Church of Scientology Nashville to Host World Interfaith Harmony Service

The Church of Scientology Nashville is opening its doors to all religious communities for a special service in observance of World Interfaith Harmony Week.

Hate graffiti, death threats, and violence toward people of religion have become recurrent mainstream news. FBI hate crime statistics show that incidents in churches, synagogues, temples and mosques increased 34.8% between 2014 and 2018, the last year for which FBI data is available.

“In order to truly combat religious discrimination in this day and age, we have to come together and learn about the religious other,” says Rev. Brian Fesler, Pastor of the Church of Scientology, who has called together people of many different faiths and cultures to take part in a service for World Interfaith Harmony Week, the first week each February.

Rev. Fesler is passionate about bringing together all peoples and has reached out to many different faith leaders for this special service. “Everyone, regardless of their race, religion, culture—everyone deserves to have a voice, to live in peace, and to practice their religion in harmony with the rest of mankind,” he says.

The Church of Scientology’s creed begins with the words: “We of the Church believe that all men of whatever race, color or creed were created with equal rights; that all men have inalienable rights to their own religious practices and their performance…”   

“It is part of our very fabric to support others’ rights and abilities to practice their religion in peace, so that is what we are lifting up through this service,” says Rev. Fesler.

The World Interfaith Harmony Service will take place on February 9, 2020 at 3:00pm in the Church of Scientology community hall in Nashville, Tenn. To anyone who wishes to participate, contact rccnashville@gmail.com.

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

Church of Scientology Nashville Holds Panel on Safety During Worship

The Church of Scientology with Citizens Commission on Human Rights of Nashville (CCHR Nashville) recently held a panel discussion highlighting religious persecution and safety.

The Church of Scientology Nashville recently held a panel discussion on safety during worship services. They worked with the Nashville Chapter of Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR Nashville) to confront this serious topic: religious persecution, hate crimes and safety.

CCHR is known as an advocate for human rights, especially as relates to patients’ rights in the field of mental health. Per the international CCHR website, cchr.org, “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.”

The panel discussion took place on International Day for Holocaust Remembrance, so CCHR members wanted to shed light on current issues of religious discrimination and help people of faith feel safe in their congregations. The event was dubbed “Worship in Safety: Love and Protect Your Friends and Family,” and was held in the Church of Scientology community hall. The panel featured experts on religious persecution both locally and internationally with representatives of the Jewish Federation, Amnesty International and the American Muslim Advisory Council.  

Dozens of people attended the evening panel discussion where they were uplifted and brought together as a community to learn.

CCHR is a non-profit, non-political, non-religious mental health watchdog. Its mission is to eradicate abuses committed under the guise of mental health and enact patient and consumer protections. CCHR receives reports about abuses in the field of mental health and is especially interested in situations where persons experienced abuse or damage due to a false diagnosis or unwanted and harmful psychiatric treatments, such as psychiatric drugs, electroshock (ECT) and electronic or magnetic brain stimulation (TMS). CCHR is often able to assist with filing complaints, and can work with a person’s attorney to further investigate the case. To contact CCHR Nashville for more information, visit cchrnashville.org.  

Nashville Religion Communicators Council to Hear about Podcasting

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 Religion Communicators Council (RCC) is an interfaith association of religion communicators at work in print and electronic communication, marketing and public relations. The Nashville Chapter meets monthly at rotating locations to learn about other faith traditions, learn from fellow communicators and gain professional development opportunities.

The February meeting will take place at United Methodist Communications, and RCC members will hear from Jamie Dunham, Chief Brand Strategist at Brand Wise, on the topic Podcasting for Your Brand. Dunham is a blogger, brand strategist and cultural curator. Her focus is building cultural relevancy for brands that leads to stronger and more profitable consumer relationships. She has provided counsel to a wide variety of consumer sectors – the arts, faith-based communities, grocery, healthcare, hospitality, restaurants, travel and package goods.  She is particularly passionate about The Lipstick Economy – the 108 million women that account for 85% of all consumer purchases.

