It has become fashionable to equate the word scientology with the infamous Church of Scientology Corporation…

by Caspar de Rijk,
former Church & Sea Org member

It has become fashionable to equate the word scientology with the infamous Church of Scientology Corporation. This is definitely a wrong equation.
Another claim is that Scientology is a trademark and according to the trademark office it is. How valid is that claim? Just consider someone trying to claim the word geology as a trademark, geology™.
Scientology is obviously a term in the list of such scientific, philosophical terms, so I expect that the trademark office will soon see its mistake and correct it.

Scientology in the main tradition of the sciences
The word scientology used in a serious context was begun by a Dr. Nordenholz who wrote a book with the title: “Scientologie, die Wissenschaft der Beschaffenheit und Tauglichkeit des Wissens” which translated reads ‘Scientology, the science of the character and soundness of knowingness’ which is another way of saying epistemology or modernly Philosophy of Science. If one is looking for an obvious term to use in the English language to designate a science that has science itself as a subject the word scientology would be an obvious choice.

Dr. Nordenholz
This is exactly what Dr. Nordenholz did and described in his book, published just before the WW II which may have to do with the fact this study never saw the limelight in Academia in Germany nor elsewhere.
The book is a profound treatise in quasi Kantian style of the subject of consciousness and knowingness and contains the very same axioms on which L. Ron Hubbard built his cosmology.

Church of Scientology, represents a fraction of the Scientologists
There are millions of people who have been in some form of contact with the subject through its literature or otherwise and thousands even call themselves scientologists inside the church framework and thousands more, are somewhat loosely, if at all ‘organized’ outside of the parameters of the church corporation. Thus the church of scientology represents only a frac-tion of scientologists.

Internal and external controversy
Some even consider that a war is ongoing between the ‘churchgoing’ scientologists and those in the Freezone or Independent field as they call it.
The main focus of the conflict is on the current and troublesome leadership of David Miscavige, the abuses he instigated, his technical and policy alterations and controversial family disconnection policies.

Public scrutiny
As more and more people are openly communicating their experiences with the church, it is now becoming possible to get a better concept. A few decades ago mainly outsiders were critical of the church organization, now the majority of book writing critics are former members including previously high ranking members of the churches’ Sea Organization.

History
As I see it there is a historical group of people who were inspired by the writings and applied philosophy of L. Ron Hubbard and held together by Hubbard’s charisma and leadership in a not over-regulated organizational format. After Hubbard left things started to change and sometime after 1980 a great schism took place.
A group of independents was slowly forming up, grabbing as much as they can of the actual materials and secret doctrines. The largest survivor of this group is the Freezone group of Ron’s orgs and another association of practicing scientologist called IFA. As recent as 2009 a whole new group of people started to leave the church after the St. Petersburg Times – ‘Truth Rundown’ series of publications.

Diversity
Ever since Scientology became known there have been offshoots in that people used some of the principles but started to publish and do business under other names such as Avatar, Landmark Forum, EST Erhard Seminars and many others.
The groups that stuck to Hubbard and/or the name Scientology could be somewhat arbitrarily divided in conservatives, orthodox, standard and neo.

The conservatives are the church members who wish to keep the original organization intact for various reasons including the fact they already invested so much money and /or time in it, they will not give up.
The orthodox are the Ron’s Orgs who deliver older pre-1980 scientology versions only slightly colored by some additional exegesis from their own guru Capt. Bill Robertson.
The ‘standard’ scientologists is a mix of people many of whom left the church in more recent years and practice scientology more liberally, but from a technical viewpoint more or less the same as in the church – except for some of the abusive practices of said church.
The Neo-Hubbardians is another category, Captain Bill Robertson created his own cosmology on top of that of Hubbard’s. There are others who use the basic Hubbardian principles and add their own interpretations, additions, alterations or improvements. Another example is Spiritologie, its founder claims to have been the originator of Scientology and in his current lifetime has reviewed the subject, spotted its errors and omissions and created a sequel to Scientology. It has a greatly simplified procedure and is said to embrace the dynamic of the creator-divine, which was not included in scientology.

Tikkun*
Some people still loyal to Hubbard’s original views and ideas long for a re-unification of the world of scientology, some like myself, in the hope of ever seeing my daughters again.
We may already be closer to that now as I recently got an indirect recognition of my status of ‘non-ecclesiastical’ scientologist by the Church.

