissident friends is the Protestant Reformation. Interestingly enough,
one of the first things Luther did was use the newly invented Gutenberg printing press to defy the Vatican and
create, publish, and widely distribute a German translation of the New Testament, and later the entire Bible!
Soon after, Bibles in other countries began to be published in those countries' own languages.
Of course, all of this was perfectly illegal -and on the books as a death-penalty offense! But the Reformers' refusal
to bow to the Vatican's equivalent of COS' "copyright law" position was essential in freeing the RELIGION
of Christianity from the "CHURCH of Christianity". They recognized -as should our courts-that when "intellectual
property rights" are used to undermine basic and fundamental human rights, the former must be ignored -AND
DEFIED.
Like you said, "Same game, different players".
However, I think there's MUCH more hope for this situation than most of us may realize: It seems the FreeZone has
"rediscovered" for themselves the story of Luther's rebellion against Rome and the actions he took to
spark the Reformation. For much more on this very recent development in the FreeZone camp, see the newly created
Reformation pages at the Pilot's "FreeZone America" site under "www.fza.org/reform.phtml".
By their insistence upon practicing their religion outside of "Mother Church" and reading AND distributing
their "scriptures" against the wishes of "Mother Church", the new FreeZone Reformers place
themselves squarely in the tradition of the Christian Reformers and of Western religious and intellectual liberty
itself. This is a fact and a factor which needs to be emphasized loudly, repeatedly, and publicly in the media,
on ARS and the Net in general, and ESPECIALLY in the courts. We on ARS and elsewhere should help and encourage
them in that effort, regardless of our feelings or opinions about Hubbardism. I don't care for Scientology any
more than most people here. I find it both silly and invalid, as well as an offense to my belief system --but SO
WHAT? That's irrelevant, because unless ALL OF US are free, then NONE OF US are free.
Hopefully the FreeZoners and other dissident Scientos will soon apply their Constitutional rights and legally establish
a decentralized type of federation or association (sort of a "National Council of Reformed Scientology Churches")
and through it file a First Amendment-based class-action suit against COS in order to free themselves of oppression
and to wrest control and/or ownership of Scientology's "Bible" from COS.
In my view, therein lies much -if not most- of the solution to the COS menace.
John M. Esparolini
. . . for a New COS-Free Millennium! . . . There are 715 days remaining . . . |
The following was posted to alt.clearing.technology (8 Jan 98):
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From: sloopjohne@aol.com (SLOOPJOHNE)
Subject: Hebie, you're no Lyndon LaRouche!
Heber Jenzsch's performance on "Public Eye" tonight --screaming, yelling, name-calling, and especially
wagging his finger at Gumbel-- reminded me of a similar national interview many years ago. At that time, the finger-wagger
was none other than another, but far more intelligent and erudite, crackpot cult leader --the inimitable Lyndon
LaRouche!
Like Mr. Jenzsch, Mr. LaRouche was in a state of high dudgeon, criticized the interviewer for ignoring "intelligence"
submitted by his staff, and otherwise huffed and puffed and waxed indignant. But at least LaRouche could demonstrate
that he could THINK, make RATIONAL arguments, and even quote Plato, Augustine, and Schiller in the process!
Hebie, baby, once you opened your mouth and demonstrated that you are as out of control as your drone underlings
and shyster mafiosi, you put yourself smack dab in the middle of a giant credibility Black Hole.
Do yourself a big favor, pal: Quit while you're ahead (???), liquidate your assets, and buy a one-way ticket to
Barnados, mon.
You are NO Lyndon LaRouche!
THE INTERNET IS OUR WITTENBERG DOOR!
THE REFORMATION HAS BEGUN!
RESISTANCE IS FUTILE!
John M. Esparolini |
The following was posted to alt.clearing.technology (6 Jan 98):
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From: sloopjohne@aol.com
Subject: Letter to COS: Intellectual Pygmies Never Win
"They who would sacrifice liberty to gain security deserve neither!" ñ Benjamin Franklin
On October 31, 1517, in Wittenburg, Germany, a devout and brilliant Augustinian monk by the name of Martin Luther
nailed to the door of his church his "95 Theses" or points of disagreement with many of the Roman Catholic
Churchís teachings, policies, and practices.
Chief among RCC abuse were (1) the long-established practice of "Indulgences" ñi.e., BRIBESó by which
one was required to PAY the Church for confession and forgiveness of sins, and ultimately for oneís salvation;
(2) the restriction under Church law, and in some cases outright outlawing, of the reading and interpretation of
the Bible without the Churchís permission and supervision; and (3) Church law forbidding the translation of the
Bible into native languages. Under Church law only the Churchís Latin translation of the Bible (the "Latin
Vulgate") was allowed to be read and studied.
Sounds familiar doesnít it???????
Ultimately, for his troubles Luther and his followers were excommunicated and subsequently harassed, hunted, and
persecuted by Church authorities, who also controlled the political and legal systems. Many were put to death for
refusing to recant and rejoin the Church. But instead Luther and other Reformers in other countries who followed
Lutherís lead quickly established hundreds of independent and breakaway churches claiming legitimacy on the basis
of human rights and the Bibleís teachings, and with the invention of the printing press by Gutenberg mass-produced
Bibles in all European languages ñdespite laws supporting the Catholic Churchís alleged "property rights"
over Scripture.