The meeting takes place at 11:30 am on February 4^th, 2020 at United Methodist Communications and is open to both members and non-members of RCC. Registration for the meeting is required by emailing rccnashville@gmail.com.

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. The next Nashville Chapter meeting will be Feb. 4^th, 2020 at 11:30 am at United Methodist Communications, and will feature Jamie Dunham, Chief Brand Strategist for Brand Wise. For more information about the Religion Communicators Council, visit religioncommunicators.org/nashville-chapter. 

Nashville Religion Communicators Council Holds First Meeting of 2020

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 Religion Communicators Council (RCC) is an interfaith association of religion communicators at work in print and electronic communication, marketing and public relations. The Nashville Chapter meets monthly at rotating locations to learn about other faith traditions, learn from fellow communicators and gain professional development opportunities.

The first meeting of 2020 took place in early January at the Cookery, a local restaurant which in addition to serving coffee, breakfast, lunch, dinner and catering to the public, has a greater purpose. According to its website, “in The Cookery kitchen, formerly homeless students are trained and equipped in culinary techniques and food safety in order to prepare them for employment in Nashville’s food industry.” All revenue from The Cookery goes to cover all café expenses and back into Lambscroft Ministries programs to serve Nashville’s homeless.

During the meeting, RCC members participated in the inaugural meeting for DayBreak Discussions, a new meeting format for Nashville RCC which brings together members along with the broader community for organic conversations about worldly topics.

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. The next Nashville Chapter meeting will be Feb. 4^th, 2020 at 11:30 am at United Methodist Communications, and will feature Jamie Dunham, Chief Brand Strategist for Brand Wise. For more information about the Religion Communicators Council, visit religioncommunicators.org/nashville-chapter. 

Citizens Commission on Human Rights Spotlights Religious Persecution

The Citizens Commission on Human Rights of Nashville (CCHR Nashville) will hold a panel discussion at the end of January highlighting religious persecution, hate crimes and safety.

The Nashville Chapter of Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR Nashville) will have a special panel discussion in late January to confront a serious topic: religious persecution, hate crimes and safety.

CCHR is known as an advocate for human rights, especially as relates to patients’ rights in the field of mental health. Per the international CCHR website, cchr.org, “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.”

The panel discussion takes place on International Day for Holocaust Remembrance, so CCHR members wanted to shed light on current issues of religious discrimination and help people of faith feel safe in their congregations. The event is being dubbed “Worship in Safety: Love and Protect Your Friends and Family,” and will be held on January 27 at 7:00 pm in the Church of Scientology community hall, 1130 8^th Ave South, Nashville, TN 37203. The panel will feature experts on religious persecution both locally and internationally.

CCHR Nashville regularly hosts events and meetings with local leaders who give insight into patients’ rights, parents’ rights and more.

CCHR is a non-profit, non-political, non-religious mental health watchdog. Its mission is to eradicate abuses committed under the guise of mental health and enact patient and consumer protections. CCHR receives reports about abuses in the field of mental health and is especially interested in situations where persons experienced abuse or damage due to a false diagnosis or unwanted and harmful psychiatric treatments, such as psychiatric drugs, electroshock (ECT) and electronic or magnetic brain stimulation (TMS). CCHR is often able to assist with filing complaints, and can work with a person’s attorney to further investigate the case. To contact CCHR Nashville for more information, visit cchrnashville.org.  

Church of Scientology Nashville New Year’s Celebration Caps History-Defining Ten Years

Dozens gathered to celebrate the culmination of the greatest period of growth in Scientology history at the Church of Scientology Nashville on New Year’s Eve.

Scientologists assembled to celebrate a record-shattering decade with a  Golden Age for Scientology, more than 50 new Churches arising, publishing and multimedia facilities taking flight, and the launch of Scientology Network.

That’s just a glimpse of why the 2010s saw greater expansion for the Scientology religion than all previous decades combined.

