True to form, scientology had their brilliant “response” to tonight’s episode up before it aired.
Snatching the “high ground” their big takedown of Ramina is “we threw her out in 2016” and she is a “Total Fraud” because she “manufactured an exit from the Church.”
Hahaha
It is almost doing Ramina a disservice to even pretend she needs a defense — it’s as if I might be giving some credence to scientology’s insane “response”. Once again, clearly they had not watched the show, so they prove to the world they truly are intelligence challenged robots. There is not a single person anywhere who would watch that show and not 100% believe Ramina. Nor that SHE felt like she was still under the mind control of scientology until she watched the Mirriam Francis Aftermath episode. Scientology didn’t “throw her out”, but even if they had, they TOTALLY MISSED THE POINT.
Scientology loves to rewrite history, but they look so stupid when they rewrite history even when they don’t know the history that is being told.
This is their summation: “In other words, the entire story is invented and staged for the cameras, with Remini patting herself on the back by lying in claiming, “You are the first person who was willing to take a stand from watching the show.”” Maybe scientology knows some others who are wanting to come on the show?
One thing we have learned over 2 seasons of The Aftermath — the response of scientology to everything that is covered in the program is the best evidence that it is true.
They have a POW video on Ramina. They took a bunch of the people that Ramina used to work with and they level damning accusations “she is a liar” and “she didn’t do good research” — in fact they state specifically she “typed in wrong words on labels, made egregious typos and caused financial waste due to her incomplete research”. Now if anyone should not be throwing stones from the glass house of typos and grammatical mayhem, it is scientology.
But what is even worse is the old people they pull out of mothballs, plaster with makeup and give false titles to like “Director of Internal Affairs” (actually the Director of Inspections and Reports Gold) and no titles “former boss.” They are not named. Why? When they have NO DOCUMENTS, they have NO SPOKESPEOPLE, they refuse to PARTICIPATE IN THE SHOW, but only have “POW videos” in response, one would think the people would be identified. Are they afraid WE are going to hire PI’s to follow them? Or contact their families? Or put up hate sites about them? What exactly are they worried about?
Well, just for the hell of it and for posterity’s sake, I am going to list the names of the lipsticked pigs (there are two in there I cannot for the life of me remember, they were REALLY low level people and I am sure one of our commenters will help me out — now done, see below) who anonymously accuse Ramina of being dishonest:
Kathy Lemmer (failed and busted GI Exec International, failed and busted Commanding Officer Gold, failed and busted CO Central Marketing Unit)
Can’t remember who she is… Ramina now said she is Sharon Hill. Right. A monumental figure in the history of planetary clearing.
Gerald Duncan Director of Inspections and Reports — they guy that told Ramina she had to divorce Richard.
Marie someone or other (Swedish woman)… Andersen. Thanks Marc H. Another star in the galaxy of planetary salvage…
Annie Alcock/McGinley — never amounted to much.
Michaela Stave Botteon (Failed and removed CO Central Marketing Unit)
Linda Sukkestad — completely forgettable. If not for Marc Headley I could not have identified her if you paid me a million dollars. Seen her face a thousand times and no impression made.
Frankly, the whole effort to “dead agent” Ramina is the most pathetic one yet. Scientology says in their little blurb that it’s “obvious” that “Leah fatigue has set in.” Surely it has for them. I bet it is cause for celebration that this season is nearing its end.
Just as a note with respect to Ramina being “thrown out.” Scientology claims it has “expelled” and “thrown out” and “gotten rid of” everyone who ever speaks out, no matter what they had to do to escape the clutches of scientology. And lo and behold, they have this a little further down on in their Ramina smear page:
Once again, they messed up, Karen DeLaCarriere was not in this episode. They just seem to find Karen worthy of smearing when they have a vacant square in their box. Though I guess Leah didn’t make the cut?
Then they trot out a little blurb about each contributor — all really ancient lies they seem to think if they repeat often enough people will believe. Except nobody buys any of it — “wife-beater Mike Rinder”, “perpetually angry Aaron Smith Levin”, “thief and liar Marc Headley” “Mary Kahn child abandoner” etc
Scientology presents an ugly, hateful face to the world. THAT is the truth.
Ramina presented the face of humanity, courage and motherhood. THAT is also the truth. So proud of her and everyone else who has participated in this show.
I just watched this episode tonight…I had to watch it online because i dont have tv….Very moving…Its so nice to see stars actually using their money to help people. Most people cant do anything because they are broke or very low income like myself. I think you and Leah are doing a wonderful thing. I just wanted to comment that you guys also allow us to comment…on the scientology blogs…there is no room or area for public comment…that just shows how open they are!! Save people from these cults!!
Mike & Leah,
I was very touched by the episode with Ramina. I’m a grown man and cried like a baby. I would like to personally thank you both for the work you are doing and the people you are helping. Obviously the Emmy was very well deserved and the awareness you have made about this cult will certainly help other families and individuals that were on the fence about getting involved with this cult.
I’m curious to know why the IRS or the government hasn’t looked at the cult for what they are why has their status as a church not been revoked? David Miscaviage is a piece of shit and should be in prison with Bubba calling him his bitch.
Keep up the good work and praying for you both. Mike, my heart hurts for you and my prayer for you is that one day soon you will be reunited with your children.
Sincerely,
Joel McCauley
Keep up the good work with Leah, the harm this cult does needs to be exposed to the world.
Between disconnected dogs and bad spelling ( I would be declared on that one) these slander campaigns are ridiculous. I am very happy for Ramina and her family and wish them the best as they start to heal. It does show however that once you plant the seed or idea in someone’s mind it can flourish.Great show as always. Have a great day Mike.
I can’t get over the disconnected dog business! I mean, this woman puts up a fence to keep A DISCONNECTED DOG off of her property. I thought I had heard everything nuts about scientology up to this point, including Aaron Smith-Levin’s mention of the potential dog disconnection in season one of Aftermath, but this really blows me away!!!
I was also very moved by Chantal and Ramina’s reunion. I hope that others who have disconnected from family and friends will have a change of heart before it’s too late.
Well Meryl, I have it from good sources, that the dog made several inappropriate barks. As he continued this bad behavior, there was no recourse left but to declare him. I was told he can handle his condition by fetching garbage from apostates for OSA investigations.
You’re killin’ me!
LOL:-D
Thanks Meryl. I think whoever declared him is barking up the wrong tree. ?
Hmm . . . If Fleas, from the “disconnected dog” migrate over, infest the neighbor woman’s dog, and are brought into her house, do she and the “Xenu Hound” get declared for associating with “SP Fleas” ?
LOL !
Gee, something to look into, huh? The way these kooks operate, I wouldn’t be surprised if there was some sort of policy that covers this.
By the way, how do you audit a dog?!?!?! Or do you just send him to the DRPF?
LOL!!!!
I believe the correct tech is to lock him up in a kennel surrounded by his least favorite cat acquaintances until he comes to his senses or dies, whichever comes first.
P.S.
Perhaps doggie Sec Checking?
Perfect . . . Except the “cans” are shaped like bones . . . LOL !
Looks like the Sea Org is about to get “torpedoed” . . .
