FOLLOW ME ON
Daily Notifications
Sign up for free emails to receive the feature story every morning in your inbox at tonyortega.substack.com

Categories

HAPPY 70TH BIRTHDAY, CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY

 
Ah, what an auspicious day! Seventy years ago to this day, the very first “Church of Scientology” entity was incorporated, and it’s been a hell of a ride ever since.

This year, we asked for birthday wishes from some of the people we’ve written about over the years, and we’ll start with a benediction from the good Jon Atack, who will go into a little more detail about why we celebrate this date in Scientology history and not the one the church itself recognizes (in February).

Jon Atack: Ron Hubbard usually pretended that the first Scientology “church” was created by his acolyte Burton Farber in February 1954. As with so many Hubbard statements, this is simply a lie.

Hubbard knew there was a conflict between science and spirituality. In 1951, in Science of Survival, he had pretended that reincarnation had been suggested by others (as a follower of Aleister Crowley, it was one of his core beliefs). In an April 10, 1953 letter, he asked the head of the Hubbard Association of Scientologists, Helen O’Brien, her opinion on the “religion angle.” The reason given was to fill his depleted coffers. After the immense but brief success of Dianetics, the cash had dried up. Hubbard would struggle for a decade, founding tens of different front groups, before the 1963 Victoria Inquiry alerted the world to his bizarre belief system and set the presses rolling.

Advertisement

Accompanied by his young wife Mary Sue, and his firstborn L. Ron Hubbard Jr, Hubbard secretly registered three “churches” on December 18, 1953.

I have long balked at the use of the word “Church” to describe the Scientology organization. Hubbard was insistent that the “only” barrier to study is the “misunderstood word.” He also insisted that the derivation of a word is vital to its understanding, so he presumably knew that the word “church” denotes either a Christian congregation or the place where a Christian congregation meets.

Alongside The Church of Scientology, Hubbard registered two other bodies: The Church of Human Engineering (no, really) and The Church of American Science. This last was explained in a 1954 Hubbard lecture where the Founder said, “there is a difference between the Church of American Science and the Church of Scientology. The Church of American Science is a Christian religion. It believes in the Holy Bible, Jesus is the Savior of man and everything that’s necessary to be a Christian religion. People who belong to that church are expected to be Christians. These two churches fit together. We take somebody in as a Church of American Science. It doesn’t disagree with his baptism or other things like that, and he could gradually slide over into some sort of better, wider activity such as the Church of Scientology and a little more wisdom and come a little more close to optimum. Then if he was good and one of the people that we would like to have around he would eventually slide into the HASI [Hubbbard Association of Scientologists International]. So we have provided stepping stones to Scientology with these organizations.”

I provide the whole passage to show just how devious Hubbard’s mind was (and how poor his grasp of grammar). The word “church” is bait for Christians. It is a “purr” word that makes Scientology seem religious in nature. While members have every right to regard their beliefs as a religion, Scientology is primarily an elaborate set of “processes” that alter mental states and implant beliefs.

Elsewhere, of course, Hubbard said: “‘There was no Christ.” Christ was a hypnotic “implant” from a “million years ago.” The Church of Scientology will indeed “disagree with his baptism” with the contemptuous notion that Scientology is a “better, wider activity” than Christianity.

The Church of Scientology was and is a confidence trick launched by a man who had told several friends that the best way to make a million is to start a religion. After he died, a document was briefly released in which Hubbard claimed to be the Antichrist. Perhaps we should be remembering the 70th anniversary of the Antichurch of Scientology?

Thank you, Jon! And now, on to the well-wishers and their congratulations for this venerable institution.

Clarissa Adams: Birthday wishes? I wish for nothing but continued bad news for them, I wish for the continued depletion of members, and I wish for the reunion and healing of families that this insidious corporation has broken.

Mitch Brisker: Today we mark the birth of the most devious confidence game of our era, both in the way it gets people to donate their money with no expectation of receiving anything tangible in return other than feeling connected, and for the way it creates need in its members — often by manipulating them into feeling guilt and shame and then convincing them those feelings are proof they need further help. Happy Birthday, Scientology!

Mark Bunker: Happy birthday, Scientology! Maybe if you had a silent birth you would not be the criminal enterprise you are today. But you came into the world amid cries of “Scam!” Seventy years later you may not have cleared the planet, but mentions of your name never fail to get a laugh. That’s pretty remarkable in itself. At 70, it’s time for you to slow down and retire. May I interest you in some land in Dunedin?

Ursula Caberta: Birthday wishes? OK. 70 years, wow! The so called Church of Scientology now exists for 70 years. One of the most dangerous cults in the world started on December 18, 1953. My best wishes to all people trying to stop this cult in the next years. I’m with you all the time!

