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Today in Scientology -- May 4th ********************************
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Scientology Today
May 4, 2017, 11:56:20 PM5/4/17
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Today May 4th in Scientology history
====================================
Religion and taxes
May 4, 1987, Editorial, St. Petersburg Times
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/49986541.html?dids=49986541:49986541&FMT=FT
But just calling one's organization religious does not make its
expenses altruistic. The Church of Scientology claims religiosity and
exemption from paying local property taxes. But it charges for its
services like any other business, and some of its leaders have been
convicted of federal crimes. The IRS and local tax collectors have
pursued it into courts, which have held the government to be justified
in collecting taxes from Scientology.
Tags: 1981, 1983, 1986, Clearwater, Internal Revenue Service, IRS, Jim
Bakker, South Carolina, Tax exempt, Taxes, USA
====================================
Pain At The Pump: The Little Green Pill
May 4, 2006, Michelle Meredith, WESH Orlando
http://www.wesh.com/news/9161874/detail.html
With the price of gas going sky high, a new product has hit the market.
It's called BioPerformance Fuel, but most people just called it "the
little green pill." It claims to save you big bucks on gas.
The gas pill almost seems to have a cult following, WESH 2 News reported.
Tags: BioPerformance, Lowell Mims, Mothballs
====================================
Nice Cans (PG-13 VERSION... there's CUSSIN!)
May 4, 2008, DatsumJB, YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u72jR1Rdzxg
Anonymous plays with a Mathison (err, I mean HUBBARD) Mark VI E-meter.
Want one? Check it out here! http://search.ebay.com/search/search....
(Portions of the video are blurred as potentially personally
identifying info can be seen)
Tags: Anonymous, E-meter, Quicky
====================================
Toronto Church of Scientology org mini raid May 4th, 2008
May 4, 2008, thekancer, YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABxr-LB0hEU
This video contains epic enturbulation, including police dox-dropping,
aggressive scientology camera women, EDMUND YEE body-checking myself
and spacko and overall excellent enturbulating of the Toronto org.
Tags: Quicky, Toronto
====================================
Rann may sue top Lib
May 4, 2009, Pia Akerman, The Australian
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25424005-5006787,00.html
Mr Hamilton-Smith asked questions in parliament last Tuesday about
documents allegedly linking Mr Rann to a $20,000 donation from a
business linked to the Scientologists. The documents - seeming to be
invoices from the ALP and emails between Labor Party figures - had been
denounced as forgeries by the following morning.
Mr Hamilton-Smith continued to insist outside parliament the documents
were real until he was forced to apologise late on Wednesday.
Tags: Dodgygate, Martin Hamilton-Smith, Michael Abbott, Michael Brown, Mike
Rann, Nick Bolkus
====================================
Scientologists Get Going, UFOs in the Miracle Mile
May 4, 2009, Dakota, Curbed LA
http://la.curbed.com/archives/2009/05/curbedwire_scientologists_get_going_ufos_in_the_miracle_mile.php
EAST HOLLYWOOD: For the longest time, reps from the church have said
that repairs to their Fountain Avenue building, which was damaged in
the 1994 Northridge earthquake, have been going on, but here's the
first time that we've seen any actual progress on that tower.
Immediately after taking these photos, the black-clad Scientology
guards on bikes started circling, asking why we were taking photos.
Tags: Los Angeles
====================================
Scientology for the Rich
May 4, 2010, Jefferson Hawkins, Leaving Scientology
https://leavingscientology.wordpress.com/2010/05/04/scientology-for-the-rich/
Even the most dedicated Scientologist can see the disparity between the
stated goal of "Clearing the Planet" and the fact of the Church's high
"donation rates." At Flag, the cost of a single intensive of auditing,
12 ? hours, is $6,800. You can get a used car for that. Scientologists
can and do spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to reach Clear and OT.
Add to that the donations to the IAS, Ideal Orgs and Superpower ?
those donations you'd better make if you want to keep your OT
Eligibility, and it puts Scientology completely out of reach for at
least 95% of the planet. Consider that only 6% of Americans make over
$100,000 a year, and only 3% make over $125,000, or $250,000 household
income.
And what about the rest of the planet? What about countries where the
average per capita income is $20,000, $10,000, $5,000 or even less?
What happened to Clearing the Planet? How's that supposed to work?
Tags: 1980, Applied Scholastics, Clear, Dianetics, Harlem, Ideal Org,
International Association of Scientologists, Isaac Hayes, Narconon, OT,
Quicky, Sea Org, The Way to Happiness
====================================
Corporate Scientology Public Enemy #1, pt II
May 4, 2011, Marty Rathbun, Moving On Up a Little Higher
https://markrathbun.wordpress.com/2011/05/04/corporate-scientology-public-enemy-1-pt-ii/
Tags: Quicky
====================================
"They Put Me At Risk" - Xenophon Sues
May 4, 2012, Sarawak Report
http://www.sarawakreport.org/2012/05/11878/?utm_source=Sarawak+Report&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=da74e21eaf-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN
The Australian Senator Nick Xenophon has confirmed to Sarawak Report
that he fully intends to sue the New Straits Times, despite the
newspaper's grovelling apologies yesterday.
Tags: Malaysia, Nick Xenophon
====================================
Amanda Palmer Loved Kate Bornstein's Memoir So Much, She Crashed the Book
Party
May 4, 2012, Tony Ortega, Runnin' Scared, Village Voice
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/05/scientology_amanda_palmer_kate_bornstein_neil_gaiman.php
Kate Bornstein and the Voice cover take a star turn at Dixon Place
Tuesday night, we were invited to play a small part in Kate Bornstein's
book party at the experimental theater Dixon Place, to celebrate the
release of her memoir, A Queer and Pleasant Danger.
Earlier that day, our cover story about Kate had popped up on the
website, and the print version of this week's Voice had also started
showing up around town.
Kate is not only a well-known performance artist, she's also a familiar
face among the many commenters at this blog, and we've enjoyed learning
about her experiences as a Scientologist on the Apollo with L. Ron
Hubbard back in the early 1970s.
Tags: 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1975, 1984, 2009, 2010, A Queer and Pleasant
Danger, Advance!, Apollo, Apostate, Australia, Barbara Carrellas, Celebrity
Centre, Clear, Corfu, Dana Goodyear, David Gaiman, David Mayo, Disconnection,
Ethics, Facebook, Fair Game, FBI, Florida, Independent, John Dixon, Kate
Bornstein, L. Ron Hubbard, Lawrence Wright, Los Angeles, Malaysia,
Mediterranean, Milton Katselas, Neil Gaiman, New York City, New Yorker, Nick
Xenophon, Orders of the Day, OT, OT III, OT Phenomena, OT VIII, Paul Haggis,
Quicky, Suppressive Person, Telex, Wall Street Journal
====================================
Frank Oliver, ex-Scientologist, press conference 1998
May 4, 2012, Jeff Jacobsen, YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM9-efj_SOY
Ex-Scientologist Frank Oliver discusses his experiences in Scientology
at a press conference in Clearwater, Florida December 1998.
Tags: 1998, Clearwater, Florida, Frank Oliver, Quicky
====================================
Rupert Murdoch and David Miscavige
May 4, 2012, Marty Rathbun, Moving On Up a Little Higher
https://markrathbun.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/rupert-murdoch-and-david-miscavige/
Haydn James submitted an article published below that draws many
parallels between media king Rupert Murdoch and squirrel king David
Miscavige.