‘Tikkun’ comes from mystical Hebrew concept tikkun olam (Hebrew: תיקון עולם‎; “healing or restoring the world”) which suggests humanity’s shared responsibility (with the Creator) “to heal, repair and transform the world.”
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

95 THESES POSTED BY SCIENTOLOGY FREEZONE LEADER IN THE NETHERLANDS, ANNO 2004

The following 95 theses were  posted on the facade of the Church of Scientology in Amsterdam in 2004, covered by national television.

Debate on the issue of validity of copyrights, trademarks and other supposed prerogatives of the so-called Scientology Religion.

Out of love for the truth and eagerness to bring her to the light of day, we invite you to participate over the coming weeks in the public debate in various places in the country regarding the following:

1. Our Founder and source of inspiration L. Ron Hubbard has when he said „The work was free. Keep it so.” (Vol IX:2) meant that his entire works would be available for all those interested on planet Earth.
2. The code of a Scientologist urges us to actively support the principle of the freedom of religion.
3. Freedom of speech is no longer a fact inside the current Church of Scientology.
4. The Freezone exists independently of the Church of Scientology.
5. The Ethics system of the Church of Scientology (deteriorated to the level of other-determination) is being misused to put freethinkers among the Scientologists out of the game.
6. L. Ron Hubbard in his writings never mentioned any plans to hand over the rights to his work to an outfit like the Church of Spiritual Technology and Religious Technology Center.
7. The word Church of Spiritual Technology (CST) and Religious Technology Center (RTC) can not be found in the works of Hubbard.
8. The use of copyrights and trademarks to police a religion and its adherents as done by CST and RTC since the early eighties we deem contemptible.
9. Did not our Founder urge us: „To stress the freedom to use Scientology as a philosophy in all its applications and variations in the humanities”
10. Auditing is one of the applications of the philosophy of Scientology.
11. LRH said in his Philadelphia Doctorate Lectures: „The only possible way that you can get any freedom is to stop asking everybody’s permission to be”. We therefore believe that Scientologists do not need the permission of CST / RTC to be a Scientologist or do their own spiritual exercises or religious auditing practices in their own places.
12. We think that CST / RTC have been operating in violation of the article 18 of the Universal Declaration on Human rights[1].
13. We have found that the church has many times attempted to frustrate the efforts of those Scientologists who did not conform denying them the possibility to apply their technology.
14. We have experienced that people attempting to comply with orders from church superiors have been led to act against their own integrity.
15. Alternative interpretations and/or additions to the doctrine of Hubbard by church members have been condemned by the church and those uttering or communicating these ideas have been ex-communicated. This is in flagrant violation of the Universal Declaration Article 18.
16. In an article on Personal Integrity, Hubbard said: „WHAT IS TRUE FOR YOU is what you have observed yourself and when you lose that you have lost everything.” I am afraid that currently many Church of Scientology members (by lending a deaf ear to any criticism) have unwittingly permitted themselves to be shut off from the fruits of observation.
17. We are pointing out that already in Austria religion and trademarks do not legally go together.
18. We are of the opinion that the Scientology Religion cannot justify such a dissonance of religious vs. commercial trade purposes within the Church framework and certainly not in the Netherlands.
19. We therefore think it desirable that the validity of such trademarks will also have to be reconsidered in a European context.
20. We wish to avoid extremes and do not consider the philosophy of L. Ron Hubbard the sole way to salvation and happiness.
21. A hierarchical church structure is unnecessary for correct application of the religious philosophy and technology of Scientology.
22. We believe the Founder meant to donate his work to mankind by leaving his copyrights to fall into public domain.
23. The act of declaring fellow Scientologists belonging to the Freezone Suppressive Person or the Freezone people as Suppressive Groups we deem in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
24. Article 12 reads: „No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honor and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.”
25. Declaring fellow Scientologists suppressive only because of a difference of opinion about doctrine is a form of discrimination, which is punishable under Dutch law and is also against the Constitution.
26. The GAT (golden Age of Tech) is contrary to the policies of the founder such as HCO PL ‘Drills allowed’.
27. In the Golden Age of Tech, David Miscavige tried to block the think for yourself, but presenting it as „so that everyone can do it” – all in the name of Standard Tech. Not in itself wrong, but any kind of thinking for yourself and evaluating for yourself with the tech is being minimized.
