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Scientology: It's all about image

Sat, 2009-03-28 11:40 — gargy

It is obvious to an outside observer that the Church of Scientology does not act, or react, in a logical manner. To an outside observer, the actions of the church don't make a lot of sense.

Why did the struggling church just spend $40 million dollars on a gaudy, and very expensive, renovation of their Fort Harrison Hotel?

Why did the church over-react to the leak of the infamous Tom Cruise video? Their reaction did far more damage to the church than the actual leak ever would have.

Why was the SuperPower building even started?

Why does the church keep purchasing building after building, while their existing churches are empty and even closing?

Why does the Church of Scientology continue to claim 8 million members and continue to claim they are the "fastest growing religion in the world" when even they know it is a lie?

There is a reason. From David Miscavige's point of view, all this makes "perfect sense".

It's all about image.

When the church claims 8 million members and claims to be the "fastest growing religion in the world", they are trying to sell that image of the church. They know it's a lie. They know they don't have 8 million members, not nearly. They know they are shrinking. Really, they do know all that. What they are trying to do is create and sell the image that the Church of Scientology is huge, and expanding.

It's only about image.

They reacted so poorly to the Tom Cruise video, and continue to react so badly to the Anonymous protests, because they believe these things damage their image. When they believe their image is threatened, they will go all out to defend it. Understand that they are defending the image, not necessarily Scientology or Scientologists.

The new buildings are all about image. The purchase of a new building creates the image of expansion. They know they aren't expanding. One might even guess that they know sucking every last penny from their parishioners is destroying any hope of real expansion. They don't care as long as they can promote the image of "expansion".

And some newspapers seem to fall for it. A few newspapers and news agencies that don't bother to investigate, talk about the "expansion of the Church of Scientology" -- but what is really happening is the church bought some big, empty buildings -- while closing churches!

The Super Power building was started, in a big rush and fanfare, during the Lisa McPherson trial, because the church knew that their image was being damaged. The Super Power building was started to sell the image of a popular, flourishing church. Something that was "good for the community".

They go after celebrities so urgently, and treat them so very, very well, because being the "church of celebrities" is an image they desperately want.

It's all about image.

But exactly why is image so very, very, very important to the Church of Scientology? Why does the image of expansion take priority over real expansion? Why is image of helping more important than the actual well-being and even the survival of Scientologists? Why does image appear to be the sole motivation for virtually all the Church of Scientology's actions?

Why? Because, when you get right down to it, that's all there is to the Church of Scientology. Image is all they've got!

They try to have the image of a successful, expanding, thriving church -- but they are shrinking, failing, collapsing.

Narconon attempts to create the image of tremendous success in helping people get over drug addiction with a "90% cure rate" -- but their actual results are pretty dismal, much lower than other programs.

The church tries to create the image that they have the solution to toxins in the body, the solutions to study problems, the solutions to world conflicts -- but their actual results are non-existent. They attempt to create these images without actually producing anything.

The Church of Scientology strives for the image of a group that has "all the answers" to everyone's problems, but they can't come up with one bit of evidence that their solutions actually help. There are no actual, proven, workable solutions -- just that false, and very tattered, image.

It must be said that they come by this honestly. L. Ron Hubbard's stories about himself and his "technology" were all about image. He wanted people to think very highly of him and so he lied. He claimed amazing things for his life, he claimed miraculous results from his "technology". None of it was real.

Today, Scientology's leader carries on that grand, illusive tradition. David Miscavige's fanciful event presentations are all about image. Scientologists leaving his events are often so impressed with "how well everything is going" -- but can't actually put their finger on any specific facts or anything actually done.

Today, now that the Church of Scientology's image is so badly damaged, now that Scientology is the punchline of so many jokes, now that the curtain of secrecy has been torn away and the lack of results is becoming obvious to all but a few True Believers, what is left?

The sorry image of failure, abuse and fraud.

When history judges the Church of Scientology, we can be pretty sure that that will be the church's ultimate image: Failure, abuse and fraud.

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Sun, 2009-08-16 16:35 — free space

CoS Front Groups: Many conducting business in our community...

This is Maggie Council's (council@luna.cas.usf.edu) list of Scientology front groups excerpted from a web site that no longer exists with a few additional groups from Mark Dallara excerpted from http://www.xenu-city.net/.  The original list looks several years out of date however it is the most comprehensive one available (a Google Groups search confirmed this). It should be noted that while many of these are probably defunct or renamed Scientology continues to infiltrate businesses via consulting fronts.

