Looking back through Scientology’s history, as we do, we ran across an interesting announcement by L. Ron Hubbard in January 1954 that we were unfamiliar with.
It appeared as the lead item on that month’s Journal of Scientology, and we assume it must have seemed curious to at least some of Hubbard’s followers who still believed earnestly that they were taking part in the “Modern Science of Mental Health,” as the subhead on Dianetics proclaimed.
But after its first three years, Hubbard’s “science” wasn’t bringing in as much money as he’d liked, and his Dianetic Foundations were struggling. He told one of his chief fans in 1953 that he was desperate enough to try out the “religious angle” as a way to save Scientology from collapsing altogether.
So, that December, Hubbard, his son Ron Jr., their wives, and another couple went into a building in Camden, New Jersey, and signed papers to form the first “Church of Scientology” corporation.
A couple of months later, in February 1954, the first actual physical church would be founded in Los Angeles. So here in January 1954, Hubbard was still preparing to make his desperate attempt to turn his science into a religion, and he was apparently getting his fans ready for the shift.
That’s the timing on this front-page short essay, and that’s why we found it interesting. Before this, in lectures, Hubbard had regularly badmouthed religion, and Christianity in particular. But now, suddenly, Scientology is all about the “search for man’s soul.”
Fascinating, isn’t it? Let us know what you think.
Man’s Search For His Soul
By L. Ron Hubbard
For countless ages past Man has been engaged upon a search.
All thinkers in all ages have contributed ther opinion and considerations to it. No scientist, no philosopher, no leader has failed to comment on it. Bilions of men have died for one opinion or another on the subject of this search and no civilization, mighty or poor, in ancient or in modern times has endured without battle on its account.
The human soul, to the civilized and barbaric alike, has been an endless source of interest, attention, hate or adoration.
To say today that I have found the answer to all riddles of the soul would be inaccurate and presumptuous. To discount what I have come to know and to fail to make that known after observing its benefits would be a sin of omission against Man.
Today, after twenty-five years of inquiry and thought and after three years of public activity wherein I observed the material at work and its results, I can announce that in the knowledge I have developed there must lie the answers to that riddle, to that enigma, to that problem, the human soul, for under my hands and others’ I have seen the best in Man rehabilitated.
For the time since I first made a theta clear I have been, with some reluctance, out beyond any realm of the scientific known and now that I have myself cleared half a hundred, and auditors I have trained many times that, I must face the fact that we have reached that merger point where science and religion meet and we must now cease to pretend to deal with material goals alone.
We cannot deal in the realm of the human soul and ignore the fact. Man has too long pursued this search for its happy culmination here to be muffled by vague and scientific terms.
Religion, not science, has carried this search, this war, through the millenia. Science has all but swallowed Man with an ideology which denies the soul, a symptom of the failure of science in that search.
One cannot now play traitor to the Men of God who sought these ages past to bring Man from the darkness.
We in Scientology belong in the ranks of the seekers after truth, not in the rearguard of the makers of the atom bomb.
However, science too has had its role in these endeavors, and nuclear physics, whatever crime it does against Man, may yet be redeemed by having been of aid in finding for Man, the soul of which science had all but deprived him.
AdvertisementNo Auditor can easily close his eyes to the results he achieves today or fail to see them superior to the materialistic technologies he earlier used. For we can know, with all else we know, that the human soul, freed, is the only affective therapeutic agent that we have. But our goals, no matter our miracles with bodies today, exceed physical health and better men.
Scientology is the science of knowing how to know. It has taught us that a Man IS his own immortal soul. And it gives us little choice but to announce to a world, no matter how it receives it, that nuclear physics and religion have joined hands and that we in Scientology perform those miracles for which Man thought all his search has hoped.
The individual may hate God or despise priests. He cannot ignore, however, the evidence that he is his own soul. Thus we have resolved our riddle and found the answer simple.
——————–
Scientologist attorney Leigh Dundas named in wild court briefing by Jan 6 defendant
Over at the Lowdown this morning, we have a crazy document for you to look at. It’s a motion to dismiss filed by one of the January 6 defendants, Alan Hostetter, who makes some pretty interesting allegations about Scientologist “human rights attorney” Leigh Dundas.
We figured the nature of Hostetter’s allegations (that the Jan 6 insurrection was actually a “false flag” event and other Q-flavored claims) was better to bring up over at the Lowdown, where we provide a forum for political observations.
——————–
Leah Remini podcast: Chris Shelton on cult apologists
Says Mike: “This week we talk to our old friend Chris Shelton about cult apologists. These are the people who make a career (often lucrative) out of offering expert academic opinions in support of “New Religious Movements” — cults. It’s a racket that scientology has used to gain credibility. We cover a lot of ground here. Chris has recently published a series of articles on this topic on Tony Ortega’s blog — they are well-worth reading.” Listen to the episode right here!
——————–
Bonus items from our tipsters
Florida unite!
——————–
Sign up for a daily email when we post a new story on Scientology.
Did you know you can get an email every morning when we post our daily Scientology story? We know some of the folks who come to the Underground Bunker aren’t here to talk about the politics of the day, and that’s why we created a daily politics feature over at our other blog, The Lowdown, and we ask readers to take their political discussions over there. And if you drop us a line at tonyo94 AT gmail, we’ll put you on the list so you get a morning reminder that a new Scientology story has been posted — and only for our Scientology stories.
