People Enter Scientology Churches Without Permission
People Enter Scientology Churches Without Permission
Introduction
Many people are going into Scientology churches in North America and Europe. They call this 'speed running' on social media.
Main Body
This started in Los Angeles in March. People run into the buildings and film it. They try to move fast before security stops them. Now, people do this in New York, Vancouver, and London. Some people wear masks or costumes. The Church of Scientology is angry. They say these people are mean and hurt the staff. But some people say they are protesting. They say the church does bad things to its workers. Other people think this is a bad way to protest. The church is now trying to stop this. They took the door handles off some doors in Hollywood. They also tell social media companies to delete the videos. TikTok and Meta removed some accounts because the videos show illegal acts.
Conclusion
People still try to enter the buildings. The church and social media companies are trying to stop them.
Learning
⚡ The 'Action' Pattern
In this text, we see a lot of present simple verbs. We use these for things that happen regularly or are true right now.
How it works: Person/People + Action Result
Examples from the story:
- People run into buildings.
- The church is angry.
- They tell companies to delete videos.
Watch out for the 'S'! When only one person or thing does the action, we add an -s.
- Many people run (No 's' because it is plural).
- The church tries (Add 's' because it is one organization).
Quick Word List:
- Enter Go inside
- Remove Take away
- Protest Say "No" to something
Vocabulary Learning
Global Increase in Unauthorized Entries into Church of Scientology Buildings
Introduction
A viral social media trend called 'speed running' has led to organized, unauthorized entries into Church of Scientology properties across North America and Europe.
Main Body
The trend started in Los Angeles in late March, where people recorded themselves trying to enter church buildings and move through them quickly before security stopped them. This behavior has since spread to cities such as New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Vancouver, and several UK cities, including London, Manchester, and Edinburgh. Participants often wear costumes and masks, and some events have involved large groups; for example, about 300 people gathered in Vancouver on May 3. There are very different views on these events. The Church of Scientology has described these entries as 'hate crimes' and 'harassment,' emphasizing that these actions disrupt religious services and have caused physical injuries to staff. On the other hand, some participants claim the activity is a mix of a prank and a protest, mentioning legal accusations against the organization regarding labor violations and abuse. However, some former members, such as Alexander Barnes Ross, argue that these disruptive tactics might damage the credibility of peaceful protests. In response, the church has focused on legal and digital solutions. They have improved physical security, such as removing external door handles in Hollywood. Furthermore, the organization's lawyers have threatened to sue platforms like Dare Market, claiming that offering rewards for these 'challenges' encourages dangerous behavior. At the same time, social media companies like TikTok and Meta have reportedly suspended accounts or removed videos, stating that they violate community guidelines against promoting criminal activity.
Conclusion
The situation continues with occasional unauthorized entries, while the church and digital platforms try to stop the trend through legal actions and technical changes.
Learning
🚀 The 'Contrast Bridge': Moving from A2 to B2
At the A2 level, you usually use but to connect ideas. To reach B2, you need to guide the reader through a logical argument using Complex Transitions.
Look at how the article handles two opposing sides of a story. Instead of just saying "The church is angry but the people are joking," it uses these high-level markers:
⚖️ The Pivot Points
-
"On the other hand..."
- Usage: Use this when you have presented one complete perspective and now want to introduce a completely different one.
- B2 Upgrade: Instead of: "I like city life, but I like nature." "City life is exciting. On the other hand, nature provides a peace that cities cannot offer."
-
"However..."
- Usage: Use this to introduce a limiting factor or a surprising contrast within a specific point.
- B2 Upgrade: Instead of: "It is raining, but I will go out." "The weather is terrible; however, the event will continue as planned."
🔍 Linguistic Breakdown: 'Furthermore'
Notice the sentence: "Furthermore, the organization's lawyers have threatened to sue..."
At A2, you use and or also. At B2, you use Furthermore to add a "heavy" piece of evidence to your argument. It signals to the listener: "I am not finished yet, and here is an even more important point."