Sounds familiar doesnít it???????
The Vatican won a few battles, but because IT REFUSED TO REFORM, the Vatican LOST THE WAR!
THE INTERNET IS OUR WITTENBURG DOOR!
.. . . . REFORMATION HAS BEGUN!
RESISTANCE IS FUTILE!
ROME LOST AND SO WILL YOU!
"I cannot submit my faith either to the Pope or to the Councils, because it is clear as day they have frequently
erred and contradicted each other .. . . Unless therefore, I am convinced by the testimony of Scripture . . ..
I can and will not retract! HERE I STAND! I CAN DO NO OTHER!"
-- Martin Luther to his Roman Catholic Inquisitors at Worms, Germany
If I were you, COS hierarchy, Iíd quit while I was ahead, liquidate my assets, and pack my bags for Barbados!
Oh, and please donít forget to turn out the lights on your way out, okay?
JOHN THE CALVINIST -- another "voice crying in the wilderness" |
The following was posted to alt.clearing.technology (5 Jan 98):
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From: sloopjohne@aol.com (SLOOPJOHNE)
Subject: COS & pre-Reformation Rome
In reply to my suggestion that dissident and FreeZone Scientologists start an overt and activist Reformation to
challenge COS, one concerned reader wrote in part,
"If the Scientologists in the U.S. would just talk to the ARS anti-Scientologists, just like you do, the newsgroups
would have a whole different character. No anger, no screaming, just talking. But we only talk to God knows who
at HQ (probably).
And you'd be right, after all. A new Scientology would form, a schism, composed of those Scientologists who disagreed
with the insane policies of the Mother Church. And it would compete with the old church, and some healthy dialogue
would begin. The mother church would eventually reform as the schismatic sects drew members away, just like the
RC church did.
But, like someone else mentioned on the ARS, the list of people who've tried this are legion, with the common characteristic
of having been crushed by Scientology's legal machine. Damn."
My rebuttal/reply was as follows:
Though I'm not a Scientologist myself, I believe that the average rank-and-file Scientologist, like the average
rank-and-file Christian of pre-Reformation times greatly disapproves of what their church is doing. And while it
may be true that COS used their legal teeth via copyright law to crush offshoot and unauthorized dissident churches,
so Rome used its legal teeth via Canon law, the Inquisition, and its armies to crush "protestant" churches
--or at least try to!
But IN THE LONG RUN it got Rome nowhere. And in my view the SAME LONG-TERM FATE awaits COS . . . . BUT ONLY IF
DISSIDENTS AND FREEZONERS PLAY THEIR CARDS RIGHT!
What I mean by this is that those independent Scientology churches who've been subverted or shut down by COS should
have --and can in some cases, still--
(1) been very open, public, and vocal about their intentions in order to attract and build sympathy amongst the
general public, the press, and even some in the COS rank-and-file (perhaps even some of the celebrities who embrace
Scientology!);
(2) established, promoted, and fought for their existence in the courts by filing First Amendment-based class action
suits against COS;
(3) contested for co-ownership of Scientology scriptures, or at least full legal rights to use and re-publish such,
and
(4) challenge the legitimacy of the "trademarks" and "trade secrets" claims of COS on Constitutional
grounds --i.e., that such claims and restrictions by COS constitute a vilolation of the First Amendment rights
of dissident and FreeZone Scientologists to practice their religion.
In my view, because Constitutional law predates the copyright laws and because First Amendment rights have primacy
over the right of an entity to make money, coupled with the fact of COS' thoroughlyt negative public image, it
seems to me the prospects of a Scientology Reformation working and prospering are quite optimistic. Remember that
our legal system and our laws are based largely upon Reformation theology, biblically-based British Common Law,
and the influence of the Enlightenment.
All it takes is for dissident and FreeZone Scientologists to become better informed of their Constitutional rights;
do some indepth study and research into the attitudes and strategies, and of the Christian Reformers (Luther, Calvin,
Knox, etc, etc.); develop an immutable sense of certitude and fearlessness vis-a-vis COS; and COME OUT FIGHTING!
Already, one of the Christian Reformers' key strategies has already been adopted by Scientology Reformers: Publish
the "scriptures"!
As you may know, the RCC of Luther's time forbade the translation, publication, and dissemination of the Bible
to the masses. Those who did so were excommunicated and even put to death! Like the COS, the Vatican claimed "property
rights" over the Bible and argued that only the Church of Rome had the sole and exclusive authority to properly
teach and interpret it.
Sound familiar?
But one of the first things the Christian Reformers did was translate the Bible from Latin into German, English,
French, etc., and took advantage of Gutenberg's new invention, the printing press, to literally spread the word!
Doesn't this sound familiar also?
If the almighty Roman Catholic Church could be humbled and put in its place by a rag-tag network of penniless and
powerless monks, priests, and lay people during the 16th and 17th centuries --and who did so WITHOUT the Internet!--
why, pray tell, cannot the same be done to COS?
