Is it another un-Ideal weekend for Scientology? What gives, Dave?

We can still hear the roaring from the crowd, cheering their dear leader, David Miscavige, who told his followers in November and December that he would have the Paris Ideal Org open in January, and three more were coming by February in Austin, Chicago and Mexico City.

Continue reading Is it another un-Ideal weekend for Scientology? What gives, Dave?

Former Scientology spy goes to spy on future Scientology ‘Ideal Org’

[Patty made a trip to Beantown for us.]

We hope you remember our podcast episode with Patty Moher, who told us about her history spying for Scientology, as well as her subsequent fun visit to Scientology’s moribund New Haven “Ideal Org” project. We had so much fun with that excursion, she went on another!

Continue reading Former Scientology spy goes to spy on future Scientology ‘Ideal Org’

The Scientology forced-marriage lawsuit has two big issues facing it today and next week

[Judge Broadbelt and David Miscavige]

There’s a lot going on in the lawsuit filed by Jane Doe 1 against Scientology, David Miscavige, and Sea Org recruiter Gavin Potter.

Continue reading The Scientology forced-marriage lawsuit has two big issues facing it today and next week

Chris Shelton marks a Scientology milestone, and reveals something about himself

[Chris Shelton, Sea Org, circa 2009]

On the day before Christmas, Tony posted something here at the Underground Bunker that really caught me by surprise.

It was the latest roll call of Scientology’s wealthy donors, dressed in their finest to receive their latest trophies for turning over $1 million or more.

Continue reading Chris Shelton marks a Scientology milestone, and reveals something about himself

Judge Hammock to rule today that RTC will remain in Leah Remini’s Scientology lawsuit

[Leah Remini and Judge Randolph Hammock]

Judge Randolph Hammock issued a tentative ruling yesterday in anticipation of today’s continued hearing in Leah Remini’s lawsuit.

Continue reading Judge Hammock to rule today that RTC will remain in Leah Remini’s Scientology lawsuit

The Guardian’s expose of Narconon is great — except for this puzzling issue

[Narconon Ojai and ABLE’s ED]

We want to thank all of the readers who sent us messages about this weekend’s terrific expose of the Narconon drug program in the Guardian*, which involved a nine-month investigation and publication on the newspaper’s front page.

Continue reading The Guardian’s expose of Narconon is great — except for this puzzling issue

Val Ross: Scientology draws you in so you don’t realize what it’s about until it’s too late

[Val at her desk back in the day, the Grade Chart on the wall]

The spring of 1972, I was 17 and in my senior year of high school. The school was in Grants, New Mexico, 12 miles away from where we lived. I only had one class to finish to graduate, and was taking courses at the community college in Grants in the evening as well as babysitting for an hour while one of the professors taught a night class.

Continue reading Val Ross: Scientology draws you in so you don’t realize what it’s about until it’s too late

PODCAST: Emails show which local politician was trying to stop IAS protest for Scientology

[Apostate Alex has the goods on Dick Sweatman]

Well, we’ve done it again. We’ve gone and collaborated with Apostate Alex and we think you’re going to like the result.

Continue reading PODCAST: Emails show which local politician was trying to stop IAS protest for Scientology

For the first time, read L. Ron Hubbard gushing about working with Leni Riefenstahl

[Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast]

We have a very special treat for you today, and it’s thanks to Mitch Brisker.

Mitch is one of the most interesting people to come out of Scientology in recent years, he has a memorable book out, and we’ve actually been talking to him for a couple of years. One of the first things he told us when we got to know him was how glad he was to see that we had written at The Daily Beast about L. Ron Hubbard’s interesting 1960 encounter with Adolf Hitler’s favorite filmmaker, documentarian Leni Riefenstahl.

Continue reading For the first time, read L. Ron Hubbard gushing about working with Leni Riefenstahl

Scientology hopping mad after Mike Rinder and Claire Headley help out Leah Remini

Last week, we told you that Mike Rinder and Claire Headley had filed new declarations with the Los Angeles Superior Court to help Leah Remini keep Scientology’s Religious Technology Center (RTC) from wriggling out of her lawsuit against the church.

Continue reading Scientology hopping mad after Mike Rinder and Claire Headley help out Leah Remini

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