Records show that Danny Masterson is a woeful Scientologist — would he turn on the church?

Yesterday we tried to answer the question whether Scientology would turn on Danny Masterson now that the That ’70s Show actor has been charged for raping three women and is facing 45 years to life in prison.

With the help of Mike Rinder, we explained that because Scientology is so involved in those cases, it would be difficult for the organization to simply drop him as he faces prosecution.

But now we want to look at the flip side of that equation: If Scientology will find it hard to drop Danny, will Danny feel the same way toward Scientology?

Our sources tell us there’s reason to think that Danny’s loyalty to the church is somewhat fragile.

We got onto this line of questioning when we decided to review Danny’s history in Scientology and check his journey up the “Bridge to Total Freedom,” as the regimen of courses and auditing levels is known.

What we found was that Danny’s history shows that he’s actually a pretty sad excuse for a Scientologist. Sure, he could be counted on to show up for Scientology PR events, like the 2005 Celebrity Centre gala that the photo above is from, or on behalf of numerous Scientology front groups. And he could also throw a punch on behalf of Scientology in various press interviews. But according to Scientology’s own publications (which are gathered at Kristi Wachter’s excellent website) Masterson is not an OT Scientologist or “Clear,” and there’s also no evidence that he finished the “Grades,” important but only mid-level steps on the Scientology journey. And our sources who knew him tell us that’s consistent with their interactions with Masterson, who didn’t seem very interested in auditing or otherwise being educated in the Scientology way.

“You can’t be a 30-year Scientologist and only be Grade 3. I did Grade 3 in two weeks,” one of our sources said about Masterson’s record in the church. “He was terrible at being a Scientologist. He hated to study.”

Often, however, we find that celebrities who grew up in the church seem less motivated to go “up the Bridge” than their peers or their parents. Carol Masterson, Danny’s mother and his manager, is an ardent Scientologist who, as far as we know, has been stuck on OT 7 for some twenty years or more. OT 7 — Operating Thetan level seven — is the second-to-highest auditing level on the entire Bridge, and it’s notorious for being the most expensive and most difficult step to complete in the entire journey. (Since 1988 OT 8 has been the culminating step on the Bridge, but it’s far easier to complete, say those who have been through it.)

A family friend tells us that when Danny’s weak record of completions came up, Carol would be quick to say, “He’s Clear from a past life, he just needs to remember it.”

Well, that’s just what a protective mom would say, wouldn’t she? And our sources wanted us to know that about the Masterson clan — that they’re incredibly tight, and will stick by Danny whatever comes.

“The family really loves him and would turn on the church for him,” one source tells us.

Mike Rinder, however, cautions us that it is difficult to know how the family would react if Danny were to turn on Scientology.

“Obviously there are a lot of factors involved here,” the former church spokesman tells us. “Yes, I do think he could turn on Scientology. And it could be catastrophic. He has to balance the upside of turning on them — a plea deal? — with the downsides: what happens with his family (there is no doubt what will happen to his Scientology friends, they will be history, but who knows really what his family will do) and what other information Scientology may have on him about other things that are NOT known publicly that they could provide to law enforcement. Only he knows this.

“Without all the information, it is very difficult to predict what will happen. As long as he is not turning on Scientology, I believe they won’t turn on him or abandon him. How long the status quo will be maintained is anyone’s guess,” Rinder says.

Hey, there are no easy answers about this stuff. We’ll just have to watch closely for clues about how Danny and Scientology are getting along.

In the meantime, we’ve been getting inquiries from reporters who are interested in Masterson and his Scientology involvement, so we thought we’d do what we can to help.

In 2013, with the excellent help of former Sea Org official Claire Headley, we wrote a series going step by step up the Bridge, providing some highlights of Scientology’s various courses and auditing levels, along with some cost estimates (which can vary greatly depending on where a process is being delivered). Here are some of Danny Masterson’s course completions, along with excerpts from our “Up the Bridge” series.

 
ARC STRAIGHTWIRE, 1996

CLAIRE: An example of a question asked over and over is: “Recall a time that is really real to you.” I think there were a few times I felt better. Overall, however, there was a lot of repetition and pressure that I felt personally always to feel better and have a cognition. I can remember having the vague feeling of pressure as to what my cognition would be. And also an expectation that I had to feel better or there was something wrong with me. This is the start of my personal resolution that many things in Scientology reflect a situation of pluralistic ignorance: “no one believes, but everyone believes that everyone else believes.”

THE BUNKER: So, when an auditor asks, “Recall a time that is really real to you,” and he asks it and asks it, do you come up with 20, 30, 40 different answers? Or do you give the same answer again and again, but with slight differences? And how do you get a “win” from that?

CLAIRE: Each time the command is given, it’s a different answer, so 20, 30, or 40 different answers. The idea is that you will “release charge” by recalling past memories.

Cost estimate: $3,000

 
OVERCOMING UPS AND DOWNS IN LIFE, 1997

CLAIRE: Yes, I’d say at this point I was feeling skeptical, and on the other hand, it was mild enough that I could accept it, and it’s what everyone was doing. Plus you’re hearing about everyone’s great successes, and you’re getting tons of encouragement from all sides. I’d say the genius of the approach, like it or leave it, is the gentle approach at the outset. Obviously if someone sat you down and told you what was to come (possibility of disconnection, control, how much money you’re going to spend, not to mention Xenu and all that), you’d get out of there in a hurry. But it was never like that. And keep in mind, most adults entering Scientology are at a low point in life, and that’s how they’re convinced to start at all. At least by my observation. Hey, we can help you feel better after your marriage ended or your boss was mean to you, or whatever.

