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Wikipedia

The Way to Happiness

January 20, 2023

The Way to Happiness is a 1980 booklet written by science-fiction author and Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard listing 21 moral precepts. The booklet is distributed by The Way to Happiness Foundation International, a Scientology-related nonprofit organization founded in 1984.

The Way to Happiness Foundation International
Logo of foundation
TypeNon-profit organization
Headquarters201 E. Broadway,
Glendale, California
Official language
English
Parent organization
Association for Better Living and Education (ABLE)
AffiliationsChurch of Scientology
WebsiteThe Way to Happiness

The Way to Happiness is used as part of Scientology's Criminon rehabilitation program and is promoted by Scientology celebrities. The unsolicited distribution of personalised copies of the booklet to schools and mayors' offices has caused controversy, and while it is promoted as secular in nature, critics have stated that it includes ideas that are specific to Scientology, and is used as a recruiting tool.[citation needed] The booklet has been translated into 70 languages.

Foundation

The Way to Happiness Foundation International is a non-profit 501(c)(3),[1] incorporated in 1984.[2] Headquartered at 201 East Broadway, Glendale, California, the foundation coordinates the activities of the Way to Happiness international network, including continental and national officies, associates and local groups.[3] The Way to Happiness Foundation International is a division of the Association for Better Living and Education (ABLE), and is a "Scientology-related entity" under the 1993 IRS Closing Agreement.[4]

Booklet

The Way to Happiness booklet contains a set of 21 precepts,[5] which were written by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology. The precepts are: 1.Take Care of Yourself, 2. Be Temperate, 3. Don't Be Promiscuous, 4. Love and Help Children, 5. Honor and Help your Parents, 6. Set a Good Example, 7. Seek to Live with the Truth, 8. Do Not Murder, 9. Don’t Do Anything Illegal, 10. Support a Government Designed and Run for all the People, 11. Do not Harm a Person of Good Will, 12. Safeguard and Improve Your Environment, 13. Do Not Steal, 14. Be Worthy of Trust, 15. Fulfill Your Obligations, 16. Be Industrious, 17. Be Competent, 18. Respect the Religious Beliefs of Others, 19. Try Not to Do Things to Others That You Would Not Like Them to Do to You, 20. Try to Treat Others as You Would Want Them to Treat You, 21. Flourish and Prosper. The code is not limited to negative prohibition of actions that are bad, (stealing, killing, promiscuity, illegalities) but also the positive advisement of good actions (“care of oneself, temperateness, respect for parents, aid for children, truthfulness, safeguard of environment, etc.”)[6][7] It was first published in 1981 by Regent House, Los Angeles as a 48-page paper-covered booklet (ISBN 0-9605930-0-4). This book is frequently given out by Scientologists. A campaign in the early 1990s to distribute the book in United States schools was described in Church of Scientology publications as "the largest dissemination project in Scientology history" and "the bridge between broad society and Scientology."[8] A song titled "The Way to Happiness" appears on the music album The Road to Freedom, with music and lyrics by Hubbard.[9]

The Way to Happiness forms the core of the Church of Scientology prison program Criminon.[10] It is also used in the Scientology-affiliated organization Narconon - all clients receive a pamphlet of The Way to Happiness when they begin the program.[11] Volunteer Ministers, a Scientology-affiliated organization which responds to disaster scenes, distributes The Way to Happiness pamphlets, and did so in the wake of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake,[12] and the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre.[13] The Scientology organization Concerned Businessmen's Association of America (CBAA) has also distributed The Way to Happiness, though representatives of the group have denied connections to Scientology.[14] A 1993 article in Newsweek described cases where schools in Bellflower, California and Brooklyn, New York were influenced by CBAA to use The Way to Happiness in their schools, without knowing of the connections to Scientology.[14] A 1990 Los Angeles Times article described the situation of a school in Fresno, California, where CBAA representatives refused to sponsor a contest at the school if The Way to Happiness pamphlet was not distributed.[14] The booklet has been distributed to hotels.[15]

Scientologist Nancy Cartwright, the voice actor for Bart Simpson, mailed 1 million copies of The Way to Happiness booklet to residents of San Fernando Valley, California in December 2007.[5] Cartwright told the Daily News of Los Angeles: "The mailing was from me to the San Fernando Valley community, the highest gang-infested area of Los Angeles. I thought it would make an impact, give someone a tool in order to make their lives happier at home."[5] Isaac Hayes distributed The Way to Happiness pamphlets at his jazz performances in 2005.[16]

Tom Cruise has distributed The Way to Happiness pamphlets, and passed out brochures embossed with his name at the elementary school where the 2005 movie War of the Worlds was filmed.[17] He also gave copies of the pamphlet to managers of United International Pictures, the company which distributed War of the Worlds overseas.[17] In a Church of Scientology-produced promotional video which appeared on YouTube in January 2008, Cruise cites "the way to happiness" as one of the benefits of Scientology: "When you're a Scientologist and you drive by an accident, you know you have to do something about it, because you know you're the only one who can really help," said Cruise.[18] "We are the way to happiness. We can bring peace and unite cultures."[18] Actor Miles Fisher parodies this quote by Cruise, in a scene in the 2008 film Superhero Movie.[19] Fisher's character in the film states that he can "eat planets" and that he is "the way to happiness".[19]

