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Scientology’s Clearwater “Interfaith” Pitch

July 16, 2019 By Mike Rinder 76 Comments

    Hubbard policy (HCOPL 3 Feb 1969 PUBLIC IMAGE) states: "...you have to go civic, go outside Scientology, get support, organize committees, plot out campaigns, work for outside finance, etc. "In handling the above public image policy, you don't announce the policy. "You can and must ally with real humanitarian and civil-rights groups (getting press coverage for every such contact." The question to be asked is, why would ANYONE wish to attend an event like this and be used by scientology in their attempt to gain credibility? Are the people who might participate in this … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clearwater Tagged With: Church of Scientology, Clearwater Florida, public relations, Scientology

A New Golden Age for Clearwater?

June 22, 2019 By Mike Rinder 82 Comments

Our friend Mark Bunker is in the news again. But this time it isn’t about what scientology is doing to Fair Game him. Some of you may have seen the announcement that Wise Beard Man intends to run for a seat on the Clearwater City Commission. It was reported in the Tampa Bay Times yesterday. Clearwater, Bunker said, has “got a unique problem here in Scientology. And I think the city ought to balance it out with a unique council member who understands Scientology.”   Mark has a long history in Clearwater and with scientology. We discussed some of this in 2 episodes of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clearwater, Public Relations, Scientology Tagged With: Clearwater Florida, David Miscavige, Flag Service Organization, Mark Bunker, public relations, Scientology, The Aftermath

Defensive Much?

May 18, 2019 By Mike Rinder 93 Comments

Scientology's newest billboard in Clearwater is an obvious admission of something everyone knows -- but scientology almost never acknowledges -- their reputation is horrendous. This is clearly a reaction to The Aftermath tv series and the enormous volume of media coverage over the last few years. Unlike many years previously, today's media is not intimidated like it was and no longer just accepts the scientology PR line "we are the fastest growing religion on earth" blah blah. Scientology is hurting.  They usually don't acknowledge it, pretending they are "clearing the planet" and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clearwater, Scientology Tagged With: billboard, Clearwater Florida, public relations, Scientology

Scientology and Children: The PR Spin

May 14, 2019 By Mike Rinder 52 Comments

After the last post Child Sexual Abuse in Scientology it is ironic that the next day I came across this piece of PR spin. This is the other side of the scientology equation. On one hand, they groom people to be victims of sex abuse and seek to cover it up when it happens. On the other, they seek to create a good image of themselves so stories of abuse are rejected on the basis of "It couldn't be true -- look how they LOVE children and support and protect them." It is an aircover operation done on the basis of what is good for scientology. And here is another one -- they are really … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clearwater Tagged With: Children, Clearwater Florida, public relations, Scientology

It’s Easter at the Ft Harrison: Christians Not Welcome

April 16, 2019 By Mike Rinder 77 Comments

Easter is a uniquely Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Scientologists do NOT believe in Christ -- though Hubbard gave lip service to the idea that "we want the same things Jesus wanted, peace on earth and goodwill for all men" (though even that is not true as great wealth was NOT a goal of Jesus, and goodwill for all men is NOT a goal of scientology -- especially those deemed to be enemies). To be precise, it was even more vague and condescending, Hubbard said: "Scientology can demonstrate that it can attain the goals set for man by Christ, which are: Wisdom, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clearwater, Scientology Tagged With: Christianity, Clearwater Florida, Ft Harrison, Jesus Christ, Scientology

Clearwater “Record Breaking” Community Clean Up

April 15, 2019 By Mike Rinder 48 Comments

Funny how they already know it's going to be "record-breaking" weeks before it occurs... Because like all their other community/social betterment activities, they will simply SAY IT and nobody will ever challenge them. And because they already have it worked out that they are going to get children from the scientologist-owned schools to participate in a mandatory "event."  The sort that if you don't show up you will be considered "out-ethics" and may wind up having to buy your way out of trouble, it's just easier to make sure your kids go for an hour or two (once the photos are taken you … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clearwater Tagged With: Clearwater Florida, public relations, Scientology