Links in bold type go to nodes with relevant material. Please /msg me if you node any of these companies/organizations. A more modern (however "official") "who's who" guide to CoS affiliation can be found in The following are trademarks and service marks of the Scientology religion and a more complete unofficial guide can now be found here: http://www.lermanet.com/frontgroups.html

  • ABLE Inc. - See Association for Better Living and Education
  • Akademie Für Management Und Kommunikation - WISE member; business front to spread LRH and Scientology in Europe [Prosperity*]
  • APPLIED SCHOLASTICS - Functions as an educational organization to spread LRH courses and Scientology ethics and beliefs in their schools. All schools licensed by Applied Scholastics are Scientology schools staffed and directed by scientologists. [Sci Adv*]
  • ASSOCIATION FOR BETTER LIVING AND EDUCATION - Runs some of the church's front groups and activities. Under ABLE's management, other fronts infiltrate businesses and organizations to introduce LRH's ideas and methods. Includes Applied Scholastics, the Way To Happiness Foundation, Narconon and Criminon. [Better Business Bureau] To get involved in education and community groups. Promotes Applied Scholastics and other Scientology organizations. [Sci Adv*] [NHJ]
  • Athens Gold - 4,500 acre mining property near Reno, CA, taken over by Michael BAYBAK, a scientologist [TIME]
  • AUTHOR SERVICES, INC. - manages Scientology's literary and financial affairs controlled by the church and influential scientologists. [NHJ] To sell and promote books, particularly policy.

    Noder's note: This is the front through which the Battlefield Earth flick was managed. Sadly, John Travolta bankrolled the film (and it's *shudder* sequel) so the spectacular failure didn't even scratch the paint on the CoS coffers. I was wrong -- John Travolta did not financially back the first film however he will be doing so for the second one.

