This week's episode of Fair Game podcast features my old friend Alex Gibney. This is not an episode to miss. Alex is one of the greats in the world of documentary filmmakers. His credits include: The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley about Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God (won 3 Emmy’s) Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (Oscar nom in 2005 for Best Doc) Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer Taxi to the Dark Side (winner of the 2007 Oscar for best Documentary) about the war in … [Read more...]
Why Do Scientologists Lie?
I originally posted a version of this in early 2017. I have updated it with additional information and quotes. It's important, especially in light of the ongoing prosecution of Danny Masterson, other investigations, and civil cases. Anyone who confronts scientology witnesses needs to understand the nature of the beast. While repeatedly asserting that they are "the most ethical group on earth" and that they are constantly having to "get rid of" people who "cannot live up to their ethical standards," in truth, every dedicated scientologist is a liar. Why? The short answer: … [Read more...]
The Black Bag Department
See my announcement on Friday -- I am revisiting earlier posts during my vacation. Each day there will be a different one. Marty has been doing a good job of exposing the unalterable policies of the church concerning dealing with perceived enemies. One aspect not much discussed is who are the "outside professionals" hired to do the dirty work. And while there is a lot that is done by Sea Org OSA staff, Class V (local DSAs like Mark Warburg and John Carmichael) and public Scientologists (John Allender, Ed Bryan and Co) there is work that requires specific skills, including licenses to … [Read more...]
STAAD Resurrects “#WhereIsShelly”
We don't hear much from STAAD any more. Seems Fast Eddie has gone back to stuffing envelopes in the basement or whatever it is that he usually does. He has been silent on Twitter -- one post since 22 October and that could have been written by any of the STAAD flunkies and posted on his behalf. Even the STAAD League itself has been pretty dormant, every now and then sending out a retweet promoting Marty Rathbun like the last Japanese soldier on a Pacific Island firing into the air in an act of defiance to keep the fight going. This is one of their most recent retweets from a year or … [Read more...]
Our 10th Anniversary
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...]
The “Mike Rinder Problem”
Scientology has come up with a new attack line -- the "Mike Rinder Problem." It is quite an honor to be singled out so specifically, especially as I am according to them merely a "bobblehead" (though a "wife-beating" one so that is apparently a bigger deal). They shifted their attacks from Nancy Dubuc to Paul Buccieri in a deft strategic move. Their clever PR maneuvers are a sight to behold. According to scientology, the "Mike Rinder Problem" is this: "Like the classic wife beater that he is, Rinder digs in his heels and refuses to admit he injured his former wife Cathy during an … [Read more...]
Where Is Shelly? Aftermath
As always, interested to hear your feedback on the show tonight. And as is their pattern, scientology's response to the show is both predictable and quite bizarre. They are hanging their hat on the fact that this is all a publicity stunt, but now they have gone a step further, claiming it is "intended to incite violence" and that Leah is back like Jason from Friday the 13th (a trademark Miscavigeism -- certainly not a line that any reputable lawyer would include in a letter). Of course they ignore the fact there would be NO INTEREST if Shelly was NOT MISSING from the public … [Read more...]
Getting People onto The Bridge Through Narconon
Tonight at 8pm there is a special episode of The Aftermath touching upon the subject of scientology's front groups. Of course, the most well-know of them is Narconon, which is why it was so ironic that I was sent this a couple of days ago. Scientology says the "social betterment" organizations are NOT recruitment arms for scientology. Look at the first paragraph of this letter. Bobby Wiggins seems to have retired from his Narconon job and now is making commissions from persuading people to give money to the IAS. The irony of this is when he WAS in Narconon he had to scrape and … [Read more...]
Scientology’s Response to Episode 6
Here is my customary response to the weekly scientology insanity that appears on their website during the airing of each episode of The Aftermath. Anyone who sees the vile invective spewed by scientology about EVERYONE who ever says anything they don't like reaches the same conclusion: scientology's reaction is evidence of the truth of the experiences each of these people recounts. This organization is hateful, vindictive and insane. No story is too incredible to be believed. There is no reason NOT to believe everything that is said by the victims. So, let's take a look at this week's … [Read more...]
Scientology’s Response to Episode 5
Time to take a look at the weekly "response" from scientology to The Aftermath's latest episode. It is of course as pathetic as all their previous efforts because they cannot address the FACTS, so they exclusively deal in ad hominem attacks pursuant to scientology policy. I will endeavor to bring some semblance of truth to the stream of lies they put forth about JB and Jackson. Scientology is wearing a trail into the carpet -- everyone is a bad person, they are all "low-level" nobodies, they all have "confessions" that "prove" they are liars, cheats and thieves and not a single person … [Read more...]