Paulette Cooper: Too bad they didn’t incorporate something of value for mankind.

Karen de la Carriere: December 18, 1953: Did the incorporation of the ‘Church of Scientology’ state its founding principles, its initial goals, and the circumstances under which it was established? Every decade it became more and more paranoid. Staff at Saint Hill in the 1960s were declared right, left, and center. People that grew Scientology to “Saint Hill size” were also SPs trying to destroy the cult! Public perceptions of Scientology are in a freefall beyond repair. Scientology, 70 years after incorporating, is the butt of late night comedians, John Oliver, and South Park. The internet explodes with stories of lock downs, people held against their will, the break up of families, cruel and unusual punishments and above all money extortion. No other “church” makes you sign documents promising you will never sue before you even have a taste of their “technology.” Such is the paranoia. So it has lasted 70 years, 30 years of which was tax exempt. Is it sustainable in the long term? Putting on a graph the amount of “enemies” it has provoked and given rise to, the ex-Scientologists are conceivably larger in numerical number than those still in. Sustainable? Ha.

Pete Griffiths: Scientology was founded 70 years ago today. Yesterday, I turned 69 years of age. Just think, in another year I will be as old as Scientology.

Advertisement
Like most criminal rackets and unlike me, justice has been pursuing Scientology since its very inception. Let’s hope that this year that justice is seen to be done and a corrupt entity is finally recognised for what it is, just a ruthless and devious con, and may nobody ever, EVER get fooled again by Hubbard and his trap.

Stefani Hutchinson: Wishing Scientology a monumental global ARC Break, an increase in empty real estate, and fewer birthdays going forward. Here’s hoping the cake is taller than Captain Miscavige. May every Sea Org member be gifted with the Super Power of hearing their shoelaces and may those shoelaces all be low tone, nattering J&D suppressives.

Phil Jones: I have no birthday wishes or kind things to say for Scientology but have written an obituary in preparation for its death… Obituary for Scientology’s Passing: In a fortuitous turn of fate, the notorious concoction of pseudoscience and ego, better known as Scientology, has finally shuffled off this mortal coil. Born on December 18, 1953, it spent its years masquerading as a beacon of enlightenment while dousing its followers in a murky cocktail of delusion and empty promises. Few shall mourn its passing, for its legacy leaves behind a trail of shattered lives and drained bank accounts. Like a moth to a flame, it attracted the vulnerable, promising salvation but delivering only enslavement to its twisted ideology. Scientology, a self-proclaimed religion wrapped in the guise of a science, bestowed upon society no pearls of wisdom, and no advancements, but instead managed to cultivate a culture of secrecy and control. Its demise serves as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking within the shadows of blind faith and unchecked power. While there may be a few souls left who will mourn the loss of their spiritual crutch, many others breathe a sigh of relief, thankful that this chapter of manipulation and exploitation has drawn to a close. May its passing be a cautionary tale, a reminder that the pursuit of truth should never involve sacrificing one’s autonomy and reason at the altar of deceit. Scientology, Rest in Hell.

Geoff Levin: Happy Birthday, Scientology. I first found out about it in 1963, sixty years ago. I joined in 1968. I can attest to first-hand knowledge of child abuse, fraud, gaslighting, ageism, exploitation of artists in all fields, false promises and causing extreme psychosis. Many of Scientology’s crimes have been exposed for all to see. Here’s to another five years of the organization dwindling down to empty buildings and a handful of staff scattered around the world. And no new people being duped by Hubbard’s lies. And many thanks to all the whistleblowers who have made this possible.

James Lippard: Happy 70th birthday to the real first church organization of Scientology — the Church of Scientology incorporated in Camden, NJ at the law offices of William Gotshalk. Although the Church of Scientology was created in Camden at the same time as the Church of American Science (parent organization of the Church of Scientology of California, for many years the main organization) and the Church of Spiritual Engineering (a name that prefigures the intellectual property holding company, the Church of Spiritual Technology), the church doesn’t own its original headquarters at 527 Cooper St. in Camden, and hasn’t turned it into a museum. The birthplace of Hubbard’s first writings on Scientology (some ghostwritten by Richard de Mille), a home in Phoenix, has been turned into a museum. The subsequent Hubbard headquarters in DC, purchased in 1955, is honored as the Original Founding Church of Scientology (though they used to pretend that the Dupont Circle Church was the Founding Church for a time). The home in nearby Bay Head, NJ, where Hubbard wrote Dianetics, has also been turned into a museum. But there’s no love from Scientology for Camden, and no locations there on the Church’s list of “landmark sites” from the life of L. Ron Hubbard, even though he gave a series of lectures in Camden just as he did in Phoenix with some much more famous lectures. But Scientology is flexible about its own history, so maybe someday Camden will get a museum of the Real First Original Founding Church of Scientology?