  • BANCORP DEVELOPMENT, INC. - Members of the Patrons of the International Association of Scientologists (IAS) who have donated in excess of $40,000 to IAS' "war chest." [Impact*]
  • BRIDGE PUBLICATIONS - Scientology publishing and printing company; puts out Dianetics and other LRH books.
  • Business Success Sales and Management Training - Scientology front that lures people and businesses in with "management training" and seminars, and eventually steers them to LRH and Scientology. Members of IAS, donated to Authors Services Preservation of Tech.
  • CALICCHIO & CO., SPA - IAS members who donated in excess of $40,000 to "war chest"; donated in excess of $20,000 to Author Services Preservation of Tech.
  • CASA DOLCE CASA (Europe) WISE member fronting LRH tech in Europe [Prosperity*]
  • Celebrity Center Kids on Stage for a Better World - Entertainment(?) and PR, "The group exists to spread the word of scientology to the rest of the world." {Celeb. mag*]
  • Child Guidance Centers - Runs child Dianetics processing on children and encourages parents who are not already into Scientology to begin with Dianetics, etc. [Ch. Dia.*]
  • CHURCH OF SPIRITUAL TECHNOLOGY (COST) - functions as an archivist for LRH's works. [NHJ] Also functions as one of the corporations created to challenge the IRS's ruling against Scientology [Bet Bus Bur] Formed in part from assets stripped from Church of Scientology of California [Wollersheim]
  • CITIZENS FOR AN ALTERNATIVE TAX SYSTEM - Set up as a "citizen's" group to abolish the IRS entirely, uses the "Church of Spiritual Technology" as one of the corporations to challenge the IRS's ruling against them.
  • CITIZEN'S COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS (CCHR) - Founded by CoS in 1969. [TIME] Claims to help people who have been abused or mistreated by mental health practitioners (psychology, psychiatry, mental institutions). Intention: to defame, devalue, discredit and destroy the fields of psychiatry and psychology because they have disclaimed Dianetics and LRH as a schizophrenic [T Sci Tdy*, Sci Adv*] Disseminates reports discrediting psychiatry and individual psychiatrists [Bet Bus Bur]
  • CLEARWATER BEAUTIFICATION AND DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION - All four directors are acknowledged by Scientology documents for their participation in it. [xenu-city.net]
  • CLEARWATER COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS - Organizes fluff projects in Clearwater, Florida.
  • CLEARWATER BUSINESS ASSOCIATION - Affiliated with WISE. Registered as a fictitious name in the Florida corporate records database. [xenu-city.net]
  • CMI CORPORATE MARKETING - IAS members who have donated in excess of $40,000 to the IAS' "war chest."
  • COMMUNITY SERVICE GUILD - established in Washington, D.C. by Scientology to get LRH influence involved in public schools with a tutoring program [Freedom*]
  • COMPUTER ETHICS INSTITUTE (CEI) - Used by the Church of Scientology in their attempt to regulate the Internet [Freedom*]
  • CONCERNED BUSINESSMAN's ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA - sponsors writing contests and other programs in schools, and tries to get students involved in LRH beliefs. Hands out Way to Happiness (by LRH) to community groups, police, prisons, and other groups. Purpose: to promote Scientology and get name recognition for LRH [TIME] [NHJ] [Bet Bus Bur]
  • COST - See Church of Spiritual Technology
  • CRIMINON - Like Narcanon in prisons [Sci Adv*] [Sci News*]
  • CRY OUT - Interfaces with organizations like Greenpeace and capitalizes on children's environmental concerns; distributes comic book-like primer on the environment sponsored by Arsenio Hall and Rick Dees, and making no mention of Scientology, to school children. [Bet Bus Bur]
  • DISTRIBUTION VIDEO - Member of the Patrons of the Association who have donated in excess of $40,000 to the Assn's "war chest"
  • DRUG FREE MARSHALS PROGRAM - PR program to get a good name for Scientology into the community [C mag*] Favorable circumstance for photo and/or press opportunity; also makes available the distribution of "The Way TO Happiness" booklets to children to promote name and face recognition of LRH.
  • EARTHLINK NETWORK - Scientology-based computer information network founded by Scientologist Sky DAYTON (owner of Cafe Mocha and Joe Cafe in L.A.) [App Sch newsletter*]
  • EARTHLINK SOFTWARE - see Earthlink Network
  • EAST HOLLYWOOD PEOPLE AGAINST CRIME - a "gung ho" group to spread Scientology in East Hollywood area using community action
  • EDUCATION ALIVE - Trains and tutors in LRH's study tech and attempts to get various Scientology programs into local PTAs and school systems. Works in conjunction with Applied Scholastics and ABLE. [Bet Bus Bur] Applied Scholastics affiliate delivers LRH tech to S. Africa and other parts of the continent [WIS p. 333*] Given grant by S. African Council of Churches to train teachers in LRH policy to pass on to their students [Int Sci News*]. {need to fill in Tony McClelland's research into the 2.5 million children claimed taught literacy by this program, which have never been located while the S. African gov't denies this 'education' ever occurred}
  • EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT CENTERS (EMC) - is an association of WISE members in a local area that form a group, management training business, and operate on their own to expand WISE membership and deliver Hubbard Management Technology (written up and often referred to as "Hubbard Policy") to the local business community. [Prosperity*]
  • ENVIRONMENTAL TASK FORCE - formed by the church as a commuity group for PR and to get local citizens exposed to Scientology and LRH policy. [Sci Tdy*]
  • Federation of Clubs of Professionals and Business Women - second deputy chair speaks in behalf of the valuable work being done by the Dianetics organizations [Sci Tdy*]
  • FOUNDATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT IN SCIENCE AND EDUCATION (FASE) - a group formed by scientologists to enter the scientific community to tout LRH's "Purification Rundown" also called "detox" and used as part of Narconon; to build credentials and allies in the scientific community, the foundation has channelled tens of thousands of $$ in grants to educators and researchers studying toxicological hazards, most unaware of the foundations' ties to Scientology. [NHJ] Produces a series of educational TV shows on Public TV re: the study of science and math. Goal: to establish credibility for LRH's drug rehab and education methods and attract "opinion leaders" in the scientific community [Bet Bus Bur]
  • FREEDOM MAGAZINE - A Scientology publication which pushes Scientology's causes and attacks their critics.
  • GOLDEN ERA PRODUCTIONS - The organization established to bring LRH materials (taped lectures, technical films, and other audio-visual products by LRH) to people [Sci Adv*] {NEED TO ADD Vaughn Young's story of how this became functional overnight to hide LRH's residency there.}
  • HEALTH MED - Clinics set up that promote the "Purification Rundown" and Scientology. [NHJ] Solicits unions and public agencies contracts for its regimens of saunas, exercise and vitamins promoted to purify the body [Bet Bus Bur]
  • HOLLANDER CONSULTANTS, INC. - consulting firm that leads to LRH and Scientology courses, part of WISE group [TIME] Donated over $100,000 to Author Services Preservation of Tech
  • HUBBARD COLLEGES OF ADMINISTRATION - a front set up to bring in business persons for management training and feeds LRH technology leading to Dianetics and Scientology. Now legally required in state of El Valle, Colombia, for school teachers to advance and also for some government positions. Spreading widely in Russia to business and government officials. Also put LRH tech in University of Saudi Arabia and several Saudi businesses [Prosperity*]
  • HUBBARD ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN - front to spread LRH tech in the women's community leading to Dianetics and Scientology [Prosperity*]
  • I HELP (International Hubbard Ecclesiastical League of Pastors) - created to provide auditors who deliver services outside the organized Scientology churches and missions to spread Scientology [WIS p. 256*]
  • IAS (International Association of Scientologists) - To achieve the Aims of Scientology as originated by LRH. To "dismantle any group or organization" which prevents Scientology. [IAS Adv*] uses "war chest" money to try to shut up any group or person who attempts to speak out against Scientology, and to combat their perceived "enemies"
  • INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC. - WISE member, designed to bring in businesses to Scientology through LRH management tech Allstate Insurance Company was a major former client [Orlando Sentinel]
  • IRONS, MARCUS and VALKO (formerly Singer Consultants) - consulting firm that leads to LRH and Scientology courses, WISE member [TIME]
  • LEAD THE WAY TO A DRUG-FREE USA - campaign led by the Office of Special Affairs of CoS to get involvement with community using anti-drug causes as the button [Sci Tdy*]
  • LIBRARY DONATION SERVICE - set up as part of Int'l Library campaign in order to place Scientology books and materials in public libraries around the world [Source* Mag]
  • THE LISA MCPHERSON FOUNDATION - "In a panicked attempt to prevent activist Bob Minton from establishing an organization in Lisa McPherson's name, [Clearwater] Scientologists Bennetta Slaughter, Katie Chamberlain, and Pat Clouden registered four corporations between Oct. 19 - 26 [1999]: The Lisa McPherson Educational Foundation, The Lisa McPherson Foundation, The Lisa Foundation, and The Friends of Lisa McPherson Foundation. Apparently, only one of those corporations, the Lisa McPherson Foundation, will be used, and the purpose seems to be to oppose Bob Minton and The Lisa McPherson Trust." [xenu-city.net]
  • LEMON TWIST RANCH - IAS Patrons (donated in excess of $40,000 to "war chest" [Impact mag*]
  • LONDON FINANCIAL (Europe) - Donated over $50,000 to Author Services Preservation of Tech
  • MERIDIAN CONSULTANTS - an EMC under WISE control in Westchester, NY set up as a business and management consulting company to disseminate LRH tech leading to Scientology targeting the business community. Have distributed LRH teachings to Prudential insurance Company and the Seventh day Adventist Church who have hired them as management consultants [Prosperity*]
  • MIWA ENVIRONMENTAL (Japan) - Patron of the IAS [Impact*]
  • MOXON & BARTILSON (CA Attorneys) - speaks for CoS against Cult Awareness Network (CAN) and other church "enemies" to keep silent the inner workings and teachings of the "church"

