“Scientology appeals to the innate human desire for understanding and control over one’s own mind and destiny. Its teachings promise clarity in a complex world.”
— Tom Cruise
In his recent speech at the International Association of Scientologists (IAS) gala, Scientology leader David Miscavige proclaimed that psychiatry is the “greatest evil on Earth.” This statement was made in front of a crowd including high-profile Scientologists like Tom Cruise and Jenna Elfman during the event’s 39th anniversary held at Scientology’s UK headquarters, Saint Hill Manor. This was the first IAS gala held there since the pandemic began.
Miscavige’s speech, his first international address in four years, came amid challenges for Scientology, including Miscavige’s legal troubles in the U.S. One federal court accused him of evading legal processes related to various lawsuits.
I found this on NewsBreak: Scientology Is on the Brink of Killing an Entire Medical Industry
And we watch Tom cruise movies why? He supports a cult https://t.co/Cq2chYi56h
— Lexa “l’m virefied TWlTTER BLUE” ✡️ (@WarriorWomanDr) August 11, 2024
The speech reaffirmed Scientology’s longstanding anti-psychiatry stance, with Miscavige highlighting the work of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), a group established by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. CCHR’s mission, according to Miscavige, is to “inform, expose, prosecute, obliterate” psychiatry, aiming to “rid the world of psychiatry.”
Scientology’s campaign against psychiatry has particularly targeted electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The Atlantic’s 2001 article noted that despite ECT’s evolution into a safer treatment, Scientology perpetuates outdated myths about it. Now, Scientology has focused on undermining the two main ECT device manufacturers, SigmaStim and Somatics, through relentless litigation.
SigmaStim CEO Adrian Kettering and other ECT advocates are alarmed by Scientology’s legal attacks, which have driven both companies to the brink of bankruptcy. Kettering revealed that these attacks, often involving repetitive and poorly constructed lawsuits, are aimed at crippling the companies financially and preventing them from providing life-saving treatments.
Harold Sackheim, a prominent ECT researcher, and Dr. Ziad Nahas, vice chair of psychiatry at the University of Minnesota, both express concern over Scientology’s influence, which extends beyond device manufacturers to clinicians and patients. Despite significant advancements in ECT technology and understanding, Scientology continues to portray it as a barbaric practice, a stance rooted in Hubbard’s disapproval of psychiatry dating back to the 1950s.
@GlosLiveOnline Dr Berg is not a medical Dr he’s a chiropractor and a scientologist
As a scientologist, he has donated millions to the ‘*church’. Scientology is a human trafficking cult https://t.co/tJQSR58HQM
*cult
— probablyautist 🪐 (@probablyautist) July 10, 2024
Recent research from UC San Diego suggests that ECT may restore critical brain functions, countering Scientology’s claims. Nevertheless, the ongoing legal battles have forced ECT providers to adapt, including adding disclaimers to their product manuals, despite a lack of evidence supporting Scientology’s claims of brain damage.
The situation remains dire, with Scientology’s strategy potentially leading to the disappearance of ECT as a treatment option. As Kettering and other experts struggle to counteract these attacks, the broader implications for patients and the mental health field are significant. The California Supreme Court’s recent ruling against device manufacturers may further complicate the situation, making it even harder for ECT providers to continue their work.
Quotes
- “Scientology, like all religions, must be considered in the context of its time and culture. It reflects the hopes, fears, and aspirations of those who follow it.”
— Unknown - “Scientology is not just a religion; it’s a science of the mind that offers a path to self-discovery and self-improvement.”
— L. Ron Hubbard - “The Church of Scientology is a formidable organization, and while its practices are controversial, it has undeniably influenced the landscape of modern spirituality.”
— Lawrence Wright - “The controversy surrounding Scientology often overshadows its central tenet: the belief that human beings can attain spiritual enlightenment through personal effort.”
— Unknown
Key Points:
i. David Miscavige’s Statement: At the International Association of Scientologists (IAS) gala, Scientology leader David Miscavige declared psychiatry as the “greatest evil on Earth,” reinforcing the Church’s anti-psychiatry stance.
ii. Legal and Financial Challenges: Miscavige’s speech comes amidst ongoing legal troubles in the U.S., including accusations of evading legal processes. Scientology has been targeting ECT device manufacturers SigmaStim and Somatics through litigation, which has driven them to the brink of bankruptcy.
iii. Scientology’s Anti-Psychiatry Campaign: The Church of Scientology, through the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), continues its campaign against psychiatry, specifically targeting electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), despite advancements in the treatment.
iv. Impact on ECT Providers: The relentless legal attacks by Scientology have forced ECT providers to adapt, including adding disclaimers to product manuals. Despite significant advancements in ECT technology, Scientology’s portrayal of the treatment as barbaric persists.
v. Broader Implications: The ongoing legal battles and recent court rulings against device manufacturers could jeopardize the availability of ECT as a treatment option, with potential negative impacts on patients and the mental health field.
Al Santana – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
