Manchester Spiritual Awareness Conference a success

What is this nut doing putting some old video on my story??? Looks like some can of worms nothing to do with the Didsbury conference. This isn't crowd power it's just silly! Trying to work out how to get this blemish the hell off my article...

Hi Kevin,  I read the story and wanted to ask if you have actually researched into what Scientology is and the experiences people have had with it?  Many believe it is a dangerous cult and would not be happy to hear it was being promoted to school children or college students.  The person in the video is a father who's child has gotten into Scientology and he wants to get her out. He also wants to make sure that anyone looking into Scientology gets to see both sides of the argument so that they can make an informed decision as to its validity.

Hi Kevin, Thanks for your reply.  The problem here is that Scientology is not a religion or a faith, it is registered as a business in the UK and is not recognised by the Charities commission as a charity or a religion.  Scientology tries to get involved in these types of conferences in order to try to gain legitamacy.  The students at the conference have only been given the Scientology side of the story and have only been given a tiny amount of what Scientology believes.  Their core belief is that all humans are infested with the dead spirits of alien beings that were dumped on earth 75 million years ago, placed near volcanoes and blown up with hydrogen bombs. Scientology was mentioned most in your article but the true facts are ommitted.  The Scientologist giving the lecture has advanced through all the levels of Scientology and has paid something like £250,000 to do these levels whereas real religions are free.  The father who left the video reply was probably annoyed by the fact that Scientology is trying to prey upon students, his own daughter was brainwashed by the cult whilst she was at University and paid them over £7000.  I am sure if you researched more into Scientology you wouldnt want your story to only give one side and to add any legitamacy to Scientology. Here are a few links you may like to research.:

www.whyweprotest.net

www.xenu.net

www.factnet.org/Scientology/dianetics.html

Would you be interested in writing another story giving both sides?  Its a very interesting subject and maybe a good way to promote your journalistic skills.  There is a protest at the Scientology centre in Manchester on August 8th starting at around 11am.  You can interview people from both sides.

Scientology has brainwashed our daughter and has distroyed our lives.
Its a money grabbing CULT, its not a Relegion its a CULT.
The church continues to attract controversy over claims that it separates members from their families and indoctrinates followers.
THIS IS OUR STORY; MAKE UP YOUR OWN MIND. WE HAVE
Our daughter Rebecca says she will never disconnect from the family as she would tell them where to go, but we know its only a matter of time
We have always been a close loving family with no secrets.
Rebecca has a boy friend David been 29 years of age and he RECRUITED Becky into the Church of Scientology, about 4 years ago.
We were not made clear at the time that she had joined a Cult, I undertook massive research on the Church of Scientology and to our horror we did not like what we found.
We sat down and gave Rebecca our views in a very calm manor but to no avail.
Last year she went on the Freewinds this been the second trip in a period of Six Months, where she got engaged.
Rebecca has paid over 7k to the COS for services since her involvement they call it Donations.
In October 07 Rebecca agreed to leave the org at Manchester and not to set foot in the place again, this was promised for the love of the family and even though her boy friend remains in it we had to believe in her.

We asked her to hand write to the org in Manchester and St hill and a copy to Clearwater, I took photo copies of the letters and I personally posted them,
The content as follows the same for each address.

Dear ---
I have decided not to do any more courses and will not be renewing my membership.
Please make sure that all future mail to me is stopped.
I would like to thank the staff at Manchester for the help I have received over the past years.
Yours sincerely
Becky.

We thought this would be her last involvement; even knowing her boyfriend (MENTOR) is a massive member and still dependent on Scientology.

To date we have written a number of letters to the COS and done a number of interviews with Anonymous at Manchester, all interviews available on you tube 10 in total.
The latest interview was in 3 parts done this Month with there head executive of the Manchester Org (Mr. Anthony Brinkman)

We have never had one reply from any of there staff, or even an assurance from there Mr. Brinkman that they will leave her alone, we have bank documentation that in Feb o8 they still took her money for there services.
Her Boy friend is her mentor and the COS rules are if she cant handle us, i.e. get us to accept Scientology then she will have to Disconnect or her boyfriend has to end there relationship, she is in a mental mess.

