Scientology in Tamapa

The Church of Scientology of Tampa is a real asset to the Tampa Bay area including Clearwater and St. Petersburg. They are constantly expanding their programs to service the community, and have a community center where they offer tutoring and chaplain help. Their Scientology Volunteer Ministers are famous for the work they do in disaster relief.

New Web Site for the Church of Scientology of Tampa

There is a beautiful new site for the Church of Scientology of Tampa
It's filled with news about Scientology activities in the city and in Clearwater.

Save the Date- International Association of Scientologist 21st Anniversary Celebration

This Friday is the IAS event in Clearwater.

You don't want to miss this one.

It was held in the UK on Friday - a great Scientology presence in East Grinstead for the weekend.

It's in Clearwater on Friday and in Los Angeles at the Church of Scientology of Los Angeles - in a big tent at the front of the building.

The rest of the English-speaking Scientology churches have their event next weekend, and non-English speaking in the weeks following that.

Scientology on the Article Factory

I just found a new section on the Article Factory about Scientology, with a very good articles about the Scientology Volunteer Ministers.

This summer Mr. David Miscavige gave a very heart-warming speech about the work of the Volunteer Ministers to help the victims of last winter's tsunami in South Asia.

We certainly didn't expect Hurricane Katrina to destroy New Orleans and man other towns on the Gulf Coast.

And we didn't expect Hurricane Stan to hit with the ferocity it did.

Nor did anyone predict the earthquaqe in Pakistan.

It has been a terrible year for natural disasters.

I'm very proud of my friends who are Scientology Volunteer Ministers and what they have done and will continue to do to help others.

Congratulations Tom and Katie

With all the hoopla over Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes announcing Katie's pregnancy, I though I'd post the facts about what Scientologists believe and what a Silent Birth is.

This is from the Scientology Home Page

What is a “Silent Birth”?

In the book, Dianetics, L. Ron Hubbard writes that for the benefit of the mother and child, silence should be maintained during childbirth. This is because any words spoken are recorded in the reactive mind and can have an aberrative effect on the mother and the child. The same applies to the vicinity of any injured person. To find out why, read Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health.
www.dianetics.org

As to why this is done, that information is readily available. It is in Dianetics the Modern Science of Mental Health and there is a terrific DVD that covers the basics of Dianetics that can be ordered online at www.scientology.org Anyone is welcome to stop in to any Scientology church of mission and ask to see the DVD. Staff there will be more than happy to show it to you.

Anti-Drug Conference

Drugs is a serious situation everywhere today. I'm really glad my church and Scientology Churches around the world work to educate kids about the truth about drugs.

There's a very interesting article on a web site about effective Scientology solutions on a drug conference being held in Brussels at the Church of Scientology Internation European Office of Public Affairs and Human Rights where members of government and civil society are meeting to discuss what they can do to impinge on this situation.

Clearwater Volunteer Ministers Head Up the Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief Effort

Because we have so much experience in hurricane relief, Scientology Volunteer Ministers from our home town are leading the disaster relief effort in Louisianna.

Hundreds more are needed, so if you know anyone who wants to help please encourage them to visit the Scientology Volunteer Ministers web site and check out how they can join us.

The need is intense and will go on for months, so please help us now.

Scientologists from Italy Travel to Clearwater

Scientology is very popular in Italy, and so many Italian Scientologists travel to Clearwater every year to participate in the advanced training and auditing (spiritual counseling) offered only in Clearwater.

I have some very close Italian friends, and it is always a pleasure when they come and we can renew our friendships.

Clearwater is a terrific city to live in - very friendly, great weather, and, or course, Scientology spiritual headquarters.

Speaking of Scientology and Italy, here's an interesting Italian web site (with a page in English) that gives information on

Scientology Effective Solutions

It's great to see that the Church of Scientology International European Human Rights Office is updating their web site with news about conferences and seminars they are holding.

Here's some news about the European Freedom Magazine Human Rights Leadership Awards!

Chemical Imbalance and the American Psychiatric Association (APA)

I was pretty shocked when I saw the Today Show and heard the President of the APA ad mit they have no proof of chemical imbalance.

