We had heard from some of you about our video interviews not going out on the usual podcast feed, so we think we have figured it out this week.
Our interview with Christian Stolte will go out both as an audio version on the usual Podcast feeds (above and at Spotify, etc), but you can also watch the video version of it if you’d like, embedded below as a YouTube video.
Christian is one our favorite people, and he’s been involved here at the Bunker for quite a few years. If you were at HowdyCon Chicago in 2018, you even got to see him sing a song about Scientology!
We think you’re really going to enjoy what he has to say about his own involvement in the church, his brush with ‘disconnection,’ and his thoughts about the Danny Masterson trial.
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Technology Cocktail
“We used to believe that a thetan had to have problems. This is not true. A thetan thinks he needs problems to keep his attention exteriorized from the Rock chain and when the Rock is not run out he will continue to dream up problems in present time to keep his attention enforcedly fixed elsewhere than the Rock chain. A thetan will also dream up ARC Breaks to exteriorize his attention from a present time problem.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1958
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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?
[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
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney
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“I recall a patient encountering such a somatic where it seemed like mother had gotten the crabs. He complained about these crabs for about two weeks, and had scratched himself practically raw during that time. But he was held in that engram and had been there most of his life! That is what is known as getting crabs for 40 years.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 17, 1950
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“BIG WIN: The Adelaide Ban is to be repealed according to the Attorney General at the Adelaide Labour Convention. This is a GO victory. The A/G there Tom Minchin did it. He is being made a Kha Khan. So the tide rolls back the way it came. A lovely birthday present for Mary Sue. The Telex arrived in the first few minutes of her birthday today.” — The Commodore, June 17, 1971
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“I met John McMaster in 1984. He was very bitter about and critical of LRH. He lived in squalid degraded conditions and became involved with a weird offshoot group called ‘Avatar.’ He did not demonstrate a deep understanding of the tech and in my opinion was not competent to develop Power Processes. As far as S&D goes, from my conversations with McMaster, he was going at a very oblique angle and didn’t understand S&D but was looking at an entirely different rundown unconnected with PTSness.”
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2000: A transcript of John McLaughlin’s One on One TV show was posted to a.r.s this week, on the subject of religious discrimination and mentioning Scientology. “MR. MCLAUGHLIN: At the dawn of the 21st century, one of mankind’s age-old curses still afflicts us. It is religious intolerance. In China, Christians and so-called ‘cults’ are the targets of brutal government crack-downs. In the Sudan, antichristian riots have killed hundreds. In Russia, antisemitism is rearing its despicable head. SEN. BROWNBACK: The Religious Commission report on international religious liberty and they’re putting forward three countries that they’re particularly citing that have some of the worst cases of religious abuse, such as in the Sudan and China, and one that we hold some of the most promise, but some of the problems are rearing their head, in Russia. MR. MCLAUGHLIN: And let’s move on to Scientology. It’s called a cult, which is kind of a dismissive word, which almost invites a certain amount of oppression, doesn’t it? To those who practice Scientology, a true faith. SEN. BROWNBACK: It is. And where I get concerned is, like the First Amendment, when you start cutting somebody’s speech out somewhere, I get concerned anywhere about it. What people choose to do with their own souls is their right, and it should be protected. MR. MCLAUGHLIN: You know, in Germany, the Scientologists take an extra-heavy hit. Why do the Germans find Scientology so obnoxious? MS. SHEA: They don’t consider it a religion, and I guess they feel threatened by it. And I don’t think governments, especially Germany, should be in the business of saying, you know, what’s a religion or not. And I find it very disconcerting.”
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“People bandy about the term ‘Satanist’ in relation to L. Ron Hubbard somewhat disingenuously. Aleister Crowley didn’t consider himself a ‘Satanist’ and Hubbard was a dilettante poseur playing at what he perceived to be ‘Satanism.’ A goodly portion of the Internet sites I’ve encountered in my readings and ‘research’ in the last five or so years that try to paint LRH as a some kind of serious Satanist have been Born-Again Christian sites, so they definitely have an agenda. Hubbard was about as much of a ‘real’ Satanist as Anton LaVey was. It was all part of the geek show for the rubes.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Trial scheduled for August 15.
— Rizza Islam, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for June 26 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.
Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration. Plaintiffs asking permission for interlocutory appeal.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— 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 June 28.
— 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] Scientology is bursting with news about its aging cruise ship, which is totally not sinking
[TWO years ago] Private investigators stalking Leah Remini and Jennifer Lopez: The complete texts
[THREE years ago] SCIENTOLOGY CELEB DANNY MASTERSON CHARGED ON MULTIPLE RAPE ALLEGATIONS
[FOUR years ago] Mike Rinder returns to Scientology’s secretive Int Base! Well, sort of.
[FIVE years ago] Scientology scores with political conservatives in Europe using the ‘religious freedom’ gambit
[SIX years ago] Paul Haggis: Marty Rathbun is using private info I gave him against Lawrence Wright
[SEVEN years ago] Maryland county explains why (don’t call it Scientology) can take a hike
[EIGHT years ago] Another document trove on L. Ron Hubbard’s troubled son, Nibs, the Scientology flip-flopper
[NINE years ago] LISTEN: Rare tape reveals how L. Ron Hubbard really came up with Scientology’s space cooties
[TEN years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: Neil Gaiman’s Mum Builds a Civilization!
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology Eruption: Commenters of the Week!
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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 3,063 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,568 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,118 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,108 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,999 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,303 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,174 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 2,279 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,726 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,068 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,634 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,553 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,720 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,302 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,563 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,599 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,315 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,879 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,194 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,369 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,920 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,051 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,389 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,244 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,363 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,719 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,022 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,128 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,526 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,402 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,985 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,480 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,734 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,843 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 17, 2023 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, 1995-2022 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2022), 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
