I just got this story in my e-mail from the Scientology International Library Campaign.  It’s from someone who has been working to get Scientology & Dianetics books into all of the libraries of Earth:

Several days ago I picked up a scribbled handwritten message from our Receptionist. This message mentioned that a person wanted to buy a book from our company. On the note was a long phone number — and from a glance at it, it was not from the U.S.

I sat down and called the number and it sounded like I was calling some number in a VERY far away land. A person picked up the phone and did not say anything. I heard a language I did not recognize in the background – one I had never heard before. Then suddenly a strong “hello” came across the line.

Library in Kurdish Iraq

I told him who I was and where I was calling from. He replied in broken English that he wanted to buy one of our paperback books. He and his wife had saved up enough funds for the past 3 weeks to come up with $15. Mysteriously he mentioned to me that he had read “The Secret Book”. Politely I asked him if it was a Dianetics book or a Scientology book. He replied that it was the first book I had mentioned. He continued to say that it completely changed his life and he wanted to tell his family and friends about it. In a roundabout fashion, he told me he had “gotten it from some friends”. He told me that he was in Iraq and that he was Kurdish.

I found out that he is a professor in a University in Sulaimanyah and wants to teach Dianetics and Scientology to his students.

I asked him, “Would it be okay with you if I sent you donations of the 18 hardcover books for your University library?” He had a 15 second comm lag and replied, “Are you fooling me?” To this I replied “No, I am not. I will send you donations if it is safe for you to have them.”

Once again he comm lagged for another 15 seconds and then said “If you did this, you would make me the happiest man on Earth!”

Weeks later I received a reply from Brwa Qadir Saeed (the name of the public) and his reply is as follows:

Studying the Scientology & Dianetics Basics in a Library in Kurdish Iraq

“Thank you very much for your assistance and I will be in very high spirits if I could help you with anything please. Your help is the best thing which has happened to my life and thank you again, and I don’t know what I could say to give my appreciation for your help. Thank you very much again, and I will let you know if I need anything.”

This is the very first reach for Dianetics and Scientology we have ever received from this area of the world — Northeast Iraq.

Buenos Aires

Reading up on the blog from the President of the Church of Scientology of Madrid, Spain — I just found out that the Church of Scientology just got religious recognition in Argentina!

A resolution from the Director General National Register of Worship of Argentina, and in accordance with Article 14 of the Constitution of this country (which establishes the right of every person to practice freely their religion), the President of the Church of Scientology of Argentina was notified last Thursday December 11 of this that Scientology “has demonstrated its religious character” and that is why the Secretary of Worship resolves “Enroll in the National Register of Religions under No. 4006 at the Church of Scientology of Argentina.

This makes something on the order of 50+ countries which now recognize Scientology as a religion, something I take for granted here in the states as a matter of fact.  Constantly have to be reminded, though, that not all countries have such an emphasis on religious freedom as the USA.

If you speak Spanish, you can read the President of the Church of Scientology Madrid’s blog post on the announcement.    But I think it’s fantastic news for all of the Argentine Scientologists (several of whom I’m very good friends with).

Links:

See the Official Release by the Government of Argentina
Churches of Scientology in South America
Scientology Buenos Aires Official Site

ダイアネティックス in Tokyo!

As stress is such a big subject in the frenetic life of the average Japanese businessperson, it’s no wonder that Dianetics (ダイアネティックス) continues to be a top best-seller across Japan.  It’s also no wonder that our Scientology Church in Tokyo is among the biggest in the world,  and growing by the minute.

Contact Bridge Publications or New Era Publications if you are interested in this campaign, and they can send you a full-size version of this map.

No matter where one is on the planet, everyone deserves to be able to find out for themselves about what Dianetics and Scientology are, for real — and nowhere is that better done than via the pages of a book.

L. Ron Hubbard said, regarding this:

“The first principle of my own philosophy is that wisdom is meant for anyone who wishes to reach for it. It is the servant of the commoner and king alike and should never be regarded with awe.”  -L. Ron Hubbard

As such, Bridge Publications and New Era Publications (publishers of the works of L. Ron Hubbard) have been running a massive International Library Campaign, with the aim to immediately get a full set of L. Ron Hubbard’s Basics books into every single library on earth.

The set of books being donated to every library is all 18 books of the Basics — the full chronology of the development of Dianetics and Scientology.   Read more about the Basics here.

