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2018
1 year ago
2018-07-18, John P. Capitalist, Reasoned.Life
This week, the European Court of Justice (ECJ), the highest court in the EU, upheld a Finnish court decision requiring the Jehovah's Witnesses to abide by European data privacy law when going door-to-door to preach to prospective converts.
We view this as a positive sign that the EU will allow member states to use the General Data Protection Regulation, the comprehensive privacy law enacted in May of this year, to restrict Scientology's activities. We published an extensive article in May that showed how Hubbard's sacred "admin tech" mandated actions that could never be in compliance with GDPR, providing an easy way for critics and former members to affect the operations of Scientology inside the EU.
While the JWs may be able to modify their data collection practices to comply with the EU rules, we believe that Scientology will not, because all of its self-help practices depend on collection of large amounts of personal data, and there is no way for a former member to insist on return or destruction of files such as pre-clear folders.
2018-07-18, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
Earlier this year, we first heard from Efrem Logreira, who shared with us a letter he had sent to the Church of Scientology.
The letter was stunning. In it, Logreira, who is now 75, described making the long drive this past December from Palm Springs to the Scientology New Year's Event being held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, only to be turned away at the door.
Logreira had only joined Scientology the previous June, at 74 years of age. But now he was shut out after the church had drained his savings, maxed out his credit cards, and impoverished him in only a few months.
Tags: 1969, 1970, 1990, 2014, 2017, Auditing, Big Blue, Cartagena, Colombia, Credit card fraud, Efrem Logreira, Ethics Officer, Karin Pouw, Los Angeles, New Year's Eve, Palm Springs, Purification Rundown, Scientology Media Productions, Sea Org, Shrine Auditorium, Student Hat, Sunset Boulevard, Survival Rundown
2018-07-18, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
It is an endless source of amazement how scientologists buy the idea that every word Hubbard spoke or wrote is some sort of brilliant revelation. Much of it is gibberish, particularly his "research track." Many of the things he stated as absolute fact he later repudiated — though he typically characterized it as "further research revealed..."
But that implies the former assertion of fact was based on research, and not just meanderings he tossed off which then proved not to be fact when he sold a newer technique. And I do mean "sold"...
Yet today, the foolishness he wrote about in the early 50's in particular is simply reprinted and everyone is supposed to ooh and aah about the genius of it, even if he later said his theories were NOT true.
2018-07-18, Jeffrey Augustine, Scientology Money Project
Critics using Google reverse imaging were able to conclusively prove that the Church of Scientology was using stock photos in its social media fraud campaign. Scientology tried to palm these stock photos off on social media as being actual Scientologists. As we reported yesterday, alert critics caught Scientology using a photo of the Russian actress Valery Fedorovich in yet another social media fraud. Fedorovich's photo was used with the name of Alicia Selverson. Scientology was caught red-handed trying to change images of its phony Alicia Selverson.
Scientology's STAND League is awash in this sort fraud and has no zero integrity as a result. The message STAND hopes to communicate gets totally lost at the outset when STAND is caught in such blatant social media fraud: The public doesn't believe liars. Thus, Scientology has painted itself into a corner. If Scientology is lying about the stock photos then the presumption is that it is lying about everything else. Moreover, it's hard for Scientology to claim discrimination when it engages in fraud; child labor; Fair Game; Disconnection; refuses to issue repayments as it promised the IRS; and uses contracts of adhesion to strip its own members of their legal and civil rights.
Scientology critic "Succulent Duck" reported today in the comments section of Tony Ortega's Underground Bunker that Scientology used "a new paint job" on Alicia Selverson. Anyone can immediately spot this as Scientology using Photoshop filters on the original photo of "Alicia Selverson." The doctored stock photo is shown below.
2018-07-18, Chris Shelton, YouTube
This week I am featuring part 2 of my Rogan-style conversation with former Scientologist and Sea Org member Geoff Levin. We pick up where we left off last time in the 1970s with Geoff having come off the RPF under L. Ron Hubbard and returning to Hollywood and his celebrity musician life. We talk about the advance of Scientology and his belief in it which eventually led to his work on the famous 1980s Dianetics ad campaign. Enjoy!
