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WISE
AS A SCIENTOLOGY FRONT GROUP
By
Jeff Jacobsen
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WISE
is the acronym for World Institute of Scientology Enterprises,
a "nonprofit religious corporation… its purposes
are to promote and foster the religious teachings of L. Ron
Hubbard in society…" (1)
This administrative technology was "primarily intended
for the organization Mr. Hubbard founded"(2)
which is Scientology. Much of the material used by WISE is
simply bulletins and policies written by Hubbard for Scientology.
WISE charges an annual fee and a percentage of the business
income for the privilege of using WISE training and practices.
Hubbard's
administrative technology claims to be "a vital basic
discovery. Man does not really know the principles of organization
any more than he knew what made his mind work… Now you
can connect up to Source [L. Ron Hubbard] and actively get
this precise technology into the business world."(3)
"The purpose of WISE is to get HUBBARD Administrative
Technology known and used in every business of the world.
WISE also protects the image of Scientology copyrights and
trademarks in your field."(4)
WISE
promoters publicly claim that they are simply promoting the
secular business techniques developed by L. Ron Hubbard and
are not in any other way related to the Church of Scientology,
but even this secular connection is not always clear. The
magazine Podiatry Today conducted a poll of WISE management
consulting businesses. They found that "only Sterling
offered the fact that Hubbard developed the management courses
provided by the firm… Hollander's Larry Silver only reluctantly
mentioned Hubbard and was the most insistent about not having
a relationship with Scientology. 'We don't have anything to
do with Scientology whatsoever,' Silver states emphatically."(5)
Sterling Management, though, is listed in a Scientology publication
as being the "top group Flag FSM,"
(6) which means the group bringing the largest
number of publics to take Scientology courses. David Riggin,
Singer Consultants marketing director, told the St. Petersburg
Times that "Scientology is a completely separate thing
from Singer Consultants."
(7)
A WISE
policy directive clearly shows the proselytizing nature of
WISE on behalf of Scientology:
| A
WISE member is entitled to be paid by Church of Scientology
orgs and missions for getting people onto services; their
pay shall be in terms of commissions. Such commissions
can be quite lucrative, depending only on the activity
of the WISE member. (8) |
Thus,
WISE is used to funnel people into Scientology by placing
a bounty on the heads of new Scientologists.
Earlier
WISE publications seemed to assume that WISE members were
Scientologists. The first issue of Prosperity magazine, for
instance, proudly proclaims great strides being made by the
Guardian's Office of Scientology(9)
(11 members of the Guardian's Office went to federal prison
for infiltrating several branches of the US government) and
remind readers to follow the Code of a Scientologist. An early
WISE magazine lists goal #2 of WISE to be "A Scientology
business world that is contributing to the expansion of Scientology
while not distracting org or mission staff from their jobs."(10)
WISE is listed as one of the various sectors of Scientology
in a chart of the command channels within Scientology.(11)
Gradually,
however, a shift seems to have occurred wherein WISE is seen
as a tool for getting Hubbard practices into the entire non-Scientology
business world. WISE is now used as a front group to bring
people into Scientology through indirect means. While this
is not normally stated as a goal by WISE, there are many indications
of this in their publications.
For
instance, a WISE flyer has a chart showing "Number of
people routed to The Bridge by WISE Members" and shows
1225 people from 1989-90 and 1836 people from 1990-91.(12)
The "Bridge" is a Scientology term for the progression
of courses in Scientology. This same article mentions some
WISE businesses. For instance, "Real World is responsible
for getting 593 wog businessmen trained on LRH study tech."
The word "wog" is a Scientology term for non-Scientologists.
