The FBI has released many documents about Scientology and L. Ron Hubbard in the past. They have helped inform books such as Going Clear by Lawrence Wright, as well as the Alex Gibney film of the same name.
Those FBI files have been released again to the MuckRock website, which made a request for them in April. And although the documents in that release are not new, it sure is fun to pore through them again.
We thought we’d share one with you today, which serves to remind us the kinds of things L. Ron Hubbard used to get away with before journalists like Russell Miller came along and fact-checked his biography.
This is a description of Hubbard that was put out by the “Founding” Church of Scientology in Washington DC, around the year 1957, which was a couple of years after that org had been started. How many untruths can you spot?
L. Ron Hubbard, psychologist — does CCHR know about this?
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Wilfried Handl calls it quits
A reader pointed out to us recently that Wilfried Handl’s blog had seemed to have disappeared. Archived pages show that the German-language blog about Scientology last posted an entry on May 7. Handl, who lives in Austria, had been sued over his blog in the past, as we noted here.
We wondered what had happened, and now a friend of Handl’s has let us know that for health reasons, Wilfried has decided to shutter his website. However, although Handl won’t be updating his blog anymore, his friend says he is working with Wilfried to get the existing pages back online as a continuing reference for German speakers. We hope he manages to do that.
Wilfried, we wish you better health, and salute the very good work you were doing.
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Maddow on campaign pranksters
Last night, Rachel Maddow did a fun piece on a couple of pranksters who have been trolling the political campaigns — Rubio, Cruz, Trump, and Clinton. She noted that they’re a duo who have been punking reporters for years, going all the way back to Occupy Wall Street.
But we also recognized them. In 2013 they called themselves “The Good Liars,” and admitted they were a couple of comedians. They pulled a fun prank where they handed out fliers in Times Square, saying they were Sea Org members and asking people not to look for Shelly Miscavige, because she isn’t missing.
The Good Liars are actually Jason Selvig and Davram Stiefler, and it will be interesting to see if they can continue to punk the campaigns all the way to November.
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Chris Shelton checks in with another group
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 2, 2016 at 07:00
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Our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information about the book, and our 2015 book tour, can also be found at the book’s dedicated 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 L.A. 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
Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | 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 | Scientology boasts about assistance from Google | 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