Rebecca has been hypnotized in the very early stages by the COS she has a mindset not to accept any negative / critical information, if we attempt then Becky goes into a state like trance.

Please note we are in contact with our daughter at all times. Beck was only with her mum this morning, I inform people of this due to some people have stated that she has been Kidnapped by the Cos.

Scientology was created by the science fiction writer L.Ron Hubbard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._Ron_Hubbard. Scientology derived from Dianetics - The modern science of mental health http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dianetics. Hubbard believed that with his "new science of mind", he could cure the world of insanity. The techniques used by Dianetics immediately drew criticsm from the health profession, so Hubbard created a religion Scientology, to cure the world of insanity and also avoid paying tax, and make himself a very rich man. 

Hubbard himself is a very interesting and colourful charcter. He had criminal convictions for petty theft and fraud, married 3 times, married his second wife whilst still married to his first ( Apparently he forget to get a divorce ). He had 7 children, 2 from his first marriage, 1 by his second & 4 from his last marriage to Mary Sue Hubbard. His first born child http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_DeWolf claimed his father was a con man, and a drug addict. His son Quentin Hubbard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quentin_Hubbard commited sucide. His third wife Mary Sue Hubbard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Sue_Whipp took the can for her husband and ended up in prision. He also dabled in black magic and the occult. He was a compulsive liar, lying about his family background, his education, his war record, his wives & children. Would you want to do a marriage course written by this man? Would you want to raise your kids by doing a course written by this man?

Scientoloy itself has a history of criminality. In the 1970's the leaders of Scientology tried to infiltarte various depts of the U.S.A government under the code name "Operation Snow White" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_snow_white. They got caught and many of them ended up in prision. There have been several criminal convictions of scientology members through out the world since. Currently Scientology is awaiting the verdict of a trial in France which has been taken place over the last few months. Scientology has its own private army or should I say private navy, called the Sea Org http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_org. To join the Sea Org, members must sign a billion year contract. They have their own security service formally called the Guardians Office, but now called O.S.A http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_Special_Affairs. They also have their own internal prision system, the Rehabilitian Project Force http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rehabilitation_Project_Force.

Scientology's policy of fair game http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Game_(Scientology) , their policy of disconnection from family members, the billion year contract that some of their members have to sign, the hugh cost for Scientology courses and "Scientology counselling" which can run into hundreds  of thousands of pounds, their secretive nature, there use of the legal system to stifle and intimidate any critism, theire internal prision system, the physical assaults senior staff have carried out on junior staff, there willingness to release confidentail files of ex-members who are willing to critise the organisation are just some of the reasons I oppose this so call "Church" of Scientology.

I could go on about Lisa Mc Pherson http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_McPherson, the Anderson Report http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anderson_Report, Operation Freakout http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Freakout, the Times report on Scientology http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thriving_Cult_of_Greed_and_Power, Gabe Cazares http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabe_Cazares, the BBC Panorama programe on Scientology http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_and_Me   but unfortunately there are only 168 hours in a week & I have to go to work tommorow. 

Ah, the proverbial can. If only "worms" were more clearly labelled...

Hello, Kevin. I'm terribly sorry for all you seem to have been subjected to here. The gentleman posting as 'getbeckyout'--Tony-- is known to us. His daughter (step-daughter, actually) doesn't come to our church because of the attacks Tony has made against our religion. On this story particularly, his comments are in bad taste. Well done for your factual report on what I still consider was a successful day.

On a personal opinion, I both dislike and disagree with Scientology, but I do believe in religious  freedom so people have to decide for themselves. I do have my doubts that Scientology is a religion?

