Jon Atack announces a five-day Toronto conference on Scientology to take place in June By Jon Atack, The Underground Bunker From June 22 through 26th, Tyndale University College and Seminary in Toronto will host a course and conference on Scientology, planned and directed by Professor James Beverley and me. Jim and I have been friends for four years and have worked toward this event for some time. Our course and conference promises to be the most in-depth and wide-ranging course or conference ever held on Scientology. I intend to withdraw from Scientology related work after this event. We will cover all aspects of the cult with the help of some of the leading experts — former members, academics and investigative journalists. It will be the first time that the global influence of the cult has been properly scrutinized. Sessions will consist of presentations by the various participants, interviews with luminaries, videos, question and answer sessions and panel discussions. We will bring together activists from around the globe. The following stars of the counter-Scientology firmament have already confirmed that they will be available in person, by Skype or on video: Paulette Cooper, author of The Scandal of Scientology and target of the infamous Operation Freakout. Steven Hassan, the best known cult expert in the world, author of three books, including the best-selling Combating Cult Mind Control. Tony Ortega, proprietor of the Underground Bunker, to speak about his remarkable new book The Unbreakable Miss Lovely. Russell Miller, eminent biographer of L. Ron Hubbard and author of Bare-Faced Messiah. Jesse Prince, former senior Sea Org member and David Miscavige’s auditor, with revelations from his forthcoming book. Hana Whitfield, founding member of the Sea Org, captain of the Mission Into Time and former leading exit counsellor. Ursula Caberta, former Hamburg Minister and driving force behind German legislation concerning Scientology. Nancy Many, author of My Billion Year Contract, and subject of an episode of Dangerous Persuasions (which will be shown at the seminar). Andreas Heldal-Lund, creator of xenu.net, a/k/a Operation Clambake. Arnaud Pallison, criminologist, author and advisor to the French courts. Tory Christman, former OSA agent (and brilliant speaker). Professor Alexander Dvorkin, for 21 years head of a counter-cult group in eastern Europe, and the main target for Scientology harassment in Russia. Karin Spaink, journalist and long term Scientology critic, who won a long legal battle against the cult’s attempt to take down her website. David Pike, head of FACTNet. Lawrence Wollersheim, who was paid a nine million dollar judgement by Scientology. Chuck Beatty, former Sea Org member, privy to Hubbard ‘advices.’ David Barrett, PhD, sociologist and author of several books about ‘new religious movements.’ John Duignan, author of The Complex. Jonny Jacobsen, journalist, who has reported on Scientology for over two decades. Host of Infinite Complacency. Chris Shelton, former member and advocate of critical thinking. Nora Crest, second generation member and Celebrity Center staffer. Pete Griffiths, leading activist from Ireland and organizer of Flag Down. Marta Gorna, Polish activist. Professor Martin Poulter, expert on belief systems. Steve Cannane, ABC TV presenter, author of a forthcoming history of Scientology in Australia. The entire conference will be professionally filmed and edited, and made available to schools and universities around the world. Several companies are interested in creating a TV documentary at the conference, because of the availability of so many luminaries in one place. The conference will cover Hubbard’s true biography, the beliefs and practices of Scientology, fair game and the intelligence agency (GO and OSA), the RPF, Narconon, finance and the IRS, the celebrity connection, Scientology under Miscavige, violence inside the cult and the exploitative techniques of hard-selling and auditing. Other noteworthy participants have yet to confirm. Tickets for the five day seminar and conference are priced at $120 per day or $500 for the five days. There will be concessions for those unable to afford this price. Please apply to the organizers at gettingclear2015@gmail.com Be there, or be square! — Jon Atack http://tonyortega.org/2015/04/25/jo...ference-on-scientology-to-take-place-in-june/
At first glance this looks great, then I remembered who the person organizing the event is. I hope the excellent people who were invited don't allow themselves to be used.
James Beverley has a thirty year history as a "New Religious Movement" shill, information gatherer, and manipulator. Hopefully, none of the participants will be influenced by his "make friends and influence people" game playing. It could become a terrific event, or it could be a big mistake.
Having all the speakers sponsored by the best friend of J. Gordon Melton isn't a good start. Who knows what will happen? Anyone who doesn't see this as a strange situation is asleep at the wheel. Wish for the best.
Whoa! Melton shmelton. This conference is part of Tyndale University's summer program. It's going to be great.
Atack and Beverley have worked on this for years. It will be recorded for distribution. The $cilons are enturbulated and are doing their thing. ^^^ Fun watching a few pathetic ones trying to stop a speeding freight train of truth.
A certain amount of suspicion and questioning and discussion is rational. Here's a recent discussion involving James Beverley that includes many views including Beverley's: http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?37719-Is-Jim-Beverly-on-OSA-payroll
From that discussion Link to post: http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthre...on-OSA-payroll&p=983762&viewfull=1#post983762
There's something about getting virtually every notable critic of Scientology into a "Scientology is a religion institution"-affirming venue that makes me uncomfortable.
