In the US today it is Thanksgiving. A time to reflect on and appreciate the good in your life.
For many who read this blog it is also a time of sadness as they are reminded of the family and friends they are not sharing this Thanksgiving with due to scientology’s inhumane practice of disconnection.
But if you are one of those people, don’t lose sight of the fact that you have been shut out of people’s lives because you woke up and they have not. You found the freedom to think for yourself. To make the friends you choose. To enjoy time doing nothing without feeling guilty or being labeled a dilettante.
I am tremendously thankful for the life I have now. The wonderful friends I have made, who will not walk away from me or disown me because I don’t subscribe to their religious beliefs. For the unconditional love of the family I do have — a love that is not in any way conditioned on whether the powers that be deem me to be acceptable or not. And for the freedom to think, do and say as I see fit. The greatest freedom I have experienced in this life is not freedom from the reactive mind or any BT’s and clusters, but freedom from the mind prison that is scientology. And that is a great reason to celebrate and be thankful.
I hope you all are able to recognize and be thankful today for what you DO have, and spend some time with friends and family who appreciate and love you. That’s my plan for the day.
“freedom from the reactive mind or any BT’s and clusters,”
But I thought you had cogitated this was all your own imagination and man/woman is simply animated dust with the amazing ability to talk?
The spirit does not exist and psychiatry is the only solution to the problems facing man/womankind?
Why keep using SCN SPEAK when you already know it does not work in the real world only drugs and 110 volt therapeutic shocks can handle the animated dust that is humanity?
Thank YOU MIke for your inspiring words of faith!! I am thankful for my family and the people who are in my life. I wish you and Leah an amazing Thanksgiving Holiday season 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving!
Mike, yes we have much to be thankful for. I am grateful that you chose to speak out and give a forum to your thoughts and opinions and the writings and observations of some many other exs. Enjoy this holiday season, you deserve it.
To give of one’s self to others, freely, openly, lovingly with a full heart. THAT is what Mike & Leah have done for many former “In’s” and also to Never Ins…….the CIRCLE OF LOVE Mike has established on this blog to allow everyone to put down their burdens….express their sadness, grief, hurt and anger……………
BUT also to express their gratitude for the freedom they now enjoy.
Sadly, we can’t save someone who doesn’t want to be saved or is too fearful to BE saved…..intimidation, fear, harassed, moved/transferred to another state without a choice….Punished….threatened, hounded should one chose to leave.
What’s on the outside they know not, they are too afraid to find out, to scared to deal with starting life over in a world they’ve been told is EVIL….repercussions of the “dangers of leaving”….losing their eternity of another “meat body”….being SHUNNED/DISCONNECTED/DEFELLOWSHIPPED….I can’t imagine the sick feeling that gives someone.
For those on the blog that found deep within themselves the strength….GUTS to walk out, escape, run away, BLOW…..I AM SO PROUD OF YOU….you’ve seen the REALITY of life on the outside. Was it easy…NO…but you did it.
To think that YOU can sit down at your dinner table at home, at a friends or extended families…..and BE HAPPY. The TYRANT sits alone…he CANNOT TRUST ANYONE….he dare NOT go outside without looking over his shoulder wondering when he is going to hear “David Miscavige…we have a warrant for your arrest”……
My heart aches for all that you’ve lost….one day…somehow, someway, I pray that you are all reunited. I think when that happens…we need to have a HUGE party to share that joy.
Happy Thanksgiving Mike!
Thank you for what you do.
Beautiful post, Mike. I can’t say it enough: I appreciate all you have done and continue to do on a daily basis to end this horror that is scientology. My heart goes out to you, and to Christy, for all the pain you continue to suffer from be disconnected to your loved ones. I pray that one day you will be united with them.
Happy Thanksgiving,
bixntram
Happy Thanksgiving Mike and family! And to all who are disconnected from your loved ones, I hope, hope, hope one day this will not be the case and you can all be together again! ❤️
Sounds like a great plan to me.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
I’ve sometimes speculated that maybe I had some unconscious, sub-conscious, or otherwise intuitive impulse to keep my children from getting involved in the sort of stressful situations that I knowingly and willingly put up with for half of my life. On some level, maybe my better instincts prevailed.