Due to generous donations from individuals around the world, Scientology books can now be found right in the local libraries of communities everywhere.  Many countries are already completed, such as Poland, most of North Africa, the Ukraine, most of the middle east and Southeast Asia.

Since the first sets of books began shipping out to libraries last year from our International Library Campaign, requests for more LRH books in all languages have been flooding in to us.

Some libraries want multiple languages so all their public can benefit. Others want multiple sets in existing languages due to pure demand for Scientology in their areas.

An example of this is the following feedback that was received from a library in Sierra Leone:

Scientology books are eagerly being checked out by library patrons of Sierra Leone, Ghana, and other West African Countries.

“These latest editions are the first we have received of L. Ron Hubbard’s works and will be earnestly added to our collection and will be monitored for evaluation. Scientology is a relatively new subject capable of arousing library patrons and public interest. More donations will be necessary to boost our collection of the subject.”

—B.K., Librarian, Sierra Leone Library Board, Rokel

YOU CAN HELP!

Right now there are only 12 libraries left to complete all of the Libraries in Ghana – a country with a good people and a wealth of natural resources, who yet live through some of the most horrific human rights abuses ever seen.  They need the technology of life as contained in Dianetics and Scientology books, and you can help bring this to them.

Donations from generous individuals is the way to get these books into the hands of the millions that need them.  Contact the International Library Campaign for more information, or you can make a donation here.

"The gift that you personally can give has the potential of changing this whole civilization in every land." - L. Ron Hubbard

The Golden Age of Knowledge marked a turning point in Scientology history.

Since the release of L. Ron Hubbard’s Basics Books and Lectures, the world of Scientology has changed forever. Scientologists the world over are achieving full conceptual understanding of the truths about the mind, spirit and life—the very foundation of Scientology.

Equally significant are the Congresses—LRH events and his announcements of the technical breakthroughs that formed the next milestones in building The Bridge for
all to travel.

NEW EASY-TO-USE SEARCH FEATURE: A new easy-to-use search feature on the site makes it easy to find titles and subjects you're looking for.

In celebration of the Golden Age of Knowledge for Eternity, this year’s catalog includes special holiday packages, so you can bring the gift of Source to yourself, your family, friends and associates. Within these pages are materials you need for your journey on the road to truth. From the spectacular editions of the Beginning Books and Audiobooks through The Basics and Congresses, these LRH truths have inspired, enlightened and changed the lives of millions.

This holiday season, give yourself and those you care about the gift of Source, a gift that will last through eternity.

FREE GIFTS & HOLIDAY SPECIALS: To make it possible for anyone to take advantage of the Golden Age of Knowledge Basics, Beginning Books or LRH Congresses, incredible Holiday Specials are being offered. Have a look!

Free Scientology Materials Guide Chart: Your Guide to the materials, now available on-line, or get a poster-size chart free.

IN AS MANY AS 50 LANGUAGES: Great gift ideas abound in the new site, with the Introduction to Scientology on DVD available in 50 languages, and all of the Classics lectures available on-line for the first time ever.

AVAILABLE IN YOUR AREA:

The following Scientology Organizations have bookstores you can browse in their local languages, so as to get started in Scientology with basic materials, or to find out more in your local area:

Publications Houses & International Organizations:

Bridge Publications – Western Hemisphere, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Oceania, Japan & Taiwan

New Era Publications – Europe, United Kingdom and North Africa

Scientology Celebrity Centre International Bookstore

Central Scientology Organization Bookstores:

• Founding Church of Scientology, Washington, D.C.
• Scientology Boston, MA
• Scientology New York, NY
• Scientology Chicago, IL
• Scientology Atlanta, GA
• Scientology St. Louis, MO
• Scientology Kansas City, MO
• Scientology Mountain View, CA
• Scientology Orange County, CA
• Scientology Seattle, WA

Francophone (Français)

• Scientologie Quebec – Canada (Français)
• Scientologie Montreal – Canada (Français)

Ultimate Collection

Japanese (日本語)

• Scientology Tokyo (日本語)

Scientology in Dublin, Ireland -- where L. Ron Hubbard originally developed the Personnel Efficiency Course, so as to improve the prosperity and worth of the working individual.