In all the media frenzy of the past few days I think this admission has not gotten the attention it deserves.

Chemical imbalance is THE theory justifying the use of SSRI antidepressants.

I've heard that people who go on these antidepressants tend to gain a lot of weight - 40 to 50 pounds isn't unusual.

I've also heard that it affects ones sexual drive.

Has anyone reading this experienced anything like this?

David Miscavige in Clearwater

Again this year, as in each year past for at least 10 or 15 years, Mr. David Miscavige returned to Clearwater to officiate at the birthday celebration of L. Ron Hubbard in March.

It is always a high point of my year whenever Mr. Miscavige comes to town.

I've been a Scientologist for many years, and I appreciate everything he has done to help people. He's one of the most intelligent and caring people I've ever had the good fortune to meet.

This world can be pretty cruel and uncaring. You only have to log on or open a newspaper to have that made clear. Scientology has answers to people's problems, and solutions to the worst of the social ills we are confronted with.

For someone to work with the unrelenting dedication of Mr. Miscavige to make these solutions available is certainly worthy of comment!

Here's another interesting article about Mr. David Miscavige at the grand opening of the new Church of Scientology of Johannesburg South Africa

This article was written by L. Ron Hubbard was published in the Clearwater, Florida edition of Freedom Magazine.

The Way to Happiness is a common-sense guide to better living. A testimony to the regard in which he held men of goodwill, no matter their faith, L. Ron Hubbard wrote this moral code for use by adults and children of all faiths.

It contains 21 precepts for successful living in a modern world. The first portion of Precept 17 is included here; others will be published in future editions of Freedom.

In an age of intricate equipment and high-speed machines and vehicles, one’s survival and that of one’s family and friends depends in no small measure upon the general competence of others.

In the marketplace, in the sciences, the humanities and in government, incompetence can threaten the lives and future of the few or the many.

I am sure you can think of many examples of this.

Man has always had an impulse to control his fate. Superstition, propitiation of the right gods, ritual dances before the hunt, can all be viewed as efforts, no matter how faint or unavailing, to control destiny.

It was not until he learned to think, to value knowledge and to apply it with competent skill that he began to dominate his environment. The true “gift of heaven” may have been the potential to be competent.

In common pursuits and activities, man respects skill and ability. These in a hero or athlete are almost worshiped.

The test of true competence is the end result.

To the degree that a man is competent, he survives. To the degree he is incompetent, he perishes.

Encourage the attainment of competence in any worthwhile pursuit. Compliment it and reward it whenever you find it.

Demand high performance standards. The test of a society is whether or not you, your family and friends can live in it safely.

The ingredients of competence include observation, study and practice.

Look. See what you see, not what someone tells you that you see.

What you observe is what you observe. Look at things and life and others directly, not through any cloud of prejudice, curtain of fear or the interpretation of another.

Instead of arguing with others, get them to look. The most flagrant lies can be punctured, the greatest pretenses can be exposed, the most intricate puzzles can be resolved and the most remarkable revelations can occur, simply by gently insisting that someone look.

When another finds things almost too confusing and difficult to bear, when his or her wits are going around and around, get the person to just stand back and look.

What they find is usually very obvious when they see it. Then they can go on and handle things. But if they don’t see it themselves, observe it for themselves, it may have little reality for them and all the directives and orders and punishment in the world will not resolve their muddle.

While one can indicate what direction to look and suggest that they do look, the conclusions are up to them.
A child or adult sees what he himself sees and that is reality for him.

True competence is based on one’s own ability to observe. With that as reality, only then can one be deft and sure.

David Miscavige

I just want to comment about my respect and admiration for Mr. David Miscavige. He has done so much to make Scientology the movement it is today.

His work in ensuring that Scientology applied religious philosophy stays pure, and exactly as L. Ron Hubbard wrote it is a real inspiration to me.

He has incredible enthusiasm and drive to make the help our church has to offer to everyone, and I for one am doing MUCH more because of his example.

Here's a link to an article about David Miscavige at the grand opening of the Church of Scientology of Madrid, which happened in October 2004. http://www.beliefnet.com/story/153/story_15301_1.html

Last week was the 25th annual Clearwater Jazz Festival.

