Why My Staff Don’t Believe I’m a Scientologist was originally published on the website of STAND (Scientologists Taking Action Against Discrimination) and is published here with their permission.
Scientology, and Why My Staff Don’t Believe I’m a Scientologist
I am an industrial construction field superintendent. That means I oversee all work done at a given construction site. I have been in many environments over my 46-year career. And it all began in 1971 at the age of 14.
Like everyone else, I progressed through life’s journey. I encountered the usual barriers and problems one does. And I began on a quest to learn how to handle these things during my late teens and early twenties. I researched many, many religions, sciences and philosophies.
Scientology and Dianetics
In 1985, I discovered the book Dianetics: The Evolution of a Science by L. Ron Hubbard. I knew immediately that there actually were answers to all my questions. And that this was where to find them. I became a Scientologist. Over the next 30 years, I did every service the Church of Scientology had to offer. And I found answers to every question I ever had. Even some I didn’t know I had.
Back to my work in construction
As you may or may not know, a construction site is filled with workers from many cultures, faiths and walks of life. Sit around the break room or cafeteria there. And every subject under the sun gets bantered around, back and forth. So here is where the story gets interesting…
When people asked, or if it just comes up, I tell all my co-workers and associates I am a Scientologist. The funny thing is, they don’t believe me!
How come? It’s the false media coverage of Scientology.
Every time I ask why, the answer is always the same and it has to do with Scientology: “But you’re just a regular guy,” they say. And I ask: “What do you think a Scientologist is?” And this answer is always the same: “Well, the media says….”
Suffice it to say, the fact that I am a Scientologist and that they know me, completely dispels the claims of “the media.”
My idea of a great field superintendent
My idea of being a great field superintendent is simple. And it is what I tell everyone on the crew. I want your ideas, I want you to speak your mind. And I want you to think for yourself. I will only show you what we need to build. And help you when you can’t solve a problem. Or clear up any of your confusions. If I order you every step of the way and tell you to do it only the way I say, I will only have robots. And I don’t want robots.
If you go, we go!
I have been in situations where I was leaving a project, for whatever reason. The crew I oversee responds to this the same way every time: “If you go, we go,” they say. I ask: “Why would you do that?”
“No one takes care of things like you,” they say. “You’re a great leader.” Or “who’s going to run us like you do?” These are the invariable answers.
My church—the Church of Scientology
I invite anyone I work with to be my guest and come visit the Church of Scientology. Many have taken me up on that offer. They always see that we are all “regular” people.
How media labels religion
It’s interesting to me that any faith can be given a label of some sort by the media. And that would then prevent others from looking at it as it truly is.
Perhaps that is why I am a Scientologist.
And as a Scientologist, I practice Scientology. In other words, I look—I don’t listen.
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