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L. Ron Hubbard’s tallest tale? When Scientology’s founder first struck gold

 
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Before he began selling tall tales to the pulps for a living, Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard told maybe his tallest tale ever to a gullible Washington DC reporter who took it as fact. Is there a better indicator of how Hubbard would later go on to fool so many in the future? [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

Continue reading L. Ron Hubbard’s tallest tale? When Scientology’s founder first struck gold

On Mother’s Day 2024, the moms who suffer and defy Scientology’s cruel ‘disconnection’ policy

 
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Is there a day more counter to Scientology’s outlook than Mother’s Day? We talked to moms who have suffered from Scientology’s anti-family ‘disconnection’ policy who are not only standing strong, but who are also helping to expose this organization as it dwindles in influence. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

Continue reading On Mother’s Day 2024, the moms who suffer and defy Scientology’s cruel ‘disconnection’ policy

Val Ross: Stopping Scientology’s plans for a vault in Wyoming, and the future

[A drone shot of the interrupted vault construction at Sweeney Ranch.]

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Val Ross, who spied on the FBI for Scientology, and endured so much as a believer, brings us to present time as she finishes her astonishing series. And it turns out, her post-Scientology experience, including stopping a new CST vault in its tracks, is also fascinating. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

Continue reading Val Ross: Stopping Scientology’s plans for a vault in Wyoming, and the future

Scientology summit: Meeting up with Apostate Alex in Los Angeles

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We’re in town to celebrate Mother’s Day with mom. And we were surprised that our trip coincided with an excursion to LA by one of our community’s most inspiring new figures, who had flown over from London. What would happen when this unlikely collision brought us together? [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

Continue reading Scientology summit: Meeting up with Apostate Alex in Los Angeles

‘Dianetics’ is 74: Isn’t it time L. Ron Hubbard’s hoax got pulled from libraries?

 
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We’re not fans of censorship, but today, 74 years since ‘Dianetics’ was first released and eventually produced the Scientology movement, shouldn’t there be some discussion about whether this vile turd belongs on library shelves, especially after all the damage it has done? [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

Continue reading ‘Dianetics’ is 74: Isn’t it time L. Ron Hubbard’s hoax got pulled from libraries?

Rock ‘n’ roll was their fame, Scientology was their game

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

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Here’s David Miscavige’s opposition to Jane Doe 1’s appeal of his sneaky legal maneuver

[Dave in Paris]

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We’ve called it sandbagging, but Scientology leader David Miscavige’s maneuver to erase a potentially historic court ruling against the church’s arbitration ploy was found to be timely. Jane Doe is petitioning an appeals court to reverse that, and now here’s Dave’s reply. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

Continue reading Here’s David Miscavige’s opposition to Jane Doe 1’s appeal of his sneaky legal maneuver

Val Ross: How Scientology kept me from fleeing abuse until it was almost too late

[Wedding day, 1977]

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: She spied on the FBI for Scientology, she submitted to its quack medical cures. But Val Ross’s ultimate moment of danger involved a butcher knife. Another devastating installment in Val’s lookback at a Scientology life. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

Continue reading Val Ross: How Scientology kept me from fleeing abuse until it was almost too late

Scientology announced protest of ‘thousands’ as APA comes to NYC, so we showed up

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Thousands of Scientologists, descending on the evil psychiatrists who were having their annual convention in New York City, and only a pleasant bike ride from where we happened to be? We were pumped! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

Continue reading Scientology announced protest of ‘thousands’ as APA comes to NYC, so we showed up

The Scientology/Christian Science mix-up will live forever, but here’s a new look at it

[Mary Baker Eddy and L. Ron Hubbard, the mixup twins]

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Over the years, we can’t count how many times we’ve been asked questions about ‘Christian Science’ by people mistaking it for ‘Church of Scientology.’ And if we hear it, imagine how often Scientology has to deal with it! ALSO: More Scientology classified ads! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

Continue reading The Scientology/Christian Science mix-up will live forever, but here’s a new look at it