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Spanish news website calls out Scientology volcano vultures at La Palma
The Underground Bunker ^ | 11/07/2021 | Tony Ortega

Posted on 11/07/2021 4:23:52 AM PST by Scarlett156

A few days ago Scientology put out its usual press releases about how it was at the scene of yet another disaster with its yellow-shirted “Volunteer Ministers,” this time on the island of La Palma in the Canaries where a volcano began erupting on September 19.

As we’ve documented time and time again here, what’s actually going on is that Scientology dispatches its members for the primary reason of setting up PR photos like the one you see above.

This time, at least, a Spanish news website, El Español, is calling out Scientology for its vulturish opportunism in a substantial piece that is pretty harsh.

“This is how Scientology takes advantage of the misfortune of La Palma to attract faithful and funds,” reads the headline that was posted yesterday, and the piece includes a lengthy interview with a former Spanish Scientologist who was only identified as “Andrés.” He had spent ten years in the organization, and warned the website of what Scientology’s real aims are.

“They tend to go to disasters to record themselves on video and raise money at private events,” he laments. Andrés assures that he still has debts from his time within Scientology. “First they offer you cheap courses to, supposedly, improve your self-esteem. Little by little they make you spend more money and they urge you to dedicate all your time to working for them. Then they destroy your autonomy,” he recalls.

“They tell you they are saving you, they say they are saving the world, and the volcano is perfect for them,” Andrés continues. In addition to this, he assures that Scientology has been sending the self-appointed Volunteer Ministers for years to places that are in trouble. “They were in Argentina, in Haiti and, making history, even in the 9/11 attacks,” he says. In this way they would raise funds for their shell companies, which sometimes do not even appear to be linked to the organization.

Bingo. Recently, at the Daily Beast, we wrote about Bruce Hines, who recounted his experience at Ground Zero after 9/11, when it finally began to dawn on him that Scientology’s disaster opportunism was really just about public relations. It helped him to decide to make his nervy escape from the Sea Org.

Andrés told El Español that although he’s out of the church he continues to keep in touch with Scientologists who, he says, are anti-vaccination, and anti-maskers (something we’ve documented ourselves). In other words, while they’re pretending that they’re concerned with the general welfare by pitching in to remove ash or give first responders bottled water and pamphlets, they’re actually contributing to the lasting effects of another public health disaster, the pandemic.

El Español also talked to a psychologist who also had no illusions about how Scientology operates.

“They are looking for vulnerable people,” says Canarian psychologist Manuel Pérez. However, the expert maintains that many of the publications that have appeared on networks have been deleted due to the complaints of hundreds of users. “Many people from La Palma realized that it was Scientology and many of us know that it is a dangerous sect,” he says. “The problem is that many others do not realize it and can be captured,” he says.

Andrés, however, clarified that the VMs are not necessarily there for recruitment, but their primary role is to be filmed in slick videos that then get shown to the rest of the organization at its big events, and the point is to convince Scientology’s big donors to turn over millions in donations.

Hey, this Andrés really knows his stuff. That’s what we’ve been saying for years: The Ideal Org dog-and-pony show, the VMs, the scam of Narconon, the “Human Rights” campaigns — ultimately, all of this front group activity is about convincing the Dugganses and Cumminses and Bridgeforths that Scientology is a growing, positive influence in the world so they will fork over millions and millions more in donations.

But that’s not to say that Scientology is not constantly trying to recruit new people, Andrés pointed out.

“The most common method of recruitment is the sale of books at fairs and events,” says Andrés. The organization often sells Dianetics, a self-help manual written by the founder of the Church of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard. “They ask for your phone number and call you to ask what you think of the book,” he says.

“It is also common to be stopped in the street to offer you a free personality test,” he continues. “It is the most common method of recruitment, they do a very long exam and the truth is that it tends to be quite right.” Andrés says that knowing your personality helps them perceive your weak points. “They offer you a free course and you feel that their therapy can change your life.” According to the ex-Scientologist, little by little these courses are increasing in cost and require you to dedicate more time to them. “It is a manipulation so that you live only for them,” he says.

