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The Sea Organization or Sea Org is an association of Scientologists established in 1968 by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology. Its members are found in the central management organizations of the Church of Scientology as well as in individual churches. While it was initially created around maritime customs and traditions while at sea, those customs and traditions persist today even in the land-based branches of the organization.

History

On 1 September 1966, L. Ron Hubbard officially resigned from all directorships and management of Scientology churches. He then formed the "Sea Project," which he claimed would assist him with researching tests regarding past life recollections. Called the "Sea Project", because it operated on ships and was intended as a temporary project, it was made up of a small group of Scientologists. In early 1967, upon seeing that Scientology churches were going into a decline, L. Ron Hubbard resumed management of the church in a non-directorship capacity. With the help of the Scientologists that had helped him on the project, he declared that the project was now to be a permanent organization called the "Sea Organization" or "Sea Org". He declared himself "Commodore" and organized the Scientologists with titles and uniforms similar to US Navy design, the Sea Org subsequently became the upper management group within the Church of Scientology. It operated for eight years in the Mediterranean Sea and over this time controlled a number of ships (hence the term "Commodore").

In 1975, they sold the ships they were working from and moved to "land bases" that now operate around the world. In 1987 they purchased a ship called "La Boheme", which they later renamed to "Freewinds". The highest levels of Scientology are taught on this ship. The Sea Org acts as goodwill representatives and administrators of Scientology with the stated purpose to "get ethics in on the planet" (Scientology Ethics rather than ethics in the conventional sense.) Another primary function is "To safeguard the advanced levels of Scientology". According to the church, the Sea Org is a fraternal religious order rather than an incorporated entity.

In more recent times, the Sea Org is primarily based on land; however, the highest levels of Scientology are still delivered at sea on board the Sea Org's vessel, the Freewinds, and the Sea Org still maintains its naval uniforms and character. Only Sea Org members are staff members in Scientology's Advanced Organisations.

Space Opera and the Sea Org

According to Hubbard's teachings, the Galactic Confederacy was the political unit formerly ruled by the tyrant Xenu. It ruled a broad swath of the galaxy, and lasted for "eighty trillion years" , a fact disputed by scientists who place the age of the universe at around 13.7 billion years. 75 million years ago, at the time of Xenu's mass murder, the Galactic Confederacy comprised 26 stars and 76 planets, including Earth (then called Teegeeack).

The Church of Scientology consciously models itself on aspects of the Galactic Confederacy. The Sea Org's insignia has a laurel wreath said by Hubbard to be based on the symbol of the "Loyal Officers", an anti-Xenu faction within the Galactic Confederacy. Each of the leaves on the laurel wreath is said to represent one of the Galactic Confederacy's stars. According to the Dianetics and Scientology Technical Dictionary, "the Sea Org symbol, adopted and used as the symbol of a Galactic Confederacy far back in the history of this sector, derives much of its power and authority from that association."

Billion-year contract

Members of the Sea Org sign an employment contract with the organization for one billion years. Sea Org members, in accordance with Scientology beliefs, are expected to return to the Sea Org when they are reborn. The motto of the Sea Org is, "Revenimus" or "We Come Back" in Latin. Official statements from the Church of Scientology contend the contract is merely symbolic of the dedication members are expected to hold to the organization, and that members are free to leave if they wish. It has, however, been alleged by former Sea Org personnel that members are restricted from leaving. Members who do leave are issued a "Freeloader's bill", retroactively billing them for any auditing or training they have received. These Scientologists may not receive any services at any Scientology organizations until they pay off this bill and perform an amends project.

Salary and benefits to members

Most Sea Org members are paid about US$24 per week (though some sources list US$75).

Rehabilitation Project Force

The Rehabilitation Project Force, or RPF, is a system of work camps set up by the Church of Scientology Sea Organization, intended to rehabilitate members who have not lived up to CoS expectations, failed Security checks or have violated certain policies.

Many ex-Sea Org members have reported grueling and torturous treatment, including Gerry Armstrong, who, during his time in the Sea Org, spent over two years banished to the RPF as a punishment. Says Armstrong:

"It was essentially a prison to which crew who were considered nonproducers, security risks, or just wanted to leave the Sea Org, were assigned. Hubbard's RPF policies established the conditions. RPF members were segregated and not allowed to communicate to anyone else. They had their own spaces and were not allowed in normal crew areas of the ship. They ate after normal crew had eaten, and only whatever was left over from the crew meal. Their berthing was the worst on board, in a roach-infested, filthy and unventilated cargo hold. They wore black boilersuits, even in the hottest weather. They were required to run everywhere. Discipline was harsh and bizarre, with running laps of the ship assigned for the slightest infraction like failing to address a senior with "Sir." Work was hard and the schedule rigid with seven hours sleep time from lights out to lights on, short meal breaks, no liberties and no free time... When one young woman ordered into the RPF took the assignment too lightly, Hubbard created the RPF's RPF and assigned her to it, an even more degrading experience, cut off even from the RPF, kept under guard, forced to clean the ship's bilges, and allowed even less sleep."

Dating, marriage, and family

Many in the Sea Organization are married to each other

ref name="Kent">Stephen A. Kent (1999). "Scientology — Is this a Religion?". Marburg Journal of Religion. 4 (1). Retrieved 2006-05-25. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)</ref> However, Scientology presents itself as a pro-life religion and actively speaks out against abortion both in its publications and commercials.

See also

• Space opera in Scientology scripture
• Galactic Confederacy
• Incident (Scientology)
• Implant (Scientology)

References

1. ^ Hubbard, L. Ron. Dianetics and Scientology Technical Dictionary. Publications Organization, Los Angeles 1975 ISBN 0-88404-037-2
2. "What is the Sea Organization?". Basic Facts About the Scientology Religion. Retrieved 2006-06-23.
3. ^ Jon Atack, A Piece of Blue Sky 1990. Link to online version
4. Hubbard, The ITSA Line
5. Hubbard, Assists
6. Copy of Sea Org agreement form, LA Times.
7. Robert Farley (2006-06-24). "The unperson". St. Petersburg Times. pp. 1A, 14A. Retrieved 2006-08-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
9. ^ Times Writer (2004). "About Scientology". St. Petersburg Times. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
10. Reitman, Janet Inside Scientology Rolling Stone, Issue 995. March 9, 2006. Page 57.
11. Gerald Armstrong affidavit, March 1986, pp.53ff, as cited in Atack, Jon (1990). A Piece of Blue Sky. New York, NY: Carol Publishing Group. ISBN 0-8184-0499-X.
12. Lattin, Don. "Leaving the Fold: Third-generation Scientologist grows disillusioned with faith", San Francisco Chronicle, February 12 2001
13. Kozlowski, Carl (2005-08-01). "Debunking a movement". Pasadena Weekly. Retrieved 2006-05-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
14. "Youth For Human Rights Ads". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

External links

• Church of Scientology statement on the Sea Org
• ScientologyToday.org: What is the Sea Organization?
• Scientology.org: The Sea Organization Begin
• CESNUR: The Sea Organization by J. Gordon Melton
• Operation Clambake Presents: The Sea Organization
• Jesse Prince Affidavit
• Abortions in the Sea Org
• Interview with director of Planned Parenthood in Los Angeles, CA

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• Religious organizations