The View from Number 80

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Hubbard's Bare Cupboard

It is a failing in the modern world to pay overly much attention to the attitudes and opinions of movie stars, pop stars and the like. Just because someone is gifted as an actor, singer or dancer does not automatically imply that they have wisdom or knowledge in other fields - they may indeed do so but it should not be assumed purely because of their celebrity. Which preamble brings to mind John Travolta, Tom Cruise and their well-known association with the so-called religion of Scientology. Religion, cult, scam - what is Scientology (and its precursor/component Dianetics)? Ask the  Church of Scientology themselves and you will be told that it is mankind's last best hope - to quote the founder L. Ron Hubbard "A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology." It certainly sounds admirable enough - and yet stories circulate about mind control, coercion, amongst other worrying practices. (80 did go to the organization's home page but found in order to receive an information pack by email it was necessary to furnish information other than just an email address. I know of no email system that needs  a street address or telephone numbers for just a simple information request. Besides, 80 does already know a little of Scientology-albeit the less flattering side - see Bare-Faced Messiah on the Recommended Reading page and now published on the web.) As ever, an excellent source of information is The Skeptic's Dictionary - "Dianetics is a classic example of a pseudoscience." is but one of the observations made therein. 

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Dianetic Drivel?

Hubbard, a science fiction writer, wrote a book called Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health published in 1950. In it he claims to have found the reason for all "mental derangement" and also the cure. Under a pseudoscientific cover he then proceeds to outline a "science of mind" which would not be out of place in one of his science fiction stories - in fact they make a good deal more sense. Hubbard's arbitrary division of the mind into three parts is reminiscent of Freud's (the reference to psychoanalysis in The Skeptic's Dictionary as "the granddaddy of all pseudoscientific psychotherapies, second only to Scientology as the champion purveyor of false and misleading claims about the mind, mental health and mental illness." comes as no surprise.) Hubbard's description of his "engrams" as a kind of protoplasmic memory of past events (most often occurring in the womb) would be laughable except that there are people promoting and applying this drivel right now. (Most recently in the aftermath of the horrific events of September 11th as mentioned in Baneful Biblical Basis? also see this). Using what started out as a novelty lie detector which became the e-meter still employed today, Scientologists claim to be able to "audit" and "clear" the subject of engrams leading to a superior human being. (Jargon filter - see this page for a quick rundown.)

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Broiling Bivalves

There are a good few sites on the web portraying a different and frightening Scientology, far removed from any conventional ideas of a "science of the mind" and the religion it became. The most prominent perhaps is the very well laid out Operation Clambake (which 80 has used for many of the links in this page). Here the whole Scientology/Dianetics set up is subjected to withering scrutiny. On the Frequently Asked Questions page, Andreas Heldal-Lund, creator of the site, firmly states the position taken - "People should be free to believe whatever they want, including Scientology. What I have against CoS (Church of Scientology) is its deceitfulness, its lack of compassion for its members (especially the hard-working staff), its aggressive hard sell, its arrogance, its attack on free speech, its litigiousness, its harassment of its critics, its lack of concern for families, its gross neglect and abuse of children, etc." This is strong stuff that in 80's opinion is more than backed up by the information and links provided on this site. (why clams and clambake? Because Hubbard in his wisdom claimed that humans are descended from clams, which should surprise more than a few evolutionary biologists. Thus "clam" can now be taken as shorthand for Scientologist. A clambake is unremarkably enough the cooking of this bivalve mollusc.) 