After a brief recitation of Scientology’s early history, the article even quotes Andrés describing the church’s homophobia, its anti-psychiatry fervor, and the way it gathers damaging information about people and will use it against them if they leave. “They know you very well and when you want to leave they publish everything they know about you on their websites. That’s why most of us leave in silence,” he said.

Like we said, it’s a harsh and very substantial piece, and we salute Andrés and El Español for telling the truth about Scientology as it tries to take advantage of a disaster that has caused the evacuation of about 7,000 people.

Meanwhile, we might also add that it was in the city of Las Palmas, on Gran Canaria, about 250 kilometers east of the island of La Palma, that founder L. Ron Hubbard spent time in the 1960s working on the esoteric upper levels of Scientology, including the infamous OT 3 and its story of Xenu the genocidal galactic overlord. It was from Las Palmas that Hubbard sent his notorious “pinks and greys” letter to his wife, saying that he was drinking rum and popping pills while doing that work.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: canaryislands; lapalma; lapalmavolcano; news; scientology; spain
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This site has a lot of info on the Scientology cult. The journalist is really thorough and has a ton of information - he is a leftist but there's so much useful stuff on the site regarding Scientology and other organizations like NXIVM, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc.

Scientology has some influence on the US's political right, and it's not a good influence. I would really like to see Scientology lose its tax exemption, as it's definitely NOT a religion.

1 posted on 11/07/2021 4:23:52 AM PST by Scarlett156
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To: Scarlett156

Scientology is the source of “Narcanon” which is one of the worst scams in history. Not only do they receive taxpayer dollars, but they bilk families to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars for supposed drug rehab in a residential facility - the facility ends up being staffed by kids who participate in Scientology weirdness - like yelling at an ashtray - and who are using/selling drugs on site. Young folks there for treatment usually end up running off and the gobs of money paid out by their families to get them off drugs (it’s usually like $30,000 and up for one person) are non-refundable. People try to sue and Scientology lawyers cut them to pieces in court.

People are starting to get wise about Scientology, however: Apparently the number of Narcanon facilities has dwindled sharply just over the last few years.


2 posted on 11/07/2021 4:29:18 AM PST by Scarlett156 (I would rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6)
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To: Scarlett156

Unfortunate detour there about anti-jabbers and masks.


3 posted on 11/07/2021 4:34:49 AM PST by 9YearLurker
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To: Scarlett156

Alex Jones seems affiliated with Scientology in some way, which is a disappointment. Other media figures, too. Notice how they never talk about it? I lived in the same house with someone who was a scientologist for years and he never said anything about it.

Scientology is really putting down some roots in Florida right now, which bodes ill for the idea of trying to turn FL into a conservative mecca. I think conservatives are particularly vulnerable to scientology scammers - many of whom claim to be religious and to be, for example, catholics or to belong to some other religion (they like to say they are buddhists, I’ve noticed). This is why they need to lose their tax exemption: A religion under IRS exemption rules has to be a separate distinct faith operating under its own set of rules, while Scientology scammers say they are this or that religion to build trust.

It’s going to be so nice to see them crash and burn.


4 posted on 11/07/2021 4:34:57 AM PST by Scarlett156 (I would rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6)
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To: 9YearLurker

Yeah they have a whole section in the site there about “Q” and anti-vaxxers and lah lah lah. The guy HATES Trumpy, lol! But he stops short of accusing him of being a scientologist, although he would really like to.


