Once again Erika Christensen has been given the opportunity to act outraged that people don’t understand Scientology, while not saying anything about what Scientology actually is.
Last time, we gave Dax Shephard some credit, at least, for asking a follow up question, and when he did so, Christensen at least gave a revealing response about Scientology’s belief in past lives.
But this time, as a guest on the 20K-subscriber channel “Inside Of You with Michael Rosenbaum,” she was lofted a series of softballs and once again was allowed to spout a lot of meaningless platitudes about the controversial organization.
Why bother? After all, you manage to get Erika on your channel, why not do even the most basic research so you can ask her a decent question about what’s really going on?
Her ‘church’ spent millions making a lawsuit go away that alleged a 17-year-old girl was coerced into having an abortion against her will, and many other women have come forward saying that this is standard practice in the Sea Org. How does Erika feel about that being done to the women and girls who do the hard work to keep the lights on at Scientology’s various compounds?
What does Erika think about the fact that David Miscavige, the leader of her ‘religion,’ has kept his wife out of sight for more than 15 years now? Where is she? And if Erika hasn’t asked Dave that question, why hasn’t she?
If L. Ron Hubbard really did discover the secret to life-saving, planet calming “technology” that will create a crime-free, war-free future, why doesn’t the church, which already has billions of dollars, release that material to world? Why is it still charging hundreds of dollars an hour so that only wealthy (and almost exclusively white) people have access to these lifesaving secrets?
Why does her church continue to maintain a website (and you can see the copyright by the church at the bottom) that is literally just a series of unflattering photographs of a former member in a bathing suit in order to embarrass her for going public with the abuses she saw? Does Erika really support her church body-shaming a former member simply for speaking out?
What does Erika say about the quote by L. Ron Hubbard in Scientology’s most important book, ‘Dianetics,’ that can be found on page 336 of the first edition: “The seven-year-old girl who shudders because a man kisses her is not computing; she is reacting to an engram since at seven she should see nothing wrong in a kiss, not even a passionate one. There must have been an earlier experience, possibly prenatal, which made men or kissing very bad.”
How hard is it, really, to ask real questions like this? Instead, we’ll let you watch her performance as she pretends that Scientology is a benevolent force that is completely misunderstood by the larger public.
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Lucas Catton: IAS and Narconon
Says Luke: “The International Association of Scientologists (IAS) is a separate money-making wing of the Scientology racketeering organization that primarily pushes to amass as much money as possible through additional donations from its membership. It occasionally funds Scientology projects or buildings, including the purchase and renovation of the Narconon Arrowhead facility. Narconon was featured in many IAS events as a means to get Scientologists to keep donating as much money as possible, and I was used as a pawn for soliciting funds more than once.”
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“In order to understand the third dynamic completely, you would have to understand that a thetan is confused about who is who. His basic confusion, who is who, is manifest under this: He can duplicate himself. He can put himself out there in space and be as alive out there and where he is too, at the same time, as where he is. He can duplicate himself; in other words. One thetan that can be, then, two thetans. And each one of these thetans have all the characteristics of the original thetan. And then these two thetans can duplicate themselves and have all the original characteristics of themselves but be somebody else too. So we get into valence trouble. This is one of the basic capabilities. The second we introduce duplication, however, we introduce space. So the second a thetan began to be somebody else and himself; too, there was space in the matter.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 6, 1954
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“The gradual improvement of world stats is done by constant attention to DATA and gradually putting things right. Any breakdown occurs when it does because of failed or unrun missions, failure to observe and report, failure to carry out overall Flag intention. The important point is that we are gradually winning on all fronts in a world that ought to have a fence around it and seems to be dedicated to self-destruction. When you can advance into that you really have to be somebody! Any you have to know what you’re doing.” — The Commodore, May 6, 1970
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“We have now entered the twilight zone. This is not a cutesy zone where interesting things happen. No, this is the zone where SPs have taken over the entire world and are just now starting to make things very suppressive for us. LRH said in HCO PL KEEPING SCIENTOLOGY WORKING, ‘This is a deadly serious activity. And if we miss getting out of the trap now, we may never again have another chance.’ I’m not one to take lightly LRH quotables because he is the smartest person I have EVER known, and, as you can tell from that quote and from what is happening in the world right now, he is on the money – as usual. We lost control of this planet because we failed to clear the R6 bank to the point where the world would calm down. We could have done it when we had a chance. Of that I am certain. It wasn’t DM’s fault. It was OUR fault because we LET him take over and because we were too busy having fun and enjoying freedom and being too complacent with our huge wins and knowing that nothing much can happen to us at this point because we are free. Well we’re far from free. And how about your friends and family? Don’t their lives matter?”
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1997: London’s Tottenham Court Road org was again the site of an unannounced picket this weekend. Protester Roland Rashleigh-Berry was assaulted by a Scientologist during the event, but no charges were pressed. “There should be a photo on the Internet soon with my face covered in blood as it is at the present. According to a bit of a rethink I am SP 5 now. I hope so. I still have blood trickling out of my nose and I think I deserve it.”
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“Scientologists are the Kings and Queens of semantic pedantic literalistic obfuscating weasel word games.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Preliminary hearing set for May 18.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for May 20 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for June 18.
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.’ Petition for writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District. Petition for review by state supreme court denied Dec 11.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 30, Judge Kleifield granted Scientology’s motions to compel arbitration. June 7: Status conference.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Dec 17: Feshbachs sign court judgment obliging them to pay entire $3.674 million tax debt, plus interest from Nov 19.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs. Case appealed on Dec 24.
Concluded litigation:
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— 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.
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SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks
The Australian Seven News network cancelled a 10-part investigation of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks. Read the transcripts of the episodes and judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. 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 a weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Scientology has thrown millions at Ireland in recent years, and here’s the amazing result
[TWO years ago] Scientology and Nation of Islam figure picks worst week to rail against measles vaccine
[THREE years ago] In Hollywood and in Italy, Scientology is making all your dreams come true!
[FOUR years ago] Ah, the reveries of 1950: When Dianetics was in full bloom
[FIVE years ago] When Anonymous had Scientology in a panic: A new document has us nostalgic for 2008
[SIX years ago] Bob Duggan, the richest Scientologist in the world, is going to love our nifty new drawings!
[SEVEN years ago] Leaked footage of Scientology leader David Miscavige in Sydney
[EIGHT years ago] Lawsuit Alleges Church of Scientology in Utah Involved in Ponzi Scheme
[NINE years ago] Sunday Funnies: Birmingham Raises the Odds on Ideal Orgs!
[TEN years ago] Lindsay Lohan Joining Scientology? How Could it Hurt?
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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 2,293 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,797 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,317 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,337 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,228 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,535 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,403 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,177 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,507 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,981 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,297 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,863 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,782 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,950 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,531 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,792 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,830 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,543 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,068 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 423 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,598 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,149 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,298 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,618 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,473 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,592 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,948 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,251 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,357 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,759 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,631 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,214 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,709 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,963 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,072 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 6, 2021 at 07:00
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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, 1995-2020 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2020), 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, 15 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
