Good for Wilkins. I'd do the same if I was running a business in Clearwater.

Members of the church of scientology are mostly decent people who have yet to look properly at the church of scientology like so many independent scientologists have.

If those who follow the church of scientology under its leader, David Miscavige, did look and weigh up the truth for themselves they would have no doubt that they need to stop supporting the church of scientology. Many hundreds have done so publicly, many more quietly.

There are however many who know the truth and have doubts because they fear everything they would loose, family, friends, business, if they did openly said they no longer could be part of the church of scientology. Some of those are being helped quietly others though are stuck.

To those I say, the only way forward is to move forward and just hope your courage inspires those around you to follow suit. All the real scientologists in Alaska and Israel declared their independence en mass.

Kathy

My husband and I come to Clearwater at Christmas time. We attend Baptist as well as Methodist Churches when we travel. I have feeling for Mr. Wilkinson's plight. We live in Texas and had a situation with a Scientologist. I was denied a job, because I was having surgery. I would have been able to start the job. I felt I was being denied, because of the surgery. Same company and fully qualified, I have never held any grudge to any religion who doesn't believe the way I do. This article shows a click. If you don't fit their mold they don't want you in their town. That is really sad. We all believe in the same God and all children of God. If this is the situation the Scientologist need to buy an island! Then no outsiders would get in their space.

Actually the scientology does not require the belief in a god, which is why they claim to be compatible with all religions.

If you pay enough money and get high enough in their hierachical belief system though you will discover that all religions are a fabrication to deceive what they believe is the "soul". Like all religions they are the one true religion.

As to the many other religions who believe in the same god the trouble is they all claim divine inspiration but cannot agree on what the god said. Needless to say most of them believe that they're correct and so god will favour them over the rest.

My take is all religions are flawed and the world would be a better place if people stopped joining churches and made their spiritual journey a personal one.

To all my wonderful Christian brothers and sisters commenting - don't forget to practice what Christ preached. Matthew 7:12 "In everything you do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets." and Matthew 22:35 "Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
We (Scientologists) say it this way as written in The Way to Happiness: "Try not to do things to others that you would not like them to do to you." and: "Try to treat others as you would want them to treat you". and "Respect the religious beliefs of others." Okay, I know I will now read various justifications as to why it is okay to bash other people's religions and blah, blah, blah. They will all probably be coming from the same person with different aliases and all anonymous.
Luckily, you will be in the minority because I have tons of tolerant friends in Tampa Bay who do respect their neighbors no matter their religious beliefs.
You know who I am. I do not choose to hide my identity. Put aside your prejudice and talk to me.

Pat,
I concur with the scripture you've quoted and I only hope the your "Church" members will do the same. I have no problem with anyone posting a sign in front of their business that says "not a Southern Baptist", In fact, I welcome the idea. By the way, was the man that was lurking on and around my property on Monday a few hours after this story was posted one of your folks? I've got a nice clean camera shot of him if it helps you to identify him :)

Also, Scientology knows all about using sockpuppets to overwhelm a comments section. Should I start quoting exact examples? Like the infamous (and I use the term loosely) Louanne? Or ObjectiveReporting? Go ahead, tempt me.

You know darn well we don't *need* to sockpuppet to overwhelm you in the comments thread. There's just that many people that think you're ridiculous.

Hey folks: Wanna see the truth about Scientology? About all the people they've killed or ripped off or destroyed? Check out "The Unfunny Truth."

http://theunfunnytruth.ytmnd.com/

Local: I love a challenge about religion and philosophy. I actually studied those subjects. Perhaps you didn't realize that "The Golden Rule" is as old as man himself. While it might be found in the Bible, it also appears in the Analects of Confucius (5th and 6th century B.C as in Before Christ); in primitive tribes; and it also appears in the ancient works of Plato, Aristotle, Isocrates and Seneca. The Golden Rule has been held as an ethical standard by man for thousands of years. Are you saying, Mr. Local that: "The Bible ripped off "The Golden Rule?" I'm sure you didn't mean that. The Way to Happiness is a more modern version of what has been taught for virtuous living forever. It was written for practical application.
All right, sir, over to you to show me how wrong I and those who practice my faith, are.

Travis: I am sorry I hurt your feelings with my opinion and suggestion. Considering the sign you posted in your window, I didn't think that was possible. Sounds like you are indeed feeling the effects of your own cause.

You are making perfect sense! LOL!
Sticks and stones may break my bones - but bigoted words will never harm me!
All the best in your business venture, my good Christian friend. I am sure Christ would be proud of your example.

Pat, one person is telling the world what he is not, on a sign. I could hold up a sign saying that I am not a Muslim. The action of labeling oneself as belonging to one group, and not belonging to another group, is NOT BIGOTED. It is merely an act of self-expression and self-identification.