Andrei Organ (a/k/a DodoTheLaser): As someone who got my entire family in Scientology for 15 years and was fortunate enough to get them all out too, I am grateful to the Church of Scientology for showing its red flags and true colors that paved our way out of that money making scam that breaks minds, lives, and families. I was declared an SP more than 10 years ago and it was one of the best things that happened to me and my family. We all are truly free now and doing better than ever. Happy Anniversary, Church of Scientology. Heh. Cheers.

Sunny Pereira: Today we celebrate yet another high control group hiding under the guise of religion. And for me personally, having no association with it anymore is incredibly freeing. Every day. My heart goes out to those who still endure the madness that is Scientology and the Sea Org.

Marcus Sawyer: Happy 70th birthday Scientology! May your birthday party be so exclusive, no one shows up!

Amy Scobee: Well, Scientology has definitely passed retirement age. Time to pack it up and send all captives back to their families.

Chris Shelton: 70 years old? Wow, I guess it is. Here goes: For so many years in Scientology, us staff and Sea Org were regaled with tales of Hubbard’s oceanic adventures, heroic war stories, and fiercely adventurous spirit, all in service of creating an image of a superhero who we could aspire to one day be too. And what did our oh-so-humble dictator want for his birthday? Expansion! But not just a little bit of growth, but a LOT of growth. E-X-P-A-N-S-I-O-N!!! So we worked and slaved away at our computers or with our shovels or cleaning rags or wherever it was we were made to toil to bring about the growth of what we thought was the most important thing in the universe. What a joke. If I had to hazard a guess, I’d say Scientology is likely smaller now than it has been in many decades. It’s led by a man who wishes his business acumen matched his over-sized ego, but David Miscavige truly is a clueless wonder when it comes to growing his organization. He’s led it longer now than Hubbard did and has nothing to show for it but contraction, law suits, bad press, and a toxic branding. And good on him for that because the last thing this world needs is Scientology growing. It’s a pseudoscientific pile of absolute nonsense and always was. I look forward to the day — and I believe it could come in my lifetime — that Scientology is simply no more as an organized religion. And when I think about birthday gifts, that’s one I think we’d all like to receive.

Chris Shugart: I was completely unaware of this anniversary. But now that I know, it happens to be an interesting coincidence in my case. I just turned 70 mere days ago, on Dec 13. And at the risk of sounding arrogant, my day is better. Best Wishes to Me!

Christian Stolte: My goodness, 70 years. It’s essential to celebrate the anniversary of that special turning point in one’s life when one’s recently-developed pseudo-science turns out to be a pseudo-religion, too! Ah, the exhilaration! The marketing potential! The tax privileges! The freedom to abuse one’s flock without fear of government interference! In the 70 years since its founding, the Church of Scientology has made the absolute most of their Founding Grifter’s pivot to the spiritual, and I dare say Scientology got away with decades of criminal conduct, physical and psychological torture, and epic human rights violations precisely because they slipped on those robes and pretended to be holy. What a colossal scam. What a dirtbag milestone. I’m sure L. Ron Hubbard is looking up from down below and giving Miscavige a big thumbs-up, a lecherous wink, and a rotten-toothed jack-o-lantern smile. Happy Birthday, Church of Scientology. As always, I hope it is your last.

 
——————–

Advertisement

Technology Cocktail

“The more I see of Clay Table goofs the more impressed I am with the wisdom of keeping Clay Table Clearing at Level IV. Because the main goofs are all auditing cycle goofs. The silly ones — such as the auditor never has passed Itsa but has always only done TR 0 when asked to do so, this auditor has never listened to the pc—such as gummed up TR 1 — such as the auditor acknowledging the pc before he has a clue what the pc said or did—such as the auditor wandering off the course of the session, Q and Aing and just not duplicating the auditing command—such as failing to handle pc originations.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1964

 
——————–

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.

