Scientology Studies | The Underground Bunker

39 years ago: The eerie Hollywood sendoff for Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard

[David Miscavige, master of ceremonies]

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: 39 years ago today, Scientology members assembled to hear that L. Ron Hubbard had voluntarily left his body to explore ‘researches’ elsewhere. Once again we’re marking this anniversary with a […]

Another census, and another country where Scientology is shrinking

[Scientology spent millions to open an Ideal Org in Auckland in 2017]

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Scientology still claims to be the ‘fastest growing religion in the world,’ without any evidence. In fact, actual census numbers tend to show […]

Ten years ago today: ‘Going Clear’ exposed Scientology’s abuses for a new audience

[Alex Gibney and Lawrence Wright at Sundance]

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Ten years ago today, Alex Gibney’s HBO documentary ‘Going Clear’ premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, exposing Scientology’s abuses in a way that had never been done before. […]

An Apostate in London: Alex talks strategy about Scientology with an MP

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Yesterday, former Scientology staffer Alex Barnes-Ross took the biggest step in his formidable career as a whistle-blower, meeting with an MP to discuss strategy for what the UK can do about the church’s abuses. […]

Scientology spends $26 million to double the size of its European HQ

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Scientology will no doubt say that it just plunked down $26 million to double the size of its European ‘Advanced Org’ because of increased demand. But we think there’s a different reason for it. […]

Scientology bragged on new Africa drug rehab, now it’s accused of stiffing workers

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: At Scientology’s New Year’s event in LA, church leader David Miscavige boasted about a new Narconon drug rehab in South Africa, where he probably figured there would be lax oversight. But now a local […]

Briefing not meant for the public: LA fires are ‘historic opportunity’ for Scientology

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: LA’s fires are located where Scientology has its biggest concentration of members, so it’s not surprising the ‘Volunteer Ministers’ have been called out to take advantage of it. But rarely have we had such […]

Scientology’s new ad push is really getting on people’s nerves

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Central to Scientology’s announced new media campaign are three TV ads that church leader David Miscavige revealed to the audience at the October IAS gala. But it’s a series of the campaign’s new billboards […]

Becky Bigelow, 1962-2025, escaped from Scientology with Ron Miscavige

[Becky, in white, enjoying post-Scientology life in 2016 on a cruise with Ron and others, including Janis Gillham Grady, Steve Hall, Dan Koon, and Jefferson Hawkins]

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Scientology’s smears of Ron Miscavige and Becky Bigelow remain […]

Anonymous fought ‘disconnection’ — but Scientology never stops destroying families

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: On Tuesday, the 17th anniversary of Anonymous declaring war on the Church of Scientology will arrive, and we wanted to mark the occasion with a story that recently came up thanks to Alex Barnes-Ross, […]

Search