28. The many court cases pursued by the Church of Scientology are the proof that she tries to stop any activities of individuals attempting to apply the technology outside the control of the church.
29. We do not believe in the infallibility of the Religious Technology Center, CST, Int. Management and in particular the current church leader Mr. David Miscavige not even when he is addressing us ex-cathedra.
30. LRH Policy is: „To issue tech and policy as broadly as possible within economic limits.”
31. The existence of the internet and electronic media makes it possible to distribute LRH Technology and Policy widely at very low cost.
32. The founder was of the opinion that even if you give Scientology away, money, credit or favors will flow back.
33. So we now ask church leaders; why not give it away while you can.
34. The materials and with that the legacy of L. Ron Hubbard have already ‘de facto’ arrived in the public domain.
35. Nothing in Dianetics and Scientology is true for you unless you have observed it and it is true according to your observation. That is all.
36. The scriptures of a major or minor religion may not be copyrighted.
37. No person or entity may ever claim ownership, trademarks or other exclusive rights to any spiritual or religious practices or the appertaining technology.
38. The exercise of the spiritual practices of a major or minor religion must be left free.
39. As long as these exercises or practices do not harm man, they may never be regulated or checked by others.
40. The spiritual and religious practices of Scientology and the pertaining technology belong to the Scientologists who use them.
41. The right to see and request return and/or erasure of data files kept on the subject of ones own personal life, during auditing, confessionals or other church activities may not be denied by the Church of Scientology.
42. The Church of Scientology in the Netherlands told the audience of RTL Boulevard by their lawyer Mr. Moscowitz, that what members do privately is their own business.
43. That this is a PR lie is proven by the fact that families have been repeatedly upset by a son, daughter, husband or wife who were forced to disconnect from a family member who no longer agreed with all the actions of the church management.
44. The ethics system of the church is misused and currently serves to keep the members in check and smother any criticism.
45. A daughter of a former Sea Org member was so brainwashed by church (Sea Org Elite) schooling that she just knew she should no longer see her father, who otherwise remained loyal to the church and only had some disagreements with the management of the Sea Org.
46. The Church of Scientology in the Netherlands will most likely cease operations in their current form in the near future due to the many abuses she has been involved with.
47. The Church of Scientology in the year 2004 is no longer representing the Scientologists in the Netherlands as many do use Scientology but want nothing more to do with the control-freaky, arrogant church.
48. Hubbard was first and foremost a writer as he pointed out himself and was the founder of Scientology not of the church.
49. Religious Technology Center and OSA (Office of Special Affairs) have taken on the task of verifying whether church members have paid sufficient taxes, which is not in line with Hubbard’s ideas at all.
50. Inside the Church of Scientology ‘freedom of speech’ simply does not exist.
51. The so called ‘sliding scale’ discount pricing system is leading to excesses in that large sums are paid into the church, for which the Church often fails to provide services and is not per L. Ron Hubbard.
52. The ‘Human Rights’ activities of the church are mainly a PR gimmick in view of fact that that same church is acting in ways contrary to the Human Rights principles as laid down in the Universal Declaration of Human rights.
53. The application of Scientology exclusively within church confines is ill advised as it has led to complications and arbitraries and unnecessary distress.
54. To claim exclusive property-rights to the works of L. Ron Hubbard, those scriptures and lectures which form the backbone of the religion and are the spiritual heritage of all Scientologists, is an untenable position in the 21st Century.
55. Princess Maxima and other members of the Royal Family ought to have the right to get acquainted with Scientology without having to deal with a covertly operating, sectarian church.
56. It would be ideal when she could just freely download all Scientology materials from the internet.
57. The current church is a product of David Miscavige and is a sect in fact as it deviates from the original church as it was before 1981 and somewhat friendlier.
58. It seems to me that the principle of ARC and maintaining friendly relations with the environment ought to be applied to former members of the Church of Scientology.
59. It is possible for the E-meter to be abused as has been the case with unnecessary Security Checks and OT Eligibility Checks being given.
60. The so called security measures of the church are expensive and excessive especially in view of the fact that all Scientology materials are already in the Public Domain since years.
61. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ought to be considered fully in force inside the Church of Scientology as well.
62. Article 18 reads: „Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”
63. Children of Scientologists and other family members may not be brushed aside as unworthy, just because of the sake of pureness of the doctrine.
64. Auditing should be sold only in packages of maximum 25 hrs without discounts. This is to prevent irresponsible outlay of funds by Scientologists that could be detrimental to family life.
65. To take up loans to finance auditing or training should be discouraged.
66. A reasonable price for auditing as was originally intended by Hubbard as evidenced by his 1960 policies I consider desirable (one week’s processing (25 hours) should cost an average months pay (as in training).
67. I am of the opinion that the time has come for an open dialogue between members of the church and the Freezone.
68. We are prepared to organize ecumenical encounters aimed at bringing Church members and Freezoners closer together.
69. Sea Org Freeloader Policy is in need of revision and the original LRH Policies on the subject ought to be reinstated.
70. All original works by Hubbard incl. all earlier versions of existing titles should be made available again in Church libraries.
71. An independent commission of representatives of Scientologists of the Freezone as well as out of the ranks of the church will have to be given insight in what exactly happened with the LRH Originals.
72. A full amnesty and rehabilitation of all Scientologists that have been incorrectly declared SP since the early eighties is needed in particular for those Scientologists that have greatly supported the Freezone movement since its inception.
73. All Ethics files that have accumulated since 1981 and contain false KRs are to be burnt in public.
74. David Mayo and Captain Bill Robertson and other prominent people are to be rehabilitated and cleared of any and all third party rumors.
75. All Freezone members have the same rights as all men, namely… to conceive, choose, assist and support their own organizations, churches and governments.
76. The ceasing of any and all hostilities from the side of the church people and OSA Volunteers including any third party actions towards Freezoners will have to be accomplished before the end of the year 2004.
77. The practice of disconnection should only be an exceptional occurrence and should never be enforced or applied to estrange family members.
78. We propose the church immediately offers a free download of the booklet „The Way to happiness” through the internet.
79. That OT Levels are to be released to those people who have reached the appropriate level without interference of RTC or other arbitraries.
80. That all HCOBs and HCO PLs are to be released in current digital file formats immediately after having been verified against the originals from LRH Archives.
81. The alleged monopoly of the Church of Scientology and the related pricing and trademark policies as well as price fix agreements of field auditors ought to be thoroughly investigated by the Nma ( Dutch Regulatory body to ensure fair competition.
82. The Department of labor inspection is to investigate the staff working conditions inside the Church of Scientology and issue recommendations.
83. The staff members of the Church in Amsterdam are to be paid at least minimum wages starting latest 25 January 2004.
84. An announcement is to be made that all Scientologists are permitted to attend international Freezone Conventions and get themselves informed of all options as regards Scientology or related themes.
85. The Publications Orgs are to immediately revert to publishing the original works of L. Ron Hubbard in unaltered form.
86. To immediately cancel the arbitraries that prevent the release of the levels OT IX- XV.
87. That the fixation on statistics and everlasting ‘birthday games’ are to be cancelled and replaced by real statistics such as the actual number of Clears and OTs.
88. That Mr. David Miscavige may be given an opportunity to publicly confess any overts and withholds he may have on LRH and Scientology.
89. That all Scientologists have the same inalienable rights as all men to wit: „…to think freely, to talk freely, to write freely their own opinions and to counter or utter or write upon the opinions of others”
90. That Mary Sue Hubbard will be given the opportunity to do a full debrief of historical happenings of the early eighties.
91. I think that the following part of the Creed of the Church of Scientology „That all men have inalienable rights to their own religious practices and their performance” should apply also to Freezone Scientologists.
92. That all Sea Org members be given back their inalienable right to the creation of their own kind.
93. That the alterations of the Scientology Axioms will be corrected back to the original versions within 24 hrs
94. That the church immediately stops all efforts to destroy or reduce the survival of companions on the bridge in whatever zone they may find themselves.
95. That within a year by correct communication of the facts the name Scientology and that of Hubbard will be fully rehabilitated.

By my hand on the
6^th January 2004
Caspar de Rijk
Independent Scientologist