Today September 18 in Scientology history

RB's schedule was interrupted by some required dental attention, never an activity conducive to humor. I selected an oldie but goodie for this week...

Tags: Facebook, Quicky, Regraded Being, Twitter

At 8:30 am Pacific today at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center on West Temple Street in downtown Los Angeles, Scientology celebrity and That '70s Show actor Danny Masterson is scheduled to make an appearance and be arraigned on criminal charges. We expect to have someone on the scene and we'll be bringing you reports as they come in. Masterson is accused of raping three different women between 2001 and 2003 who were each Scientologists at the time. We've been reporting on these incidents since we first broke the news that the LAPD was investigating them in 2017, and we have a lot of background on their cases and why things have taken so long to get to this point. Here's a brief breakdown on the individual cases. Victim A (Chrissie Carnell Bixler)

Tags: 1963, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, A&E, Bobette Riales, Cedric Bixler-Zavala, Chrissie Carnell, Criminal, Daily Beast, Danny Masterson, David Miscavige, Environmental Protection Agency, Hollywood, Huffington Post, Jackie Lacey, Jenni Weinman, LAPD, Leah Remini, Los Angeles, Marty Singer, Michael Jackson, Quicky, Scientology and the Aftermath, Scientology celebrity, SEC, Tom Mesereau, Valium, Vistaril, Yashar Ali

This is an update on the VM's activities in the Bahamas since I posted this: Scientology Volunteer Ministers scam exposed once again First up, the urgent call to get a photographer to accompany the "1,000 VM's we are activating for immediate deployment" to the Bahamas (yes, that IS what they said was happening). What could be more important to get to the disaster site than a photographer? Seriously? They put this on social media and don't even care.

Tags: Bahamas, California, Clearwater, Facebook, Florida, International Association of Scientologists, Miami, Orlando, OT, OT Committee, Quicky, South America, Twitter, Volunteer Ministers

Yesterday, Jeffrey Augustine wondered why the Church of Scientology, which has mobilized its Volunteer Ministers to help out with Hurricane Dorian destruction in the Bahamas, can't use its cruise ship the Freewinds to bring supplies to the islands rather than the single small pleasure yacht it had rented for the occasion. But hey, what's the next best thing than Scientology icon and jet pilot John Travolta rounding up some VMs to fly water and food over to Freeport? Travolta posted this video to his Facebook page last night...

Tags: 1963, Bahamas, Battlefield Earth, Canada, David Miscavige, Facebook, Florida, Freewinds, Hurricane Dorian, Jeffrey Augustine, John Travolta, Mike Rinder, Quicky, Tom Cruise, UFO, Volunteer Ministers, Xenu

Almost four years ago we broke the story here at the Underground Bunker of a wild criminal case developing in Los Angeles. A woman named Hanan Islam and three of her children and others were arrested and faced felony charges for running a multi-million dollar scam involving a jackleg Scientology drug rehab clinic in Compton, a working class suburb. According to the indictments filed by state investigators, Hanan and the other defendants defrauded the state Medi-Cal insurance program with a scheme that involved shuttling unwitting high school students to the Scientology clinic for drug addiction treatments they didn't need so Medi-Cal could be fraudulently billed. The state's investigation not only resulted in felony charges for Islam and her children, but three African-American educators — two high school principals and the head coach of the legendary Dominguez High School football program — also faced charges and lost their jobs, accused of supplying the students to the Islams for their scheme.

Tags: 1963, 2015, African-American, Bayon Beverly Washington, California, Canada, Compton, George Edward Newby, Hanan Islam, Judge Michael Pastor, Judge Michael Tynan, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Superior Court, Los Angeles Times, Medi-Cal, Nation of Islam, Peggy Crawford, Rizza Islam, Sovereign Citizen, Toronto, UFO, World Literacy Crusade

We have some really significant stories coming soon, and we want as many people as possible to see them. So we're trying something a little different today, and we hope we can count on your help. Yes, the Underground Bunker is finally dipping its toes into the world of video. Now, that doesn't mean that you're going to have to put up with your proprietor on screen. We're taking a subtler approach, and we hope it's a compelling one. Hey, if David Miscavige can have a DirecTV channel that shows the same dozen propaganda programs over and over 24 hours a day, the least we can do is throw him a little competition. And mercifully, we're keeping our videos very short — 90 seconds or less.