The litigiousness mentioned in Heldal-Lund's statement refers to a tactic used by the CoS to deter criticism of its claims. By judicious use of copyright laws backed by plenty of money the cult attempts to stifle any discussion of Scientology literature that is not already in the public domain. This means that if you quote any internal literature of the organisation you will be subject to the attentions of their lawyers. Another documented tactic is flooding newsgroups, such as alt.religion.scientology, that have a less than favorable view of Hubbard's drivel, with "sporgeries", fake posts using people's real names. (Jargon filter - sporgery = spam/forgery)

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Cult F.A.C.T.s

Another site that features much about Scientology and its harmful effects is F.A.C.T.Net, which describes itself as the "Homepage of Cults, Brainwashing, Mind Control." Despite what 80 feels is a slightly hysterical tone there is much of interest here, Scientology being just one of the cults monitored. Recent pieces have discussed the cult of martyrdom fostered by fundamentalist Islam and an article that caught 80's eye immediately, entitled "Jesus Is Back, and She's Chinese." There is also a link to an item from Time magazine, "Scientology: The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power" with the subheading "Ruined lives. Lost fortunes. Federal crimes. Scientology poses as a religion but really is a ruthless global scam -- and aiming for the mainstream." This damning expose, dated 1991, shows sadly that little has changed since then.

And finally for anyone who thinks that the concern about Scientology is misplaced or paranoid the Lisa McPherson Memorial Page makes for sobering reading. Some parts of this site may not be for the squeamish. It is instructive to compare the glossy world of Travolta and Cruise with the squalid reality. The creator of the Lisa site, Jeff Jacobsen, has his own page, where a welcome dose of ridicule is brought to bear (check out the photos of Hubbard auditing a tomato and vice versa!). 

Incidentally, we must not tar all actors with the same brush - this is from Vibe magazine interviewing Johnny Depp -

"Awhile ago, I took over this little apartment on Hollywood Boulevard from a friend of mine. I was dead broke, scrounging. He'd go to Mexico all the time and leave all these pesos lying around. I'd change them at the corner
check-cashing place so I could get a meal and some cigarettes. I did that until I found this Scientology place down the street. They'd give you $3 to take this weird f------ test. I'd answer all the questions under different names. I survived that way for quite awhile." 

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Chronic Argosy

Bored with the humdrum, the everyday? Why not visit the Time Travel Research Center (this link is now dead - try the  Way Back Machine) dedicated to ...... research into time travel. As the opening page puts it "The greatest scientific quest in the history of mankind is underway. Learn how you can experience the excitement, discovery and adventure as the pursuit of time travel races on!". This good looking page initially lulled the trusting 80 into thinking this might really be about time travel research. What do you mean that's fantasy? Not quite - time travel of various sorts is not forbidden by Einstein's General Relativity and has been written about by respected physicists such Kip Thorne and and Frank Tipler. (This does NOT  mean that 80 subscribes to the proposition the "everything not forbidden is compulsory").

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Time Twaddle

Following a couple of links here though soon brings the visitor to never-never land. After clicking ENTER one is taken to a page of links - this one in particular caught 80's eye "Experiments in Time. Study the greatest time travel experiments from history and the attempts to cover up scientific proof of real time time travelers". Click on through and a list of topics is presented, many overly familiar. How about The Philadelphia Experiment, UFO Connection, Pyramids of Egypt - to mention just three. Choose these or any of the others on this page to be presented with unquestioning retreads of the same old mixture of trash, gullibility and good old-fashioned paranoia. The Great Pyramid page is nicely representative (80 has looked at Pyramidiots before). The writer, billed as "time traveler/futurist Gordon-Michael Scallion" manages to mention Edgar Cayce (!) as an authority and decides the pyramids cannot have been built by conventional means on the grounds that he, Scallion, cannot believe it. (This is known as the argument from incredulity - a favorite device of creationists, amongst others.) To cap it all Scallion then describes his visions, where he is able to see how the monuments were really constructed - 

"Also in the air, I see large cigar-shaped flying machines which resemble hot-air balloons. Cables hang down from the craft to anchor points below. Workers dressed in white kilts and cloth hats that have long flaps extending down to their shoulders, are removing stones from cradles that are housed below the craft. The activity reminds me of helicopters that transport heavy materials on platforms, supported by cables. I can see other air ships coming into the area, being guided by anchor cables from point to point. Each ship carries a cradle, one stone in each, with markings on each stone in glyph form. Here, I realize, is an unconsidered possibility in the pyramid puzzle. These air machines were used to transport the stones from quarries to the site — not barges, rollers, ramps and slaves!"

