TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: When you joined Scientology, did someone in your family try to talk you out of it? We have a remarkable artifact of one person’s regret for getting involved in this controlling organization, and we’re interested in what memories it elicits from our other readers. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“The comanome, a period of unconsciousness which contained physical pain and apparent antagonism to the survival of the individual, has been isolated as the sole source of mental aberration. A certain part of the mind seems to be devoted to their reception and retention. In Dianetics, this part of the mind is called the reactive mind. From this source, without otherwise disclosing themselves, the comanomes act upon the body and cause the body to act in society in certain patterns. The reactive mind is alert during periods when the analytical mind—or conscious mind—is reduced in awareness.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950
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“We used to be tolerant about [the University of] Chicago. Most of us wanted to go there because you only had to go a couple of years before they handed you a sheepskin and we were bored. But this outfit uttered this asinine statement: ‘We have tested all the techniques of Dianetics and found out it didn’t work.’ Well, in the first place it’s asinine because all the techniques of Dianetics didn’t exist in published form and were not available to them to test, see? So right away, that was nonsense. For instance, I know of techniques that were released at the first foundation in Elizabeth which have never seen the light of day; I have never seen them published or anything else. Matter of fact, I saw three or four splinter groups suddenly start up on stuff that was merely designed to take care of one PC or something like that, and then they decided that this would apply to all PCs and so forth. There are several brands of therapy which are adrift today which simply consist of one technique developed for one PC at Elizabeth. So for any outfit to grandly look down its nose and say, ‘We have tested all the techniques of Dianetics,’ you know? Well, what a statement, see? They haven’t got them to test. How would they even know if they had tested all the techniques? Right away they are irresponsible. And then to say they didn’t work would also be asinine because if they had tested even sloppily, they would have gotten some result someplace, unless they were simply uttering a publicity statement to protect the vested interest.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 18, 1964
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“NEW RUNDOWN: The original Rundown of last November variously called and numbered, is now to be exported to eligible orgs as the New-Life Rundown, to be given in their Dept 10s It is a high-priced successful package. It requires Class IX to Supervise it. It must not be confused with a Life Repair. It literally gives one a new life. It does not supplant any grade or OT level. It has been smoothed out and is highly successful. The Rundowns Flag has been doing lately are above it. It will handle any special case. It’s a doll. Our Dept 10 is grooving in on it.” — The Commodore, June 18, 1971
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“L11 was started and there were tremendous wins in the beginning. During this time I developed the ability to ‘plunge’ into the case of other people, which scared me beyond belief. I recognized I was simply exteriorizing and going straight into the case of other people as I thought of them, I still don’t know why that compulsion to go straight into their cases, but I sort of had it. I realized I was able to ‘read minds’ and communicate ‘thetanically’ with my auditor. We had several actual conversations telepathically and this new world was amazing to me.”
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1998: NBC’s news program Dateline aired a story this week on Bob Minton, a critic of Scientology who is funding a variety of cases and opponents of the cult. From a transcript of the show: “BOB MINTON: The more I got involved, the more frightening the organization as a whole became to me. JOHN HOCKENBERRY: Are you nuts? BOB MINTON: A lot of people would question my insanity on that score. HOCKENBERRY: Do you have any evidence that they’re really evil and destructive? BOB MINTON: Yes. Shattered lives, broken families, mental fragility. VO: Minton has funded lawsuits, rescued an anti-cult organization, given weary defendants and broken-down activists the means to fight on. To date, he’s handed out more than 1.7 million of his own dollars to some of Scientology’s harshest critics. HOCKENBERRY: That’s a lot of money. BOB MINTON: It is. But keep in mind that in this, in this battle with Scientology, I’m the little guy. Scientology are the big guys. VO: Vaughn Young and his wife, Stacy, left the church in 1989, embittered by their experience and determined to start a new life. They rented a house in Seattle and opened a sanctuary for abandoned cats and dogs. But a few years later, the Youngs decided to go public, criticizing the church as a dangerous cult. And they provoked what they say was an all out assault by the church to destroy their lives. STACY YOUNG: They will find your vulnerability and, and use that to try to silence you. VO: In the summer of 1994, a newsletter showed up around the Youngs’ neighborhood, accusing them of things like extortion and promiscuity. Over the next three years, they learned that private investigators were asking suspicious questions of their friends and neighbors and accusing the Youngs of harboring diseased cats. STACY YOUNG: We were about a week and a half away from having to move. We were in a state of catastrophe. VAUGHN YOUNG: He just said, he says, ‘My name is Bob Minton, I read what was happening with your animal sanctuary. And I just want to know if there’s some way that I could help you out.’ VO: Out of the blue, this Bob Minton, this voice on the phone, came into their lives. He bought the Youngs a new house where they could legally keep their animals for $250,000. Incredibly, he saved the animal shelter. Stacy says she’ll never forget the day she picked up her new key. STACY YOUNG: We came to the house, we opened the front door and Bob Minton had a huge bouquet of flowers on the table for us. It was incredible. It was real! It really was real! And we’d never met this guy! And he just said, ‘Welcome to your new house. Congratulations.’ RINDER: I don’t know what motivates this guy, I don’t know what. But on the other hand if you asked me, do I know what motivated Timothy McVeigh to go blow up a building because his view is that the people sitting inside that building are violating the rights of citizens of the United States, I don’t know why he does that. I, I don’t know that you could– HOCKENBERRY: Now, you’ve just compared Bob Minton to Timothy McVeigh. RINDER: No, motivation. Like, what is it that motivates someone to, to do that? I don’t know. I don’t know how you tell someone does that before they do it. HOCKENBERRY: All right, but you very deliberately compared Bob Minton to Timothy McVeigh. RINDER: All right. HOCKENBERRY: What would it take for you to walk away from this battle? BOB MINTON: The Church of Scientology would have to make some serious reforms. RINDER: Well, it’s all sort of an arrogant view to think that because he has a lot of money to give to people that he is going to somehow get us to change our religion. We’re not. BOB MINTON: There have been emotional times that one really has to question how many punches you wish to take. HOCKENBERRY: Can you take a lot more punches? BOB MINTON: I think so. You know, I am setting an example to show people that this organization is not invulnerable to being criticized. That they cannot destroy everybody, all the time, who is willing to stand up to them.”
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“So Kim shoots the ex-girlfriend and her entire performing ensemble and makes the families watch, and then sends them to labor camps. I bet C.O.B. pleasures himself fantasizing he had that kind of power.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. Appeal now fully briefed, oral arguments scheduled for June 25. Masterson has also submitted a habeas corpus petition.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Pleaded guilty on Nov 10 to a 17-year prison sentence. Now serving time in state prison.
— Aaron Matthes charged for SA of child under 12 years old: OT Scientologist facing multiple mandatory life sentences. Next pretrial court hearing set for June 19.
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, which is now fully briefed. Oral arguments hearing set for July 23.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ 15 days of arbitration completed, Val waiting for further word from the IJC.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike upheld on appeal. Scientology expected to file additional petitions before case can return to Kalra’s court.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.
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Other links: The prosecution of Danny Masterson. Leah Remini’s Fair Game Podcast. Leah Remini’s A&E Series. Scientology’s Celebrities, from A to Z. Bryan Seymour’s suppressed series, 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 ‘arbitration’ ripped apart by trafficking experts in law journal
[TWO years ago] Scientology makes it official: New Paris ‘Ideal Org’ is best thing ever
[THREE years ago] Indie Scientologist running for Seattle city council on lingering anti-mask outrage
[FOUR years ago] Scientology: Put Bixler case on hold while we hit up the US Supreme Court about ‘arbitration’
[FIVE years ago] Goodbye to a Scientology watcher we will dearly miss: Molly Kell, 1960-2021
[SIX years ago] How will Scientology react to Danny Masterson being charged with rape?
[SEVEN years ago] Wise Beard Man on the ballot in Scientology’s mecca? Mark Bunker on why he’s running
[EIGHT years ago] Another sign Nation of Islam members are moving from Dianetics to full Scientology
[NINE years ago] Scientology caught red-handed breaking government restrictions — and without penalty
[TEN years ago] When you postulate upon a star: L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology’s funny made-up words
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology’s slush fund: Jeffrey Augustine takes apart the fictions of the IAS
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology fires legal salvoes at the Garcias, and Vance Woodward fires back
[THIRTEEN years ago] What Scientologists at War Left Out: Some Annotations on Channel 4’s Documentary
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Joe Reaiche (1958-2024) did not see his daughter Alanna Masterson in his final 6,999 days.
Mike Rinder (1955-2025) did not see his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in his final 7,589 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,663 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,167 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,673 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,223 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,599 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,094 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,400 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,049 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,267 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,821 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,162 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,733 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,649 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,816 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,402 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,661 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,409 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,978 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,289 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,464 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,146 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,483 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,336 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,452 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,814 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,613 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,497 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,061 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,573 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,833 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,937 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 18, 2026 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter.
Our book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is 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, 1995-2024 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2024), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
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Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
