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Episode 76: Professor Aharon Friedman

February 7, 2022 By Mike Rinder 28 Comments

  Aharon Friedman is a professor of Physics and Electrical Engineering, a former scientologist and today serves on the Board of the Israeli Center for Cults’ Victims. Unlike L. Ron Hubbard, he really IS a nuclear physicist, his official title is Head - Schlesinger Knowledge Center for Accelerators and Radiation Sources. We talk about his experiences in scientology, what drove him to escape and his work helping victims of cults today. The brilliant book Man's Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl about his time in Nazi concentration camps and what he learned from his … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fair Game Podcast Tagged With: Aftermath Foundation, Aharon Friedman, All About Radiation, Debbie Cook, Dissemination Drill, Ideal Orgs, Leah Remini, Man's Search for Meaning, Marriage Hat, Mary Sue Hubbard, Mike Rinder

Scientology and Litigation — the Real Truth

October 13, 2021 By Mike Rinder 23 Comments

  Among the many falsehoods perpetrated on the STAND League website are a series of FAQs where they try to present the image of scientology as victims of predatory, greedy litigants ... It's a typical fable that gets off to a rollicking start: During the history of the Church, some individuals sought to make money from unfounded allegations, but the Church successfully defended against those claims. It's a false premise for a number of reasons. There have been successful litigants -- notably Lawrence Wollersheim and Julie Christoffersen who were awarded multi-million dollar … [Read more...]

Filed Under: STAND League Tagged With: Christofferson, Debbie Cook, L. Ron Hubbard, litigation, Ninth Circuit, Religious Technology Center, RTC, Scientology, Sentencing Memorandum, STAND League, Wollersheim

Episode 10: Attorney Ray Jeffrey

September 28, 2020 By Mike Rinder 79 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Fair Game Podcast, General Tagged With: Debbie Cook, Greg Arnold, Janet Reitman, Marty Rathbun, Monique Rathbun, Paul Marrick, Ray jeffrey, TExas Court of Appeals, Tom Tobin, Tony Ortega, Wayne Baumgarten

Aharon Friedman on Israeli National TV

December 11, 2019 By Mike Rinder 24 Comments

Long term supporter of this blog, Professor Aharon Friedman sent me a link to this show that aired last night on Israeli national TV (one of the 3 state owned stations, channel 11 which is like Israel's BBC).. I asked Aharon to give a little bit of information about himself as an introduction and he sent me this: I got into Scientology when I was in Long Island for my post doctoral studies. The LI Church was quite an intimate place, and there was no pressure or “hard sell”. In 1987 we moved to Maryland and started attending the DC Org. This was a different ball game. During my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Public Relations Tagged With: Aharon Friedman, DC Org, Debbie Cook, Long Island org, Media. Israeli TV

Debbie Cook Revisited

August 5, 2015 By Mike Rinder 246 Comments

It's been some time since any news about Debbie Cook has surfaced. Then last weekend Tony Ortega posted that she has just published a book on Amazon about recovering from Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue. Although I haven't spoken to Debbie in years, I have thought about her and Wayne many times and after reading some of the comments on Tony's blog, I felt some background information might be of interest to fill in a few blanks and perhaps dispel some misconceptions. There hasn’t really been a reason for me to write about this before. Marty covered the activities of her case and the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Debbie Cook Tagged With: Church of Scientology, David Miscavige, Debbie Cook, Flag Service Organization, Guillaume Lesevre, Kathy True, legal cases, Marc Yager, Marty Rathbun, public relations, Ray jeffrey, Wayne Baumgarten

Conversations With Scientologists

December 8, 2014 By Mike Rinder 93 Comments

A couple of people have recently sent me copies of email correspondence they have had with people in the church. They were not working together, but both hit upon the same concept:  responding to church efforts to get new people in or collect money from existing public and using this as an opportunity to present some facts to people they might not otherwise be able to reach. It is also interesting to see the reactions, responses and "pitches" that are employed. This first is with a Mission who had advertised a Big League Sales Seminar. The responses from the mission person are in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Flag Service Org, Fundraising Tagged With: Debbie Cook, Flag Service Organization, fundraising, Ideal Orgs, Lawrence Wright, Missions

Mike Rinder: Open Revolt Against Vulture Culture?

January 16, 2012 By Mike Rinder Leave a Comment

 The following interview of Mike Rinder was published in the most widely circulated and influential newspaper in Germany, Sueddeutsche, over the weekend.  It is informative and gets more integral differentiation going out worldwide. (Click Here for Mike Rinder Bio) Thanks to Greta Alexander for translating for us. Scientology-dropout about leader of sect “He beat me, he made me clean toilets”  January 14, 2012, 15:57 Interview: Marc Felix Serrao For 20 years Michael Rinder has led the feared secret service of the Church of Scientology. In 2007 he dropped out – because he could no longer deal … [Read more...]

