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 Jefferson Hawkins was once the top marketing executive for the Church of Scientology and helped it reach its greatest extent with the famous “volcano” TV ads in the 1980s. He’s told his tale of getting into and out of the church with his excellent books Counterfeit Dreams and Leaving Scientology, and he’s helping us understand the upside-down world of Scientology “ethics.”
Jeff, some of us are still hung over after the amazing court clash in Texas that lasted all day yesterday. But we’re ready to soldier on with more lessons about Scientology ‘ethics.’ Where are you taking us today? JEFFERSON: This week we’re taking up Chapter 10 of Introduction to Scientology Ethics, which is all about Hubbard’s “Third Party Law.” This is a short chapter so we’ll make it a short critique. Continue reading Jeff Hawkins: How Scientology’s ‘Third Party Law’ explains anything they want it to
 Scientology attorneys watch other Scientology attorneys in the courtroom As we reported earlier today, local journalist Nick Rogers and photographer Mike Bennitt were in the Comal County courthouse in New Braunfels, Texas today to help us cover the latest hearing in Monique Rathbun’s harassment lawsuit against the Church of Scientology and its leader, David Miscavige. Today, Scientology’s attorneys presented their argument supporting an anti-SLAPP motion, which they hoped would convince Judge Dib Waldrip to throw the case out of court. That didn’t happen. Instead, Waldrip has asked Monique’s attorneys to submit a detailed request for evidence tomorrow, giving Scientology until noon Friday to respond to it. That afternoon, he will decide whether to dismiss the case or grant Monique more time to gather the evidence she’s requesting. We’ve now talked with Monique’s attorney, Ray Jeffrey, and he’s provided us more detail about today’s brutally long day of argument and testimony in court. Continue reading We talk to Ray Jeffrey about today’s brutally long day in a Texas court battling Scientology
 Monique Rathbun’s harassment lawsuit against Scientology and its leader, David Miscavige, resumes today at the Comal County courthouse in New Braunfels, Texas, and we have someone on the scene.
Local reporter Nick Rogers, who has done fine work for the Texas Citizen, will be sending us updates as today’s events unfold. At issue this time is Scientology’s anti-SLAPP motion, which is trying to portray Monique’s lawsuit as a cynical and groundless effort that is actually intended to shut down the church’s free speech rights. Monique’s attorneys have filed for a continuance, and hope to get Judge Dib Waldrip to delay Scientology’s motion so she can gather more evidence in discovery. Continue reading Scientology’s anti-SLAPP motion in harassment suit being heard today: Rathbun seeks delay
 Yesterday, we got a look at the first 35 minutes of November’s big IAS gala in Clearwater, Florida. The annual event gives Scientology leader David Miscavige an opportunity to boast about all of the church’s successes over the past year for a few thousand people who have forked over large donations.
We couldn’t help but enjoy it yesterday as our readers did a lot of fact-checking of the claims made by Miscavige in his presentation. And you have even more opportunities today! Continue reading See Scientology’s new TV ad before it’s released — and more IAS gala video!
 Our video elves have been busy again, and we have another treat for you.
A source has made available for us video from Scientology’s historic IAS gala, which took place in November in a giant tent in Clearwater, Florida. The International Association of Scientologists was founded in 1984 as a legal defense fund for the church. Members are constantly hit up for donations to the IAS, and are told to “up their status” by giving thousands and thousands more. Usually, the IAS gala is held in October in England, and is a time for celebrating Scientology’s successes during the year. This time, however, Scientology leader David Miscavige had the giant tent shipped from England and held the event in Florida, part of what seems to be an increasing consolidation of the movement in Clearwater. Continue reading VIDEO LEAK: Scientology’s November IAS Gala, featuring a slimmed-down David Miscavige
 What a few days we’ve had here at the Bunker. We posted Tommy Davis’s deposition on Thursday, and yesterday we wrote about Monique Rathbun’s motion for sanctions, which included an amazing set of 2007 text messages sent between Scientology leader David Miscvaige, Mike Rinder, and Tommy Davis.
