Church of Scientology Nashville Holds Special Sunday Service to Commemorate Religious Freedom Day

The Church of Scientology Nashville held a special service to observe Religious Freedom Day.

“Without freedom of religion, or freedom of thought, freedom itself cannot exist,” says Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor of the Nashville Church of Scientology. Rev. Fesler is always out in the Nashville community, involved in interfaith services and activities, and just recently held a special Sunday Service to observe International Religious Freedom Day.

“We’ve always opened our doors to anyone who is curious about us to help them understand. That is truly what Scientology is all about: understanding,” says Rev. Fesler.

International Religious Freedom Day (October 27) recognizes the passing of the Religious Freedom Act of 1998, which established the office of the United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom and highlighted America’s responsibility to the world in guaranteeing Human Right #18, Freedom of Thought and Belief.

To observe the day, the Church of Scientology Nashville invited a religious studies class to come to Sunday Service, have a tour of the church, and get their questions answered.

The Nashville Church has hosted numerous tours since it opened in the historic Fall School. Built in 1898 in a similar style to the city’s iconic Ryman Auditorium, the 36,000-square-foot Church served the area as a public school until 1970. Many original features were preserved, including the hardwood floors, doors and stairwells and eight solid wood pillars capped with iron that support a central three-story atrium.

Those arranging to visit may wish to attend the Church’s Sunday service, consisting of a reading of the Creed of the Church of Scientology, a sermon based on the writings of Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard or the playing of one of his recorded lectures, and the ministration of Scientology spiritual counseling in which all attending participate.

A highlight of the tour for many is the opportunity to “see a thought” with a demonstration of how the E-Meter registers and shows the changes in mental state of the individual.

For more information on the Church of Scientology, its programs and community involvement, or to arrange for a tour or seminar, visit scientology-ccnashville.org.

Church of Scientology Nashville Shares with Students on Religious Freedom Day

The Church of Scientology Nashville will hold a special service to observe Religious Freedom Day, which will include inviting local university students to learn about Scientology.

“Without freedom of religion, or freedom of thought, freedom itself cannot exist,” says Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor of the Nashville Church of Scientology. Rev. Fesler is always out in the Nashville community, involved in interfaith services and activities, and is now planning a special Sunday Service to observe International Religious Freedom Day at the end of October.

“We’ve always opened our doors to anyone who is curious about us to help them understand. That is truly what Scientology is all about: understanding,” says Rev. Fesler.

International Religious Freedom Day (October 27) recognizes the passing of the Religious Freedom Act of 1998, which established the office of the United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom and highlighted America’s responsibility to the world in guaranteeing Human Right #18, Freedom of Thought and Belief.

To observe the day, the Church of Scientology Nashville has invited religious studies classes to come to Sunday Service, have a tour of the church, and get their questions answered.

Rev. Fesler also pointed out that in 2017, the Church of Scientology International released a booklet covering the subject of religious freedom. The booklet, which includes authoritative texts, contains what any person might want to know to protect their rights to practice their religion in peace and harmony.  The booklet is available in seventeen languages, is downloadable from the website scientologyreligion.org, and contains chapters on the Rights of Parents and Children, Freedom from Discrimination, and the Rights of Employers, Employees and Volunteers.

For more information about Scientology, its practices or beliefs, visit scientology.org. 

Scientology Nashville to Host Red Ribbon Week Halloween-Themed Event for Kids

The last week of October is Red Ribbon Week, a time to educate young people about the dangers of drugs. What also falls in the last week of October? Halloween, of course.

Drug-Free Tennessee in partnership with the Church of Scientology Nashville will end Red Ribbon Week with a Halloween-themed event for kids, helping to educate young people on the dangers of drugs in a fun way with trick-or-treating, games and contests.

Tennessee consistently ranks in the top five US states in terms of substance abuse rates, according to a report from lakeviewhealth.com. The website further describes that despite the rise in opioid addictions, alcohol abuse statistics have remained stable, so alcohol is still the most commonly abused substance in Tennessee. In fact, more than 60 percent of patients who enter state drug treatment programs seek treatment for alcohol addiction and about 1 in 20 Tennessee residents abused or were dependent on alcohol in 2016. The website describes opioid abuse, specifically pointing out that oxycodone and hydrocodone are the most commonly abused of painkillers. Although physicians legally prescribe them, these medications often end up on the black market, which has led to a surge in drug related crimes in Tennessee. Opioid overdoses have become so widespread that the Tennessee General Assembly has permitted pharmacies to carry naloxone, a medication used to negate the effects of an opioid overdose until the patient receives professional treatment.

