Seattle Ethics Orders Project |
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Exposing Suppression in Seattle
Marta and Larry Willson
VALUES VS. PRACTICE
Marta officially resigned membership in and affiliation with the Church of Scientology in March 2010, as did Larry by association and support, when we realized it was not the organization we’d thought, not what we kept trying to tell ourselves it must be and had to be. Our reasons at the time boiled down to the organization being disingenuous in its teachings as compared to its day to day operational practices; most especially in its dealings with people, both within and outside its membership. Marta’s original statement is still true and valid and we’ve included it below.
Some of the most fundamental points of alignment of our personal values and the Scientology Philosophy deal with increasing man’s freedom and awareness as a spiritual being, improving his relationships with his fellow man and the building of a saner world, together.
We’re not saying that we expect this organization to never have problems or face challenges. It is blind faith to think it can operate flawlessly in all matters. However, for years we consistently found ourselves unable to align the philosophy we’d studied and taken to heart, with what we witnessed and experienced in the day to day practices. We frequently found ourselves “dubbing in” reasons to explain away some obvious inconsistency. The quantity and quality of these inconsistencies eventually tipped the scale for us.
Still, our values and the foundations of the Scientology Philosophy were still aligned to one another – but neither of those aligned with what we saw and experienced demonstrated in the church organizations and culture. Maybe someday, if man progresses to where we can change some really basic laws of our universe, we’ll be able to build a house using wood, and just by saying it’s made of brick actually get a brick house. But, until then we’re still getting wood houses when using wood. Point being, the end is inherent in the means. What we do is what we’ll have. We can’t expect to get other than what we create. An organization either practices what it preaches or it is in practice something other than what it teaches.
We couldn’t deny any longer our own certainty that the organization wasn’t doing what it professed to be doing and it sure as hell wasn’t standing around doing nothing. We won’t go into what we found out about the mismanagement and unethical activities of the church. There is much information to be had regarding the activities of the organization, all of which is available through simple research. It started with one or two outrageous reports about the church’s activities which we did not want to believe and so began our research for the facts and truth. And then we withdrew our support. You may come to a different conclusion than we did. That’s fine. At least you will have honestly looked rather than continuing to go on believing based on faith or blind allegiance.
We’re forever thankful to those who helped us open our eyes to the possibility that there were very real causes for the cognitive dissonance and discomfort we were feeling, and who helped us have the courage to look beyond own assumptions and really find out. The truth is out there.
We wish you all the best for your future.
[Opt-Out Notice emails sent Saturday March 6, 2010. Story & Notice posted Monday, 08 March 2010]
I just wanted to let you know I’ve sent personalized versions my “opt-out” notice, below, to the Scientologists I’m currently in touch with and to the Mission and Orgs that consider me a part of their field. I’m also sending a copy to the MAA at KSW.com, in case there’s a count being kept. I don’t have any expectations or grand delusions about this having any effect, other than for my own health and well being. Up until recently I was of the mindset that any kind of a public announcement from me, regarding leaving the Church of Scientology, would be of so little consequence that it wasn’t worth doing. Why risk creating any ill effects when no positive effects could come from it – such a tiny pebble tossed in the water that any ripples created wouldn’t even be seen, let alone felt.
See, I was just a member, just a parishioner. Not a celebrity nor a big status donor. Not a business owner, nor influential in any large circles of Scientologists, either public or staff, or non-Scn VIPs. Haven’t witnessed any crimes or illegal malfeasance the CoS leadership would want me silenced about. Not a creative writer, nor public speaker, who might be sought out by media. Apparently, I am not in a position to be of any significance to the CoS. Just a parishioner. No threat = No value to CoS.
There’s also no reason for anyone in the church to come try to keep me because I don’t command a big income, commissions, bonuses. I haven’t received any inheritances nor been given any large monetary gifts that I’m “withholding”. I’m in the latter part of my “income earning years”, and what $$ of any size I did have, I’ve already donated to the IAS, the local Ideal Org campaign, and paid for auditing or the purchase of shiny new replacements of books and lectures. I’m the “common-man” work-a-day gal. As an ex-Sea Org member I’m not eligible to join staff and I don’t live close enough to the local Org to be a prime volunteer candidate. Church loses nothing, based on its current values. No potential big bucks or cheap labor = No value to CoS.
I’m fortunate not to have any family left in the CoS and nobody where I work gives three figs about Scientology, one way or the other. Although, I’m sure there will be some Scientologist friends and acquaintances that will choose to keep my “enturbulation” off their lines by disconnecting, the whole reason for sending this notice out is to get the BS behemoth’s enturbulation off my lines. I’m disconnecting from them. What a HOOT! Quit calling, quit emailing, quit sending print mailers in epic proportions, and quit coming to my door. I step away with my values intact and I keep my eternity. Life is Good. Marta
OPT OUT NOTICE:
I’m sending you this email, not with the intent to create upset, but out of respect for our past relationship. I don’t want you to be blind-sided hearing it from someone else. And so that you can take whatever action you think is needed as a result of the information. I’m writing to let you know firsthand that I am leaving the Church of Scientology. I have been a Scientologist since 1969, completed through grade VA on public lines, and solo-audited to Clear and OT as a Sea Org member and executive – prior to 1980. I have had personal gains in Scientology that words just can’t do justice. But, it is my experiences and observations over the past eight years that bring me to this decision.
I’ve always been a steadfast supporter of LRH and the Scientology philosophy, so I didn’t arrive at the decision quickly or easily. Yes, there are an abundance of reasons for my decision, but I won’t go into them here. Suffice to say, that my personal values and (in my opinion) the fundamentals of the Scientology philosophy, do not align with the current operations and practices of the Church as it is currently organized and managed. What I see is that the Church is producing far more BS and self-promotion than any other product or service, and is leaving as a by-product a wake of toxic bad news and disrepute the half-life of which is anybody’s guess.
Until there is significant reform in the Church’s organizational structure, management style, and operational practices – I’m opting out.
Respectfully,
Marta L Willson