We have an amazing episode of Fair Game podcast this week, speaking to Mark Vicente. If you have not been watching The Vow on HBO I highly recommend it. It is the story of Keith Raniere and the NXIVM cult, told from the perspective of a number of former senior people in Raniere's organization, including Mark. We had a terrific conversation with him about the similarities between NXIVM and scientology -- and there are MANY. We also talked about patterns of high control organizations and the larger picture. I will post the link to the episode here when it becomes available. … [Read more...]
The Benefit of Goodwill According to L. Ron Hubbard
Well, here is some more brilliant advice from the "non-religious" part of scientology, the "World Institute of Scientology Enterprises (WISE)." Touting the words of Hubbard concerning goodwill and how important it is. Obviously, goodwill IS important. It is also something that scientology has none of. How is that possible if they are so in Source? Ron has laid out exactly how to attain this cherished goal. Why are they failing so badly? Maybe scientology should hire some experts from WISE to help them out... … [Read more...]
Scientology “Volunteers”
My recent post, Bonnie's Sad Tale, noted the use of the term "volunteer" repeatedly to describe working as an org staff member. I commented that this "volunteer" status is a legal sham. It is simply a way of taking advantage of the law -- and that no org staff are actually "volunteers." It's simple to prove. If they cease to "volunteer" before completing their contract, they are given a bill for services they have taken in "exchange" for their work (a freeloader bill). That, by definition, is not a volunteer. And they also have to sign a contract. And they are promised "wages." And they … [Read more...]
Regraded Being
Bonnie’s Sad Tale
This is a very sad story. Yet another bright young woman indoctrinated into becoming a willing scientology slave. She is so proud of the fact that she was the youngest fundraiser for the "ideal org" (something that changed absolutely nothing in Sydney or anywhere else). And she was a fundraiser for the IAS, upset that she "only regged $5,000 today." This is perfectly normal in the scientology world. And she proclaims she has been on staff for 11 years and has completed NED (but is not Clear), the Student Hat and Metering Course. This is the big "benefit" of 11 years of "volunteering" as … [Read more...]
Scientology and the Communist Witch-hunt
For some unknown reason, the STAND twitter account recently put up a new tweet accusing The Hollywood Reporter of a "history of forwarding hate. In the 1940s and 50s, the publication was part and parcel of fomenting the anti-Communist campaign in Hollywood..." If you click on the link it goes to a page on the STAND site that is a letter of complaint about an article in the THR from 2017 (they don't seem to have a whole lot of new material): It is so typically scientology -- they don't like something they said, so they launch into an attack over something that happened 70 … [Read more...]
Episode 10: Attorney Ray Jeffrey
We have another real treat this week, Leah and I talk with Ray Jeffrey. I will add the episode here as soon as it is available. As most of you who come here know, Ray was the lawyer who took on representing Debbie Cook and her husband Wayne when they were sued by scientology for allegedly breaching their agreement not to speak out about their experiences in scientology. It was a huge ask as scientology had filed requesting a Temporary Restraining Order on an expedited hearing schedule, and of course they had lined up a small army of lawyers. They were impossible odds. By happenstance, … [Read more...]
Pinellas County Sheriff Candidate Eliseo Santana: Scientology Shill
Eliseo Santana just sent me this mailer as a resident of Pinellas County. Last month, he became the democratic candidate to challenge the incumbent Sheriff Bob Gualtieri. I would not normally comment on this, except earlier this year, Eliseo Santana also ran for Clearwater City Council against Mark Bunker. Santana was a scientology shill in that election. (You can watch some of the videos of Santana in action at that link). Scientology is afraid of running any scientologist candidates -- they know they will lose -- so they try to curry favor with candidates by promising them their … [Read more...]
Irony? They’ve Never Heard The Word
The anti-psych brigade, with Ken Cramer driving the clown car, are at it again. Change the sign in his cartoon below from psychiatrist to scientologist and it would be a far more accurate depiction. While psychiatrists may charge fees for their services, scientology is obsessed with getting people's money. There are sales courses and finding ruins and bringing up to need of change and Big League Sales and of course, MAKE MONEY. MAKE MORE MONEY. I don't think you could find a psychiatric text on how to go about getting money from people, but there are volumes of them in … [Read more...]
Regraded Being
Scientology Fair Game Podcast Questions
Leah had a wonderful idea. We are going to do an episode of the Fair Game Podcast where we respond to listeners questions. There have already been a number of them here, on the website and social media, but if you have a question you would like us to answer, please include it in the comments. We will try to get to as many of them as we can. … [Read more...]
Scientology Spokesman Trashes David Miscavige
Over the past 2 years, there is only one recognized person who speaks on behalf of scientology: Marty Rathbun. The two other recognizable "spokespeople" are never heard from -- Ed Parkin sends out a stream of tweets and Karin Pouw's name is affixed to the routine letters sent to the media written by others. They are never actually seen speaking. These 3 are the troika of scientology spokespeople today. Monique Yingling seems to have gone into retirement. Tommy Davis blew. Heber Jentzsch is disappeared. Even Bob Adams and Linda Simmons-Hight have vanished. And the other people who speak in … [Read more...]
Episode 9: Steve Cannane
This week we talk to Australian investigative journalist, Steve Cannane. You can listen to the podcast here: Steve has reported extensively on scientology in Australia, breaking a number of stories of victims of abuse over the past decade: His reporting prompted him to write a book, very appropriately entitled Fair Game. This is the definitive history of scientology in Australia. But events in Australia have had a huge impact on scientology around the world. Much of the policies on dealing with enemies and attacks grew out of the Victorian … [Read more...]
They Cannot Get Over It
Ed Parkin (and his Dear Leader, David Miscavige) continue to be obsessed about A&E. Not content that The Aftermath completed its 3 season run more than a year ago, they are operating on the Hubbard dictum "I never forget, I always even the score" and continue, once a week on average, to write editorials demanding the entire A&E network be exterminated. They literally want to cost every A&E employee their job, also pursuant to the dictates of Hubbard. Everyone who works at A&E is an "enemy" because they are connected to The Aftermath, Leah Remini and Mike Rinder. Why does … [Read more...]
At Least We Know They Are Listening
STAND is obviously paying close attention to the Fair Game podcast, No sooner had the episode where we talked to Alex Gibney aired than they trotted out a new smear on him. From none other than the renowned expert, Will Seabrook. It would be interesting to ask Mr. Seabrook in person whether he has watched Going Clear. I would bet he has not. If, by chance, he has, then I would love to ask him two simple questions: What specific can you cite to classify his film as a "bigoted propaganda video"? Tell me a single fact that is wrong? It's funny, scientology has NEVER refuted the … [Read more...]