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/11/10/trump-reportedly-supports-revoking-church-scientologys-tax-exempt-status.html
That is good news. I had seen a podcast interview between Joe Rogan and Leah Remini about her past involvement with Scientology and it got me interested in her A & E show. I had known a little bit about Scientology from past news in the media but Leah’s show laid out the entire deal about this cult.
It is great to see another exit from the COS. Not just because it is good for Ramina, but also and most importantly for her daughter.
By Ramina accepting responsibility for her neglect as a mother will go a LONG way to the healing for both. They will probably have a stronger bond than most mothers and daughters after all of this.
Ramina, you have NO idea how much an apology and acceptance for your mistakes makes to a kid. Plus, you must have done something right, she is a survivor! She raised herself, made a life for herself, raised kids and still maintained a relationship with you and her stepdad. That takes patience and courage and strength.
Now you guys can go on and have a really truthful and wonderful relationship. You can’t change the past, but you can always change your future.
All the best to you and I hope that this serves as a lesson to others who will leave and reunite with their families.
A badge of honor to get a hate blog. Taking your power back & live in your truth. Can’t be coincidental the people leaving have same experiences despite in varying degrees. Each is adding to the big chain of lies deceit fraud & criminality.
Everyone knows scientology is full of shit.. They are rapidly running out of content.
Ramina
Made me cry my eyes out. Her daughters “emotion” lept through the Camera! When the camera panned to you Mike I thought he’s going to Collapse! I so want this sort of resolution for you Mike!
Change begins with One! What Ramina accomplished in that interview didnt just open the door a crack it flung the door Wide Open! There will be More! Many more!
When Katie Holmes “escaped” is when I began researching the cult. She went to great lengths to protect her child! I hope Katie goes on Aftermath and tells her story!
Mike one aspect that kills me is the abuse of children. Its horrific! How in hell did they accomplish this? Keep it hidden? Cps should be dispatched to Every location in California. Big Blue should be raided.
I’m sickened over this and know you are as well.
In the old days they got away with it by getting young children prepared for their GEDs so they could be released from the “child care Org” & Apple School to work as full time Sea Org. That was one project assigned to me from “WDC”, which of course turned out to be DM. The kids had been raised in a sespool, but did have very basic math skills. My job was to teach CMO prospects higher math so they could pass GED tests, which I did. Poor kids, out of the fire & into frying pan?
All I can say is that, when scientology smears you, you must be doing something right!
Isn’t it obvious that the people who wrote the hate did not watch the show, because if they had watched the show, they would be the next guest on the show. Mike I pray for you and Leah daily. Be Safe stay strong and watch your back. God Bless
That was the most powerful episode to date. When mother and daughter embraced it was like a dam broke. I sat here on my couch with tears streaming down my face. Mike, I seriously cannot keep it together when I see you lose it. Please don’t stop this mission. Don’t slow down. There are so many families that need to be saved.
I cried too. It was the love of a mother for her children that was more important than the cult.
Incredibly powerful show.
Here’s hoping that we see a show with Mike Rinder and his kids back together some day.
The sites are so petty. They are just going through the motions now.
Thanks for the comic relief at the end of a very tough episode with the update about the dog. Thank you for all the brave souls who are putting themselves out there and taking the heat.
That’s exactly my first thought. They are just going through the motions. It’s like they know nobody believes it anymore!
Thank you so much for all you and Leah have done. It really is appalling to see the ruined lives which Scientology has left in its wake. It is shocking and sad to see how many families have been torn apart. For a group which claims to have all the answers to relationships and family life, it really is unsettling to hear these accounts of what has happened to these people and to their families.
The evil that was in Scientology since its inception has the power to destroy everything it touches if we let it. Thankfully, the con is being exposed. Look at the families of L. Ron Hubbard and David Miscavige! L. Ron Hubbard died in an RV in the desert without any family around him. David Miscavige has cut himself off from most of his family. These are the leaders!
I used to live in South Korea. The generation of family members which were split by the Korean War is now dying away. One of my former co-workers has never met her grandparents. Nobody knows what happened to them and now the chances of any reunions taking place in the North are over. Here in America, we have our own little North Korea, complete with propaganda for L. Ron Hubbard that would rival that extolling the virtues of Kim Jong-eun and his father and grandfather.
I am a person who is very guarded in his emotions. However, I ended up crying through several of these episodes this season. It’s like no matter how bad you think Scientology is, it’s always worse. The sooner Scientology collapses, the better.
Well done Mike! “Who ya gonna call?” Scientology Busters, that’s your team!
Couple of observations regarding the cult’s response to each episode:
1) The smear sites are intended to serve as a warning to cult members still in the cult: “Go public, and this is what wil happen to you.”
2) The smear sites are laughable, and are like a hyper vicious National Enquirer — except our inquiring minds don’t want to know because there is nothing to know except for the smear.
3) The cult in publishing the smear sites tells the public all it needs to know about what kind of “church” this is. If it is a church, then it must be one affiliated with the church of Satan. This is an evil enterprise. No doubt about it.
Lastly, on another note:
In addition to everything else he is, and none of it good, David Miscavige is a truly wicked individual.
Keep up the good work folks! The Scientology facade is rapidly crumbling, and it’s fascinating to watch how this is occurring through your efforts. Kind of reminds me of myself when I single handedly tore a multinational corporation out a new one a couple of decades ago. Stay focused, keeping ramping up your efforts, never stop. And you will continue to have greater and greater successes. And clearly, the public is behind you.
Don’t associate the Church of Satan with Scientology… Satanists are actually doing some good work defending freedom of religion 🙂
Francois,
Sorry, but I find it impossible to say anything positive about Satan worship . . .
Dave F.
Scientology just follows the TECH and it is good because the TECH -at least that part of the TECH- is DUMB.
Off topic, but fun.
Attending a Scientology fundraiser:
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.tumblr.com%2Ftumblr_m6cp5o1Rxm1r9zdk4.gif&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwifflegif.com%2Ftags%2F29174-serious-gifs%3Fpage%3D8&docid=Ql9yHg950HXuTM&tbnid=GruP5SjK2_BnZM%3A&vet=10ahUKEwjcrYaIk7DXAhUL-lQKHXyyDRAQMwhTKAIwAg..i&w=251&h=134&safe=active&bih=660&biw=414&q=steve%20carrell%20serious&ved=0ahUKEwjcrYaIk7DXAhUL-lQKHXyyDRAQMwhTKAIwAg&iact=mrc&uact=8
I once had a church
Or should I say it once had me
They hijacked my mind
I once believed all of the lies
They asked me to stay
And to sign up for one billion years
Too soon I agreed
As I gave in to my greatest fears
I fin’lly came ’round
Biding my time
Standing my ground
I left them for good and then I said
Y’all can drop dead!
@Moxie, That was a fantastic satire to tune of the Beatles, “Norwegian Wood”! I want to hear someone sing it over karaoke. People should call every Scien phone number they can find and sing it on their voicemail. Lol!
Thanks osofine!
Moxie – I love it!
Thanks Spike!
