Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Hubbard Dianetics Seminar Answering the Demand for True Help

The Hubbard Dianetics Seminar, offered by the Nashville Church of Scientology each weekend, is answering the demand for true mental counseling.


June 2009 saw the single most momentous advance in Dianetics technology since the day of its original publication on May 9, 1950.  

Dianetics became universally accessible.

The Dianetics Seminar was released with new audio-visual components that not only make it easy to understand and apply, but break down to such an ease that all one has to do is watch.

Nashville’s Church of Scientology has offered the seminar each weekend since that time with rave success.

“It’s not so easy any more to find real help,” says Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor of the Nashville Church of Scientology.  “The Internet is flooded with offers that don’t live up to the promise.  People are betrayed by ‘professionals’ who take their insurance money and send them away.  It’s time for someone with real answers and effective results to step up to the plate.  That’s why we’re here.”

Fesler wants to let Middle Tennesseans know the seminar is open to the public.

According to the book What Is Scientology?, the Church of Scientology is “all-denominational” and members are free to attend any church, synagogue, mosque or other place of worship of their choice while also taking classes or attending the seminars. 

The Hubbard Dianetics Seminar is based on the bestselling self-help book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health and takes just a weekend to complete.  It features the video series “How to Use Dianetics,” consisting of 32 films—a total of four and a half hours of visual instruction in the principles and procedures of Dianetics. In the seminar, attendees learn how the mind contains a hidden influence that will cause individuals to feel grief and pain long after the reasons for which they first arose.

“People are getting amazing results at this seminar.  And what’s more, they have skills they can continue to use at home and with friends and family,” says Fesler.  


The two-day Dianetics seminar is offered every weekend at the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Nashville at 1130 8th Avenue South. For more information, visit www.dianetics.org or call the Hubbard Dianetics Foundation at 615-687-4600.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Committee Reveals Schedule of Events for Tennessee Human Rights Day Celebration

The committee planning Tennessee’s annual Human Rights Day celebration is pleased to reveal the official schedule of events for the day.

International Human Rights Day occurs every year to commemorate the ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations on Dec 10, 1948. It occurs each year on December 10th in Tennessee, and this year the celebration will take place at the Howard Office Building in the Sonny West Conference Center.

The event will open with a musical selection by accomplished singer/songwriter Joie Scott, an international hit songwriter whose songs have been recorded by Shania Twain, Collin Raye, Lucie Diamond, Anne Murray and many more.

Following this, the Mayor’s Youth Council will make a special presentation for Human Rights Day and the youth will speak to what human rights means to them.

Mary Pat Silveira who served in the United Nations for thirty years will introduce the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and will discuss the articles to help those attending have a better understanding of the document on which the day is based.

There will be a panel discussion on “Human Rights Issues Today” with panelists Pat Shea of the YWCA of Middle Tennessee discussing domestic violence; Tasha French Lemley with the Contributor Newspaper discussing homelessness and hunger; and Dr. Forrest Harris of American Baptist College speaking about education. 

Finally, awards will be bestowed for Human Rights Lifetime Achievement and Human Rights Rising Advocate.  Awardees this year include the Rev. James "Tex" Thomas, pastor of Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church, who is often referred to as the "Mayor of Jefferson Street" for his work on issues that affect North Nashville; Elliot Ozment, the founder and managing attorney at Ozment Law who has been a longtime advocate for civil and immigrant rights in Tennessee; and Carrie Gentry, who was active during the civil rights movement in Nashville, helping students get to sit-ins and bailing them out of jail after they were arrested.

“Rising Advocate” awards will be given to Gatluak Thach with the Nashville International Center for Empowerment and Stephanie Teatro with the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition.

The committee organizing the event for Human Rights Day includes the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, Metro Human Relations Commission, United Nations Association, Amnesty International and the Church of Scientology.

The event is free and open to the public.  Information booths open at 4pm and the program starts at 4:30pm.  For more information, or to become involved with this year’s celebration, visit nashvillehumanrights.org.


Monday, November 11, 2013

Nashville Scientologists Hold Drug-Free Events in Honor of Red Ribbon Week

In October 2013, volunteers from the Nashville Church of Scientology teamed up with the Drug-Free South to help others live drug-free lives.


Tennessee now leads the nation in meth use, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations. Tennessee has ranked among the top three states for meth use since 2007 but has now passed Missouri for the top spot. To protect youth from the disastrous effects of abusing this and other drugs, in October a team of Scientologists decided to bring the truth about drugs to students.

Throughout the month, church volunteers joined with Drug-Free South to distribute copies of The Truth About Drugs, a booklet that helps young people understand what drugs are and how they affect the user. Drug-Free South is the Tennessee chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, an international non-profit organization. Its materials demonstrate the dangers of drugs through factual information and interviews with former addicts giving personal perspectives on each of the substances covered.

The volunteers also provided seminars to students in six counties during this time. One school to receive a visit from the Drug-Free South was Smyrna West Alternative where a teacher expressed his gratitude by writing a letter to the volunteers.  He noted the program “is a highly informative, mind-grasping look at the dangers and horrible realities that addiction creates.  Just say no is not just a cliché or a challenge for teens to try drugs after this program; it becomes a hard-hitting, in-your-face demand that has real meaning and power.”