It featured Allon Sams, Rick Braun, Big Z & The Sophisicats, Victor Wooten, Branford Marsalis, Pepper & Fine Thyme, Tony Vacca & World Rhythms, Chris Botti, Neville Brothers, Nate Najar Quartet, Uptown Jazz, Adelo Dalto & Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

4 days and nights of free jazz at the Coachman park -- what a great weekend!

Here are some excerpts from decent articles from the
St. Petersburg Times about David Miscavige: one of the leaders of the Scientology religion

David Miscavige

Although David Miscavige does not live in Clearwater, this town is very important to him because factually Clearwater is the spiritual headquarters of the Scientology religion.


Most religions suffer prejudice in their earlier years - the Christians in Rome certainly didn't have an easy time of it. Neither did early Mormons. Scientology is a new religion, and relations between the church and the city of Clearwater were strained for the first 20 or so years.

Although the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organizations (the name of the Scientology church in Clearwater) provides advanced services to Scientologists from all over the world, many have moved to Clearwater and made it their home.

I think Mr. Miscavige was disturbed by the animosity in the community toward members of our religion. And he took the time to better this relationship personally.

He granted an interview with the St. Petersburg Times which entailed several days of meeting with staff from the paper and touring them through Scientology facilities on both coasts.

This started the trend of St Petersburg and surrounding towns realizing that Scientologists are very good neighbors, are just like other folks, and have a great deal to offer the community.

Here are some of the articles the St Petersburg Times has written covering these actions by David Miscavige, and the ultimate result - an excellent relationship between Scientology in Clearwater and the Clearwater community.


THE OUTSIDERS

Robert Trigaux

David Miscavige

He may not agree, but his organization's expanding presence in Clearwater has had more economic impact than religious significance to the area. Miscavige is the Los Angeles-based head of the Church of Scientology, which in recent years has become the dominant developer in the city's downtown area.

Currently headquartered in the Fort Harrison Hotel, the Church of Scientology has spent millions in a steady acquisition of property and buildings.

Clearwater's traditional leadership is by no means comfortable in the growing Scientology shadow, but city officials are trying to make peace with the church (and its opponents) and reap some benefit of urban redevelopment from such a well-financed organization.

As a young man, Miscavige studied to become a Scientology minister. He later worked with Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard to help produce training films and materials. Miscavige's real coup for the movement came in 1993 when he helped end the 40-year war between the Scientologists (seeking to protect their tax-exempt status as a religion) and the Internal Revenue Service.




SCIENTOLOGISTS CELEBRATE A 50-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Jan 1, 2000
G.G. Rigsby

In downtown Clearwater, more than 3,000 Scientologists gathered to mark the new year, but also to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the publication of Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health.

A self-help book published in 1950 by L. Ron Hubbard, Dianetics led to the founding of the Church of Scientology four years later.

At the Los Angeles event, Church leader David Miscavige emceed a three-hour documentary on Scientology's history, from its early days after Dianetics, to the church's arrival in Clearwater in 1975, and on to the present as Scientology constructs its first-ever new building - a mammoth headquarters downtown that will be the centerpiece of a $ 60-million to $ 90-million expansion.


August 22, 1999, Sunday, 0 South Pinellas Edition

CLEARWATER OFFICIAL RECEIVES RARE SCIENTOLOGY SUPPORT

CLEARWATER - The icy relations between the city of Clearwater and the Church of Scientology appear to be defrosting as dozens of church members leaped to the defense of the embattled city manager.

After city commissioners sharply criticized City Manager Mike Roberto recently, hinting that his job was on the line, the letters and e-mails started pouring in.

Of the 36 letters and e-mails to City Hall and 44 pro-Roberto letters to the St. Petersburg Times, nearly 80 percent were written by Scientologists.

Church officials said this was no orchestrated effort, just a spontaneous effort by Clearwater citizens.

