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In Scientology, dancing in a conga line might end up costing you thousands

[Kiwis dancing in a conga line in order to pledge money on a whiteboard]

After the week we’ve had — with the heart-wrenching scenes with Bonny Elliott and Amy Scobee in Leah Remini’s A&E series, for example — we thought it would be good to start things off today with a little []

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That time when Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard didn’t invent surfing in California

[L. Ron Hubbard, circa 1934]

On Saturday, Scientology leader David Miscavige blessed the newest “Ideal Org” with another grand opening ceremony, this time in San Diego, California. After the ceremony we heard from local journalist Ken Stone, who told us he found it very odd that Scientology had held an event with what they claimed was []

Scientology is making this world ideal, one renovated building at a time

 Yesterday, Scientology leader David Miscavige made the scene in San Diego to open Scientology’s newest “Ideal Org.” We asked Rod Keller, who keeps an eye on the program, to update us on where it stands []

At an early age, Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard learned how to captivate the press

[L. Ron Hubbard in Guam]

Our helper who tracks down newspaper clippings about L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology continues to find rare gems for us, and we thought we’d share another one with you today. []

L. Ron Hubbard on the run: When the Daily Mail was hounding Scientology’s founder in ’66

 Last week, we shared a treat with you that had been dug up by one of our helpful correspondents, a February 14, 1966 Daily Mail story that called Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s academic credentials bogus. []

Trouble for Scientology in 1966: When the Daily Mail called L. Ron Hubbard’s degrees ‘bogus’

 Our helper is back who dives through obscure newspaper archives in search of forgotten Scientology history. Last time, he found for us a really remarkable 1968 interview of L. Ron Hubbard when a Daily Mail reporter, Peter Smith, tracked him down on his ship in Bizerte, Tunisia. []

Until the spaceships arrive, Scientologists measure cosmic success in framed glory

 Jeffrey Augustine joins us again to take a fresh look at one of Scientology’s most characteristic schemes. Take it away, []

Older than Pythagoras, and guaranteed to raise your IQ: What Scientology promised in 1954

[L. Ron Hubbard, circa 1954]

Previously, our tipster who searches through old newspaper clippings found for us a rare interview of L. Ron Hubbard that took place in Tunisia in 1968. One of our favorite revelations in that interview was that Hubbard didn’t deny that he’d claimed to have made trips to “Heaven.” []

Attempted murder, a fancy lawyer, and the long path to healing: A Scientology life, exposed

 This week Chris Shelton finishes his series about Larisa Smith with a disturbing conclusion — so prepare yourself. Here’s how Chris has chosen to introduce this final episode in his []

Chris Shelton dives into Scientology culture with the Larisa Smith story, part two

Chris Shelton continues his new video series, interviewing a young woman, Larisa Smith, who grew up in Scientology and suffered the []