More rich donors propping up Scientology are revealed in a church magazine

A new issue of Scientology’s ‘Impact’ magazine contains yet another gallery of wealthy donors who were awarded trophies for turning over the big bucks.

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On this day of declaring independence, we want to hear about your own fight for freedom

Here in the United States we are celebrating our independence, and we hope you are too, wherever you are.

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Scientology’s answer to Garcias’ appeal sets a new record in cynicism and legal depravity

[Eric Lieberman, Scientology’s legal wrangler]

Every single person who ever worked in the inner circle of Scientology’s highest elevations — the former Sea Organization executives who ran the worldwide movement from one of several secretive locations — every single one of those people will tell you that despite Scientology’s alphabet soup of many entities, it is all ruled by a micro-managing David Miscavige, who assumes his power as maximum leader through his position as captain of the Sea Org.

Continue reading Scientology’s answer to Garcias’ appeal sets a new record in cynicism and legal depravity

Introducing ‘The Cult Awareness Podcast,’ recorded at HowdyCon 2019 in Los Angeles

[Underdown, Minor, Ortega]

One surprising thing we learned about Jerry Minor, when we wrote about him after he appeared on Leah Remini’s A&E series, Scientology and the Aftermath, is that he’s actually been a regular reader of the Underground Bunker for a long time and had a great familiarity with our Scientology stories.

Continue reading Introducing ‘The Cult Awareness Podcast,’ recorded at HowdyCon 2019 in Los Angeles

Measles-free, Scientology’s cruise ship holds its annual ‘Maiden Voyage’ celebration

Sure, go ahead and laugh, you doubters. It’s true that in May Scientology’s cruise ship the Freewinds was a world-wide laughingstock when it was quarantined for a measles case and overnight became the symbol of our dumb era of anti-vaxx panic. And subsequently (and perhaps because of it?) the annual June “Maiden Voyage” week celebrating the anniversary of the ship’s 1988 rechristening was pared down a bit from previous years.

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Scientology continues to use the United Nations as a prop for its propaganda

Scientology front group Youth for Human Rights wound up its annual conference at the United Nations in New York yesterday. It’s a three-day event that brings Scientology allies together to discuss the importance of human rights and continue the process of “safepointing” the church. Associating Scientology with the U.N. is a huge victory in itself for public relations purposes. The possibility of recruiting new allies makes it one of the most important PR events on the Scientology calendar.

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David Miscavige’s pet projects result in constant fundraising pressure

A constant theme of Scientology watching is that we see church members getting hit up for money in so many ways. For their progress up the ‘Bridge to Total Freedom,’ for new (and unnecessary) buildings, for book campaigns, for their status as donors, and on and on.

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Your brain on Scientology: ‘I am the hurricane’

[Another Scientology London success!]

One of the ways David Miscavige has put his own stamp on Scientology since he became its all-powerful leader after founder L. Ron Hubbard’s death in 1986 has been a shift towards the introductory end of the “Bridge to Total Freedom.”

Continue reading Your brain on Scientology: ‘I am the hurricane’

Tommy Davis is tying the knot in Morocco, and we didn’t get an invite

We still get asked often about Scientology’s former spokesman Tommy Davis, and so we try to give an occasional update about him. This time, we have some happy news.

Continue reading Tommy Davis is tying the knot in Morocco, and we didn’t get an invite

Scientology destroyed her family, but this former Sea Org worker has a surprise ending

[Katrina and her mother Yelena, in the Sea Org]

Last year, we finally got to tell the heartbreaking story of Katrina Reyes. About how she had come to Florida from Siberia to join Scientology’s Sea Organization at only 11 years old. About how her mother seemed less concerned with her daughter’s well-being than about finding a husband in the Sea Org and working its long hours. About how Katrina had finally broken away from the Sea Org, and then was thrown out of Scientology and was “disconnected” by her mom.

Continue reading Scientology destroyed her family, but this former Sea Org worker has a surprise ending

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