Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Nonreligious
Scientologist’s Commencement Advice: How to Make This the Best of Times

Scientologist’s Commencement Advice: How to Make This the Best of Times

Last updated on: October 24, 2017 at 5:05 am by ScientologyBeliefs

Scientologist’s Commencement Advice: How to Make This the Best of Times 2017-10-24T05:05:32-07:00 ScientologyBeliefs

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A Scientologist counsels—don’t let yourself be taken in by discrimination in the guise of “news.” Published courtesy of STAND (Scientologist Taking Action Against Discrimination)

It was the best of times.

I was on YouTube the other day and began watching some great commencement speeches, including one by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and one by actor Matt Damon. As I listened to the advice they were giving, I thought about what advice I would give today if I were to speak at another graduation (I have delivered two commencement talks in the past).

Commencement speech at Columbia University

The usual advice is something along the lines of: be true to yourself, be willing to dream, make a difference, serve others, reject the limitations others try to impose on you, and be grateful to all those who help you. All valid nuggets of advice. So what would I add to this list? What advice would I give?

Here’s what I decided.

I would advise against becoming an unwitting victim of the discriminatory pronouncements of others. As L. Ron Hubbard stated, “What is true for you is what you have observed yourself.”

It is too easy to agree with the negativity and falsehoods so rampant today. “What is the REAL truth?” is a question you MUST ask yourself.

It is interesting that after presidential debates, the major TV networks have fact-checkers report to the public with the true data to override the unsubstantiated statements of the candidates—those statements believed by so many without a second thought because ‘their’ candidate stated it. They are not willing or prepared to seek out and observe the truth for themselves.

Observe the truth yourself, encourage others to do the same, and so make this the best of times.

In his famous introductory passage to A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens might have been referring to the barrage of negativity we get from the mass media and the positive reality that we could choose to focus our attention on instead.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

Far, far too often the media—including social media—wants us to focus on the “worst of times” which thus becomes “reality” for so many. If a mainstream journalist were to edit the above quote, it would read:

Charles Dickens wrote, “It was the worst of times… it was the age of foolishness… it was the epoch of incredulity… it was the season of darkness… it was the winter of despair.”

Here’s how I would close my commencement speech: Observe the truth yourself, encourage others to do the same, and so make this the best of times.

Previous Post

July 27, 2017

Hungarian Drug-Free World Rap Video Promotes Drug-Free Living

Next Post

August 10, 2017 Church of Scientology Mission of Baton Rouge—Beacon of Light and Hope on the Mississippi

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category anti-Scientology hate Church of Scientology Citizens Commission on Human Rights Community activities conflict Coronavirus critics David Miscavige Dianetics Discrimination Documentary Showcase Drug Prevention fake news families Florida Foundation for a Drug-Free World Freewinds religious retreat holidays Hollywood Village homeschooling kids during the coronavirus lockdown How I Became a Scientologist human rights I Am a Scientologist Ideal Scientology Organizations Interfaith L. Ron Hubbard media Meet a Scientologist Neighborhood Cleanups Psychiatry Religion Religious Freedom Religious Studies Scientologist Scientologists Scientology Scientology Beliefs Scientology cathedral Scientology celebration Scientology Humanitarian Campaigns Scientology Media Productions Scientology Mission Scientology Network Scientology Parent Scientology TV Scientology Volunteer Ministers STAND Stay Well The Way to Happiness tolerance Truth About Scientology Uncategorized Voices for Humanity What is Scientology? What Scientology is all a out Youth for Human Rights

Select a Month March 2025 October 2024 July 2024 May 2024 April 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 September 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 November 2021 September 2021 August 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 August 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 January 2019 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 February 2016 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 October 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 December 2013 August 2013 December 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who said, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Isaiah John the Baptist Peter Jesus