As a part of Blog Action Day, I found it fit to mention our Church of Scientology in Dublin, Ireland.   As the theme of this Blog Action day is poverty, it’s only fitting to bring up the location where L. Ron Hubbard developed and delivered the Personnel Efficiency course — a course designed to take the average working man or woman, and immediately increase their ability to communicate and be effective in their work place or their home.

Based around many of the simplicities you find in the Scientology beginning book, The Problems of Work: Scientology Applied to the Workaday World, this course made use of testing and simple basics of communication, confusion and the stable datum, and the tone scale to raise anyone’s effectiveness and happiness in their daily work.

The Church of Scientology Mission of Dublin continues this tradition, offering all of the basic services of Scientology to the people of Dublin.  Get directions to Scientology Churches in Ireland here.

I bring this up as part of the Blog Action Day theme, as whilst the answer to poverty does in some cases involve the bringing of aid and donation of money and goods to those in need, it is many times more effective in the long run to increse the effectiveness, productivity and purpose of the individual himself — as that then opens the door to a long-term handling of poverty.  Learning to organize, to educate, and to find something useful for his fellow man to do and to get them to it — this in itself is a much more real and lasting solution to poverty.

The Scientology Volunteer Ministers of West Bengal, India provided seminars to some of the Santhal tribes in the neighboring state of Bihar.

So, it’s this technology that I would most rather see applied to be able to overcome the troubles that affect poverty-stricken nations.  In many cases a full solution to their problems will start with a number of people getting themselves trained up on technology like you see being made available for free at the Scientology Volunteer Ministers On-Line Training center, where one can learn to be more effective, efficient, and a faster learner, and at no cost at all.

But the bottom line, is that springing from our center in Dublin is a technology that — if applied — can result in solutions to poverty for anyone.

Parishioners and staff have been working hand in hand to create the new Church of Scientology of Quebec .  The new church building is in old town in the center of town, with two faces – one on the traditional old town, walking street side, and the other on a more contemporary city street. 

• Scientology in Canada
• Scientology Quebec
• Ideal Scientology Orgs
• This is Scientology – by Mr. David Miscavige

technorati tags:scientology, quebec, canada, ideal, org

Blogged with Flock

Yet another one from the parade of stunning new Churches of Scientology being constructed around the world, is this one in Sunderland, England.  The Scientology Church in Sunderland, which is now relocating to nearby Newcastle, is expanding is community responsibilities and its size and scope is increasing commensurately. 

With the Church of Scientology London recently being built up as an Ideal Church of Scientology for the UK, other Scientology Churches around the UK are following suit.   Sunderland in particular, as per an answers.com article on such, was once famously hailed as the “Greatest Shipbuilding Town in the World”^[40] , ships were built on the Wear from at least 1346 onwards and by the mid-eighteenth century
Sunderland was one of the chief ship-building towns in the country.

However, the city definitely needs a pick-up and an infusion of administrative technology, as the heavy industry has not kept pace with population, and unemployment has garnered the city with the distinction of being the most “deprived city in northern England”.  This is something any Church of Scientology is well-equipped to handle, and with administrative know-how and management by statistics, as well as the simple Scientology lessons of Communication, this city can turn right around.

technorati tags:scientology, england, sunderland, ideal, org

Blogged with Flock

An absolutely stunning new Church of Scientology is soon to grace Valencia, Venezuela, where the largest Scientology Church in South America has been experiencing such continuous expansion that they need a new space.

The Valencia Church was proclaimed in 2004 as having achieved what’s known as “Saint Hill Size”, which is where a Scientology church reaches the size and scope of influence of the Scientology Church in England where founder L. Ron Hubbard directly managed the organization in the mid-1960’s.

This distinction was explained in importance by the Mayor of Buffalo, when an Ideal Church of Scientology opened in his city – a grand opening also attended by Scientology leader, Mr. David Miscavige.

Through dedicated work with the community, including groundbreaking campaigns with The Way to Happiness to quell local violence, the Church in Venezuela has more than deserved a new building and will shortly have even that filled to capacity.

References:

• Church of Scientology of Buffalo
• Mayor Anthony Masiello’s speech at the Buffalo Grand Opening, explaining “Saint Hill Size”
  
• Buffalo’s Grand Opening Spech by Mr. David Miscavige
• Ideal Scientology Org Photos
  

technorati tags:scientology, church, saint, hill size, david miscavige, valencia, venezuela

Blogged with Flock

New Churches of Scientology are now coming up left, right and centre, with new and rather impressive buildings being planned and built in cities around the world.  An example of this is the new Church of Scientology in Pasadena, California. 

