Beck's show tonight will benefit Scientology-affiliated charity

There's been a touch of Internet controversy today about Beck's somewhat-impromptu show at the Echo tonight, first started by blogger Sketchytown, then picked up by the LA Weekly's West Coast Sound blog. Both blogs raised a flag about a charity cited on the show's promotional material, Educating Children International, which, according to the promo poster, will get the "net proceeds" of the show priced at a cool $35.

Nothing was mentioned about any connections with Scientology, and the website for the charity turns up an error message. So what's the official word from the Church of Scientology? Is Educating Children International a charity working with Beck's known (and controversial) path of spirituality?

It turns out it is.

When Pop & Hiss first contacted Scientology representative Karen Pouw, she did not recognize the charity name, but within 40 minutes or so she called back to say she had done some more investigating. She said it was part of Educating Children, a charity run by Indian Scientologist Mohammad Khalil Ullah, who has built at least three schools in South Asia, according to materials posted at the website www.educatingchildren.cc, a URL that Pouw also cited. Note the picture on the homepage of children celebrating in front of a school with a sign clearly stating "West Bengal Scientology Free School."

Pouw said about the charity, "We have volunteers there working in orphanages and getting children to school." She also stated, "I'm not speaking on behalf of Beck, but I believe his concert is in support of this charity."

When asked if Beck had a statement about the charity or tonight's show, his representative in New York declined to comment. A representative at the Echo did not answer our request for a comment.

The real question, of course, is whether Beck should've been more transparent about the show's beneficiary. If you're planning on going to the show tonight, does this change your mind or otherwise color your feelings about L.A.'s indie son?

-- Margaret Wappler

Photo: Benjamin Reed/Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Barniepal]

I think its fantastic that someone, anyone, would give of their work, their art, and their time, to help build schools that take impoverished kids off the streets. But then, I'm crazy like that.

[Louanne]

I am applauding Beck to support such an important project:

Those schools "provide meals, basic health care and medicine for nearly 585 students".

One of the teachers at the free school on Convent Road said, "In the last two years since the free schools opened, the increase in literacy of the children has been so impressive. Now the parents and children are seeking further education—a goal they had no concept of before. These people were totally unaware of the possibility of education. The orphans now have a glimmer of hope."
Source: http://www.scientologytoday.org/press/807161825121_scn-local.html

[F]

DEFINITELY not going to any show that supports the Scientology cult! Beck should be more upfront about who he's fronting for.

[4Chan]

I wont be going now. But that's just my personal opinion and Beck is entitled to his and is entitled to perform for whomever he wants. I think most Beck fans, myself included, have resigned ourselves to liking his music, but being suspect of his Scientology affiliations. Should he have been more transparent about what the charity was? Of course. But the opportunity to see him at small club outweighs the shadiness of his handlers.

[t. shuffle]

The "church" of Scientology does not give anything away freely, ever. It's completely against their religion. Seriously, google it. Anything given has to show a return.

The "West Bengal Scientology Free School." Now, this is something that bears looking into.

[A]

now, if it was for the "West Bengal Scientology-Free School."

[frank gonzales]

i hate that everyone is so underhanded about this. it's a charity in an impoverished nation. But this organization is shrouded in secrecy and accused of crimes against humainty. there are 2 sides to every coin.

[frankgonzales]

sounds like the other people have a little too much info about the charity. What ever happened to beck. Van Morrison laughs at him.

[Jeff]

The western world has been substantially inoculated against Scientology. These unfortunate kids don' t know any better. The sordid cult is finding what they call "raw meat" wherever they can.

[whimsical actress]

Thank you for covering this. I'm a Beck fan and I am disappointed that he wasn't more transparent about the "charity." I also know people who had bad experiences with Scientology. I would not knowingly give them a penny.

[Christian C.]

If Beck is doing a charity for a scientology organization, then why wouldn't the church of scientology just say so? It is as if they do not want us to know that. Come to think of it, there are certain groups that are scientology-affiliated and don't want to acknowledge it to the public like dianetics with those stress tests and that narconon program i've been hearing on the radio. Something is mighty fishy there...

[Hollywood Dodger Mark]

Like the rest of the church, always scamming, always shady, always looking for new revenue streams. Look for more of the same as the economy tightens and folks prefer food over e-meter readings. What a sham.

[sophie]

As a South Asian American, I'm irked by yet another powerful, wealthy and extremely Western cult making inroads via the material poverty in other countries.

[Casey]

I agree with 4Chan. Beck lost me when he joined that bs cult.

[Charlie Brown]

Why not getting some information about what Beck supports? But then who cares about people who rather punish themselves with "Beck deprivation" than to lay off prejudice.

[Andrew]

Religion gives us all hope. Stop trying to think your religion is better than his. Anyways, if I was in L.A, I'd go for sure. Modern Guilt was an awesome album. You go Beck!

[whimsical actress]

Andrew, why do you assume commenters here believe their religion is better than his? I have no religion. This isn't about whose religion is "better," it's about what the organization that runs Scientology does to its members (and also to its critics--look up Paulette Cooper, for instance).

[QVO]

Margaret Wappler - First off Beck is not an "indie" artist as you referred to him. The "indie" moniker should be used for artists in that genre that most notably exists in the independent underground music scene. Beck is an "Alternative Rock/Modern Rock" artist and has been in this genre since the early 90's and is not an independent underground artist.

Try to research the artist's background before stating erroneous labels.

[smartypantswilliam]

QVO - You're an idiot.

[who cares]

what latimes bashing religion who cares, his music rocks, stop starting something, rock on!

