Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology Subject: My vist to the new Houston Scientology bookstore. From: wbarwell@Starbase.NeoSoft.COM (William Barwell) Date: 8 Sep 1997 20:12:19 -0500 -------- Saturday Afternoon, I finally managed to make it to downtown Houston to visit the brand new Scientology bookstore. It is located in The Park, a multistory building, in which much of the three lower stories are given over to a minimall. It is an odd mix of high class and low class. Brooks Brothers on the lower floor and on the third floor, Oshman's Sporting Good's shoes and remaindered merchandise outlet. "Hit or Miss" women's clothing, and a CNC nutrition and vitamin Boutique. Some restaurants, Bennigans' and a food mall. Mainly the 2nd and 3rd floors have most the stores. Radio shack and Sam Goody and a Walden's Books. Lots of kitcsh shops. The new Scientology book store is located on the third floor. The store next to them is vacant. It is a small store, only about 12'X 12'. A Kiosk. The lady who was running it was a blond, late 30ish woman. Slightly blowsy. I wandered in and started looking about. The had Dianetics and SLant in box displayes outside the door, mor einside. Dianetics in hardback and an audio version, Probably editted down a bit, and a few other similar audio tapes for the illiterates among us. And a freebie display. A good good copy of the "stress test" and an invitation to the Fondren location for the film "Orientation". No glossy stuff, no copies of the Auditor or KSW, or Freedom, or such rags. I noted a line of booklets they have out with garish glossy covers taken from various other Hubbard books. Titles like How To Manage taken from the Hubbard Management series, ect. A copy of teh paperback version of What Is Scientology? I was not surprised to see this. I was surprised at some stuff I saw. Introduction to Scientology Ethics. History of Man. Hom had a new cover, which was simply a revamped version of the old Caveman eating a turkey leg cover. Frankly I was tickled pink (only kidding "Bob") to see these two tomes. Also available were standard texts like Dianetics 55!, Scientology 80, Scientology 8008, and Creation of Human ability. They did not have an E-meter or other goodies, no jewelry, no Hubbard busts, or other paraphenalia. Most of the books wers shrinkwrapped. One wonders who they are targetting for an audience? There cannot be that many Scientologists needing a copy of Dianetics 80008 in downtwon Houston, and I doubt a shrinkwrapped copy of such will be a big seller to the average lunchtime passerby. It seems to be an odd assortment of books, though HoM would be if it wasn't $30.00 I was asked in e-mail if they has Mission into Time. I did not see that. As I browsed, the lady finally asked me if I needed help. "No" I said, just looking. "Are you a Scientologist?" No. "Have you heard of Scientology?" Yes? "What have you heard?" Nothing much good, I answered truthfully. I explained how I had read Hubbard in Astounding Science Fiction in 1963. And had been watching Scientologists ever since. She asked if I had known any Scientologists. I have, and answered her question truthfully, they were weird. Nice, but weird. The conversation started going downhill. I mentioned my problems with the way the cult handled it's business and it's unorthodox ethics in regard to fair gaming Paulette Cooper, who I admitted reading in 1973. "Well, not everybody who does something bad as a Scientologist represents Scientology......" Well, I pointed to the book Ethics and pointed out that a religion that has "high crimes" and disconnections as official policies is not blameless. She was surprised to see I knew the book. She did not seem that impressed when I rattled off all the Hubbard works I had read or tapes I had listened too. I broached the subject matter of the Internet, and pointed out I had also had communicated with high ranking ex-members, read OT materials and court cases involving the cult. By this time, she was furiously taking notes. She steered to conversation to OT powers, jumping on something I had said and we had a discussion. I pointed out the Randi challege. She took more furious notes. I pointed out I had challenged the clams officially here to show that exteriorization was a real phenomenon. And of course the same old excuses as Scientology and psychics everyhwere give for avoiding challenges was offered. I pointed out that this was untrue, and we both knew that if Scientology could prove it, they would do so, have infomercials everynight and a line would wind around the entire third floor of the mall for Hubbard's books. At this point, I was asked to leave the store. I needled her a bit while slowly and firmly taking my time to grab one of each off of the freebie rack and smirking, wandered, off. I then wandered back, where she was steaming and reminded her that the operative internet newsgroup was alt.religion.scientology. She did not take notes and reiterated the desire I not come into her store. This is not a big store it is not geared to the average jerk on lunch in the mall. Some people have asked, well what are the chances for picketing? Inside, none. Private property, and with lots of security, due to the location nearby of the jail, courts and bail bondsmen and missions for the homeless. Off duty cops were patroling the mall. Probably would be more of the same on a workday. Picketing could be done outside on the public sidewalk and would be a good place to do so, with the caveat being that the approach would to be to warn the public about the true nature of Hubbard's organization and beliefs. This is a bookstore, not an org or mission. It would be a good idea to officially inform the HPD of any such plans. Any picket would have to take trouble to explain simply, and quickly, the target of any picket or demo, and then hand out pamphlets explaining quickly what Scientology does. With Ethics and HoM thoughtfully provided by the clams upstairs, one could see for themselves that Scientology is full of goofiness. A quick run down of the fact it is a cult and breaks up families and that can be found in The Introduction to Scientology Ethics in the chapter dealing with disconections, found upstairs in their store, would probably make an impact. I will probably sit down this weekend and try to write an article on the bookstore and the beliefs of Scientology for the Houston Press. The Park is busy during lunch and Scientology will be exposed to many people. I may have to write up some pamphlets for the lunch tables, but this would have to be a hit and run thing as it is borderline against the mall rules against handing out literature, ect. One wonders if 'bookstores' like this will be a new endeavor world wide. Pope Charles SubGenius Pope Of Houston Slack!