5 posted on 11/07/2021 4:36:11 AM PST by Scarlett156 (I would rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6)
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To: Scarlett156

Xenu
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from The Wall of Fire (Scientology))
Jump to navigationJump to search
This article is about the Scientology subject. For other uses, see Xenu (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Xena, Xeno, or Xemnu.
Xenu (/ˈziːnuː/),[1][2][3] also called Xemu, was, according to Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, the dictator of the “Galactic Confederacy” who brought billions[4][5] of his people to Earth (then known as “Teegeeack”) in DC-8-like spacecraft 75 million years ago, stacked them around volcanoes, and killed them with hydrogen bombs. Official Scientology scriptures hold that the thetans (immortal spirits) of these aliens adhere to humans, causing spiritual harm.[1][6]

These events are known within Scientology as “Incident II”,[7] and the traumatic memories associated with them as “The Wall of Fire” or “R6 implant”. The narrative of Xenu is part of Scientologist teachings about extraterrestrial civilizations and alien interventions in earthly events, collectively described as “space opera” by Hubbard. Hubbard detailed the story in Operating Thetan level III (OT III) in 1967, warning that the “R6 implant” (past trauma)[8] was “calculated to kill (by pneumonia, etc.) anyone who attempts to solve it”.[8][9][10]

Within the Church of Scientology, the Xenu story is part of the church’s secret “Advanced Technology”,[7] considered a sacred and esoteric teaching,[11] which is normally only revealed to members who have completed a lengthy sequence of courses costing large amounts of money.[12]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenu


6 posted on 11/07/2021 4:42:15 AM PST by Kevmo (I’m immune from Covid since I don’t watch TV.🤗)
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To: Scarlett156

As soon as I posted this, it caused an outburst among the mutant neighbors (who never sleep but they’re totally not trading in methamphetamine! No, they’re not!) who watch us day and night. It’s not even 0600. #ScientologyPause


7 posted on 11/07/2021 4:44:47 AM PST by Scarlett156 (I would rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6)
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To: Scarlett156

They set up a tent on the drill field at Virginia Tech after the shooting. Eventually a near brawl occurred prompting the police to push back on them.


8 posted on 11/07/2021 4:44:57 AM PST by AppyPappy (How many fingers am I holding up, Winston? )
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To: Kevmo

The problem with scientology is that Hubbard believed his own hype and BS babbling and was largely sincere. The current Science Freak pope is David Miscaivage (or however you spell it) and he’s only interested in the scam, baby. He wants the money and he wants to control people’s lives, and ruin the lives of all those who criticize the scam. He’s patently un-religious. Apparently he’s a real sadist who exiled and imprisoned his own wife because she failed to find a girlfriend for Tom Cruise.


9 posted on 11/07/2021 4:48:30 AM PST by Scarlett156 (I would rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6)
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To: Scarlett156
Church of Scientology: A Religious Mafia? It is not a question.
10 posted on 11/07/2021 4:52:13 AM PST by daniel1212 ( Turn to the Lord Jesus as a damned+destitute sinner, trust Him to save + be baptized + follow Him!)
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To: AppyPappy

They’re completely shameless. A lot of the time cops won’t interfere with them because (I was really interested to learn this) they will donate TONS of money to local police forces in areas where they are scamming heavily.

Working for a State Parole Board, it was striking how many parolees from our prison system are referred to Scientology agencies - and of course, EVERYBODY knows about Alcoholics Anonymous, right? They’re everywhere, especially in prison. This is why I feel rather urgently that they should have their tax exemption as a religion removed - under the guise of “charity” they can go anywhere they want and prey on vulnerable people. I’ve never been to AA but someone I know who did says they NEVER say anything about Scientology in AA.

When they talk about “a higher power” in AA? That’s the IRS!!!


11 posted on 11/07/2021 4:53:23 AM PST by Scarlett156 (I would rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6)
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To: daniel1212

Thank you!


12 posted on 11/07/2021 4:53:51 AM PST by Scarlett156 (I would rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6)
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To: 9YearLurker

For some mysterious reason the Scientologists know how to spot a drug scam when they see one.


