Free Zone (Scientology)
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The Free Zone, also called Independent Scientologists or Scientology Freezone, comprises a variety of non-affiliated independent groups and individuals who practice Scientology beliefs and techniques independently of the Church of Scientology (CoS).[1] Such practitioners range from those who closely adhere to the original teachings of Scientology's founder, L. Ron Hubbard, to those who have so far adapted their practices to be almost unrecognizable as Scientology.
The term Free Zone was originally only used by a single organization, but the term is now commonly applied to all non-CoS Scientologists, although many dispute the application of the term to themselves. However, the group whose name became adopted as a generic term for independent Scientology was not the first independent Scientologist group; the California Association of Dianetic Auditors, the oldest breakaway group still in existence,[2] claims a founding date of December 1950, predating the Church of Scientology itself.[3]
A November 2004 press release published by the International Freezone Association cited what it says was a command written by L. Ron Hubbard himself: "... before you go, whisper this to your sons and their sons: 'THE WORK WAS FREE. KEEP IT SO.'"[4] It is rumoured that Hubbard himself had been eager to break free of the constraints of the CoS INT/HASI INT and make his technologies freely available to all public field practitioners who passed a basic qualification process established in 1959, by Hubbard himself, in a now deleted HCOB or LRH ED that essentially indicated that the public could more easily access the benefits of scientological processes through free home-based co-auditing and training processes, simply by purchase and use of the several various auditor's handbooks such as Dianetics '55 and The Phoenix Lectures. (on Audio Tapes and Books). In late 1982 Hubbard was very concerned that the CoS was holding back his efforts to rid the whole of mankind of The Reactive MInd and thereby clear the planet. Hubbard sent private communications out to members of the OTC WW telling them to take scientology out into the general public arena and organise un-affiliated promulgation of The Clearing Process. He told them that OT's (Operating Thetans) could operate more effectively exterior to the body of the mother church, which he realised had become stultified and introverted. Posters went up in all the Class 12 Orgs around the world hinting at such until they were unceremoniously removed by order of David Miscavige, CO CMO INT, in June 1983. It seems that the CoS executives at INT Base and WW did not want to lose their stranglehold on church funds. They soon began to pass around rumours that LRH was "off the lines" and within days the new position of Executive Director International was announced. Hubbard was never seen or heard in public ever again.
Skeptic Magazine described the Free Zone as: "a group founded by ex-Scientologists to promote L. Ron Hubbard's ideas independent of the Church of Scientology."[5] A Miami Herald article wrote that ex-Scientologists joined the Free Zone because they felt that Church of Scientology leadership had "strayed from Hubbard's original teachings."[6]
Origin of the term Free Zone
The first group to use the term Free Zone was the formative organization founded by the captain of the Apollo Flagship and Second -Deputy Commodore of the Sea Org, Captain Bill Robertson, in mid-1982, which is now known as "Ron's Org" in several countries.
The name came from the "space opera" beliefs of L.Ron Hubbard which later 2nd Deputy Commodore, Capt. Bill Robertson, expressed in the "Free Zone Decree", which he said was an Official Decree of the "Galactic Grand Council" which was "relayed from Mainship, Ashtar Command, Sector 9":
- The planet known as Teegeeack - local dialect "Earth" or Terra - Sun 12, Sector 9, is hereby declared a Free Zone.
- No political interference in its affairs from any other part of the Sector or Galaxy will be tolerated.
- No economic interference in its affairs will be tolerated from any non-planetary agency or power.
- All of its inhabitants are hereby declared Free Zone Citizens and free of external political or economic interference.[7]
The name "Teegeeack" had already been established as a galactic name for Earth by Hubbard in the materials known as OT III, which tell the fictional story of Xenu.[8]
Free Zone - an area not controlled by evil organizations or implanters, but free to expand spiritually (Sector 9 by Astar [3])
Germany
Scientology Commissioner Ursula Caberta in Hamburg said that the Free Zone is a type of "methadone program for Scientologists," and, in any case, "the lesser evil".[9] The Free Zone group RON's Org says that the Verfassungsschutz Baden-Württemberg (State Office for the Protection of the Constitution) has stated that there is no need to keep RON's Org under observation "as the RON’s Org has no anti-constitutional goals." RON's Org says that some of its members have in fact cooperated in the efforts of state authorities to observe and investigate the Church of Scientology.[10]
The Church of Scientology and the Free Zone
![Rathbun smiling](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/Mark_Rathbun.jpg)
The Church labels all practitioners of and believers in Scientology without its sanction "squirrels"—a term Hubbard coined to describe those who alter Scientology technology or practice it in a nonstandard fashion. Among Scientologists, the term is pejorative, and comparable in meaning to "heretic". In practice, the hierarchy of the Church of Scientology uses it to describe all of those who practice Scientology outside the Church.[2]
The Church of Scientology has used copyright and trademark laws against various Free Zone groups. Accordingly, most of the Free Zone avoids the use of officially trademarked Scientology words, including Scientology itself. In 2000, the Religious Technology Center unsuccessfully attempted to gain the Internet domain name scientologie.org from the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization; one of the 16 specialized agencies of the United Nations), in a legal action against the Free Zone.[11]
Many Free Zone advocates say that everyone has the right to freely practice the teachings of L. Ron Hubbard, whether sanctioned by the Church or not.[12] In support of this they cite Hubbard himself:
Dianetics is not in any way covered by legislation anywhere, for no law can prevent one man sitting down and telling another man his troubles, and if anyone wants a monopoly on dianetics, be assured that he wants it for reasons which have to do not with dianetics but with profit.
