Ex-Scientology Kids: A New Cyberspace Phenomenon

Astra, Jenna, and Kendra are three young women who built the website Ex-Scientology Kids, after leaving the Church of Scientology. At first glance, these attractive young women look more likely to promote some innovative New Age Spiritualism or Herbal Gardening co-operative. Digging deeper, I found that each girl was born into a family within the Scientology Church, and felt compelled to leave. In fact, Astra was pressured by the Church to have an abortion. Jenna and Kendra's family ties were severed as a result of leaving, while Astra, her father and her sister all walked away from the group. Finding strength and therapy through discussing their common experiences, they developed this forum. Although pro-Scientology letters are welcome, they're very up front about the fact that, "Most of the people that write for this site have had extremely negative experiences in Scientology."

The site itself is attractive, well-planned, and easy-to use. The lay-out is colorful, straight to the point, and simple to navigate. There's a series of hyperlinks to the right side of the screen, where background information, discussion formats and links to other sites are listed. The most important one, containing first-hand accounts of Scientology Kids who've left the Church is where it belongs, right on top! The three women work to be non-judgemental; in fact, there's direct links to websites managed by the Church of Scientology. Pro-Scientology informational material is faithfully reproduced on the website, and it's easy to find. They're not trying to say that they support the Church; rather, they believe that full disclosure will benefit folks both within and outside the Church of Scientology.

Following the completion of Fourth Grade, back at Cumberland Elementary School in Lansing, Michigan, I attended a religion-based camp up in Fairview every summer until I graduated in High School. The Lutheran Church I attended promoted the camp, and it had an evangelical flair that was very different from the Catholic Masses I attended with my grandma. It was also different from the Lutheran Churches I attended; however, I later found that the Church split into a traditional and evangelical Synod. I only knew, at the tender age of 10, that I loved the beautiful cedar and pines Up North. The people were kind, the activities enjoyable, and the church services interesting and educational. I enjoyed the camp immensely, even working there as a teen-ager for a few weeks my last summer.

The only negative episode I remember was a visiting preacher, this hellfire and brimstone sort of guy. I'm a fairly quiet person, and even as a child I never talked during lectures or services. I never fidgeted. Certainly, I was the least disruptive individual you can imagine. Well this guy came in all hell-bent on scaring the living daylights out of every kid in camp! The first evening set the tone. I clearly remember, nearly 40 years later, this guy shaking with anger and screaming at several of the more disruptive campers. He berated the entire audience. His behavior was so atypical of what I had been used to at this particular camp. By that time, I was a seasoned return camper. I'd never witnessed a pastor at any church act the way this man did. I was scared to death to step so much as a toe out of line that entire week. The only thing that kept me going was the fact that I knew the week would end soon, and I was fairly confident this guy wasn't ever coming back again. Even the counselors seemed fairly aghast at his approach. The young girl in charge of our group gently explained that he was a different sort of religious leader. She never criticized him, but she tried her best to comfort us before bed-time.

These sort of scare tactics are common in the Church of Scientology, as described in their first-person reporting. The Ex-Scientology Kids' founders describe a boot-camp type existence, where children are separated from their families. After leaving the Church, ties are cut with family and friends left behind. The Church itself officially denies these practices, but the "Stories from the Inside" reports describe labelling as "Supressed Persons" (SPs) for former members. Families won't even visit their new grandchildren, refuse to accept phone calls, and visits are discouraged. In one case, it took a court order to facilitate reconciliation.

Throughout my life, I've been approached by various religious groups and cults. During my intial Army enlistment, my college years at Michigan State, and during my career in the US Air Force, I witnessed various fundamentalist groups and religious cults recruiting young men and women. In general, they prefer individuals going through a personal crisis. Otherwise, they look for lonely single folks and those with some sort of estrangement in their family life. The military and college are great recruiting grounds, because the populations are away from home, many for the first time. Because of my experience at the church camp, I remain extremely suspicious of their efforts. On the good side, many "converts" find peace and solace with their new friends. Often, they're able to gain hope, overcome substance addiction, and maintain productive lives. On the negative side, these groups can be extremely judgemental and demanding. What begins with a single meeting on Sunday evolves to daily prayer groups and events centered around the organization. Certain behavior is dictated. Eventually, the entire friendship and social circle is limited to group members.

