When Scientology leader David Miscavige targets you for a beatdown: A Jefferson Hawkins classic

Last week, we enjoyed an excerpt from Marc Headley’s 2009 book Blown for Good, a stunning narrative by a longtime Scientologist describing his life in the church and how he broke away. Another account with a similar theme which came out a few months later was the remarkable Counterfeit Dreams by Jefferson Hawkins.

Continue reading When Scientology leader David Miscavige targets you for a beatdown: A Jefferson Hawkins classic

Scientology’s founder in 1948: Dianetics was ‘unfrigidizing’ women into ‘nymphos’

[Hubbard in 1948]

A 1948 letter written by L. Ron Hubbard that Lawrence Wright quotes in his 2013 history of Scientology, Going Clear, is going on the auction block in New York on June 14, and it’s really fun to see it in its entirety on the Christie’s website.

Continue reading Scientology’s founder in 1948: Dianetics was ‘unfrigidizing’ women into ‘nymphos’

Living with Scientology ‘disconnection’: ‘It’s important to never give up hope’

[Renata and Flavio]

Last week, we asked the people on our “Scientology disconnection, a reminder” list — which appears at the end of each story here at the Bunker — about how they are coping with the church keeping them from their loved ones. The result was an emotional outpouring from the people on the list and from the readers of this website.

Continue reading Living with Scientology ‘disconnection’: ‘It’s important to never give up hope’

Scientology’s smear campaign against Mike Rinder takes a more disturbing turn than usual

[Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey and Taryn Teutsch]

For years, Scientology and its operatives have attacked former spokesman Mike Rinder with one particular accusation.

Continue reading Scientology’s smear campaign against Mike Rinder takes a more disturbing turn than usual

Scientology files notice of appeal in time-wasting federal court attack on forced-abortion case

[Laura DeCrescenzo and Bert Deixler]

Well-regarded California attorney Bert Deixler has once again genuflected to his client, Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige, filing a notice of appeal after the church got roundly defeated in a calculated move to slow down a lawsuit that scares the bejeesus out of Miscavige.

Continue reading Scientology files notice of appeal in time-wasting federal court attack on forced-abortion case

Scientology’s reclusive ‘president,’ 82-year-old Heber Jentzsch, tells a niece he’s doing fine

Tammy Clark tells us she sent a letter to her uncle Heber Jentzsch in November, hoping to find out how he’s doing as he turned 82. This week, she received a reply.

But she’s suspicious about it.

Continue reading Scientology’s reclusive ‘president,’ 82-year-old Heber Jentzsch, tells a niece he’s doing fine

We have the detailed specs for your dream job: Public Relations officer in Scientology

[Copenhagen’s May 2017 grand opening]

Rod Keller has some new insights for us about how Scientology “Ideal Orgs” evolve, including a fascinating new ad posting from the church…

Continue reading We have the detailed specs for your dream job: Public Relations officer in Scientology

Scientology’s toxic policy of ‘disconnection’ — we check in with the people who endure it

[Bernie Headley and his son Marc, and Marc’s sister Stephanie]

More than a year ago, in January 2017, we wrote a story about Bernie Headley that got us pretty worked up. Here was a man who was fighting cancer and was being prevented from seeing his own daughter, Stephanie, by the Church of Scientology.

Continue reading Scientology’s toxic policy of ‘disconnection’ — we check in with the people who endure it

Scientology’s bizarre international base and its near-prison life: A Marc Headley classic

[A drone’s-eye view of Int Base]

It’s been nearly a decade since one of our favorite books about Scientology life was published: Blown for Good: Behind the Iron Curtain of Scientology, by former Sea Org worker Marc Headley.

Continue reading Scientology’s bizarre international base and its near-prison life: A Marc Headley classic

How much do the Don Rogers letters shake up early Dianetics history? Two experts weigh in.

Over the last two days, we’ve seen some fascinating letters made public for the first time which were written by Donald H. Rogers, an eyewitness to the earliest days of Dianetics. Rogers wrote the letters in 1984-85 to Jon Atack, who was researching his book, A Piece of Blue Sky, and who generously shared the letters with us.

Continue reading How much do the Don Rogers letters shake up early Dianetics history? Two experts weigh in.

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