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A Primer on Brainwashing

November 21, 2020 By Mike Rinder 42 Comments

  If you have watched either The Vow on HBO, or Seduced on Starz about NXIVM, or The Aftermath or Going Clear about scientology, this article will ring a lot of bells. Many of the specific control mechanisms Dr. Burkley cites about NXIVM have direct parallels in scientology. As she says, "the psychological tricks Raniere used are not particularly special. In face, his ability to ensnare so many victims is rooted in his reliance on several core psychological principles -- principles to which each of us is vulnerable." One of the great accomplishments of The Vow was how … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Special Feature Tagged With: brainwashing, David Miscavige, john sweeney, Keith Raniere, Martha Stout, Melissa Burkley, NXIVM, Psychology Today, Sea Org, The Hole, The Sociopath Next Door

“The Hole” – A List of Prisoners

April 18, 2020 By Mike Rinder 84 Comments

I recently came across this list of people who had been in The Hole at one time or another. (For anyone unfamiliar with The Hole, it has it's own Wiki page) I don't think I ever published it before, and I am not sure anyone has ever made a comprehensive list of people who were prisoners there. Quite a number of the people who were there have left the Sea Org. Some have spoken out about it (they are marked in red) and some remain silent to this day -- either through fear (of retaliation or disconnection) or they have been paid off.  They are marked in blue. If you have information … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Int Base Tagged With: David Miscavige, Scientology, The Hole

The Hole: A List of Prisoners

April 23, 2019 By Mike Rinder 101 Comments

There has been plenty of commentary about "The Hole" since it was first disclosed by Joe Childs and Tom Tobin in the St Petersburg Times in 2009, and again famously featured in Lawrence Wright's Going Clear book and Alex Gibney's HBO film based on the book. Scientology has asserted the Hole "does not exist and never has." But the numerous people who have witnessed it first hand and spoken about it have, to any objective observer, put scientology's denials to the sword. Miscavige even had a sign made and hung on the outside of the building to identify it clearly as "The Hole." (Where he got … [Read more...]

Filed Under: David Miscavige, Int Base Tagged With: Alex Gibney, David Miscavige, Going Clear, Int Base, Joe Childs, Mike Rinder, The Hole, Tom Tobin

Mike Rinder Texas Declaration

December 4, 2013 By Mike Rinder 115 Comments

Because I have it soft copy and because I feel it summarizes a lot of relevant information that should be easily accessible for readers of this blog, this is the text of the declaration filed in the Monique Rathbun case in Texas today. For some reason loading this into wordpress keeps messing up the numbering. It doesnt change any of the text.   DECLARATION OF MICHAEL RINDER My name is Michael Rinder, I am over the age of 21, and I have personal knowledge of the facts stated herein, which I declare are true and correct subject to the penalty for perjury. I was raised in a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: David Miscavige, Legal Tagged With: Corporate Scientology, David Miscagive, legal cases, Marty Rathbun, Mike Rinder, The Hole

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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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Recent Comments

  • L. Ron Hobbit on Mad Mappin Hits the Interwebs: “He’s “a business owner of a business…” Lol He’s a very naughty boy! Needs to do his basic study technology…” Feb 7, 18:08
  • Fred Haseney on Mad Mappin Hits the Interwebs: ““The Upper Class Twit of the Year” skit originated in Monty Python’s Flying Circus episode “The Naked Ant” (series 1,…” Feb 7, 17:58
  • Mockingbird on Mad Mappin Hits the Interwebs: “Ugh, this F—ing guy again. I have told the story of my interaction with him a few times. Once a…” Feb 7, 17:36
  • Jeff Hawkins on Mad Mappin Hits the Interwebs: “But he’s “a business owner of a buiness.” I think he meant to say “Guinness.”” Feb 7, 17:14
  • GL on Mad Mappin Hits the Interwebs: “Wow, talk about being paranoid, delusional and psychotic, he’s a raving, carpet chewing, rabid nucking futcase!” Feb 7, 16:56
  • GL on Mad Mappin Hits the Interwebs: “Brigadier Etc, Being an other rank I will forthwith, maybe even fifthwith, venture out to spread my stuff over the…” Feb 7, 16:46
  • Jane Standen Bolton on Mad Mappin Hits the Interwebs: “Given Johnny Mercer is mates with John Sweeney this was never going to end well was it? One word from…” Feb 7, 15:24
  • Erickson on Mad Mappin Hits the Interwebs: “We are considering returning to Tintangel but the Inn appears to be even worse than what Mike describes. https://julesevans.medium.com/john-mappin-and-the-camelot-of-conspirituality-9dcc65756edd” Feb 7, 13:46
  • Ruth on The David Miscavige Film Festival: “Clearing Course Lectures and History of Man were the best bat shit crazy parts Mike! Maybe I looked at it…” Feb 7, 13:39
  • Dr. Strabismus of Utrecht on Mad Mappin Hits the Interwebs: “Mappin is anything but an Upper Class Twit, being as common as muck — obvious the moment he opens his…” Feb 7, 13:38

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