    Noder's note: The Cult Awareness Network is now owned by Scientology.

  • NARCONON - chain of alcohol and drug rehabs that promote and lead to LRH and Scientology [NHJ]
  • NARPA (National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy - an affiliate of CCHR, founder and president Bill Johnson [Sci Tdy*]
  • NATIONAL COALITION OF IRS WHISTLEBLOWERS - collects IRS horror stories [IAS Adv*]
  • NATIONAL COMPUTER ETHICS AND RESPONSIBILITIES CAMPAIGN< (NCERC) - Used by the church in their attempt to gain control over what can and cannot be put over the Internet [Freedom*]
  • NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SOCIAL JUSTICE (NCLE) - a social reform group run by CoS that is used to attack Interpol [Sci Tdy*] Claims Interpol, which has investigated and reported on Scientology's activities in the past, is run by Nazis. [Bet Bus Bur] [WIS p. 299*]
  • NATURAL HEALTH FOOD ASSOCIATES - Member of the Patrons of the IAS [Impact*]
  • OFFICE OF ETHNIC AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS - wonder why we don't hear much from them ;) goal: to have Scientology reach into communities by race [WIS*]
  • OFFICE OF SPECIAL AFFAIRS (Formerly Guardian's Office) - PR and troubleshooting office of Scientology. Scientology's secret service.