Here are a few things to take into consideration when reading Haydn's
piece.
Rupert Murdoch cut his teeth on bashing L Ron Hubbard and Scientology
during the sixties in Australia.
Tags: 1968, 2004, 2009, Australia, BBC, David Miscavige, England, FBI, Fox
News, Haydn James, Independent Scientologists, James Packer, Journalist, L.
Ron Hubbard, London Times, New York Post, Office of Special Affairs, Police,
Private investigator, Quicky, Ron's Journal, Rupert Murdoch, Scotland Yard,
Squirrel, Tampa, The Truth Rundown, Tom Cruise, UK, USA, Wall Street Journal
====================================
Scientology Set to Open Orange County Ideal Org in Santa Ana
May 4, 2012, Josh Dulaney, OC Weekly
http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2012/05/scientology_set_to_open_orange_county_ideal_org_santa_ana.php
Mike McCoy, a police community services specialist with the Santa Ana
Police Department, confirmed that it is "90 percent" certain that the
organization will open that day at Sycamore and Fifth streets at the
former Santa Ana Performing Arts and Event Center.
Apparently, the group has failed to launch a couple times over the past
few months. McCoy said they've nixed previous opening days.
Tags: Anonymous, Ideal Org, Mike McCoy, Orange County
====================================
Two dead in last 6 1/2 months at Narconon Arrowhead
May 4, 2012, AP, Tulsa World
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/two-dead-in-last-months-at-narconon-arrowhead/article_4b1cdb1a-c366-5e4c-8b78-0ae024ffb531.html
The state medical examiner's office wants to take a deeper look at the
deaths of two people at a drug rehabilitation center that uses saunas
and vitamins as part of an intensive cleansing regimen.
Tags: Death, Gabriel Graves, Hillary Holten, Narconon, Narconon Arrowhead,
Pittsburg County Sheriff's Office, Quebec
====================================
Corporate Scientology Child Fundraisers
May 4, 2013, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
http://www.mikerindersblog.org/corporate-scientology-child-fundraisers/
Miscavige and his corporate Scientology vultures have apparently taken
lessons from Slumdog Millionaire on how to use children to raise money.
This may be hard to believe, but I assure you this is 100% true.
First, here is an excerpt of a Hat Write sent in by one of our Swiss
correspondents. It explains how to raise funds using children.
Tags: 2009, David Miscavige, Ideal Org, L. Ron Hubbard, Quicky, Zurich
====================================
Scientology in Germany
May 4, 2013, Marty Rathbun, Moving On Up a Little Higher
https://markrathbun.wordpress.com/2013/05/04/scientology-in-germany/
Please read about and see the New Germany Independent Scientology
Center (click link)- translation of text below:
On April 27 our opening party was an overwhelming success. 36 guests
filled our new courseroom with a tremendous amount of theta, much more
than I have ever witnessed during a comparable event. Scientologists -
some had not met in 15 years - were in a real extasy of communication.
We had guests from one half of Germany. A few friends from Ron's Org
attended, too. Although we are completely separate groups we were not
at all competition minded. Our center delivers auditing up to Clear and
auditor training including the solo course. We use course materials
produced before the alleged "golden age of tech".
Tags: Clear, Germany, Independent Scientology, Quicky
====================================
Scientology Sockpuppet Speaks (Sort Of....)
May 4, 2013, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
http://www.mikerindersblog.org/scientology-sockpuppet-speaks-sort-of/
Corporate Scientology has mastered the art of speaking out of both side
of its mouth and keeping a straight face at the same time.
See Tony Ortega's article about the Laura DeCrescenzo case this morning.
While pleading that the CHURCH is being "discriminated" against (they
have also mastered the art of playing victims - everyone including the
courts, psychiatrists, governments, SPs, media, the internet, drug
companies, cyberterrorists, anyone who dies in their care and the
martians are out to "get" them) and how turning over Laura's pc folders
will prejudice "other religions," they don't mention that they hang
onto these folders so they can comb through them to use against
"critics", or that they have admitted that more than 200 people have
had access to her pc folders (and that doesnt include those they have
NOT admitted to, including the fact that sessions are video'd). Nor do
they mention the simple fact that she isnt asking for someone else's
folders or "privileged" information. She is asking only for her own
files - THEIR record of HER statements. The church is NOT protecting
her from the disclosure of her confessionals to a hostile source, they
are ONLY seeking to protect themselves by hiding their records of what
she said because they will SUPPORT her claims. Such amazing hypocrisy
under the guise of sanctimonious "religious beliefs." The only
religious belief at issue here is the belief that they must protect
themselves from the outside world at all costs....
But then here comes another doozie. This time from nominal
"spokesperson" Karin Pouw STILL responding to Larry Wright's book.
Karin has not actually SPOKEN in a few years now. She is simply the
name affixed to victim letters sent out by the church to the media. She
does not write the letters.
Tags: 1971, 1978, 1987, 1991, 1995, 2012, Appeal, California, Canada, Church
of Scientology International, Clearwater, David Miscavige, Debbie Cook, FBI,
Florida, Jim Jones, Karin Pouw, Laura DeCrescenzo, Lawrence Wright, Los
Angeles, Luis Garcia, Marty Rathbun, New York Review of Books, OT, Publisher,
Quicky, Reader's Digest, Reverend, Richard Leiby, Time Magazine, Tom Cruise,
Tony Ortega, Washington Post
====================================
SCIENTOLOGY TO CALIFORNIA SUPREMES: State's Priest-Penitent Law is
Unconstitutional
May 4, 2013, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
http://tonyortega.org/2013/05/04/scientology-to-california-supreme-court-states-priest-penitent-law-is-unconstitutional/
Earlier this week we told you that Laura DeCrescenzo's forced-abortion
lawsuit against the Church of Scientology had reached a crucial stage,
and that the church is scrambling to prevent a release of thousands of
pages of documents that could bolster DeCrescenzo's case.
The documents come from Laura's "pc folders," which were compiled as
she spent years undergoing brutal interrogations as a member of the
church's "Sea Org." Unlike in a Catholic confessional, DeCrescenzo's
auditing sessions were not only recorded by auditors, but those notes
were reviewed and shared by case supervisors and other church employees
- the church itself admits that some 250 officials compiled or reviewed
these notes, which contain intimate secrets about DeCrescenzo's private
life. When she demanded the documents - which fill about 140 folders
and were compiled over a decade - the church tried to keep them secret
under California law that protects priest-penitent confessions (even
though it was the penitent - DeCrescenzo - who wanted the material).
The superior court in Los Angeles ruled that because Laura's notes were
shared by so many church employees, that law didn't apply, and the
church has already lost an appeal of that decision.
So now the church has petitioned the state's supreme court, arguing
that the law itself is unconstitutional because it discriminates
against Scientology's concept of confessional confidentiality. We now
have the church's petition, and we're sharing it with our readers.
Tags: 2009, Appeal, Bert Deixler, California, Catholic, Christian, Condusiv
Technologies, Craig Jensen, Diskeeper, E-meter, Jon Atack, Laura DeCrescenzo,
Los Angeles, Mormon, Quicky, Rehabilitation Project Force, Sea Org, Sec
Check, Village Voice
====================================
Scientology critics gather for weeklong conference
May 4, 2014, Joe Childs, Tampa Bay Times
http://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/scientology-critics-gather-for-week-long-conference-in-clearwater-area/2178314
CLEARWATER - Several critics of the Church of Scientology, including
the great-grandson of church founder L. Ron Hubbard, are scheduled to
speak this week at a local conference organizers say will draw
attention to "human rights abuses" within the Scientology community.
