OK, X-X - you've finally gotten me worked up enough to take your bait and respond to some more specifics in your post, so here goes:
Let's use Scio PR tech to evaluate this statement:
1. Which scholars? All of the scholars approached agreed? How many disagreed?
2. What are the c.v.'s of these scholars?
One of them had taught at Oxford and Harvard, and had been Principal of an elite theological college of one of the worlds major religions attached to one of the leading Universities in the Asia Pacific region.
However as I am no longer on official Church PR lines, I just do this for fun and as a fellow OT to those in difficulty, I won't give you specific references. Needless to say that Xenophon's little side show is barking up the wrong tree in that he is seeking to impose a template on religion.
The vast majority of ALL PEOPLE on the planet have a hope that they are more than flesh and bone. So what?
Well it is very important that they do have a spiritual stable datum as the belief in MEST alone leads to a loss in values, truth, faith etc, the top buttons on the Chart of Attitudes (Handbook for Preclears, abbreviated form 8:8008). The MU that Xenophon and some other Senators unfortunately seem to have is that spriritual qualities are valuable and each religion, "even" the Muslems contributes to society to the extent that they promote these values. (I say "even the Moslems" ironically as I used to be a Moslem for a while while I was looking around other religions, including Buddhism and Hinduism, before I settled on Scientology). Thus it is impossible for a value to be placed on these qualities as that would violate section 116 of the Australian Constitution. The idea that you measure the MEST contribution of the religion is equally absurd. As it happens a few years ago the law was changed to ensure that contemplative orders of the Catholic Church were regarded as "charitable" religions. These guys just pray all day and don't mix with the public.
It's not a "cult of materialism" to take care of yourself. It's a precept of TWTH, Student Guide to Acceptable Behavior and the Hat of a PC.
I don't believe Ron wrote TWTH, I have come to the conclusion it was written to a project from him. It is inconsistent with early Scientology where care of the body was not promoted. However in practical terms there is nothing wrong with this. TWTH is very successful I have had very good changes in people from giving them this booklet. Students and PC's need to be sessionable. Scientology is increasingly involved in disaster relief and as it grows larger this will continue, but hopefully they won't lose their message as the Salvo's seem to almost have. When the Salvation Army started they just preached their viewpoint of the Gospel which was unpopular with sinners as it required them to change their behaviour. You can read their history elsewhere. They seem to have toned down their message which is a pity. REPENT ESMBers!!!
I think there is a middle road with truth - that's what Buddha said. You might just call it an analytical approach, there are no absolutes in Scientology.
One major OUTPOINT of the practice of "organized Scientology" is that if you're on auditing lines (and sometimes even training lines - like at Flag for example), you have to get C/S OK to go to a doctor. Why is that?
Jeez mate, I thought you said you were on staff 20 years and got onto OT 7. Your treatment might conflict with the activity you are doing. However this does not apply for emergency conditions.
You are correct about this. Miscavige IS legitimate.
I am not sure I said that, I think there are a few things to say about his leadership for and against. I am pragmatic about it. If he is going to fail it will be in the next few years, he is pushing people hard, that is partly what leaders are supposed to do. He is pushing purpose. Some other issues it is for the people directly concerned to resolve if they exist. There are some pretty able people at that level. I'm not currently on service lines but I don't seem to generate the same problems that some of you do. You have to take responsibility for the whole scene. As you should know by now "problems" are often the manifestation of something else. I sympathise with your predicament, life can be tough, read the book of Job. I've been through tough experiences where things went against me. Come through it with your integrity intact.
I am on your side.