Sunday, we talked about how Scientology leader David Miscavige has reacted to the recent court cases in New York and Los Angeles that put Scientology under intense scrutiny from the nation’s media.
He isn’t taking it well was our conclusion.
And we’ve been telling you that Scientology has really struggled to recover from the pandemic. All of the normal indicators that we keep an eye on, and that Mike Rinder is so skillful at watching at his website, suggest that Miscavige’s organization is barely keeping its head above water right now.
But that doesn’t mean that Miscavige isn’t still sitting on a mountain of ready cash, and that he must still maintain the fiction that Scientology is healthier than ever. One of the ways he does this is through Scientology’s slick publications and videos.
These are aimed strictly at existing members, however, in order to continue to convince them that things are all right and they should still, for example, be making plans to come to Scientology’s “spiritual mecca,” the Flag Land Base in Clearwater, Florida, where they can drop a boatload of money on arcane practices that are only available there.
There’s this slick new promo for the Cause Resurgence Rundown, for example. The CRRD is one of our very favorite things about Scientology.
After watching this video, what would you assume the CRRD is, that it will fill you with so much energy and purpose?
Well, of course the video doesn’t tell you a thing about what the process actually is. And that’s because it involves you paying several thousand dollars for the privilege of running around and around a lighted pole.
We’re not kidding.
Originally developed as a form of torturous punishment in the hot California desert-like environment of Gold Base where Sea Org members who had run afoul of the organization were forced to run around a palm tree on soft sand for hours a day, now wealthy Scientologists actually pay good money to lace up some trainers and circle a pole in a massive domed room on the sixth floor of the Flag Building.
We know this, because way back in 2011 we published the plans for that building, and we could see the massive circular room and the lighted column that was designated to be at its center. We still have a rendering they made for it to show what it’s like for track suit-wearing Hubbardists circling in the otherwise darkened room…
Yes, that’s Scientology’s own rendering of what the CRRD is actually like. And we also found this admission on a Scientology website that didn’t like it when Lawrence Wright described the program (accurately, of course)…
The program in question is called the Cause Resurgence Rundown. It comes from L. Ron Hubbard’s research and is designed to improve a person’s abilities to translate thoughts into action. It is a purely spiritual practice, not punishment. And while it involves running, the Cause Resurgence Rundown is approached on a gradient (walking, then jog-walking and graduating to running when physically capable).
Well, maybe you get some idea now why Dave is having such a hard time getting people to join and stick around. Three or four grand for the privilege of running around a pole for so many hours that eventually you have hallucinations from the exhaustion? Yeah, good times.
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Bixler civil lawsuit hearing moved to February
Now that the criminal trial of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson has ended in a hung jury and a mistrial, we wondered what was going to happen to the separate civil lawsuit against him, Bixler v Scientology.
The same three women who are accusing him of raping them in the criminal case are suing Masterson and the Church of Scientology not for rape but for the harassment they say they’ve been through in the years since they came forward to the LAPD in 2016.
Those three women, known as Jane Does 1-3 in the criminal case, are also joined by Jane Doe 3’s husband and a fourth woman, Bobette Riales. The lawsuit was held up initially because Scientology managed to get it forced into its own version of “religious arbitration,” but an appeals court overturned that in January. Since then, the civil lawsuit has been on hold pending the criminal trial’s result.
Most recently, Judge Steven Kleifield had scheduled a new hearing for December 13, with the assumption that the criminal trial would be completed by then. But now that a mistrial was declared, Kleifield has continued the civil case to a hearing on February 7.
That should be enough time to learn if the District Attorney’s office is going to retry Masterson. A status conference in the criminal matter is scheduled for January 10, and so the DA’s office may decide pretty soon whether it’s going to sign off on a retrial.
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Kirstie Alley and Scientology
Rolling Stone asked us to write a piece about Kirstie Alley’s career in Scientology after the news of her death of cancer at 71 was revealed by her children. We then talked about it on a short video that went out to everyone. This morning we’re linking to it again. And here’s the YouTube version….