“Yes, tonight we celebrate the fact we conquered time. Since, how else could anyone accomplish so much in ten fleeting years?” began Mr. David Miscavige, the ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion. “But, either way, our theme tonight is ‘Time.’ Time past, time present and what this decade signified in terms of a future that’s already preordained as glorious.”

In evidence of an unprecedented ten years for Scientology worldwide, Mr. Miscavige proceeded with a stunning visual presentation highlighting a parade of epic achievements. The complete visual presentation can be seen at www.scientology.org.

In the wake of new Church openings, the Church attained landmark victories and recognitions in multiple countries, including a watershed Supreme Court decision in the United Kingdom.

Further highlighting the end-of-decade celebration were presentations to honor L. Ron Hubbard’s technology in application across every sector of society in the name of a better world.

Association for Better Living and Education (ABLE), bringing to bear programs to counteract drug abuse, illiteracy, immorality and criminality.

Bringing the night to an inevitable climax were the Grand Opening presentations of the very newest Ideal Organizations for 2019, including:

The November 2 ribbon-cutting of the Church of Scientology Kansas City, in a fully restored, nationally registered Missouri landmark on 18th Street and Grand Boulevard in the city’s renowned Crossroads Arts District.

And the November 9 dedication of the Church of Scientology Central Ohio, in the state capital of Columbus and accessible to all on US Highway 33.

Whereupon, as thunderous applause reverberated in the packed-to-capacity Shrine Auditorium, the night’s celebration transcended to a tone of triumph. So it was, as the concluding moments of the Church’s most momentous decade drew near, Mr. Miscavige left one and all with a final word:

“With that, we arrive at the close of this evening’s event, and a moment to contemplate the next ten years. And the next, and the next and the next after that, until time runs its course and what L. Ron Hubbard told us is indeed fulfilled: That time is not behind us; it lies ahead in eternity; and we shall find ourselves in it, irrevocably. But either way, what is absolutely manifest destiny is all of us together for the next ten years. And in anticipation of which, I say: Happy New Year and Godspeed into eternity!”

For more information on Scientology, visit www.scientology.org.

2019 Year in Review - The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee

2019 saw the expansion of The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee, the local chapter of The Way To Happiness Foundation.

The Way to Happiness, a book written by humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard in the early 1980s, is comprised of 21 precepts, each one predicated on the fact that one’s survival depends on the survival of others—and that without the survival of others, neither joy nor happiness are attainable. In the three decades since it was authored, more than 115 million copies of the book passed hand to hand, thus inspiring the international movement which is spreading throughout Nashville, TN.

The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee (TWTH-TN) began the year with a youth-centered event for World Happiness Day, where a panel of young leaders spoke about how to deal with key issues to make the city a better place. It was dubbed “Youth Voices” and had participants ranging in age from 5 to 13 years old.

Next, volunteers organized a cleanup for Earth Day, continuing their “Green it Up” tradition by collecting bottles and other litter from Chandler Road in Hermitage.

In May, TWTH-TN traveled to the American Jail Association (AJA) 38th annual conference and jail expo which took place in Louisville, Kentucky. Volunteers were able to share information and resources to those who work directly in the jail systems across the United States during the expo.

In June, the month began with an event for World Environment Day where the Nashville Horticulturist was brought in to speak about proper tree care with young and old attendees. Volunteers next participated in local events celebrating Father’s Day, where they distribute booklets and speak with people about why it is important to “Honor and Help Your Parents,” as one of the precepts in the booklet mandates.

For International Friendship Day, TWTH-TN worked with the Nashville Church of Scientology to organize a large event to bring people together. A diverse crowd joined together to learn about one another and forge true friendships by taking part in guided dialogue.

Volunteers took part in the National Night Out Against Crime, distributing booklets to those taking to the streets in support of a crime-free community. And to close out the year, volunteers showed the award winning public service announcements to a neighborhood association to help them understand the concepts and describe how they can be used to uplift their neighborhood.

TWTH-TN is making a true impact across Tennessee and reaching other parts of the world. To learn more about the program, or to order copies of The Way to Happiness booklet, visit twthtn.org.