I was never involved with Scientology, yet avoided several attempts to lure me in. I have been a loyal viewer of the show and read Leah’s book, along with others, with fascination yet disgust. All of the information coming forward has confirmed my own gut feeling on the church from way back. Last night’s episode was a great way to end the season. I was so glad to hear the feedback from the previous contributors, and to see Chantal reunited with Ramina. I somehow feel that this show has been part of the motivation for victims to come forward in different situations, such as the Harvey Weinstein saga, and the others who are being pulled out of the woodwork. You have definitely ignited a firestorm, in more ways than one! Keep going with your work, and I, and others, will support you.
I’d like to compliment this: There’s no competition (that I see) between Aftermath, and other ex/anti $cn: Tony Ortega, Aaron (your laugh kills me), Chris, Tory, etc. THAT sells me that you are all committed and truly a broad resource for those who need you. I have PTSD and I know this will sound weird, but those of you with podcasts or videos on YT, I listen at/through bedtime because it’s like listening to your individual PTSD’s and how you’ve handled them, and continue to (and, be a resource like I said). It’s helped me feel much less alone and …able to see that one doesn’t have to go to an actual war to have similar levels of PTSD/fallout. I feel for the first time I can offer what I feel/gone/go through to other Vets. Sorry if this was a little too much ME in this comment; please accept my gratitude, and comradeship.
Awesome, Pizza Driver.
I was just reading more comments from last nights show when I read that Marty Rathbun has gone back to CoS!? Is it because of the harassment he and his family went thru when he left the cult? Once gone from hell why would anyone go back to the devil? I just hope and pray that I am “assuming” what I read was interrupted by myself out of context.
I have been reading all the comments from last nights show and the one comment from Old Surfer Dude is the one I agree with the most! He said “fuck em”! And I totally agree with that sentiment!!! You go Old Surfer Dude”!!! We love you!
And again, Leah and Mike are my new Hero’s! And the job your doing together is something the true God has send them to do!
God Bless Leah, Mike and all your ex-cult member guests!!
Mike…..I have a question I have yet to see answered……supposedly the “church” claims that the residences where these children lived were “inspected by the Health Dept”.
Wouldn’t there be inspection reports that could be obtained for review to see if these Health Dept inspections actually exist? When I worked for Social Services/CPS we had a “housing unit”….inspectors that would go out to inspect a potential home to make sure it met health code standards BEFORE a “client” was permitted to rent it
Children sleeping in a make shift plywood “box” in sleeping bags, on what I would think might be a cold concrete floor, I can imagine with no heat, running water, toilet facilities would hardly “pass” a State Health Inspection in ANY STATE..
Balletlady,
In my experience 99% of what the cherch says, claims, declares, avows, promises, denies, disclaims, alters, or in any way purports to have any tangible connection with reality and the physical universe; That 99% is B S. And I still question the remaining 1%.
Exactly my friend, what I would have loved to see or hear is that someone/anyone could gain access to these “supposed inspections” signed off by a REAL Health Dept inspector who is NOT a member of COS……children sleeping in a more or less plywood box built in level 3 parking garage would mean as I noted a concrete floor, no beds but sleeping bags on the concrete floor, no toilets, heat, & no FIRE SAFETY for these children.
At least without proof of these inspections having legally been done by the Health Dept & signed off on officially….well, there goes their own on line statement that the children were “well cared for in a Health Dept Inspected Living Quarters”…it’s all yet another lie! Thanks for responding Jim
They actually used the term “Leah fatigue”? O. M. G. No way!
Tell me that they didn’t just steal the trending trash term of the alt-right (including Stormfront) of referring to the NFL rights protests as “Negro fatigue” (apologies).
Scientology finds worse and worse sources to steal from. Ah well, they always did like to dress up as Nazis.
Save yourself & save your family……that about sizes it up. Will everyone “go with you”….maybe or maybe not…but if a parent can get even ONE family member OUT along with themselves that would be totally amazing. The heartache these children suffered is incomprehensible, to feel abandoned as a child is more than painful, it leaves long lasting scars. Why was “the organization” more important to my mom/dad then I am?
Sadly staff members…it was or IS your “job” to be a full on dedicated Sea Org member at the cost of forming any form of a parental relationship with your own children. In the eyes of “the church” your children are baggage to be placed on the side & semi raised by someone else, or as we’ve learned, left to raise each other. Out of sight, out of mind, you’ve no idea or concerned about what is happening to them, as long as you are doing your required work for Sea Org.
Physical abuse, emotional abuse, full on neglect of not having a proper place to sleep, no nutritious meals, no proper education, no real clothing, no play time or social interaction other than seemingly forced child manual hard labor….& most importantly NO LOVE…..all part of being a “born in”…or dragged in as a youth.
Ramina has made her choice, she’s lit yet another candle that lighted her way OUT of “the organization”….that means one less card or domino has fallen……will it set off a chain reaction as we see one by one the long line of cards or dominos all beginning to fall in a large collapse of the church as others exit as fast as they can ……we can only hope.
All my best wishes to Ramina, Chantal & their family. I hope all the past errors can be forgiven & a closer child parent bond be repaired & fostered to grow like a spring plant, hidden under the cold winter earth, start coming up from the now warmer spring ground to blossom into a beautiful flower.
In Addition:
Not only has Ramina lit yet another candle to light the way to the truth, it seems like Ramina lit a stick of dynamite at both ends & tossed iT right in a certain person’s path.
All the smears sites in the world aren’t going to cover up the truth, the winds of truth blow away what is buried underneath. Like the tides of the ocean hidden things are uncovered, all is seen eventually. Some WILL listen to Ramina’s plea….GET YOUR CHILDREN BACK, so much indoctrination into this life, it’s all they know & can accept. Someday, someway, somehow because of A & E & Leah & Mike & those interviewed……those candles continue to be lit & more light shined into what goes on behind closed door.
Everything is compartmentalized, yet someone lives a life of luxury while those working for practically nothing continue oh so willingly to support a man who cares only about himself. Hate sites….what can you expect….IF THERE IS NO TRUTH BEHIND WHAT HAS BEEN STATED & SEEN ACCORDING TO YOUR OWN PRINTED LRH DOCUMENTS, WHY THE HATE SITES DENYNG ALL
STEP UP TO THE PLATE…..YOU’VE BEEN CALLED OUR “MR BIG”……
A relevant quote as regards Scientology:
“I am ashamed to think how easily we capitulate to badges and names, to large societies and dead institutions.”
Excerpt From
Self-Reliance
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Mike , I can’t tell you what respect I have for what you and Leah are doing and for all you’ve accomplished. But, I have to say, I agree with Glen and Cat W. You’re a Class Act; don’t lower yourself to Their level by making disparaging remarks. It’s not your style. Best wishes, and keep up the good work!
PLease dont read the Thursday Funnies. They are full on snark…
Laughter helps to heal the hurt. Keep working for the time when $cientology is just an object of ridicule – failed and forgotten.
I think I can speak for a large contingent of daily readers here, and say that we thoroughly enjoy your snark! Keep it up.
I read the Thursday Funnies each week. You are funny as hell and the snark is great. You do a great job highlighting the foibles and follies of various people and events. When you point out somebody being ridiculous it is because of their ridiculous statements or actions.
