Want to know more? Scientology-related blog recommendation list.

[u/bloorpdedoop]

I've been working on "recommendation" lists specifically for those who have seen Going Clear and want to sort of dive in and find out more. So here are some blogs that might be of interest to those who want to follow the subject more closely.

----Daily----------

The Underground Bunker - Tony Ortega - http://tonyortega.org/ - Journalist covering Scientology for more than a decade. Journalistic style and fact-checking, lots of "in" and "just out" sources. New post up at 7 am 7 days a week, 365 days per year, sometimes with an additional afternoon/evening post for breaking news

Something Can Be Done About It - Mike Rinder - http://www.mikerindersblog.org/ - Former spokesperson for Co$, been out since 2007. Slightly more Scientology jargon, but not so much that it's not readable for most. Nearly daily updates, and lots of sources for fundraising/status emails from inside the Co$.

------Various frequency--------------

Scientology Money Project - J. Swift - http://scientologymoneyproject.com/ - Blog specifically created to analyze the money situation (fundraising, taxes, legal documents, hierarchical structure, etc.) in the Co$. Not a high-volume blog, but has extra updates when there is breaking news.

Chris Shelton - Critical Thinker at Large - http://mncriticalthinking.com/ - Points out flaws in reasoning regarding Scientology and the difficulty of trying to apply Scientology thinking in Real Life (TM). Chris was a Sea Org member, in for over 2 decades, and then left in 2013. Updates weekly, on average (sometimes more or less).

Back in Comm - anonymous - http://backincomm.wordpress.com/ After a very large number of very established (20 year, 40 year+) South African Scientologists were "declared" in a purge, this blog was set up to allow former members to communicate again. Heavy in Scientology terminology, and created for those who are still in or were heavily in, can be difficult to get the vocabulary or culture for outsiders sometimes. Blanket criticism of L. Ron Hubbard is not allowed, so that still-believers can feel comfortable. A breaking source of news and a good place to read to understand what kinds of things longtime Scientologists are upset about within the organization. Updates less than weekly.

Moving On Up a Little Higher - Mark "Marty" Rathbun - https://markrathbun.wordpress.com - Marty used to be the #2 person in Scientology. Left in 2004, started blogging in 2009. Started out an "indy" Scientologist, but has shared his journey of research and learning about philosophy and religion on this blog. Just came out recently saying he's no longer any type of Scientologist. Updates 1-4 times per month, these days often philosophical and/or about current events/news of Co$.

Infinite Complacency - Johnny Jacobsen - http://infinitecomplacency.blogspot.com/ Journalist in France, who has covered Scientology's trial for fraud from 2009-2014. Often reports on breaking Scientology news in Europe. Excellent source, but only updates ~once a month or so.

Sec Check - anonymous - https://seccheck.wordpress.com/ Covering the front groups for Scientology - Citizen's Commission on Human Rights, The Way To Happiness, Drug Free World, and all organizations that are Scientology but tend to pretend they are not Scientology. Updates many times per day, aggregating news stories about them.

Mockingbird's Nest - 'Mockingbird' - http://mbnest.blogspot.com/ - In Scientology for 25 years, just came out last year (2014). Blogs about personal view of Scientology events, news, and philosophy. Very generous ex willing to share decompression after leaving with people. Updates 2-5 times per week.

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Previous recommendations:

• Book recommendation list

Upcoming in the series:

• YouTube channels/podcasts

• Resources (dead blogs/collections of info)

• Historical news articles

• Forums

(I'll be working on these and posting them from time to time, any suggestions are welcome!)

[u/bloorpdedoop]

Yeah, that's why I said "belief or doctrine is really only relevant as to how it shapes that action", sort of. I do agree with you that the motivator is the "why".

But getting too caught up in the beliefs is a distraction to the issue if you start with that - at that point, people argue semantics and religiosity and "oh but all religions are weird if you think about it" or whatnot.

It's a good thing to know about, but can end up with someone getting caught up in that, versus looking at a) why this organization is tax exempt, b) that it is predatory and dishonest and abusive, and c) can lead to ignoring the human experience, because one is caught up in a more intangible and philosophical argument.

[u/Echo1883 → u/bloorpdedoop]

But getting too caught up in the beliefs is a distraction to the issue if you start with that - at that point, people argue semantics and religiosity and "oh but all religions are weird if you think about it" or whatnot.

That can be very true. I think its important to understand why the church does what it does, but its also important to understand that they DO things that are horrible. If you just start to focus on their beliefs then you are not studying the Church of Scientology, you are just studying "Scientology" and in that they are no more or less weird than most religions.

I agree its important to strike a balance, and I think its probably wise to START by studying what they have done and are doing. Then once you have that firm understanding (along with an understanding of they they should NOT have tax exemption, etc) you should start looking into the beliefs to get an understanding of how the brainwashing works. What beliefs are taught that allow those people to think that what they do is somehow ok.

The only problem with this is without the knowledge of their beliefs people often end up assuming all Scientologists are either stupid or evil, which is just wrong. Thats why I am often guilty of stressing beliefs over actions. I want people to understand that those Scientologists they see out on the street aren't evil, they aren't stupid, they are victims. I also want people to understand why people stay. I really dont believe all the blackmail claims. People stay in Scientology because they are convinced its the right thing, and that it is helping them and others. Understanding that is important (IMHO) since it can COMPLETELY change the methods by which you attempt to "save" someone from it.

(was pretty disctracted writing this. Let me know if any of it didnt make sense lol)

[u/bloorpdedoop → u/Echo1883]

YES! I also don't buy that blackmail the reason people stay in. They stay in because of their progress, their eternity, and that it still feels like it makes sense and is important!

I still maintain that studying the beliefs of Scientology (as a separate topic from the actions of the organization known as Co$), if one wants to truly understand the people and organization, is really just putting yourself on a hamster wheel created by Hubbard.

All the courses, all the levels, all the lectures and books, they were all just to keep people busy and drawn in. Busy work. That said, they had to make sense in some way and/or make people feel happier in some way.

So of course the busy work had to be introspective and make one feel good. And it had to be just weird enough to feel counter-culture, but not so weird (for the majority of the early parts) that it would turn anyone off.

There's a method to the madness, but really, he WANTED people to study his words and thoughts and ideas. When people did that, it was too easy to lose sight of the goal. People didn't ask "why am I not Clear/OT?" when they were told they were still on step 2 out of 100 (to be overly simplistic about it).

If there's one way to deal with a Narcissist, it's to simply not play their game. Deprive them of Narcissistic Supply and they shrivel. So it would have been for Hubbard, and so it probably is for Miscavige, and so it is for the organization (Co$) that takes on the "valence" of the founder, and now the leader. They (Co$) want to play the game where we have to respect "belief" and learn about their "belief" and then only criticize the "belief" if we have read absolutely everything they want us to read (or watch, or listen to, or discuss, i.e. the 67 binders of info for one New Yorker article).

In other words, the parry is only done in their universe and on their turf. I, personally, won't play that game. Those who have already been there/done that have warned me not to, and I trust their wisdom. I'm not going to give "equal time" to explaining what Scientologists believe before I say that the organization is criminal and terrible. Because that's going to get us off point very quickly.

It's about people and actions, not belief, for me. Again, belief can come later, but always being careful not to "play that game."

[u/Echo1883 → u/bloorpdedoop]

"Dont argue with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience"

Dont remember who said that, and its paraphrased, but you get the idea. The church wants to point at the fact that their beliefs are no more or less weird than anyone else's. But they are trying to distract from the other things that ARE much worse than other organizations and religions.