TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Clearwater’s city council voted on Thursday night to vacate streets for an entertainment complex associated with Scientology, which packed the chamber again to make opposition more difficult. We asked Mark Bunker for his thoughts about this latest development. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“In the case of Genghis Khan, potential value was very great. His ability to think and power to initiate and execute were very high. On the first dynamic his actual worth was exceptional. On his second dynamic his potential value was extremely high but the worth was shortened by the precarious heritage he left his many children. On his third dynamic his worth was enormous for he unified not only his personal race unit but consolidated into it other units which had been at mutual war on the steppes. On the fourth dynamic, Mankind, his worth was so far negative that it not only wiped out all gains in the first three dynamics but made the total worth of the man more negative than any other for centuries around him. Into the equation which was Genghis Khan might have been added artistic or beneficial knowledge for the world had they been present and these might even have overweighted the equation back into positive worth, but Genghis Khan initiated and contributed no such thing.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1951
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“The Roman Catholic Church, somewhere along the line, through watching the dramatizations of people, picked up some little fragments of R6, and they make it look like it’s continued forward into present time. But the truth of the matter is that the loyal officers were not all killed. Xenu missed. And they were not all killed. Not by a long way…Somebody, somewhere on this planet, back about 600 BC, found some piece of R6. And I don t know how they found it, either by watching mad men or something, but since that time they have used it and it became what is known as Christianity. The man on the cross. There was no Christ, but the man on the cross is shown as every man so of course each person seeing a crucified man has an immediate feeling of sympathy for this man. Therefore you get many PCs who say they are Christ.” — L. Ron Hubbard, October 3, 1968
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“Cmdr. Hana Eltringham is welcomed aboard. She is assigned to Deputy CS-1 and to part time study her FEBC. An Aides hat should be provided but other aides should groove her in. She has been CS-1 and CS-4 before. The Flag Org is full throttle getting trained up to FEBC and handling existing traffic and should be concentrating soon on Org Bd Hats for orgs, its overdue assignment. We are very glad to see some Veterans back to Flag.” — The Commodore, October 3, 1970
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“Personally I think that there has been a coordinated effort by certain factions in the Government for reasons of ‘National Security’ to invalidate the state of OT at least publicly and that the Church currently is playing along in this game. It is my opinion that the success of the Remote Viewing Project scared the bejesus out of them and now there is an ongoing effort to put the Genie back in the bottle. But that is my opinion and I can’t prove it. Though what I can pretty much prove is that the Church has now veered away from those abilities covered in the earlier lectures on the State of OT. For instance the original OT IV if run correctly will produce a Thetan Exterior, V and VI give the thetan familiarity with operating outside of the body. Yet these levels are no longer part of the Bridge. Why is that? There is no HCOB or Policy that canceled those levels yet they are no longer considered part of Church doctrine. Omitted levels is a definite out point. One big enough to drive not just a Sherman Tank but a few very large semis through.”
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2000: Battlefield Earth opened in Australia this week. The Canberra Times published this article: “For 15 years, Travolta has tried to get Battlefield Earth before the cameras. It’s a slam-bang sci-fi epic set 1000 years in the future. But more tellingly, it’s a film based on the writings of L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology. Travolta is a Scientologist, the most famous one on earth. But even though Tom Cruise, Chick Corea, Jenna Elfman, Kirstie Alley and several other celebrities share that with him, most of Hollywood does not. And faith isn’t enough to get a movie on the screen. ‘I didn’t have the clout to get it made,’ Travolta says. But clout wasn’t the only problem. There was the script. ‘It was a long time in the making, mostly because I didn’t finally get [the script] right until recently,’ he says. ‘A year and a half ago, we got a version of the script that tackled the book and did it justice.’ Then there were the special effects. Hubbard’s action-packed novel features gigantic aliens, futuristic technology and battles, battles everywhere. ‘I don’t think, if we’d done this book 15 to 20 years ago, the special effects would have measured up to what we were able to do,’ Travolta says. ‘Now, they’re state of the art, realistic. This was just the right time to make this film.’ But, of course, he’s leaving out the obvious hold-up to Battlefield Earth. Hubbard invented Scientology, the controversial self-help religion that has been under fire for decades for its expense to its followers, its medical claims and the intimidation tactics its leaders use to quash dissent and bad publicity. Battlefield Earth is a movie with a lot of baggage. Could anti-Scientology bias have kept Hollywood from making the film? ‘Quite the opposite,’ Travolta says. ‘It’s so many people’s favourite book, when word got out that we had the green light, the options I had for people who wanted to work on it were amazing. Travolta has, from time to time, distanced himself from the church, which uses fasting, counseling and a gadget called an e-meter to help its practitioners purge toxic substances and toxic forces from their lives. But he’s never dodged questions about it. ‘He doesn’t push Scientology,’ says George Thomas, film critic for the Akron Beacon-Journal, who has interviewed Travolta several times. ‘He charms you into understanding his position and tries to make you respect what he believes.’ Something of a compendium of Hubbard’s sci-fi writings recast in a new story, Battlefield Earth did earn some good reviews when the novel came out in 1982. But some critics have said the sales figures were inflated by Scientologists buying multiple copies, a Donald Trump trick for creating a best-seller. Richard Leiby, writing in the Washington Post, sees the book and film as a metaphoric treatment of Hubbard’s philosophy, that psychology and psychiatry are the root of modern evil – the villains of the piece are the ‘psychlos’. But any suggestions of a link between the film and Scientology draw swift rebukes from the church leadership.”
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“I was just watching a documentary about ISIS, and they put out a monthly magazine and annual report (400 pages long) that is way more slick and professional than anything I’ve seen by the unchurch of Lientology. Even the crazy jihadis have their act more together than Scientology.”
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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] When the evil psychs secretly paid for information about Scientology!
[TWO years ago] Alex reports: Scientology is loading up pols with propaganda to ban protests
[THREE years ago] Indie Scientologists after their protest: We want to hear from church members about abuses
[FOUR years ago] Scientology eagerly uses Hurricane Ian devastation for photo opportunities
[FIVE years ago] Pasadena drunk kicks hole in Scientology door: Will this ‘hate crime’ be blamed on Leah Remini?
[SIX years ago] STUNNING LEAK: Scientology’s entire asset portfolio the year it got IRS church status
[SEVEN years ago] Scientologist removed from L.A. court again after screaming at judge in fraud hearing
[EIGHT years ago] Jesse Prince talks about the grieving after L. Ron Hubbard’s death — and the partying
[NINE years ago] Rerun Tuesday: ‘Leah Remini’ participants tell us what the series has meant to them
[TEN years ago] L. Ron Hubbard in exile: When Scientology’s leader ran things while on the lam
[ELEVEN years ago] ‘Going Clear’ Q&A: Mike Rinder and Sara Goldberg take heat from Scientologists
[TWELVE years ago] What VICE magazine got wrong about Scientology in the UK
[THIRTEEN years ago] LIVE FROM TAMPA: The Garcia v. Scientology Federal Fraud Lawsuit Mini-Trial!
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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 3,770 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,274 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,780 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,330 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,706 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,201 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,507 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,156 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,374 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,928 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,269 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,839 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,756 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,923 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,509 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,768 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,516 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 4,085 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,396 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,571 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,253 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,590 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,443 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,559 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,921 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,720 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,564 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,179 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,680 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,940 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 16,044 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on October 3, 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, 1995-2025 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