I wish Denise Brennan was still with us so she could have spoken on such things as Scientology's religious cloaking program. Another program was the "scholar" program which was begun in the early 1970s. Scientology corrupted this area of academia. One point made on that thread is that Scientology is not the proper area of study for religious scholars - they're out of their depth - as Scientology is a commercial enterprise operated as a destructive cult posing as a religion.
[quote="Glenn Jones, post: 2533649"<snipped> One point made on that thread is that Scientology is not the proper area of study for religious scholars - they're out of their depth - as Scientology is a commercial enterprise operated as a destructive cult posing as a religion.[/quote]I read that post and found my self in full agreement. The full thread seems like a useful read, about Mr. Beverly and other issues, albeit at times tiresome, like many 14 page threads tend to be.
IMHO, a few guests among a much larger group could be tricked. But, as most speakers belong to the "anti" side, it seems difficult to imagine how it could happen. Caution remains a must, and I hope lessons were learned from the "Flag down" Clearwater last year.
Jon Atack: The ‘Getting Clear’ conference and L. Ron Hubbard’s lies about his life By Tony Ortega, The Underground Bunker We’re getting pretty excited about the weeklong seminar Jon is putting on in Toronto later this month. He decided to give us an idea of some of the material that’s going to be covered on the first day. Continued here: http://tonyortega.org/2015/06/06/jo...rence-and-l-ron-hubbards-lies-about-his-life/
If Jon Atack follow the James Beverley's lead and start calling Scientology a faith based religion, then the week long seminar will be a lot of sound and fury signifying nothing. It would be shocking if Jon Atack disappoints this way.
Don't get too excited. It could be a set up. James Beverly, who's hosting the conference, besides making himself a pal to any Scientology critic he can, is also a pal to Scientology shill J. Gordon Melton and others of that ilk. The bottom line for Scientology is to get people to call it a religion, not a business, run as a Destructive Cult, disguised as a religion. In Germany it's called an abusive business, run as a Psycho-Political cult, disguised as a religion. Very wise. Getting so many critics in a venue that is friendly to Scientology's religious cloaking is sort of like making friends with a particular group and people and inviting them on to a leaky barge. Don't get too comfy.
There something about this event that doesn't feel right and makes me feel like passing out. I hope I'm just paranoid.
O Canada! All eyes in the Scientology watching world will be looking north next week By Tony Ortega, The Underground Bunker, June 16, 2015 Hey, this really sneaked up on us. After a stop in Chicago on Saturday, we’re going to the great white north next week! Oh, Canada! We just wanted to remind you that we’ll be crossing the border next week, and helping Jon Atack by participating in his swan song, a weeklong conference that should be a blockbuster. One of the best things that’s come out of this little experiment in single-subject daily journalism has been the Underground Bunker’s relationship with Atack, the premier Scientology historian active today. He had gone quiet for a number of years after the publication of his book, A Piece of Blue Sky, but then we noticed that he’d made an appearance on a television show about cults. We reached out to him, hoping he might be interested in participating in a project. We told him one of the things we try to do here at the Bunker is deal with all of the bad information, the myths, that grow up around Scientology because of the nature of the Internet. Could he help us cut through the noise and get to the facts? We started out with a photograph of L. Ron Hubbard auditing a tomato (as well as another photo that often gets misrepresented), and our series with Jon, Scientology Mythbusting, really took off from there. There are probably a couple of e-books in the material that Atack has written for us in the two years since, and maybe one of these days we’ll get around to putting something like that out. But for now, you can revisit his words of wisdom at our dedicated page about him. Atack tells us that he’s ready to go into a more permanent retirement this time, but first he is putting on a big show. He’ll be in Toronto next week with Tyndale University professor Jim Beverley to examine Scientology with a who’s who of invited guests. Atack was good enough to invite your proprietor and Paulette Cooper, and we’ll be talking about our book and more on Tuesday morning. The night before, we’re also having a reading in town sponsored by the local Centre for Inquiry, and we hope to see you there. But it’s at the conference where we can really go in depth on Hubbard and his movement, and we’re looking forward to meeting so many other great figures in the Scientology watching world. We sure hope you can join us. Visit the conference website and please come join the event. Here’s the week’s lineup that Jon previously gave us: The event will be at the Sheraton Toronto Airport Hotel & Conference Centre from 22-26 June. There will be morning, afternoon and evening sessions over the five days of the seminar. The evening sessions, unless otherwise indicated, will be panel discussions, open to questions from the audience. This is an outline of the programme that we hope to present, certain details may be modified. Continued here: http://tonyortega.org/2015/06/16/o-...tching-world-will-be-looking-north-next-week/
I was at the Pickle Barrel in Toronto yesterday and while I was having lunch I noticed a female with white hair with two other men. Well what do you know two OSA minions, Pat Felske and Earl Smith ,and James Beverly were having lunch. I couldn’t hear everything as I didn’t want to get seen (I was concerned they would recognized me when I picked them at Yonge Street). Beverly was passing information to OSA about the upcoming conference. OSA fed James Beverly with documents to which he will specifically report back to his people he got from OSA in order to draw away any suspicions about him if they were seen together. Beverly told OSA that he will give them the footage of the conference. It seems that Beverly is working for OSA after all. See pic.