 
——————–

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

Advertisement

[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 [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman

 
——————–

Source Code

“Let’s take the ant kingdom. The ants have been granted beingness. The ants themselves are not a beingness — that is, an independent beingness, such as a thetan. And here we get an oddity; we get an oddity in behavior in terms of ants. You go around and trifle with an ant. As a thetan, you go around and you start pushing around an ant: put a beam through his head, short-circuit out some of the working parts, make him walk in small circles, and you immediately start getting this, the idea that there’s something someplace that is getting awfully mad at you. Funny, isn’t it?” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 18, 1953

 
——————–

Avast, Ye Mateys

“MISSION ACCOUNTS UK: COMMANDER HANA ELTRINGHAM and FELICE GREEN are very much welcomed back. They did a fine job straightening up accounts at WW, SH and Pubs. As an added bonus they found Pubs was owed about £300,000, nearly 3 times what it owes and that SH was owed over £90,000 and £50,000. SMERSH is noted as active in Edinburgh in the form of our being worked on to make us unpopular. Well, they can try. The Mission did a great and very long job. They are highly commended.” — The Commodore, December 18, 1968

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“Everyone’s postulates work. They are all working. Old postulates, present time postulates, and future postulates. Problem is, people don’t always know what their postulates are, they are busy convincing themselves that their latest show is the ‘true me’ to the point they don’t even realize they are lying about their own postulates. It isn’t about changing reality according to your will, that is just a side show for an OT showing off when done overtly. When done covertly, it is just painting a false picture around a person by feeding them false information. Future is determined by individual and individual+majority placing their agreed upon ideas of the future there. Individuals mostly not know what their postulates are, many exceptions to this of course, and also they not know that their first postulate is not know. You have to be able to not-know that you are not knowing in order to keep the game (with all its random factors) of life in motion.”

 

Advertisement
——————–

Past is Prologue

1995: Homer Smith posted a report of a call from a Scientology private investigator. “Two weeks ago I got a call from one Barry Silvers, Private Investigator working for the Church of Scientology. He called at 7pm at night and wanted to come visit me at my home, I decline, but did talk to him on the phone for a while. He said some people down in Washington were saying bad things about me, and he had come from Long Island to Ithaca (400 miles) to set the record straight. Turns out ‘the people down in Washington’ was Arnie Lerma, who alleged during a deposition that I had called him and told him that I had given him the Fishman Affidavits. Mr. Silvers apparently wished to debunk this story in order to discredit Lerma as a witness in the upcoming trial. Barry said that since ‘I had promised to stay away from copyright violations’ he suspected that I would like to deny Lerma’s deposition. Anyhow I gave Mr. Silvers a piece of my mind, and asked him if he knew exactly who he was working for and the kind of people they were, and he responded with surprise saying he didn’t realize my separation from the Church had been with any bitterness.”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“I think it’s safe to say at this point in the proceedings that the reason things are so bad in the unchurch of Scientology aren’t due merely to Miscavige being dumb or incompetent. It’s obvious that he is a purposeful sadist who actively enjoys plotting new ways to torment his captive flock. He’s King Joffery, he’s Ivan the Terrible. He’s freaking nuts.”

 
——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7.
‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing January 29, 2024.
David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.

Civil litigation:
Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Complaint filed August 2, motion to strike/anti-SLAPP motions by Scientology to be heard January 9, 2024.
Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration. Plaintiffs allowed interlocutory appeal to Eleventh Circuit.
Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Discovery phase.
Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration.
Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Ordered to mediation.

 
——————–

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?

 
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] PODCAST: If Scientology expert Claire Headley had testified at the Danny Masterson trial
[TWO years ago] INSIDER: Scientology has been devastated by the pandemic and is coming apart at the seams
[THREE years ago] Oof: Jane Doe #1’s own attorneys flubbed and ID’d her and her IP address in court documents
[FOUR years ago] Why the IRS will likely do nothing about Mormon and Scientology illegal slush funds
[FIVE years ago] Leah Remini asks ‘Where is Shelly’ as the Church of Scientology turns 65!
[SIX years ago] When love triumphs over Scientology: A fairy tale of New York for the holidays
[SEVEN years ago] Oh look, Scientology started a blog, and it already won an award
[EIGHT years ago] Compton scam rehab clinic definitely a Church of Scientology operation, witnesses say
[NINE years ago] Rick Ross has a new book that will help you get someone out of Scientology
[TEN years ago] Happy Birthday, Church of Scientology!
[ELEVEN years ago] Joel Sappell Finds Former Scientology Enforcer Marty Rathbun To Be a Reluctant Whistleblower

 
——————–

Scientology disconnection, a reminder

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 3,247 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,762 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,312 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,302 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,183 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,487 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,358 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,910 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,252 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,818 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,737 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,905 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,486 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,747 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,783 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,499 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,063 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,378 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,553 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 7,104 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,235 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,573 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,428 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,547 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,903 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,206 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,312 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,710 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,586 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,151 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,664 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,918 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,027 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on December 18, 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

 

Tony Ortega at Rolling Stone

 

Share Button
Print Friendly, PDF & Email
ADVERTISEMENT