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2018-07-18, Rebecca Lawrence, Daily Mail
He plays the ever unflappable Ethan Hunt in Mission Impossible: Fallout.
Yet Tom Cruise proved that in reality he still suffers the odd blunder, as he was seen attending the movie premiere in Tokyo on Wednesday with his trouser zip undone.
Accidentally exposing too much, the 56-year-old actor didn't seem to be aware of the mishap, happily waving and smiling for fans before heading into the press conference and photo call.
2018-07-18, Steven Mango, YouTube
I went undercover to Clearwater, Florida and visited Scientology's Super Power building and related Scientology properties within the city. As a former Scientologist, I wanted to gather information on the status of Scientology within the city of Clearwater. The information I found out was eye-opening!
MANGO TEA CHANNEL: http://www.youtube.com/c/mangotea
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2017
2 years ago2017-07-18, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
Remember the hype about how the bridge would be flooded with people thanks to reaching the billions with the new KCET studio?
That scientology was going to have its own, uncorrupted line to the world?
And that this was all going to be happening by the summer solstice on 21 June?
2017-07-18, The Echo Newspaper, YouTube
As speculation continues over the new owners of the Victory Centre in Firhouse, we asked local people what they think of the rumours suggesting it has been bought by the Church of Scientology.
2017-07-18, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
What is going on in Ireland? Scientology was practically finished off there, and maybe because some of us pointed that out, David Miscavige suddenly started a new set of initiatives there that seem completely superfluous. We thought we'd ask our man on Ireland's west coast, Pete Griffiths, for his thoughts on what's been happening lately on the Emerald Isle.
It appears that David Miscavige has plans for Ireland.
First we were surprised last year when the National Affairs Office of Ireland was opened in Merrion Square around the corner from the Parliament buildings and just two doors down from the Oscar Wilde's former home. This is operated by the Office of Special Affairs and they have a specific role to perform within Scientology — "safepointing" is the term used to describe making an area "safe to expand into" and this involves all the front groups that we know so well. From Narconon and Criminon, through CCHR, The Truth About Drugs, The Way To Happiness, Youth for Human Rights and the Volunteer Ministers, they work tirelessly to get people to think or believe that Scientology are the good guys in society, bringing benefits to all, rather than a racket fleecing individuals and destroying families and bringing nothing but misery.
Tags: Advanced Org, CCHR, Copenhagen, Criminon, David Miscavige, Denmark, Dublin, Europe, Firhouse, Ideal Org, Ireland, L. Ron Hubbard, Narconon, National Affairs Office, Office of Special Affairs, Pete Griffiths, Saint Hill Manor, Scotland, Spying, Truth About Drugs, UK, Volunteer Ministers, Youth for Human Rights International
2016
3 years ago2016-07-18, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
Earlier this month, Joey Chait, 38, was sentenced by a New York federal court to a year in prison for conspiring to smuggle art objects made of rhino horn, ivory, and coral. Joey was in the employ of his father Isadore Chait, whose eponymous I.M. Chait Gallery in Beverly Hills is one of the best known auction houses for Asian art in the world. Izzy Chait, for his part, is also well known to Scientology watchers, who remember his bizarre 2011 appearance along with the "Squirrel Busters" at Los Angeles International Airport in an attempt to unnerve former Scientology official Marty Rathbun.
There was even some precedence for the Chait Gallery being associated with the illegal sale of art objects: Izzy Chait, in 2007, sold a Mongolian Tyrannosaurus bataar skull to actor Nicolas Cage, and after the skull's provenance was uncovered, Cage had to return it to the Mongolian government last year.
It seemed a simple story. Scientologist son of a somewhat unhinged wealthy and well known church figure had traded in goods that fuel the slaughter of endangered rhinos and other animals. Joey got little sympathy on the various Internet forums, and rightly so.