A promotional
piece copyrighted 1990 by WISE has this testimony of Susan
Ochart of Sterling Management; "The biggest win being
a WISE member is the opportunity to disseminate LRH tech widely
and especially getting large numbers of new public on and
up the Bridge. This last quarter, the number of our clients
that went clear "a high state of Scientology training)
at Orange County alone totaled 109 (more than 1 a day). That's
what this is all about."(13)
A Scientology
publication that promotes certain business consultants says
"Business consultancy is a very effective dissemination
line. By getting results from the basic admin tech a person
will see how effective LRH technology is and will reach for
more of the technology. If he is then enlightened on how this
technology can be applied to him personally and improves his
life, he is easily routed to an org [Scientology organization]
for auditing and training."(14)
A WISE
magazine issue from 1992 that was later pulled shows the steps
a businessman would take, from signing up for a WISE business
management course to becoming a Scientologist.(15)
Another publication explains that WISE members "actively
select their clients, customers and business associates into
the local orgs and missions."(16)
Prosperity
magazine issue 51 shows a chart explaining the relationship
between WISE and Scientology. A graphic of a church is designated
"may recommend Scientology religious services to individuals
based on their situations."(17)
The connection
between WISE and Scientology is so close as to be impossible
to hide. For instance, WISE Prosperity magazine issue 45 shows
Voula Cosmas as the Membership Services I/C (In Charge) for
WISE. She is in a Scientology Sea Organization uniform.(18)
The Sea Organization is composed of those Scientologists who
have signed a billion year contract to work full time for
Scientology for basically room and board. A Sea Organization
magazine shows an office that is "one of the many WISE
offices, where the Sea Org staff of WISE work to boom Scientology
through its use and dissemination into businesses."(19)
WISE book catalogs contain such Scientology books as "How
to Present Scientology to the World," "Science of
Survival" and "An Introduction to Scientology."(20)
"Family Dream of Almost 200 Years Realized Through Scientology"
is a headline in another WISE newsletter.(21)
WISE has many of their meetings in Scientology properties.(22)
Scientology
in filings to obtain tax exemption told the IRS that WISE
was "formed to accomplish several objectives with respect
to expanding the religion and disseminating secular applications
of the technology throughout society. It assures that Scientologists
who operate commercial enterprises do not interfere with church
activities by conducting or soliciting business on church
premises or hiring church staff members. It provides a chaplain
service to its members by providing them means to settle disputes
in accordance with the Scientology ethics and justice systems.
It also is responsible for licensing commercial enterprises
offering secular services under the Scientology or Dianetics
marks or secular works derived from Mr. Hubbard's copyrighted
works to ensure usage does not violate the Scriptures."(23)
ADMINISTRATION
"TECH" CANNOT BE SPLIT FROM SCIENTOLOGY
L. Ron
Hubbard himself explained in a talk in 1969 that the business
administration technology he developed could not be bifurcated
from the rest of Scientology teachings:
| "We
in this organization actually are a management organization.
We charter ships, we train people. We have many diverse
interests actually. We have full technology of administration.
Today if anybody were to know administration he would
have to know the most advanced mental technology there
was just to know administration what human reaction would
be. It would be absolutely necessary. Well you've got
a choice, you've got a choice between Pavlovian Russian
Psychiatry or you have a choice between that or aah Dianetics
and Scientology. There is no other choice because there
aren't any other subjects. Anybody in his right mind isn't
going to take management technology from Russia which
is busy going broke. That's silly. So it leaves you just
one choice, so you say anybody who really knew his business
in the field of management would have to know the most
modern Western mental technology. Well regardless of all
of that we are a management corporation."(24) |
That
being the case, WISE is being disingenuous in claiming that
they can pull out a section of Hubbard's religious teachings
and claim that now they are only promoting a secular product.
WISE
TO BE DISSOLVED ACCORDING TO IRS AGREEMENT
On October
1, 1993, The Church of Scientology and many of its corporate
entities, including WISE, were granted tax exemption. The
IRS and Scientology signed a secret Agreement, leaked by the
Wall Street Journal, that required certain things of Scientology
and the IRS. The Agreement required that Scientology close
their corporate entity World Institute of Scientology Enterprises
(WISE). The Agreement states "The members of the CTCC
shall, no later than December 31, 1995, effectuate the dissolution
of WISE, Inc. and the transfer of all of its assets, including
but not limited to its rights to the Scientology religious
marks, to the Inspector General Network." As of June
30, 2001, the California Secretary of State still lists WISE
as an active corporation.(25)
WISE still has an active web page.(26)
WISE is still active in the United States and abroad. David
Miscavige in his October 8, 1993 victory speech stated that
"Over the last several years we have been expanding our
efforts to get LRH's admin tech into full use. WISE Int. has
now set up a new college to train people in this tech. It
is called the Hubbard College of Administration and as you
can see here, it too is recognized by the IRS!" Apparently,
there was no written penalty for not complying with this portion
of the Agreement, but obviously, WISE was not dissolved.
WISE
AS AN EXTENSION OF SCIENTOLOGY CONTROL
A bulletin
written by L. Ron Hubbard has been reprinted in WISE magazine
Prosperity several times. It is called "Special Zone
Plan" and explains "the Scientologist's role in
life." This role is to influence groups and organizations.