Called "Flag Down 2014," the conference is a series of presentations
planned today through Friday at various mid and North Pinellas venues.
On Saturday, organizers plan a public protest of Scientology in
downtown Clearwater.
But the church already has taken steps to at least partially restrict
the protestors.
Tags: 1950, 1976, 2008, 2013, BBC, Church of Fear: Inside the Weird World of
Scientology, Clearwater, Disconnection, Flag Building, Flag Down, Flag Land
Base, Fort Harrison, George Cretekos, Ireland, Jamie DeWolf, John Sweeney,
Largo, Pete Griffiths, Quicky, Ron DeWolf, Russell Miller
====================================
Sunday Funnies: Scientology says, May the Fourth be with you
May 4, 2014, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
http://tonyortega.org/2014/05/04/sunday-funnies-scientology-says-may-the-fourth-be-with-you/
On Sundays, we share with you the latest fundraising mailers
Scientology has sent out to its beleaguered members, who have been
subjected to constant appeals and are generally exhausted.
How do you convince people to keep coming out for events where they'll
be under intense pressure to turn over thousands of dollars they can't
afford to give? In recent years, we've seen Scientology organizations
get increasingly creative (and cheesy), hoping that a party with a
pirate or superhero theme will somehow convince church members to come
down for a another fleecing.
And now, the folks at the Mountain View org - who are trying to raise
millions for a new "Silicon Valley Ideal Org" - have really outdone
themselves. Last night, they held a very special party for fundraising,
and we think you're going to enjoy the teaser video they put together
to encourage attendance...
Tags: Alaska, Austin, Celebrity Centre, David Petit, Mountain View, OT
Phenomena, Quicky, San Fernando Valley, Scientology organization, Sunday
Funnies, Valley Ideal Org
====================================
The IAS "Benefits All 8 Dynamics"
May 4, 2014, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
http://www.mikerindersblog.org/ias-benefits-8-dynamics/
The cliches just keep rolling out.
And apparently the meaningless drivel is accepted by the sheeple as
somehow coherent and believable. These sort of emails and promotional
pitches offer an interesting insight into the warped world inside the
bubble.
If you read Shaked's latest missive just as it is written, you will see
there is not a single specific about anything, just sweeping
generalities about final rewards and walking free.
Tags: Dissemination, Foundation International Membership Services
Administrations, International Association of Scientologists, Quicky
====================================
Counter-documentaries: when subjects of investigation go on the attack
May 4, 2015, Fred Wagner, The Guardian
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/may/04/counter-documentaries-louis-theroux-church-of-scientology
Recently Louis Theroux revealed that the Church of Scientology is
looking to neutralise his forthcoming documentary about them by
producing their very own film about him. In the US there's a saying
that "the best defence is a good offence" and L Ron Hubbard, the
founder of the religion, was a believer: "Don't ever defend, always
attack," he once instructed his followers.
It's not surprising then, that such "counter-documentaries" are a
staple of the Church. They've done one on John Sweeney, the Panorama
presenter who memorably lost his cool while interviewing Scientology's
then chief spokesman; they've done one on CNN's Anderson Cooper and
they're likely to do one on any public figure who comes even remotely
close to criticising them in broad daylight.
Tags: Anderson Cooper, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief,
HBO, John Sweeney, Leni Riefenstahl, Louis Theroux, Stairway to Heaven,
Triumph of the Will
====================================
More from a secretly-recorded executive griping about Scientology's sad state
of affairs
May 4, 2015, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
http://tonyortega.org/2015/05/04/more-from-a-secretly-recorded-executive-griping-about-scientologys-sad-state-of-affairs/
Former Scientology Sea Org worker Chris Shelton is helping us decode a
remarkable audio recording, secretly made, which captures a man named
Andres Rodriguez (pictured) giving a briefing to an audience of
Scientology non-staff "publics."
Rodriguez carries the title of Senior Case Supervisor of the Western
United States (Snr C/S WUS), and he's also notable because at one time
he was married to the "handler" of actress Katie Holmes, a woman named
Jessica Feshbach. (Feshbach is today married to former Scientology
spokesman Tommy Davis, and they are both out of the Sea Org.)
In this third portion of the audio recording (Go here for Part One and
Part Two), we hear more jargon from Rodriguez as he explains to his
audience at an org somewhere in the US that he has complaints about the
way they've been doing things. Shelton, and our oldtimers in the
commenting community, tell us they're pretty surprised by what
Rodriguez has been saying - the Scientology he's describing is very
different than what they experienced in past years.
Tags: 1980, 1988, 1990, Advanced Org, Alex Gibney, Andres Rodriguez, AOSHEU,
Birthday Game, Bridge to Total Freedom, Cause Resurgence Rundown, Chris
Shelton, Class V, Clear, Copenhagen, Cracked cases, David Miscavige,
Dianetics, Drug Rundown, E-meter, Europe, Feshbach, Going Clear: Scientology
and the Prison of Belief, Ideal Org, Jessica Feshbach, John Travolta, Katie
Holmes, Los Angeles, PAC Base, Saint Hill Special Briefing Course, Santa
Barbara, Scientology organization, Scientology staff, Sea Org, Suppressive
Person, Survival Rundown, Tommy Davis
====================================
Scientologists 'hope' to renovate historic Plymouth building soon...six years
after buying it
May 4, 2016, Alex Wood, Plymouth Herald
http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Scientologists-hope-renovate-historic-Plymouth/story-29228266-detail/story.html
The Church of Scientology say it "hopes" to start work on restoring a
historic building in Plymouth soon - six years after the organisation
purchased it.
The Royal Fleet Club was snapped up by the Church in June 2010 for
about ?1million, with plans in place to spend a further ?2.5million on
renovating it.
Fast forward six years and the historic building is still yet to be
developed, with Plymouth scientologists unable to explain the delay or
say when work will begin.
Tags: Ideal Org, Lisa Coffey, Plymouth, Rotting building, Royal Fleet Hotel,
Sunday service, Truth About Drugs, William Drummond
====================================
Scientology confirms it won't oppose Monique Rathbun's plans to ditch lawsuit
May 4, 2016, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
http://tonyortega.org/2016/05/04/scientology-confirms-it-wont-oppose-monique-rathbuns-plans-to-ditch-lawsuit/
According to the Texas Supreme Court's online docket, the Church of
Scientology has confirmed that it is unopposed to the motion filed last
week by Monique Rathbun, who has asked for a stay in her case so she
can dismiss her lawsuit outright.
Meanwhile, at his blog, Monique's husband, Mark "Marty" Rathbun,
announced Monday that "there was no settlement" to end the case.
Our Texas legal expert, an attorney who has handled appellate matters
there and goes by the handle "TexasLawyer," had told us that it
appeared to him the case was ending without a settlement, even though
many of our readers have assumed that the Rathbuns must have worked out
some kind of financial agreement with Scientology after news broke in
February that Monique had fired her entire legal team in the three-year
lawsuit.