Courses

The Church of Scientology offers two courses based on The Way to Happiness: "The Way to Happiness Course", done at a Church organization or mission and "The Way to Happiness Extension Course", which can be done at home. There is also the "Happiness Rundown" which is a Scientology procedure of a "Rundown" including auditing.[20]

Controversy

Deceptive and misleading distribution

In 1992, teachers in Anchorage, Alaska found copies of The Way to Happiness in their school mailboxes accompanied by a letter inviting the teachers to order more copies and distribute them to their students.[21] Parents complained to the school district, and the school districts director of secondary education, Bill Mell, instructed school principals to tell teachers not to order The Way to Happiness.[21] Mell told the Anchorage Daily News: "I don't know that it went to every teacher ... It looks as if they got a hold of the teachers' mailing list."[21] A local businessman and Scientologist who was a member of the Concerned Businessmen's Association of America organization paid for the books to be distributed to the schools, and told the Anchorage Daily News that he believed both The Way to Happiness and the Concerned Businessmen's Association of America were not affiliated with the Church of Scientology.[21]

At a 2005 fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Clearwater, Florida, attendants found The Way to Happiness booklets in their goodie bags.[22] The booklets contained the insignia of Boys & Girls Clubs on the front cover, and instructions on the back cover stating that additional copies could be obtained at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast facilities.[22] Carl Lavender, executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast, said that this usage of the Boys & Girls Clubs was unauthorized: "...I'm not pleased. You can't produce materials with our logo on it unless I give permission. We are going to collect all of them back and have them discarded."[22] Joanie Sigal of the Scientology volunteer group Clearwater Community Volunteers, and a member of the Clearwater Boys & Girls Club's board of managers, had originally suggested adding the Club's insignia and distributing the booklets, and requested that the corporate board officially endorse the booklet.[22] Executive director Lavender denied the request, stating: "The booklet ends as of today ... There needs to be a lesson. This cannot happen."[22]

In 2005, Commander Mike Downing of the Los Angeles Police Department complained that "the Church of Scientology forged his endorsement on The Way To Happiness Web site, prompting the LAPD to disavow any endorsement of Scientology and The Way To Happiness."[23]

In 2007, The Way to Happiness Foundation produced and distributed pamphlets with sample endorsements from the mayors of Dallas, Texas and San Francisco, California. The books were sent to mayor's offices, accompanied by a letter asking mayors to purchase copies of the books for distribution in their city.[24] The mayor of Dallas did not appreciate this unauthorized usage of the mayor's logo and the official seal of the city of Dallas, stating: "Clearly we were not very comfortable and did not think it was appropriate to use the seal of the city of Dallas, the mayor's logo or my name on something we were not aware of."[24] According to a report in The Dallas Morning News, the city attorney's office of Dallas looked into possible options of response regarding the matter.[24]

 
Unauthorized use of the logo of the City of San Francisco, and image of its mayor, Gavin Newsom, on The Way to Happiness pamphlet, October 2007.[25]

Similarly, in San Francisco, California, the mayor's office also received a boxful of the booklets and voiced displeasure with the unauthorized usage of the mayor's image, logo, and the seal of the city.[26] According to a report by the Associated Press, the city ordered the Scientology group to stop using an unauthorized picture of Mayor Gavin Newsom on its promotional pamphlets.[26] An official spokesman for the mayor of San Francisco released a statement, saying: "The mayor does not support the unauthorized use of his image or the city seal on this booklet."[25] The city attorney for San Francisco wrote a letter to "The Way to Happiness Foundation", citing California state law, which prohibits deceptive and misleading advertising that could create an appearance that the pamphlets are from a government agency. The city attorney also cited San Francisco law, writing that the Board of Supervisors must approve any commercial use of the city's official seal.[25]

In Winnipeg, Manitoba a box of pamphlets was delivered to the mayor's office with the official City of Winnipeg logo and the image of mayor Sam Katz. No legal action was taken: "This is obviously a sample sent to our office and it was not approved or paid for by our office... If material was being distributed on our behalf with a false endorsement, it would be a different story."[27][28]

In a 2007 published US embassy cable, Ursula Caberta, the Director of the Working Group on Scientology (created by the Hamburg State Parliament to address all "destructive groups" which endanger society), obtained a booklet that contained the Hamburg mayor's photograph and signature, yet was actually a publication from The Way to Happiness Foundation. Caberta contended that "Scientology regularly used misleading methods to fool individuals into joining and said that such booklets had been distributed to other German cities. For someone unfamiliar with Scientology publications, the booklet looked very much like information brochures from the City of Hamburg."[29]

In October 2007, uniformed police officers visiting Whyalla High School in Australia distributed a booklet called "Whyalla High School presents the way to happiness, a common-sense guide for better living", against the school's guidelines for religious education.[30] One parent told the Adelaide, Australia paper The Advertiser she had specifically told the school not to give religious instruction to her children, and other parents mistakenly thought that the booklets were distributed by the Education Department because Whyalla High School was displayed on the booklet's cover.[30]

