OT Phenomena: Miss your dead parents? Scientology can help with that!

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Scientology’s new OT Phenomena are here, and they offer a glimmer of hope that this once-vaunted feature may be turning a corner! It includes the first honest-to-goodness ghost encounter they’ve published in a long, long time. And we hope it’s a sign of things to come! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

 
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Technology Cocktail

“Since the release of New Era Dianetics I have been keeping a close eye on the running of NED on an extensive basis. Pcs have been experiencing tremendous and quite amazing gains and resolving areas of their cases which have never before been handled so fully. This new and more precise Dianetics tech can and is changing the lives of many across the planet. When this tech was researched and developed I wanted to get it into your hands immediately. Now that it is in broad use, there is a wealth of data coming in on its application and the use of the new commands and handling of EPs. From this, I have located a point where NED, as originally issued, could go wrong on some pcs where earlier Dianetics did not.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1978

 
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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 [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 [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones

 
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Source Code

“When we go into the idea of supreme beings or gods or big thetans or something like that, well, we’ve just taken the whole curve all the way around and the only thing we’ve got on this planet today is just pure nuttiness on this subject, see, the theory of the Big Thetan, see. Actually, the Big Thetan theory is simply one of the GPMs and it — there’s end words that have to do with gods and things like this, you see. And there’s one of the root words — several of the root words — have to do with worship and so forth and it’s just goofiness, see? There isn’t anybody, any Big Thetan around who’s permeating everything that just because you say, ‘Now, please give me cake and ice cream for my supper tonight,’ is going to suddenly go into a brown study and wonder how to get you cake and ice cream tonight, see. There just is no such being.” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 15, 1964

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“I could write quite a book these days. So many things have been wrapped up. Insanity and its causes and mechanisms for instance. I wish things would groove in more smoothly. Actually I have at least 2 books to write that are front line in importance. The one on insanity and one on studies of revolution. The last would become a text book for the state that would in fact make them bring about a revolution to prevent one! So I have hopes in getting things going smoother. It depends on handling these WHYs and getting back in the Flag – to CLO – to Org pattern that with the FEBC began this boom and will continue it.” — The Commodore, July 15, 1971

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“In the free field, are young auditors being made? The scenario that I can see (and I hope I am very wrong) is people in their 50s, 60s, or 70s training in some Freezone Orgs. I’m worried whether there is going to be a new generation of auditors at all. I’m not personally in the KSW-protector position, frankly, and I have always said that for me some things LRH discovered are just nonsense. But I have also always said that 80 or 85 percent of basic Scientology Technology is pure gold. So it needs to be passed to the next generation. Is there something that can be done in your opinion?”

 
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Past is Prologue

1996: Time magazine won the case brought by Scientology for the 1991 article, “Scientology: Cult of Greed.” From Reuters: “A federal judge Tuesday dismissed a libel suit brought by the Church of Scientology International against Time Warner, Inc. and its Time Inc. Magazine Co. U.S. District Judge Peter Leisure threw out the case, which alleged that a 10-page article entitled ‘Scientology: The Cult of Greed,’ carried false and defamatory statements. The article was published in 1991 by Time Magazine. Last year the court dismissed part of the case but heard new arguments on a remaining issue. The judge said the article also criticized the church on other subjects including the validity of its belief system, the harmfulness of its methods of counseling and its tactics of combating critics. ‘These statements were either not challenged by plaintiff or were held to be nonactionable by the Court on the grounds that no reasonable jury could find that they were published with actual malice,’ the judge wrote.” Scientology cloaked its loss with claims that they welcome the decision, as it allows them to appeal the entire decision. “‘We are astonished by this outcome, but its really a blessing in disguise,’ said the Reverend Heber C Jentzsch, President of the Church of Scientology International. ‘It will give the Court of Appeals the opportunity to impose order on the chaos created by the District Court’s dismissal rulings. We have every confidence that the Appeals Court will see things our way. They won’t let a decision stand that makes bias a defense to defamation and we will be able to proceed to trial to prove that this story was not only malicious, but was a paid-for attack on the Church, a charge that Time has never refuted.'”

 
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Random Howdy

“Scientology is ‘Glengarry Glen Ross’ meets ‘Ancient Aliens’.”

 
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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, 2023. DA’s response to appeal brief due July 14.
— ‘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 July 7.

Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Judge Hammock’s ruling is on appeal. Leah’s appeal brief was filed June 3. Oral arguments are probably next.

 
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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?

 
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THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Scientologists into the breach! A fundraising juggernaut, with eyewitness testimony!
[TWO years ago] PODCAST: Mark Ebner dishes on Tom Cruise whisperer and ‘M:I7’ director Chris McQuarrie
[THREE years ago] She used a Scientology rehab for fraud. Then she died. Now she’s wanted for arrest.
[FOUR years ago] Valerie Haney’s Supreme Court petition gets a date for discussion, but don’t get your hopes up
[FIVE years ago] New Scientology video brings up past lives, the nuttiest and most gruesome part of Hubbardism
[SIX years ago] Jokes aside, has Scientology ‘Clear’ Joy Villa managed to ‘safepoint’ the White House?
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology proves it will try to capitalize on just about any disaster
[EIGHT years ago] Whale watching update: Your 2017 mid-year guide to who’s keeping Scientology alive
[NINE years ago] Scientology caves: Fred Haseney avoids court hearing, will take camera to Big Blue tomorrow
[TEN years ago] Nick Lister: Scientology asked me to seduce Mike Rinder’s wife in a spy operation
[ELEVEN years ago] Lawsuit number 17 filed by Las Vegas attorney against Scientology’s rehab network
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology’s Drug Rehab Fights Class-Action Lawsuit With Move to Federal Court

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on July 15, 2025 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, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), 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