Tags: 2013, 2014, Bert Deixler, Brent Jones, Catholic, Comal County,
Courthouse News Service, David Miscavige, Debbie Cook, Elliott Cappuccio,
First Amendment, Grecia Echevarria-Hernandez, Greg Arnold, Judge Dib Waldrip,
KABC, Las Vegas, Laura DeCrescenzo, Leslie Hyman, Los Angeles, Marc Wiegand,
Marty Rathbun, Monique Rathbun, Nevada, Ostrich eggs, Paul Marrick, Quicky,
Ray Jeffrey, Real Alkalized Water, Real Water, Ron Miscavige, Ron Russell,
Ruthless: Scientology, My Son David Miscavige, and Me, Scientology lawyer,
Silvertail Books, SLAPP, St. Martin's Press, Texas, Texas Supreme Court,
Texas Third Court of Appeals, TX Lawyer, UK
====================================
Woman 'fired from Nevada water company for not accepting Scientology'
May 4, 2016, Darren Boyle, Daily Mail
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3572698/Woman-fired-Las-Vegas-water-company-not-accepting-Scientology-Catholic-woman-offered-pay-rises-participated-self-betterment-courses.html
A Catholic woman fired from her job at a bottled water company led by a
Nevada lawmaker has filed a federal lawsuit against the business,
saying she was pressured to watch videos on Scientology and was denied
pay raises because of her religious beliefs.
Grecia Echevarria-Hernandez filed a discrimination lawsuit April 26
against Las Vegas-based AffinityLifestyles.com, also known as Real
Alkalized Water. Republican Assemblyman Brent Jones is president of the
company. His son, Blain Jones, is executive vice president of the
company and is running for a Nevada Assembly seat.
'I have not seen the legal documents at this time, so I cannot comment
on the alleged claims,' Jones said in a statement Tuesday.
Tags: 1950, 1990, 2012, 2014, 2015, Affinity Lifestyles, American Civil
Liberties Union, Blain Jones, Brent Jones, California, Catholic, Christian,
Grecia Echevarria-Hernandez, Las Vegas, Nevada, Quicky, Real Alkalized Water,
Real Water, The Secret
====================================
Debating or Engaging Online with Scientologists
May 4, 2017, Chris Shelton, Critical Thinker at Large
http://mncriticalthinking.com/2017/05/04/debating-engaging-online-scientologists/
Hello everyone. Today we're going to talk about social media engagement
with Scientologists. All of this information would apply to engaging in
real life too, of course, and earlier videos I've made about how to
talk to people who are in destructive cults are still totally valid. I
just thought it would be useful to talk specifically about social
media, especially since we often find ourselves engaging with total
strangers online, which is a very different thing than talking to
family members or friends we have known for years. I'll be talking
about Scientologists but all of this really applies to members of any
destructive cult or cohersive group.
I got some help from my girl friend, Melissa, ("Hello") who will help
define some of the terms I'm using and demonstrate some of the points
I'm making.
Many times I have seen on Twitter, Facebook and even Instragram and
Pinterest, people engage with existing Scientologists in an effort to
change their mind or get them to "wake up" about the realities of
Scientology as a destructive cult. It's a valiant effort but unless you
happen to be talking to someone who is in the last stages of already
questioning their faith, so to speak, it would be a miracle if you were
actually to succeed in changing their mind or even get them to respond
positively to what you are telling them.
Tags: Clear, Facebook, International Cultic Studies Association, Mike Rinder,
OT, Quicky, Something Can Be Done About It, STAND, Suppressive Person, Tony
Ortega, Twitter, Underground Bunker, Xenu
====================================
Debating or Engaging with Scientologists Online
May 4, 2017, Chris Shelton, YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbABMMjrgnY
What is the best way to change hearts and minds online when talking to
Scientologists or people in other destructive cults? What's the best
strategy? What should you do and what shouldn't you do? I go over this
in some detail here, with some help from my girlfriend, Melissa.
CRITICAL MERCHANDISE AVAILABLE AT:
http://shop.spreadshirt.com/chrisshelton
Tags: Quicky
====================================
Do Scientologists Believe in God? (Mike Rinder's answer)
May 4, 2017, Growing Up In Scientology, YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvUreu-OJtg
This is a short excerpt from a 1-hour conversation between Mike Rinder
and Aaron Smith-Levin.
Tags: Aaron Smith-Levin, Mike Rinder, Quicky
====================================
Forced abortions, beatings, and sleep deprivation: The FBI on Scientology's
Sea Org
May 4, 2017, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
http://tonyortega.org/2017/05/04/forced-abortions-beatings-and-sleep-deprivation-the-fbi-on-scientologys-sea-org/
Yesterday, we heard from several of the former Scientologists who spoke
to the FBI for its 2009/2010 human trafficking investigation of the
Church of Scientology. The probe was stopped in 2010 without charges
being filed, but now, some seven years later, the FBI has released a
300-page file of documents describing the investigation to Melissa
Cronin of RadarOnline.
Marc Headley, Lori Hodgson, Mat Pesch, and Jefferson Hawkins told us
what it was like to speak to the FBI in 2009, and what it felt like now
to finally speak about it openly. Headley told us he's still
uncomfortable talking about it on the record.
But Cronin is releasing more allegations from the documents today, and
she's been sharing them with us as we also make our way through the
file. As we pointed out yesterday, the FBI classified this as a
Sensitive Investigative Matter, and took pains to protect the
identities of the people they were talking to.
Tags: 2009, 2010, Abortion, Alex Gibney, Big Blue, Blow Drill, California,
Chris Shelton, Claire Headley, DC, Disconnection, FBI, First Amendment,
Freeloader Debt, Gerald Feffer, Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the
Prison of Belief, Hemet, Human trafficking, Int Base, Jefferson Hawkins,
Lawrence Wright, Lori Hodgson, Los Angeles, Marc Headley, Marty Rathbun, Mat
Pesch, Melissa Cronin, Mike Rinder, PAC Base, Passport, Sea Org, Sleep
deprivation, Sunset Boulevard, Washington
====================================
Tennessee Scientology facility closed after cops find patients held against
their will
May 4, 2017, Brad Reed, Raw Story
https://www.rawstory.com/2017/05/tennessee-scientology-facility-closed-after-cops-find-patients-held-against-their-will/
A series of psychiatric facilities run by the Church of Scientology in
Cannon County, Tenn. has been closed after police found that patients
there were being held against their will.
Via Tony Ortega, the Cannon Courier reports that several facilities in
the county were shut down after police received a 911 call from someone
within one of the facilities, whom they found locked inside a cabin
with no way to get out.
The man then told officers that he had been held at the facility for
the past nine months, during which he had been treated with unknown
drugs.
Tags: 9-1-1, Cannon County, Cannon Courier, Kidnapping, Life Center for a New
Tomorrow, Marc Vallieres, Tennessee, Tony Ortega
====================================
Thursday Funnies
May 4, 2017, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
http://www.mikerindersblog.org/thursday-funnies-125/
Straight up and vertical to OT...