Scientologists call these buildings “Ideal Orgs” or Ideal Scientology Organizations.  This is from an essay L. Ron Hubbard wrote called “The Ideal Org” (which anyone can read from the Scientology Management Series volumes) - an essay outlining all of the functions and actions an Ideal Church of Scientology would be doing, and the responsibility that Church would be taking for its general area.   

These Churches of Scientology (like the Church of Scientology of London, picture above) have many features that enable them to take on such a responsibility.  The first of which are a massive set of displays that explain in audiovisual presentations what exactly Scientology is, and what it is that Scientologists learn and do.   It’s probably the most key thing there is in such a church, as most people know exactly what Christianity is — so such a display isn’t needed at a standard cathedral.  However, just from people I’ve talked to, there are a ton of people with basic question on what Scientology is — something that is answered terribly by random searches on the Internet at this time. 

So, if you want a straight, full answer on what Scientology is, one should definitely step into one of these new Churches.  A list of where they now are is on the Scientology Today website, and in my references section below. 

Additionally, Ideal Scientology churches provide space and facilities for groups to meet, for training sessions to occur on how to be a Scientology Volunteer Minister or to deliver Scientology Marriage Counseling, and so forth.  With ideal premises comes the ability to help the community in the ways that the community needs most — drug education programs, morality programs, etc. 

So, if you have the opportunity, stop in to one of these Churches and see for yourself what Scientology is about. 

References:

Scientology Personality Test London

Originally uploaded by jetteroheller.

Personality Tests are now available on-line at the Church of Scientology in London. They’re available from other individual organizations, but the London church was the first one to have them available on their website.

The Scientology Oxford Capacity Analysis test, otherwise known as a Personality test, is a rather comprehensive test that measures what you think of yourself, and provides areas where you can improve.

I figured I’d start a new little series on this blog, and show you some Churches of Scientology as taken from the new, terribly nifty feature of Google Earth, where it also shows 3D buildings as well as the satillite images.

This one is of the Church of Scientology of Boston, which was where I did some of my first Scientology courses. It’s in the heart of Boston’s Back Bay, a short walk from the Prudential Building and John Hancock building, and with a rocking view of the fireworks on the 4th of July.

I’ve earlier posted on the Church of Scientology of Buffalo, and its newly-renovated building that I was priviliged to be at the grand opening of.

Just in trolling around the web recenty, I found an article on the architectural history of Buffalo specifically mentioning the Church of Scientology’s building on Main Street. Having been there, I definitely thought it quite interesting as there is a ton of absolutely stunning architecture in the area, and I thought it very fitting indeed that the Church was mentioned in this.

It was an immense team of Scientologists from all around the world that made this happen, with people flying in from all parts of the Eastern and Western united states, and as far afield as Hungary.  It was really a test to show that an ideal, perfect Scientology organization could be put together anywhere – and which has inspired many other organizations to do similarly.

Other Grand Openings:

• Church of Scientology of London
• Church of Scientology of Madrid
• Church of Scientology of New York
• Church of Scientology of San Francisco
• Church of Scientology of Johannesburg

Due to the recent popularity of Scientology in the Pacific Northwest, the Church of Scientology of Washington State, in Seattle, Washington, has purchased larger quarters overlooking Puget Sound.

The organization is dramatically larger than their current premises, so as to properly be able to service the Scientologists in the Seattle area. The Church of Scientology of Seattle is also responsible for many Scientology missions around the Pacific Northwest, from Bellingham, WA, all the way out to Kalispell in Montana.

Scientologists, spurred on by the recent opening of the new Church of Scientology of London by Mr. David Miscavige, are gearing up on renovations to get this Church completed by the beginning of 2007.

[note: this post has been updated with newer data and a newer photo - see this article on the Church of Scientology Seattle.

I mentioned the Church of Scientology of New York once before, but due to the amount of work put into this particular building by Scientology volunteers, and people throughout the community, it bears some further detail that could be given.

After the new building was opened, in a large grand opening celebration with community leaders, dignitaries, as well as Keynote Speaker Mr. David Miscavige, the organization reached out into the community with well-known Stress Test tables – getting people information on the monumental L. Ron Hubbard text on the mind, Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health.