And we have even more surprises coming soon. But for today, we wanted to relax with some Sunday Funnies! Each week, we reveal the new Scientology mailers and fliers that our tipsters have sent us. It helps us keep an eye on how the church is keeping its members coming back for more. So let’s dive in! Continue reading Sunday Funnies: Scientology charges into the new year!
 Scientology leader and Sea Org captain David Miscavige We have yet another surprising turn in Monique Rathbun’s harassment lawsuit against the Church of Scientology and its leader, David Miscavige. Yesterday, Monique filed for sanctions against Scientology for a “pattern of intentional abuse” during the discovery process of the lawsuit. Scientology has stonewalled the process, Monique charges, because it’s trying to perpetuate a falsehood — that Miscavige is a refined character who doesn’t concern himself with such things as retaliating against critics and has had no connection to the harassment going on in Texas, where the Rathbuns live. In order to prove that Miscavige actually micromanages Scientology’s legendary retaliation campaigns, Monique yesterday filed stunning information — text messages sent in 2007 between Miscavige and two of his top former spokesmen, Tommy Davis and Mike Rinder. In those texts, Miscavige not only comes across as obsessed with tracking a BBC journalist, John Sweeney, but berates his underlings with foul language in a way that doesn’t fit his self-professed image as a detached, ecclesiastical leader. Continue reading MONIQUE RATHBUN FILES FOR SANCTIONS, SUBMITS SCIENTOLOGY LEADER’S FOUL-MOUTHED TEXTS
 A couple of weeks ago we started a new series here featuring Scientology videos that a source is making available to us which demonstrate some of the nuttiness of L. Ron Hubbard and his “technology.”
This week’s offering should also get you scratching your head. It’s titled “The Command of Theta,” and it involves some of the strangest (and hard to follow) analogies and metaphors that we’ve heard from Hubbard, who loved figurative language. Give it a look-see, and then we’d love to hear your impressions in the comments. Continue reading Another Scientology video you aren’t supposed to see: ‘The Command of Theta’
 Things are heating up again in Monique Rathbun’s harassment lawsuit against the Church of Scientology and its leader, David Miscavige.
Previously, Comal County Judge Dib Waldrip had granted Monique’s request for a continuance so she could have the time to depose Miscavige, who wants out of the lawsuit on jurisdictional grounds. On Tuesday, Scientology filed a motion for reconsideration, trying once again to keep Miscavige from being questioned. This time, they’ve asked Judge Waldrip to go ahead and rule on Miscavige’s “special appearance” request to be dropped from the suit now, based on several depositions which have already taken place. Continue reading THE TOMMY DAVIS DEPOSITION: Scientology asks judge to reconsider forcing Miscavige deposition
 Jefferson Hawkins was once the top marketing executive for the Church of Scientology and helped it reach its greatest extent with the famous “volcano” TV ads in the 1980s. He’s told his tale of getting into and out of the church with his excellent books Counterfeit Dreams and Leaving Scientology, and he’s helping us understand the upside-down world of Scientology “ethics.”
One of the things we’ve tried to do, in our radio and television interviews, is make people understand what a paranoid culture of snitching that Scientology promotes among its members. It’s really something that the rest of the media rarely ever explains, but we think it’s one of the most characteristic results of L. Ron Hubbard’s “ethics” rules. This week, in our ongoing series, Jeff helps us see where that idea of turning in your friends, family, and neighbors comes from. Continue reading Scientology’s snitching culture: Jefferson Hawkins explains the ‘Knowledge Report’
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Jefferson Hawkins was once the top marketing executive for the Church of Scientology and helped it reach its greatest extent with the famous “volcano” TV ads in the 1980s. He’s told his tale of getting into and out of the church with his excellent books Counterfeit Dreams and Leaving Scientology, and he’s helping us understand the upside-down world of Scientology “ethics.”
