Mike Rinder on the myth of the ‘reactive mind’ and how Scientology still ropes in new people

 
Jon Atack is back with another conversation with his old nemesis, former Scientology spokesman Mike Rinder.

Says Jon: “Special guest Mike Rinder kicks off this video with a discussion of Hubbard’s skills as a storyteller: the ‘Source’ was a master of spinning yarns, entirely unfettered by such minor considerations as facts, accuracy, or consistency. No matter the subject, Hubbard claimed expertise – from racing cars on distant planets, to the nature of how light works. Hubbard passed on the certainty in his stories to his followers, aided by their belief in the e-meter: ‘If it reads on the E-meter, it must be true!’ Jon and Mike then move on to considering the myth of the ‘reactive mind’ and how this belief is used to rope in followers, making them pay to exorcise their ‘demons’ – demons created by master storyteller Hubbard.”

 
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‘Relentless’ releases on Audible

Brian Sheen let us know that the illustrated book he recently put out about his fight against Scientology’s ‘disconnection’ policy, which keeps him from seeing his Scientologist daughter, has now been released as an audiobook.

“This was quite a challenge as I had to capture the messages of the illustrations and convert them to text to provide the same impact,” he tells us. “This was a fantastic process as while doing this I realized by true fear for my daughter and grandson was the complete de-humanization process that occurs the moment you sign up for a course and are then turned into a ‘stat’.”

 
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In The Daily Beast: Who the hell was Jackie Jones?

Over at The Daily Beast your proprietor has another new piece today, and this one has nothing to do with Scientology. It’s a story about a mountain that suddenly gained new prominence, and our determination to figure out who it was named after. It’s the kind of adventure you can fall into in your own backyard, and in our case it was something we stumbled onto while on two wheels. If you’re not a Daily Beast subscriber, you may find that the story is behind a paywall, but we think that goes away after a couple of days. At the Lowdown, we’ve posted a separate item with some backstory about how we got onto this local mystery to begin with.

 
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Bonus items from our tipsters

So much happening in LA!

 
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Source Code

“I can take a look at my desk barometer any day of the week and get a better weather forecast than I get over the telephone. I’m being hard on the boys. Every year they get a little bit better. They’re finding the sky too. And then all of a sudden we get into passenger traffic left and right across the Atlantic, and we hear ‘above-the-weather flight,’ ‘radar-spotted weather,’ you see, and so on. They’re still finding clouds. They haven’t found the sky yet, see. Then they shot off a few cosmonauts, who became naught in Russia with great rapidity, and they found a great deal there called ‘the sky.’ And five dead cosmonauts later, the Russians must have decided that they should know something about it. But because they had lots of cosmonauts they probably haven’t bothered. But the point is, they send people up into the Van Allen belt, named after Van Allen. Who the hell heard of him? I don’t know, maybe he was the fellow who invented radiation fallout or something. In other words, they shoot people up into these areas, and they get scorched or something happens or something of that sort, and they’re in the big vagueness of ‘There is a sky.’ They’re still on this thing here, see.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 29, 1963

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“Captain Mary Sue Hubbard has just returned from correcting and bringing off a mission flubbed by three others. She, accompanied by Liz Ausley, did in 3 days what has been hanging fire for nearly 3 weeks. She bulldozed the biggest bank in Spain, bearded the Spanish Security forces and saved us $5500 in fees as well. She got the whole thing handled. MSH is the first SO Missionaire (spring 1967) and on each of the four or five she has run, has achieved consistent Power, having actually saved the day against terrible threats to Scientology in every single instance. We ought to put her under glass. If NATO had her on their payroll they could disband!” — The Commodore, May 29, 1969

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“Scientology technology is not only the processes. The basic principles of the tech are ARC, Theta Mest theory, the Axioms, the Factors, and those are equally valid in every part of the galaxy or the universe and other universes, and so, equally valid in Australia or Congo. The technology remains unchanged and valid from Book 1 to the highest OT level. What varies is the application of those principles to the specific case of the being, according to his circumstances. A case could consist of a fast retread of the basic concepts. Just as you are reading LRH taped lectures and applying them. Even if the world is filled with the new orbs or natural clears or new viewpoints, there’s the rights of beings data, that they have to self determinedly continue, change or end this game. And the LRH 1 bridge is for them. And it starts with Book 1.”

Past is Prologue

1999: Jon Atack’s book on Scientology, A Piece of Blue Sky, continued to make news after Amazon.com restored it to their catalog last week. From Heise News: “The internet book dealer, Amazon.com, under pressure from massive protest, has decided to put a book critical of the Scientology sect back into its selection. In 1995, a British court had decided that the book contained a slanderous statement. However, it is hardly conceivable that in the United States, where freedom of speech counts rather high on thescale of Constitutional rights, that a similar judgment would be carried out there. After Wired News reported of the withdrawal of the book, a hail of protest came from Internet news groups, particularly from the alt.religion.scientology forum. Amazon speaker Bill Curry said, ‘On the basis of the information which we had in February, the decision we made seemed right to us. Happily, however, the actual information we have received in the past few days has caused us to take a second look.'”

 
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Random Howdy

“I appreciate Shatner for being a survivor and roaring back to be virtually everywhere at once after his wife died and everyone had written him off as a hopeless drunk.”

 
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Held to answer for trial, next arraignment set for June 7.
— 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: Pretrial conference August 21 in Los Angeles

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 to US Supreme Court submitted on May 26. Scientology has until June 25 to respond.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: California Supreme Court grants review on May 26, asks Second Appellate Division to direct Judge Steven Kleifield to show cause why he granted Scientology’s motion for arbitration.
— 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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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON

We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links, including our four days in Los Angeles covering the preliminary hearing and its ruling, which has Danny facing trial and the potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.

SCIENTOLOGY: FAIR GAME

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 BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. 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] What’s $20,000 between friends? LA Mayor Garcetti presents a Scientology gift to city
[TWO years ago] Scientology planning new series of books to rope in children?
[THREE years ago] Laura D’s attorneys answer Scientology’s latest delaying tactic with a legal blast of their own
[FOUR years ago] She’s back! Leah Remini builds a case for Scientology aggression in tonight’s A&E special
[FIVE years ago] It’s a miracle! Scientology put ‘more than 10,000’ people in these 1,000 chairs!
[SIX years ago] 20 questions about Scientology — with answers that get to the center of a dying movement
[SEVEN years ago] Hey, IRS: Stunning photos inside the lavish personal offices of Scientology’s leader
[EIGHT years ago] Former Scientology Enforcer Marty Rathbun Examines His Past as the Church’s ‘Warrior’
[NINE years ago] Amanda Palmer Dramatically Answers Questions About Her Connection to Scientology

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 29, 2021 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, 1995-2020 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