You are all right in your opinions, feelings, justifications and vilification! May the force be with you! Why argue?

Hey everyone, we appreciate all your thoughtful comments and we're glad Patch can be a place where people with different opinions can talk with one another. That said, please keep it civil and refrain from any personal attacks. Thanks!

Scientology, Inc. may pay over a million in property taxes -- because Scientology entities own so much property. But how much downtown and other Clearwater property has been taken OFF the tax rolls since the late 1970s because of Scientology's nonprofit status?

Scientology IS NOT a religion it is a way of life. Even their "golden boy" Tom Cruise made that statement a few years back. Let's face it, it was created by a science fiction writer. When the Fort Harrison Hotel was first up for sale and the scientologists tried to buy it, they were denied. They then bought it through one of their shell corporations and by the time the realization hit that scientology was the buyer it was too late to stop the sale. What religion uses shell companies to hide who they are when trying to purchase something?

Scientology considers itself a religion and every book written by L Ron Hubbard as its scripture. In the previous story one of the Scientologists said, "Actually our beliefs are well described in the book , "What is Scientology," available in most libraries. Also many of L Ron Hubbard's books and lectures are available in most libraries including the Clearwater Library. I have borrowed them from there myself"

That list of libraries also includes our Public School Libraries! Your children are being exposed to the cult's indoctrination literature. Warn your kids and ask the schools to have the Church of Scientology's scripture removed from our public schools! To learn more visit: http://tinyurl.com/8bpdxvd

I find it funny that after asking for a discussion, Pat Harney ran away when the discussion turned to subjects (Project Normandy, Operation Snow White, Operation Freakout) she didn't want to talk about.

But...but...I thought L. Ron Hubbard said communication was the universal solvent!

Thank you Enturbulator for the helpful information. I am grateful that you and WWP are doing so much to inform the public and press about the hidden agenda of the CoS. The link you provided shares some very disturbing information. I don't know of any parent who wants their child or children introduced to Scientology in their schools through curriculum or library offerings. I will pass this information on to our I.S.D. Superintendent as well as my state and local chapters of the NEA. I do know that my local library has put CoS materials out for free during the library sales because of lack of interest of library patrons and lack of shelving space. I think that they finally offered them to a college professor to use in a class in which he discusses cults and brainwashing.

Travis, I wish you much success in your new business. I'll admit, I don't venture to Clearwater. Unfortunately, the reputation of the cult and its headquarters there does not make it an appealing destination for tourists or for real estate, which is a shame because of the lovely location. May God bless you abundantly!

Scientology is NOT good for the future of Downtown Clearwater. I live very close to The Cleveland Street District, and enjoy the businesses there, but there is not enough of them to stop my weekly Jolley Trolley trips to Dunedin and Clearwater Beach to enjoy food and drink and socializing with intelligent people from all over. The strange bands of the devoted crossing the streets as they get off the busses is diconcerting to me, as a local. What would that Wierd Science scene do to a family from North Dakota? Clearwater Downtown...Cleveland Street...needs to say F.U. to the cult and do whatever it takes to open up The Cleveland District to bars, restaurants, spas, bookstores, grocery stores & cell phone stores. PLEASE. No Scientology is Good. Sorry Cruise & Miscavige!!

L. Ron Hubbard's words must be followed at all time. L. Ron Hubbard said this, "Scientology has opened the gates to a better World. It is not a psycho-therapy nor a religion. It is a body of knowledge which, when properly used, gives freedom and truth to the individual." --The Creation of Human Ability, 1953 There are more quotes from Hubbard saying that Dianetics and Scientology are not religions. You can google for that info.
36 years later in 1989, the United States Supreme Court agreed with Hubbard's original thoughts about Scientology and declared that Scientology was run more like a business than a religion and the Court refused a tax exemption to Scientology. You can google Hernandez v. the commissioner of the IRS to read about that decision.
Scientology was not happy with that. Four years after the Supreme Court ruled Scientology was not a religion, the IRS granted a special tax exemption to Scientology that no other church can use. Scientologists can take up to 80% off of goods and services. You can google that information, too.
So, we have an organization that did not start out as a religion. The highest court in this land agreed with that and now this group has a super secret tax exemption that nobody else can use except them! google The Sklar Case to see how a Jewish couple was denied this exemption. And don't forget that Scientology is guilty of the largest domestic infiltration of our government in the history of this country. Scary.

Why are most people in this thread turning it into a slam on Scientology? That's not the point. The point is this: Are you fine with a business posting a similar sign that impugns your religion, race or sexual preference? Substitute "Scientology" with "Jew" or "African American" or "Gay". Would it be okay then?

