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[William Burroughs in 1968]In 2013, we interviewed author David Wills about his book on William Burroughs, Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the ‘weird cult’. He argued that Burroughs biographers tended to play down (or merely not understand) how deeply into Scientology Burroughs had been before famously falling away from it in scathing testimonials. We thought he put together a pretty compelling picture about Burroughs’ involvement in Scientology, which happened from 1959 to about 1969. In this excerpt from his book which Wills has generously agreed to share, we’ve taken a portion of the chapter when Burroughs was at his most enthusiastic, while at Saint Hill Manor in 1968.
Continue reading William Burroughs at Scientology’s ‘Saint Hill Manor’ in 1968, before his discontent
We recently learned about an attempt by a UK resident to turn Scientology in to the consumer protections agency there. In November, a detailed description of Scientology’s abusive business practices was submitted, and we’ve been given access to the report as well as the response it received from UK Trading Standards. To get more background on these events, we discussed the story with a person in England familiar with the complaint. Here is what we learned. Continue reading Can Scientology be tripped up by consumer protection? You must hear this pitch.
[Luis Garcia, right, and his attorney Ted Babbitt]What’s this? Some good news in the Luis and Rocio Garcia lawsuit against Scientology? You don’t say. Continue reading Scientology denied: Eleventh Circuit brushes aside church attempt to stop Garcia appeal
[Denise Byrne and Adam Holland]We have some follow-ups to recent stories that we collected for you today. Up first, we told you on Friday about the suicide of former Sea Org member Adam Holland. After leaving Scientology, his father Paul Holland cut of all ties from him in the Scientology way, and it devastated the young man, who tried to raise awareness about Scientology’s abuses in Canada. Continue reading When Scientology’s ‘disconnection’ is forever, and other developments
We were thrilled to learn that our man in Los Angeles, Jeffrey Augustine, took his camera down this weekend to Scientology’s attempt to relate to the people who live in its neighborhood. Continue reading What’s creepier than a Scientology street fair? Apparently, not much.
We were approached recently by a man who wanted to describe what he’s been through in the Church of Scientology. We decided to let him tell you his story in his own words, and we’ve spoken to his attorney and examined his documentation to corroborate his tale. We think you’ll find that, once again, the Church of Scientology, which considers itself an expert on everything, completely breaks down when it is actually presented with a case of emotional distress.
Continue reading Scientology made him suicidal, but that was only the beginning of his problems
Here’s a timely treat for us today as Jeffrey Augustine talks with Leah Remini’s Scientology and the Aftermath costar Mike Rinder about several issues that we’ve been concerned with here at the Bunker lately. Continue reading Mike Rinder on Scientology’s smears, Miscavige’s fears, and waiting for ‘Aftermath’ news
We heard from a family member last night that Adam Holland, a former Canadian Sea Org member who went public about the Sea Org’s degrading conditions after leaving the organization in 2009, took his own life on February 17. He was only 30 years old. Continue reading Adam Holland, Scientology whistle-blower who exposed Sea Org conditions, 1988-2019
Our regular readers know that besides looking into the breaking Scientology news of the day, and keeping track of court cases, and asking around about church leader David Miscavige and his missing wife, we also, from time to time, like to dive into the source material of this wacky thing that calls itself a church. Continue reading Scientology’s founder L. Ron Hubbard on the ‘God trick,’ Christ implants, and Muslims
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