Over 3,000 booklets were distributed in Tennessee during October for Red Ribbon Week, a week-long celebration to promote a drug-free lifestyle. The Red Ribbon has been worn as a symbol since 1985 when DEA Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena was murdered. Angered parents and youth in communities across the country began wearing Red Ribbons to show their commitment to raise awareness of the killing and destruction caused by drugs in America.

For more information on the Truth About Drugs, visit drugfreesouth.org. For more information on the Church of Scientology and its programs, visit Scientology.org.



Thursday, November 7, 2013

Committee Announces Awardees for Tennessee Human Rights Day Celebration

The committee planning Tennessee’s annual Human Rights Day celebration has just released the names of the 2013 awardees.


Human Rights Day in Tennessee has become a time to celebrate the leaders of yesterday and recognize those taking up the torch for tomorrow, a time to look at battles won and lessons learned as well as to inspire the youth of today to do something about the state of the world tomorrow. It occurs each year on December 10th, and this year the celebration will take place at the Howard Office Building in the Sonny West Conference Center.

The event centers around the Human Rights Lifetime Achievement awards.   Awardees this year include the Rev. James "Tex" Thomas, pastor of Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church, who is often referred to as the "Mayor of Jefferson Street" for his work on issues that affect North Nashville; Elliot Ozment, the founder and managing attorney at Ozment Law who has been a longtime advocate for civil and immigrant rights in Tennessee; and Carrie Gentry, who was active during the civil rights movement in Nashville, helping students get to sit-ins and bailing them out of jail after they were arrested.

“Rising Advocate” awards will also be given to individuals who show great promise in the field of human rights.  Planning committee chair Rev. Brian Fesler says, “This is the third year for the Rising Advocate award.  It’s been a wonderful experience looking at people who are taking up the torch for human rights.” The Rising Advocate awards this year will go to Gatluak Thach with the Nashville International Center for Empowerment and Stephanie Teatro with the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition.

The committee organizing the event for Human Rights Day includes the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, Metro Human Relations Commission, Church of Scientology, United Nations Association, and Amnesty International.

The event is free and open to the public.  Booths and networking begin at 4pm and the program starts at 4:30.  For more information or to become involved with this year’s celebration, visit www.nashvillehumanrights.org.



Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Drug-Free South Hits Entire County with the Truth About Drugs

Drug-Free South has a message for all students, and this past week, they took that message to every student in Lake County, Tennessee.


Drug-Free is the way to be if you live in Lake County. Drug-Free South just wrapped up a tour of every school in the area, where they spoke to nearly 1,000 students on the dangers of drug usage.

“We distributed almost 1,500 booklets,” says Anne Vallieres who volunteers for Drug-Free South, “many of them ask for additional booklets to give to their friends and family.”

Before the day was done, Drug-Free South volunteers also visited the Sheriff’s office where they left information on the program, so the county can remain safe and healthy.

“We will go to anyone, anywhere with our message,” says Vallieres.

Drug-Free South volunteers have been to more than 30 counties with the drug-free message and have distributed over 50,000 booklets.

Drug-Free South is a chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, based in Los Angeles, California, which provides educational tools to help students learn the truth about drugs. The Foundation provides a booklet which covers common street names of drugs, short and long term effects as well as myths that a dealer might say to make the sale. It also provides an in-depth documentary of former users telling their story and an entire educational curriculum to help students understand what drugs really are.


For more information, visit www.drugfreesouth.org. 

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Artlightenment 2013 Art and Film Festival

Artlightenment, the annual Multi-media Art Show and Film Festival which showcases visual artists, painters, sculptors and filmmakers is slated to run November 14, 15 and 16 at the Church of Scientology and Celebrity Centre in Nashville.

Created by painter, sculptor and film producer, Robyn Morshead in 2009, Artlightenment is a three day event which features workshops, live music and a fashion show.

This year’s Festival will highlight the work of landmark photographer Raeanne Rubenstein whose work has graced the pages of numerous publications such as People Magazine and The New York Times. Rarely seen images of iconic celebrities scanning four decades of American Pop Culture, such as Andy Warhol, John and Yoko, Lou Reed, Jim Morrison and Dustin Hoffman will be available for viewing throughout the Festival. In addition, attendees can hear Rubenstein speak when she hosts a talk: “My Life as a Celebrity Photographer” on Friday, November 15 at 6:30 pm

On Saturday, November 16 (4:00 pm-6:00 pm), award-winning composer, arranger, orchestrator and producer of music for film, television and album projects, Greg Simms will be the featured speaker for a two hour workshop – “Film Composing 101: Making Your Movie With Music”. As the composer of the closing theme for Oprah’s first prime time special, “Legends Ball” and the CGI animated film, “The Lion of Judah” Simms will discuss his work and host a Q and A session with the audience.

In addition, the Festival will feature The MTSU Florence Project, three films produced by well-known Documentary Filmmaker Tom Neff and shot by student filmmakers from MTSU. The films center on the unlikely cross-cultural exchange between Florence, Italy and Murfreesboro, TN, as MTSU filmmakers traveled there to make these extraordinary films about contemporary Italian artists, their work and methodology.

Sherry Carlisle and the Impalers will be kicking off the festivities on Thursday, November 14 at 6:30 pm. The band is comprised of veteran touring and session musicians who have played with such notable acts as James Taylor, Cream and The Jordanaires.

Tickets for the event are $10. Ticketholders will have access to all exhibits and workshops, as well as the Film Festival, closing-night awards and fashion show.

For more information on the Artlightenment 2013 Art and Film Festival or to purchase tickets, please visit: artlightenment.com.