Tags: 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, Abuse, Alfreddie Johnson, Charlie Beck, David Miscavige, Disconnection, E-meter, FBI, I.M. Chait Gallery, Isadore Chait, Joseph Chait, Judge J. Paul Oetken, Judith Germano, LGBTQ, Los Angeles, Marty Rathbun, Mongolia, New York, Nicolas Cage, OT III, Quicky, Rapper The Game, Rizza Islam, Sea Org, Squirrel Busters, Xenu
2016-07-18, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
One of many brilliant shots taken by Andy Porter - visit his website: andyporterimages.com
Our friend Andy Porter submitted this as a comment in response to Terra Cognita's recent posting: Why Scientologists Don't FSM. I felt it deserved to be a posting to supplement the thoughts expressed in that post.
I worked at the Bellevue Mission and was in the Mission Network for many years. One thing I would constantly hear was that it was MUCH easier to bring new people into a Mission, rather than a Class 5 Org because the new people were handled "better" in the Mission, meaning that they were not harassed as much as they were in an Org.
2016-07-18, Dillon Davis, Battle Creek Enquirer
The Rev. Brian Fesler, a regional representative for the church, said the project is part of its national concept for an "ideal organization." Fesler said Battle Creek's congregation was ahead of its time with a vision for the project that dates back more than a decade — even if it didn't know what that would look like just yet.
"When they bought the building, they had the building but didn't have the mechanism," he said.
Fesler said a letter from the city of Battle Creek accelerated the redevelopment effort by the church.
Community Services Director Marcie Gillette said the city held a hearing earlier this year and designated the Hart Hotel as a dangerous building. Gillette said the building was unsecured after being clipped by cars as it stood vacant for more than a decade.
2015
4 years ago2015-07-18, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
Jeffrey Augustine continues with part two of his podcast with Aaron Smith-Levin. He sent us this synopsis...
In Part 2, Aaron Smith-Levin continues his fascinating and wide-ranging excursion into the world of Scientology from the eyes of a Sea Org member. Aaron opens by describing how he realized that the highly dysfunctional operating conditions of the six Los Angeles Orgs are a reflection of the same dysfunctional conditions at Int Base.
Aaron then shockingly describes how Flag "handled" the medical emergency that befell a long term Scientologist who was routing into Flag. Aaron and I then segue into a discussion of Flag Land Base and its highly adverse reaction to any Scientologist who originates in session having contacted extraterrestrials. This is a strange part of Scientology because Hubbard taught extensively about alien races and how Earth itself is a dumping ground for aliens. Nevertheless, any Scientologist who discusses extraterrestrials, angels, or demons may not be allowed onto the upper levels. Conversely, Scientologists can only discuss Scientology-brand body thetans as the Church can monetize these metaphysical entities. The "BT restricted" cosmology created by L. Ron Hubbard fundamentally locks Scientologists into a strict Scientology-centric worldview and this becomes a fundamentalist identity. We then compare and contrast the Christianity and Scientology in terms of how their respective adherents insist upon universalizing their subjective experiences.
Tags: 2000, 2012, Aaron Smith-Levin, Alex Gibney, ASHO, Chris Shelton, Christian, Colorado, Commodore's Messenger Organization, Dallas, Dallas Morning News, Dallas Observer, David Miscavige, Denver, Flag Land Base, Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief, Int Base, Jeffrey Augustine, Los Angeles, Movie, PAC Base, PTSD, Quicky, Religious worker, Robert Wilonsky, Sea Org, Village Voice
2015-07-18, Tony Marrero, Tampa Bay Times
Longtime St. Petersburg pastor Manuel Sykes is considering a bid for office in 2016.
Which one, and with which party? Sykes says he's thinking and praying on both decisions.
Sykes said he might run the state House seat currently held by Rep. Darryl Rouson, who is term-limited, or the soon-to-be redrawn 13th Congressional district.
2015-07-18, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
2014
5 years ago2014-07-18, Joe Childs, Tampa Bay Times
Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige has sidestepped giving a deposition in a high-profile harassment lawsuit filed in Texas by Monique Rathbun, wife of vocal church critic Marty Rathbun.
A Texas appeals court this week overturned December's ruling by Comal County, Texas, District Judge Dib Waldrip, who had ordered Miscavige to submit to questioning.