—L. Ron Hubbard, Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health (1950)
If I have fought for a quarter of a century, most of it alone, to keep this work from serving to uphold the enslavers of Man, to keep it free from some destructive "pitch" or slant, then you certainly can carry that motif a little further. [...] But before you go, whisper this to your sons, and their sons – "The work was free. Keep it so."
—L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology: Clear Procedure - Issue One (1957)
Other Free Zoners assert basic human rights protections in order to freely follow their chosen religion.
One Free Zone Scientologist identified as "Safe", was quoted in Salon as saying: "The Church of Scientology does not want its control over its members to be found out by the public and it doesn't want its members to know that they can get scientology outside of the Church of Scientology".[12]
A 2006 Channel 4 documentary, The Beginner's Guide to L Ron Hubbard, presented by Sikh comedian Hardeep Singh Kohli explored Scientology with a Free Zone group after the Church of Scientology declined to take part.[13]
Alternative auditing practices
Several alternatives to Dianetics were developed in the early years of the Free Zone.
Synergetics is a self-help system developed by Art Coulter in 1954.[14] American Millionaire Oil Tycoon, Don A.Purcell (Junior), founded an early Dianetics organization which had a tentative claim on the Dianetics trademark, joined Synergetics and allegedly returned the Dianetics and HASI trademarks ownership to Hubbard when Hubbard was forced by Purcell's Lawyers to close the failed Wichita Dianetics Foundation in a civil legal dispute over unpaid organisational bills and lawyers fees was settled 'out of court' amicably in 1954 in the US.[15]
In 1976, Coulter published Synergetics: An Adventure in Human Development; he later founded the Synergetic Society, which published a journal through 1996.[16]
Idenics is a personal counseling method not affiliated with any religion that was developed by John Galusha beginning in 1987. Mr. Galusha researched for L. Ron Hubbard during the 1950s, and was one of the founders of the first Church of Scientology in 1953.[17][18][19] Galusha claimed that all personal issues can be addressed by thoroughly looking over the problem at hand, without judgment. The counselor asks a series of questions until the solution is considered found, by the client. The counseling, per Mike Goldstein, owner of Idenics methodology and author of the book, "Idenics, an alternative to therapy", is claimed to be as effective over the telephone as in person. (See also Perry Chapdelaine and his studies into remote therapy and psychometronic therapy technique using a form of the Volney Mathieson E-Meter device).
Most claims by any and all parties in the debate over (Hubbard's) clearing therapy technology stem back to the earliest days of Hubbard's researches, into pseudo-clinical / non-medical therapy models and technique, where Hubbard 'came across' the infamous first written clinical research notes on PTSD that were being conducted in the psychiatry department at Oak Knoll Naval Hospital in 1945. (Witness Testimony by Oak Knoll Navy Nurse Margaret Toll given to Bill Robertson in 1986). Hubbard used much of this 'borrowed' early PTSD research material in his manuscript The Original Thesis (1946). Hubbard sent a copy to science fiction/fact writer (Astounding SciFi Magazine) Doctor Joseph Augustus Winter, in an attempt to get the AMA and medical professionals aboard. Winter wrote the original foreword in DMSMH (1950). However Hubbard was more interested in the Hypnotherapeutic techniques taught to him by Dr. Winter in 1947-1948. Winter and Hubbard soon parted company in 1953 with the commercial failure of the original Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation registered in the US. Winter was not happy that Hubbard was not using correct clinical methodology before publishing research data in his clinical lectures and public demonstrations. (A Doctor's Report on Dianetics) (1954).
