Scientology Volunteer Ministers Leave a Legacy in Indonesia
Since the 2004 tsunami, Scientology Volunteer Ministers have been providing help to the people of Indonesia. by Elana
(conservative)
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
"I am very happy to have this tech because it's knowledge," says a young Indonesian woman, wearing the yellow t-shirt of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers in a YouTube video clip. "Knowledge is a very valued thing. It has not just helped me, I can help someone else."
With a population of 222 million, Indonesia is the fourth most populated country in the world. And if there were a competition for the most dangerous place to live, when it comes to natural disasters it would rank right up there at the top of the list.
The December 2004 tsunami brought this fact home to the world. Anyone with a TV set or access to the Internet was engulfed by the images of the devastation. More than 150,000 dead in a matter of minutes. Millions displaced from their homes. Loss in property or possessions incalculable. An entire population touched by the loss.
Within days of the disaster, hundreds of Scientology Volunteer Ministers arrived in Medan. They began by assisting the rescue workers, identifying bodies, and delivering water, food and blankets to those who survived.
Led by an experienced team of Australians, several hundred Scientologists from around the world formed into the Scientology Disaster Relief Team, their next "order of business" was something that has become the hallmark of the program. They helped those affected by the disaster recover from the effect of injury, trauma and loss, using techniques, developed by L. Ron Hubbard, called Scientology assists. They also trained doctors, nurses, Muslim clerics and family members who in turn brought help to survivors, and so touched the lives of hundreds of thousands in desperate need to help. When they left, they left behind a team of local volunteers who formed up the Scientology Assist Team of Medan, Indonesia.
So in May 2006, when Yogyakarta was struck by a magnitude 6.3 earthquake, Scientology Volunteer Ministers from the Medan team were already on hand when Scientologists from Australia, the United States and Europe flew in to help.They provided urgently needed help in hospitals that were so overcrowded that parking structures had been turned into makeshift wards to care for those injured by the disaster.
And again in July 2006 when Java was shaken by a magnitude 7.7 quake, once again the Scientologists trained thousands of Indonesians to deliver Scientology assists.
By the end of August 2006 the Volunteer Ministers had trained more than 10,000 Indonesians in techniques from the Scientology Handbook.
"We are thankful that you have come and are sharing your experience and trauma-relief program with us," said Mrs. Siti Nurjaenab of the Bantul Health Department. "Usually the first thing we do to handle traumatized people is give them drugs; now I know there is another way of helping them without the drugs, which is with the touch and care that I learned from the International Scientology Assist Team."
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A new press release from the Scientology cult boasts of its activities among Amazon basin tribal and Mestizo peoples. Scientology says people who have paid $300,000+ to reach the higher "OT Levels" will have superhuman powers of mind and body.
The cult's "Volunteer Ministers" (AKA "Vulture Ministers") have appeared with a "bright yellow barge" in the Tres Fronteras region, a point where the borders of Brazil, Colombia and Peru come together. Absurdly claiming that "Life for those who live along the 4000 mile-long Amazon River continues much as it did centuries ago," the Vulture Ministers have targeted the towns of Leticia, "Columbia" (sic) and Santa Rosa, Peru. This area has long been part of the Christian, Jehovah’s Witness, and Mormon missionary circuit, and now Scientology has appeared on the scene to dispense its kooky but destructive "ministry." Unlike legitimate religions, however, Scientology doesn’t make efforts to heal the sick, feed the hungry, or house the homeless -- Scientology just shows up to teach people how to think like Scientologists.
Although Scientology teaches that people who have paid enough ($300,000+) to reach the higher "OT Levels" will have virtually superhuman powers of mind and body, history shows that there has never yet been a Nobel Prize-winning Scientologist or Olympic athlete. It is even highly unlikely that a Scientologist university professor could be found. There has never been a Scientologist who could fly or walk through walls. The truth is that thinking like a Scientologist is not at all a good thing. On the contrary, it is a bad thing.
The Vulture Ministers’ "Extreme" Tour, as they call it, has "launched" into "one of the most remote regions on earth," as though it didn’t matter that people had been living there for many thousands of years. The press release, one of dozens released by the cult each month, says that the Scientologists somehow got a few local people to attend their "communications" and "study tech" courses based on the Scientology Handbook." Then the press release gushes about the "remarkable successes" these people have had with their "tech," even quoting a few excited and probably fictitious local citizens.
The question arises: Why did Scientology target this region? Perhaps it was because the Congreso Iberoamericana de Psicologia was held in Lima just last month in mid-July. Perhaps it was because Peru has encouraged psychological training in recent years, to cope with communities traumatized by natural disasters and other emergencies as well as poverty. Perhaps it was because the government of Peru recently passed a law articulating the psychological credentials one must hold in order to give psychological or even psycho-social counseling (thus putting Scientology, not recognized as a religion, out of business in Peru).
