As many of our readers have commented over the years, because Scientology’s heyday was several decades ago, many of the people we see in the organization’s social media, fliers, and videos today tend to be on the geriatric side of the ledger.
Scientologists, and particularly its OTs, tend to be oldsters. And that’s not just because so many of them joined up many years ago when it was a different sort of scene, it’s also because the long slog to the OT levels is mighty expensive, and getting to OT 8, the top of the “Bridge,” can cost over a million dollars.
We’ve also seen, particularly in our Overheard feature, Scientologists bemoaning the fact that along with the general shrinkage of the movement, there are fewer and fewer young recruits and new auditors, and the result is an organization with an iffy future.
So it doesn’t surprise us that someone at the Advanced Org in Los Angeles, where some of the OT levels are delivered, figured it was time to counter that impression with a new look.
And we have to say, this seems like a smart approach, and we wonder if it will catch on in other parts of the Scientology empire: Millennial OTs!
Take a look at these confident-looking youngsters who are getting through the expensive upper levels, the Operating Thetan auditing levels, when Scientologists really start to get their superpowers. (We recently went through those in regards to the most famous OT of them all, Tom Cruise.)
We’d like to hear from some of our oldtimers what they think about this approach. We wonder if it’s a bit on the MESTy side, since aren’t we all immortal thetans, and the age of your physical body in this lifetime is irrelevant? And also, if we’re all really trillions of years old, wouldn’t the most recent generations — Boomers, Gen X, Millennials — just be trifling blips on the Whole Track? You tell us.
Also, along with that hip new vibe, we sure hope we get to see some images and videos from this rock ‘n’ roll party!
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Another Scientologist in legal trouble
Speaking of aging Scientologists, you may have seen the news yesterday out of Maryland that 64-year-old Scientology celebrity Eddie Deezen had something of a freakout at a local restaurant in Cumberland and was taken into custody by police after a struggle.
In June we discussed the mess that Deezen had got himself into, as he was accused of creeping out a 21-year-old waitress.
If that wasn’t bad enough, Deezen was physically removed from the restaurant yesterday after being asked to leave by the management. When police arrived, Deezen refused to go quietly and even threw some things at the police. They eventually took a shirtless Deezen into custody. He’s facing charges on assault in the 2nd degree, disorderly conduct, and trespassing.
A decent attorney ought to be able to take care of those sorts of minor charges, but Deezen has been getting more and more unhinged, so who knows if he even has any idea how much trouble he could potentially be in.
Another stellar result from the most ethical people on Earth.
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“Unfortunately, Black Dianetics is inherent in Dianetics. In 1945, this was all the Dianetics there was: how to drive people crazy, how to foul up political systems, how to restimulate individuals just by talking to them, without planting engrams. And in addition to this, how to interrupt life force in an individual. We haven’t gone into that very much. It is a wonderfully smooth way of committing murder.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 17, 1951
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“No one is to play the piano in A Deck Lounge without the written permission of Lt. Cmdr. Diana Hubbard.” — Lt. Nikki Freedman, Sun Deck I/C, September 17, 1971
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“All truly exceptional geniouses will, and perhaps have to be, quite offensive to us, that’s the way things have to work in this crazy universe. You just can’t get the GREATEST without also getting some horrible personality qualities. The greatest human beings will learn how to assist the Greatest for the greatest good of all Dynamics despite the horrible qualities they have to maneuover around, quietly, and successfully. God Bless LRH forever, and forevermore.”
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1998: Lawrence Wollersheim posted to a.r.s this week to report continuing harassment by Scientology’s private investigators. “I just got a call from my bank that someone was again trying to impersonate me to obtain my confidential bank records. Scientology was so dumb this time they had a woman trying to disguise her voice. The bank even had to laugh at the mickey mouse operation. Then a PI stakes out my house in such an obvious way as to tell all our neighbors that something very weird is going on in the neighborhood. He got lucky and left before the Security patrol arrived.”
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“I’ve always wanted a goat. A small place in the country with a goat, a couple of pigs, some chickens, a duck or two and of course the usual cats and dogs…oh, and a semi-tamed crow or raven.”
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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.
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] Scientology chiro Dennis Nobbe drops dead after being informed he’s going to jail
[TWO years ago] Why isn’t Scientology’s ship the Freewinds hauling emergency supplies to the Bahamas?
[THREE years ago] Visit to London Ideal Org shows that the Scientology bubble is still firmly in place
[FOUR years ago] Scientology leader David Miscavige has empty buildings all over the world — here’s a rundown
[FIVE years ago] With Jason Lee out, what does it mean for Scientology’s tightest celebrity clique?
[SIX years ago] Surreal encounter at Scientology’s secretive Int Base shows up in Danish documentary
[SEVEN years ago] New leaked videos from the super beings at Scientology!
[EIGHT years ago] Jenna Miscavige Hill Talks to Us As Her Book Comes Out in Paperback
[TEN years ago] Scientology Oz-fest: Commenters of the Week!
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,426 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,931 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,451 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,471 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,362 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,669 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,537 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,311 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,641 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,115 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,431 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,997 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,916 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,084 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,665 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,926 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,963 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,677 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,202 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 557 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,732 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,283 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,432 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,752 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,607 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,726 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,082 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,385 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,491 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,889 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,765 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,348 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,843 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,097 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,206 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 17, 2021 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post 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 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…
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