But the church's Los Angeles-based leader, David Miscavige, said the response is likely due to Roberto's unprecedented efforts to open the lines of communication and include Scientologists in talks about downtown redevelopment. But Miscavige cautioned that he also thought Roberto had made some missteps, including taking staffers on a retreat that cost the taxpayers $ 15,000.

"I worry about that being perceived as some sort of blind support," Miscavige said of the "mutual respect" he shares with Roberto. "I don't want to appear to be going to bat for the guy."

La Cienciología en España

In Celebration of the upcoming grand opening of the Church of Scientology of Madrid in Spain, [Iglesia de Cienciología de España] here is some information on Scientology in Spanish

Cienciología es una religión en el sentido más profundo y tradicional, porque se ocupa nada menos que de la rehabilitación plena del ser espiritual innato del hombre –sus capacidades, estado de consciencia y la certeza de su propia inmortalidad– y su relación con lo divino.

Cienciología tiene en común con muchas de las religiones más antiguas del mundo la creencia de que al hombre se le puso aquí para encontrar su propia salvación y que sólo haciéndolo puede comprender completamente su relación con Dios el Creador.

Cienciología, además, sostiene que el hombre es básicamente bueno y que su salvación depende de sí mismo, de sus semejantes y de su logro de la hermandad con el universo.

La nueva Iglesia de Cienciología de España que se acaba de restaurar ahora está aquí como monumento que representa la libertad para toda España.

El Presidente de la Asociación Civil de Dianética de Madrid, tiene el placer de invitarle a la ceremonia inaugural de su nueva sede central en Madrid al proximo 18 de Septiembre a las 16,30 h.


Cienciología soluciones eficaces ayudando a la sociedad con eficacia

Cienciología:una nueva religión

Cienciología:rasgos de religión

Here's a great letter to the editor that I found in the St. Pete Times.

Thanks goes to mystery couple

My husband and I would like to thank the couple that came to clear off our deck and ramp after Frances. You could not see the deck due to all the branches and leaves. We don't know many of our neighbors on Glenwood Avenue, since many people have moved out and new neighbors have moved in.

I am a paraplegic due to a car accident and have to rely on the ramp to enter my home. The couple had yellow T-shirts with the Scientology Ministries name on the back. We have lived in Clearwater for more than 36 years and have yet to have someone we don't even know come to help us. Yes, there are some caring people out there.

Mary Jane Hopper, Clearwater

"Scientology volunteer minister Judy Fagerman arranges emergency supplies for distribution to victims of Hurricane Charley, Sunday."

I'm very proud of my friends who have helped straighten things out in the wake of Charlie.

It's a blessing we didn't get hit in Clearwater and Tampa.

USA Today did this really nice story on the work they and other voluteers have been doing.

No such blessings with Frances, but the damage was still so much less than with the big C.



I'll be glad when hurricane season is over.

How's this for a great quote:

Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 1816
"I sincerely believe ... that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies, and that the principle of spending money to be paid by posterity under the name of funding is but swindling futurity on a large scale."

Here's a group I really recommend checking out for wise handling of business and economics:

The Hubbard College of Administration and their page on L. Ron Hubbard, after whom they are names, is very informative.

After all the devastation of hurricane Charley, it's little solace to read that Charley a Harbinger of Busy Hurricane Season

and with headlines such as this: Medical Experts Fear Charley's Aftermath

I'm really glad to see Scientology volunteer ministers are on the job helping to sort things out in the aftermath.

Scientology Volunteer Ministers Help at Florida Disaster Site

As you can see in this site (Scientology Volunteer Ministers Bringing effective help to the community)
Scientology Volunteer Ministers have a reputation of always being there to help in times of disaster.

And life's personal disasters can be a lot worse than the "natural disaster" kind. Sometimes what goes on behind the walls of a perfectly "normal" home can be crushing - drug or alcoholism, infidelity, financial stress....

Scientology volunteer ministers use Scientology applied religious philosophy as laid out in the Scientology Handbook to help friends, neighbors, family members or even total strangers.

By the way, you don't have to be a Scientologist to use the techniques in the Scientology Handbook, or to be a Scientology volunteer minister. All you have to be is a caring person who wants to help others.

I'd say most people fit those qualifications....