In any case, the Scientologists were quite delighted with themselves about the "help" they provided, and say they are currently "advancing down" the Amazon in their bright yellow barge.
About Scientology:
Scientology is much more than just a weird and wacky Hollywood fad, in which celebrities make fools of themselves and provide material for gossip magazines.
Beyond its status as a "religion" in the USA, which it obtained through a secret deal with the Internal Revenue Service, and which give it extraordinary benefits not permitted to any other group, Scientology is also a multi-national criminal racket. The average person would be shocked to learn the amount of influence Scientology wields, mostly due to blackmailing and intimidation of government officials. Scientology’s primary goals are to "clear the planet" and to "obliterate" the mental health profession, replacing it with Scientology. They are prepared to do this by any means necessary, and are adept in using their many front groups to portray the cult as concerned humanitarians. They are not concerned humanitarians. Their criminal organization needs to be shut down.
Posted By: James Lightfield
Date: 2008-09-10 18:41:22
Any reader can easily learn the "how-to's" of Scientology workable solutions by going to www.ScientologyHandbook.org and selecting a chapter (right-hand side navigational links) that is of interest.
 As regards Scientology as a religion, the world's leading theologians and religious scholars conducted individual and in-depth studies of Scientology and each published a paper. The unanimous agreement is that Scientology is a religion in every aspect. These scholars include a Vatican advisor on non-Catholic religions (Urbano Alonso Galan) and the leader of Japan's oldest religion, Yu-itsu Shinto (Fumio Sawada).
It is well documented that since 1950 when L Ron Hubbard's textbook Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health was published and became an international best seller, the psychiatric industry realized its monopoly was in jeopardized and have unceasingly used its vast wealth and position to bad-mouth Scientology and L Ron Hubbard.Â
The reason: Any person can learn Dianetics and Scientology methods and effectively assist resolve mental anguish and other unwanted emotional problems. Try it yourself, and find out for yourself. (www.Dianetics.org)
Together, the psych and drug industries are paid worldwide $2 Trillion USD each year -- 99.9 percent coming out of our pockets from the high taxes we pay and the insurance premiums that keep going up.
Like the oil companies thirst for profits prevented for decades the development of renewable, non-polluting energy sources (thus harming the air we breathe and causing global warming), the psychiatric, psychological and drug industries are behind "citizen groups" attacking Scientology. The Anonymous group is funded by the drug companies.
Just as George W Bush administration used the power of the US presidency to silence, threaten or lie about those wanting the truth to be known, so too are the psychs and drug industries using their front-groups such as Anonymous to attack Scientology.
They cannot say that the technologies don't work. These were developed by L Ron Hubbard and comprise more than 5,000 published works and 3,274 recorded lectures detailing every step of his Research & Development.
The only thing the psych and drug industries can do is make it unsafe or create a knee-jerk negative reaction so a person does not look for him or herself.
 Of course  during nearly 60 years that Dianetics (www.Dianetics.org) and the 55 years that Scientology (www.Scientology.org) have been in existence errors were made -- some big, some small. However, compared to a few who have justified complaints, there are millions who have used Dianetics and Scientology and are very happy they did. The newspapers rarely if ever report this. In the US, the media is paid $2.6 Billion USD each year to promote psych drugs. Of course, the media is not going to antagonize one of its biggest clients.
All most people want are simple, effective ways to make life easier. Make your own decision. Learn a Scientology "how-to" and see for youself if it is helpful.
I have been a Scientologist for more than 40 years. I am not employed by any Scientology organization nor any of its affiliated groups. I know there are fine psychiatrists and psychologists and other therapists who do try and help others. There is a growing number who are now voicing their opposition to the drugging of millions of adults and more than 8 million children on psychiatric drugs. Did you know infants as young as 1-year of age are now being given Prozac? In essenc, the psych and drug industries are attemtping to create of each person a birth-to-death profit center. Like Bush and the oil industries, they will do anything to protect their vast wealth, power and monopoly.
"Cassandra" 's post is identical to one already made on another site by the infamous Scientology-stalker "Lilly Von Marcab". What's the matter, "Cassandra", did you get tired of your old made-up pretend identity and decide to switch to another one? Or do you just like the idea that posting to every blog on the net under numerous pseudonyms makes your hateful cause look more popular than it really is?
Posted By: No Name Supplied
Date: 2008-09-10 21:30:29
Readers who may not be familiar with this organizations half century of criminal tactics, see the facts from an objective oberserver's point of view and make up your own minds. http://www.xenu.net is a good starting point.
