Here's an interesting page I found - some commentary about the Scientology religion and a list of excellent resources. The Church of Scientology, Dianetics by L. Ron Hubbard. And here is a list of Scientology churches and Dianetics centers in Denmark.Buhuu.dk: Samfund/Religion/Scientologi/Lokalafdelinger. Here's another good page about Scientology in Danish. It gives a brief biography of L. Ron Hubbard

Sometimes people ask what does Scientology believe about the Diety and other spiritual matters. Here is an interesting statement about this.

There seems to be a lot of controversy about Scientology but here's an interesting perspective on the cause of this.

Check out this book by Dr. Derek Davis in Amazon.com. It has a great chapter on Scientology.

Here's another book. It's by Dr. Gordon J. Melton. It is called The Church of Scientology and gives really excellent descriptions of the Scientology religion by a religious scholar who is not a Scientologist.

Here's a good directory of Scientology resources in the German LanguageHansis.net - Das Webverzeichnis

Just ran into this article from Scientology's Freedom Magazine that was published many years ago. It's on the subject of Prozac.
Freedom magazine is an excellent source of factual information on important human rights issues.

Here's are two great quote from L. Ron Hubbard about personal growth and integrity on the web sites of two Australian friends.

Scientology Volunteer Ministers Centrre opened by Sharron Davies, MBE

Scientology Volunteer Ministers Centrre opened by Sharron Davies, MBE

Here's an interesting site about L. Ron Hubbard. It covers his work on Drug Education and Drug Rehabilitation , his humanitarian work in education and criminal reform.

Here's another interesting site on the subject of Scientology. Dr. Gordon Melton is a sociologist of religion. He himself is a Christian minister. He wrote a book that he called The Church of Scientology. This link is to a review of the book, which is available at Amazon.com

I recently found a site on the Net written by one of the earliest students of Scientology in India. His name is Dr. Subhash Sood. I found it very interesting to read his views on Scientology and Dianetics from his background in eastern religion and philosophy. As Dr. Sood puts it L. Ron Hubbard developed Scientology and Dianetics, which claims to make enlightenment scientifically achievable

I find it very interesting that he should say this. When I first got involved in Scientology I was looking for personal answers. I had attempted to study eastern religion myself, but I found with Scientology the answers were so practical and workable. After looking for solutions in many quarters it was so gratifying to find something that actually worked.

Rev. Cathy Norman of the Church of Scientology of Texas wrote this interesting article on Scientology. She explains Scientology doctrine regarding God. She also goes into other Scientology tenets.

This explains a great deal about why Scientologist are invovled in helping their communities and what motivates their participation in social reform and human rights causes.

There's a very interesting site about Scientology that was created by a group called CESNUR - Center for Studies on New Religions. It has documents and articles that give a good perspective on how Scientologists have had to defend their right to practice their religion. It has not been that unusual for new religions to run into intolerance in the past. Mormonism, Quakers, even Christianity had to contend with alarming false reports about them that turned people against them when they were new. But now we have instant global communication and access to the enormous amounts of information, so there is the potential to overcome this tendancy.

Another interesting page about Scientology is by by Jack Nation, ThM, Pastor . He gives a pretty balanced statement about the Scientology religion.

Also a bibiography that apprears in the Marburg Journal of Religion about Scientology, compiled by by Marco Frenschkowski lists out the primary references on Scientology, most of which can be found in libraries, and all of which can be ordered online through the official site of the Church of Scientology. The best way to understand what people really believe and do is to read the texts that comprise the basis of their religious philosophy.

Washington DC is one of my favorite cities - always was. I first went there with my parents when I was a kid. I remember my first impression of the Lincoln Memorial - how much I felt the presence of the courage and ideals of Lincoln.

Growing up in New York, I was really surprized what a southern town Washington DC was. This was in the late 50's and there were still restaurants in DC where you only saw white faces. My mother and dad whispered to us that this was a segregated restaurant. I couldn't fathom the concept.

As I got older my favorite sites shifted. Then it was the Smithsonian Institution and the National Gallery of Art where I loved to spend my time.

As a college student, in the late '60s it was the Washington Monument - not in an of itself but because it was the scene of so many important events like the March on Washington.

Then when I became a Scientologist, Washington took on a new meaning for me, because that is where L. Ron Hubbard had his headquarters for many years and where he was executive director of the Founding Church of Scientology.

Rev. Cathy Norman has some interesting insight to share on the Scientology religion. In her article Scientology Gives Believers a Map on the Road to Self-fulfillment she explains some of the beliefs and practices of the Scientology religion including why Scientology Volunteer Ministers have the motto "something can be done about it."