In March 2008, The Way to Happiness Foundation agreed to stop sending thousands of unsolicited, personalized copies of the booklet to elected officials in Florida after hundreds of them complained.[31][32] Booklets sent to mayors had the mayor's name on the front, and an endorsement from the mayor on the back, along with the Florida state flag and the address of the town hall.[31] A note advised prospective readers to contact town hall if they had further questions.[32][31] The Foundation said it had sent about 2,800 mailings, comprising a total of 250,000 booklets, to Florida mayors, businesses and community groups.[32] Following the complaints, the Foundation explained that the books were only samples meant to encourage the recipients to buy further copies, and said that it would henceforth send out unpersonalized stock copies only.[32][31] Unlike many mayors who were reported to have been displeased at seeing their names on the personalized samples, Anthony Masiello, the mayor of Buffalo from 1994 to 2005, did authorize distribution of the booklet, complete with the city seal and a picture of the city hall, after a Scientology center opened in Buffalo in 2003.[32]

False claims of affiliation

In a speech given at a New Year's event in 2007, David Miscavige, the current leader of the Church of Scientology, claimed that the distribution of the booklet is aided by "corporate tie-ins", mentioning 7-Eleven in Taiwan, Coca-Cola Pakistan, Philips Electronics in Pakistan, and Dell in Africa as companies who supported the Foundation as part of their efforts to address their "third-world image problems".[33][34] A video of the speech was released to YouTube in February 2008.[33] A spokesman for Dell told the Los Angeles Times that they had researched the matter with their colleagues in Africa and elsewhere and found "no evidence that this is accurate ... it's not our practice to disseminate religious materials of any kind."[33][35] Representatives from Philips and 7-Eleven told the Los Angeles Times that they were unaware of any such association, but said they were looking into the matter.[33][35]

Denying affiliation with Scientology

The Way to Happiness pamphlet caused controversy in Sderot, Israel in February 2008, when a group calling itself the "Association for Prosperity and Security in the Middle East" became active in the city.[36] The non-profit group sent e-mails to social workers in Sderot, offering to help people cope with Kassam rocket attacks the city has been enduring.[36] Dalia Yosef, head of an umbrella psychological organization in the region called Hosen Center, received complaints from multiple social workers about the e-mails, and stated: "We intend to investigate this association, as we do every group that offers social and psychological services in Sderot".[36] In an e-mail response to The Jerusalem Post, the Association for Prosperity stated: "We are unaware of any Scientology activity whatsoever being offered to Sderot residents. In general, regarding your question on Scientology activity in Sderot or elsewhere, you should contact the official representatives of the religion and receive their response".[36]

A representative of Scientology told The Jerusalem Post that the director-general of the Association for Prosperity was a Scientologist, as were most individuals in the organization, but that some were not, and said that the principles found in The Way to Happiness were "totally different" from Scientology.[36] The organization stated: "Claiming our organization is connected with Scientology just because our director-general studied Scientology is like saying that other nonprofits are hi-tech because volunteers work in hi-tech."[36] Director-general of the Israeli Center for Cult Victims Ayelet Kedem described the organization as a front group for Scientology: "Hiding behind a front organization is a common tactic... The idea is to create a positive image by obscuring the connection with Scientology... Later, people who undergo free workshops are convinced that they must correct flaws in their personality by taking Scientology courses. Those who are hooked end up giving all their possessions to the Church of Scientology".[36]

In Illinois in 2011, Rep. Dan Burke (D-Chicago) sponsored a resolution endorsing the "Good Choices" program, which is based on The Way to Happiness, as one of a number of suitable tools for teaching character, morals and values. Actress Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson and a Scientologist, submitted testimony to a House education committee, stating the program had "nothing to do with religion." Opponents voiced concerns about the program's links to the Scientology belief system, and said that promoting its use in schools would violate the principle of the separation of church and state. Burke accepted that the program's Scientology links were more substantial than he had thought. He said he would work on the resolution and present it again at a later date.[37] The reporter stated, "Not even the voice of Bart Simpson could convince Illinois lawmakers to approve a resolution aimed at teaching character in public schools because of its link to the Church of Scientology."

Validity of secular claim

The Way to Happiness is described by the foundation as "a non-religious moral code, based entirely on common sense, which is having profound effects around the world". The religious scholar Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi states he has performed an extensive search in the history of religions, and has been unable to find a single case in which "a religion was publicly propagating a secular version of its ethical system". To illustrate the uniqueness of the booklet, he gave the following analogy: "How about a secular, improved version of the Ten Commandments?"[38]

The text uses key words and concepts taken directly from Scientology beliefs – for example that "survival" is the fundamental point of life, that you can be truly happy if you become the "cause" of your own actions, and that the truth is "what is true for you."[39] A Brooklyn school principal who at first appreciated the booklet as "a values-oriented book about righteousness and peace" stopped using it after becoming aware that it contained "an undercurrent of a religious nature."[39]

Critics argue that The Way to Happiness is primarily a recruiting tool for the church.[citation needed] According to Vicki Aznaran, former Inspector General of the Church's highest ecclesiastical organization, the Religious Technology Center, The Way to Happiness Foundation is "a front group to get people into Scientology" and the book is designed "to make Scientology palatable to the masses."[39]