2014-07-18, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
A monumentally useless and empty ideal org
Jeff Hawkins sent me this article.
I thought it was of interest as yet another comparison between North Korea and the bubble world of corporate scientology.
2014-07-18, Marty Rathbun, Moving On Up a Little Higher
Cult think (which includes religious, political, and self-help/positive thinking guru cliques) tends to be extremist in nature. That includes either over-reacting to or ignoring entirely (read denial) high and low ends of the vicissitudes of life. The highs can include all manner of self-congratulatory, hallucinatory-causation thinking. "I thought it and it happened; I am god-like." The lows can include all manner of guilt, regret and need to re-examine and even re-create oneself. "Who am I really and who do I need to be?"
Far better I think to follow the great middle path.
Life's peaks and valleys are as natural as the hills and dales of the landscape or the pull and repulsion of the subatomic dance making up the woof and warp of the universe. Obsessing with owning them – positive or negative – and thus fixating on the result tends to park folks in peaks and valleys. Meanwhile, atoms tango, breezes blow, currents flow, and life goes on. One can choose to stagnate with rises and falls or one can choose to learn from them and evolve.
2014-07-18, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
Anyway, Scientology's long record of scorched-earth litigation doesn't seem to be slowing down Las Vegas attorney Ryan Hamilton, who has now filed his 18th fraud lawsuit against Scientology's drug rehab network, Narconon, and all but one of them in federal court.
This newest one was a federal action filed on behalf of Claudia Burchett and Sarah Burchett of Ohio, who are suing the Narconon Fresh Start in Warner Springs, in San Diego County.
Tags: 2012, 2013, ABLE, Angelo Amato, Austin, Ben Levy, Branden Chavez, California, Charis Yates, Christy Courson, Christy Estrada, Claudia Burchett, Colorado, Dan Carmichael, David Miscavige, Dean Pugh, Jack Welch, James Ramirez, Jason McClure, Jered Mowery, Jilliene Winchell, Justice Scott Field, Las Vegas, Lauren Geanacopulos, Linda Phillips, Michael Tarr, Monique Rathbun, Narconon, Narconon Fresh Start, Narconon International, Nevada, Nikki Mott, Ohio, Robin Jones, Ryan Hamilton, San Diego, San Diego County, Sarah Burchett, Sean O'Connell, Success rate, Sunshine Summit Lodge, Texas, Tyler Matthys, Warner Springs, Watsonville
2014-07-18, SurvivingScientology, YouTube
OSA INT and the CULT extremely embarrassed at a 30 year veteran talking about atrocities inside, cooked up a "privacy complaint" of a photo used of an older Sea Org member in Version one.
So here's the re-do without that picture.
11 more sizzling Camilla Videos to follow.
2013
6 years ago2013-07-18, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
Nicole Remini (Photo by Joe Dickie) Nicole Remini sounds irritated when we ask her about a report in the Chicago Sun-Times yesterday that claimed her sister, King of Queens actress Leah Remini, had "chatted" with Kirstie Alley to make sure there was no "loss of friendship" between the two over the explosion in news about Leah's recent defection from the Church of Scientology.
"It did not happen, Tony. It did not happen."
Nicole says there's no truth to the Sun-Times report at all — her sister has not talked with Alley. And she says Leah is disgusted and disappointed that Kirstie and others have not called her to find out what's really going on.
Tags: 1966, 1994, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2012, Anne Archer, Brooklyn, Catholic, Celebrity Centre, Chicago Sun-Times, Christian, Class VI, Clearwater, Conditions, David Miscavige, Debbie Cook, Disconnection, E-meter, FBI, Flag Service Organization, Florida, Freedom Medal of Valor, Italy, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Feshbach, Julian Swartz, Katie Holmes, Kevin Huvane, King of Queens, Kirstie Alley, Knowledge Report, Knowledge Reports, Las Vegas, Laurisse Stuckenbrock, Lawrence Wright, Leah Remini, Los Angeles, Marc Anthony, Matt Lauer, Melinda Brownstone, Michael Doven, Minneapolis, Minnesota, New Year's Eve, New York, New Yorker, Office of Special Affairs, Operating Thetan, OT 7, OT 8, Paul Haggis, Pope, Quicky, Rehabilitation Project Force, Rome, Sea Org, Sec Check, Suppressive Person, The Truth Rundown, Tom Cruise, Tommy Davis, Twitter, UK
2013-07-18, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
While I am trying to catch back up, I once again recommend everyone read Tony Ortega's interview with Leah's sister today.
