Rehabilitation Project Force
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The Rehabilitation Project Force, or RPF, is a system of work camps[1] set up by the Church of Scientology Sea Organization, intended to rehabilitate members who have not lived up to the Church expectations or have violated certain policies. In this program, members do medium to heavy manual labor tasks around Sea Org bases. There have been some reports of overwork and mistreatment at RPF facilities.
The RPF was originally intended to last no more than couple of months, where the assignee would learn Scientology auditing, if he or she was not already an auditor by the "read it, drill it, do it" method. RPF members would then co-audit each other to better themselves and make each other more ethical and productive.[1] If married, the assignee could visit with their spouse and children once a week, although it has been reported that rules have been tightened and currently forbid any connection with family members.[2]
Critics of Scientology, including former Scientologists, frequently compare the RPF with the gulag system of the Soviet Union or the re-education camps of the People's Republic of China.[5] One former Scientologist titled her narrative of the RPF "'The Church of Scientology' or The Guru's Gulags: Story of an Escape"[3]
Supporters of Scientology claim that no physical force is used to keep RPF members in the camps, and that RPF members always have the option of leaving their religion entirely, and that this makes the comparison inaccurate.[6] However, Scientology has been alleged to use other means of coercion to keep members in the religion. For example, Scientology keeps records of Security checks and confessions of their members,[4] some of which have allegedly been used to blackmail those who had left the religion.[5]
In addition, leaving the Sea Org, even from the RPF, results in what Scientology calls "freeloader debt" or a "freeloader's bill": retroactive billing for any auditing received or any Scientology training received while in the Sea Org, which can run into tens of thousands of dollars. [6] Many former Scientologists have reported that they felt trapped by the "freeloader debt" policy.[7]
Contents |
[edit] Motto
The RPF is what you make it.
The RPF is where you make it.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Janet Reitman (2006). "Inside Scientology". Rolling Stone.
- ^ Pierre Collignon (2001). "Inside RPF Denmark (IV): An Offer from Scientology (convenience link, unofficial translation)". Jyllands-Posten.
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ [3]
- ^ Kent, Stephen A. (September 2003). "Scientology and the European Human Rights Debate: A Reply to Leisa Goodman, J. Gordon Melton, and the European Rehabilitation Project Force Study". Marburg Journal of Religion 8 (1). Retrieved on 2006-08-15.
- ^ Sappell, Joel, Welkos, Robert W.. "Defectors Recount Lives of Hard Work, Punishment", Los Angeles Times, 1990-06-26, p. A1:1. Retrieved on 2006-08-15. Additional convenience link at [4].
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- 'What is the Rehabilitation Project Force?, Scientology FAQ. Church of Scientology International. Retrieved on 2006-09-29.
- "SEA ORGANIZATION FLAG ORDER 3434RB" as posted to USENET in 1994
- "Brainwashing in Scientology's Rehabilitation Project Force (RPF)", a paper by Dr. Stephen A. Kent
- "The Church of Scientology’s Rehabilitation Project Force" by the Center for Studies on New Religions
- Astra Woodcraft Interview, Part Three, "Leaving the Sea Org", 2001-01-20, XenuTV