More on Fake Scientology Tours in Clearwater

April 10, 2019 By Mike Rinder 63 Comments

Yesterday's post about the fake scientology tours brought some other interesting things to light. First, one of the scientology "fronts" that smears whistleblowers announced that the Ft Harrison is "for scientologists only". When Aaron Smith-Levin pointed out that Lisa Mansell had lied to the Chamber of Commerce, the "Truth Newsroom" quickly "clarified" that it's "open" to Non-Scientologists if they "don't show up unannounced" and "where there are community events being held." But things became even more bizarre when someone dug up this EventBrite invitation to the "Tour" (which … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clearwater Tagged With: Church of Scientology, Clearwater Florida, Scientology

Another Day, Another Lie: Clearwater Edition

April 9, 2019 By Mike Rinder 116 Comments

A new press release about the Fort Harrison hotel is more important for what it DOES NOT say than what it does. Scientology puts out these paid puff releases pretty routinely. I came across this one accidentally, and of course, the lies flew off the page. Everything that emanates from scientology is designed to create an impression of normalcy that is part of the grand deception. This is no different. They proudly announce they provide "monthly tours" to the public. They see the 9th floor. A room. The lobby. The Auditorium. And a restaurant. Hardly a "tour".  21 people (though … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clearwater Tagged With: Clearwater Florida, Flag Service Organization, Lies, media, public relations

What If You Threw a Party and Nobody Came?

February 10, 2019 By Mike Rinder 94 Comments

Scientology tries to be "part of the community" by holding "block parties" in downtown Clearwater each quarter. They held their latest one yesterday. Here are some shots -- and as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words:   This is a pretty accurate reflection of how much the community supports scientology in Clearwater. There were more people for an impromptu gathering at the Lucky Anchor pub with a few alumni from the Aftermath. And where are the 12,000 scientologists in the Tampa Bay area they claim to have? 11,965 of them were too busy to show … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clearwater Tagged With: Clearwater Florida, public relations, Scientology

Scientology and the Clearwater Police Department

February 6, 2019 By Mike Rinder 98 Comments

Clearwater Police Chief Slaughter took the unusual step of making a YouTube video in response to The Aftermath episode which recounted the "Park Incident" with Mark Bunker. This was then published on the OpEd page of the Tampa Bay Times. Below is the full message from Chief Slaughter so everyone has complete context. Then some of my thoughts following this: For years the Clearwater Police Department has been thrust into the middle of a debate between a controversial religion and its critics, without a voice in the matter. We feel it important to publish some facts of our own to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clearwater Tagged With: Chief Slaughter, Church of Scientology, Clearwater Florida, public relations, Scientology

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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 ·
25 Mar

@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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hefferguson darling rules @hefferguson ·
25 Mar

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 ·
25 Mar

@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

  • Gravitysucks on Scientology’s Scheme to Use Rape Victims for “Positive Press”: “Valeska Paris’ work takes my breath away.” Mar 27, 01:26
  • Mission guy on Psychosomatic Conditions: An Analysis of Hubbard’s Claims: “Incredibly great and well researched article. I remember when the delusional work in basic auditing started when intro auditing went…” Mar 26, 18:16
  • xTeamXenu75to03chuckbeatty on More Hubbard Lunacy: “XENU BODY-THETANS L. Ron Hubbard left those above magic words, which make Scientologists kind of disappear from being around you,…” Mar 26, 18:08
  • GL on Psychosomatic Conditions: An Analysis of Hubbard’s Claims: “I hereby put forward for consideration, after months of long and arduous studies, my final written analysis of $camalotofmoneyology and…” Mar 26, 17:55
  • Cindy on Ex-Scientologists Who Have Spoken Out: “Oh yes it does show that a lot of exes have left and spoken out. I was not being critical…” Mar 26, 17:37
  • TrevAnon on Ex-Scientologists Who Have Spoken Out: “Thank you! We’ll look into it! More a general remark, not related to yours: of course the big list has…” Mar 26, 16:27
  • Mike Rinder on Ex-Scientologists Who Have Spoken Out: “Thank you my old friend!” Mar 26, 16:24
  • Cindy on Ex-Scientologists Who Have Spoken Out: “TrevAnon, thank you for publishing the list of people who left the cult. That was a lot of work and…” Mar 26, 15:09
  • Chris Shugart on Psychosomatic Conditions: An Analysis of Hubbard’s Claims: “You caught that too?! Well, academics tend to do that. It’s their not-so-subtle-way of letting you know that they have…” Mar 26, 15:00
  • Mick Wenlock on Ex-Scientologists Who Have Spoken Out: “Thank you Trev for compiling the list and thank you Mike for publicizing it. I am glad that I spoke…” Mar 26, 14:51

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