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Ex-Scientologist Support Group Portland

February 12, 2023 By Mike Rinder 20 Comments

I want to give a plug to my old and dear friend Jefferson Hawkins who has started this group in Portland OR for former scientologists. Jeff has some others working together with him on this, but he is the "name" and I encourage anyone in the Portland area to connect up with them. Head over on February 25 to meet up with some really good people. Perhaps this is something that could be done in other cities too. Sort of an adjunct to The Aftermath Foundation. Thanks Jeff, for this and so much else you have done. You are voice of reason, intelligence and compassion. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Scientology Tagged With: jeff hawkins, Jefferson Hawkins, Portland, The Aftermath Foundation

Episode 77: Jefferson Hawkins

February 14, 2022 By Mike Rinder 14 Comments

We are joined by Jeff Hawkins, an extremely talented, thoughtful and articulate former Sea Org member to recount his experiences with David Miscavige, his role in making Dianetics a bestseller again the 80's and his journey into and out of scientology. He is the author of 3 books on the subject.   Jeff's brilliant book Counterfeit Dreams     Leaving Scientology     Closing Minds     The Sociopath Next Door   One of the famous Dianetics "Question" ads from 1980's that Jeff created, returning … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fair Game Podcast Tagged With: A History of Violence, AC 360, Anderson Cooper, Closing Minds, Counterfeit Dreams, Dianetics ad, Fair Game Podcast, jeff hawkins, Leah Remini, Leaving Scientology, Martha Stoutt, Mike Rinder, Skyhawk Studios, The Aftermath, The Sociopath Next Door

Reforming Scientology?

March 25, 2021 By Mike Rinder 39 Comments

Leah recently reminded me of this wonderful website, and in particular, this article by my old friend Jeff Hawkins. Jeff is one of the kindest, smartest and most decent people I know. When Miscavige blew him off, he lost one of the only real marketing geniuses in scientology. Jeff was responsible for the single successful marketing campaign in scientology -- returning Dianetics to the top of the NY Times bestseller list in the 80's. He is a wonderful writer -- I highly recommend his book Counterfeit Dreams -- and a thoughtful analyst of the world of scientology. I am taking the liberty … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Special Feature Tagged With: confessional, confidential, counterintention, David Miscavige, dehumanization, enemies, government, jeff hawkins, media, OSA, press, psychiatry, psychs, public relations, Scientology, scientology 101, sec check, secrecy, SP, statistics, wog

Scientology Violates Priest-Penitent Confidences — When It Suits Them

February 26, 2019 By Mike Rinder 101 Comments

  This comes from another of the entirely inappropriately titled scientology internet fronts, the "Truth Newsroom". This thing, with no names or identities associated, not even the word scientology - is clearly an OSA operation. They send out a constant stream of material taken from former Sea Org members' files. They put one out from one of my confessions that I felt bad about lying as if this was some sort of proof that I was lying today -- it made no sense as I said this when I was still the International Spokesperson for scientology and I continued to be that. But the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Public Relations, Scientology Tagged With: jeff hawkins, L. Ron Hubbard, Laura DeCrescenzo, Mike Rinder, OSA, pc folders, Priest-penitent, public relations, Truth Newsroom

Scientology — The Art of Cognitive Dissonance

November 21, 2013 By Mike Rinder 93 Comments

Somewhat random thoughts after returning from an out-of-town trip. Cognitive dissonance has reached an art form within the walls of the RCS bubble.  Cognitive dissonance is described this way: Mental conflict that occurs when beliefs or assumptions are contradicted by new information. The concept was introduced by the psychologist Leon Festinger (1919–89) in the late 1950s. He and later researchers showed that, when confronted with challenging new information, most people seek to preserve their current understanding of the world by rejecting, explaining away, or avoiding the new information … [Read more...]

Filed Under: David Miscavige, L Ron Hubbard Tagged With: Church of Scientology, Corporate Scientology, David Miscagive, Disconnection, ED Int, fundraising, golden age of tech II, Heber Jentzsch, Ideal Orgs, jeff hawkins, Senior CS Int, shelly miscavige, Tony Ortega

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

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amethyststars Arwa Stone @amethyststars ·
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@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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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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Recent Comments

  • Loula Li on Psychosomatic Conditions: An Analysis of Hubbard’s Claims: “I just have one question. How does one explain when Dianetics does cure medical or psychological issues? I had two…” Mar 27, 21:22
  • Mary quite contrary on “Doctor” L. Ron Hubbard: “From today’s SPTV – a few comments – Loss of tax exemption would cause a lot of problems for most…” Mar 27, 21:09
  • Paul Ronk on “Doctor” L. Ron Hubbard: “I think his personal “whole track maps” where he identified on his track as “Piltdown Man” were always worrisome for…” Mar 27, 20:53
  • Mockingbird on “Doctor” L. Ron Hubbard: “The thing is that Scientology requires such total submission to Hubbard’s authority as an expert and obedience to group norms…” Mar 27, 20:23
  • Mission guy on Psychosomatic Conditions: An Analysis of Hubbard’s Claims: “Hey SP@pdx. You and anyone else in Portland metro area are certainly invited to attend the x scn support group…” Mar 27, 19:18
  • Yawn on “Doctor” L. Ron Hubbard: “Good one Fred. Hubbard sure flung around the bullshit & the worst part is, imo, is that he probably believed…” Mar 27, 19:06
  • Fred Haseney on Ex-Scientologists Who Have Spoken Out: “Alcoboy, Thank you for your service. I auditioned twice for the Air Force Band, in 1974 and in 1976. In…” Mar 27, 18:26
  • Cindy on Ex-Scientologists Who Have Spoken Out: “Bill Straass, you showed them by living! And by posting truth here! If you had succeeded in frying yourself electrically,…” Mar 27, 16:39
  • Cindy on Ex-Scientologists Who Have Spoken Out: “Oops my mistake in reading the names wrong. Sorry. I think there may be a connection between Josh Hopwood and…” Mar 27, 16:23
  • SP@PDX on Psychosomatic Conditions: An Analysis of Hubbard’s Claims: “David, your academic background is publicly visible on your LinkedIn page. The PDF whose URL I provided has a list…” Mar 27, 16:20

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