A ROSE 1/3

[dennis....@support.com]

Every time I get deposed by the scienos, they want to know the
whereabouts of Ken Rose. He wrote the Key to Life Course.

Well, here he is . . .

The Demons of Freedom

by
Ken Rose

The other day we were talking to a young man who had
recently become a member of the Church of Scientology. This
fellow's brother had become concerned when the new scientologist
decided to quit his job and devote himself to full time study at
the cult's "Technical Mecca" in Clearwater, Florida. We were
asked to speak to the young man and help all concerned with the
process of making a decision as to whether or not the family's
trust fund should be used to finance the considerable expense
associated with the training the young man was seeking in
scientology.
We spent a couple of hours trying to explain to these two
brothers what had become of us during our many years in
scientology, and then, slowly, the young scientologist began to
ask questions. One which we found compelling was this: was there
nothing within the confines of this extraordinary organization
that justified the loss and suffering we had endured? Was there
not the promised freedom? Was it not somehow true that no matter
what the price one had to pay, it was far short of the power and
glory of the state of OT...of the state of Total Freedom?
At first we thought this was an easy question to answer.
No...in a word. Scientology, in fact, offers no such invaluable
freedom. But as we looked into this young man's eyes, it became
clear that a further answer was needed. What of people's dreams
of freedom? What of the power and glory that is supposed to lie
behind each more confidential gateway to OT as one progresses up
the "Bridge to Total Freedom?"
We told this fellow that he now found himself at a
crossroads in his life. We made it quite clear that scientology
is an all or nothing proposition, that one cannot pick and choose
from it as if it were a spiritual smorgasbord. We informed him
that he had a monumental decision to make. [In order to avoid any
sort of climactic value which this story might otherwise possess,
we'll tell you right now that this young man made the right
choice. He is no longer a member of the Church of Scientology.
Now we can proceed.]
How do we deal with the subject of freedom? Should you or
someone you know and care about find him or herself in a position
of having to decide whether or not to become or remain involved
in scientology, consider the following argument. It concerns the
First Amendment to the Constitution. Since this is an article of
government which is frequently cited by people and institutions
on nearly every side of nearly all issues relating to individual
freedom, it is a statement of principle with which we should all
be familiar.
It states in part:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging
the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the
people to peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government
for the redress of grievances."

Thomas Jefferson, who possessed more than a passing
familiarity with and passion for such freedom, underscored the
importance of this protection saying, "Our most fundamental
liberties depend upon the freedom of thought and the freedom of
expression; and you cannot limit either one in any way without
destroying both."
In recent years, scientology has attemped to style itself a
champion of the first amendment and of the liberties and freedoms
it promises to us all. But beyond its protestations of alleged
intrustions against it's own freedom to defraud, coerce and
conspire, the cult behaves in a manner which is inimical to
freedom. To support this statement, let us examine the behavior
of scientologists with regard to the subject of the freedom of
speech and belief.
According to scientology policy it is a High Crime and a
Suppressive Act for a scientologist in good standing to remain in
communication with any person who has been declared to be a
"Suppressive Person." What this means, of course, is that a
scientologist's right to freedom of speech is abrogated...at
least it is limited in that one cannot exercise free speech with
respect to declared SP's. Savvy scientologists might argue that
they accept this limitation knowingly and willingly and thereby
retain full freedom of speech. But Jefferson's caveat stands:
one cannot limit this freedom in any way without destroying it.
And, in fact, a scientologist who wishes to exercise full freedom
of speech, risks the consequences that accompany violation of the
above cited HCOPL. One can, of course, be declared a Suppressive
Person oneself for continuing communication to another declared
Suppressive Person.
The point here is simply this: regardless of the arguments
that can be made supporting such a limitation of free speech, it
must be recognized that scientology advocates this significant
abridgement of this freedom for its members. Though they cite
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