You usually don’t discount them because they are “failed”, or “forgettable”, or “busted”, or “didn’t amount to much”. It is just my opinion that some of your response to the smears against Ramina demean the attackers in an ad hominem fashion.
You might think I am stupid or critical of you and dismiss this feedback. No problem. But perhaps you might consider some of these thoughts.
I support you totally. My motivation is to suggest a possible alternative that is slightly less attack oriented. Again, just speaking for myself, I would find that more effective and humane.
@Glen, I noticed that about Mike’s comments about this batch of POW’s, too. I love Mike – and Leah and Tony and Karen, and the Headley’s and all of these people who have devoted so much to bravely helping others and exposing the truth while nursing their own wounds, even though I’ve never met them personally.
Nevertheless, it could very well have been Ramina and/or Richard in one of those POW videos, and I so I worry that insulting and/or discounting these people who are still under the sway of Scien B.S. could make them hesitate WHEN they finally wake up and watch the show and go online to find the truth and that there are people outside of the Co$ that will welcome and support them if they leave.
I was very moved by the mentions in the “season finale” (though there are a few more to air) of never-ins who have offered people who leave jobs and places to stay. The fact that the Headly’s were made whole through donations after they “lost” their lawsuit. The surprise at the kindness and compassion of people outside Scientology was wonderful and heartbreaking at the same time.
I think, maybe, (there is no way for me to know, of course) Ramina’s reunion with her children may have hit Mike particularly hard because of his situation with his adult children and so he lashed out at this group of “nobodies” who were filmed publicly attacking her. He could have said far worse, and that he didn’t shows a lot of restraint. I can’t fathom what it must be like for him, though I do know the regret of being estranged from my father at the time he died and as a mother it would kill me if my child ever cut me out of her life.
Mike, you have my greatest respect, admiration, and compassion. I wish I had a father who was like you are now.
To anyone still ensnared in the mind/life trap of Scientology, your lives are important. You are important, not for what you have done in Scientology, but for everything you have done and can do for good outside of Scientology. Leave. We will welcome you!
$camology – a handbag poodle trying to hump an elephant. Beneath notice.
Watching the show since the first episode. Truly eye opening and riveting. Thank you for all that you do to help people and families recover after being a part of this horrendous cult. You and Leah are amazing and are inspirational. Every episode has me glued to the TV.
Another wonderful heartwarming show up to the Gold Standard of the Aftermath.
While the Sea org ripped off Ramina’s life for 26 years for THEIR stats so that she could not be a mom, only NOW do they disparage her ?
Warfare, ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK is in the very DNA of the cult. Hence the Cult inevitably attacks its own sooner or later to attempt to destroy and gets family members attacking other family members. All the while, because it is a snitching culture it encourages everyone in the movement to snitch and rat out each other all to the “mother” Church.
On Ramina scraping the bottom of the barrel videos done to placate Miscavige no matter how foolish they make themselves look.
As a matter of fact no Sea Org member is easily expelled. They begged, cajoled, pleaded with me for 6 months to not leave while I got my confessionals. Sue Price, the then CO CMO PAC daily pleaded for me to stay while I was on route out lines.
If you flee, as a Sea Org member, for some 25 years a posse of other Sea org members pretending they are Federal Marshalls attempt to bring you back into custody, again, not letting you simply depart.
You cannot walk in and out of Scientology.
They do not let go.
Even when you are long gone, they hang on to you in some kind of bizaare connection by keeping you on their hate pages which is a way to connect back.
Can anyone name any other *church* that makes hate pages on those who have left and speak out ?
Let me think…
Don’t rush me, I’m thinking!
Hello, Karen#1. You are not only courageous in speaking out, you are truly lovely. I note that in $cientology’s “expelled” pic, they shooped the whites of your eyes as well as changing the color tone massively, all in an effort to make you look like what you can never be: evil. Anyone, including us never-ins, who has ever watched a single one of your videos will attest to this. You were and are one of my key teachers about Scientology and the Sea Org, along with everyone who has written a book about it, Mike Rinder, and some of the oldest Scientology critic sites.
My own experience with the Co$ was limited to a day in which I took their quiz, was analyzed, and told to take an introductory course. I was 17 and in high school, and my only employment was babysitting for clients at a rate of $1 per hour (mandated by my single parent mother, who was finishing her undergrad degree and living on savings). This was in the late 70s. They expected me to cough up $50 on the spot. I explained the situation. They then suggested that I get it from my mother. That’s when I fell out into uncontrollable laughter and was shown the door.
As to your question, I cannot think of another church that would do this. No mainstream religion, no small religion or tradition, nobody, not even those that practice shunning. Putting up hate sites is unique to the Co$.
If you are looking for guidance and help in life and you do some research into organizations you think might be useful to you, you check out what they say. (at least I hope you do)
In Scientology`s own words, they have had so many dishonest, unethical, lazy, incompetent, angry, self-serving people who have served at the very highest levels of this ch**ch for sometimes decades without anyone around them being any the wiser. Yet once they leave and speak out we find out they were “expelled” and we then hear just how bad they have been and for how long.
My question to the ch**ch would be – how many more of these dead-beats are left still running this organization and of what value would they be to me? Why should I trust my life & my money & my eternity to Scientology if they can’t keep their own house clean? They have such self-acclaimed amazing powers why don’t they know who in their midst is nice and who is naughty? Why should I have to suffer for their lack of due diligence?
Think I’ll keep my day job!
I can’t wait for David Miscavige to blow and a hate site put up on him. ?
Perfection
Brilliant comment, JHA. Seriously.
So many incompetents, it must frustrate poor lil Davie to tears being the only person able to do anything right, out of all the eight or was it eighty million Scientologists everywhere.
Just a thought – maybe Davie is so good because he never does any auditing or sec checking, maybe does not even believe in LRH tech at all… might be worth a try, that quitting auditing and sec check thing and disbelieving in LRH tech.
They should make a nice colorful brochure and donation mailer and have a new Rundown about just that thing, make it a policy and everything, charge a few thousand for all the wins people will surely get if they quit auditing, quit sec checking, and quit believing in LRH tech, just like their grand leader lil Davie..
Well said!
I’ve had similar thoughts. If Scientology Admin Tech would let the upper echelons be become filled with SPs, it would seem to be utterly and totally worthless. If Mike Rinder is such a horrible unethical monster, why did you decide to have him represent you?
Powerful and moving episode. My hat is off to Mike, Leah, A&E and all the guests on the show. You are making a positive impact.
Thanks Mike for all you’re doing for Humanity
As you said, Mike, there is nothing better than seeing a family reunified. It may have been the first public example of reconnection inspired by Aftermath but it certainly won’t be the last. To see Ramina and Chantal fully embracing in love and family and knowing that this will be what lasts the rest of their lifetimes is truly moving. My hope for Ramina and Richard is that after a lifetime in $ci that they seek out help with their healing. Just because Ramina was able to act so quickly to do the right thing after reaching her realization doesn’t mean that the thought stopping over the many deades is over. I think that one huge obstacle is the ingrained belief in the “evil psyches.” I hope that this does not interfere with the counseling that I think would be so useful to her. Having the kids and grandkids fully in her life will be incredibly therapeutic but so might be a skilled counselor who can help her self reflect and ultimately heal.