See also

References

  1. ^ IRS Form 990
  2. ^ California Secretary of State business search 2008-04-27 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ ED TWTH International (2006-03-28). (PDF). The Way to Happiness Foundation International. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-09-01.
  4. ^ III. Service Determinations Regarding Scientology-Related Entities., CoS / IRS Closing Agreement, Operation Clambake.
  5. ^ a b c Bartholomew, Dana (2008-02-17). "Voice of Bart Simpsons Community Overachiever". Daily News of Los Angeles.
  6. ^ Calzolari, Silvio (2017-06-18), "Scientology Ethics" (PDF), CESNUR, Bologna: European Academy of Religion, retrieved 2017-08-23
  7. ^ "The Way to Happiness". The Way to Happiness Foundation International. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  8. ^ Sappell, Joel; Welkos, Robert W. (1990-06-27). . Los Angeles Times. p. A1:1. Archived from the original on 2009-05-19. Retrieved 2006-08-07. Additional convenience link at [1].
  9. ^ Goldstein, Patrick (1986-09-21). "Hubbard Hymns". Los Angeles Times. p. 40.
  10. ^ Bousquet, Steve (2005-05-26). "Ax looms on Scientology funds". St. Petersburg Times. p. 1B.
  11. ^ Doward, Jamie (2005-03-27). "The Observer: Scientologists will 'purify' drug addicts - for pounds 15,000: It boasts an 80 per cent success rate, the rock star Beck is a fan, and schools are inviting the Narconon centre into the classroom. So why are some people worried? Jamie Doward reports". The Observer. Financial Times Information Limited.
  12. ^ Goodman, Peter S., Washington Post Foreign Service (2005-01-28). "For Tsunami Survivors, A Touch of Scientology". The Washington Post. p. C1.
  13. ^ Mattingly, David (2007-04-29). "Massive Georgian Wildfire Could Burn for Another Month; Scientology on Virginia Tech Campus". CNN Sunday Morning. CNN. Retrieved 2008-04-25.
  14. ^ a b c Routliffe, Kathy (1996-06-13). "School cancels ceremony for Scientology contest". Skokie Review. Pioneer Press.
  15. ^ Mcdowell, Edwin (1995-12-26). "Bible Now Shares Hotel Rooms With Some Other Good Books". New York Times. Retrieved 2013-11-28.
  16. ^ Partridge, Kenneth (2005-02-25). "A Distracted Isaac Hayes - Well-Meaning Lecture Detracts From Highlights". The Hartford Courant. The Hartford Courant Co. p. D7.
  17. ^ a b Abramowitz, Rachel; Chris Lee (2005-06-06). "Control switch: On - Tom Cruise was gushing with love. Now he seems to be back to calm and collected". Los Angeles Times. p. E-1.
  18. ^ a b United Press International News Service (2008-01-18). "Video shows Cruise discussing Scientology". UPI NewsTrack. United Press International, Inc.
  19. ^ a b Perez, Jesse (2008-01-04). . Macquarie National News. Macquarie Radio Network. Archived from the original on 2009-01-26. Retrieved 2008-04-25.
  20. ^ . Church of Scientology. Archived from the original on 2006-02-18.
  21. ^ a b c d Ruskin, Liz (1992-09-29). "Hubbard Book Sent to Schools Parents Work to Keep Texts Out of Classrooms". Anchorage Daily News. p. B1.
  22. ^ a b c d e Farley, Robert (2008-09-09). "Scientology reaches out and touches a nerve". St. Petersburg Times. p. 1B.
  23. ^ Carl Kozlowski (2005-08-18). . Pasadena Weekly. Archived from the original on January 23, 2010. Retrieved 2011-09-28.
  24. ^ a b c Bush, Rudolph (2007-10-12). "Bogus Scientology pamphlets irk Dallas mayor: Booklets with Scientology writings have false endorsement". The Dallas Morning News. The Dallas Morning News, Inc. Retrieved 2008-04-25.
  25. ^ a b c Vega, Cecilia M. (2007-10-13). "Group censured for using Newsom's image in pro-Scientology booklet". San Francisco Chronicle. Hearst Communications Inc. Retrieved 2008-04-25.
  26. ^ a b Associated Press (2007-10-13). "S.F. orders Scientology group to stop using Mayor Newsom pic". San Francisco Chronicle. SignOnSanDiego.com. Retrieved 2008-04-25.
  27. ^ Kives, Bartley (2007-10-30). "Katz finds religion... or vice versa". Winnipeg Free Press.
  28. ^ "Booklet sent to Winnipeg Mayor's office insinuates politician endorses Scientology". National Post. 2007-10-31.
  29. ^ "US embassy cables: Tom Cruise and scientology have trouble in Hamburg". The Guardian. London. 2010-12-17. Retrieved 2011-01-03.
  30. ^ a b Xanthe, Kleinig (2007-10-29). "Parent anger at religious 'advice'". The Advertiser. Nationwide News Pty Limited. p. 23.
  31. ^ a b c d Hatzipanagos, Rachel (2008-03-11). "Scientology group stops guidebook mailings: Officials received unsolicited copies". South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
  32. ^ a b c d e Kleinberg, Eliot (2008-03-08). "Mayors Find Happiness Booklet Irritating". The Palm Beach Post. p. 1C.
  33. ^ a b c d Staff (2008-02-11). "Companies deny Scientology links". NEWS.com.au. News Limited.
  34. ^ Friedman, Roger (2008-02-08). "Kimora Lee No Scientologist". Fox News. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
  35. ^ a b "Corporations named in Scientology video respond". Los Angeles Times. 2008-02-08. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
  36. ^ a b c d e f g Unger, Matthew (2008-02-01). "Sderot social workers concerned by offer of free workshops based on L. Ron Hubbard's teachings. Rabbi slams attempts to exploit residents' distress * Scientology denies any activity in Kassam-hit city". The Jerusalem Post. p. 8.
  37. ^ Zachary Colman (2011-05-11). . The Huffington Post Chicago. Archived from the original on September 4, 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-27.
  38. ^ Beit-Hallahmi, Benjamin (September 2003). "Scientology: Religion or racket?". Marburg Journal of Religion. 8. Retrieved 2010-01-03.
  39. ^ a b c "Scientology In The Schools". Newsweek. 13 June 1993. Retrieved 2 December 2013.