Here's an interesting site. It lets you answer questions and find out what things suit you the best. It's called "selectsmart". One of the things you can check into is various religions. It has a description of Scientology that's very interesting.

When I did the quiz I was told I was probably a Buddhist - interesting since I have a lot of beliefs in common with Buddhism - but it also shows that whoever wrote the test is lacking some understanding of Scientology, since my answers were pretty much right-down-the-line based on what I've learned in Scientology.

Anyway it's an interesting site, and I thought that the description of Scientology was fairly accurate.

Here's the blog of one of my friends, appropriately called I like to help. She certainly lives up to that credo. That's one of the things I like best about my Scientology friends. They are so interested in people, and like to help others, and have the tools to be able to do so.

Okay, this weekend was incredible! I got to go to San Francisco for the grand opening of the new Church of Scientology of San Francisco . The event was spectacular, especially the speach from David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center. There were Chinese dragon dancers, and an incredible brass band that played "San Francisco" (the Jeanette MacDonald version).

This is the third Scientology church to open within the past month! What a fantastic trend!

I heard about the new Scientology Life Improvement Center, connected to the Church of Scientology of Tampa, but I hadn't realized how much Scientologists form Clearwater helped bring this center into being. This artcle, Tampabay: Scientology takes its mission to the streets tells the story.

Here's some more information on David Miscavige.

Here's more news about the new Church of Scientology in Buffalo. Buffalo is a terrific town and Mayor Anthony Masiello and Chairman of the Board Religious Technology Center, Mr. David Miscavige, were among the speakers who celebrated this occasions. Jenna Elfman and Billy Sheehan were there too. And unlike mid-November in Buffalo, there were no snow, no sleet, and they were able to hold the entire event outside without everyone freezing!

But all kidding aside, this is such a beautiful building and it heralds a brand new era for Buffalo, with the many social betterment programs the Church is rolling out and city officials are embracing, to handle illiteracy, crime and drugs in the area.

I have some very dear friends who are Scientologists in Buffalo, and I am delighted about this new beginning for the Church.

Hello. I've been tied up for the past couple of weeks. But since I've been gone look what happened! the new Church of Scientology of Buffalo held its grand opening. And among the speakers were David Miscavige of Religious Technology Center and Buffalo Mayor Mayor Anthony M. Masiello.

Good selection of articles on Scientology and other minority religions in Germany Religionsfreiheit in Deutschland (Religious Freedom in Germany). Its bizarre to me how retro some of these European countries are. Since they all signed on the the EU Charter for Human Rights, an the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, I guess the only way they can defend their stand against new religions is to claim they aren't religions.

What nonsense.

Anyone reading as single Scientology book would be pretty blind not to recognize its sprituality.

Here's an interesting page - University of Minnesota list of religion links. Lots of good sites

Rain on Halloween served two purposes - kept the ghoules off Hollywood Boulevard (it's usually such a wierd evening on the Boulevard,with people in costume walking up and down the street in the dark, doing nothing but marching. Pretty macabre. But the ghosts must hate the rain - at least in LA).

But the main thing is the fires have started dying down.

My own contribution to those who have lost so much - here is one of my favorite quotes by L. Ron Hubbard:

"Never regret yesterday. Life is in you today, and you create your tomorrow."

There is also a terrific book, that might help. Scientology: The Fundamentals of Thought

The weather has finally turned, the winds have died down. Hopefully that will give the firemen a chance to get these fires under control. Last night I heard that 15,000 homes had been burnt down in Southern California from these fires. I can't remember a worse disaster here.

I found out last night that some of my friends who are Scientology Volunteer Ministers have been helping at the crisis center in San Diego, giving Scientology Assists to firemen and people who have been evacuated to the shelters. I'm really proud of them, and wish I could join them.

Worst fires in southern California history. I probably live at least 60 miles away from any of the fires, and can hardly imagine the ordeal the fire fighters are facing. Even here it felt like dusk most of the day with all the smoke in the air. The firemen are real heros. We're very lucky to have them.

This past weekend was the celebration of the 19th anniversary of the International Association of Scientologists,(IAS), held in Sussex, England. A video of the event will be shown this weekend at the Shrine Auditorium. This is on of a dozen or so occasions that are celebrated by Scientologists around the world. What is particularly special about the IAS aniversary is that it acknowledges the human rights activities of the Church of Scientologyand its members. I always find it such an inspiration, to see how much one person can do, to help others on a grand scale.

