One day, he wrote a book and got a whole bunch of people fascinated with his observations, all of which he said were "scientific fact." You can admire his chutzpah: He was worth around $ 450 million at the time of his death.

Too bad not a single one of his words was true. And if he hadn't been so obsessed with collecting money and keeping secrets, he could have had it all: Money, fame, tax exemptions, adoring followers.

But things always seemed to be tumbling down on his head, and his paranoia got worse and worse by the day.

His paranoia was one of many things that outlived him.

And that's probably why you're reading this page.

Welcome to the Strange and Awesomely Awful world of Scientology!

Last updated: Wednesday, 2 August 1995
New posts added through circa 31 July 1995
I'm still way behind on post classification. :-(
Note: My apologies for the very slow updates to this page; I had a major crisis in my system this month, and that took up virtually all my time and energy.

Although I have added posts through 31 July (*), most of the recent information on this page has not been properly classified. It can be found in or by using the new WAIS Search of my entire site. If you're looking for posts on a specific topic, I strongly urge you to check out the WAIS search, since right now the posts are very poorly organized (more or less in the order in which they arrived here).

(*) Note that this is when they got to my site; my news suffers from about a four day lag time.

This home page is a mini-archive of information about the Scientology religion (or cult) that has piqued my interest. Who are these people, who want to harass everyone in sight who talks of "Marcabs" and "Body Thetans"?

What do they really believe?

Like virtually every document on the Web, this web page is constantly under construction. Pardon our dust.

I have finally written an automated program to help me update the post archive. As a result, more frequent updates should occur from now on, and I anticipate that the archive will be once again up to date soon. Unfortunately, I also have been horribly busy, so this might not be as soon as I would like. In the mean time, there are a whole bunch of new posts at the end of the file that I have not yet managed to classify.

New! Search the entire site using WAIS!

Well, you could look through the page and read things that catch your eye, or you could search using WAIS. Check it out!

Note: This WAIS search actually looks through the entire site, not just the Scientology part, so you might get a few hits you wouldn't expect.

Want to do a more comprehensive search? Check out Stanford University's SIFT search engine.

Like this page? Hate it? Please drop me a line!

I'm particulary curious about your opinions of the post archive, since its maintenance is a great deal of work. (I know a lot of people out there enjoy the Players FAQ, so I will continue to maintain it no matter what).

If you're in the Players FAQ, or if I left you out, I'd like to know more about you - how you got into Scientology, how you got out (if you did), etc. I'd like to beef up the FAQ with more information about you.

Obviously all the information you give me for publication is public, and I'm sure the CoS will be anxiously reading this page. (That's part of the fun of this, of course!). So don't tell us anything you wouldn't mind the CoS knowing too. But if you're willing to share, I think it will add a little colour to the FAQ, especially if you're not covered extensively.

Click here to send me a comment

A word from your sponsor

The move of this site to a new Internet address, announced previously, has been postponed, probably to early August. I will keep ars posted when I have an approximate installation date for the new system.

My statement about the anti-Scientology bias of this page

Because the pro-Scientology posters are lousy writers with no sense of humour whatsoever! At the bottom of this page, you can read my announcement to Scientology posters, asking for high-quality posts to include here.

Like most challenges to pro-Scientologists, it has had no effect whatsoever. Yet, anyway.

For more information about home page bias, see The Sloth's Statement on this subject.

Some documents I'm personally involved in

The ARS Players FAQ, a description of the major faces on alt.religion.scientology. My own writing, last updated 25 July 1995, with more on the infamous Chris Miller, and a Courtesy rating for all Scientology posters.

The ARS Tactics FAQ describes some of the odder tactics used by both pro and anti-CoS posters. Included is information on Encheferation, Dead Agenting and all sorts of other fun things. Last updated 22 July 1995

The Biased Journalism Archive, Shelley Thomson's excellent articles on the Dennis Erlich case and other matters. Shelley tells us that she's working on a new issue, but for now this is still the best account I've seen of the Erlich case.

