Mar. 16, 2005 - Scientology Volunteer Ministers

As you can see from the image I have in my profile, I am a Scientology Volunteer Minister.

The motto of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers (VMs) is "Something CAN be done about it."

The program was begun in the late 1970's by Scientology founder, L. Ron Hubbard.  Mr. Hubbard explains why he created this program in an essay called Religious Influence in Society in which he stated:

An early twentieth-century philosopher spoke of the impending decline of the West. What he failed to predict was that the West would export its culture to the rest of the world and thus grip the entire world in its death throes. Today we are witnessing that decline and since we are involved in it, it is of utmost importance to us. At stake are whether the ideals we cherish will survive or some new abhorrent set of values win the day. These are not idle statements. We are today at a watershed of history and our actions today will decide whether the world goes up from here or continues to slide into some new dark age.

Today's news shows it is even more appropriate today than it was when written more than 25 years ago.

He goes on to say:

"When a culture has fallen totally away from spiritual pursuits into materialism, one must begin by demonstrating they are each a soul, not a material animal. From this realization of their own religious nature individuals can again come to an awareness of God and become more themselves."

The Volunteer Ministers Program was the solution to this social disease.

Anyone can train as a Volunteer Minister.  One need not be a Scientologist.  In the recent tsunami disaster relief actions, Scientology Volunteer  Ministers have trained on 

Muslim clerics  in Indonesia and Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka and India in the techniques. The training is based on the information in The Scientology Handbook.  Anyone who wishes to help their friends, family and community is welcome to learn these techniques and join us in this religious movement.