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Scientology in Clearwater — Big Brother is Watching You

March 27, 2021 By Mike Rinder 63 Comments

  George Orwell's astonishing novel 1984 depicts a dystopian world that has many remarkable similarities to scientology. Big Brother is a character and symbol that represents a society where every citizen is under constant surveillance, constantly reminded of this by the slogan "Big Brother is watching you." If you visit downtown Clearwater, Big Brother (scientology) IS watching you. Anywhere and everywhere. While they claim the dozens of cameras mounted on their buildings are for "security" -- the truth is a little less palatable. And they showed their hand this past … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clearwater Tagged With: Aaron Smith-Levin, Big Brother, City of Clearwater, Clearwater, Mark Bunker, surveillance cameras

Cult City Tour and The Aftermath Foundation

March 14, 2021 By Mike Rinder 29 Comments

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the tour of Downtown Clearwater yesterday to benefit The Aftermath Foundation. And also to those who listened in remotely. We had a fun time and it was wonderful to see such a strong show of support from so many smiling faces. Our enormous appreciation to everyone for supporting the Aftermath Foundation. The Foundation's meaningful work continues, mostly unseen and not often talked about for the protection and peace of mind of those who are helped. It's the opposite of a scientology "humanitarian programs" where they don't do anything unless the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clearwater Tagged With: Aaron Smith-Levin, Christie Collbran, Claire Headley, Clearwater, cult city tour, March Headley, Mat Pesch, Mike Rinder, The Aftermath Foundation

Narconon’s Troubles Are Not Over

February 6, 2021 By Mike Rinder 38 Comments

Watch this new (less than 30 minute) video with Aaron Smith Levin and Luke Catton discussing the current problems of Narconon. Since the passage of the "Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act" in 2018, it is illegal to pay commissions for referrals to drug rehab programs. This Kickbacks in Recovery Act now makes FSM Commission for the Narconon program a federal crime. Scientology policies around Field Staff Members (FSMs), where people are paid commissions for referring others to Scientology organizations, was one of the major catalysts for Narconon's growth in the United States. It wasn't … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Narconon Tagged With: Aaron Smith-Levin, ABLE, ABLE International, Graham Berry, Luke Catton, Narconon, Narconon Int, Narconon Suncoast

Mark Bunker Strikes Fear Into Scientologists’ Hearts

April 4, 2020 By Mike Rinder 65 Comments

I was sent this Facebook message by Aaron Smith-Levin, who received it from Aida Barbosa in Mexico City. He does not know Aida. But she is very concerned that Aaron may know someone who is connected to Mark Bunker and that he should unfriend that person on Facebook as soon as he figures out if that person has other friends connected to Bunker. Obviously she does not know who Aaron is or that he is more than Facebook friends with Mark Bunker. But it gives some insight into the world of scientology and how panicked they are about Mark Bunker. And that, as has been said so often, it is OSA … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clearwater, Scientology Tagged With: Aaron Smith-Levin, Clearwater, Councilman Mark Bunker, Disconnection, Mark Bunker, Scientology

Our 10th Anniversary

November 5, 2019 By Mike Rinder 67 Comments

  The first blog post on mikerindersblog.org was on 5 November 2009. It's been 10 years but it sure doesn't seem that long! It's been a lot of fun along the way. I have met many wonderful people here (and quite a number subsequently IRL which has been especially gratifying).  Hopefully I have opened a window to discovering the truth about scientology for many. This blog would not have been possible without the support of many who have helped. While it is a labor of love (or perhaps passion) it IS labor and first my thanks to the many contributors who have provided content and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Mike Rinder Tagged With: Aaron Smith-Levin, Black Propaganda, Brian Lambert, Chris Shelton, Christi Gordon, Church of Scientology, David Miscavige, Disconnection, fair game, fundraising, Gary Reisdorf, Ideal Orgs, International Association of Scientologists, Jeffrey Augustine, Karen de la Carriere, L. Ron Hubbard, Leah Remini, Lois Reisdorf, Marty Rathbun, Mike Rinder, Mike Rinder's Blog, public relations, regraded being, Scientology, Scientology Idle Orgs, shelly miscavige, Terra Cognita, Tony Ortega, Tory Christman

The Aftermath Foundation Assists Sam Crabtree

August 10, 2019 By Mike Rinder 33 Comments

The information below was provided by Aaron Smith-Levin, along with an interview video he did with Sam Crabtree. I knew both his parents in the Sea Org back in the day, his father Paul more than his mother Debbie, especially when he was the Cram Off RTC. The video is a long one, but fascinating.  Sam is a second-generation Scientologist born into the Sea Org in 1983. His parents left the Sea Org when he was 6 years and raised Sam as a public Scientologist. After serving three more years in the Sea Org from age 17 to age 20 Sam moved to Clearwater to again be a public Scientologist. Sam … [Read more...]

