On April 30, Mr. David Miscavige, the ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion, will be celebrating his birthday. Perhaps you remember him from the video celebrating the launch of the Scientology Network, in which he opined: “You’ve probably heard of Scientology. Well, whatever you have heard, if you haven’t heard it from us, I can assure you, we are not what you expect.”
Spend a bit of time browsing our website, and you’ll find that truer words have never been spoken.
The same could be said of David Miscavige. “If you haven’t heard it from us…”
Who is this person, really?
Well, since you asked…
The first thing that comes to mind is his sense of humor. Upon meeting Mr. Miscavige in the informal setting of a religious retreat, I was surprised to see that, in contrast to the seriousness of his responsibilities, he can be genuinely funny—the kind of “funny” that comes from being able to view the irony in this world and point it out to others in a humorous way. His musings on an awkward situation one of our fellows found himself in while ashore had us in stitches for 15 minutes straight. I’ve long believed anyone who can do that is, for sure, one of the “good guys.”
Despite all the noise, the attacks, and the general craziness of planet Earth, Mr. Miscavige rose to the occasion and secured Scientology’s place in this world.
The second thing that comes to mind is Mr. Miscavige’s persistence. For nearly half a century the Church of Scientology had battled the IRS to be free from IRS harassment and to attain exemption from taxation afforded all religions in America. In an incredible display of persistence, it was finally Mr. Miscavige who achieved that for all Scientologists, and in 1993, the Church of Scientology was granted full tax-exempt religious and charitable status.
The third thing that comes to mind is David Miscavige’s ability to think in futures. For example, plans for new Ideal Churches of Scientology across the globe, which were set in motion decades ago, are all now coming to fruition, thanks to his vision and persistence. Take a look!
After 50+ years of studying and applying the spiritual tools of Scientology to life, I’ve come to appreciate their power to solve problems and change conditions for the better in so many spheres. I know from personal experience how important it is that L. Ron Hubbard’s legacy is preserved for future generations. Upon Ron’s passing in 1986, that responsibility fell squarely on Mr. Miscavige’s young shoulders. Despite all the noise, the attacks, and the general craziness of planet Earth, he rose to the occasion and secured Scientology’s place in this world. We are here to stay.
I believe he will be long remembered in the history books for that achievement—an achievement all Scientologists will remember, forever.