External links

  • Official website

January 20, 2023
happiness, 1980, booklet, written, science, fiction, author, scientology, founder, hubbard, listing, moral, precepts, booklet, distributed, foundation, international, scientology, related, nonprofit, organization, founded, 1984, foundation, internationallogo, . The Way to Happiness is a 1980 booklet written by science fiction author and Scientology founder L Ron Hubbard listing 21 moral precepts The booklet is distributed by The Way to Happiness Foundation International a Scientology related nonprofit organization founded in 1984 The Way to Happiness Foundation InternationalLogo of foundationTypeNon profit organizationHeadquarters201 E Broadway Glendale CaliforniaOfficial languageEnglishParent organizationAssociation for Better Living and Education ABLE AffiliationsChurch of ScientologyWebsiteThe Way to HappinessThe Way to Happiness is used as part of Scientology s Criminon rehabilitation program and is promoted by Scientology celebrities The unsolicited distribution of personalised copies of the booklet to schools and mayors offices has caused controversy and while it is promoted as secular in nature critics have stated that it includes ideas that are specific to Scientology and is used as a recruiting tool citation needed The booklet has been translated into 70 languages Contents 1 Foundation 2 Booklet 3 Promoted by celebrities 4 Courses 5 Controversy 5 1 Deceptive and misleading distribution 5 2 False claims of affiliation 5 3 Denying affiliation with Scientology 5 4 Validity of secular claim 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksFoundationThe Way to Happiness Foundation International is a non profit 501 c 3 1 incorporated in 1984 2 Headquartered at 201 East Broadway Glendale California the foundation coordinates the activities of the Way to Happiness international network including continental and national officies associates and local groups 3 The Way to Happiness Foundation International is a division of the Association for Better Living and Education ABLE and is a Scientology related entity under the 1993 IRS Closing Agreement 4 BookletThe Way to Happiness booklet contains a set of 21 precepts 5 which were written by L Ron Hubbard the founder of Scientology The precepts are 1 Take Care of Yourself 2 Be Temperate 3 Don t Be Promiscuous 4 Love and Help Children 5 Honor and Help your Parents 6 Set a Good Example 7 Seek to Live with the Truth 8 Do Not Murder 9 Don t Do Anything Illegal 10 Support a Government Designed and Run for all the People 11 Do not Harm a Person of Good Will 12 Safeguard and Improve Your Environment 13 Do Not Steal 14 Be Worthy of Trust 15 Fulfill Your Obligations 16 Be Industrious 17 Be Competent 18 Respect the Religious Beliefs of Others 19 Try Not to Do Things to Others That You Would Not Like Them to Do to You 20 Try to Treat Others as You Would Want Them to Treat You 21 Flourish and Prosper The code is not limited to negative prohibition of actions that are bad stealing killing promiscuity illegalities but also the positive advisement of good actions care of oneself temperateness respect for parents aid for children truthfulness safeguard of environment etc 6 7 It was first published in 1981 by Regent House Los Angeles as a 48 page paper covered booklet ISBN 0 9605930 0 4 This book is frequently given out by Scientologists A campaign in the early 1990s to distribute the book in United States schools was described in Church of Scientology publications as the largest dissemination project in Scientology history and the bridge between broad society and Scientology 8 A song titled The Way to Happiness appears on the music album The Road to Freedom with music and lyrics by Hubbard 9 The Way to Happiness forms the core of the Church of Scientology prison program Criminon 10 It is also used in the Scientology affiliated organization Narconon all clients receive a pamphlet of The Way to Happiness when they begin the program 11 Volunteer Ministers a Scientology affiliated organization which responds to disaster scenes distributes The Way to Happiness pamphlets and did so in the wake of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake 12 and the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre 13 The Scientology organization Concerned Businessmen s Association of America CBAA has also distributed The Way to Happiness though representatives of the group have denied connections to Scientology 14 A 1993 article in Newsweek described cases where schools in Bellflower California and Brooklyn New York were influenced by CBAA to use The Way to Happiness in their schools without knowing of the connections to Scientology 14 A 1990 Los Angeles Times article described the situation of a school in Fresno California where CBAA representatives refused to sponsor a contest at the school if The Way to Happiness pamphlet was not distributed 14 The booklet has been distributed to hotels 15 Promoted by celebritiesScientologist Nancy Cartwright the voice actor for Bart Simpson mailed 1 million copies of The Way to Happiness booklet to residents of San Fernando Valley California in December 2007 5 Cartwright told the Daily News of Los Angeles The mailing was from me to the San Fernando Valley community the highest gang infested area of Los Angeles I thought it would make an impact give someone a tool in order to make their lives happier at home 5 Isaac Hayes distributed The Way to Happiness pamphlets at his jazz performances in 2005 16 Tom Cruise has distributed The Way to Happiness pamphlets and passed out brochures embossed with his name at the elementary school where the 2005 movie War of the Worlds was filmed 17 He also gave copies of the pamphlet to managers of United International Pictures the company which distributed War of the Worlds overseas 17 In a Church of Scientology produced promotional video which appeared on YouTube in January 2008 Cruise cites the way to happiness as one of the benefits of Scientology When you re a Scientologist and you drive by an accident you know you have to do something about it because you know you re the only one who