How? You just need to give us enough money
Sock hopping
Tags: Battle Creek, Birmingham, Chairman of the Board, Chicago, Detroit,
Field Staff Member, Jim Bridgeforth, Kansas City, Michael Roberts, New Haven,
New Zealand, Ontario, OT, OT V, OT VIII, Quicky, Thursday Funnies, TIME,
Toronto, UK
====================================
Today in Scientlology web page:
http://umbraxenu.no-ip.biz/today.html
May 4 in Scientlology web page:
http://umbraxenu.no-ip.biz/days/05-04.html
====================================
Religion and taxes
May 4, 1987, Editorial, St. Petersburg Times
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/49986541.html?dids=49986541:49986541&FMT=FT
But just calling one's organization religious does not make its
expenses altruistic. The Church of Scientology claims religiosity and
exemption from paying local property taxes. But it charges for its
services like any other business, and some of its leaders have been
convicted of federal crimes. The IRS and local tax collectors have
pursued it into courts, which have held the government to be justified
in collecting taxes from Scientology.
Tags: 1981, 1983, 1986, Clearwater, Internal Revenue Service, IRS, Jim
Bakker, South Carolina, Tax exempt, Taxes, USA
====================================
Pain At The Pump: The Little Green Pill
May 4, 2006, Michelle Meredith, WESH Orlando
http://www.wesh.com/news/9161874/detail.html
With the price of gas going sky high, a new product has hit the market.
It's called BioPerformance Fuel, but most people just called it "the
little green pill." It claims to save you big bucks on gas.
The gas pill almost seems to have a cult following, WESH 2 News reported.
Tags: BioPerformance, Lowell Mims, Mothballs
====================================
Nice Cans (PG-13 VERSION... there's CUSSIN!)
May 4, 2008, DatsumJB, YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u72jR1Rdzxg
Anonymous plays with a Mathison (err, I mean HUBBARD) Mark VI E-meter.
Want one? Check it out here! http://search.ebay.com/search/search....
(Portions of the video are blurred as potentially personally
identifying info can be seen)
Tags: Anonymous, E-meter, Quicky
====================================
Toronto Church of Scientology org mini raid May 4th, 2008
May 4, 2008, thekancer, YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABxr-LB0hEU
This video contains epic enturbulation, including police dox-dropping,
aggressive scientology camera women, EDMUND YEE body-checking myself
and spacko and overall excellent enturbulating of the Toronto org.
Tags: Quicky, Toronto
====================================
Rann may sue top Lib
May 4, 2009, Pia Akerman, The Australian
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25424005-5006787,00.html
Mr Hamilton-Smith asked questions in parliament last Tuesday about
documents allegedly linking Mr Rann to a $20,000 donation from a
business linked to the Scientologists. The documents - seeming to be
invoices from the ALP and emails between Labor Party figures - had been
denounced as forgeries by the following morning.
Mr Hamilton-Smith continued to insist outside parliament the documents
were real until he was forced to apologise late on Wednesday.
Tags: Dodgygate, Martin Hamilton-Smith, Michael Abbott, Michael Brown, Mike
Rann, Nick Bolkus
====================================
Scientologists Get Going, UFOs in the Miracle Mile
May 4, 2009, Dakota, Curbed LA
http://la.curbed.com/archives/2009/05/curbedwire_scientologists_get_going_ufos_in_the_miracle_mile.php
EAST HOLLYWOOD: For the longest time, reps from the church have said
that repairs to their Fountain Avenue building, which was damaged in
the 1994 Northridge earthquake, have been going on, but here's the
first time that we've seen any actual progress on that tower.
Immediately after taking these photos, the black-clad Scientology
guards on bikes started circling, asking why we were taking photos.
Tags: Los Angeles
====================================
Scientology for the Rich
May 4, 2010, Jefferson Hawkins, Leaving Scientology
https://leavingscientology.wordpress.com/2010/05/04/scientology-for-the-rich/
Even the most dedicated Scientologist can see the disparity between the
stated goal of "Clearing the Planet" and the fact of the Church's high
"donation rates." At Flag, the cost of a single intensive of auditing,
12 ? hours, is $6,800. You can get a used car for that. Scientologists
can and do spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to reach Clear and OT.
Add to that the donations to the IAS, Ideal Orgs and Superpower ?
those donations you'd better make if you want to keep your OT
Eligibility, and it puts Scientology completely out of reach for at
least 95% of the planet. Consider that only 6% of Americans make over
$100,000 a year, and only 3% make over $125,000, or $250,000 household
income.
And what about the rest of the planet? What about countries where the
average per capita income is $20,000, $10,000, $5,000 or even less?
What happened to Clearing the Planet? How's that supposed to work?
Tags: 1980, Applied Scholastics, Clear, Dianetics, Harlem, Ideal Org,
International Association of Scientologists, Isaac Hayes, Narconon, OT,
Quicky, Sea Org, The Way to Happiness
====================================
Corporate Scientology Public Enemy #1, pt II
May 4, 2011, Marty Rathbun, Moving On Up a Little Higher
https://markrathbun.wordpress.com/2011/05/04/corporate-scientology-public-enemy-1-pt-ii/
Tags: Quicky
====================================
"They Put Me At Risk" - Xenophon Sues
May 4, 2012, Sarawak Report
http://www.sarawakreport.org/2012/05/11878/?utm_source=Sarawak+Report&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=da74e21eaf-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN
The Australian Senator Nick Xenophon has confirmed to Sarawak Report
that he fully intends to sue the New Straits Times, despite the
newspaper's grovelling apologies yesterday.
Tags: Malaysia, Nick Xenophon
====================================
Amanda Palmer Loved Kate Bornstein's Memoir So Much, She Crashed the Book
Party
May 4, 2012, Tony Ortega, Runnin' Scared, Village Voice
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/05/scientology_amanda_palmer_kate_bornstein_neil_gaiman.php
Kate Bornstein and the Voice cover take a star turn at Dixon Place
Tuesday night, we were invited to play a small part in Kate Bornstein's
book party at the experimental theater Dixon Place, to celebrate the
release of her memoir, A Queer and Pleasant Danger.
Earlier that day, our cover story about Kate had popped up on the
website, and the print version of this week's Voice had also started
showing up around town.
Kate is not only a well-known performance artist, she's also a familiar
face among the many commenters at this blog, and we've enjoyed learning
about her experiences as a Scientologist on the Apollo with L. Ron
Hubbard back in the early 1970s.
Tags: 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1975, 1984, 2009, 2010, A Queer and Pleasant
Danger, Advance!, Apollo, Apostate, Australia, Barbara Carrellas, Celebrity
Centre, Clear, Corfu, Dana Goodyear, David Gaiman, David Mayo, Disconnection,
Ethics, Facebook, Fair Game, FBI, Florida, Independent, John Dixon, Kate
Bornstein, L. Ron Hubbard, Lawrence Wright, Los Angeles, Malaysia,
Mediterranean, Milton Katselas, Neil Gaiman, New York City, New Yorker, Nick
Xenophon, Orders of the Day, OT, OT III, OT Phenomena, OT VIII, Paul Haggis,
Quicky, Suppressive Person, Telex, Wall Street Journal
====================================
Frank Oliver, ex-Scientologist, press conference 1998
May 4, 2012, Jeff Jacobsen, YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM9-efj_SOY
Ex-Scientologist Frank Oliver discusses his experiences in Scientology
at a press conference in Clearwater, Florida December 1998.
Tags: 1998, Clearwater, Florida, Frank Oliver, Quicky
====================================
Rupert Murdoch and David Miscavige
May 4, 2012, Marty Rathbun, Moving On Up a Little Higher
https://markrathbun.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/rupert-murdoch-and-david-miscavige/
Haydn James submitted an article published below that draws many
parallels between media king Rupert Murdoch and squirrel king David
Miscavige.