Quick Tip for Fluency: Stop starting every sentence with the subject (I, The church, People). Start with these transitions to make your English sound professional and organized.
Vocabulary Learning
Global Proliferation of Unauthorized Intrusions into Church of Scientology Facilities
Introduction
A viral social media phenomenon termed 'speed running' has resulted in coordinated unauthorized entries into Church of Scientology properties across North America and Europe.
Main Body
The phenomenon originated in Los Angeles in late March, characterized by individuals recording their attempts to penetrate church facilities and navigate the interior rapidly before interception by security personnel. This behavioral pattern has since expanded to include New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Vancouver, and several United Kingdom cities, including London, Manchester, and Edinburgh. Participants frequently employ costumes and masks, with some incidents involving large crowds; notably, a gathering of approximately 300 individuals occurred in Vancouver on May 3. Stakeholder positioning reveals a stark divergence in interpretation. The Church of Scientology has characterized these incursions as 'hate crimes' and 'harassment,' asserting that the actions constitute a disruption of religious facilities and have resulted in physical injuries to staff. Conversely, some participants describe the activity as a hybrid of prank and protest, citing legal allegations against the organization regarding labor violations and abuse. This latter perspective is contested by former members, such as Alexander Barnes Ross, who posits that such disruptive tactics may undermine the credibility of legitimate peaceful demonstrations. Institutional responses have transitioned toward legal and digital containment. The church has implemented physical security enhancements, such as the removal of external door handles in Hollywood. Furthermore, legal counsel for the organization has issued threats of litigation against platforms like Dare Market, alleging that the incentivization of these 'challenges' incites dangerous behavior. Concurrently, social media entities, including TikTok and Meta, have reportedly suspended accounts or removed content, citing violations of community guidelines regarding the promotion of criminal activity.
Conclusion
The situation remains characterized by sporadic unauthorized entries and ongoing efforts by the church and digital platforms to mitigate the trend through legal and technical interventions.
Learning
The Architecture of 'Clinical Detachment'
To move from B2 to C2, a student must transcend mere 'accuracy' and master Register Calibration. The provided text is a masterclass in Clinical Detachment—the ability to describe chaotic, emotional, or controversial events using a sterile, high-register academic veneer.
⚡ The Linguistic Pivot: Nominalization
B2 students describe actions (verbs). C2 masters describe concepts (nouns). Observe how the text strips the 'drama' out of the events by transforming verbs into complex noun phrases:
- B2 approach: "People are breaking into churches and filming it." C2 transformation: "Global proliferation of unauthorized intrusions..."
- B2 approach: "The church and the protesters disagree about what is happening." C2 transformation: "Stakeholder positioning reveals a stark divergence in interpretation."
🔍 Deconstructing the 'Sterile' Lexicon
Notice the deliberate avoidance of emotive adjectives. Instead, the author uses precise, systemic terminology to maintain a facade of objectivity:
- "Incentivization of these challenges": Rather than saying "paying people to do it," the text uses a systemic term (incentivization), which shifts the focus from the act to the mechanism.
- "Digital containment": Instead of "blocking accounts," the phrase containment evokes a biological or military metaphor, suggesting a controlled, strategic response.
- "Transitioned toward": This avoids the abruptness of "started doing," framing the change as a gradual, institutional evolution.
🛠️ Application for Mastery
To emulate this, you must employ The Distance Strategy. When writing a C2 synthesis, replace subjective experience with institutional observation:
| Subjective (B2) | Institutional/Clinical (C2) |
|---|---|
| They are fighting. | A conflict of interests has emerged. |
| It's getting worse. | The situation is characterized by escalating volatility. |
| They tried to stop it. | Efforts were implemented to mitigate the trend. |
C2 Insight: The power of this style lies in its deniability. By using words like "posits," "characterized by," and "divergence," the writer reports the chaos without becoming part of it.