can really help said Cruise 18 We are the way to happiness We can bring peace and unite cultures 18 Actor Miles Fisher parodies this quote by Cruise in a scene in the 2008 film Superhero Movie 19 Fisher s character in the film states that he can eat planets and that he is the way to happiness 19 CoursesThe Church of Scientology offers two courses based on The Way to Happiness The Way to Happiness Course done at a Church organization or mission and The Way to Happiness Extension Course which can be done at home There is also the Happiness Rundown which is a Scientology procedure of a Rundown including auditing 20 ControversyDeceptive and misleading distribution In 1992 teachers in Anchorage Alaska found copies of The Way to Happiness in their school mailboxes accompanied by a letter inviting the teachers to order more copies and distribute them to their students 21 Parents complained to the school district and the school districts director of secondary education Bill Mell instructed school principals to tell teachers not to order The Way to Happiness 21 Mell told the Anchorage Daily News I don t know that it went to every teacher It looks as if they got a hold of the teachers mailing list 21 A local businessman and Scientologist who was a member of the Concerned Businessmen s Association of America organization paid for the books to be distributed to the schools and told the Anchorage Daily News that he believed both The Way to Happiness and the Concerned Businessmen s Association of America were not affiliated with the Church of Scientology 21 At a 2005 fundraiser for the Boys amp Girls Clubs of Clearwater Florida attendants found The Way to Happiness booklets in their goodie bags 22 The booklets contained the insignia of Boys amp Girls Clubs on the front cover and instructions on the back cover stating that additional copies could be obtained at the Boys amp Girls Clubs of the Suncoast facilities 22 Carl Lavender executive director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of the Suncoast said that this usage of the Boys amp Girls Clubs was unauthorized I m not pleased You can t produce materials with our logo on it unless I give permission We are going to collect all of them back and have them discarded 22 Joanie Sigal of the Scientology volunteer group Clearwater Community Volunteers and a member of the Clearwater Boys amp Girls Club s board of managers had originally suggested adding the Club s insignia and distributing the booklets and requested that the corporate board officially endorse the booklet 22 Executive director Lavender denied the request stating The booklet ends as of today There needs to be a lesson This cannot happen 22 In 2005 Commander Mike Downing of the Los Angeles Police Department complained that the Church of Scientology forged his endorsement on The Way To Happiness Web site prompting the LAPD to disavow any endorsement of Scientology and The Way To Happiness 23 In 2007 The Way to Happiness Foundation produced and distributed pamphlets with sample endorsements from the mayors of Dallas Texas and San Francisco California The books were sent to mayor s offices accompanied by a letter asking mayors to purchase copies of the books for distribution in their city 24 The mayor of Dallas did not appreciate this unauthorized usage of the mayor s logo and the official seal of the city of Dallas stating Clearly we were not very comfortable and did not think it was appropriate to use the seal of the city of Dallas the mayor s logo or my name on something we were not aware of 24 According to a report in The Dallas Morning News the city attorney s office of Dallas looked into possible options of response regarding the matter 24 Unauthorized use of the logo of the City of San Francisco and image of its mayor Gavin Newsom on The Way to Happiness pamphlet October 2007 25 Similarly in San Francisco California the mayor s office also received a boxful of the booklets and voiced displeasure with the unauthorized usage of the mayor s image logo and the seal of the city 26 According to a report by the Associated Press the city ordered the Scientology group to stop using an unauthorized picture of Mayor Gavin Newsom on its promotional pamphlets 26 An official spokesman for the mayor of San Francisco released a statement saying The mayor does not support the unauthorized use of his image or the city seal on this booklet 25 The city attorney for San Francisco wrote a letter to The Way to Happiness Foundation citing California state law which prohibits deceptive and misleading advertising that could create an appearance that the pamphlets are from a government agency The city attorney also cited San Francisco law writing that the Board of Supervisors must approve any commercial use of the city s official seal 25 In Winnipeg Manitoba a box of pamphlets was delivered to the mayor s office with the official City of Winnipeg logo and the image of mayor Sam Katz No legal action was taken This is obviously a sample sent to our office and it was not approved or paid for by our office If material was being distributed on our behalf with a false endorsement it would be a different story 27 28 In a 2007 published US embassy cable Ursula Caberta the Director of the Working Group on Scientology created by the Hamburg State Parliament to address all destructive groups which endanger society obtained a booklet that contained the Hamburg mayor s photograph and signature yet was actually a publication from The Way to Happiness Foundation Caberta contended that Scientology regularly used misleading methods to fool individuals into joining and said that such booklets had been distributed to other German cities For someone unfamiliar with Scientology publications the booklet looked very much like information brochures from the City of Hamburg 29 In October 2007 uniformed police officers visiting Whyalla High School in Australia distributed a booklet called Whyalla High School presents the way to happiness a common sense guide for better living against the school s guidelines for religious education 30 One parent told the Adelaide Australia paper