Often, members are tasked to recruit additional converts. Initially, they work on their family and friends. The relationship might be tenuous at best, but recruiters of religion, like those within the Church of Scientology use the following methods: distribute educational literature; invite people to church meetings and services; preach in public areas (including workcenters); and engage potential members in debate about religion. As a Flight Commander, supervising over 100 airmen and NCO's on shift duty, I had the experience of encountering mid-level supervisors and even a senior manager who used their position to recruit members for their faith-based groups. Finally, I recruited the help of our base chaplain at San Vito dei Normanni Air Station, in Italy, to confront the problem head-on. After the shift ended, two NCO's were escorted from the operations floor (a secure compartmented intelligence facility) over to a dormitory dayroom. The base chaplain counseled the two men that they were not allowed to preach on duty, and should restrict their efforts from the workcenter. Base regulations spelled out that the base chaplain was the authority and non-chaplain personnel were not allowed to interfere with work production by prostelyzing and preaching on duty. Later on, I was able to introduce an addition to the unit operations regulations to limit the type of reading material which could be brought onto the operations floor. While servicemembers could read anything they chose outside the workcenter, on-duty they were limited to official training and educational documents, the Stars & Stripes newspaper, Airman magazine, and material related to their professional military education and certification. Religious material was specifically forbidden.

I have no problem with people going to the church or group of their choice. Unfortunately, in the military, people abused their supervisory and work positions in order to pressure other servicemen and women to join their group. At my next assignment, a young woman was kept behind in training because of two senior NCO's who combined efforts to slow down her training flight orientations. One of the first women selected for airborne training, this young woman had to change duty stations in order to finally certify at her primary job. Why were the men against her? She was living with her boyfriend off-base, and their church frowned on that conduct. The boyfriend was allowed to progress, but the woman was held back. The Church of Scientology uses similar methods to marginalize members who question their policies and procedures.

More recently, I became interested in the Church of Scientology after my 16 year old son introduced me to a popular South Park video on the internet. Check out my links for access to the video, which satirizes some of basic teachings of the Church. Another interesting and educational movement, called Operation Clambake can be accessed on line at www.xenu.net This collaborative effort recently organized a very successful worldwide protest against the Church of Scientology. On February 10th, the members gathered outside Scientology Buildings across the globe, in order to highlight some of the negative aspects of the organization. The members work to remain anonymous, and shield their faces from identification. Often photographed/filmed in masks and robes with an alien motif, they mock some Church doctrine highlighted in the South Park video. Their next protest is scheduled for a week from Saturday, on March 15, 2008. Check out their discussion forums, which highlight an exceptionally well-organized gathering in many major cities. Their first protest saw thousands of members participating. This next effort promises to surpass their previous success. Other than Fox News, most media sources ignored the initial protest. You can find great photos and video on their website, with great links to additional resource material.

Many cult, evangelical, and fundamentalist religions help their own members. They offer friendship, charity, and can help people overcome substance addiction, depression, loneliness, and other personal trauma. It's the secretive nature of the inner workings of the Church of Scientology that are under attack. Some people are described as being harmed by the Church. Like most of America, I witnessed Brooke Shields being publically tortured and ridiculed for her use of anti-depressants after episodes of post-partum depression. Lisa McPherson was another Church member who died shortly after some Scientologists left her at a hospital in horrible condition, as reported by members of Operation Clambake. The February 10th protest was organized on the date of McPherson's birth, to bring public attention to that ordeal. Their website elaborates on Lisa's story, providing links to additional on-line material.

The Church of Scientology's founder, L. Ron Hubbard, is widely quoted as saying, "If you want to make a little money, write a book. If you want to make a lot of money, create a religion."

Personally, I am more fond of Sir Francis Bacon, and the following quotes: "Knowledge is Power. (Ipsa Scientia Potestas Est)" and "Silence is the Virtue of Fools." Hopefully this article will inspire readers to delve into learning about the Church of Scientology and similar organizations. You're welcome to join the protestors on March 15th. Simply access their website and find the nearest Scientology Center near you.