I always appreciate your scathing refutation of the $ci smears. I’m not trying to be critical but for me personally, it is less effective when you disparage the attackers. Their behavior, dictated by $ci, is atrocious and deserves condemnation but not because they are inconsequential nobodies, failed executives, or low ranking lightweights. That tack seems perilously close to the dictates of $ci itself.
Ramina’s testimony will go a long way to help you and Leah in your work. She expressed the way every parent should feel about their children. Any “church” that espouses separation from family, ESPECIALLY ones children, is NOT a church!!! I hope that her plea to those other parents still involved with Scientology works and that those families can be reunited, too. Thank you, Ramina, for being so brave!!!
When will Scientology be held accountable for their very public smear campaign against all these people. Are THEIR actions not slanderous???!!! How is it they can justify the very same actions they so vehemently oppose when it’s directed at them. What a mountain of hypocrisy!!!! With every new episode their actions leave one stunned with disbelief at the levels they stoop to and the incomprehensible poison they spew all the while hiding behind religious freedom of speech. Satanist can’t possibly this evil.
There is a possible discrepancy that I don’t get. The church said they “threw out” Ramena in 2016, and yet on the show she said she only left the church a couple of weeks before now, which was “after she saw the Leah Remini show” about her daughter. So which is it? Did Ramena leave the church in 2016 or did she leave a few weeks ago? One thing we know for sure: the church did not “throw her out” as they claim. They say that about everyone who escapes, no matter what lengths the person had to go to to escape.
Is this a serious question or rhetorical? If you know the church DIDNT throw her out, then there is only one answer?
Yes, Mike, it was a serious question. They claimed the year was 2016 when they kicked her out which translated to usual means that she herself left in 2016. That has been the pattern of many others that the church takes the year they do leave and re name it to be the year that the church kicked them out. Or maybe it was 2016 that she left the SO but then remained a Scn as a public person until two weeks or so ago when she saw the show and left?
They lie. I thought you might have figured that out by now.
I believe that the Nunnelees routed out of the Sea Org around 2008.
I think there may be some confusion about ‘routing off staff or the Sea Org’ versus actually being expelled from the organization completely.
Nomnom, thanks, I think that is what happened. They may have left the SO in 2006 but still been Scns and then left Scn completely only about two weeks ago after seeing the Leah and Mike show with her daughter on it. And yes, I know the C of $ lies continuously.
I recommend watching the episode again. Leah’s friend, Chantal, decided to do the show before the start of the season. Chantal’s sister told their mother, Ramina, that she should watch the show *before* Chantal’s episode so she wouldn’t be too shocked by Chantal’s episode. Ramina had already seen “Going Clear”, but she and her husband were still Scientologists in good standing. Ramina had left the Sea Org some years ago because she became very ill. Chantal picked her up and found her doing dishes as punishment, despite severe arthritis… Chantal got her mother health insurance and Ramina ended up having a 7 way bypass or some similar open heart surgery… however, this did not get Ramina or her husband, Richard, out of Scientology, it just ended her career in the Sea Org. Ramina’s relationship with her children was conditional on them not speaking out about Scientology.
So when the first episode of season 2 started, Ramina started watching. She saw Mirriam talk about being molested by her father and her mother doing nothing about it when she told her. Ramina had been friends with Mirriam’s mother, but had no idea that Mirriam had be sexually abused. This was the final straw for her and soon after Chantal taped her episode (before it came out), Ramina texted her that she was done with Scientology and wanted to see Chantal. They spoke the next day, and at the end, Ramina said she wanted to do the show. Of course Leah and A&E made that possible ASAP . So in her episode, Ramina states that she had only finally decided to leave Scien 2.5 weeks before that day she taped the episode.
Leah suggested that Ramina reach out to Scientologists she knew in the time between taping and airing the episode, to let them know why she was leaving, and maybe convince someone to reconnect with a loved one (because after the episode aired, no Scientologists would be allowed to talk to her, she would be declared an SP and they would run a smear campaign against her, as they have with everyone else that’s been on the show… and they did – see Mike’s post).
That is how I understand events to have taken place. I hope that clears up your confusion. Scientology is lying in their smear website, saying Ramina left in 2016 and is lying about leaving in 2017 after season 2 started airing. She left in 2017.
I highly recommend watching it again. I think it’s available OnDemand and on A&E’s website.
They’re pissed off. They’re always pissed off about something. And then they act like babies.
Last night’s episode was very powerful. I was so happy to see the contributors of last season and to hear how surprised they have been from the outpouring of love and support from all us, WOGS.
As a “never in” and reading your blog and all the comments, I have a question that perhaps someone can answer. Ramina said she left Scientology 2 weeks before sitting down with Mike and Leah for this episode. Did Scientology continue (up to the time she left) accept her money and cash her checks, etc? If so, how in the world can they even come up with any pathetic smear and think anyone in their right mind would believe it all the while taking her money for years and years? Disgusting.
I also wanted to reach out and hug Aaron when he broke down about his wife’s parent’s decision not to be in his children’s lives. I wanted to let him know there are many of us out here that would be happy to stand in their steed and spoil them rotten!! Happy to spoil the pooch, too. To the Headley’s and Sweet Mary, I am so proud of each of you and pray you will be united with your families soon.
My best to you, Mr. Rinder. Keep up the fight. You are making a difference in so many lives. Bless you.
Amen to that statement……Substitute Grammie here….substitute Mom here…..warm arms, love to bake cookies, cupcakes, cakes…..make great meals….kids welcome. Just want to hug Aaron’s little girls, they are so darned cute & sweet!
I KNOW we aren’t really their grandparents…..but kids need all the love they can get. It is NOT their fault their blood related grandparents are loyal to an “organization” & not to there little young ones….dogs welcome too….
Just as Mike noted in last night’s incredible episode, there’s really nothing better than to see disconnected families re-united! If more cultists stood up and told the tiny tyrant to go F*** himself and refused to be cowed into craven submission to his evil and capricious dictates concerning familial disconnection, then he’d have no power over them!
In other words, still-in cultists live in a prison of their own belief, whose bars are of their own construction. They’re in thrall to the kind of true evil that everyone who’s not imprisoned along with them can see at a glance, and only shake their heads at in utter disgust and disbelief. No one except perhaps other evil cult leaders think that destroying families through enforced disconnection is anything but pure evil.
Interestingly, it sounds like Ramina’s grand daughter’s decision to disconnect from her still-in grand parents, after finally hearing the full story of her mother’s childhood abandonment to the cult, was the real determining factor in their decision to get out of the cult for good.
If so, then I hope others will follow her lead and shake some sense into their morally comatose grand parents before it’s too late for them!
The church of scientology is portrayed as the science which melds religion and spirituality with science. It is the ultimate condensation of the knowledge of man into a useful subject which solves everything.
And THIS is how they respond to criticism of the behavior of their group? With infantile personality smearing which is devoid of any facts?
If I were still in the group, I’d be ashamed.
“If I were still in the group, I’d be ashamed.”
Forget “still” – I’m ashamed I ever WAS in.
Aqua, don’t be ashamed! Your comments always show an immense amount of compassion and understanding and you should be proud of having come so far! I for one admire you!
