Scientology’s new campaign to get you to sign its billion-year contract is here!

We started seeing new ads for Scientology’s Sea Org a few weeks ago, and now it’s coming in a flood.

Thanks to our helpful tipsters, we’ve learned that Scientology has started sending out an entire campaign to beef up the Sea Org, the hardcore elite of the organization, made up of lifers who have signed billion-year contracts and work 365 days a year, for pennies an hour.

On Friday, we read a very dramatic and well-told narrative about what it’s like in the Sea Org and how difficult it is to get out as Bruce Hines spun his gripping escape tale.

And with the conditions he wrote about fresh in our minds, it seems like readers will have a good opportunity to judge just how honest this new ad campaign is.

Let’s take a look, shall we?

 
Plus the two ads we had already seen, Jasper and C.S….

 
So what do you think? Sea Org recruiting is mainly aimed at the children of serious Scientologists. Are these ads pitched to that audience well?

We’re sure Scientology would like to hear your suggestions for how to improve their marketing of the Sea Org. Let’s hear your suggestions!

Derek Lambert in conversation with Karen de la Carriere

 
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Source Code

“As you look over the history of Dianetics and Scientology you’ll see a cycle is in operation. We get more and more complicated, more and more complicated, more and more complicated and then suddenly we get to a new, higher level of simplicity. And then this simplicity gets complicated and more complicated and more complicated and then we get to a new, higher level of simplicity. That’s just a history of me outguessing you.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 12, 1961

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“DAVID MURDOCK McBRIDE is assigned to Div IV as deckhand. He is to be grooved in on his post by John Wilson. His buddy is Arthur Hubbard. DAVID LEE FARRELL is assigned to Division III as to be Stores In Training. He is to be grooved in by Jay Hurwitz. His buddy is Paul Preston. DEKKI LE MOATE is assigned to Org Bureau Mimeo Files to be grooved in by Mimeo I/C R. Stone. Her buddy is Liz Ausley. HUGH HARRISON is assigned to Div III, Steward. He is to be grooved in by Linda Cusworth. His buddy is Bertie van Hoecke. ROBERT WILLIAMSON is assigned to Org Bu Mimeo Files. He is to be grooved in by Mimeo I/C R. Stone. His buddy is changed to David Ziff. RON STRAUS is assigned to Mimeo Files. He is to be grooved in by Mimeo I/C R. STone. His buddy is Ens. Des Popham.” — The Commodore, September 12, 1970

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“Many things have happened throughout time which have landed us here, many civilizations have crashed and been condensed, implanters are here on Earth implanting people every day. The way out is to handle Earth. Many people feel that there has to be a techno-space expansion for things to go right, but statistically on the track these civilizations are very degraded and they collapse, only ethical expansion is correct.”

 
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Past is Prologue

2000: Mark Bunker posted an update on the Scientologist who attacked him with a hammer during a video assignment in Clearwater, Florida. “Richard Barnard is now serving a one year jail term in Key West for skipping bail on a cocaine trafficking charge. He lied about his identity to the police at the scene and later when Sgt. Zegzdren went to do a follow up report. The first officer at the scene of the attack, Terrance Kelly, was ordered to do an investigation of the hammer incident but he never even asked Barnard for an I.D. When Sgt. Zegzdren arrested Barnard weeks later, Barnard told him that Scientology had offered to provide him an attorney. A friend of Barnard’s also assured him that he had nothing to worry about since 85 percent of the Clearwater police force are Scientologists. Zegzdren told him he thought that number was a little high. Barnard was working for Joe Duncanson, a member of the OT Committee.”

 
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Random Howdy

“The trick for recognizing an Aussie accent is that they always sound like they’re asking a question.”

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Next hearing set for November 10. Trial tentatively scheduled for February.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Pretrial conference October 7 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for November 19.
— Joseph ‘Ben’ Barton, Medicare fraud: Pleaded guilty, awaiting sentencing.

Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30, 2020 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition to US Supreme Court submitted on May 26. Scientology responded on June 25.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: California Supreme Court granted review on May 26 and asked the Second Appellate Division to direct Judge Steven Kleifield to show cause why he granted Scientology’s motion for arbitration. Oral arguments scheduled for Oct 5.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Dec 17: Feshbachs sign court judgment obliging them to pay entire $3.674 million tax debt, plus interest from Nov 19.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Third amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs. Case appealed on Dec 23. Appeal hearing held Aug 23-27.

Concluded litigation:
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.

 
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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, including our four days in Los Angeles covering the preliminary hearing and its ruling, which has Danny facing trial and the potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.

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] RIFFER: David Miscavige too busy saving Scientology from Covid to be served lawsuit
[TWO years ago] Hey, kids! It’s open mic night at your local Scientology spaceport!
[THREE years ago] FLORIDA IS IDEAL: Scientology ushers in glorious new civilization in country’s wang
[FOUR years ago] Tonight on ‘Leah Remini’: Two witnesses detail David Miscavige’s ruthless Scientology takeover
[FIVE years ago] Steve Cannane’s Oz-flavored Scientology history ‘Fair Game’ gets a UK-US-Canada publisher
[SIX years ago] ‘Going Clear’ wins Outstanding Documentary Emmy, also for writing, directing
[SEVEN years ago] Escaping from a Scientology drug rehab center: A transcript
[EIGHT years ago] LIVE FROM TEXAS: The Monique Rathbun vs. Scientology Temporary Injunction Hearing
[NINE years ago] Scientology Chooses an Odd Time to Open a “National Affairs” Office in DC
[TEN years ago] The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, No. 9: Jason Beghe

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 12, 2021 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, 1995-2020 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2020), 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…

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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