Tags: Anne Archer, Australia, Beck Hansen, California, Cartagena, Catherine Bell, Charlene Muhammad, Chicago, Chick Corea, Class V, Clear, Code of a Scientologist, Colombia, Colorado, David Miscavige, Denver, Dianetics, DirecTV, Elisabeth Moss, Erika Christensen, Ethan Suplee, Facebook, Final Call, Freedom Medal, Freewinds, Ideal Org, Japan, L. Ron Hubbard Way, Louis Farrakhan, Meghan Fialkoff, Muhammad, Nashville, Nation of Islam, New York City, Oregon, Perth, Portland, Russia, San Diego, Scientology TV, Sydney, Tennessee, Tokyo

The reward has gone up! Just last week it was $250 to $500. I wonder where this instant money is coming from? Certainly not from Orlando's Financial Planning Committee… Perhaps they have a whale who is tossing in some bucks (rather than joining staff themselves — too smart for that I guess). Wonder if anyone is left in the housing they arranged for the Orlando "staff" who were flown in for the grand opening? You can bet that place emptied out a week after the ribbon yanking. They proudly announced at the time they were up to 120 staff. If they have 12 staff today I would be surprised. 10X contraction is the order of the day.

Tags: Orlando, Orlando Org

For more information please see these stories at The Underground Bunker... https://tonyortega.org/2018/08/21/see-the-scientology-like-ad-for-scientologist-owned-abcmouse-made-by-scientologists/ https://tonyortega.org/2017/11/30/the-new-list-of-scientology-donors-is-out-early-this-year-and-the-biggest-whale-is-missing/

Tags: 2017, ABCmouse, Music, Quicky, Underground Bunker

Sea Org members leaving Toronto reference library where they were holding the exhibit called Psychiatry: An Industry of Death. They claimed that we were getting paid to be there to protest lol. If we were getting paid we would protest lots more :)

Tags: Psychiatry: An Industry of Death, Quicky, Sea Org, Toronto

I dont know what the run-of-the-mill NOI member thinks about this weird mashup of scientology and the NOI, but I do know what L. Ron Hubbard would say. Mixing practices = squirrel. And there is no doubt this fits squarely within the Hubbard definition of "mixing practices." Since when does rising up the Tone Scale equate to the "thinking of God"? And what does Doubting Thomas have to do with the Reactive Mind — Thomas refusing to believe Jesus had risen from the dead without seeing proof is the reactive mind at work? Hey RTC — why aren't you doing your job? They are even using your Trademarked terms without attribution? Somehow the NOI is allowed to do what nobody else is allowed to do? They go berserk if a scientologist uses "the technology" without acknowledging L. Ron Hubbard and paying a royalty. Let alone an "independent scientologist"...

Tags: Jesus, Lawrence Muhammad, Quicky, Reactive Mind, Religious Technology Center, Squirrel, Tone Scale, Trademark

As expected, actress Elisabeth Moss took home the Emmy award last night for her role in Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale, besting her fellow nominees for Lead Actress in a Drama Series, Claire Foy (The Crown), Keri Russell (The Americans), Viola Davis (How to Get Away with Murder), Robin Wright (House of Cards), and Evan Rachel Wood (Westworld). The Handmaid's Tale also won the Emmy for Best Dramatic Series. In Moss's acceptance speech, she raised some eyebrows for dropping an f-bomb on live television (which was bleeped out in time by quick-thinking CBS censors). After thanking a laundry list of industry people in her speech, as you do, Moss said, "And my mother. You are brave and strong and smart and you have taught me that you can be kind and a fucking badass." Well, in Scientology cursing is practically a sacrament, so maybe Moss's indecorum shouldn't be unexpected.