Thanks, ShellBell. You’re very kind 🙂
Love the hard work you are all doing.
Scientology are haters they will always hate let them do there hate dance every week we all know the show is doing amazing work xxx
I think this was the best episode ever because it shows just how powerful this show is. I am so glad that a family has been reunited. Please keep up the good work.
$cn really is between Xenu and the volcano when it comes to trying to deal with the very specific and extensively corroborated allegations of long-time former cult members who’d risen to the highest ranks of its cartoon, land-locked, faux navy before their escape.
If the cult’s high-pitched, hysterical, ad hom attacks against folks like Mike, Aaron and Ramina are true, then that means the cult not only failed to detect and expel them early on in their $ea Org careers, but promoted them to successively higher ranks over decades of their covert, nefarious operations!
Not very OT there, huh?
Since lil davey was in sole and absolute control over every one of the decisions to promote these “horrible SPs,” then why is he not being held responsible for this huge failure to apply the tech correctly!!? The tiny tyrant can’t have it both ways: If these folks are huge SPs, then there’s really no one to blame but him for their being in the $ea Org so long and rising to such high-level cult positions, is there?
Now, now Harpoona, you know better than to try to apply logic to Dave’s behavior.
I sure do! When you hear the word “$cientology,” think “morally and cognitively comatose” 😉
Probably the biggest reason DM can’t bear to appear in public. His bullshit arguments could be shot down by the logic of a toddler. Or something more less animated. Like a lawn ornament..
He has to have his Emerald City Minions crank out stuff all over the internet and hope nobody bothers to put 2 and 2 together. Or that if they do, the Spectre of SP will haunt them and prevent them from acting.
But I love to read how Harpoona turns those phrases. I dream about possible headlines: “Davey Declared Downstat for Promoting So Many SP’s”. or maybe one that says “Comm Ev shows COB has morphed it into the Church of Scatology” *gasp*.
Humor is truly a good weapon here. Or as they say “Irony is the Opposite of Wrinkly”.
Dave is planning a fundraiser to handle all the vicious attacks on his business, er, church. Once the correct amount of money is raised, he’ll be in a better position to take out full page ads in USA Today so as to flood the scene with sufficient theta, in the correct order of magnitude, to counteract and reverse the tidal wave of suppression that has flooded his lines recently. He’s very upset that no one is taking responsibility for Leah’s bigoted and hate filled behavior in attacking her former religion, and once again, will have to take matters in his own hands as usual (sigh).
Such is the fate of all great ecclesiastical leaders peering over the edge of eternity while lying on the back porch of infinity.
Great last line! What about all the cash he has amassed for services not yet rendered? Does all of it have to be laundered, uh, invested in real estate? Couldn’t he sell an empty building or two to fund the massive print campaign he apparently needs to attack his detractors?
Dave doesn’t like to use ripped off funds, er, money on account for these kinds of things. Readily available cash is allocated for his wardrobe, vehicles, food, entertainment, travel expenses, and sufficient quantities of Macallans to destimulate from all the entheta in his overworked and under appreciated schedule of screaming, punching and ribbon yanking.
Ooooh snap! (makes me glad I’m a rather plebian type who is still impressed with Glenlivet).
I heard that Dave was guzzling his Scotch straight out of the bottle after a particularly rough day of finding one of his favorite vehicles nonoperational and the roast pheasant overcooked. It was really enturbulating.
Good one, Moxie! 🙂
Is DM even an OT8? I think I heard that he’s not even OT6. How can the leader of the “church” not reach the highest levels of the bridge?
What a brilliant show and series you and Leah produced! Last nights was extremely moving. There have been lawsuits, books, websites, protests, Debbie Cook’s mass email, splinter groups and other forms of defiance against the cult but NOTHING has compared to the effect this is having. Please tell us that there will be a season 3.
Also, IRS/FBI/Congress please wake the fuck up!
I have watched this show from the beginning. It has left me stunned that this kind of behavior is based under a “church”. I see nothing of any kind of religion in this cult at all. It hurts to see that people can treat others the way this “church” treats their followers. People need to be arrested…the government needs to wake up…the IRS needs to wake up. They have given this organization too much power. See, I don’t even know what to call this THING. Leah, Mike …just keep this up…you are doing a great service. Thank You!
It is forever stunning to discover facts about LRH and Scientology. For example, their ‘cross’ is really a satanic sort of logo, an ordinary Christian cross of Jesus but with a big ‘X’ overlayed – a crossed-out cross. Wonder what cultist demonical sort of guy influenced that piece of work?
The Scn cross says a lot about LRH and Scientology, right out in public daily for all the world to see. To me, their cross looks more like a Swastika sort of symbol than any cross. If I saw armed troops with that cross on their uniforms I would break out my Second Amendment and look for like-minded buddies to join up with.
FUCK THEM
With a red hot poker?
The more they apply Hubtard’s scientology the more they lose. Scientology, the scam where everyone loses.
And it’s been that way from the 50s.
There is a slogan in there somewhere OSD
Winkski,
“Scientology, the Scam
Where Everyone Loses.
Fucking it’s members
with a red hot poker
since 1950!”
(It would be better if I knew formatting for WordPress.)
I like it osofine.
Put DMs sig on it and send to marketing.
Ramina’s testimony and plea to other parents in Scientology to rejoin their children was the must powerful TV I’ve ever experienced. Even my husband was teary eyed and he’s a tough old grouch. Great story telling with believable witnesses is why Aftermath is a smash hit. The snowball is turning into an avalanche and Scientology is about to be buried
Another great show. You and Leah (producers, etc.) are impinging beyond the beyond. I’m hoping for a season 3 and/or some follow up specials next year.
Bravo Ramina! What an amazing thing you have done. I can’t imagine how that would feel.
Not many people understand how brave you have to be, to do what you did! Your family can finally begin to heal from the pain that Scientology has caused! Congratulations dear???????
I hope that you stick with exposing Scn for now and take on the other cults after the “Church” collapses or takes responsibility for their actions. Don’t underestimate the ruthlessness of the Church in it’s attempt to destroy it’s enemies. You and Leah are too valuable and we cannot afford to lose you. There is no-one else currently doing what you have achieved. I personally do not think that murder is beyond what DM is capable of. He has a stack of corpses to his credit already and would not lose any sleep over a few more. I do not claim to know anywhere as much as you; I just want you two to be safe.
Helloooooooo fellow clams, hee hee. Such a good show, someone that had been in $ci for 40 something years finally dumped it and all because Leah and Mike’s show! Yeah Where there’s smoke there’s fire and there have to be others that are contemplating the same thing. Yeah And hopefully many others that were thinking about getting in it. I’m reading Going Clear by Lawrence Wright. Shocking what a piece of shit Hubbard was, he was dillusional, I don’t think he had a conscience. Heartbreaking that people are following the teachings of the guy.
Hoping for season 3 for no other reason than to help more people find the truth and leave. Every show I watch I’m more angry that this CULT hides behind religion when in all fairness it’s extortion and manipulation. I love what you’ve down both of you and every individual that found their ground enough to run. Don’t stop fighting and the truth will always prevail. Thank you sweet man and to Leah you rock !