Yeah, that will distract us and make us think OSA won't be following people at the event. I am totally convinced poster was lying about the whole thing. smh
Earl Smith- President at EW Smith Roofing 1978 – Present (37 years) Location Canada Industry Building Materials Scientology interfaith rep NAIN 1986 – Present (29 years) Former member Universal Peace Federation 2000 – 2010 (10 years) ^ What is this all about?
I never said it was the Pickle Barrel in Younge Street. I said I used to picket in Younge Street. I took that pic at the Pickle Barrel at 5941 Leslie Street, Toronto. And yes that is Pat Felske if you ever picketed in Younge Street you would recognize her instantly. If you don't believe me why don't you call Jim Beverly and ask him if it's true that he had lunch with two OSA ronbots and that he made those offers that I explained in my original post.I appreciate your denial but prove me wrong and post dox that that didn't happen. even your buddies at ESMB think Jim Beverly has been on OSA payroll since 2014:www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?37719-Is-Jim-Beverly-on-OSA-payroll/page56
Hmm, I had better link this thread to Jon. Almost completely forgot it was created. Then at LEAST he can be aware of it.
Jon Atack is great. Nonetheless his alliance with Jim Beverley seems ill advised. The best that could happen would be for Jon to reaffirm his prior view that Scientology is not a religion but a destructive cult and a business, one posing as a religion. The worst that could happen would be for Jon to change his views and announce that now he thinks Scientology is a "faith based religion." In any event, the event will increase the stature of James Beverley, who is a proponent of Scientology's most enabling and empowering lie: that it is a religion. And that isn't a good development.
wtf is going on in this thread? The conference is still underway. Well known critics are still listed as attending. Sometimes opposing counsel are pictured together having lunch or discussing the case but it doesn't mean anything. It's called business. I'm guessing that the two $cilons requested a face-to-face with one of the conference organizers. It is what they do. They probably have already sent their letters too telling of how saddened they are that they weren't approached to have a $cilon as one of the speakers, etc. etc. Gibney went through it. Wright went through it. Anyway. I don't know Earl Smith or Pat Felske or even Beverley for that matter. I'm suspecting many of the Toronto area $cilons are running about and doing their 'thing.' Shattering and suppressing. Can't wait to see the conference recordings.
People are communicating freely. Is that OK? Good. Look forward to it. Most of us are familiar with "business," including with $cilons. This is a strange photograph. Judging by the body language the people in the photo are very comfortable with each other. They know and like each other. Are we supposed to suspend our critical faculties over this conference to the extent that no one does a double take on this photograph, and it's dismissed as "business"?
I will be brief. 1. Jon Atack knew and approved that I was meeting with Earl and Pat. 2. Contrary to what is read into the photograph, the conversation was not friendly. Earl and Pat both attacked me and Jon for doing the conference, along with many others. The attacks on me were probably the worst I have ever received in terms of questioning my character and integrity, even worse than some of the attacks in this thread or on ESMB. 3. I am willing to let anyone see the film and told Earl and Pat I would let them see it. If they or anyone point out real errors in the film then I am open to correction. That is my policy on everything I write and say. 4. Earl and Pat gave me material against various speakers at the conference. I told them I would look at the material. 5. My work with Jon Atack on this conference and the list of people speaking should be proof enough of my being not in favor of Scientology. 6. It is disappointing to me that my meeting with Earl and Pat and picture of our lunch would be interpreted without getting my input first and giving me a chance to explain. It is sad that critics of Scientology attack me in the manner I would usually associate with OSA. 7. I am still thinking about Scientology's status as a religion. Regardless of that issue, the fact that it might or might not be a religion should not stop constant critique of everything in it that is immoral, false, nasty, or criminal.
...a few further points 1. I do understand how suspicious my meeting with Pat and Earl looked and I understand how critics of Scientology are paranoid about my friendship with Gordon Melton. Both realities (the lunch meeting and my friendship with Gordon) are misunderstood in this thread. Yes, we are friends but I am far more critical of Scientology and new religions in general than Gordon. For the sake of reasoning, it would help if people watched how they use the "guilt by association" fallacy. 2. Anyone who knows my publication history and my speaking should know better than to picture me as some sort of apologetic dummy for new or world religions. I have spoken against and written against many new religions and world religions and have been an expert witness in court against various new religions. I have written a book against Jehovah's Witnesses, a book against Mormonism, critique many new religions in my Nelson's Illustrated Guide to Religions, and just wrote a new book against Islam. See www.gettingjesusright.com
Hey James, I was doubting what was being posted here on the thread by another toronto anon or critics, Which is best to hear from you and it does reassure allot of things. I'm under the impression that scientology is rumour-mongering allot, and I will be taking it with a grain of salt. Cheers.