Tags: 1985, 2001, 2015, Australia, BBC, Beck Hansen, Catherine Bell, Celebrity Centre, China, David Miscavige, Drama, Elisabeth Moss, Emmy Award, Erika Christensen, FBI, Giovanni Ribisi, Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief, HBO, Hollywood, Houston, Jason Beghe, Jefferson Hawkins, Juliette Lewis, Leah Remini, Marty Rathbun, Michael Peña, Mike Rinder, Murder, News.com.au, Nicole Kidman, Paul Haggis, Quicky, Sea Org, Suppressive Person, Tom Cruise, Tommy Davis

Scientology tax-exempt fraud at work: After being after being publicly exposed and shamed for using stock photos to create phony Scientologists used to attack Leah Remini, A&E, Leah's guests and everyone connected to Leah's Emmy-winning show Scientology and the Aftermath, the Scientology Cult is now doubling down on its social media fraud. There is no Scientologist named Alicia Selverson. And yet the Church of Scientology uses this stock photo image to pretend that Alicia Selverson is a real Scientologist who belongs to a Scientology propaganda group called STAND. There are also no Scientologists named Eva Band, Ellis Craig, Rebecca Blair, or Catriona McKenzie. These fake people are STAND members. Astute Scientology watchers uncovered the fact that the stock photo of "Catriona McKenzie" was used on a book cover:

Tags: 1965, 1980, A&E, Alicia Selverson, Anonymous, Cult, Ellis Craig, Fraud, Gemma Harris, Holocaust, Leah Remini, Quicky, Scientology and the Aftermath, STAND, Tax exempt, Twitter

Crimes And Suppression In The Sea Org Summed up in two words: I left because I felt suppressed and restricted and I didn't see a chance for change. Of course in the Sea Org this doesn't count as a reason for leaving, as "a person with a clean heart cannot be hurt" and a person is "at full cause over everything that happens to him" and a thetan (the name for the spirit in Scientology) has the ultimate ability "to make everything right".

Tags: 2013, 2016, Abortion, Aruba, Barbados, Clearwater, Command Intention, Committee of Evidence, David Miscavige, Disconnection, Ethics, Ethics Officer, Florida, Freewinds, Gabi Nyiri, Golden Age of Tech, High Crime, Hungary, International Association of Scientologists, Japan, L. Ron Hubbard, Lurie Bellotti, Maiden Voyage, Mark Kimura, OT IX, Purification Rundown, Quicky, Religious Technology Center, Russia, Scientology organization, Sea Org, Sec Check, Sleep deprivation, Suppressive Person, Taiwan, Tom Cruise

The weekly show where I answer questions viewers left in the comments section of my Q&A videos or have sent to me by email at AskChrisShelton@gmail.com. This week, the questions I answer are: (1) I was wondering if you could synopsize in plain English what exactly happened with the Monique Rathbun case in Texas. The legalese is very hard to understand and I'm not sure why they dropped the case. AND

Tags: Chairman of the Board, Critic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lloyd Evans, Marty Rathbun, Monique Rathbun, Quicky, Ross and Carrie, Sea Org, Steven Mango, Tampa, Texas, ToryMagoo44, Twin Cities, YouTube

Rod Keller keeps an eye on Scientology social media for us, and on Sundays he dives into the latest happenings with the organization's many front groups. This time, he's taking us to Russia, where things have taken a turn for the worse. Take it away, Rod... The World Institute of Scientology Enterprises (WISE) will hold its 20th annual conference for Russian and Russian-speaking Scientologists in Moscow from September 28-30. The conference is at the Cosmos Hotel, the largest hotel in Russia, with over 1,700 rooms. Built in 1980 for the Summer Olympics, the hotel was re-dedicated in 2005 in honor of French General Charles de Gaulle to celebrate the victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War, or World War II as it is known in Western countries. It's an impressive hotel, but Scientology is run on statistics, and WISE in Russia is "downstat" in that reserved seating for this year is behind the pace set in 2015. Scientology in Russia is under pressure from the authorities, with orgs and missions being the target of police raids and seizure of documents. But WISE continues to do business, selling Scientology under the name of business consulting. Sea Org member Eugenia Sukhareva is the Commanding Officer WISE CIS and Baltic States, and the main organizer of the conference.

