In 2011 we spent the month of August counting down a list of the “Top 25 People Crippling Scientology.” Nine years later, Scientology is still hurting, but church leader David Miscavige learned long ago that paid membership was only one resource that kept him in business. He also relies on a small army of enablers, some paid, some not, who help him stay in business even though they aren’t Scientologists themselves. So we thought we’d recognize them with this countdown.
Since at least 2006, Scientology has been working with one architectural firm to make sure that its ‘Ideal Orgs’ are cathedrals worthy of church leader David Miscavige, and that’s the San Francisco-based global outfit Gensler.
One of Miscavige’s most visible obsessions, his passion for a consistent architectural look for his rebuilding program has resulted in gleaming new empty houses of L. Ron Hubbard worship around the world.
We have a complete rundown of them at this website, and if you scroll through the individual entries, you can see how they share a set of architectural concepts from one to another.
That’s thanks to Gensler.
Most famous of Gensler’s contributions to Scientology’s matter, energy, space, and time on this planet, of course, was the work it did producing a truly Space Opera experience for wealthy church members: The Flag Building and its Star Trek-like fifth floor Super Power “perceptics” contraptions. We were partial to the oiliness table, but the doodads on this floor also included such things as a smell wall and infinite pit.
Sure, you may laugh, but Scientology is really skillful at using these designs to get tens of thousands from members gullible enough to think they’re going to come out of that building with super powers. We’re sure the folks at Gensler feel great about helping Scientology out with that.
Gensler has also lent a helping hand in David Miscavige’s plots to foil the city of Clearwater’s attempts to revitalize its downtown, which has become a ghost town thanks to the creepy vibe of Scientology’s presence.
When Miscavige wanted to convince Clearwater officials that he would help them redesign Cleveland Street if they’d let him buy a key downtown parcel, it was Gensler who provided the drawings for the proposed Cleveland Street facelift. (The city held firm and hasn’t let Miscavige get his paws on that small piece of land he covets.)
Whether he’s continuing to destroy a Florida city’s downtown, or separating huge amounts of cash from people seeking super powers, Miscavige knows he can always rely on Gensler.
The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology
3: The judges
4: The LAPD
5: The dirty tricks private eyes
6: The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department
7: The litigators
8: The ghost private eyes
9: The San Bernardino Sheriff’s Office
10: Political shills
11: Gary Soter
12: The city of Clearwater, Florida
13: Google and other tech titans
14: The Los Angeles Times
15: Jeffrey Riffer
16: James Packer
18: Mark “Marty” Rathbun
19: Wally Pope
20: Gensler
21: Parents who subscribe to ABCMouse
22: Graham Norton and other celebrity strokers
23: The apologist academics
24: Rebecca Dobkin and other low-level PI grunts
25: DirecTV and filmmakers buffing Dave’s channel
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“We come along to this bird and we say, ‘Hey, bud, you’re a convict. You live on a planet called Earth; it’s part of the Marcab Confederacy….Now, is there some other planetary system, is there some other empire system which is deeper in to the heart of this galaxy which is going to backfire against this one? I would say probably yes. Probably yes. There, probably this is coming right up over the hill. I mean it probably is not long. Maybe this confederacy or this activity right now is in trouble. But conquerors nearly always spare the jails. Did you realize that? The Allied troops going in — Auschwitz, Belsen, places like that — they didn’t knock those apart. They knocked apart the belligerents’ property, but they didn’t knock apart their jails. All kinds of political situations complicate this picture.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 22, 1963
“I suspect that the majority should spend time at the level of mission or field group before becoming actual Scientologists and working up the Bridge. Directly working with people on life repair services should be the #1 program for anyone and everyone. It is so obvious that the collapse of real Div 6 in the 80’s is the only reason we have failed as a group to achieve what we should have. Rectifying this is now harder but completely doable.”
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“You should have seen me on stage. I could move, baby!”
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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.’ Motion for reconsideration denied on 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. Plaintiffs granted permission to file changes to amended complaint by Sept 4.
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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] The FBI wants recent cases of Scientology fraud? We’ve got them right here, for crissakes
[TWO years ago] Colombian senator cites Xenu, ‘the Hole,’ in wild televised hearing about Scientology scandal
[THREE years ago] Tonight on ‘Aftermath’: Suicide in Scientology, where sympathy and compassion are outlawed
[FOUR years ago] Trump is drawing comparisons to L. Ron, but will Hillary favor Scientology as much as Bill did?
[FIVE years ago] A revealing look inside the warped ‘kingdom’ of Scientology leader David Miscavige
[SIX years ago] Scientology skates (so far) as OK grand jury says “keep investigating” Narconon Arrowhead
[SEVEN years ago] Report From the Fringe: Underground Bunker Night at The TomKat Project
[NINE years ago] The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, No. 18: Amy Scobee
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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 2,037 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,541 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,061 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,081 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 972 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,279 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,147 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,921 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,725 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,041 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,607 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,526 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,694 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,275 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,536 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,574 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,287 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,812 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,342 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,902 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,042 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,362 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,217 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,336 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,692 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,995 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,101 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,503 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,375 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,958 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,453 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,707 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,816 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 22, 2020 at 06:00
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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
