How a police raid in Detroit prompted the creation of the Church of Scientology

[Early Scientology had several raids, including the FDA in 1963, pictured]

The Bunker marked the auspicious 70th anniversary of the Church of Scientology yesterday with birthday wishes from its contributors. Today, historian Chris Owen brings us the previously unreported story of the events that prompted L. Ron Hubbard to take the momentous step of declaring Scientology to be a religion.

Continue reading How a police raid in Detroit prompted the creation of the Church of Scientology

HAPPY 70TH BIRTHDAY, CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY

Ah, what an auspicious day! Seventy years ago to this day, the very first “Church of Scientology” entity was incorporated, and it’s been a hell of a ride ever since.

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Life in Scientology: Saving the planet and lining your pockets at the same time!

Anyone who has been involved in Scientology likely knows about “FSMing.” FSM stands for Field Staff Member. In the 1960s founder L. Ron Hubbard wrote a policy letter that established this system.

Continue reading Life in Scientology: Saving the planet and lining your pockets at the same time!

Help Scientology celebrate its New Year’s event by signing a petition!

[Scientology leader David Miscavige at the last NYE celebration in LA, to bring in 2020]

Ah, New Year’s Eve! Can you feel the excitement?

We know, we know, it’s not even Christmas yet, what is this about New Year’s Eve?

Continue reading Help Scientology celebrate its New Year’s event by signing a petition!

Scientology knows things are bad, so they’re selling nostalgia for their golden age

Our thanks to the reader who forwarded along another propaganda mailing from the Church of Scientology that has struck us as a little unusual and that we thought you’d want to see.

Continue reading Scientology knows things are bad, so they’re selling nostalgia for their golden age

How Scientology makes forced disconnection even worse than the separation

[Sunny and her mother]

“She knows what she has to do.”

It was a matter-of-fact statement to my husband from my mother. I was pregnant with our second child and we wanted to let my Sea Org mother know about it. She had never met my children or my husband. We had thought he could call her up and let her know she was welcome to see our children and us. Of course she would not, because I, her daughter, was labelled a “Suppressive Person” by Scientology, over a decade earlier.

Continue reading How Scientology makes forced disconnection even worse than the separation

Judge: Jane Doe 1 can have ‘limited discovery’ before arbitration showdown

[Judge Robert Broadbelt III]

We’ll have a correspondent in the courtroom today as Jane Doe 1’s forced-marriage lawsuit has a hearing at Los Angeles Superior Court. And in this case, Judge Robert Broadbelt III has already tipped his hand: Last night he issued a tentative ruling showing that he’s going to side with Jane Doe 1.

Continue reading Judge: Jane Doe 1 can have ‘limited discovery’ before arbitration showdown

How desperate is Scientology to find people for its New Year’s event? This desperate.

Back on November 18, we told you about a flier that was forwarded to us that indicated Scientology was going to try to follow the success of its IAS gala in England by reviving its New Year’s tradition in Los Angeles.

Continue reading How desperate is Scientology to find people for its New Year’s event? This desperate.

Breathe easy, space cadet: Your Scientology holiday shopping guide has arrived!

Once again, Scientology knows just what to suggest as you try to finish up your Christmas shopping list this year.

Continue reading Breathe easy, space cadet: Your Scientology holiday shopping guide has arrived!

Today at the Daily Beast: What Valerie Haney’s Scientology ‘arbitration’ was really like

Over at The Daily Beast, we have a story today with one of the closest looks at what Scientology is putting Valerie Haney through as she experienced three days of the church’s “religious arbitration” in Los Angeles.

Continue reading Today at the Daily Beast: What Valerie Haney’s Scientology ‘arbitration’ was really like

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