    Noder's note: One of the more frightening arms of Scientology. Check out all the dirt at http://www.xenu.net/archive/go/

  • POWER MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS - WISE member, EMC, fronting LRH tech as a management training business [Prosperity*]
  • PROSPERITY MAGAZINE - Scientology mag geared to businesses and professionals for the purpose of getting those businesses into WISE.
  • PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTES of AMERICA SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP - They say they are not affiliated with CCHR or Scientology, but have worked with them [Orlando Sentinel]
  • PSYCHIATRY. A PUBLIC WARNING - weekly radio show put on by CCHR to slam all psychiatric practices. Hosted by Bruce Weisman, President of CCHR US and IAS member [CCHR Adv*]
  • REALWORLD CORP. - Don't confuse with Peter Gabriel's record label, "Real World Music" (at least, I *hope* they're not affiliated) IADSS members, donated in excess of $40,000 to "war chest" and $50,000 to Auth Serv. Pres. Tech.
  • RELIGIOUS FREEDOM CRUSADE - replaced Alliance for the Preservation of Religious Liberty; gathers staff and followers to demonstrate against whatever organization or court may be investigating, or sitting in judgments of Scientology. Through its periodicals "Freedom" and "Crusader" it raises public outcry against the "offending" institution [Bet Bus Bur]
  • RELIGIOUS TECHNOLOGY CENTER (RTC) - Holds trademarks for Scientology [TIME] [BBC]; also gives rewards up to $1,000 to people who report any activity against Scientology that leads to the apprehension or arrest of "offender." Oversees Knowledge Reports on its own members and citizens the church views as "enemies." [KSW News*] More or less, the power center of the Church.
  • SCIENTOLOGY MISSIONS INTERNATIONAL (SMI Int) - front-line dissemination activity that introduces "raw meat" to Dianetics and Scientology and takes them "up the bridge". Also opens new areas around the world to Scientology and sends out missionaries to gain footholds [Sci news*] [WIS* p. 257]
  • SILHOUET HOLLAND (Europe) WISE member fronting LRH tech [Prosperity*]
  • SINGER CONSULTANTS - Patron of IAS donating over $100,000 to "war chest" [Impact*] Uses "management seminars" to put out LRH tech and bring new people into Scientology.
  • SOCIAL COORDINATION COMMITTEE (South Africa) - a group designed to get LRH tech into African countries. Picked up by some Jesuits for use [Robinson Consultants]
  • STELLAR MANAGEMENT - WISE consulting firm [TIME] [Pod Tdy]
  • STERLING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS - a management and consulting firm that lures businesses in with "management" seminars and then steers them to LRH and Scientology courses. Also called EERY WILSON CORP, WISE member [TIME] [Pod Tdy] IAS Patron donating in excess of $100,000 to "war chest" [Impact] and over $500,000 to Author Services Pres. Tech.
  • STOMP (Stop Torture of Mental Patients) - founded by Sandra Everett, affiliated with CCHR [Sci Tdy*]
  • STRYKER SYSTEMS INC - IAS member, donated in excess of $40,000 to "war chest". Tech Preserver donator to Author Services Pres of Tech.

    Noder's note: Earthlink co-founder, ordained Scientology minister and unregistered investment manager Reed Slatkin reportedly defrauded clients of nearly 255 million dollars in a Ponzi-type investment scheme. According to this page http://www.slatkinfraud.com/75_final.htm Stryker Systems Inc. (later renamed Stryker Technologies and then Telsoft) was among the companies he poured millions of dollars into.

