The latest big news from the rapidly expanding global force that is scientology. They found some people (2?) in Vienna who disinfected a local Hindu temple. This qualifies as "news" and is even worthy of press release from "Church of Scientology International." Truly an indicator of just how small and insignificant scientology has become. Though they claim "10 million" scientologists (sometimes more, though now often just "millions") there is absolutely nothing to substantiate anything close to this. Every census that is taken, the numbers are less than the people who … [Read more...]
Dublin is Not So Ideal
Dublin is one of the stranger scientology orgs on earth. An enormous investment was made into this organization in a country where scientology has never been even remotely popular. There was a small, failing, bankrupt mission in Dublin. That was the extent of scientology's presence. Miscavige then bought one of the "Hubbard Offices" to try to preserve his "legacy" (and as a way of spending money for IRS purposes). For a short while Hubbard had an office in Merrion Square in Dublin where he delivered the "Personal Efficiency" course which was supposed to be the tool that boomed scientology. … [Read more...]
Regraded Being
Our friend RB had a relatively minor surgical procedure but it disrupted the normal course of life. Sending good wishes for a speedy recovery. But an Oldie But Goldies is right on point this week. When the Special Cult City SP Tour rolls through Clearwater on March 13, the sheeple will be kept indoors for fear of running into a crowd of SPs who might make their superpowers vanish. If they have to move between buildings, they will be required to go on buses. No walking allowed. Even from across the street us SP's might cave them in and cause them to lose the gains they paid so much to … [Read more...]
“I’m a Christian and I’m also a Scientologist”
This guy is running for elected office in Minnesota. He appears to be a legitimate, if unreal, candidate for Minnesota's 4th Congressional District. It's been a democratic district continuously since 1946, the current incumbent has been re-elected every 2 years since 2000. He is a Republican. This guy, like the now forgotten Joy Villa, is a Donald Trump superfan and conspiracy theory supporter on everything from fluoride to vaccinations. And like Joy Villa, he is trying to have his cake and eat it too. He wants to appeal to the Christian right who generally vote Republican, … [Read more...]
Amazing Seminar! Blow Away!!!!
OK, I must have seen literally a thousand of these "come to this event, it will be incredible/amazing/spectacular/blow away" etc etc with endless exclamation points. They are the same people over and over talking about the same thing. They promise incredible information which is just one of these "FSMs" (who earn a commission on everything that is paid for as a result) rehashing some old Hubbard quotes as if they are a new revelation. And then they really get down to business with some good old Big League Sales and hard sell money-grubbing. What is particularly remarkable … [Read more...]
Episode 30: Marc Headley Blown For Good
This week, Leah and I had a wonderful time talking with my old and very dear friend Marc Headley —The BFG — on our Fair Game Podcast. Marc not only has a phenomenal memory, he possesses a great sense of humor. Anyone who has read his book knows both of these things to be true. We covered plenty of ground -- talking about the Int base and David Miscavige, the infamous musical chairs incident depicted in Going Clear and even how the Rinder bobblehead came to be. Throughout I mentioned including links, you will find them below. This is definitely an episode you don't want to … [Read more...]
Mike Rinder on Mormon Stories Podcast
On Friday, I had the pleasure of joining John Dehlin on his Mormon Stories podcast. We had a terrific discussion about cults and differences and similarities between Mormonism and scientology. He is very well informed and articulate. This is the oldest and I dare say most popular blog on the subject of the problems with the LDS church. It's worth a listen for a bit of a different perspective. … [Read more...]
White Bread Scientology Does Black History Month
The virtually whites-only country club that is scientology is trying to seem woke by holding a Black History Month Event. Hosted by the very white Beth Akiyama, they have to bring in some little known outsiders to talk on the subject. About the only people of color you will find in scientology organizations are members of the Nation of Islam who seem to have lost their way and ended up in the wrong building. The overwhelming whiteness of scientology caused great concern to the one real celebrity scientology has had from the African American community -- Isaac Hayes. He spoke … [Read more...]
Regraded Being
Why Is Chris Latvala Supporting Scientology and What is a “Safepoint”?
Please see the article on Tony Ortega's website yesterday about the crazy Twitter war FL State Congressman Chris Latvala started -- first with Tracey McManus of the Tampa Bay Times, then with Tony Ortega and subsequently with me. I tweeted about this after Tony' story was up, and the Congressman responded to me in a similar fashion: As you can see my last offer is to meet with him to help provide the education he needs. I hope he takes me up. He said he was unaware of the scientology connections to the books that were offered. Maybe that is the case, but … [Read more...]
Lords of Ideal
These people are losing their shit. They come up with the stupidest crap to make everything a "game". Funny how it's not a "game" when it comes to handing over cash, and very much not a game when they have maxed out your credit cards, you’ve gotten a second mortgage and now you have declared bankruptcy after giving in to their very unfunny demands. Think about this. At this point, every org in WUS except Albuquerque and Hawaii are "ideal." They pretty much have an "ideal Continent" -- they HAVE an "ideal" California, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Colorado and Arizona. This is what they say … [Read more...]
Episode 29: Journalist Tony Ortega
Leah and I talk to our old friend Tony Ortega this week. Tony has been reporting on scientology for decades and as anyone who reads this blog likely knows, he writes pieces every day relating to scientology at the Underground Bunker. This is the most complete repository of reporting on scientology anywhere. It is an invaluable source of accurate information about scientology. Though never a scientologist, over the years, Tony has become extremely well-versed in the all things scientology and Hubbard, beyond a surface understanding, he grasps the nuances and makes use of his … [Read more...]
More on the OEC
This is a follow up to the earlier posting I did concerning the apparent upcoming release of the "new" OEC (The Next Big Thing -- The Miscavige OEC). The OEC volumes have not been sold in scientology orgs or from the Pubs Orgs for more than a decade. Miscavige has declared them to be squirrel. Like the Briefing Course -- and oddly, the Briefing course consists primarily of a few hundred recorded lectures by Hubbard himself. It is quite amazing to see how utterly bamboozled scientologists have been by Miscavige. He has done what most old-time scientologists thought was … [Read more...]
The Official Scientology Bubble — Now No Need for COVID Measures
I have often said that scientologists live in a bubble of delusion. But now it's official. Scientology have declared their ultimate "spiritual retreat" is now an official "bubble." It could not be more fitting that the Freewinds now has the stamp of approval from "Church Management" as an "official bubble." Anyone who has ever been to the Freewinds knows this is the most hermetically sealed bubble in all of scientology. Once you are in it, the outside world no longer exists and the only reality is the dream world of scientology. No contact with the outside world. Not even a way of … [Read more...]