Here are a few things to take into consideration when reading Haydn's
piece.
Rupert Murdoch cut his teeth on bashing L Ron Hubbard and Scientology
during the sixties in Australia.
Tags: 1968, 2004, 2009, Australia, BBC, David Miscavige, England, FBI, Fox
News, Haydn James, Independent Scientologists, James Packer, Journalist, L.
Ron Hubbard, London Times, New York Post, Office of Special Affairs, Police,
Private investigator, Quicky, Ron's Journal, Rupert Murdoch, Scotland Yard,
Squirrel, Tampa, The Truth Rundown, Tom Cruise, UK, USA, Wall Street Journal
====================================
Scientology Set to Open Orange County Ideal Org in Santa Ana
May 4, 2012, Josh Dulaney, OC Weekly
http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2012/05/scientology_set_to_open_orange_county_ideal_org_santa_ana.php
Mike McCoy, a police community services specialist with the Santa Ana
Police Department, confirmed that it is "90 percent" certain that the
organization will open that day at Sycamore and Fifth streets at the
former Santa Ana Performing Arts and Event Center.
Apparently, the group has failed to launch a couple times over the past
few months. McCoy said they've nixed previous opening days.
Tags: Anonymous, Ideal Org, Mike McCoy, Orange County
====================================
Two dead in last 6 1/2 months at Narconon Arrowhead
May 4, 2012, AP, Tulsa World
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/two-dead-in-last-months-at-narconon-arrowhead/article_4b1cdb1a-c366-5e4c-8b78-0ae024ffb531.html
The state medical examiner's office wants to take a deeper look at the
deaths of two people at a drug rehabilitation center that uses saunas
and vitamins as part of an intensive cleansing regimen.
Tags: Death, Gabriel Graves, Hillary Holten, Narconon, Narconon Arrowhead,
Pittsburg County Sheriff's Office, Quebec
====================================
Corporate Scientology Child Fundraisers
May 4, 2013, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
http://www.mikerindersblog.org/corporate-scientology-child-fundraisers/
Miscavige and his corporate Scientology vultures have apparently taken
lessons from Slumdog Millionaire on how to use children to raise money.
This may be hard to believe, but I assure you this is 100% true.
First, here is an excerpt of a Hat Write sent in by one of our Swiss
correspondents. It explains how to raise funds using children.
Tags: 2009, David Miscavige, Ideal Org, L. Ron Hubbard, Quicky, Zurich
====================================
Scientology in Germany
May 4, 2013, Marty Rathbun, Moving On Up a Little Higher
https://markrathbun.wordpress.com/2013/05/04/scientology-in-germany/
Please read about and see the New Germany Independent Scientology
Center (click link)- translation of text below:
On April 27 our opening party was an overwhelming success. 36 guests
filled our new courseroom with a tremendous amount of theta, much more
than I have ever witnessed during a comparable event. Scientologists -
some had not met in 15 years - were in a real extasy of communication.
We had guests from one half of Germany. A few friends from Ron's Org
attended, too. Although we are completely separate groups we were not
at all competition minded. Our center delivers auditing up to Clear and
auditor training including the solo course. We use course materials
produced before the alleged "golden age of tech".
Tags: Clear, Germany, Independent Scientology, Quicky
====================================
Scientology Sockpuppet Speaks (Sort Of....)
May 4, 2013, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
http://www.mikerindersblog.org/scientology-sockpuppet-speaks-sort-of/
Corporate Scientology has mastered the art of speaking out of both side
of its mouth and keeping a straight face at the same time.
See Tony Ortega's article about the Laura DeCrescenzo case this morning.
While pleading that the CHURCH is being "discriminated" against (they
have also mastered the art of playing victims - everyone including the
courts, psychiatrists, governments, SPs, media, the internet, drug
companies, cyberterrorists, anyone who dies in their care and the
martians are out to "get" them) and how turning over Laura's pc folders
will prejudice "other religions," they don't mention that they hang
onto these folders so they can comb through them to use against
"critics", or that they have admitted that more than 200 people have
had access to her pc folders (and that doesnt include those they have
NOT admitted to, including the fact that sessions are video'd). Nor do
they mention the simple fact that she isnt asking for someone else's
folders or "privileged" information. She is asking only for her own
files - THEIR record of HER statements. The church is NOT protecting
her from the disclosure of her confessionals to a hostile source, they
are ONLY seeking to protect themselves by hiding their records of what
she said because they will SUPPORT her claims. Such amazing hypocrisy
under the guise of sanctimonious "religious beliefs." The only
religious belief at issue here is the belief that they must protect
themselves from the outside world at all costs....
But then here comes another doozie. This time from nominal
"spokesperson" Karin Pouw STILL responding to Larry Wright's book.
Karin has not actually SPOKEN in a few years now. She is simply the
name affixed to victim letters sent out by the church to the media. She
does not write the letters.
Tags: 1971, 1978, 1987, 1991, 1995, 2012, Appeal, California, Canada, Church
of Scientology International, Clearwater, David Miscavige, Debbie Cook, FBI,
Florida, Jim Jones, Karin Pouw, Laura DeCrescenzo, Lawrence Wright, Los
Angeles, Luis Garcia, Marty Rathbun, New York Review of Books, OT, Publisher,
Quicky, Reader's Digest, Reverend, Richard Leiby, Time Magazine, Tom Cruise,
Tony Ortega, Washington Post
====================================
SCIENTOLOGY TO CALIFORNIA SUPREMES: State's Priest-Penitent Law is
Unconstitutional
May 4, 2013, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
http://tonyortega.org/2013/05/04/scientology-to-california-supreme-court-states-priest-penitent-law-is-unconstitutional/
Earlier this week we told you that Laura DeCrescenzo's forced-abortion
lawsuit against the Church of Scientology had reached a crucial stage,
and that the church is scrambling to prevent a release of thousands of
pages of documents that could bolster DeCrescenzo's case.
The documents come from Laura's "pc folders," which were compiled as
she spent years undergoing brutal interrogations as a member of the
church's "Sea Org." Unlike in a Catholic confessional, DeCrescenzo's
auditing sessions were not only recorded by auditors, but those notes
were reviewed and shared by case supervisors and other church employees
- the church itself admits that some 250 officials compiled or reviewed
these notes, which contain intimate secrets about DeCrescenzo's private
life. When she demanded the documents - which fill about 140 folders
and were compiled over a decade - the church tried to keep them secret
under California law that protects priest-penitent confessions (even
though it was the penitent - DeCrescenzo - who wanted the material).
The superior court in Los Angeles ruled that because Laura's notes were
shared by so many church employees, that law didn't apply, and the
church has already lost an appeal of that decision.
So now the church has petitioned the state's supreme court, arguing
that the law itself is unconstitutional because it discriminates
against Scientology's concept of confessional confidentiality. We now
have the church's petition, and we're sharing it with our readers.
Tags: 2009, Appeal, Bert Deixler, California, Catholic, Christian, Condusiv
Technologies, Craig Jensen, Diskeeper, E-meter, Jon Atack, Laura DeCrescenzo,
Los Angeles, Mormon, Quicky, Rehabilitation Project Force, Sea Org, Sec
Check, Village Voice
====================================
Scientology critics gather for weeklong conference
May 4, 2014, Joe Childs, Tampa Bay Times
http://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/scientology-critics-gather-for-week-long-conference-in-clearwater-area/2178314
CLEARWATER - Several critics of the Church of Scientology, including
the great-grandson of church founder L. Ron Hubbard, are scheduled to
speak this week at a local conference organizers say will draw
attention to "human rights abuses" within the Scientology community.