  • TAMPA BAY ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN - "a tremendous LRH Admin Tech dissemination and delivery force" [WISE newsleter excerpt from xenu-city.net]
  • U-MAN BELGIUM (Europe) WISE member fronting Scientology [Prosperity*]
  • UPTRENDS - consulting firm that leads to LRH and Scientology courses, WISE member
  • VOLUNTEER MINISTERS ASSOCIATION - a group of Scientology ministers whose intention is to establish contact with community leaders and groups [CWF]
  • WAY TO HAPPINESS FOUNDATION - IAS Member donated in excess of $40,000 to "war chest". Function: to distribute LRH tech to public schools and community organizations, and to get name recognition for LRH the "humanitarian." [TIME] [BBC]
  • WISE INTERNATIONAL (World Institute of Scientology Enterprises) - Licenses use of LRH management tech to the WISE group firms, and sells and distributes LRH and Scientology books, targeting businesses and professionals. Responsible to get LRH tech and Scientology in the business world [Sci News*] [Pod Tdy] Oversees Hubbard Colleges of Administration and Effective Management Centers [Prosperity*] Patron of IAS; donated in excess of $100,000 to "war chest" [Impact*]
  • WORLD LITERACY CRUSADE - Teaches children to read using LRH books. Has an office in downtown Clearwater, FL. Sponsored by ABLE. [xenu-city.net]

 

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Fri, 2009-04-03 17:26 — David Bowers

Gargy

Gargy , I just got back from vacation , at the motel room they had a bible placed there by ( The Gideons ) , when I opened it , the inside cover someone from  the Church of Scientology had written in large letters      If you feel the need for Sanity , Truth ,about yourself without falsehoods and psychiatry , Go to Scientology  . ( signed ) Theta      L . Ron Hubbard Lives        Inside the back cover      Don't believe all of this -- Theres a lot of occlusions --- Check out Scientology for the true data about all of this with A R C     ( signed ) Theta     Long Live L R H If It's all about image  , the image I got was that they are trying to draw in people that study Gods Word Thank You
Fri, 2009-04-03 21:04 — Arthur

Defacing bibles

Well, that isn't an official image from the church itself -- at least I don't think that's an official Church of Scientology program to go around defacing bibles!

That was probably some individual Scientologist "doing his part" to recruit more people.  And it's real tacky.

Scientologists are trained and conditioned to not care about other people's feelings or beliefs.  Non-Scientologists are "wogs" who are uninformed, ignorant or evil.  Scientologists don't understand "respect the religious beliefs of others".

Arthur

Tue, 2009-03-31 09:07 — joed

Isn't everything about

Isn't everything about image? Why do you wear clothes that match? Did you choose the color of your car? Perception is real, image matters. How we look, how we act, what we write about, the way we express ourselves....it's all about image.

Criticizing someone, or some group, for cultivating an image is hypocrisy. We all create images each and every day. Don't you think it's safe to say that all forms of religion are based on an image?

Tue, 2009-03-31 11:25 — Arthur

Image

joed,

The point about the Church of Scientology and image is different than you present it.  A car manufacturer painting cars certain popular colors is not fraud.  Your example is bogus.

The Church of Scientology makes vast claims as to what its "technology" can do.  It's like a car manufacturer claiming "10,000 miles to the gallon, zero maintenance forever" for its cars -- and doing everything it can to prop up that image of what it can produce.  But when you actually buy that very, very expensive car, you find it's actually worse than other cars!

That's not "just image". That's fraud, that's a con, that's criminal.

That's the point.

Fri, 2009-04-03 23:33 — David Bowers

Arthur

Arthur , I know very little about what they teach , it sounds like an expensive lesson . The book they gave us at the strawberry festival ( The Way to Happiness ) makes a lot of sense , but I notice the fine print on the back cover states It is therefore admissible for government departments and employees to distribute it as a nonreligious activity . If the church groups are receiving government money through No Child Left Behind to hand out these books something sounds just a little wrong . I asked Captainal if he wanted to go into a partnership with me or maybe you would be interested , we could call it the - Church of Auto Repair - the government could back it , all we would need is enough payola to pay the right people .  We could advertise that with our repair they could expect "10,000 miles to the gallon, zero maintenance forever" and have a disclaimer that if they did not get the expected results it would be their own fault because of the way they drove the car .  Thank You
Tue, 2009-03-31 10:32 — gargy

Everything's about image?

No.  Not when they promise a result and charge huge sums of money to achieve that result.  That promise needs to have substance, needs to be achievable.  Just having it as a pretty picture on a flyer won't do.

No.  Not when they are sucking every last dime from their parishioners to build "ideal orgs" or "super power buildings" and those people are going deeply into debt.  The "church's" image of being successful comes at the expense of the financial well-being of people who trusted too much.