How the indoctrination of growing up in Scientology has changed over generations

Ahoy, mateys. Two bearded rogues in tropical Florida have netted a treasure haul for us land lubbers. As part of his series, “Growing Up in Scientology,” Aaron Smith-Levin sits down with former Scientology spokesman Mike Rinder for their latest take on what it was like to be children in the church.

Continue reading How the indoctrination of growing up in Scientology has changed over generations

When Scientology was in trouble in 1955, L. Ron Hubbard told prosecutor he was a ‘psychologist’

[Hubbard in Phoenix, circa 1955]

One of Scientology’s early run-ins with the law resulted in a remarkable letter by L. Ron Hubbard that has previously never seen the light of day — in it, Hubbard claimed to be a psychologist, and proposed that a vast conspiracy had been aimed at his Phoenix, Arizona operation. It’s a remarkable letter, and we have our friend and researcher R.M. Seibert to thank for bringing it to us after she managed to pry it out of the possession of the Food and Drug Administration with the help of the MuckRock website.

Continue reading When Scientology was in trouble in 1955, L. Ron Hubbard told prosecutor he was a ‘psychologist’

Why Scientology’s petition to the Texas Supreme Court mentions a dildo, and other surprises

[El Cinco Supremo: Dave Lubow, Steve Sloat, Ed Bryan, Monty Drake, and CSI]

As our experts predicted, Scientology’s attorneys met their deadline yesterday and petitioned the Texas Supreme Court in an attempt to have an appellate decision reconsidered in Monique Rathbun’s harassment lawsuit against the church, even after the case has been put into some question since Monique fired her own set of attorneys three weeks ago and is without counsel.

Continue reading Why Scientology’s petition to the Texas Supreme Court mentions a dildo, and other surprises

DOX: A former L. Ron Hubbard business partner dishes on Scientology to the feds

For more than a year now we’ve been bringing you previously unseen and often startling documents that our friend and researcher R.M. Seibert managed, with the help of the MuckRock website, to pry out of the hands of the Food and Drug Administration in a Freedom of Information Act request.

Continue reading DOX: A former L. Ron Hubbard business partner dishes on Scientology to the feds

David Miscavige wastes no time once the stay is lifted in Monique Rathbun’s lawsuit

As we expected, as soon as the Texas Supreme Court temporarily lifted the stay in Monique Rathbun’s harassment lawsuit against the Church of Scientology, a motion was filed this week in Dib Waldrip’s Comal County court, and we have a copy of it for you. And sure enough, there was a surprise — the motion asked for substitution of counsel.

Continue reading David Miscavige wastes no time once the stay is lifted in Monique Rathbun’s lawsuit

When will academics acknowledge that the Scientology ‘apostate’ theory is finished?

We’re deep into reporting several cool stories coming your way, so we just had time for a quick thought for you today. We noticed over at the forums that Scientology has put out, among its flood of recent press releases, an announcement about its newest pet academic.

Continue reading When will academics acknowledge that the Scientology ‘apostate’ theory is finished?

Science Fiction smackdown: L. Ron Hubbard, the pith helmet-wearing ‘pipsqueak Prometheus’

[Hubbard in pith helmet, Puerto Rico, 1932]

Yesterday, we had fun exhuming L. Ron Hubbard’s bad science fiction by looking at a telling 1940 short story, “One Was Stubborn.” In it, Hubbard’s main character, Old Shellback, reveals that the downfall of the United States would come as a result of nefarious religious cults protected by tax exemption. Spooky, right?

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Chuck Beatty is right: L. Ron Hubbard lofted culty cosmic ideas a decade before ‘Dianetics’

[Chuck Beatty]

We have finally done something that former Church of Scientology member Chuck Beatty has been asking us, or really anyone, to do for the longest time. Yes, Chuck, we have finally read L. Ron Hubbard’s 1940 short story, “One Was Stubborn.”

Continue reading Chuck Beatty is right: L. Ron Hubbard lofted culty cosmic ideas a decade before ‘Dianetics’

Karen de la Carriere: Scientology is smearing me again, and this time is hitting below the belt

Just in time for Valentine’s Day we have a not so heartwarming story of Scientology Fair Game. You may be aware that BBC presenter Louis Theroux premiered a new film in London last October titled “My Scientology Movie.” We were there, and so was Karen de la Carriere, who happens to be a neighbor of Theroux in Los Angeles.

Continue reading Karen de la Carriere: Scientology is smearing me again, and this time is hitting below the belt

SCIENTOLOGY’S SPACE MAN: As of 2013, active Scientologists fewer than 20,000 worldwide

[Paul Burkhart and fellow Sea Org survivor Camilla Andersson at Mt. Rainier]

Yesterday, we began telling you about Paul Burkhart, the newest defector from Scientology’s international management to go public with what he experienced after joining the church in 1980, joining the Sea Org in 1985, and then leaving a little over two years ago, in August 2013.

Continue reading SCIENTOLOGY’S SPACE MAN: As of 2013, active Scientologists fewer than 20,000 worldwide

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