Wednesday, March 03, 2004
Great story in SignOnSanDiego.com about a Scientology Volunteer Minister named Cathy Mullins:
March 2, 2004
Cathy Mullins is part of the baby boom generation, whose influence, she believes, is greatly responsible for a lot of the problems being experienced by succeeding generations. She says we all must own up to that and make changes. Roni Galgano / Union-Tribune
Cathy Mullins was, for a time, a hippie; a vintage 1960s model of a flower child.
She knew all about peace protests and human rights marches. She knew, too, all the key ingredients of turning on, tuning in and dropping out.
That's why, at 55, she says, with her characteristic straightforwardness, her generation is largely to blame for some of the greatest problems facing younger ones today.
"Drugs," for example, says Mullins, "we glorified them and made it romantic to be involved with them. And we made it seem OK to tolerate a lot of the behavior associated with" drug abuse.
"It's possible there was a laxness in ethics in our generation that's carried on through today. And we all own some responsibility in all that – absolutely."
She concludes that kids of today are, as a result, drowning in seas of more deadly drugs than her generation ever could have imagined.
Many of the young ones, too, don't have the kind of drug fear and disdain they need to help keep them steered clear of the insidious substances.
So what does the La Mesa resident propose?
A new attitude, of course.
And since Mullins subscribes to the theory that in order to change the world, we must change ourselves, she's been launched on such a quest for nearly two years.
She's been, that long now, a member and active disciple of the Church of Scientology.
She's a volunteer minister and she's studying to become a counselor in the religion, touted by its supporters as the "fastest growing religious movement on earth."
Though accurate, unbiased accountings are hard, if not impossible, to come by, church representatives have put worldwide membership at more than 8 million.
Scientology, started in 1950 by writer L. Ron Hubbard , is not a legitimate religion, detractors say. Backers say it most certainly is.
Regardless, says Mullins, Scientology preaches that we human beings are basically good and have the power to improve conditions around us. We effect the positive changes just by spreading kindness to others, one person at a time.
All of that is just what the world needs plenty of, the way she sees things now.
So, as Scientology volunteer ministers are required and trained to do, Mullins remains on call 24/7, ready to respond to calls for help.
The church maintains a 24-hour toll-free hotline where calls for assistance are taken and then assigned to any one or more of scores of volunteer ministers, including Mullins, around the county.
Mullins, herself, has followed through on such undertakings as volunteering her time and services at an emergency shelter during the wildfires in October.
Quite recently, she flagged down an obvious drunken driver and talked with him, using verbal exercises she's learned through her church study, until she was satisfied that the fellow had sobered up.
On another occasion, again using what she's learned through the church, she says she helped a man at a fast-food restaurant gain relief from an excruciating toothache.
The selfless work and the studies, she says, continue to reinforce the value of "taking responsibility."
Positive effects are wide-ranging, Mullins declares, when, instead of copping out – as many in her generation did, she says – people shoulder the weight for what they're doing.
Her mother, Crystal, a strong, independent-thinking woman, ever in search of knowledge, was a Scientologist. She was also a strong influence on her daughter.
And the younger Mullins remembers how even more calm and in control her mother seemed to become after joining the church.
"I always admired that about her," says Mullins, humbly. "Now I think I'm getting some of all that."
She likes the thought. It keeps her believing she's on the prime road.
The guy who had the toothache and the guy who'd been driving drunk both said Mullins was an angel.
She's just a Scientologist, she counters, just a fellow human being trying to make amends and trying to do what she believes is right.
Scientology (CESNUR)
Pastor J. Nation on Scientology
Scientology Beliefs
Columbia Encyclopedia: Scientology
Scientology Volunteer Ministers Help in Disasters
March 2, 2004
Cathy Mullins is part of the baby boom generation, whose influence, she believes, is greatly responsible for a lot of the problems being experienced by succeeding generations. She says we all must own up to that and make changes. Roni Galgano / Union-Tribune
Cathy Mullins was, for a time, a hippie; a vintage 1960s model of a flower child.
She knew all about peace protests and human rights marches. She knew, too, all the key ingredients of turning on, tuning in and dropping out.
That's why, at 55, she says, with her characteristic straightforwardness, her generation is largely to blame for some of the greatest problems facing younger ones today.
"Drugs," for example, says Mullins, "we glorified them and made it romantic to be involved with them. And we made it seem OK to tolerate a lot of the behavior associated with" drug abuse.
"It's possible there was a laxness in ethics in our generation that's carried on through today. And we all own some responsibility in all that – absolutely."
She concludes that kids of today are, as a result, drowning in seas of more deadly drugs than her generation ever could have imagined.
Many of the young ones, too, don't have the kind of drug fear and disdain they need to help keep them steered clear of the insidious substances.
So what does the La Mesa resident propose?
A new attitude, of course.
And since Mullins subscribes to the theory that in order to change the world, we must change ourselves, she's been launched on such a quest for nearly two years.
She's been, that long now, a member and active disciple of the Church of Scientology.
She's a volunteer minister and she's studying to become a counselor in the religion, touted by its supporters as the "fastest growing religious movement on earth."
Though accurate, unbiased accountings are hard, if not impossible, to come by, church representatives have put worldwide membership at more than 8 million.
Scientology, started in 1950 by writer L. Ron Hubbard , is not a legitimate religion, detractors say. Backers say it most certainly is.
Regardless, says Mullins, Scientology preaches that we human beings are basically good and have the power to improve conditions around us. We effect the positive changes just by spreading kindness to others, one person at a time.
All of that is just what the world needs plenty of, the way she sees things now.
So, as Scientology volunteer ministers are required and trained to do, Mullins remains on call 24/7, ready to respond to calls for help.
The church maintains a 24-hour toll-free hotline where calls for assistance are taken and then assigned to any one or more of scores of volunteer ministers, including Mullins, around the county.
Mullins, herself, has followed through on such undertakings as volunteering her time and services at an emergency shelter during the wildfires in October.
Quite recently, she flagged down an obvious drunken driver and talked with him, using verbal exercises she's learned through her church study, until she was satisfied that the fellow had sobered up.
On another occasion, again using what she's learned through the church, she says she helped a man at a fast-food restaurant gain relief from an excruciating toothache.
The selfless work and the studies, she says, continue to reinforce the value of "taking responsibility."
Positive effects are wide-ranging, Mullins declares, when, instead of copping out – as many in her generation did, she says – people shoulder the weight for what they're doing.
Her mother, Crystal, a strong, independent-thinking woman, ever in search of knowledge, was a Scientologist. She was also a strong influence on her daughter.
And the younger Mullins remembers how even more calm and in control her mother seemed to become after joining the church.
"I always admired that about her," says Mullins, humbly. "Now I think I'm getting some of all that."
She likes the thought. It keeps her believing she's on the prime road.
The guy who had the toothache and the guy who'd been driving drunk both said Mullins was an angel.
She's just a Scientologist, she counters, just a fellow human being trying to make amends and trying to do what she believes is right.
Other Good Resources about Scientology
Scientology (CESNUR)
Pastor J. Nation on Scientology
Scientology Beliefs
Columbia Encyclopedia: Scientology
Scientology Volunteer Ministers Help in Disasters
