| Don_Carlo wrote: |
|
[snip] SENTENCE # 1 from Bernie's Homepage: QUOTE: While more and more information (and disinformation) about Scientology is available through the internet, the anti-cult movement goes largely unnoticed.END QUOTE from http://bernie.cncfamily.com/ Bernie may be the first person to critically examined the opponents of Scientology, without calling us SP's. Bernie has a less loaded name for critics: "the anti-cult movement," It's STILL loaded, however, making us sound negative and mob-like. The clip art is odd. On the right is the Cult Awareness Network. This indeed was an intensely committed organization, and some of its people were zealous enough to advocate de-programming. However, the Cult Awareness Network was destroyed by CoS in 1996, and in fact CoS took over the mailing list and the entire organization. http://www.rpi.net.au/~marina/cos/can/can96h1.htm So Bernie's 7 years out of date, here. On the right side is misty, El-Greco style clip art with with a church, a star, a Christian cross and the word "RELIGION." Bernie chose this ready-made clip art that, to me, trumpets the sanctity of religion as compared to the profane mudfights of alt.religion.scientology. BERNIE'S DESCRIPTION of ARS: QUOTE: alt.religion.scientology is a newsgroup dedicated to criticism of Scientology.END QUOTE This is true only if you think that usenet groups must have only one viewpoint. A.r.s. is open to anyone: trolls, anti-psychiatry posters, AND anti-CoS posters. The founders of a.r.s. wanted to criticize Scientology, sure, but they also wanted open debate and free speech. NEXT BERNIE SENTENCE: While actual information can sometimes be found, the newsgroup is a lively example of anti-cult bigotry. END QUOTE Exactly what is Bernie's definition of bigotry? Using visual clues, it seems to be any criticism of Scientology THE RELIGION, (see above note on sanctified clip art). If that is the case, yes, a.r.s. is crawling with bigotry. But what if CoS is not a sanctified group, but a scam? Then a.r.s. is crawling with whistle-blowers. Some jerks regularly visit a.r.s. and throw around insults. It's an annoying sideshow on many usenet groups. Does one jerk critic make every critic on a.r.s. a jerk? You might just as well criticize the entire Internet. I click on "Alt.religion.scientology" and on to Bernie's next web page. |
| Don_Carlo wrote: |
| Tsk tsk. Bernie still has heavily biased clip art.
http://bernie.cncfamily.com/ars.htm Bernie still has a demon-with-steam-blowing-out-the ears clip art for "bigoted" critics, while he has a knight-in-shining-armor clip art for the "dissenters" (like himself) who are the critics of the critics. "The tech" has a lightbulb clip art, like it's The Guiding Light. Next I click on the "Introduction" link, and the link to "Neither Cults nor Anti-Cults." |
| Don_Carlo wrote: |
| BERNIE QUOTE: While
cults can be said to represent a form of danger from minorities to the
majority, anti-cults can be said to represent a form of oppression from
the majority towards these minorities. In no way is it less dangerous,
less ugly.END QUOTE from
http://bernie.cncfamily.com/sc/neithernor.htm My comment: What exactly was dangerous and ugly? "The anti-cult movement" could be Operation Clambake, since it is vilified elsewhere by Bernie. Although maybe we are ugly, since INDIVIDUALLY we could use a good haircut and some liposuction, we aren't as dangerous as CoS. We don't defraud, extort, or break up families. ALL WE DO IS WRITE. Can legally using our first amendment rights be so wrong? MORE BERNIE: Neither the simplistic "solutions" of cults nor the simplistic "solutions" of anti-cults are acceptable. END QUOTE What is the simplistic solution that Bernie is talking about? We want everybody to know what CoS is really up to (including the cruel disconnection practice) , and prevent the influx of uninformed "raw meat," and encourage the outflow of dissatisfied Scientologists. We want the US government to enforce the law, punishing them for the fraud and extortion they have already committed, and preventing CoS from committing future fraud and extortion. This is not a simplistic solution. It involves many thoughtful decisions by potential new recruits, by dissatisfied CoS members, and by government bureaucrats. There will be many case-by-case decisions. Yes, there are trolls who say "Shut Scientology down." That's simplistic and wrong. Use the media, use the existing justice system, and CoS will crumble by the force of gravity. |
| Don_Carlo wrote: |
| Next stop on Bernie's website: My Story at http://bernie.cncfamily.com/scientology/my_story.htm
This page came out after I did my analysis of Bernie's site many months ago, so it is refreshing to read something new. Bernie shows thoughfullness and intelligence about his own experience in CoS. Interesting that he was interested in Krishnamurti, who the Theosophists decided on, and groomed to be Maitreya, the reincarnation of Buddha, until he disagreed with them and founded his own group. Bernie jumped into the Internet at a passionate and angry time: 1996. QUOTE: Horror stories of murder, physical restrain, and other pet killing, which for me were nothing but myths, where presented as typical. Questioning these were again met with cultic attacks. Bernie and the critics who argued with him were talking past each other. Bernie is trying to explain that he knows of no-one in CoS who was restrained. At the same time, the critics, who are freshly horrified and angered by the Lisa M. story (which happened Dec. 5, 1995), are trying to force the Lisa story down the throat of anyone who is dismissing it. Bernie got his feelings hurt - but isn't he supposed to be "at cause" not "at effect?" Bernie, defender of the CoS tech, still subscribes to the thumb-sucking philosophy what's true is what's true for you. Since he and his co-workers weren't restrained, that's his reality and he intends to tell the world that THAT is the important story, not this little oddity about Lisa. As I go through Bernie's website, I will look for how he treats the Lisa McPherson and Reed Slatkin stories. Although on nearly every page Bernie calls his site "balanced" he carefully leaves out the things CoS really has to be ashamed of. It's irrelevant to Bernie's defense that Andreas, or the founders of alt.religion.scientology are biased against CoS. Andreas and a.r.s. founders WERE PROUD to be anti-CoS, and Andreas' website and actions are consistent with that. Yet both OCMB and a.r.s. allow all kinds of pro-and-anti-Scientology commentators. Bernie claims to be unbiased, yet allows only carefully selected snippets from "moderate critics." His hurt feelings loom large, and we are supposed to feel sympathy for him, while the story of Lisa is so far unworthy of sympathy or even comment from him. So far his website is inconsistent with the claim of balance. |