The Way to Happiness Foundation updated their site with photos of the grand opening event. Brings back fond memories of a great day.

I love the Way to Happiness book. L. Ron Hubbard wrote it when he realized the extent to which morality had declined in our society, and he saw the urgent need to do something to reverse that trend.

You can read more about the book here.

Here's a group I really admire.:Doctors Without Borders. Here's a group of true humanitarians who are there to help.

Unseasonally hot in Los Angeles this year. I went to my favorite open-air market today, California Farmers' Market and it felt like mid-summer. It was pretty clear from how everyone else was addressed they agreed with me.

Not only is the produce the best, but they have great restaurant stalls and terrific music.

Two good sources of information about Scientology are the Open Directory Project- Church of Scientology results, and Yahoo! Scientology category.

There's also a pretty good article on Beliefnet - not completely accurate, but very fair.

The American Ballet Theater and Alvin Ailey dance company were among the best things about growing up in New York, along with The Cloisters museum. (Just to set the record straight about what I miss the most about New York.)

Just found an article on yet another example of inadequate educational technology in our public schools - this time plummeting scores in New York State.

Bush has his No Child Left Behind strategy. It's a fine idea, but without a way to accomplish it, it is meaningless.

However these is a technology of study and education which is effective, is easy to learn and can be implemented with no additional resources than we currently have in our schools. This is L. Ron Hubbard: Study Technology. There is also a teacher training campus called Applied Scholastics International where any teacher, mentor, tutor or parent can learn enough of the basics of this technology in a matter of a few days to be able to help their kids considerably.

It's actually really exciting, because when there are simple solutions to serious problems, something can be done about it!

Here's an interesting article on a detox program in New York that firefighters who were at the World Trade Center on and after 9/11 are participating in. I've done this same detox, and although I had nowhere near the level of toxicity of these rescue workers, I still have a lot to handle (isn't anyone on planet Earth in the 21st century being bombarded by toxins?). It's a very intense program, but for all the effort you put into it you get out 10 times more.

Read a bit more about the Scientology Purification Program here.

And, while you're at it, check out the Church of Scientology Official Site. Lot's to read and learn about here:)

Look what I found. I blog about Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health!

Dianetics was the first book I read, when I was finding out about Scientology (oh so long ago). A good friend of mine lent me his copy of the book. I read three chapters and realized I had my hands on something I'd been looking for. I'd been studying eastern religions, meditation, yoga, astrology... anything I could get my hands on that could shed some light on who I really was, what life was really about and why I felt and reacted the way I did.

It wasn't long after that I visited a Scientology Mission in the town where I was living. I took a Communication Course and got some Scientology Auditing ( Spiritual Counseling) and I've never looked back.

Today's election day in California. As much as I'm embarassed to be part of all this hoohah, I did my patriotic duty, and voted.

It's a gorgeous Southern California day, and I hear it's going to be a record turn out.

Had a great time this weekend at the grand opening of the new headquarters for The Way to Happiness Foundation. They had terrific speakers who told how much the Way to Happiness had helped calm down their areas. It was very inspirational. Check out this Chapter from The Way to Happiness . Very simple and makes so much sense.

Here's one of my favorite watercolor artists - Jan Kunz. She does beautiful paintings and is a great teacher as well.

I've learned to paint in watercolor through the help of people like Jan, who share their skill in books and articles so others can learn.

The Church of Scientology International has made available a series of human rights publications . What they found was that a major barrier to improving human rights was that many people were completely ignorant of the rights granted to them, making it so easy to erode them.

One of the booklets is designed to help young people understand the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Youth for Human Rights Int'l - Home is a non-profit organization that runs education programs in many different countries to make information about human rights available in a very simple format, so young people can understand their rights and insist on them.

All of these booklets are available for reproduction and use by anyone who wants to help.

I haven't decided yet how to vote in the recall election. I actually haven't event decided whether to vote.

On an other note, I read on MSNBC today that they found out stress can cause many other problems.
This is absolutely true, but the good news is you don't have to "medicate" it. There are actually simple things you can do to reduce stress. The Scientology Handbook has a chapter that gives great suggestions on reducing stress. You can read it online, or order a copy of the booklet from Bridge Publications.

Shana Tova - Happy Jewish New Year! And welcome to the year 5763.

I'm proud of my Jewish heritage and invite you to find out more about it here:Jewish Tradition Web Sites

On this day, I wish for a real and lasting peace in the Middle East.

