Scientology Mythbusting | The Underground Bunker

Mike Rinder on the myth of the ‘reactive mind’ and how Scientology still ropes in new people

Jon Atack is back with another conversation with his old nemesis, former Scientology spokesman Mike […]

When Rinder met Hubbard: A Scientology story for the ages

Jon Atack and Mike Rinder are continuing their conversations about Scientology and we are the […]

VIDEO: Jon Atack talks to Mike Rinder about his first months aboard Scientology’s ‘Apollo’

[Mike Rinder at 18, in Madeira]

I’ve spoken with more than a thousand Scientologists over the years, but Mike Rinder’s interview is the most vivid and appalling account of daily life aboard the ship run directly by […]

Jon Atack quizzes Mike Rinder: Scientology’s former spy chief on L. Ron Hubbard’s paranoia

Hey, this is fun. Jon Atack, the legendary author of ‘A Piece of Blue Sky’ and a major presence here at the Underground Bunker, has a conversation with former Scientology spokesman Mike Rinder about the formerly secret documents that underlie Scientology’s spying and dirty tricks […]

He was the drummer in a rock ‘n’ roll band: Eddie Stratton’s Scientology story

[Eddie Stratton, on the far left in this One Minute Silence lineup]

Jon Atack introduces us to yet another former Scientologist today, drummer Eddie Stratton. What a treat.

In 1996, I received a hilarious 11-page hand-written letter from Eddie Stratton detailing his experiences in Scientology. I responded and received a 20-page letter by return of post. It […]

It’s not hard to figure out where L. Ron Hubbard came up with Scientology’s space cooties

[A couple of Burks covers]

After Ron Hubbard had sold the rights to Dianetics to Don Purcell in 1952, he had to create a new subject from whole cloth. Much of the “new” material that he now called “Scientology” came from Aleister Crowley — including the notion of “entities.” But entities proved unpopular, and would only […]

Jon Atack: Seduction, recruitment, and Scientology’s hard sell

Our thanks to the readers who wished Jon Atack a happy birthday recently, because it inspired him to check in with us…

Thanks to all for the good wishes on my birthday! It was most gratifying to read so many kind […]

Atack: What David Mayo told me about L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology, and the upper levels

[David Mayo]

After we brought the news that prominent Scientology figure David Mayo had died last year in New Zealand, there was a pretty huge reaction from many former Scientologists, as well as a lot of discussion of his legacy. One person who had lengthy talks with Mayo after he left the church was historian Jon […]

A new chapter for one of the best Scientology books of all time? Yes, and we have it!

[Sea Org toughs at the infamous 1982 Mission Holders Conference]

Jon Atack just let us know that he’s putting out a fourth edition of his excellent book of Scientology history, Let’s sell these people a piece of blue sky. And he’s taking the opportunity to restore a missing chapter that was left out previously for legal […]

L. Ron Hubbard’s son was troubled, but don’t discount him entirely: few knew his father better

[Ron DeWolf at the 1982 Clearwater hearings]

Earlier this week, we wrote about a 15-page 1985 letter written by Ron DeWolf to the IRS that was released by the FBI and became public for the first time. DeWolf was the name adopted by L. Ron Hubbard Jr., who was known as “Nibs” to the Hubbard family. […]

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