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As Los Angeles schools prepare to reopen, Scientology keeps trying to worm its way in

[Tom Cruise at the 2003 grand opening of the new Applied Scholastics headquarters in Missouri]

As if Los Angeles educators didn’t have enough to worry about with school re-opening in a couple of weeks, Scientology has chosen this moment to make another push with its “Applied Scholastics” front operation.

Our source with access to a private Scientology social media feed forwarded a notice that Scientologists were encouraged to read, urging them to take part in a campaign to convince local schools to sample the free curriculum resources Scientology has pushed for decades.

“I’m sending over a free resource that will help your teachers improve their students’ literacy and test scores,” says the email message which Scientologists are encouraged to send out under their own names to random local schools.

Educators are encouraged to look at material from Applied Scholastics, one of Scientology’s many front operations that are intended to burnish Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s reputation while keeping the connection to the church on the down-low. Applied Scholastics does its best to convince school district to adopt its “Study Technology” that Hubbard claimed was a superior way to learn.

It emphasizes the use of a dictionary for looking up words, clay modeling for understanding examples, and learning gradually more difficult subjects on a gradient. None of these concepts on their own is objectionable, but this is Scientology, so everything is done to a ridiculous extreme, and for the purpose of preparing people to accept Scientology itself.

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Applied Scholastics is one of several operations that fall under the Association for Better Living and Education, which is staffed by Sea Org workers, Scientologists who have signed billion-year contracts, promising to come back lifetime after lifetime to promote Scientology’s ends.

Here’s the message that Scientologists are being encouraged to send out to their local schools…

 
Meanwhile, there’s also a push from Scientology’s membership organization, the International Association of Scientologists, which is asking people to attend a virtual event on Saturday, promising “inspiring news updates.”

 

 
That flier was sent out with this uplifting musical message…

 
And, we know this is hard to believe, but that IAS promo and video were sent to Angelo Pagan — yes, Leah Remini’s husband — from a Scientologist who somehow didn’t notice that they’d left the church. Now that’s a Scientologist who is shielding themselves from entheta!

Meanwhile, here’s another Scientology enabler, a Los Angeles community college psychology instructor willing to help out Scientology’s most unhinged front group, the wacky anti-psychiatry folks at Citizens Commission on Human Rights…

 

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Imagine allying with Scientology at this point in its history. We sent an email to Professor Cain to see if she’ll explain what she’s thinking.

 
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Bonus items from our tipsters

Another success story!

 

 
Worth the wait?

 

 

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Again with The Matrix…

 

 
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Source Code

“The admiral’s office thinks very poorly of a person who gives any understanding to a crew about what they’re about, and who thinks very poorly of a ship that has fairly good morale. To have good morale is a condemnation. Got this? Now, that expediency goes up to a final peak where, man’s walking down the street, he’s picked up, he’s taken down to a spaceship, he’s laid in a bunk, he’s strapped down, given an injection. A speaker-phone starts going yap-yap-yap at him, indoctrinates him as a member of the crew, wipes out all former memory, works him over in general and he’s now part of the navy. Get the idea? It goes down to total no-determinism. Now, you just think I’m showing you a few of my engrams. They’re not my engrams; they’re the engrams of this race, and of all races in all times.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 5, 1958

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“Trey Lotz promoted and supported Justin Craig in his claim to be the reincarnation of L. Ronald Hubbard. He even posted a win accompanied by a picture of himself and his wife with Craig, a/k/a Lafayette, to be seen by all in the independent field. Justin Craig is the biggest deceiver; not only does he allege he is Hubbard reincarnated but he plagiarized LRH’s processes and altered them for his convenience. Trey Lotz promoted and supported those squirrel processes, and in return Craig went onto expelling Trey from his squirrel group and declared that Scientology is dead! This created disturbance and disrepute in the independent Scientology field.”

 
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Random Howdy

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“One man’s moonbat is another man’s freedom fighter. Winning is the only thing that truly matters.”

 
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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 and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing is set for August 27 in White Plains, NY
Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29

Civil litigation:
Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on 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: Sept 4 (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, trial set for Nov 9, 2021

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

[Elisabeth Moss, Michael Peña, and Laura Prepon]

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 is the coolest religion on earth, video proves
[TWO years ago] California is on fire, and Scientology naturally sees a golden recruiting opportunity
[THREE years ago] An unusual Scientology advertisement leads to new intel on secretive ‘Int Base’
[FOUR years ago] Florida man sues medical sleep testing company after its dapper CEO forced Scientology on him
[FIVE years ago] What really happens at a Scientology rehab? Nick Lister dishes on the Narconon experience
[SIX years ago] Mareka Brousseau compares growing up in Scientology to The Hunger Games
[SEVEN years ago] Will Shelly Miscavige Be Trotted Out at the Celebrity Centre Gala As a PR Stunt?
[EIGHT years ago] Movie Night at Scientology’s New York “Org”: The Village Voice Gets Proselytized!
[NINE years ago] The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology
[ELEVEN years ago] Tom Cruise and Scientology: A Very French Kiss

 
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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 2,020 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,524 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,044 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,064 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 955 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,262 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,130 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,904 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,708 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,024 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,590 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,509 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,677 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,258 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,519 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,557 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,270 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,795 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,325 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,885 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,025 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,345 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,200 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,319 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,675 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,978 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,084 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,486 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,358 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,941 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,436 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,690 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,799 days.

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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 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

 

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