The Church of Scientology’s largest UK base appears to be struggling in their bid to ‘Clear the planet’, recent promotional material suggests.
According to a flier sent to parishioners over the weekend, Saint Hill boasts of just “four OT II completions” last week. OT II refers to the second ‘Operating Thetan’ level, part of Scientology’s confidential scriptures that form the upper levels of the so-called ‘Bridge to Total Freedom’. OTII is the last step before parishioners reach the ‘Wall of Fire’, where they are told an over-galactic warlord named Xenu dropped H-bombs on volcanoes 75 million years ago, causing long-lasting trauma that still affects uas as spiritual beings to this day.
Scientology claims to be “the fastest growing religion on planet Earth”, with UK Managing Director Janet Laveau telling the London Evening Standard in 2006 they have “200,000 adherents” in the country. However, according to census data the controversial Church has more like 2,0000 followers – a statistic Scientology claims is “misleading.”
Saint Hill is a lavish 59 acre estate nestled in the Sussex countryside near East Grinstead and was once home to Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. It now stands as the church’s UK headquarters and is considered an ‘Advanced Org’, the only place in the country where the confidential OT levels are delivered.
With an ageing population Scientology also appears to have shifted gears in its UK marketing efforts, publishing propaganda aimed at encouraging parents to indoctrinate their children. One flier states “the best way to move up the Bridge is together as a family.” It goes on, desperately, “we will help everyone take their next step, bring your family!”
The flier was accompanied by testimonials from children who have recently completed advanced courses. On learning about Xenu, one teenager is quoted as exclaiming “I reached the core of who I am as a spiritual being. Session by session, I could see more of who I truly am. And it turns out-I actually like myself!”
If Saint Hill continues at a rate of four OT II completions a week, that works out to be just 208 a year – a sad statistic for Scientology’s largest UK base. With a population of 26,900 that means it would take 129 years to convert East Grinstead or 328,605 years for the whole of the country.