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Technology Cocktail
“This is a universe of force. It is not a universe of reason. Brutal, unthinking, without decency or mercy, MEST force awaits with punishment any being with any weakness. The possession of a MEST body is a liability, for through that body the being can be given pain, can be regimented by the routine demands of eating and care from harm until at the very, very highest he can be but a puppet dancing to the spin of some unthinking planet under the strong glare of a remote and careless sun.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1953
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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 as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
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THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
— The Underground Bunker Podcast
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— SPECIAL: Your Proprietor’s updates on the Danny Masterson trial
[1] Sep 21 [2] Sep 28 [3] Oct 4 [4] Oct 10 [5] Oct 11: Day One [6] Oct 12: Day Two [7] Oct 13: Day Three [8] Oct 17: Day Four [9] Oct 18: Day Five [10] Oct 19: Day Six [11] Special interview with Chris Shelton, Oct 19 [12] Oct 20: Day Seven [13] Oct 21: Day Eight [14] First week in review, with Jeffrey Augustine [15] Oct 24: Day Nine [16] Oct 25: Day Ten [17] Oct 27: Day Eleven [18] Oct 28: Day Twelve [19] Second week in review, with Jeffrey Augustine [20] Halloween special [21] Nov 2: Day Thirteen [22] Nov 3: Day Fourteen [23] Nov 4: Day Fifteen [24] Third week in review [25] Nov 5, Saturday special [26] Nov 6, Sunday special [27] Nov 7, Day Sixteen [28] Lisa Marie Presley breaking news [29] Nov 8, Day Seventeen [30] Nov 9, Day Eighteen [31] Nov 10, Day Nineteen
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“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
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“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
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“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.”
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1996: Jason Scott, victor in his case against the Cult Awareness Network, has changed attorneys. Scientologist Kendrick Moxon, who has attempted to liquidate CAN, was dismissed. In his place, Graham Berry. “Mr. Moxon’s replacement, as attorney for Jason Scott, is Graham E. Berry of the Los Angeles law firm of Musick, Peeler & Garrett. Mr. Berry has successfully represented a number of defendants against the Church of Scientology and its related entities. Recently, he replaced Faegre & Benson of Minneapolis as FACTNet, Inc.’s lead lawyer in Scientology’s internet related litigation against FACTNet, Lawrence Wollersheim, and Robert Penny, now pending in Federal District court, Denver, Colorado. In replacing Kendrick Moxon, Jason Scott said that he had not seen a penny of his judgment against the Cult Awareness Network and that he was now retaining Graham Berry to try and negotiate a settlement that would both put a reasonable sum of money in his pocket and perhaps enable the Cult Awareness Network to emerge from the bankruptcy it filed as a result of his judgment against it. In addition, Mr. Scott said that he was tired of being a Scientology poster-boy, and that he felt Kendrick Moxon had discarded him after he had obtained the judgment against the Cult Awareness Network. Now, said Mr. Scott, he merely wants to settle his claims against CAN, obtain some money, reunite with his wife and family and put this whole saga behind him.”
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“Hubbard was navy-obsessed. You have to climb up to get to the ‘bridge’ on a ship.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Mistrial declared November 30. Status conference scheduled January 10, retrial scheduled March 27.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Plea deadline scheduled for December 16.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff scheduled to time served with three years supervised release, restitution of $9.7 million.
— Rizza Islam, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for March 1 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial hearing December 9.
— Yanti Mike Greene, Scientology private eye accused of contempt of court: Found guilty of criminal and civil contempt.
Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Complaint filed April 28 in Tampa federal court, Scientology moving to compel arbitration. Plaintiffs filed amended complaint on August 2. Hearing November 17 to argue the arbitration motions, awaiting ruling.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Selection of arbitrators underway. Next court hearing: February 2, 2023.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Stay in place at least through February 7.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Case settled ahead of scheduled Dec 6 trial.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: New trial ordered after appeals court overturned prior ruling.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Lawsuit filed by the FTC and state of Georgia in August, now in discovery phase.
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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] Before and after Jonestown Bob Dole looked into cults — so Scientology targeted him
[TWO years ago] Some of Scientology’s orgs around the country are boarded up. What gives, Dave?
[THREE years ago] Jackie Lacey insider: Unseat her in March if you want to see Danny Masterson charged
[FOUR years ago] When Tom Cruise go-fer and budding flak Tommy Davis was getting his Scientology hat on
[FIVE years ago] Why is it so hard for governments to crack down on the Church of Scientology?
[SIX years ago] Tonight on Leah Remini’s series, two more families get ripped apart and ‘fair gamed’
[SEVEN years ago] Postscript: How David Miscavige spun the death of Lisa McPherson
[EIGHT years ago] Jon Atack: How to get a convinced Scientologist on the road to recovery
[NINE years ago] How Does Scientology Take Over a Mind? Jefferson Hawkins Tells Us About “PTS”
[TEN years ago] Vance Woodward’s Book Addicted to Scientology Is An Amazing High
[ELEVEN years ago] Michael Fairman Sues his Chiropractor — in Part to Legitimize the Independent Scientology Movement?
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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 2,871 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,376 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,926 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,916 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,807 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,112 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,982 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 2,087 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,560 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,876 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,442 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,361 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,529 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,109 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,371 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,407 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,122 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,687 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,002 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,177 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,728 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,859 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,197 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,052 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,171 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,527 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,830 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,936 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,334 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,210 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,793 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,288 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,542 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,651 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on December 7, 2022 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, 1995-2021 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2021), 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