Conflicts such as these are CAUSED. Here's a booklet, published by the Church of Scientology International, with articles by L. Ron Hubbard on the cause of conflicts.

Words of wisdom for today:

Talk is cheap because supply exceeds demand.

Foggy day. Walking in to work today was like walking in a cloud. Strange weather for L.A. September's usually the hottest month of the year, here.

This is the time of year I miss the east coast the most, for the fabulous trees .

I'm from New York. We don't have autumn leaves there either (New York City that is). I always figured that was because trees need real air to make their leaves turn color. In New York the leaves just go from green to brown and fall off. But when I lived in upstate New York we had LEAVES!.

In LA, I can hardly ever tell what season it is. Especially now with the fog.

I wrote about the grand opening of the Church of Scientology International Human Rights and Public Affairs Office in Brussels a few days ago. Here's an article on this new Scientology office.

The day of the grand opening the church released a Human Rights proclamation.

Scientology is recognized as a religion in many countries, but there is still discrimination against it in Europe. This office is so important not only for handling this discrimination, but for helping to handle discrimination against any minority religion in Europe.

I was fortunate to be there for the re-naming and dedication of L. Ron Hubbard Way . What an exciting day. City Council President John Ferraro and L. A. Councilman Richard Alatorre helped dedicate the street. President Church of Scientology International, Rev. Heber Jentzsch, and Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center (RTC), were there too, as was John Travolta.

This street is the center of the largest Scientology community in the world, and the Los Angeles Church of Scientology and the American Sainth Hill Organziation (ASHO) are also on the street. ASHO is where the most expert auditors are training on the Saint Hill Special Briefing Course. An auditor is a Scientology minister who is trained to deliver Scientology spiritual counseling. ASHO Day is the church that is open Monday through Friday during the day. ASHO Foundation takes over at night and is open all weekend too.

Here's some information about the Saint Hill Special Briefing Course. It's named after Saint Hill in Sussex, England.

My friend Jenny is a Dianetics Auditor and a really decent person.

I learned about Dianetics in 1970. A friend gave me Dianetics, the Modern Science of Mental Health to read, and it amazed me how much sense it made. I knew I could help people with this. And I was right! It is tremedously rewarding and fun to help people with Dianetics techniques. It's easy to learn. You can attend a Dianetics seminar at any
church of Scientology or Scientology mission.

Here's a web-site where you can read Dianetics, The Evolution of a Science online.

I highly recommend it!

And here's the Scientology and Dianetics Glossary where you can look up any words you don't understand.

The Church of Scientology International European Public Affairs and Human Rights Office has just opened in Brussels, Belgium.

It is such a beautiful office.

I'm very proud to be a Scientologist, and the work we do in the field of human rights.

The office is so beautiful, too. You can get an idea of how it looks here.

I read today that the US is spending more on public and private education
than other major countries, but are not getting the expected results.

Makes sense to me.

I loved my first 3 years of school and hated the rest.

Then I went away to college and majored in rebellion and drugs. Learned too much about that and not much of anything else.

None of it prepared me to be able to do anything with my life.

What turned my life around was finding out about Scientology in 1970.

Now I realize that the biggest problem I had in school was I didn't know how to study - and neither did my teachers or professors.

That's why I'm so excited about Applied Scholastics International. They have a terrific education program that works. It is based on the works of L. Ron Hubbard.

The campus, just outside of St. Louis, is so beautiful, and the staff are so helpful.

I wish I'd had the chance to go there when I was doing my teacher training.

Mars is still bright in the LA sky (if anything and be bright in the LA sky.)

I still watch it every night.

Makes me happy to think it's the closest it's been to Earth in over 60,000 years.

When I was 5 years old, living in New York, my folks took me to the Hayden Planetarium at the Museum of Natural History in Central Park. I signed up for a raffle to be on the first passenger ship to the moon. I'm still hoping to make it this lifetime.

I remember the last weekend of August with bitter-sweet emotions.

My life was divided into my real life (where I spent my summer) and the rest of my time in the City.
And once I came home in September, I lived the rest of the year just looking forward to next summer.

Having lived in Los Angeles for the past 30 years, virtually season-less, I haven't thought about this for many years. But starting my blog on this, the 30th of August, brought it back to mind.

I'd like to dedicate this blog to people who really help others, and to people who are seeking answers.

I would like to share some of the things I've learned, and those things that are most imporant to me.

And to start off with, here is a link to my favorite web site: the Scientology Home Page.

I'm proud to be a Scientologist, and I'm happy to be here on the net with my new blog.

Welcome to my world!