Filed Under: The Aftermath Tagged With: Aaron Smith-Levin, Aftermath Foundation, Sam Crabtree

The (Not Tom) Cruise Debrief and An Announcement

March 26, 2019 By Mike Rinder 131 Comments

My apologies for being remiss. A few have asked how the vacation was as I made no mention of it here... It was amazing. I have waited to post this until we were ready with a special announcement. It's at the end of this short report on the cruise. We all had such a good time. A cruise is an excuse to eat and drink too much. Check. Do silly things -- like build a device to drop a raw egg 8 stories to the ship's atrium floor without it breaking -- we did!  Visit interesting locations. Check. Do things we had never done before. Check. Spend time with friends (adults together while the 8 … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Mike Rinder, The Aftermath Tagged With: Aaron Smith-Levin, Marc Headley, Mike Rinder, The Aftermath, The Aftermath Foundation

Chelsea Handler Coming to Scientology HQ

March 26, 2019 By Mike Rinder 25 Comments

Chelsea Handler is coming to Clearwater as part of her comedy/book tour. I do not believe it is accidental that Clearwater is included among the list of cities she is visiting -- NY, LA, Houston, Miami, DC, Boston, Chicago, SFO, Seattle etc. All MAJOR markets and a couple of college towns (Madison WI, Durham NC) and then little old Clearwater... What could possibly be the reason? And at the Ruth Eckerd Hall, where earlier this month David Miscavige and Dan Sherman conducted the clapping seals for the annual L. Ron Hubbard Birthday Event as they have done every year since the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Aaron Smith-Levin, Chelsea Handler, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Scientology, Scientology The Aftermath, The Aftermath

The Aftermath Foundation

February 20, 2019 By Mike Rinder 125 Comments

Many of you may have seen Aaron Smith-Levin's video posted on Tony Ortega's blog yesterday. If you missed it, here it is again: In response to the video a large number of people contacted The Foundation offering their assistance and making donations. The response was heart-warming and greatly appreciated. Scientology can try to prevent The Foundation from helping people leave scientology -- but they will never succeed. The members of the board of the foundation are not cowed by scientology in the least. We are aware of their dirty tricks. We anticipated there would be people sent in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: The Aftermath Tagged With: Aaron Smith-Levin, Ideal Orgs, Leah Remini, Mike Rinder, The Aftermath, The Aftermath Foundation

Clearwater PR – Xmas Carolers Surprise

December 18, 2017 By Mike Rinder 86 Comments

Another Freudian slip. This is a couple of weeks old. Scientology put out a press release about their wonderful goodwill gesture of caroling for Christmas. Of course, scientology and Christianity have nothing to do with one another. Scientologists do NOT celebrate Christmas. Their Christmas is March 13, they hold a massive celebration (at least massive for them) to commemorate the birth of L. Ron Hubbard. It is the most important day on the scientology calendar. So, it is quite hypocritical for them to make themselves appear to be "Christian observant." But then Amber inadvertently … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clearwater, Public Relations Tagged With: Aaron Smith-Levin, Clearwater Florida, Flag Service Organization, public relations

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Troublemaker - Leah Remini
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Blown For Good - Marc Headley
Abuse at the Top - Amy Scobee
Unbreakable Miss Lovely - Tony Ortega
The Church of Fear - John Sweeney
Fair Game - Steve Cannane
Inside Scientology - Janet Reitman
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Escaping Scientology - Karen Schless
Commodore's Messenger - Janis Grady
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You learn about what they've tried to do to me on @LeahRemini and @MikeRinder's podcast.

We talked about some of it in the interview.

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What do you want to know about #scientology? @LeahRemini and I are planning more Listener Questions on our #FairGamePodcast. Please try to avoid asking Qs we have already covered in the first 3 Listener Q&A eps. Give them a listen before tweeting your Qs. https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-scientology-fair-game-68514402/episode/episode-13-listener-questions-part-1-72761556/

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Latest on Scientology coverage. The benefits from an ‘open and transparent’ parliamentary inquiry. Plus the charity regulator weighs in. https://www.theage.com.au/national/benefit-to-open-and-transparent-scientology-probe-20210408-p57hhs.html

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What does #scientology really think about God —right from the horse’s mouth. It’s not what they try to tell the world in order to seem normal. https://www.mikerindersblog.org/scientology-vs-god/

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  • Skyler23 on Regraded Being: “The only problem with that is he may actually kill someone one day out of anger that their stats were…” Apr 10, 22:28
  • I Yawnalot on The Year of Target Attainment: “Never thought of reverse engineering OT7. Yeah, kept me off the booze too. Made up for it now though. Satan,…” Apr 10, 21:11
  • I Yawnalot on The Year of Target Attainment: “Well I sure know of one, “on OT7” that will never complete – me. It’s incompletable anyway, it’s based on…” Apr 10, 21:07
  • Valerie Feria-Isacks on Scientology vs God: “As an ex-SeaOrg who’s nominally Taoist these days thank you for bringing this up succinctly ✌️” Apr 10, 20:17
  • Stat on The Year of Target Attainment: “L Ron Hubbard’s formula for “clearing the planet” was increasing the Theta within the “Entheta to Theta Ratio”. Almost 70…” Apr 10, 17:17
  • George M White on The Year of Target Attainment: “In 1987 I started Solo Nots at the Sand castle. They were talking about 10,000 on the level and that…” Apr 10, 16:09
  • Skyler23 on Regraded Being: “Yes. I also think they should be bound in a a hard-covered or leather-covered book so they will live for…” Apr 10, 14:29
  • Richard on Scientology vs God: “I was worried that I might need to pull out my demo kit and clay table to understand exactly wtf…” Apr 10, 11:47
  • Peridot on Scientology vs God: “@ToddCray Thank you. Precisely. I was thinking similarly reading the misguided, strident and confident remarks of Jim Meskimen. Ugh. He…” Apr 10, 11:09
  • mwesten on Regraded Being: “Aka people who talk to gods/spirits are mentally ill. Says his therapy erases mental illness. It doesn’t. Claims spirits must…” Apr 10, 09:10

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