Tags: 1980, 2005, 2015, Alexander Vysotsky, Andrey Sizov, Be Youer Than You Foundation, Business Forward, Clearwater, Eugenia Sukhareva, Europe, Flag Land Base, Germany, Ideal Org, Lynn Irons, Moscow, New Era Management, New York, OCA, Org Board, Patrick Valtin, Performia International, Personality test, Potential Trouble Source, Practicum Group, Prodavay, Quicky, Rod Keller, Russia, Sea Org, St. Petersburg, Study Tech, Sweden, Valery Hodortsov, Vladimir Kusakin, Vladimir Sidorenko, Vysotsky Consulting, WISE, WISE CIS, World Institute of Scientology Enterprises, Yevgeniy Kotov

Next in the ongoing series of essays by Terra Cognita. See earlier posts here: The Way To Happiness: Really? A Story, Auditing: a PC's Quest for the Holy Grail, The Knowledge Report, Integrity, The Almighty Stat, The Reg, The Horrors of Wordclearing, Why Scientologists Don't FSM, Respect, The Survival Rundown - The Latest Scam, Communication in Scientology... Or Not, Am I Still A Thetan?, To Be Or Not To Be, An Evaluation of Scientology, Fear: That Which Drives Scientology and Justification and Rationalization. The Mind (I Think) Does a separate entity called the mind actually exist independent of the body and the spirit? Or is the mind merely an abstract construct of philosophers, psychologists, and theologians trying to describe phenomena happening inside the brain? Whatever this is, thought, memory, reason, imagination, and consciousness have been attributed to this device since man chased mastodons.

Tags: Auditing, Clear, Dianetics, Field Staff Member, Knowledge Report, L. Ron Hubbard, Quicky, Reactive Mind, Scam, Survival Rundown, Terra Cognita

A CONTROVERSIAL drug treatment centre – linked to the Church of Scientology – has opened in Heathfield. The centre, run by Narconon, began welcoming the first patients to its new Maynards Green Road headquarters this week. The group, which up until now has operated mainly out of the United States, bases its recovery programme on the teachings of scientology founder, L Ron Hubbard. His method involves putting addicts through a programme of cold turkey, forcing them to sweat out toxins in sauna conditions and following the programme up with a course of vitamins.

Tags: Heathfield, Narconon, Narconon UK, Sheila Maclean, UK

A movie theater in Clearwater, Florida — home of the world spiritual headquarters of the Church of Scientology — has dropped plans to play Alex Gibney's documentary Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief after being pressured by the church, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter. However, residents of Clearwater, including former members of the church, still will be able to see Gibney's Scientology movie when HBO Documentary Films re-releases it in theaters. The AMC Woodlands Square 20 in the neighboring town of Olsdmar, some 12 miles from Clearwater, has agreed to pick up the documentary and play it on behalf of HBO Films.

Tags: 1970, 2013, 2016, Alex Gibney, Billboard, Clearwater, David Miscavige, Documentary, Facebook, Flag Building, Flag Land Base, Florida, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, HBO, Hollywood, John Travolta, Karin Pouw, Lawrence Wright, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Tampa, Tom Cruise, Twitter, Washington

This intriguing YT video is of great interest to me. Brother Polight of Harlem asks a Scientologist working a stress test table extremely straightforward questions about L. Ron Hubbard and racism. Polight's video highlights the Church of Scientology's recurring policy of cowardice: When asked hard questions by non-Scientologists of any race, Scientologists call the police and claim they are being harassed. In doing so, Scientologists waste taxpayer dollars and police resources while the Church of Scientology pays no taxes. I protested alongside Anonymous in 2008 and saw this same Scientology tactic repeatedly: Avoid the hard questions and call the police. Scientologists want to be OT. However, they become victims and crybabies who waste taxpayer dollars when they are confronted about their conduct and beliefs.

