Rod Keller has the week off and we need to get through the holiday weekend, so forgive us for taking a momentary break from reality. But, hey, what the hell.
A few days ago Justin Craig posted this video after recording it at around 1 in the morning (he said), exhausted with how things have been going in the “independent Scientology” field lately.
We told you in 2018 about this guy, that he had convinced some gullible “indies” in the Pacific Northwest that he was the reincarnated L. Ron Hubbard, but it turned out that Craig was actually an ex-con with an extensive record of assaults and attempted carjackings and even a case of threatening to harm a public official that garnered him a four-year prison sentence.
And after a little questioning, we showed that he actually had not really done his homework about L. Ron 1.0 and he missed some important questions about his “previous” lifetime. At that point he claimed, weakly, that he had no recall of his previous life as Scientology’s founder. So how did he know he was the real deal? Because he was so good at Scientology’s “tech,” he replied.
Well, some people certainly thought so, incredibly, and so we’ve occasionally kept an eye on things in the Freezone as, more recently, Craig’s notoriety has turned into something of a shitshow.
The tipping point arrived when Trey Lotz, a well known independent auditor, changed his mind about Craig and made it known publicly. That created quite a bit of consternation at the various Freezone Facebook groups, and Craig seemed to realize that he had a mutiny on his hands.
Lotz said that Craig had been trying to get donations from him in order to pay for an indie brick-and-mortar church, but that effort seems to have come to naught, and Craig is sounding like he’s at his wits’ end.
So, up late and clearly disturbed, Craig recorded this video, announcing that while he is still claiming to be the returned Hubbard, “Scientology is dead,” and he’s replacing it with something he’s calling “Esperianism,” which he has applied for trademarks on.
He encourages his followers to be among the first 100 to grab “Intergalactic Confederation Memberships,” which is as many as he’ll allow in 2020. And he’s taking the next month off to recuperate and prepare for his new push to grow Esperianism.
Well, he’s entertaining if nothing else. Let us know what you think of his performance. We noticed that some Freezoners are now wondering how anyone ever fell for this guy’s act, saying that Hubbard, even in a new body, wouldn’t 1) dress so poorly, 2) live in such squalor, and 3) use such crude language.
OK, now you have to admit, that’s funny stuff. What advice would you have for the next mountebank claiming to be the Great Thetan in the flesh? What would they need to get right that Justin Craig gets wrong?
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“It’s very funny, you know: bodies have machinery laid into them from other times. It’s quite interesting. You’ll find some preclear wallowing around one time or another: ‘Well, look what I have done to this body. Look at the horrible machinery and things I have set up.’ Then he wonders why it runs much faster and gets much more solid. Well, some thetan that had the thing on the genetic line way back when has already installed a tremendous number of items. You didn’t install everything that’s wrong with your body.” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 5, 1957
“LRH does deliver on his promises. The level works. The State of Operating Thetan or Theta Clear do really exist! They are conditions of the static. Thought does influence matter and on OT 7 if you apply the tech and keep your ethics in, the gain will surpass anything you’ve ever imagined. My tip: forget all the noise. Get back onto standard tech. Find an auditor. Find a twin, write your O/W’s, read a book, get back onto session, take a course. Not only will your life will start to get better but you will feel a lot of happiness. Scientology is really the only existing way to spiritual freedom. This technology when properly applied is wonderful.”
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“It’s 10:30 and I’m enjoying a fine bottle of rot gut vodka so I’m in no mood for deciphering new Scientology acronyms.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Arraignment scheduled for September 18.
— Jay Spina, Medicare fraud: Sentencing is set for July 6 in White Plains, NY
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial set for October 7 in Los Angeles
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments set for July 30 at 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] More rich donors propping up Scientology are revealed in a church magazine
[TWO years ago] Shocking molestation claims inside Scientology leaking out before ‘Aftermath’ episode
[THREE years ago] Scientology’s all-hands-on-deck gathering in the Valley caught in pics
[FOUR years ago] Battle for a Scientology soul: Kazakh 20-year-old ‘prisoner’ is back home, but will she stay?
[FIVE years ago] LIVE REPORTS: Scientology leader David Miscavige opens “Ideal Org” in Colombia today
[SIX years ago] John Joseph, 1955-2014: A Scientologist, and a friend to the Underground Bunker
[SEVEN years ago] Has Leah Remini Left the Church of Scientology?
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology Leader David Miscavige’s Disappeared Wife Shelly: What We Know
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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 1,989 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,493 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,013 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,033 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 924 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,231 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,099 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,873 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,677 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,993 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,559 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,478 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,646 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,227 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,488 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,526 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,239 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,764 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,294 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,854 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,994 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,314 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,169 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,289 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,644 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,947 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,053 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,455 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,327 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,910 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,405 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,659 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,768 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on July 5, 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