ONLY Season 3 ?
I’m hoping to see the show continue until Scientology is utterly destroyed, however long it takes !
I agree, David F. I hope Mike and Leah do more seasons. I know you are all busy with other projects, but please find time to air more stories. You said you are inundated with people coming forward with their stories, so there is no lack of material to air. Please make time in your busy schedules to do more series. It is reuniting families as you saw. And that makes all your sacrifices worth it to see a family reunited.
AGREED . . . The fight must continue, until Scientology is defeated, otherwise, they win !
AND I hope the do a show about Danny Donkey Punch Masterson.
I’m hoping this series goes on for years. As more & more people leave the cult, there will be a surplus of ex-members waiting in the wings to tell their story.
I like most of this post. It makes some good points about Scientology’s tactics. It provides facts and documentation. It makes a good case that they do not bother to consider or understand the case they are trying to rebut. I’m glad you put in the time to respond to their “responses.”
However, I think things like “never amounted to much” and “completely forgettable” hurt your case. This is the same kind of name-calling that Scientology resorts to. Yes, these people are behaving like mind-controlled robots, but that is sad. It is not reason to try to out-shame the shamers. In a battle of shame-flinging where s/he who flings the most shame wins, I have no doubt that CoS would win. That is not what this is. This is about honoring the inherent worth and dignity of our fellow human beings. It’s about treating people, especially workers, decently. It’s about choosing compassion rather than trying to win at all costs. His failure to understand the latter is why LRH was such a total failure as a human being, and it’s why his CoS legacy is so abusive by its very nature.
Mike, I admire that you have gotten out of CoS and are speaking out about it. I do not admire when you match CoS’s tactics. I was most moved by your admission in the May special that you were no better when you were working for the church than those who covered up child sexual abuse. That kind of moral self-examination is very painful, as you said in that show, and it’s what is absolutely necessary to ensure that you do not fall back into old ways as Marty Rathbun did. Please re-consider such statements as the ones I mentioned above. They are in the wrong direction for you, and as I said, they hurt your case against CoS.
Good point.
The FACTS are the “case against Scientology” . . .
A few well-aimed “barbs” from Mike DO NOT CHANGE the facts of what Scientology really is !
Mike, understandably, has a lot of anger and resentment towards Scientology and does not need to “sugar-coat” what he has to say about them !
The FACTS will DESTROY Scientology, eventually !
I’m afraid I was a bit taken aback by those comments and I have to agree they were beneath Mike. I can understand they stem from frustration but still not the moral high ground. I’m such a huge fan of everything they’ve accomplished and hope to accomplish in the future. I hope these comments were just a blip.
Well, they are probably inappropriate, though I beg to offer that they are far less offensive than people making up lies about someone. They may be snarky, but they are not UNTRUE. What those women say are untruths intended to hurt a mother. I don’t have a great reserve of compassion for such people.
But point taken.
This is what I like about Mike – his ability to change his mind.
If the point is taken, will you ever get it back?
In the immortal words of Redd Foxx: “That’s a good point, why don’t you sit on it.”
I still like the idea of one or more of our members who are good at internet and research, to find out dirt on the worst “burn her at the stake” people the church trots out for their ad hom attacks, and we gather intel and info and do our own web site exposing those who are attacking the whistle blowers. But the difference is on our side it will be true things said which can be documented and proven. Maybe by doing that, it will make people think twice before becoming church spokes puppets against whistleblowers.
I thought it was, at the very least, appropriate.
You’re an intelligent gentleman, Mike. Your ability to be objective and fair, not only about others’ speech and behavior but about your own, too, sets you apart, Thanks for all that you do.
NONE of us are Mike’s “moral compass”, nor should we attempt to “mold” him into what WE think his “image” should be. Scientology already tried to do that to him !
In the end, Mike must be “true to himself” and stand up for his beliefs, rather than acquiesce to a “coaltition” of “thought-minders” . . .
Political-correctness has no place in dealing with the evil of Scientology !
God bless you, Mike . . . Keep fighting !
Exactly Dave F. – Mike please don’t change your style. We are not here for sugar coating or political correctness. If you have to say it like it is and it comes across angry or whatever, so be it! It’s better than apathy.
Agree completely Dave f. He was told how to act and speak for years. It’s Mike’s time now.
Well said, Missy !
And the hits just keep coming! The episode last night was really good. Raminia was very powerful in her presence and made it known just what made her leave. The church could not wait to do their victim bashing and it was not even fair. I would laugh if it were not so sad.
The are showing their desperation by making these shameless videos to discredit the people profiled, and it is only making them look really bad.
I just finished watching the show – it was one of the best ones yet, thank you so very very much.
I’m so happy for you and Leah and what you are accomplishing. There has been so much good to come from it already and so much more, it’s just so wonderful to see the results.
Thank you for calling Scn on their awful responses and lies. Thank you for showing just what they do.
Wow. Just – WOW. It’s hard to put anything into words. I’ve been awash with tears and gratitude, I feel so much for all who were on the program.
….
The results must be so gratifying for you. You and Leah deserve to feel wondrous happiness from all you’ve done, and this goes also to the grand clan you had on the show. It’s so heroic.
….
So I’m happy for you, for all the people you’ve helped, the ones you don’t even know about, and for the changes that are happening as a result.
On a personal level:
Aaron – my heart broke watching him and listening, he’s such a good guy. His vids have been helping me in so many ways lately, and this show and his tears have helped me in another small fashion – I beat myself up for all of my own tears, scios and staff don’t cry – we fight and are causative – but maybe tears are the correct response, maybe I’m not just a loser crybaby.
Mike – your bit about ten years later and still having to examine the source of your thoughts, patterns, opinions, WOW – this was another good bit for me on a personal level. It’s so bloody good to not feel just alone and questioning my sanity and worried all the time.
I think part of Scn really drives in high personal expectations of behavior, strength, and personal thought control – “Keeping One’s Bank Off” I think I may be able to back off the self flagellation a bit more now.
So many facets to getting out and regaining our minds.
…
y’all are my heroes.
It’s amazing how someone can be in a perfect position in Scientology and 20 mins later if they decide to quit and say a word then they were thrown out and of course here comes all of their crimes . I truly hope after last night people will see that this is a cult and the government needs to step in and stop making them tax exempt and then they would disappear…..
Wonderful episode. Glad to see mom and daughter together. Thanks Mike and Leah.
I loved seeing the people from Season One – I feel like we are part of a family. My heart goes out to all those who are still not reconnected with their families. Mike Rinder has my heart, when he cries I just want to hug him. Love and prayers. You are all doing awesome things, saving families. My prayers are for the government to step in and stop DM in his tracks and to reunite these families. Also praying for the hurts and betrayal you have all been subject to to become your Treasures as you do so much to help others..
At least Scientology Media Productions is doing something with their 5 acre, 50 million dollar facility…
Great show, and inspiring people! Thank you all.