Tags: 2008, Alex Gibney, Anonymous, Clearwater, Florida, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief, Harlem, HBO, Hollywood Reporter, New York City, NYPD, Office of Special Affairs, OT, Police, Quicky

Tags: Quicky, Regraded Being

Scientology has its soul duds on! These young staff members are in place in Harlem for tomorrow's big block party, as David Miscavige opens yet another Ideal Org. We're very disappointed that we won't be on the scene because of other obligations. We'd love to know if there are any New York correspondents who might want to check out the scene for us and maybe snap a few photos on Saturday. Please let us know. We're traveling today after a busy week on the road, and we hope you'll bear with us as we try to get caught up on things.

Tags: Camelot Castle, Clear, David Miscavige, Harlem, Ideal Org, Jim Lippard, New York City, Phoenix, Quicky, Russia, Skeptics, Ted Stourton

Scientology appears to believe they can now tell the citizens of Clearwater what movies they can watch. Another PR footbullet from scientology. I wonder if COB Theaters are ready for the backlash for buckling to scientology's "threats" not to show the film? It's still on their website even....

Tags: 1970, 2013, Academy Award, Chairman of the Board, Clearwater, David Miscavige, Documentary, Flag Building, Flag Land Base, Florida, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief, HBO, Hollywood, Hollywood Reporter, John Travolta, Lawrence Wright, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Pamela McClintock, Quicky, San Francisco, Tampa, Tom Cruise, Washington

Next Wednesday, Monique Rathbun and the Church of Scientology will tangle in another hearing before the Texas Third Court of Appeals. The last time the court heard arguments in this lawsuit, it then reversed a trial court ruling that held Monique could depose Scientology leader David Miscavige in a question of jurisdiction. This time, the entire lawsuit is on the line.

Tags: Caliente, California, Colorado, Comal County, Dallas, David Lubow, David Miscavige, Ed Bryan, Jack Welch, Judge Dib Waldrip, Judge James Mahan, Las Vegas, Leslie Hyman, Marty Rathbun, Monique Rathbun, Monty Drake, Narconon, Narconon Fresh Start, Nevada, OT 8, Private investigator, Rainbow Canyon Retreat, Rathbun v. Scientology, Ryan Hamilton, SLAPP, Squirrel Busters, Steven Gregory Sloat, Texas, Texas Third Court of Appeals, Thomas Leatherbury, Welch v. Narconon

The "new" Purif. Firstly, there is the MEST. There is no "secondly".... $14 Million later — this is Orange County "Ideal Org" Looks like they can't afford to keep the lights on....

Tags: Battle Creek, Chicago, Class V, Class VIII, Clear, Columbus, Denver, Detroit, England, Ideal Org, L. Ron Hubbard, Long Island, New Haven, Orange County, Orlando, OT, OT Committee, Puerto Rico, Purification Rundown, Quicky, Russia, Silicon Valley, Thursday Funnies, Tony Ortega, WISE

In July, Remini announced her decision to leave the Church of Scientology, later admitting that the decision cost her several friends. Fortunately, Lopez is standing by "The King of Queens" star, and even cheered for Remini from the audience at "DWTS" on Monday, according to the Daily Mail.