The zone plan envisioned by Hubbard in this bulletin is for
each Scientologist to join or enter some group or organization
and insert Scientology practices into it. "The cue in
all this is don't seek the co-operation of groups. Don't ask
for permission. Just enter them and start functioning"
within the group.(27)
WISE, as a branch of Scientology, implements the Special Zone
Plan in businesses.
DISSENTING
VOICES
Several
professionals who have used WISE training and materials have
come away highly dissatisfied. Robert Geary, a dentist, took
business management courses from Sterling Management, one
of the largest management training companies using WISE materials.
He wrote:
"I
later came to learn that the courses I was taking at Sterling
were an introduction to Scientology, although I was not aware
of the fact at that time. I now feel that what I was learning
at Sterling Management Systems was simply an introduction
into Scientology and was making me over into a Scientology
salesman."(28)
Alexander
Turbyne wrote in a declaration
after taking Sterling Management's courses "Had I known…
that Sterling Management was merely Scientology's Public Relations
Branch, and under direct control of Scientology, I would not
have wasted a nickel, much less the amount I spent."(29)
Ed
Hattaway, a chiropractor, joined Scientology through his
association with WISE. The costs and pressures from the course
work caused him problems;
"I
was stressed out, burned out and under EXTREME financial duress
from the creditors who had loaned me money to buy my super
OT [upper level Scientology courses] abilities! I fell 6 months
behind on my mortgage(s), my office rent, my equipment lease
and my van… I was incapable of producing at my previous
level!"(30)
As can
be seen, WISE is actually a recruiting arm for the Church
of Scientology disguised as a business technology service.
WISE has been used heavily in Europe by Scientology to recruit
people through a deceptive and indirect route.
This
sort of bait-and-switch method of converting people to a religion
is just one of the practices that concern European countries,
and should concern the government of the United States as
well.
1World
Institute of Scientology Enterprises License Agreement, part
C
2 "How to Increase Efficiency in Your
Company Course Pack" introductory page "L. Ron Hubbard
Administrative Technology" 1983 WISE International
3 Hubbard College of Administration mailing,
1991
4 WISE questionnaire, 1984
5 Podiatry Today, March 1990 "Scientology
and Practice Management Seminars", page 29-30
6 Reach newsletter vol. II #5
7 St. Petersburg (Florida) Times, November
29, 1987, "Chiropractors seeking advice find Scientology-influenced
seminars"
8 WISE Policy Directive Internal 14, 27 March
1986 "Field Staff Member Activities"
9 Prosperity Magazine volume 1 issue 1, page
43. Copyright 1980.
10 Prosperity Magazine, vol. 1 No. 4, page
10, "World Institute of Scientology Enterprises Admin
Scale"
11 The Command Channels of Scientology, date
unknown, page 26
12 WISE Wins, flyer, copyright 1991 by WISE
International
13 "Get Ethics and Sanity into your
Business" WISE promotional piece copyrighted 1990, page
3
14 Impact Magazine issue 8, "WISE Members
in Action"
15 Prosperity Magazine issue 30 1992, p.
14 "Getting Clients Up the Bridge"
16 Clear Expansion Committees, internal magazine,
date unknown, page 15
17 Prosperity Magazine, issue 51, page 9
[copyright 2001]
18 Prosperity Magazine, issue 45, page 27
[copyright 1998]
19 High Winds magazine, issue 9, 1989, page
12
20 "WISE Books by L. Ron Hubbard 1995
Catalog", copyright 1995 WISE International
21 WISE Pages, vol. 1, issue 3, copyright
1980 by WISE International
22 Prosperity Magazine issue 26 page 5 and
issue 45 page 14 show international WISE meetings on the Scientology
ship Freewinds.
23 Church of Scientology International Attached
Statement to IRS Form 1023, page 60
24 [LRH Aides Conference, 2 November 1969
- "Covert Operations", found at http://www.entheta.net/entheta/go/aidescon/ac02fram.html
page 15]
25 from a search on http://kepler.ss.ca.gov/list.html
26 http://www.wise.org
27 "Special Zone Plan" HCOB of
June 23, 1960, by L. Ron Hubbard
28 Declaration of Robert Geary, D.D.S., September
5, 1993
29 Declaration of Alexander Turbyne III,
May 3, 1992, page 6
30 Edmond E. Hattaway declaration, February
26, 2001
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