The tragedy of 9/11 changed countless lives. And while it brought more than 2,000 to an untimely end and stunned an entire generation, it also inspired renewed vigor in helping others.
It was 9/11 that inspired Scientology Volunteer Ministers around the world to contribute far more of their time and effort to help their fellows. And it was the fuse that lit an entire international movement of unconditional help.
In 1976 L. Ron Hubbard created the Volunteer Ministers program, with an essay titled "Religious Influence in Society" in which he stated:
"We are today at a watershed of history and our actions today will decide whether the world goes up from here or continues to slide into some new dark age.
"It is important to understand bad conditions don’t just happen. The cultural decay we see around us isn’t haphazard. It was caused. Unless one understands this he won’t be able to defend himself or reach out into the society with effectiveness.
"A society is capable of surviving for thousands of years unless it is attacked from within or without by hostile forces. Where such an attack occurs, primary targets are its religious and national gods and heroes, its potential of leadership and the self-respect and integrity of its members.
The essay appears in full in the Scientology Volunteer Ministers website>>