Tags: Jennifer Lopez, Leah Remini

Charlie Frago at the Tampa Bay Times has big news this afternoon. With the Church of Scientology facing a 5 pm deadline today to turn over more information about its scheduled October 6 grand opening event for its "Flag Building" (also known as the "Super Power Building") the church sent word that the event would instead be postponed indefinitely. "I don't remember a calamity like this that played out in the public ever before," former Scientology spokesman Mike Rinder told Frago, and we have to agree. This appears to be the most obvious evidence yet that Scientology leader David Miscavige is quickly losing control of an organization gripped in crisis. We called Rinder, who had been keeping a close watch at his blog on things in Clearwater. We told him that because we'd been reading him, we weren't entirely surprised that this happened.

Tags: 1970, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1998, 2011, California, Charlie Frago, Clearwater, David Miscavige, Feshbach, Flag Building, Florida, Fort Harrison, International Association of Scientologists, Irvine, Jefferson Hawkins, Jenna Miscavige Hill, Joe Childs, Lisa McPherson, Luis and Rocio Garcia, Maiden Voyage, Matt Feshbach, Mike Rinder, New Year's Eve, OT IX, Quicky, Sea Org, Super Power, Super Power Building, Tampa Bay Times, Tom Tobin

The Church of Scientology has backed off previously announced plans to dedicate its Flag Building downtown on Oct. 6 and will push back its grand opening indefinitely. The seven-story structure that takes up an entire city block has been under construction since 1998. Also known as the "Super Power" building, the structure will reportedly house a classified church program first advanced by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard in the 1970s. The church had expected 10,000 Scientologists for the dedication Oct. 6 and faced two city deadlines this week to supply information for a special events permit to close streets and sidewalks around the Flag Building. A traffic plan was due by 5 p.m. today and a certificate of liability insurance and an updated venue site plan are due by Friday.

Tags: 2007, Bill Horne, California, Clearwater, Flag Building, George Cretekos, International Association of Scientologists, Kevin Dunbar, Mike Rinder, New Year's Eve, Scientology executive, Super Power, Twitter

Claire Headley is taking us on our journey to train as Scientologists. She and her husband Marc were Sea Org workers who escaped from Scientology's International Base in 2005. She spent years working with Scientology's "tech," and was trusted to oversee the auditing of Tom Cruise. Go here to see the first part in this series. Claire, it seems like we've come a long way now. Where do we go next after finishing the Expanded Grades? CLAIRE: Next will be NED — New Era Dianetics. The premise and theory of this level is covered in L. Ron Hubbard's book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. It used to be that Dianetics auditing was first on the grade chart. That was before my time. Then later on, the grades were added as prerequisites to NED. The idea behind it was that the grades would address a person's particular life problems, so by the time they get to Dianetics they're in better shape and will keep their gains on this level. But really, to sum it up, this is where you will run out all your engrams and go Clear.

Tags: 1950, 1963, 1991, 2005, Adelaide, Advanced Org, Australia, Brad Pitt, Celebrity Centre, Claire Headley, Clear, Copenhagen, David Miscavige, Dianetics, E-meter, Florida, Hollywood, Int Base, Jenna Miscavige Hill, Juliette Lewis, Los Angeles, Marty Rathbun, Mental Health, Mike Rinder, Montana, Operating Thetan, OT, OT V, PC folders, Purification Rundown, Quicky, Sea Org, Sydney, Texas, Time magazine, Tom Cruise, Vance Woodward

I have been quite overwhelmed by the messages, calls, emails, pms and comments from so many people in response to the posting about the death of my mother. There is not enough time in the day to respond to each individually, and if I have not responded to you personally, it is not because I didnt appreciate your kind words, support and friendship. I just haven't been able to get to everything today. This episode has reminded me just how many friends I have. And despite how it may sometimes seem, the good in this world far outweighs the bad. There are so many decent, caring, loving people — some I have never even met or heard from before — that the accumulation of positive energy steamrolled any negative. I shed more tears of joy and appreciation in reading all the kind words than any grief over loss.