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But most readers here no doubt know at least some of this already. Scientology's use of faked credentials, spurious 'experts' and out-and-out lies is as old as this pyramid-scheme scam itself. Scientology is NOT a religion. Their founder and would-be-messiah, Lafayette Ronad Hubbard, said so himself.
Â
"RONBOTHUNTER" who posts here has himself usurped the online identity of a well-known Scientology critic. This is ironic in that "Ronbot" is a term sometimes used by outsiders to describe the sometimes zombie-like behavior of members of the cult after they have been through their behavior-modification techniques.
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Here is the real Ronbothunter's profile on CNet: http://www.cnet.com/community/RONBOTHUNTER/
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Also on Indy.com: http://www.indy.com/people/RONBOTHUNTER
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The poster here follows time-tested Scientology protocol which directs them to "attack, attack, attack", and yet his very identity is a lie.
Â
In brief, Scientology "tech" is not worthy even of the name of technology, much less any spritual practice. It's actual function is to put the target into a psychologically suggestible state to improve the chances of drawing him or her into the organization to become a source of money and power for them. Sorry folks, that's the unvarnished truth.
 Or listen to Mark Headley speaking about what happened to him as a member of Scientology:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk0NLEohgKo
Â
And those stories are just a tip of the iceberg. Many former scientologymembers are deadly afraid to speak out against the cult, because Scientology will do everything to silence their critics
Â
If you want to know what is really happening in the USA and how Scientology can even exist there, please listen to Graham Berry speaking at the conference in Germany:
The only purpose of Scientology front groups is to recruit new paying members and get and promote a fake good image of Hubbard and cult activities. They do not care at all about people. All they go after is money.
I've been a member of the the organization, and there is nothing religious in it - it's just illegal use of psichoterapy (called auditing) to create dipendence and the idea that you can get supernatural powers (OT levels) and prevent the destruction of Mankind if you donate all your money and your time to the organization.
It is sad, but the very people who needs help to get out of the con are the Volunter Ministers who sincerely think to be helping people by recruiting them into the cult.
Posted By: Markus Andras
Date: 2008-09-11 06:20:13
Are they a religion? or are they therapists?
In this article it says they are "Training" Nurses and Doctors on the unproven methods of Science fiction writer L.Ron Hubbard. These vulture ministers are merely trying to sell their own version of Psychiatry - while trying to destroy the proven working methods of current psychology.
Scientology is not a religion - It's a business, and a very brutal business at that.
Read: http://www.exscientologykids.com
For the truth behind these "ministers".
Posted By: dogtired of CO$
Date: 2008-09-11 08:11:32
After 30 years of being drained of every penny I had I finally said "enough."
In the course of that 30-year time period, I was trained as a Volunteer Minister but all the while never truly believed I was helping anyone with these "assists". The so-called tech is so ambiguous and subjective that most people claim relief from their symptoms just to make you go away. The "help" becomes so annoying and aggravating after awhile that you just want it to stop.
 The purpose of the Volunteer Minister is to bring good public relations to the CO$ and make them appear more "church-like." No other reason.Â
I have been witness to many staff abuses, including the abuse of the staff children before they created the policy that Scientology staff should no longer reproduce and instead pushed enforced abortions.
During one visit to the children's mess hall, I was so astonished. It looked like the children were in a third world country with filth all around them and flies covering their faces and their food . It was horrifying. I reported it to upper level staff as I was a dutiful Scientologist at the time and would not dare bring the law into it.
Although I deeply regret that decision, I can explain my choice by telling you that this is how a Scientologist and a Volunteer Minister thinks. Everything is done for the benefit of CO$. Everything.
Do not believe the lies of James Lightfield. His comment is nothing more than another Scientology press release within a press release. There is no truth to his claims of anonymous being funded through big pharma. Just as there is no truth to any of the other claims made by Scientology. It is all a ruse.
James Lightfield says "They cannot say that [Scientology\'s] technologies don\'t work. "
This, however, is a flat-out lie. Anyone looking at actual evidence can and will say that Scientology\'s technologies don\'t work.
Let\'s take a "technology" straight from one of Lightfield\'s own links, http://www.ScientologyHandbook.org . We\'ll look at "How to Make a Person Sober", at http://www.scientologyhandbook.org/SH6_8.HTM . This page makes the clear claim that "in a matter of minutes", a Scientologist\'s "assists" can make an intoxicated person sober.
Now, if this claim was true, it would be a breeze to design an experiment that would prove it to the satisfaction of any scientist. Get an experimental group, get a control group, treat the experimental group with "assists" and treat the control group with a procedure that involves similar amounts of talking, movement, et cetera, but does not involve Hubbardian principle. Put both groups through objective tests to measure intoxication. If Scientology\'s technology works, the experimental group is going to be sober faster, to a statistically significant degree.
