Thrak
Gold Meritorious Patron
Mick,
I don’t do snide comments. This was meant as a genuine question in the hope that you might consider the possibility that someone might be able to make amends for past wrongs that they have committed. Do I think that Mark Rathbun has made amends for all the harmful acts that he carried out in the name of Scientology? No, not by a long chalk.
But, am I prepared to accept that one day he may do so? Yes. And I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt in the meantime. Should everyone who has ever done wrong be condemned to an eternity in ‘Hell’ without any possibility of salvation?
Mark Rathbun held one of the highest posts in RTC. There are still those in the CoS who remember him and would be prepared to listen to what he has to say. This is important because as I’m sure you are aware, there are many Scientologists who will never even listen to those who are ‘attacking’ their religion. This was graphically demonstrated to me when I tried to have a rational discussion with George Baillie several weeks ago. The only way to get through to people like this is to communicate to them in a language that they understand and from a similar position, i.e. wanting to achieve spiritual freedom through the application of Scientology.
Mark has given a comprehensive interview regarding the abuses of Miscavige and his cronies (including himself) to the St Petersburg Times. This, along with 14 others speaking out has resulted in a huge PR loss for the CoS. And, who knows, perhaps this episode will persuade Lesevre, Starkey, Mithoff, Yager or Jentzsch that they should follow suit? In addition, via his Blog, Mark has made public more instances of abuses perpetrated by Miscavige, including those directed at suppressing Scientology ‘technology’. You might not care about this, but you have already left the CoS. I have no doubt that these examples will be of interest to some who are still ‘in’.
I don’t see how my giving ‘moral’ support to Mark Rathbun takes anything away from Larry, Marc and John. They have done a tremendous amount in exposing the CoS for what it really is and it was reading their stories that played a large part in my deciding to leave Scientology behind and I’m sure that others will also be similarly influenced.
If the abuses of the Church of Scientology are to be ended once and for all, then a multi-pronged and complementary approach is required. Mark Rathbun appeals to a difference audience than we do.
Axiom142
I couldn't agree more. I don't really understand why this is such a contentious issue. Obviously Marty has a lot of explaining to do and I'm sure he's aware that people want answers and there's now even a web site dedicated to that subject. So the ball is in his court on that. It's also possible that there are legal ramifications for what he says and who knows maybe he is talking with law enforcement.
But that aside, him being who he is or was, it was a pretty serious blow to the cofs for him to to go on camera for the sp times. And the fact that he isn't attacking scn itself or elron means that he will be taken far more seriously by people still in. Causing people to leave IS damage to cofs.