FEATURE / DAVID MISCAVIGE
IN THE MAGAZINE
Scientology Expansion
Bringing the entire body of Scientology Scripture to parishioners everywhere, and delivering Scientology religious services exactly as L. Ron Hubbard intended, is a growing worldwide network of Scientology Churches known as “Ideal Organizations.”
Single Greatest Contributor
The Urban Land Institute (ULI), a Washington think tank, did a comprehensive study of Clearwater and its economy during the summer of 2014. As ULI was doing its work, it became clear that the Church’s Flag Land Base—as its spiritual headquarters is known—was the major player in downtown Clearwater. With thousands of Scientologists living in and visiting the Tampa Bay area, the economic impact was obviously large—but unquantified.
RECOGNITION
Young Love in London Overcomes Religious Prejudice
Friends, family and supporters gathered at the Church of Scientology of London to celebrate not only the first legal English wedding to be performed by the religion but a bold statement about religious liberty for all British subjects.
Tel Aviv Scientology Center Brings Interfaith Tolerance to the Middle East
At that opening, Scientology ecclesiastical leader David Miscavige expressed optimism—not the anger and pessimism that permeates the Middle East: “This Center signifies … a place that speaks to the essence of Scientology as a religion of and for all religions, as a universal religion, and a pandenominational religion that strives to help every other religion to fulfill itself, to fulfill and achieve their aspirations and dreams.”
RELIGION
…in the Right Place
With one eye on the fight for human rights and the other on educating the populace to the harmful effects of drugs, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, has become an Asian focal point for the humanitarian programs of Scientology.
CHURCHES
An Ideal Night in Sydney
Tradition, history—and the future. With those themes, Scientologists on May 3, 2014, trumpeted the inauguration of their newest “Ideal” Church in a historic building in the heart of Sydney, Australia. “The people who have greeted us on this occasion displayed the rich weave of Australian society, from the Aboriginal nations who have lived here for thousands of years to the immigrants who in recent centuries have come in hopes of freedom and opportunity,” said Mr. David Miscavige, ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion, in an interview after the grand opening.
EVENTS
A Turning Point for the Religion
The excitement rolled across more than 10,000 Scientologists gathered in multiple large venues at the religion’s Flag Land Base in Clearwater on November 15, 2013, as ecclesiastical leader David Miscavige opened a three-day convocation signaling completion of an evolutionary step for the religion and a new era of expansion.
EXPANSION
Building for the Future
Milestone accomplishments, accelerating in 2007 with release of the Basics Books and Lectures of Dianetics and Scientology, culminated in the crowning achievement for the Scientology religion worldwide—the opening of the Flag Building, marking the completion of an evolutionary step for the religion and a new era of expansion.
CHURCHES
Ideal Orgs Mark Era of Expansion
“The Ideal Org would be an activity where people came to achieve freedom and where they had confidence they would attain it.”—L. Ron Hubbard. To meet the worldwide demand for Scientology services and social betterment programs, Mr. David Miscavige launched the Ideal Org (short for “organization”) program in 2003 to transform all Scientology Churches into Ideal Churches. It was a goal set long ago by Founder L. Ron Hubbard who envisioned creating churches that embodied the spiritual technology of the religion, churches that would help people to attain the spiritual freedom they were seeking.
FLAG
The Flag Building
The six-decade spiritual journey to the opening of the Flag Building is the epic story of the religion’s founding, and of the Church’s phenomenal growth. It is also the culmination of Mr. Miscavige’s work to bring Mr. Hubbard’s original vision to physical expression in a building.