In the early 1970's was living near their HQ in Sussex, near Ashdown Forrest. I spent several days there asking question and finding out what it was about.

I also read most of the basic books by L Ron Hubbard.

So I don't think my disagreement is a casual one.

I also don't agree with the other religions who mention in your post. but I can see nothing wrong with students having a lecture/talk/lesson about this stuff, but I also hope you were allowed to ask deep and meaningful questions.

For your own interest, I'm a life long Buddhist...

@Kevin, I can see where you are coming from however getbecky out clearly has a valid point and it IS related to the article. Even a small amount of research on the internet clearly demonstrates the point that getbeckyout and his supporters make. He has every right to say that scientology is a dangerous cult. Frankly I don't see why you're so immediately hostile to him when you yourself have obviously not researched this "religion" very clearly.

I'm glad the multicultural day was a success but isn't understanding of something reached by looking at ALL of it's aspects, good and bad?

I agree that many parents would not be pleased to have their children subjected to a cult.

Hi Kevin,

I am very sorry that you had to find out about XENU http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenu.  I hope it will not affect your  health, after you have read the story. On a serious note, it would be very nice of you Kevin, if you could attend the upcoming protest August 8th at 11.00 at 258 Deansgate and find out the other viewpoint  and make up your own mind. After all you are totally free to do so.

Mr Butler, maybe you would be so kind as to answer some questions about Scientology. How much does Scientology auditing cost?  When I was "in" Scientology, it was about £100.00 an hour and my estimate to reach "CLEAR" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clear_(Scientology) was 300 hours. Of course this 300 kept going up an up and up and up. Can Scientologists buy Scientology books on EBAY http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/L-Ron-Hubbard-MINT-NEW-18-x-Scientology-books-1-x-DVD_W0QQitemZ260450401851QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Books_EducationalTextbooks_EducationalTextbooks_GL?hash=item3ca40dbe3b&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 for a fraction of the cost that Scientology sell them? Is it true that Scientology is facing criminal charges in France? Is it true that Scientology staff earn as little as £30 to £40 a week in wages for a 70-80 week, while L.Ron Hubbard was estimated to be worth between $200 to $600 million dollars when he died? Is it true that senior managers in Scientology beat up junior staff http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2009/reports/project/ Is it true that L.Ron Hubabrd was told he was not welcome in the UK by the British government? Is it true that his third wife Mary Sue Hubbard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Sue_Hubbard   ended up in prision? 

Hi,  I am an ex scientologist & I trained up to Class 8, was in Scientology for over 15 years.  I believe that people have a right to believe what they want, but when they destroy & break up families then thats another story.  My first born daughter whom I had when I was 17 years old, now 60 disconnects from her Mother, whom she loved very much because of a Policy that has been enforced on the daughter then something is very wrong.  My daughter has not seen or spoken to me for 9 years because I disagree with what goes on in the Church of Scientology, then I would say that its not a Religion but a Cult. Mind control at the highest level.

A Religion brings love to families, not separation. So please look at all the different stories about Scientology & LISTEN to what people are saying.

Tony your video re-re-re-post is still met with deletion. I consider this behaviour vandalism of the article and have reported this to the NowPublic staff editors. I do not wish to discuss the matter any further.

The truth hurts.

Hi Kevin, The point here which you seem to be missing is that Scientology is not a religion.  This is not an opinion, you can verify this for yourself by doing a simple internet search.  Could you live with yourself if just one child was harmed by Scientology because they read your article and believed it to be a bona fide religion?  Make no mistake Scientology is a very harmful group and the fact that they have been allowed to address pupils at a school without proper checks being done is disgraceful.   Whether intentionally or not your story does grant Scientology an air of legitamacy, If you have fully researched it and that is your opinion please state so here or if you haven't researched it please do so.  Please dont expect to get positive comments about your story as Scientology has hurt many many people around the world.  So sorry your are not interested in writing a follow up story and that you dont seem interested in the pursuit of the truth with your journalism.