We have a new video today from Aaron Smith-Levin in his series, “Growing up in Scientology.” In order to help outsiders understand why Scientologists could dedicate themselves to chasing outlandish ideas about superhuman abilities, Aaron went all Matrix on us.
Yes, he weaves a fascinating analogy about how much the 1999 film by the Wachowskis can help us understand how Scientologists chase the dream of becoming Neo. “And not the shitty Neo,” Aaron says, which has to be one of the more surprising comparisons made on this website lately. Aaron also has some fun reading fan mail to his series.
Here is some explanation from Aaron about how Scientologists can convince themselves that it’s actually a good idea to rip apart families that disagree about Scientology’s aims…
This week’s video discusses fundamentalist Scientology and its relationship to enforced familial disconnection. We examine which of Scientology’s core beliefs are most responsible for driving fundamentalist Scientology and how these beliefs are leveraged to degrade the value of and break apart families.
AdvertisementDisconnection is, in my opinion, Scientology’s Achilles Heel. People will put up with a lot of crap, but disconnection that splits parents and their children, husbands and their wives, or siblings is uniquely sickening not only to the public at large who watch Scientology, but also to the people who live it and experience it. Disconnection is destroying Scientology, yet the Church of Scientology keeps enforcing it harder and harder. Why?
We examine how someone who is a hardcore Scientology believer can convince themselves, despite their true feelings, that discarding loved ones is “for the greatest good.” The core beliefs that drive fundamentalist Scientology do not begin with the secretive OT levels, but are put into the minds of children in Scientology who have no clue at all what the OT levels are all about.
Looking forward to hearing your ideas on this, people.
——————–
Karen de la Carriere on Stacy Young, part 2
Karen continues her series looking at the harassment faced by former Scientologist Stacy Young…
——————–
BOOK NOTES
We didn’t get a chance to include photos in our book, so we’ve posted them at a dedicated page. Reader Sookie put together a complete index and we’re hosting it here on the website. Copies of the paperback version of ‘The Unbreakable Miss Lovely’ are on sale at Amazon. The Kindle edition is also available, and shipping instantly.
Tony Ortega’s upcoming appearances (and check out the interactive map to our ongoing tour)…
Sept 23: Cleveland, Parma Heights Library, 7pm sponsored by Center for Inquiry – Northeast Ohio
Sept 24: Minneapolis, Grumpy’s Bar & Grill, 2801 Snelling Ave, Roseville, 7 pm, sponsored by Minnesota Atheists
Sept 27: Portland, Friendly House, 1737 NW 26th Ave, 12:45 pm, sponsored by Humanists of Portland
Sept 28: Seattle, Razzi’s Pizzeria, 7 pm, with Seattle Skeptics and Seattle Atheists
Sept 29: Vancouver, BC, Seven Dining Lounge, 7 pm
Oct 23: Sydney, Giant Dwarf Theatre (with Sen. Nick Xenophon)
Oct 25: Melbourne, venue secured (announcement coming later)
Oct 28: Adelaide (with Sen. Nick Xenophon)
Oct 30: Perth
Past dates: Santa Barbara (5/16), Hollywood (5/17), Orange County (5/17), San Diego (5/20), San Francisco (5/22), New York (6/11), Chicago (6/20), Toronto (6/22), Clearwater (6/28), Washington DC (7/12), Hartford (7/14), Denver (7/17), Dallas (7/20), Houston (7/22), San Antonio (7/24), Austin (7/25), Paris (7/29), London (8/4), Boston (8/24)
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on September 16, 2015 at 07:00
E-mail your tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes updates at our Facebook author page. Here at the Bunker we try to have a post up every morning at 7 AM Eastern (Noon GMT), and on some days we post an afternoon story at around 2 PM. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…
BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of LA attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts
PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | Scientology’s Private Dancer
The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill
The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Our Guide to Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear,’ and our pages about its principal figures…
Jason Beghe | Tom DeVocht | Sara Goldberg | Paul Haggis | Mark “Marty” Rathbun | Mike Rinder | Spanky Taylor | Hana Whitfield
