Here in the United States we are celebrating our independence, and we hope you are too, wherever you are.
As usual, we mark Independence Day by asking readers to tell us about their own declarations of freedom from Scientology indoctrination. What first led you to question your involvement in the organization? How did you negotiate the tricky path of leaving if you still had family members in?
If you’ve told us before about how you left Scientology, what’s changed for you in the last year or two? Has your conception of your Scientology experience changed over time? Would you have done things differently to leave the group if you could?
And for the never-ins, tell us which of the escape stories you find most illustrative, most exciting, most devastating.
And maybe most importantly, what advice can you offer to those under-the-radar types who today are sneaking a peek at this website as they consider whether it’s time, finally, for them to declare their own independence and dissolve the bands which have connected them to David Miscavige and the Church of Scientology?
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Bonus items from our tipsters
Actual caption: “Thanks to Birdie Nam Nam (our new Ideal Org mascot), I decided to do our next IO status at the MV event – Opening Night 2019! I tell you, the theta level of that bird is incredible! Nothing could hold me back!”
Actual caption: “Attention, Attention Ladies and Gentlemen. May I introduce the youngest Clear in Africa our amazing daughter Jenna Berman. At the age of 14 I am so blown away by this awesome Thetan”
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Our new venture, The Cult Awareness Podcast!
We’ve teamed up with ex-JW (and ex-SNL and ex-Arrested Development regular) Jerry Minor for a podcast about Scientology news and lots more. Our first episode was taped at HowdyCon in Los Angeles, and featured these Bunker regulars…
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Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!
We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.
Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!
Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society!
Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in our weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] It’s ‘Declare your Independence of Scientology Day’ here again at the Underground Bunker
[TWO years ago] Images from spy camera show Clearwater bar owner not only target
[THREE years ago] Tell us how you declared your independence of Scientology on this glorious Independence Day
[FOUR years ago] Jon Atack: Looking back on a week of Scientology enturbulation in Toronto
[FIVE years ago] Scientology’s ‘Disconnection’ policy foiled as Jeremy Powers reunites with his family
[SIX years ago] The Declaration of Independence: When Did You Join the Sons of Liberty?
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology Marriage Counseling Comes Down to This: “What Have You Done to Tom?”
[EIGHT years ago] Scientologists: How Many Of Them Are There, Anyway?
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Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 5,497 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 1,626 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,130 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,650 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 670 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 561 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 3,868 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 1,736 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,510 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,284 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,630 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,196 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,115 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,283 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 2,864 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,125 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,164 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 1,876 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,402 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,491 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,631 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 2,951 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 7,807 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 2,926 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,281 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,584 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,690 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,092 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 1,964 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,547 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,042 days.
Mary Jane Sterne has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,296 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,405 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on July 4, 2019 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post 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 new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2018 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2018), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | 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 | 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 | 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
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