We were extremely lucky that our children never turned into devoted Church members. Call it providence if you like. My kids will never find themselves in the cruel clutches of Scientology. Realizing that has given me peace of mind and an absolution that my former Church could never provide. I have a deep satisfaction that they’ve succeeded in life without Scientology’s aggressive and intrusive interference. For that I’ve been thankful.
Mike, thank you for writing this. For a few years I have come here to the blog and read your holiday messages and the encouraging messages from your supporters and it has given me comfort. Today I am not afraid to leave a comment because of the work you and Leah have done…I truly never thought I’d see a day when people could begin to understand the world we came from. I remember watching you on stage as a child. Seeing people in positions of authority speak out was what really helped to open my eyes. I spent much time UTR but was disconnected from anyway. I’m not sure many understand the hurt it causes to be considered suppressive by those you love dearly. I recently spoke out on Rachel Bernstein’s podcast and wouldn’t have had the courage to have done that and share what I am learning in the field of psychology with other second gens unless it was for voices like yours. I am in a similar situation as Christie and am sending you both a huge hug. Just wanted to express my gratitude, on this day of thanks. Everything you laid out above was spot on and today is about freedom and enjoying time off without being labeled a “dilettante”. I hope that our families come to their senses, but until then our family is what we make it and I’m very grateful for those who support and protect me unconditionally. Thanks for all you do and have done.
Thank you Vanessa.
Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving!!! We have much to be grateful for.
And that my friend is a great plan! We will be doing the same and being very thankful we have escaped the prison of belief …………….. at least that one!
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.
Coop and Frances
Nice plan!
I feel the same. From our home to your home Mike Rinder, Christie, Jack and Shane…we send unconditional love to ya’ll. I believe everyone is entitle to unconditional love its just not so easy to do that. But we can do it for our friends and family today. 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving, Mike to you and your family! I’m a Never In but I understand the consequences of disconnection. Please give Christie a hug from me. As sad and painful as it is it does help to remember that the alternative is to be back in a damaging, toxic, unhealthy environment.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your wonderful family Mike. There is indeed much to be thankful for – from new found friends, to reuniting with dear long time ones. I am thankful I didn’t lose my daughter to the Cult – I am thankful to you and Leah, your wife and all the other brave souls who have had the courage to stand and speak out. In the best way possible on this Turkey day – get STUFFED! lol
Cheers,
Judi
Thank you for all you have done, Mike.
Is this the Judi Light that used to work for FSO in 1982?
One of my favorite quotations from Book 3 of Milton’s “Paradise Lost”
The more I read the epic poem, the more I see Hubbard truly as Satan.
Even though the being is mythological, the attributes are real.
“So spake the false dissembler [ Hubbard or Satan] unperceivd;
For neither Man nor Angel can discern
Hypocrisie, the onely evil that walks
Invisible, except to God alone.”
After seventeen years in the prison of Scientology, it makes sense.
Do you have any information does members of Scientology read this? Are they really washed up and have no freedom of thinking and speaking?
To answer your questions:
Members of the “church” are forbidden to read ANYTHING critical of the any part of the organization and ESPECIALLY the “pontiff”.
And for those still in, freedom of thinking of ANYTHING not approved by the organization and/or its “pontiff” is also forbidden. And actually speaking of your doubts???? That is well beyond even your freedom of movement!!!
Happy Thanksgiving.
Mike, I appreciate you and your family. Thank you for all you do. Very, very well written. Happy Thanksgiving!
Mike wrote:
“The greatest freedom I have experienced in this life is not freedom from the reactive mind or any BT’s and clusters, but freedom from the mind prison that is scientology. ”
Great quotation.
One of the many things I am thankful for is all that you do to expose truth. Happy Thanksgiving to you our good friend.
Thank you Mike.
You and your family are so special to me.
I am grateful for you.
Very nice thoughts. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks for what you have done for us. Happy Thanksgiving, Mike
Agree. Have an excellent day together with your family and friends and lets continue to enjoy our own lives today, and for the many days to come.
Thank You Mike, for everything you (and Leah) have done so far.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.