What Scientology kids are really taught to believe about other religions and ‘God’

Two former Church of Scientology members who grew up in the church but in different eras, Aaron Smith-Levin and former church spokesman Mike Rinder, are back with more from their recent conversation which Aaron recorded as part of his series, “Growing Up in Scientology.”

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Billboard decrying Scientology ‘disconnection’ will be going up on Hollywood Blvd

What a way to celebrate Leap Day. Early this morning, Phil and Willie Jones’ project to put an anti-disconnection billboard on Hollywood Boulevard reached its funding goal, and now Phil tells us that he’ll quickly get the papers filed to make the sign a reality.

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Erika Christensen goes psychbuster as we launch Rod Keller’s Scientology Social Media Review!

Wow, are we excited to launch this new venture with longtime Scientology watcher Rod Keller! Rod goes way back, having kept a meticulous eye on the church since 1992. He’s well known for his indispensable “ARS Week in Review,” which ran for nine years when ARS — the Usenet newsgroup alt.religion.scientology — was the most important daily source for Scientology news.

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Augustine: How Scientology makes it so hard to get your money back

[Scientologists learning the “havingness” of money by tossing it in the air]

Frequent contributor Jeffrey Augustine is back to help us with another look at Scientology’s policies and procedures. In this case, what it means to turn over money for future use, and what happens when you ask for it back. Help us figure it out, Jeff!

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The shocking space opera secret that is guiding Scientology litigation

We know you’ve been looking for answers about some of the strange twists and turns affecting Scientology litigation lately. We’ve been pounding the pavement and ringing up our sources constantly, looking for answers. And now, we’ve hit paydirt.

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Laura DeCrescenzo, on eve of crucial hearing, explains Scientology for new judge

[Judge John P. Doyle]

Laura DeCrescenzo’s legal team filed its latest brief in advance of a crucial hearing, and we have the document for you. Laura’s forced-abortion lawsuit against the Church of Scientology is almost seven years old now, and trial dates have been set a couple of times. But there’s a final hurdle that she needs to get past, a motion for summary judgment that the church filed that will be considered on March 7.

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Monique Rathbun is on the clock at the Texas Supreme Court, and more in our legal roundup

A sharp-eyed observer pointed out to us that the Texas Supreme Court’s docket posted a countdown date for Monique Rathbun to file a response to the Church of Scientology’s petition in her harassment lawsuit. That date is set for March 21.

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Scientology tried to suppress this video, and that’s why you’re seeing it here today

[Chrissie and Shane Weightman]

Former Sea Org worker Chris Shelton has been a regular contributor here at the Bunker and he’s made a name for himself with his video interviews of fellow former church members. Often, he premieres those videos here. But recently, he posted a “bonus” interview series at his YouTube channel, and now it’s blown up into a bigger story.

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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.

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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.

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