Sea Org

From Free net encyclopedia

Template:ScientologySeries Image:Sea org.png

The Sea Org is an abbreviation invented by L. Ron Hubbard for Sea Organization. Its members are found in the central management organizations of the Church of Scientology. While it was initially created around maritime customs and traditions while at sea, those customs and traditions persist today even in the land based branches of the organization.

Contents

[edit]

History

The Sea Org was founded by Scientology founder and author L. Ron Hubbard in 1968. The Sea Org became a goodwill activity and an efficient administrative arm of Scientology. The Sea Org runs the advanced organizations of Scientology. It began as a ship controlling crew but was intended to be the management and most trusted of Church of Scientology staff.

Their stated purpose is to "get ethics in on the planet", which obliquely refers to Hubbard's defintion of Scientology Ethics, in which their auditing process supposedly gives one the ability to make the proper ethical decision easily.Template:Ref.

On 1 September 1966, L. Ron Hubbard officially resigned from all directorships and management of Scientology churches. In early 1967, he appointed himself "Commodore" of a small fleet of Scientologist crewed ships that spent the next eight years cruising the Mediterranean Sea. Here, Hubbard formed the group known as the "Sea Project", which was renamed the following year to the "Sea Organization," or "Sea Org". With titles and uniforms of Hubbard's design, the Sea Org subsequently became the upper management group within the Church of Scientology.

[edit]

The Sea Org today

In more recent times, the Sea Org is primarily based on land; however, the highest levels of Scientology are still delivered at sea on board the Sea Org's vessel, the Freewinds, and the Sea Org still maintains its naval uniforms and character. Template:Ref Only Sea Org members are staff members in Scientology's Advanced Organisations. Template:Ref

[edit]

Billion-year contract

Members of the Sea Org sign an employment contract with the organization for one billion years. Sea Org members, in accordance with Scientology beliefs, are expected to return to the Sea Org when they are reborn; the slogan of the Sea Org is, as a consequence, "We Come Back". Template:Ref Official statements from the Church of Scientology, however, contend the contract is merely symbolic of the dedication members are expected to hold to the organisation, and that members are free to leave if they wish. It has, however, been alleged by former Sea Org personnel that members are restricted from leaving. Template:Ref Members who do leave are issued a "Freeloader's bill" for any auditing or training they have received. These Scientologists may not receive any services at any Scientology organizations until they pay off this bill and perform an amends project.

[edit]

Salary and benefits to members

Most Sea Org members are paid about US$20 per week. At production level organizations, bonuses can bring this up to around US$100 for a week. Bonuses paid at the upper international management levels can be in the thousands of dollars US. Weekly pay is calculated on post status, rank, and production statistic for that week. In some cases, Sea Org members are not given their weekly pay.

Members receive basic medical and dental care as resources permit.

Unmarried members are berthed much as they would be on a ship, Same sexes in share common sleeping berths. Married couples often have their own quarters.

[edit]

Rehabilitation Project Force

Main article: Rehabilitation Project Force

The Rehabilitation Project Force, or RPF, is a system of work camps<ref name="Rolling Stone">Rolling Stone: [1]</ref> set up by the Church of Scientology Sea Organization, intended to rehabilitate members who have not lived up to CoS expectations or have violated certain policies.

Many ex-Sea Org members have reported grueling and torturous treatment, including Gerry Armstrong, who, during his time in the Sea Org, spent over two years banished to the RPF as a punishment. Says Armstrong:

"It was essentially a prison to which crew who were considered nonproducers, security risks, or just wanted to leave the Sea Org, were assigned. Hubbard's RPF policies established the conditions. RPF members were segregated and not allowed to communicate to anyone else. They had their own spaces and were not allowed in normal crew areas of the ship. They ate after normal crew had eaten, and only whatever was left over from the crew meal. Their berthing was the worst on board, in a roach-infested, filthy and unventilated cargo hold. They wore black boilersuits, even in the hottest weather. They were required to run everywhere. Discipline was harsh and bizarre, with running laps of the ship assigned for the slightest infraction like failing to address a senior with "Sir." Work was hard and the schedule rigid with seven hours sleep time from lights out to lights on, short meal breaks, no liberties and no free time... When one young woman ordered into the RPF took the assignment too lightly, Hubbard created the RPF's RPF and assigned her to it, an even more degrading experience, cut off even from the RPF, kept under guard, forced to clean the ship's bilges, and allowed even less sleep."

Many similar complaints with Sea Org life have been lodged over the years to the present day, archived online on alt.religion.scientology and on skeptical websites. [2]


[edit]

Dating and marriage

Because there is little free time, dating prospective marital partners is not possible. This is further complicated by the difficulty in synchronizing days off so time can be spent together. Marriages come about mainly by acquaintance in the course of one's employment duties.

[edit]

Policy on children

Adolescent children may join the Sea Org with the consent of their parents. However, young children are not allowed to live at Sea Org residential units. Beginning around 1982, Sea Org members were actively discouraged from having children. Any that do are reposted to non-Sea Org Scientology organizations until the child reaches adolescent age.

There are a number of statements from women formerly in the Sea Org who state that they were advised to get an abortion when they became pregnant so that they would not be sent to lower organizations.

[edit]

Policy on the elderly

Elderly Sea Org members who have physical frailties are put on a reduced work schedule. However, if they can no longer be productive, they are given a Qualifications Board, which removes them from the Sea Org.

[edit]

References

[edit]

External links

Retrieved from "http://www.netipedia.com/index.php/Sea_Org"