Cost estimate: $150

 
OBJECTIVES, 1998

CLAIRE: It’s a series of commands relating to physical execution. A big focus of the objectives is exteriorization. That’s the Scientology term for “out of body” experiences. Honestly, this was a major part of Scientology that I never really came to terms with. I didn’t experience exteriorization, and that’s just the bottom line. That’s not to say it doesn’t exist. I just didn’t experience it, although I felt really pressured on this subject beyond rationality. I never understood how being “out of my body” would make me a better person. Perhaps someone else experienced it and saw a benefit. I’m just telling you what happened for me. Exteriorization for me was the first thing in Scientology that really struck me as an “emperor’s new clothes” scenario. Also, objectives can go on for tens to hundreds of hours if needed.

Cost estimate: $1,000

 
GRADE II EXPANDED, 2001

CLAIRE: It includes (but isn’t limited to) what is known as the “toughest” sec check in Scientology, the “Joburg.” It was developed in Johannesburg for the most hardened of criminals. The ability gained here on Grade 2 is “Relief from the hostilities and sufferings of life.” And some of the subjects covered in this level are missed withhold manifestations, the murder routine, animal reactions, and dirty needles.

THE BUNKER: Murder routine? What the hell is that?

CLAIRE: I thought you might be curious about that. Let’s say you’re sec checking someone (interrogating them), and they refuse to answer a question. The murder routine is a procedure designed to get an answer out of someone. The idea is to ask questions that would most likely be much worse than whatever it is the subject is holding back. So you might say to the person, “Well, did you murder someone?” “Did you hurt someone?” “Did you do something illegal?” On and on. Until finally the subject blurts out, “No! I didn’t murder anyone. I — ” and then they spill what they’ve been holding back.

THE BUNKER: Isn’t this church fun?

Cost estimate: $30,000

 
GRADE III EXPANDED, 2001

CLAIRE: What I’ve never been able to reconcile, personally, is the fact that in Scientology auditing, they stress that you are never to evaluate for someone or tell them what to think about their case, and yet the steps that every single person needs to do are the same — this became a much more exaggerated discrepancy for me on the upper levels. But we’re getting to that.

THE BUNKER: In the grade material, we saw some references to exteriorization — when a Scientologist goes “outside” his or her body. Is that a key part of this grade?

CLAIRE: I don’t remember that being a focus at this stage. In Scientology auditing, if someone says they are exterior, the auditor will end the session immediately so the person can “enjoy their win.”

THE BUNKER: Note to self: When tired of auditing, claim to be exterior so auditor bugs off.

Cost estimate: $15,000

 
After completing Grade III Expanded in 2001 and the “Happiness Rundown” in 2002, another ten years goes by before a final completion appears under Danny’s name. In 2012, Freewinds magazine listed Masterson as one of those who had come to the ship to do a Dianetics seminar, refreshing Danny’s familiarity with the problematic book that started it all, Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, which L. Ron Hubbard published in 1950.

A Dianetics seminar? For a lifelong Scientologist who had been stuck in the Grades? And on the ship? We put it to our experienced ex-Scientology community, what was going on here, an amends project? A sop to a registrar? Or just an excuse to go to the ship for an easy course? Let us know what you think.

 
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Bonus items from our tipsters

Another one through the Wall of Fire!

 
This is Johnny Lewis’s dad…

 
Look out, New Haven is ramping up…

 
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Source Code

“I think you could probably get a cat to talk with the reach-and-withdraw band of processes. I mean it. I mean it. I think you could get a cat to talk. But how would you go about processing a cat, you see? Well, the same way you tend to process children. Sloppily, hunt-and-punch, no regular sessions, not treating it with the dignity that auditing demands. Don’t you see? You know, a lot of Scientologists’ kids are going to be practically unprocessable in a few more years, if people keep hunting-and-punching processing on them, you know. Grabbing them off as they pass by, and running an assist, don’t you see, and never flattening the auditing command and so forth. I’m surprised, every once in a while, one of my kids will yelp when I say I’m going to give them an assist, you know. They yelp! They’re usually very pleased, but once in a while I will propose something like this, and I’ll get a protest.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 19, 1963

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“The attempt to Black PR those who adhere to KSW, is just that — Black PR, promulgated by those who didn’t and don’t keep Scientology working, and whose results with the materials sure do show that up. Yep, I’m a ‘fundamentalist’ allrighty. Paid my dues on Flag’s Internships, and through thousands of hours of application to earn that epithet.”

 
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Random Howdy

“I’ve seen Oz promote homeopathy, naturopathy, chiropractic, acupuncture, and herbal voodoo on his program. He’s Dr Woo-Woo.”

 
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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!

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] Ignore the apologists: Yes, L. Ron Hubbard lied about having an engineering degree
[TWO years ago] Stacy Francis goes to Washington: Are we witnessing another Scientology political op?
[THREE years ago] Clearwater bar owner under surveillance has a surprise for Scientology: He’s expanding
[FOUR years ago] Scientology goes big with Barnes & Noble and with the Euro 2016 football tournament
[FIVE years ago] LEAK: ‘Crappy stories’ about Scientology are driving more people to the church than ever!
[SIX years ago] Paul Haggis, Chill EB, and more Scientology fun in an all-video post!
[SEVEN years ago] LEAK: Scientology’s Script For Softening Up A Crowd
[EIGHT years ago] The Master Gets Its Scientology On in 2nd Trailer

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 19, 2020 at 07:00

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