John Oliver consistently focuses his unique brand of comedy/satire/social commentary on David Miscavige and scientology. Last week he threw another barb, which you can watch below at the 2 minute mark of his opening segment. All of last season he included "Where's Shelly" (in Spanish) in the opening montage of the show, and included numerous references to all things scientology. In season 5, he did a piece in his final episode that wrapped up his year long secret "advertising campaign" for scientology that he demanded they pay him $650,000... and then ultimately $700,000 … [Read more...]
Search Results for: Miscavige
Episode 34: Journalist and Author John Sweeney
Our friend and scientology nemesis, journalist, author and podcaster John Sweeney, joins us this week. John was for many years a correspondent for the original TV investigative magazine show, Panorama. He did a program about scientology for Panorama in 2007, where I was one of the "handlers" on behalf of scientology. It was a catalyst for me leaving -- I was in London defending scientology and Miscavige from the "chaos merchants" at the BBC. After I had left, I did a second Panorama show with John explaining some of the things that had happened in that first program. We had a lot to ta … [Read more...]
Scientology in Clearwater — Big Brother is Watching You
George Orwell's astonishing novel 1984 depicts a dystopian world that has many remarkable similarities to scientology. Big Brother is a character and symbol that represents a society where every citizen is under constant surveillance, constantly reminded of this by the slogan "Big Brother is watching you." If you visit downtown Clearwater, Big Brother (scientology) IS watching you. Anywhere and everywhere. While they claim the dozens of cameras mounted on their buildings are for "security" -- the truth is a little less palatable. And they showed their hand this past … [Read more...]
Reforming Scientology?
Leah recently reminded me of this wonderful website, and in particular, this article by my old friend Jeff Hawkins. Jeff is one of the kindest, smartest and most decent people I know. When Miscavige blew him off, he lost one of the only real marketing geniuses in scientology. Jeff was responsible for the single successful marketing campaign in scientology -- returning Dianetics to the top of the NY Times bestseller list in the 80's. He is a wonderful writer -- I highly recommend his book Counterfeit Dreams -- and a thoughtful analyst of the world of scientology. I am taking the liberty … [Read more...]
Ideal Org “Good News”
This is a collection of standard issue, cookie-cutter scientology mirages, misrepresentations and lies. If you see a promo piece from a scientology org, "ideal" or otherwise, you know you will be witnessing some bs. Let's start at the top. This is their collection of "Good News" -- the best news they can come up with in this ideal org. And that consists of a single "success story" from someone who is already a Class V auditor and has already read "all the basics" upon completion of the Technique 88 lecture series. For those unfamiliar, the Technique 88 lectures … [Read more...]
“Secular” Scientology
Scientology seeks to infiltrate various parts of society with "LRH Tech," What is sincerely held "religious belief" and "scripture" inside scientology, is transformed into "secular", commercial "technology" in the scientology front groups. Hubbard insisted these organizations -- like Narconon -- be "secular" for one reason. To be able to get grants from the government. Due to the First Amendment, the government is restricted from funding religious organizations. There are PLENTY of religious based drug rehabs, education programs and others. But Hubbard, the staunch opponent … [Read more...]
Dublin is Not So Ideal
Dublin is one of the stranger scientology orgs on earth. An enormous investment was made into this organization in a country where scientology has never been even remotely popular. There was a small, failing, bankrupt mission in Dublin. That was the extent of scientology's presence. Miscavige then bought one of the "Hubbard Offices" to try to preserve his "legacy" (and as a way of spending money for IRS purposes). For a short while Hubbard had an office in Merrion Square in Dublin where he delivered the "Personal Efficiency" course which was supposed to be the tool that boomed scientology. … [Read more...]
Episode 30: Marc Headley Blown For Good
This week, Leah and I had a wonderful time talking with my old and very dear friend Marc Headley —The BFG — on our Fair Game Podcast. Marc not only has a phenomenal memory, he possesses a great sense of humor. Anyone who has read his book knows both of these things to be true. We covered plenty of ground -- talking about the Int base and David Miscavige, the infamous musical chairs incident depicted in Going Clear and even how the Rinder bobblehead came to be. Throughout I mentioned including links, you will find them below. This is definitely an episode you don't want to mis … [Read more...]
White Bread Scientology Does Black History Month
The virtually whites-only country club that is scientology is trying to seem woke by holding a Black History Month Event. Hosted by the very white Beth Akiyama, they have to bring in some little known outsiders to talk on the subject. About the only people of color you will find in scientology organizations are members of the Nation of Islam who seem to have lost their way and ended up in the wrong building. The overwhelming whiteness of scientology caused great concern to the one real celebrity scientology has had from the African American community -- Isaac Hayes. He spoke … [Read more...]
More on the OEC
This is a follow up to the earlier posting I did concerning the apparent upcoming release of the "new" OEC (The Next Big Thing -- The Miscavige OEC). The OEC volumes have not been sold in scientology orgs or from the Pubs Orgs for more than a decade. Miscavige has declared them to be squirrel. Like the Briefing Course -- and oddly, the Briefing course consists primarily of a few hundred recorded lectures by Hubbard himself. It is quite amazing to see how utterly bamboozled scientologists have been by Miscavige. He has done what most old-time scientologists thought was … [Read more...]