VOLUNTEER MINISTERS--Scientology in Society

In 1973, Founder of Dianetics and Scientology L. Ron Hubbard conducted a sociological study in New York City and discovered a society that had dramatically worsened from the city he remembered years before. From this study he predicted where the culture was headed: rampant immorality, violence as sport, and ultimately, politics by terrorism.

Needed was a way to help others live their lives and build their futures. In answer, Mr. Hubbard drew the plans for a grassroots movement, one that would instill these values back into society and so halt the decline: the Scientology Volunteer Ministers Program.

SCIENTOLOGY IN SOCIETY

Scientologists learn the principles of Scientology in Scientology churches and through Scientology books and materials and apply those principles out in society. The practice of Scientology involves the application of those principles to create better conditions in society. It is a maxim of Scientology that one is as valuable as one is able to help others. All Scientology services are aimed at improving the ability to help. Thus Scientology not only seeks to improve society through instilling a moral and ethical compass into people, but also by getting them to do something positive to help others in society as a practical expression of their religious beliefs.

Scientologists come from all walks of life. They are concerned about social problems and support numerous social betterment programs, which provide successful drug-abuse rehabilitation, improve educational standards and help reduce crime and moral decay.

Scientologists know what it means to take responsibility for improving conditions around them. The humanitarian programs supported by the Church of Scientology and its parishioners are expanding at an unprecedented rate. Those programs include:

• The largest non-governmental anti-drug campaign on Earth—a campaign that reaches tens of millions of youth each year;
• The sponsorship of an international drug rehabilitation and training center in answer to the worldwide drug crisis;
• The largest non-governmental Human Rights public information campaign on Earth, broadly promoting all 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to educate the public on everyone’s fundamental rights;
• The support of an international training campus to assist educators with Study Technology;
• A Scientology Volunteer Ministers program that has initiated volunteer disaster relief efforts and other assistance on a global scale and whose corps of 203,000 active members who are on call at any time and any place in the world for any situation. During 2008, the Volunteer Ministers passed the milestone of 11 million people helped;
• The sponsorship of an international foundation to help restore morality and the brotherhood of Man.

The Church continues to be a relentless voice in the fields of social reform and justice. Scientologists have brought to light such issues as the enforced drugging of school children, the dangers of psychiatric brutalities such as electric shock treatment and lobotomy, and the chemical and biological warfare experiments secretly undertaken against unwitting American citizens in the 1960s and 1970s. The Church also has championed the principle of open government and pioneered the use of the Freedom of Information Act and other access laws around the world to protect the public interest and eradicate government waste and human rights abuses.

The goal of the Church of Scientology is to improve society through our programs and activities and the active role we are taking in the world today.

The aims of the Scientology religion, as stated by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard are:

“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.”

The Church welcomes inquiries from people who want to know about Scientology.

Joplin Tornado Volunteers Share a Perspective —Help is the Bottom Line

Sometimes, it’s the simple things that make the biggest difference.

A Scientology Volunteer Minister who helped in the wake of the Joplin, Missouri tornado in May 2011 described how much people appreciated his willingness to do some hard work.

For several hours, he and some other volunteers helped a woman dig through the wreckage of her home. She was so grateful about the dishes and glasses they salvage—these were cherished possessions that had belonged to her mother.

One family was thrilled when they recovered the children’s toys. And one of her neighbors was relieved to have them help clear her driveway so she could drive to work.

After helping a woman and her grandson load a trailer with their possessions, they asked if she needed anything else. She said her wedding ring was missing—her late husband had it made for her and she really treasured it. Locating what used to be the master bedroom they began to search. Digging through the debris, first they found her diamond earrings, then more jewelry. When they finally found the wedding ring in a clump of insulation, the 80-year-old grandmother literally jumped for joy.

Two women were laboring unsuccessfully to load their great-grandfather’s table saws and 100-pound drills into a truck. When the Volunteer Ministers got the tools onto the bed of the truck, their helped was rewarded with hugs.

It was physically taxing, but it made a difference to people who really needed a hand after a disaster. The Joplin experience once again confirmed for them that the Volunteer Ministers motto—“Something can be done about it” —is not simply words, it is a way of life.

A Volunteer Minister does not shut his eyes to the pain, evil and injustice of existence. Rather, he is trained to handle these things and help others achieve relief from them and new personal strength as well.

How does a Volunteer Minister accomplish these miracles? Basically, he uses the technology of Scientology to change conditions for the better — for himself, his family, his groups, friends, associates and for mankind." -- L. Ron Hubbard