Parishioners: That is, "public" Scientologists. They pay their own way and have their own homes, occupations, lives (but eventually, a life largely controlled by a commitment to Scientology). Useful for their money. Largely if not completely ignorant of how the Sea Org lives.
Staff members: These people may eventually go into the Sea Org. In the meantime they work at a Scientology facility (such a as a local "church") in exchange for services to move up that expensive Bridge to Freedom. Eventually they go broke anyway from the tiny pay. Probably will move in with other staff and live on rice and beans. Their duties can be anything from teaching introductory (maybe even intermediate) courses to recruiting new members to cleaning and maintaining the facility. A small local facility almost certainly doesn't have any Sea Org members present on a day-to-day basis, and is entirely run by staff. They are usually so overworked that they never get a chance to move up the Bridge! What a deal!
Sea Org: Mostly what we are seeing in this show, with a few "public" as well (who are subject to disconnection policy just like the Sea Org is). The true believers. The billion year contract. Hubbard once said that the strongest and easiest to maintain prison is one where the inmates imprison themselves (or words to that effect).
I'm surprised they don't want more control over the members who live in normal houses and have regular jobs.
Even for a "public" Scientologist, the control ever increases. Once you get to the upper levels, you are subject to periodic security checks (sec check) to ensure that you are a true believer and not bad mouthing Scientology or exposing "secret" scripture, like Xenu. These people are kind of brainwashed. See them in videos harassing ex-Scientologists. "What are your crimes?!! What are your crimes ?!!"
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miss_october77
7 years ago
Thanks for the info. It makes a bit more sense to me now. Do they choose to work there, or are certain people asked/forced to work there?
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nyctc7
7 years ago
Do they choose to work there, or are certain people asked/forced to work there?
Staff members are typically local Scientologists. They might run a mission or be employees in a bigger Org. (Missions offer introductory stuff.) In the early days the missions were mostly left alone, in the early 1980s there was a great purge (which Miscavige had a hand in) to create greater central control and especially to ensure the money was getting kicked upstairs to Hubbard.
I'm not sure whether staff members are pressured to move where needed. I wouldn't put anything past Scientology, and there aren't enough Sea Org members to run everything down to every local level, so it makes sense that some would be pressured to move. The Sea Org is a different story, they follow orders. You may get told you are being sent half way around the world. Remember the episode when Rinder said he pissed off Miscavige, and he sent Rinder to Australia unaccompanied by his wife and kids? At least that was his native country, but you could get sent anywhere.
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