The alt.religion.scientology Terminology FAQ, by Martin Hunt. This version includes hyperlinks created by a program I wrote designed to make the dictionary more user friendly. [Last update: 8 June 1995]

Deana Holmes' History of the CoS attack on the net

Finally updated! Don't have enough time to read all of alt.religion.scientology? Check out Rod Keller's weekly ARS Summaries [Last updated August 1995]. Also check out his comprehensive Scientology FAQ for New Readers

David Carter's intriguing essay explains Scientology beliefs in depth.

Scientology-Oriented Home Pages

Martin Poulter's Scientology home page contains some outstanding information on the cult.

Check out Modemac's CoS Web Page: "But if you ask about Scientology anywhere on the Internet, you are likely to be answered by statements of distrust, skepticism and suspicion ..."

For original legal documents on the Erlich case, see the Electronic Frontier Foundation's case archive.

For an excellent source for general information on Scientology, The Sloth's page

For another fine source of general information, check out Tilman Hausherr's home page.

Steve Marinick's article, Johnny Get Your Modem: Scientology's War with the Internet is an excellent summary of the situation.

For the real hard information, such as the affidavits and such, check out my copy of the FactNet WWW kit, containing the complete list of FactNet legal documents and information.

Tilman Hausherr found an article on Hubbard's Days at Caltech

The Total Freedom Trap, by Jon Atack, is an excellent introduction to Scientology.

Woody has finally seen the light! His message listing the CAN Reform Group Home Page led me to an actual Pro-Scientology Home Page by Leisa Goodman. (I'm almost sure he didn't want anyone to notice!) "This page will expand," quoth Leisa, in a positively eerie imitation of Woody.

Perhaps the funniest thing about the CoS WWW pages is their obscurity. If you tried http://www.theta.com/, there's basically nothing there; it appears to be a dead-end, with only a couple of dull-looking links. Strange. It's almost as though they wanted to limit people's access to their pages. Well, pity for them: Woody has spilled the beans.

Since I wrote this, they appear to have finally cleaned up their act; Leisa Goodman's home page is now directly accessible from the root, although it is still her "personal" page and not an official product of the Church, even though 99% of its content is other official products of the Church.

Some Eccentric Scientology Web Sites

Want an ARS T-Shirt?

Check out The Church of Sociology, an intriguing alternative to Scientology.

If you are a fan of Magic: The Gathering-style cards, check out ARS : The Clearing, part of the Illuminati: New World Order game from Steve Jackson Games.

The Clammer Kill Counts are now archived, for people who want to check out the count's complete history.

The Dennis Erlich Defense Fund

If you want to help Dennis defend himself against the nasty litigation from the Scientologists, send your contribution of any size to:

MORRISON & FOERSTER
345 California Street
San Francisco, California 94104-2675
Telephone: (415) 677-7000
Facsimile: (415) 677-7522
Contact People: Carla Oakley and Katie Walsh
Remember to write "Dennis Erlich Defense Fund" on your check to ensure that it's properly credited; make checks payable to Morrison & Foerster.

Why does the Dennis Fund need your help? Tom Collins tells us why depositions cost so much

lippard@Primenet.Com (James J. Lippard) tells us the results of his matching offer for the month of May.

Carla B. Oakley tells how to send a wire transfer to Dennis' defense fund.

rnewman@athena.mit.edu (Ron Newman) posted MOFO's response to the allegations against Dennis.

Tilman Hausherr gets in the Upset Condition after reading about Dennis' near homelessness

Erlich Case Information, including vital court documents

The Best of Dennis Erlich

Bus Crash, the beginning and (possible) end of the Crosstown Bus to Total Freedom [tm]

The Body Raisins: Herber Jentzsch loses it on the air

A fascinating account of The Death of Quentin Hubbard, L Ron's unhappy son.