Called "Flag Down 2014," the conference is a series of presentations
planned today through Friday at various mid and North Pinellas venues.
On Saturday, organizers plan a public protest of Scientology in
downtown Clearwater.
But the church already has taken steps to at least partially restrict
the protestors.
Tags: 1950, 1976, 2008, 2013, BBC, Church of Fear: Inside the Weird World of
Scientology, Clearwater, Disconnection, Flag Building, Flag Down, Flag Land
Base, Fort Harrison, George Cretekos, Ireland, Jamie DeWolf, John Sweeney,
Largo, Pete Griffiths, Quicky, Ron DeWolf, Russell Miller
====================================
Sunday Funnies: Scientology says, May the Fourth be with you
May 4, 2014, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
http://tonyortega.org/2014/05/04/sunday-funnies-scientology-says-may-the-fourth-be-with-you/
On Sundays, we share with you the latest fundraising mailers
Scientology has sent out to its beleaguered members, who have been
subjected to constant appeals and are generally exhausted.
How do you convince people to keep coming out for events where they'll
be under intense pressure to turn over thousands of dollars they can't
afford to give? In recent years, we've seen Scientology organizations
get increasingly creative (and cheesy), hoping that a party with a
pirate or superhero theme will somehow convince church members to come
down for a another fleecing.
And now, the folks at the Mountain View org - who are trying to raise
millions for a new "Silicon Valley Ideal Org" - have really outdone
themselves. Last night, they held a very special party for fundraising,
and we think you're going to enjoy the teaser video they put together
to encourage attendance...
Tags: Alaska, Austin, Celebrity Centre, David Petit, Mountain View, OT
Phenomena, Quicky, San Fernando Valley, Scientology organization, Sunday
Funnies, Valley Ideal Org
====================================
The IAS "Benefits All 8 Dynamics"
May 4, 2014, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
http://www.mikerindersblog.org/ias-benefits-8-dynamics/
The cliches just keep rolling out.
And apparently the meaningless drivel is accepted by the sheeple as
somehow coherent and believable. These sort of emails and promotional
pitches offer an interesting insight into the warped world inside the
bubble.
If you read Shaked's latest missive just as it is written, you will see
there is not a single specific about anything, just sweeping
generalities about final rewards and walking free.
Tags: Dissemination, Foundation International Membership Services
Administrations, International Association of Scientologists, Quicky
====================================
Counter-documentaries: when subjects of investigation go on the attack
May 4, 2015, Fred Wagner, The Guardian
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/may/04/counter-documentaries-louis-theroux-church-of-scientology
Recently Louis Theroux revealed that the Church of Scientology is
looking to neutralise his forthcoming documentary about them by
producing their very own film about him. In the US there's a saying
that "the best defence is a good offence" and L Ron Hubbard, the
founder of the religion, was a believer: "Don't ever defend, always
attack," he once instructed his followers.
It's not surprising then, that such "counter-documentaries" are a
staple of the Church. They've done one on John Sweeney, the Panorama
presenter who memorably lost his cool while interviewing Scientology's
then chief spokesman; they've done one on CNN's Anderson Cooper and
they're likely to do one on any public figure who comes even remotely
close to criticising them in broad daylight.
Tags: Anderson Cooper, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief,
HBO, John Sweeney, Leni Riefenstahl, Louis Theroux, Stairway to Heaven,
Triumph of the Will
====================================
More from a secretly-recorded executive griping about Scientology's sad state
of affairs
May 4, 2015, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
http://tonyortega.org/2015/05/04/more-from-a-secretly-recorded-executive-griping-about-scientologys-sad-state-of-affairs/
Former Scientology Sea Org worker Chris Shelton is helping us decode a
remarkable audio recording, secretly made, which captures a man named
Andres Rodriguez (pictured) giving a briefing to an audience of
Scientology non-staff "publics."
Rodriguez carries the title of Senior Case Supervisor of the Western
United States (Snr C/S WUS), and he's also notable because at one time
he was married to the "handler" of actress Katie Holmes, a woman named
Jessica Feshbach. (Feshbach is today married to former Scientology
spokesman Tommy Davis, and they are both out of the Sea Org.)
In this third portion of the audio recording (Go here for Part One and
Part Two), we hear more jargon from Rodriguez as he explains to his
audience at an org somewhere in the US that he has complaints about the
way they've been doing things. Shelton, and our oldtimers in the
commenting community, tell us they're pretty surprised by what
Rodriguez has been saying - the Scientology he's describing is very
different than what they experienced in past years.
Tags: 1980, 1988, 1990, Advanced Org, Alex Gibney, Andres Rodriguez, AOSHEU,
Birthday Game, Bridge to Total Freedom, Cause Resurgence Rundown, Chris
Shelton, Class V, Clear, Copenhagen, Cracked cases, David Miscavige,
Dianetics, Drug Rundown, E-meter, Europe, Feshbach, Going Clear: Scientology
and the Prison of Belief, Ideal Org, Jessica Feshbach, John Travolta, Katie
Holmes, Los Angeles, PAC Base, Saint Hill Special Briefing Course, Santa
Barbara, Scientology organization, Scientology staff, Sea Org, Suppressive
Person, Survival Rundown, Tommy Davis
====================================
Scientologists 'hope' to renovate historic Plymouth building soon...six years
after buying it
May 4, 2016, Alex Wood, Plymouth Herald
http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Scientologists-hope-renovate-historic-Plymouth/story-29228266-detail/story.html
The Church of Scientology say it "hopes" to start work on restoring a
historic building in Plymouth soon - six years after the organisation
purchased it.
The Royal Fleet Club was snapped up by the Church in June 2010 for
about ?1million, with plans in place to spend a further ?2.5million on
renovating it.
Fast forward six years and the historic building is still yet to be
developed, with Plymouth scientologists unable to explain the delay or
say when work will begin.
Tags: Ideal Org, Lisa Coffey, Plymouth, Rotting building, Royal Fleet Hotel,
Sunday service, Truth About Drugs, William Drummond
====================================
Scientology confirms it won't oppose Monique Rathbun's plans to ditch lawsuit
May 4, 2016, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
http://tonyortega.org/2016/05/04/scientology-confirms-it-wont-oppose-monique-rathbuns-plans-to-ditch-lawsuit/
According to the Texas Supreme Court's online docket, the Church of
Scientology has confirmed that it is unopposed to the motion filed last
week by Monique Rathbun, who has asked for a stay in her case so she
can dismiss her lawsuit outright.
Meanwhile, at his blog, Monique's husband, Mark "Marty" Rathbun,
announced Monday that "there was no settlement" to end the case.
Our Texas legal expert, an attorney who has handled appellate matters
there and goes by the handle "TexasLawyer," had told us that it
appeared to him the case was ending without a settlement, even though
many of our readers have assumed that the Rathbuns must have worked out
some kind of financial agreement with Scientology after news broke in
February that Monique had fired her entire legal team in the three-year
lawsuit.
