| Sea Org | |
|---|---|
The Sea Org laurel wreath logo |
|
| Formation | 1968 |
| Type | (disputed) |
| Headquarters | Gold Base[1] |
| Location | Riverside County, California |
| Chairman of Religious Technology Center | David Miscavige |
| Staff | 6,000[2] |
| Website | Scientology.org |
The Sea Organization or Sea Org is an association of Scientologists established in 1968 by L. Ron Hubbard, the science fiction writer and founder of Scientology. Its members are found in the central management organizations of the Church of Scientology as well as in individual churches. Initially created at sea, maritime customs and traditions persist today even in the land-based branches of the organization.
Despite the name, the Sea Organization itself is not an actual incorporated entity, but rather what the Church refers to as a fraternal religious order. Sea Org members do not actually work for the Sea Org, but for the specific Church of Scientology where they are employed and receive their weekly allowance.
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In 1975, Scientology sold the ships they were working from and moved to "land bases" that now operate around the world (including Clearwater, Florida, USA). In 1987 they purchased a ship called "La Bohème", which they later renamed "Freewinds". The highest levels of Scientology are taught on this ship. The Sea Org acts as goodwill representatives and administrators of Scientology with the stated purpose to "get ethics in on the planet" (Scientology Ethics rather than ethics in the conventional sense).[3] Another primary function is "To safeguard the advanced levels of Scientology". According to the church, Sea Org is a fraternal religious order rather than an incorporated entity.[4]
In April 2008, "Freewinds" was sealed for extensive asbestos contamination, but Sea Org still maintains its naval uniforms and character.[5] Only Sea Org members are staff members in Scientology's Advanced Organizations.[3]
Many Sea Org members are located at Gold Base, Gilman Springs Road, San Jacinto, California.[6]
According to Hubbard's teachings, the Galactic Confederacy was the political unit formerly ruled by the tyrant Xenu. It ruled a broad swath of the galaxy, and lasted for "eighty trillion years" (80,000 billion years),[7] much longer than the universe's empirically-determined age of 13.7 billion years. Hubbard claimed that 75 million years ago, at the time of Xenu's mass murder, the Galactic Confederacy comprised 26 stars and 76 planets, including Earth (then called Teegeeack).[8]
The Church of Scientology consciously models itself on aspects of the Galactic Confederacy. The Sea Org's insignia has a laurel wreath said by Hubbard to be based on the symbol of the "Loyal Officers", an anti-Xenu faction within the Galactic Confederacy. Each of the leaves on the laurel wreath is said to represent one of the Galactic Confederacy's stars. According to the Dianetics and Scientology Technical Dictionary, "the Sea Org symbol, adopted and used as the symbol of a Galactic Confederacy far back in the history of this sector, derives much of its power and authority from that association."[9]
Members of the Sea Org sign an employment contract with the organization for one billion years.[10] Sea Org members, in accordance with Scientology beliefs, are expected to return to the Sea Org when they are reborn. The motto of the Sea Org is, "Revenimus" or "We Come Back" in Latin.[5] Official statements from the Church of Scientology contend the contract is merely symbolic of the dedication members are expected to hold to the organization, 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.[5] Members who do leave are issued a "Freeloader's bill", retroactively billing them for any auditing or training they have received.[11] Although this "Freeloader bill" is not legally enforceable, these Scientologists may not receive any services at any Scientology organizations until they pay off this bill and perform an amends project.
Most Sea Org members are given room, board and a small weekly allowance of about US$24 per week (though some sources list US$75).[12][13][14]
The Rehabilitation Project Force, or RPF, is a system of work camps[15] set up by the Church of Scientology Sea Organization, intended to rehabilitate members who have not lived up to CoS expectations, failed Security checks 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." [16]
Marriage and family are discouraged in the Sea Org, as they are said to be distractions from serving the Church.[17][18] Recent reports claim that Sea Org marriage practices have changed in regards to the rearing of children. Purportedly, those who are married and plan to have a child must leave the Sea Org until their child is of age and capable of supporting themselves. Then the married couple may return to service within the fraternal order.
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.[19][20] However, Scientology presents itself as a religion that is opposed to abortion and actively speaks out against abortion in its publications.[13]
The 1996 book A Theory of Religion by religious scholars Rodney Stark and William Sims Bainbridge noted of Scientology, "this world-wide cult provides compensatory military status, in its Sea Org".[21] In his 2001 book From Slogans to Mantras, sociologist Stephen A. Kent quoted from Jon Atack's book A Piece of Blue Sky, who wrote of the treatment of Sea Org members in the Rehabilitation Project Force: "This careful imitation of techniques long-used by the military to obtain unquestioning obedience and immediate compliance to orders, or more simply to break men's spirits, was all part of a ritual of humiliation for the Sea Org member.[22]
The Sea Org, as described in Lawrence Wright's The New Yorker article "The Apostate", (The New Yorker, February 14 & 21, 2011 issue) used small children drawn from Scientology families for what the article described as forced child labor. The article describes extremely inhumane conditions. Children spent years in the Org, sequestered from mainstream life.
In the 2006 book Comprehending Cults: The Sociology of New Religious Movements by religious studies scholar Lorne L. Dawson, the Sea Org is characterized as a paramilitary group.[23] In his 2008 book Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography author Andrew Morton described the Sea Org as a "fraternal paramilitary organization", and noted that members of the group are instructed to read The Art of War by warfare expert Sun Tzu and On War by General Karl von Clausewitz.[24] Morton wrote that Scientology leader David Miscavige created an elite unit within the Sea Org which he called the "SEALs", named after the United States Navy SEALs.[24] According to Morton these Scientology "SEALs" received better lodging, sustenance, and uniforms than other members of the Sea Org.[24] In the 2006 book published by Random House, The Devil Is a Gentleman: Exploring America's Religious Fringe, author J.C. Hallman wrote that the Sea Org had a "military-style discipline", and noted that "Its members wore navy-style uniforms".[25]
Media coverage of Scientology has described the Sea Org in a similar fashion to that of scholars, and a 2008 article in The Times called it an "elite ... pseudo-paramilitary group".[26] The St. Petersburg Times referred to the Sea Org as "a fraternal order of Scientology staffers who adhere to military-style rules and sign billion-year contracts, believing they will live many more lives."[27] The Boston Herald characterized the Sea Org as "the church's quasi-military corps based in Clearwater, Fla."[28] The Los Angeles Times noted the use of military culture in the group, "The elite of Scientology's workers, at least 3,000 of them, belong to a zealous faction known as the Sea Organization and are given room, board and a small weekly allowance. They sign contracts to serve Scientology in this and future lifetimes—for a billion years. Their motto is: 'We come back.' Dressed in mock navy uniforms adorned with ribbons, they bark orders with a clipped, military cadence. They hold ranks such as captain, lieutenant and ensign. Officers, including women, are addressed as 'Sir.'"[29]
Former member Aaron Judge told the Sunday Telegraph of Sydney, Australia, "The Sea Org is like a military organisation. You live in cramped quarters, are served food in the cafeteria area and you basically work from 8.30 in the morning through to 11.30 at night."[30] Former Scientology auditor Bruce Hines described life in the Sea Org as a "military lifestyle".[31] Hines told Anderson Cooper in an appearance on CNN, "It's very much a military organization. You wear a uniform, there's saluting, marching, standing at attention."[32]