Likewise, in 1954, the renowned Fritz Perls (Gestalt Therapy Founder) was briefly involved with the Board of The Hubbard Dianetics Research Foundation (in Kansas with Hubbard, Winter, Van Vogh, De Mille, Cameron, etc...) until they fell out with each other over the same lack of Hubbard's proven clinical excellence. Hubbard used many of the techniques of Gestalt and Freudian and Jungian Therapies to 'bolster' his own discoveries. Hubbard's proven past associations with The OTO and Jack Parsons were a continual rumour that plagued registered dianetics and scientology practitioners ever since. OTO Magus, Aleister Crowley, personally wrote a letter to Jack Parsons in 1946 complaining about Hubbard's recklessness.When Jack Parsons was subsequently killed by an explosion in his home laboratory, Hubbard was allegedly interviewed by the Santa Barbara Police, due to Hubbard's and Parson's recent accrimonious domestic dispute over Hubbard stealing Marjorie Cameron away from Parsons, after a brief affair of the heart. By 1954 Hubbard started to use the term 'OT' in relation to advanced scientology theory research material. Hubbard soon began to 'pastiche' or emulate some of Crowley's earlier researches and metaphysical ideology in private as evidenced by several of the self-portrait photographs by LRH. Hubbard had a long association with Occult Mysticism as mentioned in his autobiographical work My Philosophy and The Phoenix Lectures. Hubbard seemed to be reworking himself to be the successor to Crowley's occult research heritage. By 1967 Hubbard was publicly distancing himself from his past connections to Mysticism and the Occult (as related in the original unedited 'Ron's Journals').
The word "Scientology"
Disagreement over the origins of the word Scientology has been used by Free Zone groups to contest Scientology's trademarks. A German book entitled Scientologie, Wissenschaft von der Beschaffenheit und der Tauglichkeit des Wissens was published in 1934 by Anastasius Nordenholz.[20] The groups have argued that because Scientologie was not written by Hubbard, the Church is unfairly monopolizing control over its practice.[21] The trademark rights to the use of DIANETICS and the E-Meter ( Invented and created by Volney Mathieson) was allowed to lapse into the public domain in 1976 by Hubbard. This is discreetly ignored by the RTC/ CSI Body Corporate.
See also
- Advanced Ability Center
- Free Zone Association
- Process Church of the Final Judgment
- The Secrets of Scientology
References
- ^ Grossman, Wendy M. (December 1995). "alt.scientology.war". Wired News. Retrieved 2007-04-14.
"One of the first steps toward open warfare was the emergence, in about 1990, of a group that wanted to separate the church and its scriptures. Calling itself the Free Zone, this group consists of people who have left the church but still want to practice its teachings - use the tech, as Free Zoners say. Ex Scientologist Homer Smith is one of these (ex meaning "former church adherent," not "former" Scientologist, says Smith). Wanting to encourage serious discussion of the tech away from the noisy brawl next door in alt.religion.scientology, Smith set up a second newsgroup, alt.clearing.technology, for this purpose." - ^ a b Sappell, Joel; Welkos, Robert W. (1990-06-29). "When the Doctrine Leaves the Church". Los Angeles Times. p. A49:1. Retrieved 2007-04-12. Additional convenience link at [1].
- ^ "California Association of Dianetic Auditors -- Who We Are". Retrieved 2007-04-14.
- ^ "The Truth Is Out Here! : The Scientology Free Zone could be described as the pioneer of truth in the tradition of the Great Western Pioneers of the US who carved out a place in history" (Press release). International Freezone Association. 2004-11-16. Retrieved 2007-04-14.
- ^ Lippard, J.; J. Jacobsen (1995). "Scientology v. the Internet. Free Speech & Copyright Infringement on the Information Super-Highway". Skeptic Magazine. pp. Vol. 3, No. 3., Pg. 35–41.
- ^ Staff (2005-07-02). "SCIENTOLOGY: What's Behind the Hollywood Hype?". Miami Herald.
- ^ The Free Zone Decree
- ^ Sappell, Joel; Welkos, Robert W. (1990-06-24). "Defining the Theology". Los Angeles Times. p. A36:1. Retrieved 2007-04-16. Additional convenience link at [2].
- ^ Kintzinger, Axel (1998-12-11). "The sect is broke". Die Woche.
- ^ "Maybe it makes you feel more confident, for example, if you learn that the office for safeguarding the constitution (Verfassungsschutz) of the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg has stated years ago that the RON’s Org is not a part of the Church of Scientology and that there is no need to observe them as the RON’s Org has no anti-constitutional goals. Indeed, there is some cooperation between members of the RON’s Org and state authorities who observe the Church of Scientology and investigate their activities. English FAQ on German Ron's Org site
- ^ Meyer-Hauser, Bernard F. (2000-06-23). "Religious Technology Center v. Freie Zone E. V". Case No. D2000-0410.
- ^ a b Brown, Janelle (1999-07-22). "Copyright -- or wrong? : The Church of Scientology takes up a new weapon -- the Digital Millennium Copyright Act -- in its ongoing battle with critics". Salon.
- ^ The Beginner's Guide to L Ron Hubbard
- ^ http://www.aberree.com/terms/synergetics.html
- ^ A Piece of Blue Sky
- ^ http://solutions.synearth.net/2002/02/12
- ^ Successor Organization Is Religious Fellowship (continued) | The Compleat Aberree
- ^ John Galusha | The Compleat Aberree
- ^ John Galusha and the Book One Course
- ^ Preface
- ^ http://www.scientologie.org/gif/wipo-decision.pdf