Mr. David Miscavige - Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center

I noticed a very nice new look to the David Miscavige blog on blogspot.com.

Its description is: "As the driving force behind the worldwide program to expand all of the churches of Scientology to better serve their communities, Mr. David Miscavige has traveled extensively addressing hundreds of thousands of Scientologists and non-Scientologists at international Scientology celebrations and events."

John Travolta and Kelly Preston on "Scientology birth"

I found this article on the Malaysian Star today:

Movies > Movie Buzz

Hollywood couple John Travolta and Kelly Preston have spoken out in support of fellow Scientologist Tom Cruise and his fiancée, Katie Holmes’, controversial silent birth in the coming days, IMDb.com reports.

The heavily pregnant Holmes will be adhering to a Scientology rule and give birth without screaming obscenities or making loud noises.

Travolta insists that the birthing procedure, which has been mocked in the press over the past few months, isn’t like what people think it is.

He said: “There are unwanted emotions and pain that goes along with any birth.”

Meanwhile, Preston insists the Scientology-friendly labour doesn't forbid the mum-to-be from yelling out in pain: “Screaming is fine... It's the words. If you can avoid saying certain phrases and words... Just try to keep it as quiet as possible. Of course you're going to groan and yell. It hurts. Just keep it to a minimum.”

It's so odd that there is so much manufactured controversy on this subject.

The Church of Scientology International put out a media advisory on the subject last week. which I'm reprinting below:

Los Angeles — Church of Scientology International responds to inquiries concerning the application of Dianetics and Scientology principles to child birth.

What is a quiet or silent birth?

Having a quiet, gentle birth is all about providing the best possible environment for the birthing mother and her new baby.

It is labor and delivery done in a calm and loving environment and with no-spoken words by everyone attending as much as possible. Chatty doctors and nurses, shouts to “PUSH, PUSH” and loud or laughing remarks to “encourage” are the types of things that are meant to be avoided.

As L. Ron Hubbard, Founder of Dianetics and Scientology, wrote, “Everyone must learn to say nothing within the expectant mother’s hearing during labor and delivery.” And, “A woman who wants her child to have the best possible chance will find a doctor who will agree to keep quiet especially during the delivery, and who will insist upon silence being maintained in the hospital delivery room as far as it is humanly possible.”

Does this mean that a mother cannot scream or moan at all?

Of course they can make noises — the point of silent birth is NO WORDS. This is a principle of Dianetics and to fully understand why, read the book Dianetics the Modern Science of Mental Health, by L. Ron Hubbard. It is words that are the culprit. Outside of not speaking, the objective is generally to have as peaceful and relaxing an environment as possible for the mother and child. It is doubtful that any woman could give birth without making any noise at all.

Mothers naturally want to give their baby the best possible start in life and thus keep the birth as quiet as possible.

Does the application of these principles preclude a mother from using medicines?

The Church has no policy against the use of medicines to help a person with a physical situation. This, too, is up to the mother and her doctor.

For more information:

If you have any questions, or would like to speak with a representative of the Church of Scientology International about the above, please contact Pascal Cottier. Phone: (323) 960-3500 — e-mail: mediarelationsdir@scientology.net

To really understand the concept underlying silent birth one should read Dianetics books. There are two I recommend: Dianetics the modern Science of Mental Health and Dianetics: the Evolution of a Science.

This coming week, Scientologists all around the world will be out on the streets in their home towns giving stress tests and getting Dianetics books to people who want to learn about the subject. But if you want to get one right away, chances are it's in your bookstore or library.

Chick Corea - Jazz Great

Chick Corea on hit new album, working with Miles and Scientology

HeraldToday.com has a great article today about one of my favorite musicians.

I had the opportunity to attend the most marvelous concert I've ever been to, at the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre about three years ago, where I heard Chick and his band and his singer-wife Gayle Moran, jam for several sets of the most compelling jazz I've ever heard.

Here's what the HeraldToday had to say about him:

He's one of the greatest jazz pianists alive. Chick Corea has excelled in the studio and on stage — as a performer, composer and band leader — for the past 40 years.

It goes on to say this:

The pianist attributes his good fortune to Scientology, the religion founded by science fiction/fantasy novelist L. Ron Hubbard. In fact, Corea's past two albums have been inspired by Hubbard novels of the same titles. "Browsing through my collection I was drawn to the title 'The Ultimate Adventure,'" reads the album's liner notes. "Remembering that this unique fantasy story had a backdrop of scenes and characters from the ancient tales, 'Arabian Nights,' it immediately had me conjuring emotions, sounds, rhythms and music."