13 posted on 11/07/2021 5:02:19 AM PST by agere_contra
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To: Scarlett156; TexasGurl24
During the riots and Floyd killing, there was a notable uptick in borderline (and in my opinion, outright) racist posts and articles. A very few people on this board (present company included) agreed that George Floyd wasn't a great dude - was intoxicated with fentanyl when he died etc. However, our very few people's reading of the evidence was that Floyd not being a saint didn't excuse his death at the hands of Derek Chauvin, who was guilty of being gravely incompetent.

That opinion was not well-received. Fair enough. But the vective suggested that, maybe, the posters were more paid provocateurs or something other than Deplorables.

There is a rinse and repeat dimension to theses sagas, where the "bad guy" is defended by the "bad guy's side" and the "good guy" is defended by the "good guy's side" with general disregard for facts and reality. A subtext is that allies may not be allies but wolves in sheep's clothing.

Look at Dubya....he was a Republican wartime president and did pretty well in handling 9/11 and Afghanistan. Then he went after Iraq; the left went bat guano crazy against that war. Many Republicans defended the President AND that war effort, reflexively.

Only years later did many of us retract our knee-jerk defense of the President, but the reality is we defended him (in large part) because we didn't want to give the left an edge. It is arguable that HAD we called balls and strikes in Iraq that Lurch would have won, and thus that makes defending Dubya a political decision. And that's ok, but let's be honest about it.

But in those days, it is also likely that Bush supporters were actually anti-American warmongers who used us to advance a Council on Foreign Relations cause. It's frighteningly brilliant.

Last week, there was a mammoth thread on the VA Gov election result that became a donnybrook between the "it ain't over till it's over" people, and the "there will never be a fair election ever again I give up alll is lost I quit I want my mommy let's start shooting" crowd, some of whom (it was claimed) may be double-agents. It was fascinating but eye-opening.

Just because someone is on this board, it doesn't mean they're with me. Similarly, just because someone agrees that vaxx mandates are bad, it doesn't mean they are my brother. There are always wolves amongst us. But I feel, on some level, the willingness in 2021 to embrace allies has blinded many more than usual, to the threats that lurk beneath the cloak of "unity."

I hadn't considered the possibility that Alex Jones is a Scientologist. Maybe he is, maybe he isn't. I prefer Joe Rogan (who's interview with Leah Remini was outstanding). Caveat emptor.

14 posted on 11/07/2021 5:23:37 AM PST by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s^2 )
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To: Scarlett156

Scientologists are just making sure no thetans escape the volcano.


15 posted on 11/07/2021 5:30:45 AM PST by TangoLimaSierra (⭐⭐To the left, truth is right-wing extremism.⭐⭐)
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To: agere_contra

If only that were all this is.


16 posted on 11/07/2021 5:35:50 AM PST by 9YearLurker
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To: Scarlett156
So you have questions about Scientology...


17 posted on 11/07/2021 5:41:48 AM PST by null and void (The Washington DC Swamp, Where Bottom Feeders Are Apex Predators!)
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To: Scarlett156

ping


18 posted on 11/07/2021 5:48:24 AM PST by knarf (?<p>Little kids grow up to be adults that get into powerful positions and act out their thoughts.<pg)
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To: Scarlett156

Should throw a couple of Scientologists into the volcano. Maybe it will stop erupting. I’m just sayin’


19 posted on 11/07/2021 6:01:22 AM PST by Captain Compassion (I'm just sayin')
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To: Scarlett156

Let’s not forget the ultimate Scientology site:

Operation Clambake!

https://www.xenu.net/


20 posted on 11/07/2021 6:17:19 AM PST by aMorePerfectUnion (Fraud vitiates everything ᡕᠵ᠊ᡃ࡚ࠢ࠘ ⸝່ࠡࠣ᠊߯᠆ࠣ࠘ᡁࠣ࠘᠊᠊ࠢ࠘𐡏⁻ )
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