Obviously, that is a RHETORICAL question!
Let the Internet continue to be the new Gutenberg printing press! And let the Internet become the new Wittenberg
Door! |
The following was posted to alt.clearing.technology (4 Jan 98):
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From: sloopjohne@aol.com (SLOOPJOHNE)
Subject: Toward a Scientology Reformation
The concerns and misgivings raised about the efficacy of my idea of countering and thereby greatly weakening CoS
by publicly and legally establishing a new denomination of Scientology to challenge CoS are of course many and
legitimate. But this also betrays a spirit of defeatism, hopelessness, and even giving in!
This was NOT Martin Luther's spirit 500 years ago when --knowing that he risked a death sentence by doing so!--
he nailed his 95 theses to the door of a church in Wittenberg, Germany challenging the widespread corruption and
tyranny of the then-mighty Roman Catholic Church --and sparked the Reformation!
Surely the Roman Catholic Church of Luther's Day was much more powerful, much more repressive, and much more dangerous
than is CoS today! Moreover, CoS is not God! Only GOD is God! Luther's faith and focus was on God, and not on what
the RCC may or could do to him. And because of this, he won and the RCC LOST!
The time for dialogue with the repressive and corrupt thugs who run CoS is over. The time for an open, public,
widespread, and VERY AGGRESSIVE schism is NOW!
You FreeZoners and dissidents should take advantage of the recent anti-CoS publicity on "60 Minutes"
and let Leslie Stahl, et. al. know about your existence and your grievances and your desire to clean up Scientology!
Believe me, you as UNDERDOGS and would get a sympathetic hearing from both the media and the general public.
Remember Wittenberg, and let the Reformation begin! |
The following was posted to alt.clearing.technology (2 Jan 98):
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I'm NOT a Scientologist and have no interest whatsoever in becoming one. But I respect the rights of others to
believe and preach whatever it is they want to, no matter how silly or outlandish or nonsensical I may perceive
it to be. This applies just as much to Scientologists as it does to Moonies, Hare Krshna devotees, Wiccans, LaRouchies,
etc., etc.
Moreover, I have great admiration, respect, and empathy for those of you rank-and-file Scientologists who are open
and honest enough to acknowledge the reprehensible Marxist/Leninist mentality and behavior of the repressive band
of litigation-happy, power-and-money-hungry thugs who have taken control of your church, and appreciate the fact
that you wish to dissassociate yourselves from them both for your conscienceís sake and to rescue your belief system
from the discredit and destruction currently being caused by Co$. My hat is off to you!
However, it is evidently all too clear that Co$ leadership will not reform willingly and has indeed made reform
impossible by outlawing both reform and reformer alike and relentlessly persecuting and trying to silence
all criticism inside and out. In my view this is evidence of the hopelessness of your situation. Therefore, you
FreeZone Scientologists should borrow a page from the history of Christianity: ORGANIZE A SCHISM i.e., a
legal, congregational split!
(1) Openly and officially leave CoS and re-organize into a new and separate denomination of Scientology --the "Reformed
Congregation of Scientology" (for example)óand establish new churches, training centers and other institutes.
Because both L. Ron Hubbard and CoS have argued for decades that Scientology is a religion, and because there are
hundreds of years of both history and legal precedence to support such an effort especially in the courtsó
an organized, grassroots effort to establish a new "church of Scientology" with full legal rights to
all of Scientologyís scriptures and other sacred texts will more than likely be successful.
Once incorporated as a separate and legitimate Scientology denomination, sue for co-ownership of all CoS property
--copyrighted Scientology scriptures and other writings included! There is plenty of legal precedence for this:
There are many cases on the books involving Christian churches which leave their denomination for religious reasons
and either join another denomination OR START THEIR OWN and still retain much if not all their resources. If a
newly organized and established religious body of non-CoS Scientologists can demonstrate the sincerity of their
belief in and practice and promotion of Scientology as a RELIGION, there is no doubt in my mind that any judge
in the land will rule in favor of granting shared copyright ownership of Scientology writings to such a body. In
addition, this will do away with the "trade secrets" status and other such industry-type nonsense which
is incompatible with a religious enterprise.
This is the ONLY WAY, my friends, that Scientology AS A RELIGION can be rescued from the current Co$ leadership
and that leadership be rendered impotent as a threat to both Scientologist and non-Scientologist alike.
I hope you and your peers will give this idea deep and serious research and consideration.
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with a followup:
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Also, FYI: An organization that may be of some help vis-a-vis research and development towards establishing a second
Scientology denomination is The Rutherford Institute (www.Rutherford.org),
a group of Constitutional and First Amendment attorneys who work to defend small religious groups against persecution
or discrimination. They've won a great many cases, even up to and including in the Supreme Court. While RI is composed
mostly of Christian lawyers addressing church vs state issues, they've also defended the religious freedom of Muslims,
Jews, atheists, and others. So I don't feel they'll discriminate against you, and I'm sure they would be invaluable
resource in case CoS tries to prevent the establishment of a new church of Scientology -something which would clearly
be unconstitutional! |
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