Tags: 2013, 2014, Bert Deixler, Brent Jones, Catholic, Comal County,
Courthouse News Service, David Miscavige, Debbie Cook, Elliott Cappuccio,
First Amendment, Grecia Echevarria-Hernandez, Greg Arnold, Judge Dib Waldrip,
KABC, Las Vegas, Laura DeCrescenzo, Leslie Hyman, Los Angeles, Marc Wiegand,
Marty Rathbun, Monique Rathbun, Nevada, Ostrich eggs, Paul Marrick, Quicky,
Ray Jeffrey, Real Alkalized Water, Real Water, Ron Miscavige, Ron Russell,
Ruthless: Scientology, My Son David Miscavige, and Me, Scientology lawyer,
Silvertail Books, SLAPP, St. Martin's Press, Texas, Texas Supreme Court,
Texas Third Court of Appeals, TX Lawyer, UK
====================================
Woman 'fired from Nevada water company for not accepting Scientology'
May 4, 2016, Darren Boyle, Daily Mail
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3572698/Woman-fired-Las-Vegas-water-company-not-accepting-Scientology-Catholic-woman-offered-pay-rises-participated-self-betterment-courses.html
A Catholic woman fired from her job at a bottled water company led by a
Nevada lawmaker has filed a federal lawsuit against the business,
saying she was pressured to watch videos on Scientology and was denied
pay raises because of her religious beliefs.
Grecia Echevarria-Hernandez filed a discrimination lawsuit April 26
against Las Vegas-based AffinityLifestyles.com, also known as Real
Alkalized Water. Republican Assemblyman Brent Jones is president of the
company. His son, Blain Jones, is executive vice president of the
company and is running for a Nevada Assembly seat.
'I have not seen the legal documents at this time, so I cannot comment
on the alleged claims,' Jones said in a statement Tuesday.
Tags: 1950, 1990, 2012, 2014, 2015, Affinity Lifestyles, American Civil
Liberties Union, Blain Jones, Brent Jones, California, Catholic, Christian,
Grecia Echevarria-Hernandez, Las Vegas, Nevada, Quicky, Real Alkalized Water,
Real Water, The Secret
====================================
Debating or Engaging Online with Scientologists
May 4, 2017, Chris Shelton, Critical Thinker at Large
http://mncriticalthinking.com/2017/05/04/debating-engaging-online-scientologists/
Hello everyone. Today we're going to talk about social media engagement
with Scientologists. All of this information would apply to engaging in
real life too, of course, and earlier videos I've made about how to
talk to people who are in destructive cults are still totally valid. I
just thought it would be useful to talk specifically about social
media, especially since we often find ourselves engaging with total
strangers online, which is a very different thing than talking to
family members or friends we have known for years. I'll be talking
about Scientologists but all of this really applies to members of any
destructive cult or cohersive group.
I got some help from my girl friend, Melissa, ("Hello") who will help
define some of the terms I'm using and demonstrate some of the points
I'm making.
Many times I have seen on Twitter, Facebook and even Instragram and
Pinterest, people engage with existing Scientologists in an effort to
change their mind or get them to "wake up" about the realities of
Scientology as a destructive cult. It's a valiant effort but unless you
happen to be talking to someone who is in the last stages of already
questioning their faith, so to speak, it would be a miracle if you were
actually to succeed in changing their mind or even get them to respond
positively to what you are telling them.
Tags: Clear, Facebook, International Cultic Studies Association, Mike Rinder,
OT, Quicky, Something Can Be Done About It, STAND, Suppressive Person, Tony
Ortega, Twitter, Underground Bunker, Xenu
====================================
Debating or Engaging with Scientologists Online
May 4, 2017, Chris Shelton, YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbABMMjrgnY
What is the best way to change hearts and minds online when talking to
Scientologists or people in other destructive cults? What's the best
strategy? What should you do and what shouldn't you do? I go over this
in some detail here, with some help from my girlfriend, Melissa.
CRITICAL MERCHANDISE AVAILABLE AT:
http://shop.spreadshirt.com/chrisshelton
Tags: Quicky
====================================
Do Scientologists Believe in God? (Mike Rinder's answer)
May 4, 2017, Growing Up In Scientology, YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvUreu-OJtg
This is a short excerpt from a 1-hour conversation between Mike Rinder
and Aaron Smith-Levin.
Tags: Aaron Smith-Levin, Mike Rinder, Quicky
====================================
Forced abortions, beatings, and sleep deprivation: The FBI on Scientology's
Sea Org
May 4, 2017, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
http://tonyortega.org/2017/05/04/forced-abortions-beatings-and-sleep-deprivation-the-fbi-on-scientologys-sea-org/
Yesterday, we heard from several of the former Scientologists who spoke
to the FBI for its 2009/2010 human trafficking investigation of the
Church of Scientology. The probe was stopped in 2010 without charges
being filed, but now, some seven years later, the FBI has released a
300-page file of documents describing the investigation to Melissa
Cronin of RadarOnline.
Marc Headley, Lori Hodgson, Mat Pesch, and Jefferson Hawkins told us
what it was like to speak to the FBI in 2009, and what it felt like now
to finally speak about it openly. Headley told us he's still
uncomfortable talking about it on the record.
But Cronin is releasing more allegations from the documents today, and
she's been sharing them with us as we also make our way through the
file. As we pointed out yesterday, the FBI classified this as a
Sensitive Investigative Matter, and took pains to protect the
identities of the people they were talking to.
Tags: 2009, 2010, Abortion, Alex Gibney, Big Blue, Blow Drill, California,
Chris Shelton, Claire Headley, DC, Disconnection, FBI, First Amendment,
Freeloader Debt, Gerald Feffer, Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the
Prison of Belief, Hemet, Human trafficking, Int Base, Jefferson Hawkins,
Lawrence Wright, Lori Hodgson, Los Angeles, Marc Headley, Marty Rathbun, Mat
Pesch, Melissa Cronin, Mike Rinder, PAC Base, Passport, Sea Org, Sleep
deprivation, Sunset Boulevard, Washington
====================================
Tennessee Scientology facility closed after cops find patients held against
their will
May 4, 2017, Brad Reed, Raw Story
https://www.rawstory.com/2017/05/tennessee-scientology-facility-closed-after-cops-find-patients-held-against-their-will/
A series of psychiatric facilities run by the Church of Scientology in
Cannon County, Tenn. has been closed after police found that patients
there were being held against their will.
Via Tony Ortega, the Cannon Courier reports that several facilities in
the county were shut down after police received a 911 call from someone
within one of the facilities, whom they found locked inside a cabin
with no way to get out.
The man then told officers that he had been held at the facility for
the past nine months, during which he had been treated with unknown
drugs.
Tags: 9-1-1, Cannon County, Cannon Courier, Kidnapping, Life Center for a New
Tomorrow, Marc Vallieres, Tennessee, Tony Ortega
====================================
Thursday Funnies
May 4, 2017, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
http://www.mikerindersblog.org/thursday-funnies-125/
Straight up and vertical to OT...
How? You just need to give us enough money
Sock hopping
Tags: Battle Creek, Birmingham, Chairman of the Board, Chicago, Detroit,
Field Staff Member, Jim Bridgeforth, Kansas City, Michael Roberts, New Haven,
New Zealand, Ontario, OT, OT V, OT VIII, Quicky, Thursday Funnies, TIME,
Toronto, UK
====================================
Today in Scientlology web page:
http://umbraxenu.no-ip.biz/today.html
May 4 in Scientlology web page:
http://umbraxenu.no-ip.biz/days/05-04.html
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