Dear "Sallie": The Church of Scientology just here in Clearwater raised over $50,000 in the past few months for charities (not Scientology ones) in the Tampa Bay area. Tampa Bay Scientologists volunteered over 100,000 hours so far this year to feed the hungry, clean up the environment, help children, get people off drugs and raise literacy and much more. You are obviously not one of the over 300 people who were in the Fort Harrison this past weekend for a charity event - who were all very happy to break bread with us and some had never even been there before. And that was certainly not the first time that happened, nor will it be the last. Would you even listen if I said we most definitely know there is a God? Perhaps you have Scientology confused with Buddhism which is also a religion - the fourth largest in the world, by the way, but is non-Theistic. Do you know that you probably live, work or have come in contact with at least one of the 10,000 or so non-uniformed Scientologists in Tampa Bay. Maybe one of them is your doctor, anesthesiologist, business contact, teacher to your child or, or, or. Sorry "Sallie" but I just didn't want your inaccuracies to stand.

Gee I guess she's really gonna get mad when she finds out about the three other news agencies that contacted me today.

I wonder if she knows the guy that came into the day spa today to complain about the sign. He actually said we were driving our customers away. Then again I don't really pay much attention to a guy on a bicycle coming into a day spa to tell my staff how I should run my business.

Members and celebrities donate the money and turn it over in the name of Scientology. (Why are we in quotes, "Pat"?) "Pat", why does Scientology deny being part of Narconon and CCHR when it suits you and then embrace them as your very own when you need to seem charitable? Either they are Scientology or they are not.
"Pat", I could never confuse Buddhism and Scientology. One is a religion based on reaching enlightenment and asks not for tithes, but only for alms for their poor monks and nuns. The other is a money-sucking scam started by a con artist and really bad sci-fi author that can cost upwards of $400,000 to achieve the highest levels.
Yes, "Pat", I have come in contact with Scientologists, but not as many as I used to. Seems the numbers are shrinking and that's good. Maybe all of the disaffected former Scientologists will become Buddhists! It will certainly be cheaper for them.
"Pat", why didn't you lie and make it a bigger number than 300 for this past weekend's amazing charity drive at the Ft. Harrison? After all, 300 is such a piddling number. You're going to have to do better with your KSW.
"Pat", people don't like downtown. They don't feel welcome and they find it creepy. Your hundreds of security cameras trained everywhere and your charming security guards insure that if you must go downtown it will be a short trip. That's the way you want it and that's the way you have it.

When is the Super Power Building going to open, Pat Harney?

They don't have enough members left with any money to operate services there.
Complete failure so far. It will probably be taken over by the IAS, International Association of Scientologists, who, as their new promo states, will now be Clearing the Planet. This is not from LRH but from the new, darker (IMO) organization.

Religion is one thing, but an organisation (religious or otherwise) with a history of human rights abuses, threats, bullying and blackmail, is a whole other matter. Why anyone would wish to be associated with such a group is beyond me. I don't doubt that many church members are incredibly decent people who work hard to help their fellow man, but that doesn't cut it when a leadership is abusing people then trying to gag or intimidate them when they leave. The good intentions and efforts of the average church member are ultimately hidden or lost due to a management body that thinks it can do whatever it likes - harming others, enforcing disconnection, suppressing free speech - all justified as the "greater good" (for them) in its relentless quest for higher stats and increased funds. It's great that more and more are finally realising this and leaving to practice independently. Good for them, I say.

Harney, maybe you weren't around when Scientology desxended on Clearwater and posted uniformed armed guards around the Fort Harrison Hotel. Maybe you weren't around when the cult tried to frame the good Mayor Gabe Cazares for his work trying to save the decent people of Clearwater from the smell you brought. Maybe you weren't around when your gang pkanted a spy at the Clearwater Sun, which was exposing the tactics of your so-called church. Maybe you weren't around when your gang of liars and bullies caused the death of Lisa McPherson by imprisoning her and denying her the medical treatment which would have saved her life. No, I suppose you were not around then, but some of your predecessors as scientology mouthpiece were. Actually, Harney, you are just another in a long line of scientology mouthpieces who have infested this city. There have been quite a few who have held your position for a while, until the lies they all tell and the traps the lies cause them to get caught up in make them no longer believable by any intelligent person. You won't be here a lot longer yourself, because the head bullies of scientology will eventually realize that all your lies have made you just as ineffective a spokesperson as all the others became and you will find yourself deposed from the top echelons and relegated to the kind of work your duped slaves do for practically nothing here or in other places around the world. So when that happens to you, have a nice trip.

Hey folks, just another friendly reminder to please limit the personal attacks. We welcome your opinions, but we want to keep the comments section a place where everyone feels comfortable to have a discussion. Thanks!