GREAT reporting and a lot of fascinating insight....
Thanks Tony. And thanks Nicole. Wish I had a sister like you!
Tags: Quicky, Tony Ortega
2013-07-18, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
Miscavige and his pinocchio sockpuppet letter signer, Karin Pouw, are getting closer and closer to calling Leah Remini a liar.
Their latest effort at damage control is reported in the NY Post:
"We won't dignify the myths, radio gossip, rumors and off-the-wall tabloid tales that have their origins with self-promoting bloggers living on the fringe of the Internet."
2012
7 years ago
2012-07-18, Adrianne Murchison, Sandy Springs Patch
The Church of Scientology received the go-ahead from the City of Sandy Springs to convert an office building into a church space, Tuesday night.
In a 5-1 vote, City Council approved zoning modification conditions to expand the office building, located at Glenridge Drive and Roswell Road.
"Right now the city is at about $90,000 in damages," said Laurel Henderson, legal counsel for the city."
2012-07-18, Daily Mail
Could this be the next Mrs Cruise? 'Devout Scientologist' Yolanda Pecoraro is said to be the 'perfect match' for Tom By Daily Mail Reporter
Published: 13:05 GMT, 18 July 2012 | Updated: 17:03 GMT, 18 July 2012
e-mail var twitterVia = 'DailyMailCeleb'; DM.later('bundle', function(){ DM.has('shareLinkTop', 'shareLinks', { 'id': '2175362', 'title': 'Could this be the next Mrs Cruise? \'Devout Scientologist\' Yolanda Pecoraro is said to be the \'perfect match\' for Tom', 'url': 'http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2175362/Devout-Scientologist-Yolanda-Pecoraro-said-perfect-match-Tom-Cruise.html', 'eTwitterStatus': ' http://bit.ly/Mkb31x via @' + twitterVia, 'articleChannelFollowButton': 'DailyMailCeleb', 'isChannel': false, 'hideEmail': true, 'placement': 'top', 'anchor': 'tl'}); }); 199
2012-07-18, Michelle Tauber, People
This was not how Tom Cruise expected his life to be.
The 50-year-old megastar, who was blindsided when his wife of five years, Katie Holmes, filed for divorce on June 28, "was thinking, 'What did I not see?' " a source who knows the former couple tells PEOPLE in this week's cover story.
Especially tough: His month-long separation from 6-year-old daughter Suri, which finally ended when the pair reunited on July 17 in New York City.
2012-07-18, Beth Stebner, Daily Mail
Radaronline.com also reported that Coroner Assistant Chief Ed Winter told them: 'Let's just say we have questions about his death.' He added: 'We also have been told that Alexander's father-in-law found his body, and ran an errand, and then came home and called 911.'
The LAPD confirmed that its investigation into his death is still open, pending the coroner's report. Neither the Church of Scientology nor the coroner's office immediately responded to request for comment.
Karen de la Carriere told MailOnline that Winter said to her that Alexander's in-laws noticed her son was in bed around 9am on July 2nd. It wasn't until nearly 24 hours later that they placed the call to emergency services.
Tags: 1952, 1984, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2011, 9-1-1, Abortion, Alexander Jentzsch, Bob Duggan, Church of Scientology International, Dallas, David Miscavige, Ed Winter, Facebook, Fair Game, Florida, Heber Jentzsch, John Travolta, Karen de la Carriere, LAPD, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, Mike Rinder, Office of Special Affairs, Quicky, Sea Org, Suppressive Person, Village Voice, YouTube
2011
8 years ago
2011-07-18, Adele Hampton, Phoenix New Times
The Arizona Church of Scientology is hard up for cash and is begging for contributions in one of the most frightening Youtube videos we've ever seen.