Right, much more believable.......especially the hot air.

Maybe more can be gained from this - Crystal Time Travel. Here is the introduction - 

"Crystals are living entities and not objects. They exist in two states: closed (dormant) and open (active). They are commended open by the mind or a series of sound vibrations. They hold a lot of information about our own crystal line form (the human body). And this information leads to a better connection to the soul and the spirit."

As was said earlier, never-never land. There is much more, including a trip to Venus where one thing does not seem to change - "I knew that my guide was a woman, she had a very attractive energy ........." even in the astral plane old pick-up lines still sound the same. The Time Travel Research Center site is large and 80 has not had time (or energy) to visit every link but if those above are representative then time will probably never be found.

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Hyper Hokum

Perhaps browsing through the research center is not the answer - why not cut to the chase and build your own time machine? Well, to be precise the device being peddled by one Steven Gibbs is a Hyper Dimensional Resonator but apparently it does the job - and for a paltry 360 bucks. Gibbs has wisely placed a disclaimer on the page - "THERE IS NO WARRANTY OR GUARANTEE ON THESE UNITS. THESE UNITS ARE ONLY SOLD FOR EXPERIMENTAL AND RESEARCH PURPOSES. THERE IS NO MONEY BACK GUARANTEE." (80 assumes that if the resonator works the dishonest could just go back in time and stop payment of the check) This schematic of the resonator is far from enlightening although it bears more than a passing resemblance to the Scientologist's laughable e-meter gizmo. If you still can't decide whether to take the financial plunge try the interview with Gibbs in the aptly titled Strange magazine. After reading this 80 couldn't help but wonder if Gibbs and "time traveler/futurist Gordon-Michael Scallion" are one and the same - if not they certainly should meet. (Sadly funds are short right now but if anybody does buy a resonator 80 stands ready to chronicle their adventures in Time and would also like to sell them Brooklyn Bridge.)

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Miscellany

A couple of sites stand ready for those who wish to give, shall we say, original gifts for the holiday season. It is 80's belief that many of us have friends or acquaintances that would benefit from Under Tec's innovative product and for the lover of music this item from Koss would make a real festive talking point.
The Why Files, originating from the University of Wisconsin, subheaded Science Behind the News, does pretty much what it says with useful links to information about matters in the public eye such as currently "Do Genes Govern Behaviour?". Also here is the Larry Dodder Guide to Science, a lighthearted look at various items which, it seems, is aimed at younger folk than the grizzled 80 but deserving of recommendation for being informative without being dumbed-down. Also look out for Mouse Urine Serves Science!
Here is a site that 80 has long felt ought to exist - called ShouldExist it is composed of suggestions from contributors of items that, um, should exist. Ideas range from the innovative and intriguing to the blindingly obvious to the hopelessly banal.
Last but far from least is Vmyths.com. There has been a spate of email borne viruses and worms of late causing inconvenience and disruption of various sorts. Almost as much of a pain are the countless virus warning messages sent out by well-meaning but ignorant souls, adding to the general chaos. Often these folk are taken in by a virus hoax rather than the real thing. Vmyths is the place to go to find out the straight information on current viruses, real and hoax. Highly recommended.

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Quotes


"Why, all the Saints and Sages who discuss’d
Of the Two Worlds so learnedly, are thrust
Like foolish Prophets forth; their Words to Scorn
Are scatter’d, and their Mouths are stopt with Dust." 

The Ruba’iyat of Omar Khayyam, the Astronomer Poet of Persia
Edward Fitzgerald’s adaptation/translation

"I don't necessarily agree with everything I say."  Marshall McLuhan 


"One thing I have learned in a long life: that all our science, measured against reality, is primitive and childlike--and yet it is the most precious thing we have." Albert Einstein

"Inspect every piece of pseudoscience and you will find a security blanket, a thumb to suck on, a skirt to hold. What have we to offer in exchange? Uncertainty! Insecurity!"  Isaac Asimov, Skeptical Inquirer, Spring 1986

 

     

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