Ever wonder how the various Magical OT Powers worked? Read this post from Dennis

Here's the current Erlich Case status from Dennis himself, and here is some of his angst

Dennis' friend goes larking and finds himself in a tight spot indeed.

Check out Elizabeth McCoy (everyone's favourite Scientologist; no joke!) versus Dennis Erlich. In informing-beth.html Dennis takes on Elizabeth's take on the Church

The Dennis Overflow Page contains additional posts by Dennis which are not classics, but are still of interest to Dennis and CoS watchers.

Special Section: Comments on the legality of the Erlich Fund

William Barwell gives Vera a challenge

John Randolph's rebuttal
Robert Levandowski's
A Keith Henson
Henry
Dan Davidson asks Vera why she's so upset about the fund

Tony Sidaway asks us to imagine Vera's creepy hands ...

Hillel says that if you defend Erlich, you defend the net

Another check hits the mail ... comments from Defense Fund contributers

Anne Lomb

Note: Contrary to some prior reports, contributions to the fund are not tax deductable.

We're having a Clambake!

coriez@ix.netcom.com (Charles Oriez) announces the clambake as a regular feature.

Then, some rather immature (well, it fits IRC) pro-Scientology people took over the channel. Their main representative installed an interesting set of rules.

Response from the antis was swift.

nat@zumdick.rhein-main.de (Nat!) reports that the official CoS IRC channel is called Clambake! Doesn't make much sense now, does it?

Zane Thomas <zthomas@igc.apc.org> summarizes the odd situation surrounding Clambake and Clambake II. More wins for Scientology!

alan@abigail.drink.com (Alan Barclay) shares the clambake ban list with us - it contains just about everyone of merit on ARS!

jcblal@clark.net (J C Blalock) has some comments on Jet's rather odd Clambake channel rules.

Post Archive

As far as I know, this archive is the best way to get some of the wierd and wonderful ARS humour that has been posted. It's also a fine place for reading people's serious speculation on the Church and its actions.

Because this section has gotten very long, I have split it into sections.

Post Archive Contents

These are some rare posts: Pro-Scientology posts that included a healthy spark of intelligence.

Meet Koos Nolst Trenite, a genuinely nice Scientologist. Most people consider him utterly deranged, but nice. Really! And in many cases, surprisingly enough, defrocked clam Koos presents the pro-Scientology case far better than the actual clams. This section also contains many hilarious Koos parodies, including the infamous Pantie Inspector and others.

The Church has had some interesting media coverage of late. Check out the Reviews by ARS posters, including where to find transcripts. The new highlight here is a courageous woman who infiltrated the CoS for a story! What a gal. This section also includes information on the CoS PR organ Freedom magazine's special edition on the Net, as well as 'The Net' and the Donahue show. [Last updated 23 July 1995]

Here's some information on the effects of the Church of Scientology versus the Internet wars. [Last updated 23 July 1995]

Meet Woody, aka Rick Sherwood, tireless Church of Scientology poster bee. What would we do without him? How can we resist his amazing writing style and spare economy of thought? The Woody Archive shows the best responses to Woody I could find. Funny stuff! [Last update: 23 July 1995]. Also, read about The Future of the Internet According to Woody. Scary stuff. :-(

Note: The Woody Archive also contains other classic spam-clams, such as Tom Lasher and friends.

Check out the bizarre misadventures and strange deeds of L Ron Hubbard and his fellow Sea Org members, .

Here's a massive archive of great ARS jokes and comic relief. How is Scientology doing? Check out these lists of Scientology corporations, both in trouble and out.

Let's take a peek into the curious world of Scientology-led businesses and see what it might be like if you were so unfortunate as to be hired by a business influenced by Scientology organizations.

Here's a grab bag of interesting articles that didn't fit into the other categories. Most of these are more serious in tone than the other posts in this archive.

New Additions are made to the archive every 2-3 days, depending on how much time I have to read ars. Usually, they will stay in this section for a while before I get around to classifying them.