Freddie and Bob's Discourse on Art
Let us entertain you for a few minutes.
Settle back comfortably and put your feet
up on the keyboard.
Bob Minton wrote (Nov 04, 2000) :
Subject: Why Scientology Hates Critics and Music
'Critics of Scientology believe in giving everyone choices and a
chance to be creative by writing their own script for their own lives.'
I would have written 'some' critics in that sentence.
Or even more accurately, 'a very few' critics.
However if Bob really is making an absolute statement I'm
happy for two reasons:
1. Part of the script I write for my life includes taking Scientology services
now and then.
If the critics don't mind me doing this - even, say, in Germany -
well it seems to me a very positive statement.
2. Following on from that, maybe this marks a bit of a sea change for the
critical movement.
Well done Bob!!! Good for you.
'If an individuals critical thinking skills have not been fully suspended,
their self-directed script will be incompatible with Hubbard's story.'
Oh dear, that doesn't sound so good. : (
'Therefore, by definition Scientology must vehemently
oppose creativity and those who espouse it.'
Oh dear, oh dear.
Poor Bob.
One interesting thing I've noticed is that Scientologists often work
on improving their artistic talents. I know some non-Scientology musicians,
but I know and have known many more Scientology sculptors, painters,
writers, actors, singers, etc - and these were professionals who
were able to make a living at their work.
I've known another, greater number of Scientologists who became interested in developing their artistic tendencies as they progressed in Scientology. They would perform in revues or play guitar at home, etc.
I'd say it was quite a common phenomenon.
It's a pity you never tried Scientology Bob. You might once have liked it.
Probably a bit late for you now.
'Scientology must oppose anyone they think might
prevent them and theirs from enjoying the next sequel in their story. The
Scientology story casts both the hero and villain as part of the individual
Scientologist. Because of this intense personal involvement/conflict the plot is
very riveting and the successes of the hero or heroine that much more critical.'
If we strip away the analogy from this paragraph, what do we get?
1.Scientologists oppose people who want to stop them doing what they want to do.
No surprise - so does everyone else.
2. They are very interested in their lives and in doing well.
Wow!
Here's how a Scientologist might attempt to improve the 'plot' of her life.
Let's say she wanted to draw cartoons, but couldn't finish any to a good result.
There are two areas to look at:
a. The technique of drawing cartoons - this might well need studying or correcting.
b. There might be things in her past and in her environment which might be stopping her.
Using a very simple example, if she came to realize that in her childhood she used to stop her sister from finishing ~her~ pictures, then she might suddenly have a surge of ability and start drawing again.
There's a lot of attention on this sort of
thing in Hubbard's work.
Of course resurgences of ability don't only happen in Scientology. I knew a
businessman who, as a little boy, had really liked singing.
As he got older, exam pressures and the rat race closed in on him; and by the time he got married he hadn't sung for many years.
In fact he'd forgotten all about it. He was always busy, never had any time with his family.
Later on he was posted abroad - to run a factory in Thailand - and his world utterly changed.
Suddenly he had a chauffeur, servants and a huge house with an exquisite landscaped garden.
He could leave work at 5pm every day and play golf. His wife and
children were happy with him.
One day his wife was in the kitchen when she heard noise coming from
upstairs. She ran up to see what was happening and then stood there absolutely
astounded.
Her husband was in the shower . . . and he
was singing quite
beautifully.
Sorry, where was I?
Erm...
Oh yes, of course people do have resurgences of
artistic ability outside Scientology - but I've seen many, many more instances in
Scientology.
'Unfortunately the Scientology story is like a serial
where the hero's accomplishments are short lived. There's always another villain
to slay. Yes, watching the hero slay the supposed villain makes the audience
happy. Further, there is the belief that resolving the conflict in the hero's
favor implies a wonderful future for them. This is the bait--the essence of
love--in the Scientology trap.'
You are saying that there's always another villain to slay?
You're right. After someone had (for example) outwitted the Nigerian banks and
become fairly well-to-do what should they do with themselves? Loll around
the swimming pool all day? You can only eat so many lobsters stuffed with
larks' tongues before they start to pall.
But as long as there is always another game to play, another chimera to slay, I
guess that we can all be happy.
'Love in this context implies that the one who loves
you is predicting and intending a happy, positive, eternal future for you. This
is exactly what Scientology seems to offer but the offer is conditional. This
was Hubbard's plan. To get his love, the adherent must surrender much of their
freedoms to his prescribed Scientology script.'
Partly right. In Scientology people can work towards a happy, positive future -
but only if that's what they want. People need games to play, and they might
well sometimes prefer a bit more action or trouble in their lives. Let's look at
how Hubbard defined 'happiness':
'Happiness, is not itself an emotion. It is a word which states a condition, and the anatomy of that condition is interest. Happiness you could say is the overcoming of not unknowable obstacles towards a known goal.'
L. Ron Hubbard. Lecture of 6 October 1954. Definition taken from the Dianetics and Scientology Technical Dictionary.
I'm going to repeat Bob's previous paragraph as I'd like to comment on it some more.
'Love in this context implies that the
one who loves you is predicting and intending a happy, positive, eternal future
for you. This is exactly what Scientology seems to offer but the offer is
conditional. This was Hubbard's plan. To get his love, the adherent must
surrender much of their freedoms to his prescribed Scientology script.'
If you want to get all the benefits of Scientology - well
yes, you probably do have to do Scientology. Having said that, some people get
some benefits just by being around Scientologists (for example, my girlfriend).
I'm certainly not worried about getting Hubbard's 'love.'
You need to
get a grip Bob; I think you've been reading too many sickly, generic anti-cult
books.
'Oddly enough, people in the trap are fighting to
stay in the trap for as long as it takes to get the bait '
Strange, huh? Those bloody idiots.
'The Scientologists find what masquerades as
love, but what they don't get is the wonderful future.
Hello!!!
Bob?
The critics find what masquerades as love, but what they don't get is the wonderful future.
'Instead they get a future of absolute servitude to Scientology. '
Instead they get a future of absolute servitude to their dream of destroying Scientology.
'Abject slavery! No chance for creativity.
An inability to even see creativity. Only adherence to a failed Scientology
script.'
Abject slavery! No chance for creativity.
An inability to even see creativity. Only adherence to a failed critical script.
'Critics expose the Scientology organization for what
it is--hate in a pretty package.'
Scientologists expose the LMT for what it is--hate in a pretty package.
'Today, there are enough critics who have ripped open
Scientology's pretty package to expose the bigotry and hatred at the core of
Hubbard's evil disease.'
Or (cough, cough) of their own evil disease.
It simply depends upon which side of the
fence you are standing.
Freddie