Corea relocated to Clearwater about seven years ago to be closer to Scientology's headquarters and the courses he takes at their facilities. One of the pianist's "treasured" possessions is a collection of correspondence he shared with Hubbard from 1971 to 1984. The two men became mutual fans. "

(Hubbard) was an amazing man and we became friends in that way," Corea said. "He listened to a lot of my records — he really liked 'Return to Forever.’ ” .... Scientology is the greatest thing that's hit the planet in a long time."

New Blog

Just found a new blog I like. It's http://creativexpression.blogsome.com/

Today's posting about Mr. David Miscavige dedicating the new Church of Scientology of San Francisco reminded me how much I love that city.

Congratulations to the Church of Scientology of San Francisco

Two weeks ago at the annual celebration of L. Ron Hubbard's birthday in Clearwater, Florida, and even emcee’s by Mr. David Miscavige and later shown to the members of every Scientology church and mission in the world, the Churches of Scientology of San Francisco were acknowledged for accomplishing a very important level of expansion.

It is referred to as their having reached the size of old Saint Hill. Saint Hill was the church that was established when L. Ron Hubbard lived in Sussex, England in the mid-1960s. It was big and booming, with Scientologists flooding to the town of East Grinstead from the four corners of Earth to be with Ron when he personally delivered a course called the Saint Hill Special Briefing Course. He delivered lectures twice a day almost every day of the year, outlining the latest news of his research into the mind and spirit.

Two weeks ago it was announced that the Churches of Scientology of San Francisco (two churches - one that is open during the week days and one that is open in the same location during week nights and over the weekend), had achieved the same level of expansion as Saint Hill in its heyday.

Mr. David Miscavige came to San Francisco a couple of years ago to dedicate the new building these churches had just moved into - a beautiful landmark in downtime San Francisco, impeccably restored and set up to service this great city.

Here is an excerpt from the speech David Miscavige gave at this grand opening event:

Thank you very much and it is truly my great pleasure to join you in opening this new Church of Scientology of San Francisco. Because, and let there be no doubt, the significance of this day transcends what stands before you. And that really is saying something, since what stands before you is nothing short of spectacular, representing the decade-long dreams of Bay Area Scientologists.

Yet, while that alone may be cause for celebration, the importance of this new church, your new church, extends far beyond this structure, or this city.

In that regard, today marks a milestone step in our planetary Crusade to urgently bring on our help on a global scale, with the importance of today's occasion extending across the Scientology world.

For while the official ribbon cutting will mark the completion of one cycle-of-action, it actually is the start of another you can mark down as a pivotal point in history. And no, none of it is by chance, none of it isolated. Rather, and whether you were aware of it or not, there are specific reasons for: "Why San Francisco?" and "Why now?"

As for timing, it has everything to do with crucial strategic programs launched as part of our "wake-up call".

As for San Francisco — it has everything do with that word "history." I am of course referring to L. Ron Hubbard, and just why he was always so fond of this area. Because, while many other cities are known for LRH milestones in research and development: Places like Elizabeth, New Jersey and Book One (Dianetics), Wichita, Kansas and the isolation of the human spirit, Philadelphia and the Doctorate Course, Phoenix, Arizona and the roots of our religion, Washington DC and the Founding Church. Not to mention so many others, through his years at St. Hill in England, and the Flagship Apollo, none of them can claim the fame of where we stand today.

For if this church marks the beginning of a new era it is only appropriate since it is also where the entire journey began. Or, put another way, when LRH delivered his famed lecture "The Story of Dianetics and Scientology" the events in this city are that story.

Scientology 'not a once-on-Sunday religion'

The Battle Creek Enquirer had an interesting article on the Church of Scientology of Battle Creek. It's an interview with Michael Delaware, a Scientologist and a Battle Creek resident for the past five years. Delaware is a full-time Scientology minister and he describes what it's like to be a Scientologist.

Q: How long have you been a part of the Church of Scientology? "Since the late '80s. I read some books and took a look for myself. I pursued it further and joined within a few months."

Q: In what ways do you prefer to express your faith? "We try to live by it every day. We're not a once-on-Sunday religion. We work on communication with our spouses and friends and family. We apply principles of how to have good relationships with people that we meet. There's a great deal of study that I do every day; Scientology teaches us how to study properly. I took courses through the church, and then I finally took the ministerial training within the church. This took place over several months."

