barb <bwarr1@cox.net>
Found in a local shop here, a VM ad. Newsprint, two color, 11x22"
folded in quarters. The front has a pic of the Old Dead Man, with the
title, "Religious Influence in Society, role of the Volunteer
Minister" by L. Ron Hubbard.
Thus, a Volunteer Minister is a person who helps his fellow man on a
volunteer basis by restoring purpose, truth, and spiritual values to the
lives of others." --L. Ron Hubbard
He goes on and on, but this is the gist of it. Elronically, his closing
sentence is this, "By concentrating on spiritual values instead of
criminality a new day may yet dawn for man."
The lower quadrant of the page says 'LEARN HOW TO HELP' with the
800-help-4-YU number and a map to the San Diego org. Prices are listed
here.
Student Volunteer Minister Courses $25 (note the plural)
The other side of the has a bannerhead titled PRACTICAL HELP with the VM
logo featuring the double cross. A large graphic of hands breaking the
globe into pieces like it was a loaf of bread dominates, with insets of
VM snapshots. The pics are black and white, but the VM jackets are
colored in yellow. The text repeats the theme, join the VMs, help make a
difference, yadda yadda yadda.
The inside pages promote the actual courses, as well as even more
repetitive promotion for the VM scam. First up: Solutions For a Dangerous
Environment Course. Another tasty bit of irony here;
Sounds like Scientology's policy, doesn't it! That's exactly how the
cult keeps people from speaking out about their dirty little secrets.
They scare 'em into silence.
How intense is this course, you ask?
Why would anyone want to overcome creating a safer environment? Anyway,
"in only a few hours..."
That brings us to Course Number Two, Assists for Illnesses and Injuries.
Wow, that must take a few years, wouldn't you think? It must be a long
and intensive course, dealing with illness and injuries. First aid
training, CPR, anatomy, physiology.... no, wait. It says right here,
Not to nitpick or anything, but how much training does it take to
annoy people into accepting a copy of the Way to Happiness?
Another tasty quote here:
Got that right! Straight from the clam's shell to your ear. If you
ignore the little hidden warnings such as the above (clue: DEFIES
BELIEF) you have $250 to throw away. Send it to me or buy Arnie some
stamps.
Second page inside, the How To Help Children Course, written by that
stellar example of parenthood, L. Ron Hubbard. Is this an intensive
course in child behavior and parenting skills?
Ah, I see. "in an afternoon or evening study period." Another
way of saying, "in only a few hours, you can..." And what's
this about RAISING children? They're just thetans in little bodies, right?
Didn't Ron say they don't need no nurturing or raising? Hmmm.
Next, a small bit on the course called The Components of Understanding.
ARC, ARC, ARC! Throw that seal a fish!
Finally, the How to Resolve Conflicts course. This one hints at arcane
knowlege that can be yours for only $25.
Looking at Scientology's relationship with individuals, families,
workplaces, towns and even countries, one would think that their house
would be in order if they took this marvellous course. "Those who
can't do, teach." is a phrase that comes readily to mind.
On the righthand side of this page is a sidebar titled "Course
graduates wanted you to know" followed by the usual happy horseshit
endorsements signed "M.W." "JDP" "BZ"
"JB" "CS" AND THE EVER POPULAR "MD," who
includes a mention of prayer just in case we mistake this flier for
something more secular, such as a scam designed to suck in Raw Meat and
sums of money.
So there you have a summation from the Mother Hive as to the nature of
VM training.
In only a few hours you can...
The horrible thing about this outreach of ecclesiastical tentacles here
is the poor people who actually seek help from these hucksters are going
to be contacted by absolutely unqualified people hiding behind whatever
sad legitamacy and authority the cult bestows upon Volunteer Ministers.
Like the auditor evaluating the OCA... they MUST know what they're doing,
they have a clipboard!
The mental health community should be very concerned about this outreach
program. The potential is there for untold damage to vulnerable and
innocent peoples' lives through unqualified and predatory Scientology
"help."
"Every week, every month, every year, every decade and now every
century, Scientology does weird and stupid things to damage its own
reputation." -Steve Zadarnowski
"Comparing Scientology to a motorcycle gang is a gross, unpardonable
insult to bikers everywhere. Even at our worst, we are never as bad as
Scientology." -ex-member, Thunderclouds motorcycle "club"
"$cientology sees the world this way: One man with a picket sign:
terrorism. Five thousand people dead in a deliberate inferno: business
opportunity. $cientology oozes _under_ terrorists to hide." - Chris
Leithiser
Volunteer Minister flier
09 Mar 2002
"Let's look at the definition of religion. In a few words, religion
can be defined as belief in spiritual beings. More broadly, religion can
be defined as a system of beliefs and practices by means of which a group
of people struggles with the ultimate problems of human life. The quality
of being religious implies two things; first, a belief that evil, pain,
bewilderment and injustice are fundamental facts of existence; second, a
set of practices and related sanctified beliefs that express a conviction
that man can ultimately be saved from those facts.
Volunteer Minister Course $250
"There's no arguing that parts of the environment are truly dangerous.
Terrorism preys on fear and insecurity. The terrorist makes the environment
dangerous and wants you paralyzed by fear. That's how he wins and freedom
loses."
"In only a few hours you'll have answers and practical techniques
that make a world of difference in helping overcome fear, insecurity and
creating a safer environment."
"In a matter of hours learn how to administer the same procedures used
by the Volunteer Ministers who helped thousands at disaster sites in New
York City, Oklahoma, Kosovo, Kobe, Japan, and many others."
"The ways assists can be applied are almost limitless. They always
help and often have miraculous results. The amount of help you can give
others after only a short training period defies belief."
"Raising a child can and should be the most rewarding of human
experiences. Here, in an afternoon or evening study period, you can gain
skills to help build a better life and future for your children and for
you."
"On this course you'll earn the components of the magic triangle
which makes or breaks life. You will learn how to heal a breach in a
relationship (disconnection, anyone?) and exactly how to prevent that
breach."
"The truth of the matter is, man is rather peaceful. But he can be
driven, individually and collectively, to antagonism, hatred and even
violence. Something else is going on here. And until recently had been
totally unsuspected by thinkers of every age. On this course, you'll
learn the breakthrough discovery--the natural law of human relations...
you'll learn the easy-to-apply method of resolving conflicts between
individuals, families, workplaces, towns and even countries...."
--
Barb
Chaplain, ARSCC
http://members.cox.net/bwarr1/index.htm
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