2011-07-18, Tony Ortega, Runnin' Scared, Village Voice
Over at the Washington Post website, Janet Reitman, author of Inside Scientology, just concluded an hour-long live question and answer session with the public.
As usual, Reitman was calm and unflappable in the face of criticism. We pointed out this weekend that Scientology's official objection to her book is specious at best: they accuse her of not talking to active Scientologists while she compiled her book, which is marketed as the first truly objective, journalistic history of the church.
As we pointed out earlier, Scientology's criticism is a dodge.
2011-07-18, Myriam Bacon, Le Nouvelliste
Masqués à la manière de V dans V pour Vendetta, les manifestants voulaient faire passer leur message à la population ainsi qu'aux patients du centre trifluvien de Narconon. Brandissant des pancartes depuis la voie publique, les manifestants étaient observés par quelques patients du centre qui étaient à l'extérieur à ce moment. Sur l'une des pancartes, on pouvait notamment lire «Courrez! Narconon = culte de la scientologie».
Pour David Edgar Love, Narconon représente un danger pour les patients. «Ils n'ont pas les qualifications, ils n'ont pas les infirmières, ils n'ont pas les docteurs», nécessaires pour traiter les patients, soutient-il. Selon M. Love, les traitements administrés vont jusqu'à mettre en danger la vie des patients qui sont traités au centre. «Cela cause beaucoup de tort», dit-il.
2011-07-18, Marty Rathbun, Moving On Up a Little Higher
David Miscavige's Jonestownsian Cult has escalated its export of the Hole (Miscavige's torture chamber at the Scientology International Headquarters in Hemet, California) to the sleepy litle town of Ingleside on the Bay, Texas.
They performed a "Scientology" Sunday Service on my property line on Sunday afternoon. Spontaneously, five neighbors went and gave them a taste of their own medicine. I had to restrain Ralph S Gomez (being a reflection of Miscavige's cowardice that Gomez has become) from getting physical with a seventy-year-old neighbor. The neighbors asked a simple question, "what is your doctrine, if you are a church?" None of them (including OT "8" Ed Bryan) could or would answer them. So, when they returned this afternoon Mosey decided to educate the cult members on their own doctrine. As you will see they weren't too interested. As you will also see, Miscavige's answer to the matter escalating into our neighbors becoming active on their own accords and consciences, was to escalate temperatures by flying in perhaps the most violent and confrontational cult member he could find, one John Allendar.
The Cult's response was to point their mini cam mounted on their golf cart into my neighbors house - something I have admonished them not to do time and time again. Miscavige just can't get it through his racist, mysogenist, fascist mind that people in the United States of America possess certain rights, and that, in the words of Scientology Founder L Ron Hubbard, "no agency less than God has the power to suspend or set aside these rights, overtly or covertly."
Tags: California, Cult, David Miscavige, Ed Bryan, Hemet, Ingleside, John Allen, Jonestown, L. Ron Hubbard, OT, Quicky, Sunday service, Texas, The Hole
2010
9 years ago2010-07-18, sKepptiksowat, YouTube
"Read Description For Context" Once again the heart of our Anonymous group, the lovely Vaganonymous, was the focus of a raging nutbar while I was distracted listening to some anon telling me how awesome WoW is. Apparently the dude stormed out of the org and was very upset that a girl in a mask was blocking his path from three feet away. He seemed most pissed off at the masks and at one particular Jew who he accused of training anonymous. I enter the fray in progress with camera and troll him for his asshattery towards Anon. Lulz ensue.
2010-07-18, Jefferson Hawkins, Leaving Scientology
The word "cult" is a controversial one, and there has been considerable debate as to what a cult is and is not. Some people (like the Church of Scientology) object to the use of the term at all. Others claim that all religions started as cults, and one should only use the term "new religions." And some people use the term so broadly that it could be used to describe everything from vegetarians to Miley Cirus fans.
