But "denomination" doesn't necessarily refer to just Christian denominations...
Denomination: a recognized autonomous branch of the Christian Church.
• a group or branch of any religion: Jewish clergy of all denominations.
Scientology is non-denominational of course only until they determine that whatever that other denomination is or does violates fundamentalist Scientology KSW "Keeping Scientology Working" doctrine or they can't exploit it for Scientology's benefit.
Probably the most concise definition of Scientology ethics:
The purpose of Ethics is: TO REMOVE COUNTER-INTENTIONS FROM THE ENVIRONMENT. And having accomplished that the purpose becomes. TO REMOVE OTHER-INTENTIONEDNESS FROM THE ENVIRONMENT.
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In other words, as long as another denomination is useful in removing counter-intentions to Scientology it conforms with Scientology "Ethics" and can be tolerated to that extent but the clear implication to this senior policy is that once it is no longer useful or needed to remove those counter-intentions, in order to conform to Scientology ethics, it cannot have other intentions. Scientology non-denominationalism is a gradient approach to totalism.
I feel sorry for those interfaith people who got roped into a Scientology bitter-ender reunion. There are so many instances where I let myself be made a fool by Scientology. Maybe they think getting these people to participate was a successful op but once again Hubbard's PR policies ultimately result in cringingly bad optics and they will probably lose credibility with these people after they reflect on the moment.
Interfaith representatives are almost obligated to be neutral to a fault. If you are part of a Christian interfaith group who is trying to help Christians living in an Islamic country you hope that by being neutral or positive or even facilitate Islam that this will help you gain access and be able to help those people. That is only one example but my sense is that characterizes how you have to think to be part of interfaith activities. They may have serious disagreements but where their interests align they work together. Scientology has a vested interest in preventing legislation that strips their religious cloaking and other religions oppose anything that encroaches on religious freedom. I think it is only natural that OSA would want to capitalize on that kind of obligatory cooperation. Scientology promotes itself as non-denominational. I expect in the interfaith community non-denominational groups are bit players and not very well known. I have to wonder if any of these interfaith people have read A Piece of Blue Sky or watched Going Clear and The Aftermath? Maybe some of them have and those are the members who are not attending.
But this looks so bad. The band is paid, the interfaith people almost have to be there, the security and camera crew are probably Scientology staff or vendors, and then the audience is mostly people who have been in tight with OSA for decades. Where are the Scientology public or public from other denominations that would indicate a broad base of support and awareness about the issues? Are they deliberately kept away so they will only see highly edited presentations after the fact? Where are all the young people in the audience? When the ratio of entertainment and support staff is about one to one with the audience that looks weird. Is OSA deliberately trying to show us that it has atrophied into some kind of geriatric club and this was essentially a field trip to get them outside? That it is not only a paper tiger but a paper tiger with dentures? OSA better do whatever it is that they plan to do in the next 5 to 10 years.
I love Jeffrey's technique. There is only the most minimalistic zooming and panning. No attempt to add or subtract from the moment, no narration. In acting actors are taught "don't look at the camera". It is a highly developed skill to avert your eyes or blink as your head turns toward the camera. You don't want to draw the viewer's attention to the mechanics behind the scene and distract them from the desired effect. It's like the people in this event were all trained to cooperate with Jeffrey by not looking at him or in his direction. I thought this added to the feeling that his camcorder was like a window in time and space just hovering across the street invisible to people living a moment in history that we can all now see without the distortion of people who would write about it later.