Nashville Church of Scientology Helps Religious Communities on World Civil Defense Day

The Nashville Church of Scientology observed World Civil Defense Day on March 1st with a seminar on the Secret to Standing Tall in the Face of Religious Discrimination.

The Nashville Church of Scientology recognized the United Nations World Civil Defense Day by hosting a workshop for the community on the Secret to Standing Tall in the Face of Religious Discrimination.

World Civil Defense Day was created by decision of the International Civil Defense Organization (ICDO) General Assembly in 1990, and is celebrated every year on the 1st of March. According to ICDO, this day has two main purposes, with the first being, “that of bringing to the attention of the world public the vital importance of Civil Protection and of raising awareness of the preparedness for, and prevention and self-protection measures in the event of accidents or disasters.”

Preventing disasters in religious settings altogether was the purpose for the seminar held at the Nashville Church of Scientology.

Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor of the Church, explained how the Church of Scientology becomes involved during times of disaster. “We have a program called Volunteer Ministers. Anyone of any culture or creed may train as a Volunteer Minister and use these tools to help their families and communities, and all are welcome to do so,” he said. Fesler encouraged people to look at the website volunteerministers.org which contains resources one would need to become trained in this technology.  

One chapter of the Scientology Handbook, which is used by Volunteer Ministers, includes helpful tools anyone can use to bring awareness and spread truth about oneself or one’s organization.

“In a world where religious institutions are attacked, we all must be prepared,” says Rev. Fesler, “And staying ahead of the curve by spreading truth is the way to prevent such attacks altogether.”

In creating the Volunteer Ministers program, L. Ron Hubbard wrote, “If one does not like the crime, cruelty, injustice and violence of this society, he can do something about it. He can become a Volunteer Minister and help civilize it, bring it conscience and kindness and love and freedom from travail by instilling into it trust, decency, honesty and tolerance.”

For more information about the Church of Scientology or the Volunteer Ministers program, visit scientology-ccnashville.org.