All of which masks a very real problem. There have been and are real cults: the People's Temple, the Solar Temple, Aum Shinrikyo, Heaven's Gate, the Unification Church, and many, many others. Sometimes the true danger of these groups was revealed only after the worst happened – mass suicides or murders. But years of prior abuse went unnoticed, sometimes masked by slick PR.
So what is a cult? How do you spot one? And, most importantly, how do you know if you're in one? Well, I've been studying the subject, on and off, for the last five years, since I left the Church of Scientology. I've read a number of books and articles on the subject, trying to make some sense of it. Here's my own analysis of seven points that define a cult:
2009
10 years ago2009-07-18, Jefferson Hawkins, Leaving Scientology
According to my Ethics Book, Suppressives comprise 2 1/2 percent of the population. That's why we refer to them, colloquially, as "two-and-a-half percenters." And we are supposed to be able to recognize them by certain characteristics, certain attributes - 12 in number. Any trained Scientologist should be able to spot an SP.
With that in mind, I was intrigued by this article showing that "49 out of 50 staff members from the last organization that L. Ron Hubbard personally ran himself in St Hill, England (known as 'Old Saint Hill') have been declared 'suppressive persons' by David Miscavige and kicked out of Scientology forever."
That's right, 49 out of 50 staff members of "Old Saint Hill" have been declared Suppressive by current Scientology Management. And that, by my calculation, is 98%. This is the organization, remember, that LRH holds up as the stellar example of what real expansion should be like. This is the standard that all Orgs are supposed to be striving for - to become the "size of Old Saint Hill."
2009-07-18, Jefferson Hawkins, Leaving Scientology
At the 2005 Maiden Voyage event, David Miscavige announced that his "Ideal Orgs" would be manned with OT VIIIs. Great idea. Not to nitpick, but as far as I know, OT VIII isn't an admin training level.
Nonetheless, a friend of mine, an OT VIII, decided to get with the program and join staff at her local org. Her husband had a good job and was willing to support her, so she didn't have to worry about the low pay/no pay as a Class V Org staff member. Turns out, most of her fellow OT VIIIs at the org were in the same position - women being supported by their husbands so they could devote their time to the org, without pay if needed.
My friend took on the post of Tech Sec, and was enthusiastic about really booming the org's tech delivery. As a part of her groove-in to the post, she was given a thick stack of programs to study. These were the programs she was supposed to be operating on. As she made her way through literally dozens of programs, she became increasingly dismayed. It was a confusing mishmash of programs, some of them many years old. There were programs to implement the Golden Age of Tech, programs to debug the implementation of the Golden Age of Tech, a program to implement the Solo Course (which her org didn't deliver), programs for Advanced Orgs ("some of the targets are applicable") and so on.
2008
11 years ago
2008-07-18, Walk Cook, The Union Democrat
Though the archive is closed to the public and even most church members, McNairn offered to give committee members a tour while she was in town for the weekend. Committee members declined, but expressed interest in a tour at a later date.
McNairn didn't elaborate on the workings of the archive, but, according to published reports from 1997, the church constructed an underground tunnel and chamber in the area at the site of the former Lady Washington Mine.
Planning documents filed with the county at the time called for a 15-foot-wide, 250-foot-long-tunnel. The first 98 feet from the entrance were improved, with a 10.5-foot domed ceiling. At the end of the 98 feet, documents showed a 10-foot-long storage room, with the rest of the tunnel unimproved.
2008-07-18, Nanaimo Daily News, Canada.com
A man from Nanaimo has been ordered to pay more than $179,000 in damages arising from hundreds of libellous statements he made on numerous websites over a four-year period.
B.C. Supreme Court Justice D.A. Halfyard found that Patrick Michael Sullivan defamed Robert Griffin, a 43-year-old resident of Sydney, Australia, in Internet postings from May 30, 2003 up until the trial in April.
2007
12 years ago
2007-07-18, Nan Eckman, CoStar Group
The Church of Scientology of Pennsylvania purchased the 15-story Cunningham Building and an adjacent storefront retail building in Philadelphia for $7.85 million, or $131 per square foot.