To protect youth from the disastrous effects of abusing these and other drugs, Scientologists and others are teaming up with Drug-Free Tennessee to bring the truth about drugs to young people during Red Ribbon Week.

Red Ribbon Week is a week-long celebration at the end of October 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.

Volunteers will join with Drug-Free Tennessee for educational events and to distribute copies of The Truth About Drugs, a booklet that helps young people understand what drugs are and how they affect the user.

The Halloween-themed bash will take place on October 31^st in the community hall of the Church of Scientology Nashville. There will be treats and games for children, costume contests and more. “This is a way to educate children in a fun way, while also reminding them that drugs are scary,” says Rev. Brian Fesler, regional coordinator for Drug-Free Tennessee.

Drug-Free Tennessee is the local 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.

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

5 Tips for a Stress-Free Life at Mental Health Day 'Lunch and Learn'

Mental health watchdog Citizens Commission on Human Rights educated people on how to live stress-free. The presentation was a "lunch and learn" seminar at the Nashville Church of Scientology.

The Nashville chapter of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) held a "lunch and learn" to educate people on living a stress-free life without harmful mind-altering drugs. The seminar was held Oct. 10 in honor of World Mental Health Day.

Dr. David Morris of Magnolia Medical Center gave a presentation titled 5 Tips for a Stress-Free Life. It covered five simple ways anyone can be free of stress:

1) Distancing oneself from negative people
2) A good diet, free of sugar, carbohydrates and dairy
3) Breaking up with social media and the news
4) Getting proper sleep at night
5) Having a good group of friends, people you can go to for help any time

Dr. Morris pointed out that the psychotropic drugs prescribed for mental health disorders have very dangerous side effects, so whatever people can do to avoid stress without seeking medications is very well worth the effort.

"We are proud to host this program to educate our community on these simple actions people can take to lead a better life," said Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor of the Nashville Scientology Church. "We want to thank Dr. Morris for sharing this vital information." He also invited those attending to learn the truth about psychotropic drugs by touring the Citizens Commission on Human Rights displays in the Church’s Public Information Center.

Citizens Commission on Human Rights is a nonprofit mental health watchdog, responsible for helping to enact more than 180 laws protecting individuals from abusive or coercive practices. CCHR has long fought to restore basic inalienable human rights to the field of mental health, including but not limited to full informed consent regarding the medical legitimacy of psychiatric diagnosis, the risks of psychiatric treatments, the right to all available medical alternatives and the right to refuse any treatment considered harmful.

CCHR was co-founded in 1969 by the Church of Scientology and professor of psychiatry Dr. Thomas Szasz.

Alerted to the brutality of psychiatric treatment by author and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard who wrote extensively about the abuses of psychiatric patients, CCHR today stands as a powerful voice of reason for those abused and continues its advocacy for reforms. For more information visit cchrnashville.org

Nashville Religion Communicators Council Gets Digital

The Nashville Chapter of the Religion Communicators Council (RCC) meets monthly to talk about topics of interest and hear from professionals in religious communications.  

The ever-changing landscape of digital media can be difficult to navigate, especially for a person of faith trying to get a message of hope out to the world. So, a group of religious communications professionals gathered recently for their monthly meeting to learn more about storytelling in digital media.

The Religion Communicators Council (RCC) is an interfaith association of religion communicators at work in print and electronic communication, marketing and public relations.

Rev. Brian Fesler, president of the Nashville chapter and pastor of the Church of Scientology, says, “Religious people need to stay on top of the way messages are communicated in today’s world. Now, more than ever, we need hope highlighted on the social stream.”

The meeting took place at the Tennessee Conference of the United Methodist Church over lunch.

Sophia Agtarap of Vanderbilt Divinity School was the guest speaker for the day. Agtarap came to the Divinity School staff in 2017, having worked at the University of Washington and most recently The United Methodist Church's Communications Agency. Her graduate studies include Communication and Digital Media.

The RCC has members from every faith group and walk of life including Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Scientologists, Sikhs, Hindus and more. The RCC, founded in 1929, is an association of communications professionals who work for and with a diverse group of faith-based organizations in the areas of communications, public relations, advertising and development. The RCC provides opportunities for communicators to learn from each other. Together, RCC members promote excellence in the communication of faith and values in the public arena and encourage understanding among religious and faith groups. For more information about the Religion Communicators Council, visit religioncommunicators.org/nashville-chapter.