On Friday we began our countdown of Scientology superpowers that Tom Cruise can expect as an OT Scientologist and million-dollar donor.
Today we want to deal with a Scientology superpower that seems to confuse a lot of the public, and that’s Scientology’s relationship to medicine and illnesses.
Perhaps it’s a misconception relating to a totally different group that eschews medicine, Christian Science, but a lot of the public seems to think that Scientologists also “can’t” get medical care.
That’s not true. While the Church of Scientology hates the psychiatric profession with a white-hot fury and will do everything it can to keep a member from taking “psych meds,” Scientologists are not prohibited from seeking legitimate medical care for non-psychological ailments. When a Scientologist gets a fever or breaks a bone, they can go to the doctor and get medicine.
That being said, Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard was notoriously down on doctors and medicine, and so while there’s no actual prohibition from getting cancer treatment or other medical care, we find that Scientologists tend to place their trust in alternative therapies or in Scientology auditing to get them through medical problems.
And surely one of the reasons that some Scientologists avoid doctors whenever possible, even though there’s no literal prohibition against medical care, is that high-level OT Scientologists like Tom Cruise expect that Hubbard’s “technology” should make them impervious to disease.
That’s right. If a super being like Cruise so much as comes down with a cold, it’s considered a failing on his part that he should have avoided if he’d been doing his Scientology correctly. Members are told that if they do get sick, it’s because they have someone connected to them that is a negative influence on the church, or an outright enemy. Until they can “handle” that connection to a “potential trouble source” or a “suppressive person,” they won’t get well again.
As a result, hardcore Scientologists are made to feel that taking medicine for a chronic condition is a sign of weakness, that they aren’t trusting Scientology enough to keep them well.
And we can think of no better example of that than what our old friend Tory Christman went through. We asked her to tell that story again for this series…
In 1971 I joined Scientology’s “Sea Organization.” After a few months I ran out of my medicine and announced I needed a refill. I was sent to the medical liaison officer, a totally medically untrained 18 year old. He explained to me that in the Sea Org, we do not take medicine. “We will get you on a program where CalMag and Dianetics will control it all,” he said.
I believed him and was routed out of the Sea Org, and began having grand mal seizures. I would come to only to hear I was “low responsibility,” “out ethics,” “PTS,” and a “degraded being.”
Thankfully my mom stayed on it via phone from Chicago. As I had more and more seizures, she told me, “Tory, these people are going to kill you!”
I was losing my short term memory, which I’ve had to live with my entire adult life, thanks to Scientology.
Finally I could not remember going out on a date and she was furious! “Tory, either you are on your medication, today, and your doctor tells me you are on your much needed medication, or I will be flying there tonight. Trust me, L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology will never forget your Mom!”
I knew she was right. I got on my medication which controls my seizures. I still fought them for more than 25 years about it. Thankfully in 2000 I woke up, escaped out, and joined the real world, where I found people who had great compassion and understanding.
I have even had ex-Scientologists call me, telling me I should not take my medication. Another person with epilepsy did follow their advice and is dead.
My advice to anyone with a medical condition is get to a non-Scientology physician and follow their advice, no matter how many cult members tell you that you are wrong. Protect yourself! If you are a parent with a child in a cult, stay on it. Your help could very well save your child’s life. I am alive today thanks to my Mother, and her “unreasonable” help.
— Tory Christman
Tom Cruise’s Scientology superpowers
1. Shattering the suppression from a 15-year-old
2. Achieving godhood
3. Resisting between-life amnesia
4. Destroying a planet with the touch of a finger
5. Leaving his body with full perception
6. Resuscitating the recently deceased
7. Pulling in objects with tractor beams
8. Recovering unspeakable acts from the past
9. Mocking up an automobile out of thin air
10. Drying out from space coke
11. Levitating an ashtray
12. Resisting illnesses with his mind alone
14. Helping at the scene of a car accident
15. Always finding the best parking spot
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Scientology getting its hooks into the Detroit school system
In 2018 Detroit’s public school system was in such dire straits, the Detroit Free Press reported that its superintendant, Nikolai Vitti, began reaching out to local churches asking for help in tutoring and mentoring local children. Shrugging off concerns about getting church organizations involved with public school, the district has a Faith-Based Council as part of its Faith-Based Initiative.
Well, guess who saw this as an opportunity.