Tags: Quicky

The Indies Defense Fund just put the Headley's over the top to reach and exceed their $45,000 target. See, Headley Family Legal Fund. The $7,500 donation from our fund brought the Headley's total to $50,535.00. While it took the Headleys above the $45,000 target, I went ahead and transfered our entire fund as I originally said I would, because a) I thought that appropriate to satisfy the overwhelming show of support on this blog for the Headleys, b) I know that quite in addition to the costs bill of Scientology Inc. the Headleys had to satisfy, they were out of pocket tens of thousands of dollars in their own litigation costs. Final Accounting Indies Defense Fund: Balance 9/16/12 : 8,520.76

Tags: Legal, Quicky

A man tried to kill himself at a Scientology-affiliated detox clinic after its "purification rundown" took him off his prescribed medicines in a "quick taper," the man claims in court.

Tags: Allan Sosin, Gordon Phillips, Narconon, Pur Detox, Purification Rundown, William Sweeney

A briefing on how the Scientology "secret service", OSA, is trying to find out my movements.

Tags: Fair Game, Office of Special Affairs, Video

Carrying on my program of hosting guest contributors, here is an essay by my good friend and supporter, Karen de la Carriere. Killing the Goose that Lays the Golden Eggs by Karen de la Carriere

Tags: CMO Int, Colorado, Commodore's Messenger Organization, Dan Koon, David Miscavige, Debbie Cook, Denver, Haydn James, Heber Jentzsch, Karen de la Carriere, L. Ron Hubbard, Lawyer, Mike Rinder, Mission Network, Quicky, Steve Hall, Watchdog Committee

Interesting how the more inclusive and empathic we become the more it seems to shake up and stir misemotion and divisivenes in some. Aside from the trolls and OSA agents on our fringes, there are some who purport to be "independent Scientologists" who express a very narrow minded and intolerant view of those who do not march lock-step with the Scientology world view. L Ron Hubbard was truly ahead of his time in many respects. Unfortunately, for whatever reasons that could be debated for many lifetimes, his ideas were monopolized in a zealotous religious context that has resulted in Scientology being left in the dust by great minds. The following video presentation is a great example. The fantastic "recent" discovery outlined in its opening few minutes I just listened to LRH detail fifty-eight years ago in the Philadelphia Doctorate Course. Of course, he did so using his own terms and nomenclature. So, what is a Scientologist (of the church variety) programmed to do? Sneer in contempt because the the author of the video speaks in terms of "hard wiring" and relates it to mental health concepts of brain development instead of the timeless, immortal mind as descibed by LRH. Sit back, arms tightly folded in arrogance, asserting an air of haughty rightness, gnashing his teeth contemplating the hopeless wrongness of the author. In protest and to solidify that rightness and other-wrongness, he maybe takes a second morgtage on his home to donate another twenty-five grand to IAS, thinking it will be used to bust a couple psychs somewhere. And in the interim, those many intelligent and caring minds (of whatever sciences and disciplines) move ahead trying to solve the very same problems Hubbard tried to solve thinking, with a great deal of justification, Scientologists are insular cultists with nothing to contribute.

Tags: International Association of Scientologists, L. Ron Hubbard, Office of Special Affairs, Philadelphia Doctorate Course, Quicky

By a vote of 3-2, the Sandy Springs Planning Commission has recommended the City Council deny the rezoning of an office building owned by the Church of Scientology. The church wants the property, located at the intersection of Roswell Road and Glenridge Drive, to be its new Georgia headquarters.

Tags: Sandy Springs

Will Smith and his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, donated $70,000 to Scientology groups in 2008, according to a tax filing just obtained by this column. The "Seven Pounds" actor contributed $60,000 to the World Literacy Crusade and $10,000 to ABLE International via his Will Smith Foundation. Each is a Scientology organization. In the past, he's denied being a member of the group.

Tags: ABLE, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Will Smith, World Literacy Crusade

LINKS: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Scientolog... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientol...

Tags: E-meter, Quicky

The Church of Scientology faces trial on deletion fraud charges in Paris, with the possibility that the organization, which claims around 5,000 active members in France in addition to a bevy of Hollywood celebrities such as Tom Cruise, could be banned in France if it loses.

