How Scientology gamed Google to increase the effectiveness of its Super Bowl ad

With its Super Bowl ad ‘Curious?’ nearing 1.2 million views, the Church of Scientology is no doubt pretty happy that the 30-second ad is now the most-watched video on its YouTube channel, just edging out an L. Ron Hubbard biographical spot that had a nine-year head start.

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Scientology targets the Red Cross in its latest sneaky front group scheme

Rod Keller keeps an eye on Scientology’s sneaky front groups for us, and he tells us about a bold new gambit by the church and its “Volunteer Ministers.”

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Come on, people. Even Star mag’s own article doesn’t claim Tom Cruise has left Scientology.

We were hoping to let this one go. We tried to ignore it, we really did. But so many people have sent us images of Star magazine’s new Tom Cruise cover asking us “Is this true?” we felt that we had to say something about it.

Continue reading Come on, people. Even Star mag’s own article doesn’t claim Tom Cruise has left Scientology.

Tory ‘Magoo’ Christman, and how Anonymous went from online war to in-real-life pickets

[Tory Christman and Mark Bunker at the February 10, 2008 picket in Los Angeles]

We’re continuing to mark the 10th anniversary of a stunning series of events that changed Scientology watching forever.

Continue reading Tory ‘Magoo’ Christman, and how Anonymous went from online war to in-real-life pickets

David Palter, 1952-2018: Remembering a Scientologist who became a steady critic

[Gregg Hagglund, Nan McLean, and David Palter watch Anonymous in 2008]

We’ve written before about Scientology’s battles with its critics in Toronto. We obtained documents that described how one Scientologist did his best to harass Gregg Hagglund, a church critic who may be the main reason Scientology has never attained charitable status in Canada.

Continue reading David Palter, 1952-2018: Remembering a Scientologist who became a steady critic

Scientology officials from around the globe called to Florida for news of ‘Scientology TV’

[Almost two years after opening his new studios, is Miscavige about to launch Scientology TV?]

Is it really finally happening?

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Scientology spies coming forward to spill their guts, then and now: A key example from the past

[Robert Dardano, at the 1982 Clearwater Hearings]

In our book about Scientology’s harassment of Paulette Cooper, we spent some time talking about a Massachusetts man named Robert Dardano who volunteered for Scientology’s “Guardian’s Office.” Dardano’s testimony was key for understanding how Scientology continued to spy on Paulette in the mid-1970s, even after she had managed to escape the church’s attempt to frame her on federal charges in 1973. Now, historian Chris Owen has written about additional details from the Dardano story, based on Dardano’s sworn testimony and other documents. After Chris’s piece, we have a brief update on the item for you.

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Best reactions to last night’s Scientology Super Bowl ad, which asked, ‘Curious?’

As it has since 2013, Scientology bought local spots during the Super Bowl to air a commercial, which was met with howls of derision on social media. We had fun last night watching the reaction live.

Continue reading Best reactions to last night’s Scientology Super Bowl ad, which asked, ‘Curious?’

Are you Sci-Curious? Here’s Scientology’s 2018 Super Bowl ad

And here it is, tonight’s Super Bowl ad from the Church of Scientology, which will be airing in certain local markets around the country tonight.

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In Scientology, the grift of its own members just never ends

Rod Keller helps us understand a longtime practice in Scientology, an organization that never tires of taking advantage of its own suckers.

Continue reading In Scientology, the grift of its own members just never ends

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