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Mike Rinder's Blog

Something Can Be Done About It

Total Certainty — A Good Thing?

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Total certainty is a much discussed subject in scientology. Hubbard promoted this often, telling people that scientology would bring them total certainty. He even named one of the first magazines of scientology "Certainty." But is certainty really such a good thing? Certainty is the antithesis of knowledge. When you are certain you know things, it is impossible to teach you anything further. If you are certain the earth is flat, there is little point in providing evidence that this is not the case because that evidence will be rejected. The term is "thought-stopping." And on top of … [Read more...]

Scientology Child Auditors — Child Abuse

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Thanks to "10000 OT VIII" we can bring you this. So much to unpack. Former scientologists have often discussed "child auditors" in scientology, and I think some believe it is an exaggeration. This child has already been through the grueling TR's, including TR 0 bullbait -- where you are goaded, teased or intimidated "bullbaited" to react in some fashion whether flinching, laughing, blushing or blinking and then made to do endure the abuse over and over until there is no reaction. Now, this 9 year old child is counseling another child through their traumatic experiences, … [Read more...]

Episode 22: Geoff Levin Musician, a Founder of Celebrity Centre

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Fair Game podcast is back to normal this week after the holiday season schedule, and we welcome Geoff Levin. I will post the link here as soon as its available. Geoff often comments here at the blog, and some of you may know he wrote the theme music we use on the podcast. What you may not know is that he was around for, and played an integral role of the formation of Celebrity Centre. He was a member of the rock band People!.   We talk to Geoff about the destruction of his successful band -- scientology "ethics" caused them to throw out the lead singer for … [Read more...]

The Biggest Scientology Boondoggle Of All?

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Even in the world of scientology relentless money-grubbing for everything, perhaps the biggest boondoggle ever is the "L. Ron Hubbard Hall." This is a project that is even LESS needed than "ideal" org buildings. Some orgs have resided in shitty premises for decades, so there is some merit in improving their facilities. Though of course not to the extent of moving tiny, failing orgs into 50,000 sq ft buildings in industrial parks replete with custom furniture and carpets. But there is no need whatsoever for an "event facility" dedicated to scientology events. They cannot fill Ruth Eckerd … [Read more...]

Happy New Year

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We have begun a new year, thank God. Though obviously January 1 is not really any different than December 31, it is traditionally a time to look forward to a new year, rather than back at the disaster that was. It is the day we consider what we hope to accomplish in the coming year and what we would like to see happen. For me, and a lot of people who come to this blog, it’s a pretty simple answer: end the abuses of scientology, including the barbaric family destruction that is brought about by the policy of disconnection. Of course, this is easier said than done. Scientology doesn’t ch … [Read more...]

An Open Letter to Church of Scientology by Mark Fladd

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  Mark Fladd appeared with his wife, Stephanie, on an episode of The Aftermath. They told part of their experiences with Orange County org. Good people, chewed up and spit out by the relentless money-grubbing. Of course, instead of making things right with them, scientology sought to smear them. Mark wanted to clarify some things and I am happy to have this forum available for him to do so.   Open Letter to Church of Scientology Clarifications and an update for the Public Record By Mark Fladd, ex-Scientologist | Riverside County, California | 2020   Introduction The … [Read more...]

Narconon Ojai Failing

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  A few things to unpack here. First, their "accomplishments" are that they "remained open." Typically, an organization like this would be touting inflated numbers of "lives saved from drugs" -- clearly, they had virtually none. Instead, they announce the "success" of their podcast? 194 episodes for 250,000 downloads over 3 years? This is impressive? I think not. Now that I know something about the podcast world, this is virtually nothing. Fair Game podcast exceeded those download numbers the first week on the air. But, let's not stop there. They put out 16 "stellar, informative" … [Read more...]

Canada – The First Ideal Country?

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Hold on a second. The scientology definition of an "Ideal Country" is all EXISTING ORGS with "ideal buildings"... This is what they push all the time. We need an "ideal USA" -- that does not mean an ideal org in every city. It doesn't even mean an ideal org in each State. It simply means, all the orgs that ALREADY EXIST need to have new buildings purchased for them (or in the case of Toronto and Los Angeles, simply renovate the one they have -- which STILL isn't done in Toronto). Scientology hasn't opened a new org anywhere in recent memory. By this definition, the following COUNTRIES … [Read more...]

Merry Christmas

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For those who celebrate Christmas, have a wonderfully enjoyable time with friends and family today and over the weekend. For those who don't celebrate this occasion, have a wonderful day too. Really, no excuse is needed to have a wonderful day! And of course, there is always one thing to be joyful about. You are not locked inside the scientology bubble and can think for yourself. The greatest freedom anyone can ever attain. I will likely leave this post up for a couple of days, and take a break myself this weekend. Regraded Being will be here with a new classic on Monday.   … [Read more...]

Holiday Funnies

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A special edition of the Funnies just for the holidays. There is an apparently endless stream of "Holiday" promotion -- though scientology of course does not recognize Jesus as anything but part of the "R6 bank."   Virtual Freewinds Wouldn't you like to be at the Freewinds for the holidays? So, to entice you to go there, they are holding a virtual concert in Los Angeles? WTF?   Virtual Hawaii And the point of this? Strictly a fundraiser obviously. What does Bodhi Elfman have to do with Christmas? Or Hawaii? Or anything at all?   Well, they are going to … [Read more...]

Scientology Responds for Tom Cruise

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How odd is this. Scientology is speaking as the PR representative of Tom Cruise. While he and his PR people remain silent. The man who laughs in the face of suppression and can confront and shatter any SP is apparently unable to confront some bad media. It would seem David Miscavige was upset that "nobody was coming to the defense of Tom" and so ordered his minions to put out a statement. To me, this is further indication that the whole thing was a publicity stunt that blew up in their faces. Or at the very least, Miscavige had praised Cruise for his "tough guy" image and told him he was … [Read more...]

Episode 21: Listener Questions Part 3

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Today's episode is Leah and I responding to questions from listeners.   We cover a lot of things in more detail than we had time to do on The Aftermath, and in many cases even more details than I can find the time to write about on the blog. A few documents we mentioned would be made available here and at fairgamepodcast.com.   Scientology's COVID response: Tony Ortega has extensively covered scientology's response to the pandemic. Here is the Miscavige's briefing document where he calls COVID 19 a "planetary bullbait."     Here are … [Read more...]