Marcab Confederacy
A vast, decadent galactic civilization that once ruled Earth.
The Marcab Confederacy is, within Scientology doctrine, one of the most powerful galactic civilizations still in existence. L. Ron Hubbard described it as a union of planets formed from the remnants of earlier societies, persisting for roughly 200,000 years. Over the last 10,000 years, it has become a decadent, "kicked-in-the-head" civilization featuring automobiles, business suits, fedora hats, telephones, and spaceships—closely resembling but worse off than modern U.S. society. Its capital is said to be one of the Big Dipper's tail stars, likely Alkaid, 101 light-years from Earth. The Confederacy once ruled Earth but lost control due to war and other setbacks.
The Marcabians operated under an oppressive political system: anyone found in contempt of court could be "simply fried" by a curtain of radioactive material across the judge's bench. Hubbard claimed they invented income tax as a punishment, with the death penalty for even minor errors on returns—"one comma wrong and it's 'dead forever.'" Their society was distinctly socialistic, featuring "plan balanced economies" (a form of planned economy). They were also avid motor racers; Scientologists undergoing auditing sometimes encounter memories of race tracks and drivers. Hubbard described turbine-powered cars reaching 275 mph (443 km/h), emitting a high whine, on tracks booby-trapped with atom bombs, mined, and featuring leaded-pane grandstands. The tracks were designed for maximum danger, including a mountain drivers climbed and fell off, with death common but revival possible through the civilization's medical abilities.
Author Russell Miller noted that Hubbard liked to reminisce about being a Marcab race-car driver. A companion on Hubbard's private fleet in the late 1960s recalled stories of Hubbard as a driver called the Green Dragon, who set a speed record before dying in an accident. He returned as the Red Devil, beat his own record, then came back as the Blue Streak, eventually realizing he was only breaking his own records and the game lost its appeal. Hubbard's lecture *Create and Confront* describes multiple lives as a Marcabian racing driver with color-themed names like The Green Rocket, The Red Comet, The Silver Streak, and The Gold Bomb.
- Field
- Galactic civilization (Scientology belief)
- Known for
- Oppressive political system, invention of income tax as punishment, dangerous motor racing, use of Earth as a prison planet
- Capital
- Alkaid (tail star of the Big Dipper, 101 light years from Earth)
- Age
- Over 200,000 years old (last 10,000 years decadent)
Lore & Background
The Marcab Confederacy is described by L. Ron Hubbard as having an oppressive political system: if a person was considered in contempt of court, they were simply fried since there was a curtain of radioactive material across the front of the bench. Hubbard said the Confederacy invented income tax as a means of punishment, with the death penalty imposed for even the slightest mistake in returns — 'one comma wrong and it's dead forever.' The Marcabians also appear to have been distinctly socialistic, having 'had plan balanced economies' (presumably some form of planned economy).
They were keen on motor racing, with turbine-generated cars that went about 275 miles per hour (443 km/h). Tracks were booby-trapped with atom bombs, mined, and grandstands were leaded-paned. Death was commonplace, but participants might be revived by the civilization's medical ability. Hubbard liked to reminisce about how he was a race-car driver in the Marcab civilization, with color-themed names including 'The Green Rocket', 'The Red Comet', 'The Silver Streak', 'The Gold Bomb', et al.
Hubbard stated that the Marcab Confederacy now uses Earth as a 'prison planet'. When a person dies, their thetan is pulled into a Marcab-established implant station or report station, where they are subject to brainwashing and reincarnation. Only Scientologists who reach the status of 'Operating Thetan' are said to avoid this fate. The report area for most has been Mars; some women report to stations elsewhere in the Solar System. The last report station on Earth was established in the Pyrenees.
Reader's Guide
The Marcab Confederacy is a central element in the cosmology of the Church of Scientology, representing a powerful and oppressive galactic civilization that has influenced Earth for millennia. Its significance lies in its role as a key part of the church's narrative of human history, explaining the origins of taxation, legal oppression, and the cycle of reincarnation that Scientology claims to address. The confederacy's use of Earth as a prison planet, with implant stations on Mars and elsewhere, provides a rationale for the church's auditing and Operating Thetan procedures, which are said to free individuals from this control. The confederacy has been referenced in secondary works, including Russell Miller's critical biography of Hubbard, a Washington Post report on John Travolta, and a 2006 Rolling Stone article. A document in the Fishman Affidavit, presented as the original OT VIII, describes a mass Marcab invasion of Earth coinciding with the appearance of the Anti-Christ, though the Church denied its authenticity. The confederacy has also been used as a theme in art by the internet group Anonymous as part of Project Chanology.
Did You Know?
- The capital of the Marcab Confederacy is said to be Alkaid, a star 108 light years from Earth.
- Marcabian race tracks were booby-trapped with atom bombs and mined, with grandstands made of leaded panes.
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