——————–
“The automobile manufacturer is going to be very surprised in a few years. His motors are going to start less and less and less, in spite of the fact that they get brighter and brassier and newer and more sure-fire. Because he’s running out of people who can start motors. Now, this sounds very, very esoteric and supernecromantic. But the living truth of the matter is, you must have some of the ability within yourself to know before the MEST universe will run for you. You’ve got to get the idea of things, you know? You look at something and here’s a strange piece of machinery. You’ve never seen it before, you haven’t any idea what it’s for and you look at it and you get an idea of what it’s for. And you look at it a little longer and you get an idea of how it runs. And why is this? What is a machine? This is a machine society. They turn men into machines, and machines into machines, and there are more and more machines and less and less men. Although the birth rate keeps increasing and the death rate keeps decreasing, that’s still true….You will see babies in a few years being born with slots in their heads so that you can drop a quarter in. And the government will collect the quarters. What are we doing? We’re going further and further and further from an idea, and more and more and more toward a fixed idea. An adding machine, in essence, is a fixed idea. An automobile is a fixed idea. It is an idea surrounded by and trapped in MEST. See that? A fixed idea. How are you going to fix an idea in the MEST? Well, that’s quite a trick and that’s why people can’t start cars. You have to sort of know it goes before it goes. That’s the truth of the matter.” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 7, 1953
——————–
“TECH BREAKTHROUGH: I have just made a fantastic tech breakthrough. For some days I have been spending hours each day on a Personality Change Research Project. I find it is not Personality but anti-social behavior that neither the person nor anyone else likes that is the change point. And I did it. I’ve got it. All cases benefit as it speeds exteriorization. It makes OT far more OT faster. Also it resolves the slow case gain case, the no case gain case, also the psychopathic personality and the criminal. The violent and depressed, the well and the sane are all covered now by one process series where the person will sit still. The Dianetic folder of a pc is used and what’s already in it is reworked…The substance of it is to attain at 10 the Really You, one’s Basic Personality and full OT Power. But as a single breakthrough it is very important as it opens the door not only to fast gains but also rids the universe of oppression. There was a common denominator to all cases good and bad. SO SAVE THOSE DIANETIC RECORDS AND WORKSHEETS. They are reused in this action and zoom!…You wanted to Clear the planet and end off SPs on the track. Well, boy, we’ve really got it! It’s been a valuable several days. Thank you for keeping things cool and going so I could work.” — The Commodore, December 7, 1969
——————–
“Ron rules. Academia (as an organization) sucks — today perhaps even more than then. Dianetics and Scientology is an engineering approach to the mind and humanities and they work better than what the establishment produces.”
——————–
1995: Judge Leonie M. Brinkema dismissed the case of the RTC against the Washington Post. The Washington Post story was posted to a.r.s. “A lawsuit against The Washington Post by the Church of Scientology has been dismissed by a federal judge, who ordered the church to pay all attorney fees in the suit. US District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema said that the church had no grounds to prohibit The Post from printing brief excerpts from religious texts that the church has tried to conceal from the public. The excerpts were published in a Style section story on litigation between the church and former members who have put the disputed texts on the Internet. In her ruling, filed yesterday, Brinkema said The Post’s quotations from copyrighted church texts were brief and fell within fair use doctrine, which allows publications to quote some copyrighted materials in covering matters of public interest.”
——————–
“Hubbard was navy-obsessed. You have to climb up to get to the ‘bridge’ on a ship.”
——————–
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Next hearing set for February 8. Trial scheduled for August 29, 2022.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), false imprisonment, aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Next hearing scheduled for December 21.
— 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 December 17 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for February 11.
— Joseph ‘Ben’ Barton, Medicare fraud: Pleaded guilty, awaiting sentencing.
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Eleventh Circuit affirmed ruling granting Scientology’s motion for arbitration. Garcias considering next move.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ US Supreme Court denied Valerie’s petition Oct 4.
— 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 held November 2, awaiting a ruling.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9, 2020 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 June 28, 2022.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs. Case appealed on Dec 23. Appeal hearing held Aug 23-27. Awaiting a ruling.
——————–
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?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] The 2020 Scientology holiday catalog is here! What are you getting for your favorite thetan?
[TWO years ago] The rich donors keeping Scientology afloat at the end of 2019: Part 1, the lesser whales
[THREE years ago] Scientology is quick to cry ‘bigotry,’ but these photos prove David Miscavige’s hypocrisy
[FOUR years ago] KID CORPS: When Scientology’s Sea Org parents were told to stop wasting time on their kids
[FIVE years ago] What to get the Scientologist who has everything: It’s the Scientology Xmas Catalog!
[SIX years ago] Jeffrey Augustine: Part two of his conversation with Jesse Prince
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: Special Pearl Harbor Day edition!
[EIGHT years ago] Lori Hodgson and her son Jeremy: What you didn’t hear on Inside Edition
[NINE years ago] Ken Dandar in Federal Court Today — And Loses Again
[TEN years ago] Valeska Paris Receives Threat from Scientology Attorneys; And More on her Time on the Freewinds
——————–
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 2,507 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,012 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,532 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,552 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,443 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,750 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,618 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,392 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,723 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,196 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,512 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,078 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,997 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,165 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,746 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,007 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,043 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,758 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,283 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 638 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,813 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,364 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,513 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,833 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,688 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,807 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,163 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,466 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,572 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,970 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,846 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,429 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,924 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,178 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,287 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on December 7, 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
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
