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The Scientology Celebrity Centre “Network” is Rapidly Disappearing

January 31, 2023 By Mike Rinder 36 Comments

  Aaron Smith-Levin did a video about the recent closure of the "Celebrity Centre Munich" and the abandoned St. Pete "Life Improvement Center" opened by the Tampa "Ideal Org." As every good scientologist knows, it is a High Crime in scientology to close or combine orgs.     Since David Miscavige has taken over scientology, there have been many other closures and "combinings" -- including St Hill Foundation, specifically started by Ron himself with a lot of policy written by him about why "Foundation" (night and weekend) orgs were needed. Because Aaron … [Read more...]

Filed Under: David Miscavige, Ideal Orgs Tagged With: Celebrity Centre, Celebrity Centre Munich, Church of Scientology, David Miscavige, Life Improvement Center St. Pete, Mr. Mickiewicz, Scientology, tampa org

Scientology Shuttering

March 30, 2020 By Mike Rinder 46 Comments

Here are the comments people sent in yesterday about the state of scientology orgs in their local area. If you have a minute and can contact your local org, I will add it to the update. So far, everywhere seems to be closed except Flag (not sure about the other Advanced Orgs). This is catastrophic for the scientology empire -- the longer staff and public are away from the control mechanisms exerted on them in the bubble, and the more bored they get, the more likely it is they are going to come across something on the internet or TV that is going to start them down the rabbit hole of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ideal Orgs, Idle Orgs Tagged With: Boston, Buffalo, Church of Scientology, DC, Ideal Orgs, Milano, St. Louis, Sydney

Scientology and COVID-19

March 21, 2020 By Mike Rinder 138 Comments

  You may have seen this pitch and others on Tony's site and social media. Flaunting government guidelines recommending no gatherings of more than 10 people, scientology instead uses the pandemic as a reason to encourage people to COME IN TO THE ORG. It's batshit crazy. Take a read and I will then try to explain the madness from a scientology perspective. Admittedly, that one was before the stricter requirements for social distancing were in force in California, but then, after the Governor ordered that everyone stay in their homes, this one came in: A combination of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fundraising, Ideal Orgs Tagged With: Church of Scientology, COVID-19, fundraising, public relations, Scientology, valley org

City Councilman Mark Bunker and Scientology Tax Exempt Status

March 18, 2020 By Mike Rinder 72 Comments

  The news has sunk in, Mark Bunker is now a Clearwater City Commissioner-elect. As Tracey McManus put it, this is a historic day for Clearwater. There is another piece in the Tampa Bay Times (top of article screencapped above) this morning. It makes some interesting points - first of which is noting Bunker's "desire for the city to urge the IRS to revoke Scientology's tax exempt status..." Some have poo-poo'd this idea "The City of Clearwater doesn't grant tax exempt status, the IRS does" -- as if Mark Bunker is unaware of the difference between a city government and the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clearwater, Tax Exemption Tagged With: Church of Scientology, Clearwater Florida, David Miscavige, Flag Service Organization, Frank Hibbard, irs, Kathleen Beckman, Kirby Wilson, Mark Bunker, public relations, Scientology, Tax Exemption, Tracey McManus

Unofficial Result — Mark Bunker Wins Election

March 17, 2020 By Mike Rinder 35 Comments

This is an historic day in Clearwater. Providing nothing changes as this is made into the official result (not sure when this will be), Mark Bunker is now a City Council member of the City of Clearwater. The scientology backed candidate came in 4th out of 5... Once and for all proving that scientology in fact has NO political clout in Clearwater, let alone Tampa Bay. Congratulations to Mark Bunker! Also Congratulations to Frank Hibbard who will be the new Mayor of Clearwater. The people I feel sorry for are those in OSA Flag. This loss will be blamed on them. It will not be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clearwater Tagged With: Church of Scientology, City of Clearwater, David Miscavige, Flag Service Organization, Mark Bunker

Where Clearwater Candidates Stand on Scientology

January 6, 2020 By Mike Rinder 27 Comments

Tracey McManus published another of her uniformly excellent articles recently:  Where every Clearwater City Council Candidate stands on Scientology I have excerpted most of the answers to her survey and offer my biased views on them. I believe there are just two reasons why scientology is actually being spoken about in this election.  It has been a taboo subject for local politicians for decades. They have steered clear of this topic like it was the plague...  Now for the first time in recent memory, it is something  to be debated. The two factors are Tracey's bombshell article … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clearwater Tagged With: Bob Cundiff, Bruce Rector, Bud Elias, Church of Scientology, Clearwater Florida, Elisio Santana, Elizabeth Drayer, Flag Service Organization, Frank Hibbard, Kathleen Beckman, Lina Teixeira, Mark Bunker, Michael Mannino, Scott Thomas, tampa bay times, Tracey McManus

Mighty Tampa Ideal Org – The Best Is Not Good Enough

December 31, 2019 By Mike Rinder 26 Comments

Here is a new video from Tampa Org (with 58 likes and 3 comments). They promote themselves as both "Ideal" AND "SH Size" -- in fact they promote themselves as the FIRST ideal and FIRST SH size org. They even start out with the humble assertion "What does every other Org want to be?" Well, let's take a look at what every org on earth aspires to. Because Tampa has given us a wonderful glimpse of just how much they actually accomplish. They kindly provided statistics for the last decade as significant accomplishments that everyone else should be jealous of. It is a good measure of the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ideal Orgs Tagged With: Church of Scientology, Flag Service Organization, Ideal Orgs, public relations, Scientology Idle Orgs, tampa

Handling Crime in Brussels

December 10, 2019 By Mike Rinder 48 Comments

    Of course, they cite nothing to support their bold claims -- but then again any scientologist would NEVER even think to question the IAS. After all, this is the international association of the most ethical group on earth. There is nothing to substantiate the figures of distribution at all, they pluck these numbers out of the sky usually. Someone paid for a printing of the booklets. They may or may not have actually printed that many. No doubt, however many they printed, they did NOT get distributed. Often they end up being dumped. And the "network of 1400 … [Read more...]