The Advertiser she had specifically told the school not to give religious instruction to her children and other parents mistakenly thought that the booklets were distributed by the Education Department because Whyalla High School was displayed on the booklet s cover 30 In March 2008 The Way to Happiness Foundation agreed to stop sending thousands of unsolicited personalized copies of the booklet to elected officials in Florida after hundreds of them complained 31 32 Booklets sent to mayors had the mayor s name on the front and an endorsement from the mayor on the back along with the Florida state flag and the address of the town hall 31 A note advised prospective readers to contact town hall if they had further questions 32 31 The Foundation said it had sent about 2 800 mailings comprising a total of 250 000 booklets to Florida mayors businesses and community groups 32 Following the complaints the Foundation explained that the books were only samples meant to encourage the recipients to buy further copies and said that it would henceforth send out unpersonalized stock copies only 32 31 Unlike many mayors who were reported to have been displeased at seeing their names on the personalized samples Anthony Masiello the mayor of Buffalo from 1994 to 2005 did authorize distribution of the booklet complete with the city seal and a picture of the city hall after a Scientology center opened in Buffalo in 2003 32 False claims of affiliation In a speech given at a New Year s event in 2007 David Miscavige the current leader of the Church of Scientology claimed that the distribution of the booklet is aided by corporate tie ins mentioning 7 Eleven in Taiwan Coca Cola Pakistan Philips Electronics in Pakistan and Dell in Africa as companies who supported the Foundation as part of their efforts to address their third world image problems 33 34 A video of the speech was released to YouTube in February 2008 33 A spokesman for Dell told the Los Angeles Times that they had researched the matter with their colleagues in Africa and elsewhere and found no evidence that this is accurate it s not our practice to disseminate religious materials of any kind 33 35 Representatives from Philips and 7 Eleven told the Los Angeles Times that they were unaware of any such association but said they were looking into the matter 33 35 Denying affiliation with Scientology The Way to Happiness pamphlet caused controversy in Sderot Israel in February 2008 when a group calling itself the Association for Prosperity and Security in the Middle East became active in the city 36 The non profit group sent e mails to social workers in Sderot offering to help people cope with Kassam rocket attacks the city has been enduring 36 Dalia Yosef head of an umbrella psychological organization in the region called Hosen Center received complaints from multiple social workers about the e mails and stated We intend to investigate this association as we do every group that offers social and psychological services in Sderot 36 In an e mail response to The Jerusalem Post the Association for Prosperity stated We are unaware of any Scientology activity whatsoever being offered to Sderot residents In general regarding your question on Scientology activity in Sderot or elsewhere you should contact the official representatives of the religion and receive their response 36 A representative of Scientology told The Jerusalem Post that the director general of the Association for Prosperity was a Scientologist as were most individuals in the organization but that some were not and said that the principles found in The Way to Happiness were totally different from Scientology 36 The organization stated Claiming our organization is connected with Scientology just because our director general studied Scientology is like saying that other nonprofits are hi tech because volunteers work in hi tech 36 Director general of the Israeli Center for Cult Victims Ayelet Kedem described the organization as a front group for Scientology Hiding behind a front organization is a common tactic The idea is to create a positive image by obscuring the connection with Scientology Later people who undergo free workshops are convinced that they must correct flaws in their personality by taking Scientology courses Those who are hooked end up giving all their possessions to the Church of Scientology 36 In Illinois in 2011 Rep Dan Burke D Chicago sponsored a resolution endorsing the Good Choices program which is based on The Way to Happiness as one of a number of suitable tools for teaching character morals and values Actress Nancy Cartwright the voice of Bart Simpson and a Scientologist submitted testimony to a House education committee stating the program had nothing to do with religion Opponents voiced concerns about the program s links to the Scientology belief system and said that promoting its use in schools would violate the principle of the separation of church and state Burke accepted that the program s Scientology links were more substantial than he had thought He said he would work on the resolution and present it again at a later date 37 The reporter stated Not even the voice of Bart Simpson could convince Illinois lawmakers to approve a resolution aimed at teaching character in public schools because of its link to the Church of Scientology Validity of secular claim The Way to Happiness is described by the foundation as a non religious moral code based entirely on common sense which is having profound effects around the world The religious scholar Benjamin Beit Hallahmi states he has performed an extensive search in the history of religions and has been unable to find a single case in which a religion was publicly propagating a secular version of its ethical system To illustrate the uniqueness of the booklet he gave the following analogy How about a secular improved version of the Ten Commandments 38 The text uses key words and concepts taken directly from Scientology beliefs for example that survival is the fundamental point of life that you can be truly happy if you become the cause of your own actions and that the truth is what