‘Scientology and the Aftermath’: Mike Rinder answers a few of our questions after TCA win

 
With only a little more than a week before the start of season two for A&E’s Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, we sent over a few questions to Leah’s sidekick, former Scientology spokesman and Australian-born U.S. citizen Mike Rinder.

Mike and his wife Christie Collbran got dolled up for Saturday night’s Television Critics Awards when Aftermath won for best reality programming. That nod from the critics bodes well for the show’s shot at winning an Emmy next month. This team is on some roll.

So Mike, how do you think David Miscavige would have been told the news that ‘Scientology and the Aftermath’ won the Television Critics Award on Saturday night? Would someone have been monitoring social media for news of it? Would they have had someone there? What would his reaction have been, based on your seeing him get news back in your day. Would someone’s head roll?

He would have instructed one or more of his minions to monitor social media to find out the winners — most attention being put on ‘The Aftermath,’ but also interested in Elisabeth Moss and whether she won as she and Laura Prepon are the only Scientologists who seem to have careers at this point despite them ALL having the only tech to handle anything and everything. They will love to take credit for Elisabeth’s success, though she hasn’t ever spoken much about Scientology and don’t expect she is about to begin.

We know that Scientologists do their best to shield themselves from “entheta” — negative information about the church. But even with all of the things Miscavige is doing to counter the show — the smear site, the STAND League, the constant web ads — do you think the remaining church members will really be able to keep from watching episodes in season two, and dismiss what’s in them?

Scientologists are indoctrinated not to watch, read or believe “entheta.” Most buy the party line “It’s all just lies” and “this is a ploy by bitter SPs to make money out of the good name of Scientology.” For those that don’t buy this they move to the safety net — the greatest good. “Look at all the good Scientology is doing in the world. What’s a few problems here and there. Scientology may be flawed or have some flawed people in it, but it is still the ONLY chance mankind has in this brief breath in eternity.”

We got news this week that Int Base is down to a population of about 325. And the orgs look completely lifeless as well. But on the other hand, the green light for construction has come through for the Ideal Orgs in Detroit and Kansas City, and Miscavige is re-working Narconon Arrowhead to make it an “Ideal” training center or something. So what’s your estimate of the organization’s health at this point — is Scientology on life support, or is it clearing the planet?

Scientology is on life support. The opening of new (empty) buildings is the ONLY thing making it appear it has not completely expired. But it’s like putting cosmetics on a cadaver. All Scientology has is money to spend to create the appearance of life. And that is a LOT of money that can be frittered away over decades….

We actually saw someone on social media say that their kid wants to be Mike Rinder for Halloween. What’s been the craziest thing for you about your show’s huge success?

That is funny about the Halloween costume. The craziest thing to me has been how many people imitate my accent, it happens all the time. Saturday night it was Kristin Chenoweth who was hosting the show who called me Mike Rindaaah when we met her backstage.

 
——————–

Scientology in Africa begs members for cash to send staffers to the US

A tipster alerted us to a rather bizarre fundraising website that only makes sense in the world of Scientology.

At the website, Scientologists in South Africa are told that a new “Ideal Org” is coming to North Johannesburg, and that a goal of January has been set for its grand opening. As in the rest of the world, these new Scientology cathedrals are really unnecessary for an organization that is rapidly dwindling, but local members are under intense pressure to donate the millions of dollars it takes for purchasing and renovating a building.

And staffing an Ideal Org is also a challenge, because in order for an org to truly be “Ideal,” its staff members must be trained at the Flag Land Base in Clearwater, Florida, and at the model Ideal Org in Los Angeles. And sending staff over to the US from South Africa is not without cost.

So this website is begging South African Scientologists to donate so that visas and plane tickets can be purchased for potential Ideal Org staff members…

 
But your donations are worth it because once those workers return from their training, they’ll start creating Scientology “Clears” at a prodigious rate…

 
Zowie! With a goal of 20 supervisors working around the clock, by their math that’s 2,600 new Scientology Clears a year! At that rate, the 56 million people of South Africa will be cleared in….

Just over 21,500 years!

We’re sure that South African Scientologists are rushing to write checks just as fast as they can.

 
——————–

 
——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on August 7, 2017 at 07:00

E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes 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 book, 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, 1995-2016 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2016), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…

BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
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

Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten 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 | Scientology’s Private Dancer | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | Scientology boasts about assistance from Google | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Our Guide to Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear,’ and our pages about its principal figures…
Jason Beghe | Tom DeVocht | Sara Goldberg | Paul Haggis | Mark “Marty” Rathbun | Mike Rinder | Spanky Taylor | Hana Whitfield