Filed Under: IAS, Public Relations Tagged With: Brussels, Church of Scientology, fundraising, IAS, public relations

Kanye, the IRS and Scientology

December 8, 2019 By Mike Rinder 23 Comments

  This is an interesting recent Forbes magazine article. The author covers how Kanye West, who has changed his name to Christian Genius Billionaire Kanye West and conducts "Sunday Services,” could actually file for tax exemption and reap mighty benefits. He describes what the IRS criteria are for granting such a religious exemption: Distinct legal existence; Recognized creed and form of worship; Definite and distinct ecclesiastical government; Formal code of doctrine and discipline; Distinct religious history; Membership not associated with any other church … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Tax Exemption Tagged With: Church of Scientology, Forbes magazine, irs, Kanye West, Tax exempt status, Tax Exemption

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

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Important Reading

Troublemaker - Leah Remini
Ruthless - Ron Miscavige
Going Clear - Lawrence Wright
Bare Faced Messiah - Russell Miller
Counterfeit Dreams - Jeff Hawkins
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
A Piece of Blue Sky - Jon Atack
Beyond Belief - Jenna Miscavige
My Billion Year Contract
Escaping Scientology - Karen Schless
Commodore's Messenger - Janis Grady
Commodore's Messenger - Book II
Scythe Tleppo - Nathan Rich
Expert Witness - Jesse Prince
Perfectly Clear - Michelle LeCaire
Ron the War Hero - Chris Owen
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amethyststars Arwa Stone @amethyststars ·
3h

@MikeRinder
Your blog helped get me out.
http://inmywords81.blogspot.com/2023/03/the-day-i-realised-that-scientology-is.html #scientology #exscientologist #mikerinder #somethingcanbedoneaboutit #aftermathfoundation #escapingscientology

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reminirules darling @reminirules ·
3h

yesterday in Brazil went viral an article about Suri not having contact with her father, the article didn't mention Scientology at all and you guys can't imagine my surprise and pride when I saw in the comment section A LOT of people talking about scientology and @LeahRemini show

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ema_neale emma @ema_neale ·
11h

@steve__1979 @CI Watch @blownforgood @GrowingupinSCN @LeahRemini @AndrewGold_ok @MikeRinder on youtube for more fab SCN and Cult content

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_maddawwg Madi Rose @_maddawwg ·
24 Mar

Finally diving into @MikeRinder s “A Billion Years” - my third book by a former Scientologist this year. These are unbelievable stories that I can’t believe more people aren’t talking about

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laurithewiz LauriTheWiz @laurithewiz ·
24 Mar

@MikeRinder @LeahRemini @YouTube Powerful video today, Mike! Thanks for taking this on.

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Recent Comments

  • TrevAnon on Ex-Scientologists Who Have Spoken Out: “You’re welcome! And of course there’s nothing wrong with not speaking out. People can have all kinds of reasons not…” Mar 25, 17:07
  • Les Jones on Ex-Scientologists Who Have Spoken Out: “I thought long and hard today before making this comment. For the first time, I am using my real name.…” Mar 25, 16:47
  • Dotey OT on Ex-Scientologists Who Have Spoken Out: “Trev is on the job!! Hey Trevanon, I am going to give you another name to add by private message…” Mar 25, 16:06
  • xTeamXenu75to03chuckbeatty on Ex-Scientologists Who Have Spoken Out: “Chris, Excellent info. Makes me think that those who spoke out, also did the same as you did, and many…” Mar 25, 15:16
  • The Good Kind on Ex-Scientologists Who Have Spoken Out: “I’m willing to wager that list of 3177 names is a mere drop in the bucket of total ex-scientologists, even…” Mar 25, 14:52
  • Rheva Acevedo on Ex-Scientologists Who Have Spoken Out: “As I was reviewing the list, I made another list of those folks who left but whose names aren’t included…probably…” Mar 25, 14:44
  • Mary Kay London on Ex-Scientologists Who Have Spoken Out: “I’m astonished at how long this list is. But then again am I really? It is a great list. The…” Mar 25, 13:10
  • Chris Shugart on Ex-Scientologists Who Have Spoken Out: “It’s probably my only shot at immortality, but I’ll take it. Back in about 2002 I adopted the identity Murray…” Mar 25, 12:42
  • Fred G. Haseney on Ex-Scientologists Who Have Spoken Out: “Ideally, there should be a kiosk in every block within a mile of every scientology organization world-wide. That kiosk would…” Mar 25, 11:24
  • TrevAnon on Ex-Scientologists Who Have Spoken Out: “Should anyone wanting to jump ship need any help: contact the Aftermath Foundation. https://theaftermathfoundation.org/” Mar 25, 11:21

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