Filed Under: David Miscavige, Media Interviews Tagged With: Corporate Scientology, David Miscagive, Debbie Cook, Independent Scientology, Mike Rinder, Scientology in Germany, Tom Cruise

New Years Email from Debbie Cook

December 31, 2011 By Mike Rinder 12 Comments

Debbie Cook was the Captain of the FSO for 17 years and was a Sea Org member for 30 years. She sent this email to her Scientologist friends on 31 Dec 2011. "I am emailing you as a friend and fellow Scientologist. As we enter a new year, it is hoped that 2012 can be a year of great dissemination and a year of real progress up The Bridge for all Scientologists. Although I am not in the Sea Org right now, I served in the Sea Org at Flag for 29 years. 17 of those years were as Captain FSO. I am a trained auditor and C/S as well as an OEC, FEBC and DSEC. I am completely dedicated to the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: IAS, Idle Orgs Tagged With: Debbie Cook, fundraising, IAS, Ideal Orgs

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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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mikerinder Mike Rinder @mikerinder ·
4h

Justice systems are "a cancer," and police and courts are composed of the "vicious and corrupt" according to #scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. Bear this in mind as the retrial of #DJDonkeyPunch Danny Masterson unfolds...
https://youtu.be/6pzimgLsPdE

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mikerinder Mike Rinder @mikerinder ·
13h

This is destined to be an #SPTV classic comedy moment. @blownforgood and @claireheadley share details of their "first date" in the Sea Org. It's near the end. If you're not subscribed to my channel yet, please do so... There is also important content.
https://www.youtube.com/live/PgQVyoUh1_E?feature=share

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mikerinder Mike Rinder @mikerinder ·
29 Mar

How Many Taxpayer-subsidized Mansions, Homes and Offices Does a Dead Man Need? It turns out to be a LOT when it comes to #scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. Once again, where is the #IRS? How is this a valid exempt purpose? https://youtu.be/JfmJHiGfevA via @YouTube

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Retweet on Twitter Mike Rinder Retweeted
mikerinder Mike Rinder @mikerinder ·
6 Mar

The DOJ details what #scientology does to destroy those speaking out about their abuses. Including but not limited to:
@LeahRemini
@blownforgood
@claireheadley
@GrowingupinSCN
@TonyOrtega94
@yashar
@TroMcManus
@ChrisSheltonMsc

https://youtu.be/7bnKEUA4Hh4 via @YouTube

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mikerinder Mike Rinder @mikerinder ·
28 Mar

Monday Evening Q&A and Spilling the Tea https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1YpJkgWdQDyJj

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Recent Comments

  • Fred Haseney on Thursday Funnies: “Mary Kahn, It looks like we saw the same video re: that earring. We live in a crazy, crazy world.” Mar 30, 20:32
  • GL on Thursday Funnies: ““There is in fact a final component to the final component…” And it’s a never ending grab for money, cash,…” Mar 30, 19:49
  • Ruth on How Many Taxpayer-Subsidized Mansions, Homes and Offices Does A Dead Man Need?: “Most Public knew that Staff did not get paid a lot. Some that owned businesses either rented rooms out, or…” Mar 30, 19:02
  • Christoph on Thursday Funnies: “Ed Rausch…..no wonder you used to drink alcohol, your name in German literally means being drunk.” Mar 30, 17:45
  • Dawn on Thursday Funnies: “Oh no, Georgina Reilly is a Scientologist? That sucks! She was in Murdoch Mysteries and lots of other Canadian stuff.…” Mar 30, 17:29
  • Mary Kahn on Thursday Funnies: “For sure b Glad you got out of your cult. It takes courage.” Mar 30, 16:49
  • Mary Kahn on Thursday Funnies: “Well considering the church of scientology is promoting members who are part of a highly anti-semitic group (NOI) and call…” Mar 30, 16:47
  • Donna on How Many Taxpayer-Subsidized Mansions, Homes and Offices Does A Dead Man Need?: “OK so if I understand the tax exempt status laws in the USA, ALL of these properties in the USA…” Mar 30, 14:56
  • Francis Khoury on Thursday Funnies: “And that spiral, real as it is, will not be talked about, except in places like this. Cognitive dissonance at…” Mar 30, 14:41
  • Francis Khoury on Thursday Funnies: “Congrats on your departure, whenever it was. It is sad to see, you’re right. I spun my wheels in a…” Mar 30, 14:39

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