You remember that Scientology opened an “Ideal Org” in Detroit in 2018, and guess where the latest meeting of the Faith-Based Council is taking place tomorrow…
Scientology never misses a trick.
And do they have ideas about how to mentor those kids? Oh boy.
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“Illiterate cultures do not survive and they are not very high. The natives of the tribe of the Bugga-Bugga Booga-Boogas down in Lower Bugga-Wugga Booga-Woog are mostly no longer with us or they are around waving red flags today and revolting against their central government. They’re having a bad time. Well, the British Tommy that went down there with his Snider or his Lee-Enfield and brought them higher education in the first place was only occasionally followed by anybody who taught them anything. And they didn’t learn fast. Their literacy was not up to absorbing culture rapidly. So, of course, they can be victimized by anybody who comes along. Once the line is open, if literacy doesn’t follow and if secondhand observation is not available to a people, they stultify, they die, they go to pieces, they degrade. They are struck by this tremendous volume of exterior culture. They’ve been very happily down amongst the bong-bong trees, you know, dancing up and down amongst the bong-bong trees and the highest level of their interest, and so forth, was their own back yard. They could tell you all about bong-bong trees and they could tell you all about you mustn’t step in bug-bug bushes, because you step on a thump-thump snake and this was their direct observation.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 11, 1964
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“BREAKTHROUGH: In the last few days I’ve made about three upper level breakthroughs, two very important. One of these is comparable to the CC breakthrough. The other deals with On perception, why it’s off and how to turn it on. So my own hats have a high stat this week. About a century’s worth.” — The Commodore, August 11, 1970
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“Go on watching the Olympics on a comfortable couch with a pack of beer under your comfortable Covid-free environment, while the wogs and Scienos (both at Freezone/Indie and CoS) risk their health and lives fighting the NWO tyranny and face the war that is raging mad on the Fourth Dynamic.”
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1996: Scientologist John Travolta made news when he visited the Celebrity Center in Hollywood this week. From the AP story: “John Travolta, having a phenomenal year with the success of films like Phenomenon and Broken Arrow, turned out to celebrate Scientology, the religious group he credits for much of his success. Travolta and his wife, Kelly Preston, went to a Hollywood party Saturday night to mark the 27th anniversary of the Scientology Celebrity Centre International. ‘It’s always been a safe haven for me in a town like Hollywood,’ Travolta said. ‘I have friends and I have knowledge here.'”
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“Back in my punk days I would donate plasma twice a week for $20 a pop. It helped keep me in pizza.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Next hearing set for November 10. Trial tentatively scheduled for February.
— 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
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Sept 9.
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30, 2020 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition to US Supreme Court submitted on May 26. Scientology responded on June 25.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: California Supreme Court granted review on May 26 and asked the Second Appellate Division to direct Judge Steven Kleifield to show cause why he granted Scientology’s motion for arbitration. Oral arguments scheduled for Oct 5.
— 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: Third 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 23. Appeal hearing scheduled for Aug 23-27.
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.
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] Leah Remini’s podcast: Forbes and Time writer Richard Behar on being a target of Fair Game
[TWO years ago] Scientology’s efforts to suck up to power is appearing to pay off
[THREE years ago] Church of Fear: When John Sweeney sat down with Anne Archer and Leah Remini
[FOUR years ago] Leah Remini calls for federal action: Here’s the frustrating reason the IRS may not answer
[FIVE years ago] Never-before-seen photo of Diana Hubbard, daughter of Scientology’s founder
[SIX years ago] Scientology’s front group that targets kids gets cover from a Swiss politician: News report
[SEVEN years ago] Mike Rinder on Scientology’s pathetic PR, and the Freewinds welcomes a famous clown
[EIGHT years ago] Stop Picking on Scientology! Double-Fisted Wisdom from 1977
[NINE years ago] Scientology Drug Program Narconon’s Licensing ‘Extremely Vulnerable’ After Oklahoma Deaths
[TEN years ago] The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, No. 23: Ken Dandar
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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 2,389 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,894 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,414 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,434 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,325 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,632 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,500 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,274 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,604 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,078 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,394 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,960 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,879 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,047 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,628 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,889 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,927 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,640 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,165 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 520 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,695 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,246 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,395 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,715 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,570 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,689 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,045 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,348 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,454 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,852 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,728 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,311 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,806 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,060 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,169 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 11, 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