is true for you 39 A Brooklyn school principal who at first appreciated the booklet as a values oriented book about righteousness and peace stopped using it after becoming aware that it contained an undercurrent of a religious nature 39 Critics argue that The Way to Happiness is primarily a recruiting tool for the church citation needed According to Vicki Aznaran former Inspector General of the Church s highest ecclesiastical organization the Religious Technology Center The Way to Happiness Foundation is a front group to get people into Scientology and the book is designed to make Scientology palatable to the masses 39 See alsoChurch of Spiritual Technology Concerned Businessmen s Association of America Volunteer Ministers Youth for Human Rights InternationalReferences IRS Form 990 California Secretary of State business search Archived 2008 04 27 at the Wayback Machine ED TWTH International 2006 03 28 TWTH INT POLICY ISSUE 209 PDF The Way to Happiness Foundation International Archived from the original PDF on 2006 09 01 III Service Determinations Regarding Scientology Related Entities CoS IRS Closing Agreement Operation Clambake a b c Bartholomew Dana 2008 02 17 Voice of Bart Simpsons Community Overachiever Daily News of Los Angeles Calzolari Silvio 2017 06 18 Scientology Ethics PDF CESNUR Bologna European Academy of Religion retrieved 2017 08 23 The Way to Happiness The Way to Happiness Foundation International Retrieved April 25 2015 Sappell Joel Welkos Robert W 1990 06 27 Church Seeks Influence in Schools Business Science Los Angeles Times p A1 1 Archived from the original on 2009 05 19 Retrieved 2006 08 07 Additional convenience link at 1 Goldstein Patrick 1986 09 21 Hubbard Hymns Los Angeles Times p 40 Bousquet Steve 2005 05 26 Ax looms on Scientology funds St Petersburg Times p 1B Doward Jamie 2005 03 27 The Observer Scientologists will purify drug addicts for pounds 15 000 It boasts an 80 per cent success rate the rock star Beck is a fan and schools are inviting the Narconon centre into the classroom So why are some people worried Jamie Doward reports The Observer Financial Times Information Limited Goodman Peter S Washington Post Foreign Service 2005 01 28 For Tsunami Survivors A Touch of Scientology The Washington Post p C1 Mattingly David 2007 04 29 Massive Georgian Wildfire Could Burn for Another Month Scientology on Virginia Tech Campus CNN Sunday Morning CNN Retrieved 2008 04 25 a b c Routliffe Kathy 1996 06 13 School cancels ceremony for Scientology contest Skokie Review Pioneer Press Mcdowell Edwin 1995 12 26 Bible Now Shares Hotel Rooms With Some Other Good Books New York Times Retrieved 2013 11 28 Partridge Kenneth 2005 02 25 A Distracted Isaac Hayes Well Meaning Lecture Detracts From Highlights The Hartford Courant The Hartford Courant Co p D7 a b Abramowitz Rachel Chris Lee 2005 06 06 Control switch On Tom Cruise was gushing with love Now he seems to be back to calm and collected Los Angeles Times p E 1 a b United Press International News Service 2008 01 18 Video shows Cruise discussing Scientology UPI NewsTrack United Press International Inc a b Perez Jesse 2008 01 04 Movie trailer slams Tom Cruise with amazing impersonator Macquarie National News Macquarie Radio Network Archived from the original on 2009 01 26 Retrieved 2008 04 25 The Way to Happiness Course Courtesy of Churches of Scientology in England Church of Scientology Archived from the original on 2006 02 18 a b c d Ruskin Liz 1992 09 29 Hubbard Book Sent to Schools Parents Work to Keep Texts Out of Classrooms Anchorage Daily News p B1 a b c d e Farley Robert 2008 09 09 Scientology reaches out and touches a nerve St Petersburg Times p 1B Carl Kozlowski 2005 08 18 The Way To More Questions Pasadena Weekly Archived from the original on January 23 2010 Retrieved 2011 09 28 a b c Bush Rudolph 2007 10 12 Bogus Scientology pamphlets irk Dallas mayor Booklets with Scientology writings have false endorsement The Dallas Morning News The Dallas Morning News Inc Retrieved 2008 04 25 a b c Vega Cecilia M 2007 10 13 Group censured for using Newsom s image in pro Scientology booklet San Francisco Chronicle Hearst Communications Inc Retrieved 2008 04 25 a b Associated Press 2007 10 13 S F orders Scientology group to stop using Mayor Newsom pic San Francisco Chronicle SignOnSanDiego com Retrieved 2008 04 25 Kives Bartley 2007 10 30 Katz finds religion or vice versa Winnipeg Free Press Booklet sent to Winnipeg Mayor s office insinuates politician endorses Scientology National Post 2007 10 31 US embassy cables Tom Cruise and scientology have trouble in Hamburg The Guardian London 2010 12 17 Retrieved 2011 01 03 a b Xanthe Kleinig 2007 10 29 Parent anger at religious advice The Advertiser Nationwide News Pty Limited p 23 a b c d Hatzipanagos Rachel 2008 03 11 Scientology group stops guidebook mailings Officials received unsolicited copies South Florida Sun Sentinel a b c d e Kleinberg Eliot 2008 03 08 Mayors Find Happiness Booklet Irritating The Palm Beach Post p 1C a b c d Staff 2008 02 11 Companies deny Scientology links NEWS com au News Limited Friedman Roger 2008 02 08 Kimora Lee No Scientologist Fox News Retrieved 2011 01 05 a b Corporations named in Scientology video respond Los Angeles Times 2008 02 08 Retrieved 2011 01 05 a b c d e f g Unger Matthew 2008 02 01 Sderot social workers concerned by offer of free workshops based on L Ron Hubbard s teachings Rabbi slams attempts to exploit residents distress Scientology denies any activity in Kassam hit city The Jerusalem Post p 8 Zachary Colman 2011 05 11 Good Choices Program Rejected By Illinois Lawmakers Over Scientology Links The Huffington Post Chicago Archived from the original on September 4 2011 Retrieved 2011 09 27 Beit Hallahmi Benjamin September 2003 Scientology Religion or racket Marburg Journal of Religion 8 Retrieved 2010 01 03 a b c Scientology In The Schools Newsweek 13 June 1993 Retrieved 2 December 2013 External linksOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Way to Happiness amp oldid 1095538859, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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