After seeing the various displays on Scientology integrated into the new building, people have been bringing their friends in in droves to find out what Scientology is all about.

3,000-plus members of the Church of Scientology of London, as well as guests from around the community packed Queen Victoria Street in the heart of London for the sensational grand opening of the new home of the UK’s oldest Scientology church.

The new church is a short distance away from the Tate Gallery and St. Paul’s Cathedral, and now serves the growing membership of London-area Scientologists. Its opening marks the largest expansion for Scientology in the Church’s 50-year history in London.

Guest of honor, Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board of the Religious Technology Center and leader of the Scientology religion, stressed the historical importance of London. “This is the city L. Ron Hubbard himself [founder of the Scientology religion] selected as home to the first Scientology organization. This is also the city wherein he first defined the human spirit as an immortal being possessed of capabilities beyond anything predicted, and so arrived at the axiomatic truths on which the whole of Scientology is founded. Your early London organizations were also the original proving ground for the bulk of Mr. Hubbard’s social betterment programs which are used to uplift neighborhoods just like this one.”

Recently opened in the Toronto metro area was the East Toronto Mission. Toronto has had a steadily expanding field of Scientologists in the area over the past several years, and is the center of Scientology activities in Canada. The Church of Scientology of Toronto, which is the center of this activity, is renovating its Yongue St. location, to better provide Scientology services to the many people in the area who are reaching for it. The Church of Scientology of Buffalo, only a hundred or so miles to the south, did a similar cycle of renovations in 2003. After their Grand Opening (with Mayor Anthony Masielo and Mr. David Miscavige Speaking), they over doubled their outreach efforts – an activity Toronto could use as well.

This Scientology mission in East Toronto recently held its grand opening, which was attended by civic leaders and dignitaries from the area, who welcomed the church and the programs it will bring to the area in terms of drug rehabilitation, education programs, and Scientology services.

Go to the Scientology East Toronto website for more information on how to contact them and get involved!

The Founding Church of Scientology of Washington D.C. was established on the 4th of July, 1955, and was the first Church of Scientology established by L. Ron Hubbard. It was in this church that Mr. Hubbard developed many of the administrative basics which comprise what Scientology organizations are today. The first publications organization was here in Washington D.C., as well as the first Hubbard Guidance Centre providing Scientology Auditing.

When you go through the Church, you’ll see items which bespeak Mr. Hubbard’s history in D.C. and the history of the Scientology Religion – exemplefied in the Office of L. Ron Hubbard which contains many of his original works, books, and artifacts.

This character was articulated in Mr. David Miscavige’s  speech  which he made at the Grand Opening of this church.

I had the opportunity to be a part of this, as I lived in D.C. for some time – taking Scientology services in this organization. It was a period of my life that always sticks out, as the staff of the Church of Scientology in D.C. are an extremely intense, extremely dedicated, but still very enthusiastic team. If you’re ever in DuPont Circle, ensure you visit!

References for this article:
- David Miscavige Official Resources
- David Miscavige Biography and Speeches

Scientology Volunteers from the Church of Scientology of Los Angeles, and surrounding Churches (like Celebrity Centre International) have been the source of many Scientology Volunteers who’ve been helping out overseas.

Ever since the December 2004 Tsunami in the Indian Ocean, Scientology Volunteer Ministers have been on the ground in Banda Aceh and in Yogyakarta Indonesia helping people rebuild their lives. A friend of mine was there, actually, and came back a totally changed person. The technology developed by L. Ron Hubbard for handling stress and confusion are so particularly applicable to situations such as a natural disaster, that the people affected by such a disaster can’t get enough of what the Scientology Volunteers have to offer.

Covered in the Scientology Handbook, the main techniques the Scientology Volunteers use are Scientology Assists. These are easly used by anyone, no matter what your age or training, religion or ability. The point is to put the individual back in control of his own body and his area, so that he can get oriented, and back to battery.

The success of the Scientology Volunteers at disaster sites such as this is one of the reasons for the new Scientology Volunteer Minister Goodwill Tours that are now in Russia, Fiji and Taiwan. People in each of these areas are learning all about how to use Scientology techniques to help their own lives, both day-to-day and also in the event of any disaster.

If you also want to learn how this is done, go to the Scientology Handbook site and pick up a copy.