What Captain says happens to be the truth of the matter and a truthful history is always good to know. This way on opening a business here you have that information to combat any negativities. Important to know your neighbors.
I wish you great success, Berry Beautiful Salon and Spa.

The really sad thing about this is that David Miscavige steps all over these "good scientologists" with his custom made John Lobb shoes and they just cannot see it because they are not allowed to look.
The Co$ is a controlling and horrific cult.

I'm here to wish Mr. Wilkinson the best of luck and phenomenal success with Berry Beautiful Salon and Spa!

"Sticks and Stones?" "May the Force be with you?" What is this? 1979 and the third grade!

CBS Channel 10 news has picked up this story and I just finished the interview. It should air tomorrow at 6pm.

Janet White asked about how they spend their money behind closed doors.
Read the Tampa Bay Times article by reporters Joe Childs and Tobin today, Saturday, and find out how this religion does it. 12 Million paid to private investigators. So sad.

Why is clearwater the mecca for this cult? Scientology creeps me out. I wonder if Pat Harney has sailed the sea org. Travis, I hope you have GPS on your cellphone. So the cops know your last location after you go missing for posting your sign.

Thanks for all the good subjects to research everyone. I am off to freak myself even more about CO$.

For scared of COS: Please do yourself a favor by not worrying if they can "hurt you". However, I am not saying they wouldn't, either. Their best tactic is acting liking a school yard BULLY!! Just glare right back even when you know you are looking at evil.

Travis Wilkinson, I don't think they will be bothering you much, if at all, since they have the biggest flap with the suit against Miscavaige the leader going on in Texas right now. They will be out soliciting for more money from their already broke members.

Those of us who live in Clearwater are well aware of the tricks of this dangerous organization. I and many people I know don't even venture to downtown Clearwater because of the Scientology presence there. This has nothing whatsoever to do with their beliefs; it is because of their reputation for deception (e.g., they even misled the City as to who they really were when they took root here); abuse (google "The Truth Rundown" for details); and intimidation tactics (google Paulette Cooper to see exactly what this gang is capable of. Shocking.). Not to mention their extreme litigiousness when anyone dares go up against them.

Many of the organization's front groups have also come under serious scrutiny: e.g., check out what the group Narconon is now up against after several young people who sought treatment for addiction died in the "care" of these people. They didn't even have a doctor supervising the treatment.

Oh, and if you're ever in a position where you wish to call someone for help getting out of Scientology, don't call the Cult Awareness Network; Scientology bought the rights to the name and the phone number. Tricky!

One question may seem odd that I don't know the answer, but it's still a puzzle for me. How or Why did the City Officials, Police Dept or any other organization that helps run this city, allow this org. to infiltrate Clearwater? Was it assumed lots of money would follow them upon arrival? Or was it about scare tactics on the intruders side? For all the dirty ways this "cult" show themselves, what happened? Buying up land under fake names? Stalking or even showing Threats? It still truly stuns me as to how this horrific scam was the winner. No CoS -- no need to answer me. I want the truth, as told by our citizens who watch you watching us.

L Ron Hubbard was a very bad science fiction writer,sorry but the only thing he founded was a cult that he built like a pyramid scheme then he dress it in religion to become mega-rich. and the fools flocked to it because members only buy or sell from fellow members.They have so many members that they all do very well,have you ever seen a Scientology family that lives in a ghetto? or live anywhere but are poor? on public assistance? I never have the all seem to have money.

Tom Cruise is he really a box office hit because he is a great actor or is it because all the many Scientology member can only go to other members movies?He is short,not really even average looking,and getting old but he still is a leading man.

Hello All,

I am Travis Wilkinson, the owner of Berry Beautiful Salon & Spa and a few other businesses in Clearwater. Due to the overwhelming response of my sign, I have recently formed a not-for-profit corporation called "Clearwater Small Business Coalition, Inc." with the purpose of bringing people back to downtown Clearwater by helping other business owners to make their statement of fact. I will be providing signs to any business that wants one, free of charge, that states "Notice This Business is NOT owned by a Scientologist". I already have a few interested businesses and could use some help with spreading the word and help with any ideas to get donations to support this cause, as I'm currently funding it myself.

What an eye opener reading these comments, I recently called on a restaurant space on Cleveland Street, I was really impressed with the renovations and it seemed like a nice downtown, the landlord I spoke to was trying to tell me that the area was dead at night, to not put a quality Italian Restaurant with full bar in location, it was one of the oddest conversations I ever had with a landlord. I know have an idea why, what a shame, it looks like it could use a real good Italian Regional Restaurant.

Update: Owner Travis Wilkinson is starting a business coalition and will offer similar signs to members: http://patch.com/A-y2XV