But no Scientologist will ever agree to participate in such an experiment. Why? Such an experiment would prove the value of Hubbard\'s technology, if Hubbard\'s technology had value -- or show its lack of value, when it\'s proven that drunken people treated with Hubbard\'s "assists" don\'t sober up any faster than anyone else.
Of couse we can say the tech doesn't work. In fact we have to say the tech doesn't work since there has never been any peer review to prove it does.  This is because scientology doesn't want or alow peer reviews because the tech doesn't work.
But let's pretend it does for a bit. What religion would have this kind of tech and not share it with the world at large?  Why charge for this great tech if it really works? Why not just share it and let it be studied and reviewed?
As far as I can tell its just a recruitment tool and most places it is used it is not welcomed. Google " scientology and 9-11" scientology and Virginia Tech"Â
It's the duty of the Volunteer Ministers to block legitmate doctors, particularly psychiatrists and psychologists, from helping the victims of disasters. The VMs then try to peddle their "Way to Happiness" Scientology propaganda while issuing creepy touch-assists, a scilon version of lay-on-hands, to indoctrinate people who are most vulnerable. They don't even bring their own supplies, they mooch off legitimate relief efforts, like the Red Cross.
 The VMs also proudly boast that they were given the Medal of Valor from the New York Fire Department after 9/11. That is a blatant lie, and insult to every rescue worker and every victim of that attack. The Medal of Valor is something reserved only for fire fighters who have died in the line of duty. It's impossible for them to have it, yet if you check their site, they claim it.
 They're called the "Vulture Ministers" for a reason.
Scientology is a study of knowledge, to understand it. In the case of assists, this means you take your finger and you point at something and you direct the attention of the person you are helping (with that assist) to that object you point out. See how understanding works? You DO IT. Compare this act of help - to armchair critics- and you see why Volunteer Ministers have been accepted.
Red Alert: Scientologists creeping back Fri, 2008-08-01 02:10
By Janaka Perera
Among the 'garbage' that was washed ashore in Sri Lanka in the immediate aftermath of the tsunami were a number of foreign-funded, unscrupulous evangelist groups. Among these were the 'Scientologists' trying to fish in troubled waters. After exposure by several foreigners including some German journalists as well as the Venerable Medagama Dhammananda of the Asgiriya Buddhist Chapter Sri Lanka, the group kept a low-profile, while 'helping' in the tsunami relief operations for sometime.
It now appears that these nefarious crusaders are creeping back into the island. Buddhists and followers of other established religions here need to be the high alert against these frauds.
The Venerable Dhammananda alleged that before the tsunami many Korean Scientologists were engaged in proselytizing activities in Sri Lanka posing off not as charity workers but as businessmen. They had set up businesses here with the permission from the Board of Investments. Kabool Lanka was one such establishment that covertly promoted Scientology while providing employment to people here, the Ven. Dhammananda pointed out. To the BOI of course nothing matters as long as there are foreign investments with little or no regard to who the investors are.
Commenting on the Scientologists claim that they respected all religions and especially Buddhism, the Venerable monk said that this was a ploy to deceive Buddhists.
The fact of the matter was that Scientologists were mixing aspects of Buddhism with their own "scientific" theories and calling this religious pickle, Scientology. The term Dianatecs, which Scientologists frequently use, is really a mixture of the Sanskrit Hindu-Buddhist word `dhyana' (meditation) and the English word 'technique.'
Soon after the tsunami a group of them were found distributing a 30 page full color, propaganda booklet in Sinhala, titled, Santhoshayata Maga (The Path to Joy) in Colombo suburbs of Dehiwala and Mount Lavinia. A copy of the half A-4 sized booklet that came into the hands of the late Deeptha Leelaratne, Editor of the U.S.-based Sri Lanka Express. The booklet carries maliciously distorted facts on Buddhism's history.
In a chapter that warns readers against wrong sexual behavior, the author states on page 8: "Adultery is nothing new. Buddhism, which was a powerful religion in India in the Seventh Century, disappeared from there as a result of sex perversions of Buddhist monks in temples."
I'm looking for the other article, by the Asia Tribune perhaps, that mentions the Volunteer ministers in Indonesia, how they arrived empty-handed and had to bum food off the locals and tents from the army. Maybe someone has that handy?
Sorry you don't get it, Bob Dobbs. Possibly your stuck datum is "control", do you follow? While Psychology would "control" people, Scientology enhances self-volition. Strange idea, eh? Good luck assimilating that.
Since its inception over 30 years ago, the Scientology Volunteer Ministers program has been providing pressure washers, training and wine racks in communities around the world. Scientology Volunteer Ministers Goodwill Tours travel to granite countertops around the world to make this help available everywhere
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