To our international readers, today is a special day in the United States, when we mark the anniversary of our declaration of independence from Great Britain in 1776 and dared to commit ourselves to a new form of self-government without the need for monarchs. We hope our American readers make the most of this meaningful holiday.
July 4 also has the effect of making us think about Scientologists declaring their own independence. We’re thinking most recently of the interview we did with Fred Haseney, who told us that it was stumbling across a page at the Underground Bunker that began a reading binge which helped him reconsider his years-long commitment to the church.
On occasion, we receive similar emails from readers, most that we can never make public, which talk about how much this website, and its robust commenting community, has meant to them as they dared to challenge their indoctrination which had them believing they had a philosophical monarch in their lives named David Miscavige.
We know that people who leave the Church of Scientology go off in many different directions. Some of them leave quickly and free themselves entirely from the Scientology spell in short order — we’re thinking of someone like Chris Shelton, for example, whose videos are models of critical thinking.
Others shed the church but retain their affinity for Hubbard and his ideas. They continue to practice Scientology outside of the official church, and without those constraints, they can go off in interesting new directions.
It’s been several years now since we asked for your own independence story. We have many new readers and new church defectors among us. Please tell us about your own declaration of independence from the Church of Scientology, and where it has taken you, into indie fields or fully out as an ex.
We really hope to hear both new and old stories, and let’s be respectful: It takes guts to leave a controlling organization like the Church of Scientology, and we want to hear from you wherever your journey has taken you.
Happy Fourth!
——————–
Why Scientologists can’t show off their superpowers
…because the CIA will investigate them if they do.
Great stuff from Phil Jones from the June 24 Battlefield Earth event as he interrogates Scientology Office of Special Affairs handler Ed Parkin…
——————–
Bonus items from our tipsters
Mark your calendars!
Anyone know which education convention (possibly in DC) this photo is from? (And, thanks, Legoland.)
The coolest religion on earth!
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on July 4, 2016 at 07:00
E-mail 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. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
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