Tags: Celebrity Centre, Daniele Gounord, France, Jean-Michel Roulet, Michel Raoust, Milivudes, Refund claim, Roger Gonnet

The Church of Scientology faces trial on deletion fraud charges in Paris, with the possibility that the organization, which claims around 5,000 active members in France in addition to a bevy of Hollywood celebrities such as Tom Cruise, could be banned in France if it loses.

Tags: Daniele Gounord, France, Fraud, Isabelle Montagne, Jean-Michel Roulet, Michel Raoust, Milivudes, Paris, Reimbursement package, Roger Gonnet

Some parents are upset with a study method introduced by a Montessori school in northwest Toronto, which they say has its roots in the Church of Scientology. Parents said the owner of the Bambolino Montessori Academy, a private school, told parents last week that it was introducing a new learning method called applied scholastics.

Tags: Applied Scholastics, Bambolino Montessori Academy, Canada, Julia Simon, Liz Zahari, Toronto

Melton, who has been criticized by some for being too easy on Scientology, and has been criticized by the church for being too harsh, says that the church's estimates of its membership numbers -- 4 million in the United States, 8 to 9 million worldwide -- are exaggerated. "You're talking about anyone who ever bought a Scientology book or took a basic course. Ninety-nine percent of them don't ever darken the door of the church again." If the church indeed had 4 million members in the United States, he says, "they would be like the Lutherans and would show up on a national survey" such as the Harris poll.

Tags: All About Radiation, CCHR, Director of Special Affairs, Gordon Melton, Guardian's Office, Heber Jentzsch, Institute for the Study of American Religion, Joava Good, Judy Steed, Lora Mengucci, Membership, Narconon, Phillip Parke, Rob Magiera, Salt Lake City, Sandra Lucas, Sunday service, Utah

A proposal for a charter school featuring the teaching methods of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard has been withdrawn by its primary sponsor for personal reasons, according to her supporters. Linda Smith, a veteran special education teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District and 16-year Church of Scientology member, had hoped to open the Northwest Charter School in the San Fernando Valley this fall. But she has postponed the plans while she cares for an ill family member, said Steve Hayes, an attorney who has been working with Smith on the committee planning the school.

Tags: Applied Scholastics, Linda Smith, Los Angeles, Steven Hayes, Study Tech

WASHINGTON (AP) _ The subject was serious _ religious persecution _ but girlish giggles echoing in a Capitol hearing room Thursday signaled that some serious star wattage also was under careful review: John Travolta. "I'm, like, 'Oh, geez, it's him,"' said 16-year-old Shauna Pond of South Jordan, Utah, as she and her youth group studying leadership at the Capitol peeked in to watch Travolta testify. "He's a hotty." But the actor was directing all of his heat and anger at Germany, accusing its government of harassing and discriminating against his fellow practitioners of Scientology, a religion with many big-name members.

Tags: Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, Germany, John Travolta, Mission Impossible, Quicky, Tom Cruise, Utah

A regimen of vitamins, exercise and saunas really will cure drug addiction, and cure radiation poisoning, too, the president of the Church of Scientology International said Thursday. The Rev. Heber Jentzsch, the head of the church based on the meditations of a science-fiction writer and accused by some of being a cult, also alleged that a conspiracy of psychiatrists and drug dealers was responsible for the troubles that nearly scuttled a Newkirk drug treatment center employing his beliefs.

Tags: Brent VanMeter, Heber Jentzsch, Narconon, Narconon Chilocco, Oklahoma, Purification

Few psychologists and fewer psychiatrists could see any possible good in dianetics, the bestselling so-called "science of mind" concocted by science-fiction Writer L. Ron Hubbard (TIME, July 24). But no group, it seemed, wanted to be the first to denounce it publicly. Last week, the American Psychological Association decided that somebody had to do something.

Tags: American Psychological Association, Dianetics, Frederick Schuman