Posted on 08/06/2009 7:02:55 AM PDT by Schnucki
British diplomats investigating the qualifications of L Ron Hubbard exposed the Scientology founder as a fraud 30 years ago.
The science-fiction writer, who invented the religion now followed by celebrities including Tom Cruise and John Travolta, awarded himself a PhD from a sham 'diploma mill' college he had acquired in California.
British consulate workers in Los Angeles secretly gathered information on behalf of the government.
Whitehall officials launched the covert investigation after Scientologists threatened to sue over the government's 1968 decision to ban followers from entering the UK to visit the sect's headquarters in East Grinstead, West Sussex.
Britain needed to establish whether Hubbard was a charalatan to defend itself against any libel action.
The evidence was gathered during the 1970s and included the claim by a US official that the sect had sent bogus doctors to hypnotise a legal investigator, forcing him to retire 'due to his mental health'.
The Department of Health files, many of which were classified until 2019, were released to The Times by the National Archive following a Freedom of Information request.
The dossier includes a signed statement by former senior Scientologist John McMaster, who said Hubbard and others faked ‘qualifications’ in Dianetics, the spiritual ‘science’ founded by Hubbard to provide spiritual healing.
He said: 'I understand it is asserted that L Ron Hubbard was awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Sequoia University on February 10 1953, in recognition of his outstanding work in the fields of Dianetics and Scientology and that the said degree was recorded with the Department of Education of the State of California.
'The position is L Ron Hubbard [and others] acquired premises somewhere in Los Angeles which they had registered as a university called Sequoia and immediately awarded each other doctorates.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
“’The position is L Ron Hubbard [and others] acquired premises somewhere in Los Angeles which they had registered as a university called Sequoia and immediately awarded each other doctorates.’”
what an awesome idea! hey anybody want to go in and start a “University” so we can award each other degrees?
What a clever man. Charlatan yes but he had some great ideas that made him a mint apparently.
And how is Hubbard’s awarding himself a doctorate that much different that liberals awarding each other honorary doctorates all the time?
When truely ORGANIZED RELIGION decides they’re up against competition, it’s “Remember the inquisition!” What’s surprising is that Western organized religion doesn’t know it is in a to-the-death struggle with islam, the religion of SLAVERY. The trial lawyers should also realize that sharia (or whatever the hell it is) would behead ALL of them, mucho presto BINGO.
When truely ORGANIZED RELIGION decides they’re up against competition, it’s “Remember the inquisition!” What’s surprising is that Western organized religion doesn’t know it is in a to-the-death struggle with islam, the religion of SLAVERY. The trial lawyers should also realize that sharia (or whatever the hell it is) would behead ALL of them, mucho presto BINGO.
where is the Master of the Obvious graphic when you need it?
I’ve been told by a very knowledgeable novelist friend that Hubbard, a sort of mid-level sci-fi writer, bet another writer that he could invent a religion and get people to believe in it. He won the bet with “Dianetics” which later became “Scientology”. I wonder how God reacts when these poor dummies die and are called to the judgement? He might just let them off the hook as “mentally deficient” and not responsible for believing this stupid crap.
In this life, I figure they serve a useful purpose, though, by giving Jehovah’s Witnesses somebody to laugh at.
MA moonbats to boot...
Then there's the brilliant (kawf) Tom Cruise and other Hollyflakes.
I am not exactly sure what you are talking about (”to-the-death struggle”), but, um, whenever I peak at the last page of my favorite book, the Bible, we (the God-fearing Christians) still win. I am glad He is in control.
Your slip is showing.
I put “organized religion” slightly higher than “organized crime.” Hubbard was one in a long line of religious entrepreneurs that have come along over the past few thousand years.
And yet, last night while watching Hannity I saw advertisements for Scientology...And AARP.
“anybody want to go in and start a “University” “
The Hugh Series Institute!
I believe I heard the same thing. I think I also read about it in Asimov’s autobiography.
They are soooo sued!
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