Q: Have you been inspired by any particular books, movies, music or works of art? "The first book I ever read on the subject of Scientology was a book called 'Dianetics' by L. Ron Hubbard. As for the arts, any appreciation for the arts is encouraged in the church. The principles of Scientology are applied to daily life, so you take it and learn about aesthetics so that what you really want to communicate is understood at the other end. It's therefore not surprising that artists find that very useful. There are a lot of talented artists, actors, producers, directors, painters, illustrators and musicians of all kinds who are in the church. We also have a lot of professional businessmen, doctors, people from all walks of life." more >>

The Volunteer Ministers of the Church of Scientology of Arizona participated in the Coolidge Cotton Festival, an annual celebration of the heritage of this community, where the mild weather of the region made Arizona one of the most important sources of cotton in the USA.

The story is covered on the Volunteer Ministers Web Site.

Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard Honored at Worldwide Celebration

The Scientology Web site has an article about the annual birthday celebration of Scientology founder, L. Ron Hubbard. It was held in Clearwater last Friday, where Mr. David Miscavige was master of ceremonies for the event, this was shown in Los Angeles on L. Ron Hubbard Way.

Scientologists, friends and admirers this week are celebrating the extraordinary life of international best-selling author and founder of the Scientology religion, L. Ron Hubbard (1911-1986). In conjunction with his March 13 Birthday, more than 6,000 people gathered on L. Ron Hubbard Way in Los Angeles and another 5,000 in Clearwater, Florida to celebrate the 95^th anniversary of his birth. These events are being followed by celebrations in cities in over 120 countries around the world.

A best-selling author during his 50-year writing career, Hubbard wrote 19 New York Times bestsellers including Dianetics, which first appeared on the list in 1950 and returned again in 1988. The book has gone on to sell more than 20 million copies and become the most popular self-improvement book in the world. With more than 200 million copies of his works sold in 65 languages, Guinness World Records recently awarded Mr. Hubbard the title of the world’s most translated author. >>

ITALY AND CALIFORNIA JOINING HANDS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

I really enjoyed this story on the Scientology site that I found today.

At first glance, there are hardly two towns in the world that have less in common than Watts, California and Padova, Italy.

Watts is a classic American inner-city area. While community leaders are determined to create a cultural renaissance in Watts, media all-too often stereotyped this city by focusing on racial tension and gang violence between its Hispanic and African American populations.

On the other hand Padova, located 24 miles west of Venice, is a major political and cultural center, famous for its many Medieval and Renaissance churches, museums, and one of the oldest universities in all of Europe.

But as Ettore Botter, the Public Affairs Director of the Church of Scientology of Padova, learned this week, the most important qualities of these cities is something they have in common — the dreams of their youth.

Botter had his own dream — to forge an alliance that would transcend the differences between his ancient Italian city and this California neighborhood using UNITED, an award-winning human rights hip-hop music video that is promoted by Youth for Human Rights International in coordination with the Church of Scientology International. “Hip-hop music has become a universal language” said Botter. “Italian kids learn English these days by singing their favorite American songs.”


So when Youth for Human Rights International decided to hold a human rights workshop at Jordan High School in Watts, Botter insisted on participating and showing this film to the students.

In this music video paper airplanes serve as a symbol of tolerance, communication and solidarity among youth around the world, so Botter had the students write down their own dreams on pieces of paper made into a paper airplanes. He will bring these home with him to Italy when he returns next week, and have students in a Padova high school do the same and send their airplanes to Watts.

“L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of the Scientology religion once wrote ‘Human rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream,’” said Botter. “I believe the friendships they forge will give these youth the encouragement to make their own dreams and the dream of a better world come true.”

Scientology Celebrity Centre

Celebrity Centre International is a very special Scientology church.

According to the Celebrity Center web site:

The artist is capable of creating major effects that inspire our society and culture. Especially today in this high-tech age, where communications routinely address millions of people at a time — making the sphere of an artist’s influence almost boundless.

L. Ron Hubbard recognized the importance of the artist to society. Thus he created Celebrity Centre International — a Church of Scientology that specializes in delivering Dianetics and Scientology services to celebrities, professionals, leaders and promising new-comers in the fields of the arts, sports, management and government.

Many of the artists at Celebrity Centre are involved with the Scientology Volunteer Ministers program. For example, last November when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, John Travolta and Kelly Preston flew supplies into the area to back up the relief effort and Kirstie Ally drove a huge truckload of supplies in, as well.