[me]

I'm all for educating children and providing them with basic services that they need and to which they might otherwise not have access. What I'm not for is taking advantage of people when they are at their most vulnerable in order convert them to your religion. It's a tactic that is used often by many religions, but that doesn't change the fact that it's unethical and unfair. Put it this way: a bowl of rice can be nourishing and lifesaving to someone who is starving. However, if it's contaminated with bacteria, it can be detrimental and life threatening...

By the way, respecting freedom of religion does not mean that all religion is free from criticism of any sort. Just because you are free to worship as you choose, doesn't mean that I have to agree with you. And stating an opinion that some of your practices are wrong and hurtful to those involved isn't hate speech.

It always amazes me that those who are screaming the loudest about freedom of religion like to ignore the fact that it goes hand in hand with freedom of speech. For those who may be unaware, here's what the complete First Amendment says:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

That means that Beck has a right to believe that Scientology is the "bridge to total freedom". It also means that I have the right to say that belief is silly. I also have a right to boycott a concert where the proceeds would be spent to indoctrinate young children into that religion. And the press could report on this tactic and publish their findings, even if they are critical of the religion. And hey, I could even stand outside that concert and hold a sign stating that I think his religion is sham and a cult and indoctrinating unsuspecting children is wrong. That's freedom of religion, freedom of speech and freedom of assembly and it's all guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.

Isn't the First Amendment beautiful?

[Robert Lindblad]

Hubbard: Scientology is a power-and-money-and-intelligence-gathering game. To use common, everyday English, Scientology says that you and I and everybody else willed ourselves into being hundreds of trillions of years ago --just by deciding to be. We willed ourselves into being ourselves. Through wild space games, interaction, fights, and wars in the grand science-fiction tradition, we created this universe --all the matter, energy, space, and time of this universe. And so through these trillions of years, we have become the effect of our own cause and we now find ourselves trapped in bodies. So the idea of Scientology "auditing" or "counseling" or "processing" is to free yourself from your body and to return you to the original godlike state or, in Scientology jargon, an operating Thetan --O.T. We are all fallen gods, according to Scientology, and the goal is to be returned to that state.
Penthouse: And what is the Church of Scientology?
Hubbard: It's one of my father's many organizations. It was formed in 1953, basically to avoid the harassment of my father by the medical profession and the IRS. The idea of Scientology didn't really exist before that point as a religion, but my father hit upon turning it into a church after he started feeling pressured.
Penthouse: Didn't your father have any interest in helping people?
Hubbard: No.
Penthouse: Never?
Hubbard: My father started out as a broke science-fiction writer. He was always broke in the late 1940s. He told me and a lot of other people that the way to make a million was to start a religion. Then he wrote the book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health while he was in Bayhead, New Jersey. When we later visited Bayhead, in about 1953, we were walking around and reminiscing --he told me that he had written the book in one month.
Penthouse: There was no church when he wrote the book?
Hubbard: Oh, no, no. You see, his goal was basically to write the book, take the money and run. But in 1950, this was the first major book of do-it-yourself psychotherapy, and it became a runaway best-seller. He kept getting, literally, mail trucks full of mail. And so he and some other people, including J. W. Campbell, the editor of Astounding Science Fiction , started the Dianetics Research Foundation in Elizabeth, New Jersey. And the post office kept backing up and just dumping mail sacks into the building. The foundation had a staff that just ran through the envelopes and threw away anything that didn't have any money in it.
Penthouse: People sent money?
Hubbard: Yeah, they wanted training and further Dianetic auditing, Dianetic processing. It was just an incredible avalanche.
Penthouse: Did he write the book off the top of his head? Did he do any real research?
Hubbard: No research at all. When he has answered that question over the years, his answer has changed according to which biography he was writing. Sometimes he used to write a new biography every week. He usually said that he had put thirty years of research into the book. But no, he did not. What he did, reaily, was take bits and pieces from other people and put them together in a blender and stir them all up --and out came Dianetics!

Taken from the June 1983 Penthouse interview with L. Ron Hubbard Jr.

[Robert Lindblad]

I know someone who got sucked into Scientology, I didn't know he was a Scientologist until one day, about 4 years ago, he said "Rob here's a book you should read." He passed me Dianetics by L. Ron Hubbard. I laughed and said "L. Con Flubbfart ha forget it." For the first time in the years since I've known the guy he displayed anger and I'm talking very angry!!! Verbally with an agressive face.After that display he went on to talk about the ability to walk through walls, he hasn't reached that level but he plans on getting there etc...
For all you need to know concerning Scientology read the June 1983 Penthouse interview with
L. Ron Hubbard Jr.

[Adam]

At least some people have their heads straight. This is so effing ridiculous that anyone would even have a stink about this. IT'S BECK!!!! COME ON! He's a legend and we should all take a minute to recognize that he's actually donating money to a charity. Can't see why anyone cares about affiliations because MOST CHARITIES HAVE RELIGIOUS AFFILIATIONS!! UGH! And he's one of few celebrities who consistently do charity concerts and stuff which means he's donating the money and not pocketing it despite economic struggles. The man has a life so quit the bashing. Beck is the bomb and I would pay $35 any day to see him play no matter what the money goes to. But in this case it's actually going to little kids. So power to ya.

[HippyHo]

I surely love Beck as an artist. Sadly, I don't have any respect for his Scientology linkage. I am disappointed he tried to cover down that link in this activity, now that I know about it, I won't support this specific event.
I still love his music. I will never consider any well Scientology, nor his involvement in it.