[Make sure you saw yesterday’s TWO bonus breaking news stories: 1. Results of yesterday’s hearing in Bixler v. Masterson and 2. Jane Doe’s lawyers schedule David Miscavige for a deposition!]
It’s on Scientology’s private cruise ship the Freewinds, which plies the Caribbean, that L. Ron Hubbard’s ultimate prank is pulled on his Scientologist followers.
Imagine spending hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars putting up with the utter nonsense of Scientology’s “Bridge to Total Freedom” — years of humiliating interrogations and invasions of your privacy masqueraded as “church” activities — so you can finally get to the ultimate auditing level, Operating Thetan Level Eight, which is only delivered on the ship. Along the way, you’ve spent years, possibly even decades, removing “body thetans” — disembodied invisible souls hitchhiking on your person that you spend hundreds of dollars an hour to remove through arcane Scientology processing.
Also, under repetitive and trance-inducing questioning, you are “remembering” distant past lives that occurred millions of years ago on other planets, building a massive collective identity of yourself in a galaxy-spanning personal narrative you are prohibited from sharing with your fellow Scientologists, even the members of your own family. But the pull is strong, because you are led to believe that once you finally get to the top of the “Bridge,” you will be an “Operating Thetan,” you will achieve superhuman powers, and you will be master of “matter, energy, space, and time.” In his lectures, Hubbard said that becoming an Operating Thetan was a journey of reacquiring the godlike traits that you had lost trillions of years ago, and once you have achieved “OT,” you could destroy an entire planet between your thumb and forefinger.
So, after years of this kind of build-up, you are allowed to go to the ship to receive OT 8. And what does Hubbard have waiting for you? A cruel jest. You are told that during all of those years of remembering past lives, you have not been remembering your own experiences but those of the hitchhiking “body thetans” that you have chased away. In other words, you have been remembering other people’s memories, not your own. And now, as an OT 8 graduate, you finally know who you aren’t, and you can at last begin to learn who you are — right back where you started perhaps decades ago when you picked up your first Scientology book or took your first course.
We know of no other mind-altering group that plays such a savage prank on its own members as Scientology saves for its OT 8s. But there’s one more humiliating part of the ritual. After you have discovered that dropping a couple of million on Scientology has brought you right back to the beginning, you are obliged to hold up a framed certificate that documents your fleecing, and smile for the camera.
Here then, are the latest crop, from a new issue of Freewinds magazine.
Volker Epple, Meng-Hsiu Lin, Guy Bergeaud, Joaquim Triginer, Gudrun Lang, Bernd Lang
Damiano Frati, Lilach Yaary, Klaus Uckelmann
Top: Marina Chado, Kathy Ikeda, Vilma Cosentino, Eva Eriksson, Bernadette Turci
Bottom: Chun-Mei (Amy) Huang, Bob Lippmann, Maria Gutierrez Teixeira, Xaver Egginger, Aaron Orthmann
Martin Messer, Chiao-Wei Tseng, Laura Bidone, Giovanna Mattioli
Top: Benno Bucher, Pamela Savelo, Jamie Marie Marvin, Sheridan Cyrus
Bottom: Belinda Lidl, Giuseppe De Lucia, Simona Parrino, Maurizio Serafini
Top: Tracy Lynn Repchuk, Martina Kempka, Birgitte Langer, Brian Rakestraw
Bottom: Carlo Alberto Prete, Mireya Banderas, Alessandro Baggio, Luana Baggio
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Bonus items from our tipsters
Is it too late to warn the prospective bride?
Meanwhile, in the Twin Cities…
And in Philly…
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“Let’s be some distance from the body, if possible. Some distance from the body and find some places where you are not. Some more places where you are not. Now some things from which you are not exteriorizing. Some things you’re not at this moment getting out of. And now some things that aren’t pulling you into them. And some things you are not getting out of. And now some things you’re not stuck in. Some more things you’re not stuck in. Now some energy masses that aren’t wrapping themselves around you at this moment. All right. Now some energy masses you aren’t wrapping yourself around at this moment. And now some effort you are not at this moment trying to get out of. Some effort you’re not trying to keep from expending at this moment. All right.” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 12, 1954
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“Our eyes gather perception stereoscopically with very limited sensors that only map three colours out of millions. When people first go exterior they use their BTs to translate their limited perception into something similar to what eyes see. That gets mixed up with lots of facsimiles. Theta perception is very different from what eyes see. Theta beings in a higher state of awareness do not look AT things. They surround and permeate. Light is actually somewhat of a distraction.”
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“I’m not ‘hating’ on anybody — especially folks I don’t even know — but on the other hand I don’t believe in turning a blind eye in order to maintain a positive front. My sister undoubtedly put her kids in the Sea Org, and for that I could never forgive her.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Jay Spina: Sentencing set for April 3 in White Plains
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members: Trial set for April 14 in Los Angeles
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Waiting for an appellate decision from the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Hearing on motion for reconsideration set for April 16
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology: April 22 (plaintiff attorneys pro hac vice), June (demurrers by Masterson and Scientology), June (motions to compel arbitration)
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe’s attorneys have asked for discovery, March 19 depositions (Warren McShane, Lynn Farny), April 20 hearing set (motion to compel arbitration)
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Complaint filed.
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Start making your plans…
Head over to the convention website and meet us in St. Louis!
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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] Scientology TV debuted one year ago, and it’s still unwatchable propaganda
[TWO years ago] Tonight, ‘Vanity Fair Confidential’ brings the Shelly Miscavige story to the ID network
[THREE years ago] David Miscavige wants to turn Clearwater into Scientology’s Vatican — but can he?
[FOUR years ago] Meet the guy Scientology is relying on to get the ‘disconnection’ billboard stopped
[FIVE years ago] DOX: Two early Dianetics supporters, including the E-meter inventor, turn against Hubbard
[SIX years ago] Vivian Kubrick posts remarkable photos from the sets of her father’s movies
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology Starts Out as Staring Contests
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology’s Writers of the Future Contest: Troubling Ties to Abuse in the Church
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 1,875 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,379 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,899 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 919 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 810 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,117 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 1,985 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,759 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,533 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,879 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,445 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,364 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,532 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,113 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,374 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,412 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,125 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,650 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,177 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,740 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,880 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,200 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,055 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,175 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,530 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,833 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,939 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,341 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,213 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,796 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,291 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,545 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,654 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 12, 2020 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, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), 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, 14 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
