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Boarded up and shut down, Scientology struggles to stay relevant in uncertain times

 
An Underground Bunker reader sent us a couple of snapshots they took yesterday in Pasadena, where Scientology workers were busy putting up plywood to protect the Ideal Org’s large plate glass windows.

Here’s a closer look that they snapped for us…

 

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Meanwhile, another reader gathered a few photos from social media with similar looks at the Portland Ideal Org, whose grand opening was certainly a memorable event here at the Bunker (and courtesy of our friend Mark Bunker). Looking at these photos, it looks like some of the plywood has been put in place to protect windows from harm, but it also looks like some plywood appears to be replacing windows that might have been broken in the unrest.

 

 
And yesterday, Mike Rinder posted a similar photo of the New York Ideal Org, which is on 46th Street just off of Times Square…

 

 
Here was Mike’s cutting insight of what these views mean for Scientology…

This is exactly the sort of situation they so often crow about “solving.” And they also claim they are “creating a new civilization” and “clearing the planet.” Repeatedly. This is an “Ideal Org” and there is another one in Harlem. Where’s the new civilization? There’s also an Ideal Org in Minneapolis (actually St. Paul) too that has been “changing civilization.” There are half dozen in the LA area. And Atlanta. And so on. Of course, they will change their tune right now — instead of boasting about how they are bringing peace and a new civilization, the unrest will be used for money-grubbing. “Look at the state of civilization the psychiatrists have created, we need money to fight them.”

With more than two months on lock down in a devastating pandemic, an economy on the brink, the shocking death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, and then countrywide rioting, it certainly is an exhausting and anxiety-inducing time to be alive.

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Rinder’s assessment seems spot on. Has Scientology ever seemed less relevant than it does right now? And yet, David Miscavige will find a way to turn today’s scary times into ways of fleecing his followers. More families will be drained. More families will be ripped apart. More young people will have their futures put at risk.

And we’ll keep watching.

 
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Source Code

“The guy for the last five years has been having trouble with his leg and he just sits in the auditing session with this hidden standard. He runs cows, crocs and alligators with great happiness. And at each moment after he runs the command, or every few commands, why, he kind of thetawise looks down at his leg, you see, to see whether or not that has been affected. “Well, alligators didn’t fit in that leg, so it must be something else,” you see? He’s running with his attention fixed on something else. And he broke his leg five or ten years ago and it has troubled him ever since. Well, you can assess that leg, and by the way, you can even assess it this way: His name, let us say, is John; you can assess ‘John’s leg,’ something of that sort. It’s always best to inspect the meter for a bit of reaction, but oddly enough, you don’t even have to, to do that. You just know this is a long-duration PI problem. The best way to do it is to make a list of terminals that the PC thinks it is. And then take a specific one, not take a general one. See, you don’t want this thing to be a profession. You don’t want it to be a profession, that’s all. Because he’ll run on it for quite a while if you take it as a general thing, see? ” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 1, 1961

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“According to self proclaimed ‘Source Thetan’ Inelia Benz, this is a time to start creating the reality you wish to create for the planet. No longer a time to awaken the sleepers that don’t want to awaken. What are the postulates LRH did for this planet? He said this planet was going to be an OT base for the exit of this universe.”

 
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Random Howdy

“Scientology’s aesthetic muse is the Hallmark Channel filming on location in Branson, Missouri with some Space Opera whipping on top.”

 
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
Jay Spina: Sentencing was set for April 3 in White Plains
Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members: Trial set for October 7 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 August 11
Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: July 8 (plaintiff attorneys pro hac vice), August 31-Sept 1 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments were heard on March 11 in Jacksonville
Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Amended complaint filed.

 
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Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

[Alanna Masterson, Terry Jastrow, and Marisol Nichols]

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 Lit: The verse stylings of L. Ron Hubbard, commodore of cool
[TWO years ago] When the famous war protester met Scientology: A spiritual encounter in Los Angeles
[THREE years ago] Remembering another Scientology ‘warrior’ — with the help of Mark Bunker
[FOUR years ago] Now that Scientology has a TV and radio complex, will it air what Scientology really is?
[FIVE years ago] Listen to Jim Jones root for Scientology against Paulette Cooper in a 1978 Jonestown address
[SIX years ago] Sunday Funnies: Scientology’s latest attempts to get you amped up!
[SEVEN years ago] Here’s Some Photographic Proof that Scientology’s “Ideal Orgs” Are Killing the Church
[EIGHT years ago] AUDIO: “Touch Me,” Creepy Scientology Goon Repeatedly Tells Protester

 
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Scientology disconnection, a reminder

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 1,955 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,459 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,979 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 999 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 890 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,197 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,065 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,839 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,613 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,959 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,525 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,444 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,612 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,193 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,454 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,492 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,205 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,730 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,260 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,820 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,960 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,280 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,135 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,255 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,610 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,913 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,019 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,421 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,293 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,876 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,371 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,625 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,734 days.

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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 1, 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

 

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