Tags: Philadelphia, Real estate
2006
13 years ago
2006-07-18, Bay News 9, Bright House Networks
2004
15 years ago
2004-07-18, Scientology's town, St. Petersburg Times
SCIENTOLOGY POSITIONS Gay marriage
Scientologists recognize marriage as a part of the second of eight dynamics of existence. The second dynamic includes all creative activity, including sex, procreation and child rearing. The Scientology marriage ceremony is traditional and addresses a union between a man and a woman.
Tags: 1950, 1954, 1986, Abortion, California, Clear, Clearwater, Dianetics, LGBTQ, Los Angeles, Mental Health, Osceola Inn, Sea Org, Tilden
2004-07-18, Robert Farley, Scientology's town, St. Petersburg Times
It is the weekly meeting of the Clearwater chapter of the World Institute of Scientology Enterprises, business people using Hubbard's business techniques. Akin to a chamber of commerce for Scientologists, WISE members network, recruit employees, share business tips and hear lectures on topics such as marketing.
And they refine ideas for new businesses for downtown Clearwater.
For Scientologists, opening a business is "just as natural . . . as taking a shower and putting their shoes on," said WISE's Tampa Bay area president, Bud Reichel.
In Clearwater, the shoes fit especially well.
Scientologists now own more than 200 shops, restaurants, service outlets and small businesses in and around Clearwater's downtown. Many employ fellow Scientologists. WISE's Clearwater membership stands at 687, more than triple what it was five years ago.
Tags: 1926, 1950, 1954, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1993, 1995, 2000, 2001, ArtGlass Studios, Atlanta, Auditing, Ben Kugler, Ben Shaw, Bennetta Slaughter, Bernard Reichel, Boy Scout, Brian Aungst, Bruce Balk, California, CCHR, Clearwater, Cleveland, Cleveland Street, Coachman, Criminal, Criminon, Cuba, Dave Dally, David Miscavige, Dianetics, Donation, Downtown Development Board, DUI, Dwight Matheny, Elias Jafif, Event Management Services, FBI, Flag Building, Flag Service Organization, Fort Harrison, Frank Hibbard, Gerald Ellenburg, Hacienda Gardens, IRS, Italy, Japan, John Travolta, Lee Arnold, Lisa McPherson, Los Angeles, Lou Kwall, Mark DeEulio, Mental Health, Mexico, Mike Roberto, Missouri, Mormon, Narconon, New Port Richey, Oak Cove, Osceola Inn, Pam Akin, Pinellas County, Randy Poletz, Ray Cassano, Richard Ghazarian, Russia, Salt Lake City, Sandcastle, Saudi Arabia, Scott Keeler, Sea Org, St. Louis, Starbucks, Steve Klar, Super Power, Susan Latvala, Tampa, Tilden, Traci Walters, Utah, Washington, Whitney Gray, William Lazarony, William Miller, WISE
2004-07-18, Scientology's town, St. Petersburg Times
Tags: 1950, 1954, 1975, 1979, 1982, 1986, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, Bernie McCabe, California, Clearwater, Clearwater Police Department, Cuba, Dianetics, Flag Building, Fort Harrison, IRS, Lisa McPherson, Los Angeles, Mental Health, Sid Klein, Tampa, Times Staff
1989
30 years ago1989-07-18, Stephen Koff, St. Petersburg Times
The Church of Scientology already owns 12 parcels worth more than $21-million in Clearwater. One of those buildings, the Sandcastle Motel, is now undergoing renovations. In September, the church hopes to start construction on the religious services building in conjunction with the renovation, said Bill Daugherty, a Scientology spokesman.
The 25,000-square-foot religious services building will be built on the site of the motel's existing reception building and will house a reception area, classrooms and counseling rooms. Floor space would be increased by 21,500 square feet, according to a site plan filed with the city.
FrontCite 07/16/2019 04:25p
See also:
FrontCite Mediawiki
UmbraXenu - The Home Game
xenu-directory.net: Scientology in the news
Scientology in the UK Media
See also:
FrontCite Mediawiki
UmbraXenu - The Home Game
xenu-directory.net: Scientology in the news
Scientology in the UK Media