|
|
One of the truly monumental books about Scientology, Jon Atack’s A Piece of Blue Sky: Scientology, Dianetics, and L. Ron Hubbard Exposed came out in 1990 and was nearly sued out of existence. We were fortunate to come across a copy in the 1990s as we were just beginning a career investigating Scientology stories. Today, Atack has a new edition of the book out, and he gave us a chapter to include in our Saturday “Scientology Lit” series. It reminds us that no one else packed so much history into every page recounting the fortunes of L. Ron Hubbard and his organization. The excerpt we have is a snapshot of how much Scientology was changing in the years after Hubbard went into permanent seclusion in 1980. We hope it motivates you to pick up this book, an amazing resource for any Scientology Watcher… Continue reading From Jon Atack’s ‘Blue Sky’: Reorganizing Scientology as L. Ron Hubbard’s life waned
The Garcias aren’t letting well enough alone. More than five years after they first filed a lawsuit against the Church of Scientology, and after three years wrestling against a ruling by Tampa federal Judge James Whittemore that forced them into Scientology’s internal arbitration, Luis and Rocio Garcia have filed a notice that they are appealing Whittemore’s latest ruling that they would have to live with the results of that arbitration. Continue reading The Garcias won’t go down without a fight: Filing appeal of Scientology’s ‘arbitration’ farce
From time to time we’re asked if famous jazz bassist Stanley Clarke is still involved in Scientology (and the person asking is usually hoping we’ll say no). For a while there, we hadn’t seen Stanley showing much involvement in the organization, and so we weren’t sure what to say. But then, ten days ago, we put up a three-year-old Scientology music video that clearly showed Clarke taking part, and so we pointed out he’s at least still in it to a certain extent. Continue reading Stanley Clarke turns out to be as deep into Scientology as we feared, all these years later
[Jonathan Ramsay, 1981-2018]We have some unfortunate news regarding a person who had a connection to a couple of different stories here at the Underground Bunker. His name was Jonathan Ramsay, and he recently ended his life in Arizona at the age of 37. Continue reading A life connected to some of our biggest Scientology stories ends in a terrible way
[Jim Bridgeforth and Victoria and Tom Cummins, Scientology cetaceans]Thanks to the tipster who forwarded us pages from the new Impact magazine, we have your mid-year Scientology whale watching update! Continue reading Whale watching: Your 2018 mid-year guide to who’s keeping Scientology alive
[Kendrick Moxon and Efrem Logreira]In our last story about Efrem Logreira, we told you that he had turned down the offer of a check for $8,415 from the Church of Scientology. Continue reading Scientology is very worried about 75-year-old Efrem Logreira and his allegations
We see a lot of signs that Scientology is entering a desperate phase. Mike Rinder does a particularly good job at his site gathering evidence that shortages in staffing and at events is a sign that David Miscavige’s dog and pony show is at a breaking point. But even if membership is tanking, is Miscavige slowing down any of his ‘expansion’ plans? We asked the man who keeps an eye on that so well, Rod Keller, to pause and give us his assessment: What’s the outward picture of health that Scientology projects in August 2018? Continue reading If Scientology is hurting, have its ‘expansion’ plans slowed down? Here’s our assessment
This week in our ‘Scientology Lit’ series, we have an excerpt from BBC reporter John Sweeney’s 2013 book, Church of Fear: Inside the Weird World of Scientology. Sweeney wrote about his experiences making two BBC documentaries about the church, 2007’s “Scientology and Me,” and 2010’s “The Secrets of Scientology.” In this chapter, he’s being handled by Scientology’s two spokesmen — Tommy Davis and Mike Rinder — as he conducts interviews for his 2007 Panorama episode at the Hollywood Celebrity Centre with his cameraman Bill and producer, ‘Mole.’ He gets forceful denials about Scientology leader David Miscavige striking his employees (which Rinder will be among those to confirm in a 2009 piece by the Tampa Bay Times.) We hope you enjoy this cracking good chapter that Sweeney was generous enough to share with us… Continue reading Church of Fear: When John Sweeney sat down with Anne Archer and Leah Remini
[Sen. Iván Cepeda wants an investigation of Scientology in Colombia]Our correspondent in Colombia’s capital of Bogotá, who helped us cover the Scientology Ideal Org opening there in 2015, has been keeping an eye on the brewing scandal in that country over Scientology’s relationship with various members of the Colombian national police force. Continue reading Colombian senator asks defense minister to investigate Scientology over medal scandal
After yesterday’s disturbing report about a convicted child molester being a featured performer at Scientology’s exclusive “Maiden Voyage” celebrations, we received this sobering report from former Sea Org member and Scientology “technology” expert Sunny Pereira. We think it pairs pretty well with what we learned in yesterday’s story. Continue reading Why Scientology is a haven for sexual abusers — it’s the way L. Ron Hubbard designed it
|