Mike, Do not sell yourself short! You are also “co-host” and Leah’s “chauffer” LOL!!! I personally love looking at their stupid website (saved in my favorites) so I can see what they post right before or after the show. I think of it as my Tuesday funnies. They start off saying the ratings are way down? Really? Why is A&E running all of the shows again and again if the ratings are so poor? They failed to mention the “Emmy Award Winning” part. It was so predictable they would go down the line and say what rotten apples everyone was and how they were EXPELLED! “High ethics” and “standards” that is some funny stuff. I assume little Davey previews and approves the attacks before they go up. It is hard to believe he sticks to the same tired format week after week. Nothing new from Marty just 100 more comments from the Oracle (also posting under another name that escapes me at the moment) My comment was blocked so free speech not allowed at “Rash-Burn’s”
Scientology is just proving everything your show is exposing, by their lies and hatred of former members! Plus all the documents that every scientologist has to sign prove what they believe about everything that’s being said! The ones about treating children like adults is so disgraceful – a legal judgement should be brought against this so called “religion” for this alone. I can’t believe the law can’t see what’s going on here especially where children are concerned.
I’m so very happy for Chantal and her mother, however I feel former scientologist need some deprogramming as I can see that what they have been through has been engrained in them and they need help adjusting to life outside of this cult.
I’m so proud of you Leah and Mike and all those who have risked so much in helping others that have left this cult. I continue to pray for healing and freedom for all who have been deceived by RLH crazy ideology.
Whoever is writing the smear page is sitting in an ivory tower. Have they ever been to a Class 5 Org for more than a few days? They are mismanaged, poorly staffed, and incompetence runs high as an organization. For example, only 1 or 2 people assigned to Div 6? This is the basic nature of any Scientology Organization building that is public in the 21st century. The victim shaming is still sad.
GEP, they don’t even body rout anymore! The Pasadena Model Idle Morgue is just one block away from Colorado Bl. The busiest street in the city. Do they walk up to Colorado Bl.? Not a chance. They stand just outside the front doors and try to hand out tickets to passerbys for their intro film. No one is taking the bait. No one…
Speaking of Body Routing . . . Where do they do that in Clearwater, FL ? My wife and I want to do a little “people-watching” . . . Thanks !
In Clearwater they all just hide. Confront went out a long time ago.
Too bad . . . I was hoping to “have a little fun” with them . . . LOL !
Accusers who have been harassed and defamed by the accused are now more frequently suing. They do not often win defamation suits, but it does tend to bring bad press to the accused by pointing out their vicious attacks and abuse of power. I’m sure a legal gofundme for that type of litigative action would be successful given the scope and support of your show. Especially since it is so widespread you could make it a class action at this point.
Again, well said Mike. Very proud of all the former members, their stories r so sad n I’m sure TRUE!! Scientology cult ( I will never call this a church), anyway is a pathetic organization so scared and just repeats the same verbiage of lies, lies, lies of you n Leah n the ex-members. Stay strong.
Bravo bravo bravo to Leah, Mike and all of the brave souls who have had the courage to come forward and tell their story.
It is not an easy road coming out of a cult where all your “friends & family” May still be in. It’s not easy facing a world that you have been taught to believe satan is around every corner and you literally have to learn a new language and ditch the old.
It’s not easy being alone because you cut your family out of your life to follow a religion you thought was true. No not easy but once you do you will never allow anyone to try to indoctrinate you again because you will have learned to think for your self
I was a Watchtower clone for 14 years and was disfellowshiped. At the time devastating but now thankful and saved by the power of the Man, Jesus Christ. There is life after the cult believe me.
As a grown man who left a cult at age 30 some 21 years ago… this has been such a heartbreaking and healing experience to watch all of your shows. The fact is Sciencetology is not sustainable. No cult is. They can only re-enforce the brainwashing until an extreme life event FORCES the true human personality to WAKE UP…. and “step back” from the whole picture of the cult and their programming out put. Their response to each story only re-enforces what your show has proven to be true.
You should do an episode… (or at the least a you -tube) and do mini moments with any ex scientologist … as many as possible….have them simply say when and why they left. I bet if you strung them together you would have hundreds. Do these as often as possible. Scientology would have to create websites and filmed responses to EACH person… due to their “rules”. The fact is you have started a tidal wave… and it is growing bigger by the day. Well done…. Love to you all who are on this important show. You are educating about cults around the world…. and awaking the minds and hearts of countless lives.
It’s just so awesome that all you are really doing is holding up mirrors. They flawlessly reflect the beauty and resilience of everyone who escapes, all the while letting the *church* do your work for you through their conspicuously wretched behavior.
I’m reminded of that episode of Star Trek: “And the Children Shall Lead”. The gorgon is CoS leadership, the children are the rank and file, and you and Leah are Kirk and Spock.
Oceans of love to you all and to all your families!!!
Live long and prosper…
“…their conspicuously wretched behavior”.
That says it, alright.
Mike – great show last night. Was able to watch most of it before I left for work this morning. It’s very powerful having past contributors give a follow-up. It’s also a good reminder of their stories.
As usual, scientology’s attempts to make people look awful are backfiring — I just want to adopt Mary Kahn as my internet mom.
I know, right?
We should make a *heart* website — marykahnisourinternetmom.com or something!
Ok. Mary Kahn is OFFICIALLY our internet Mom. We couldn’t get a better person. All in favor?
🙂 Okay 🙂
Thanks for your support and believing in the truth. I think when people are given a choice to decide who is telling the truth, if they aren’t driven by an agenda, generally get it right. 🙂 When weighing both sides, I think it’s easy to tell that those of us speaking out on Leah’s show are telling the truth.
Mom!!! <3
You are very welcome — thank you for continuing to share your life with all of us random internet kids.
Disco George, are you saying that I’m back to being a kid??? Whoa! I am stoked! Now…if my body would only cooperate.
Hey, if my two surgically repaired hips can belong a kid again, you can too!
Mary,
I can’t fathom ANYone seeing your episode, watching/hearing your pain and emotion then question that there’s truth lacking in any of it! Your love for every member of your family shines when you reminisce and your heartbreak was palpable – I was in tears watching! (((Hugs!)))
After each episode we see the countless comments from people touched by everyone’s stories and how the pain comes through each time. That’s because it’s REAL and true and that’s why no matter what they say or do, CO$ can’t combat any of it, let alone slow down the train of awareness that Aftermath has created. Their desperation is obvious and only serves to underline the point Mike & Leah make over and over.
Thanks for all you and Leah are doing. I have been in tears several times watching your show and last night was no exception.
If there ever was a question as to whether or not The Aftermath was important and true and needed last night’s show put it to rest. If COS is right and everything that Mike and Leah are saying, everything that all those who have left are claiming, is all lies then there is no way that this movement would be growing. I am just a name on the internet, a stranger to all of this but I am so proud to be supporting the side of truth. Watching a mother and daughter fall into each other’s arms, crying and healing left me feeling humbled by the scope and power of this show. I….I am here. I throw out my small comments from the sidelines hoping they give some bit of comfort or hope or…something. Last nights show had such power. Such….RELIGION. It was love and healing and compassion and positive. It was a reaching out in the spirit of community. A message of “leave the darkness and find love and life!” That one show was everything, EVERYTHING that Scientology is not. Leah, Mike, Marc and Claire, Mary…all of you; you have my undying respect. Thank you.
Thank you Mike! We are traveling for breakfast business and I dad this to hubby as road trip entertainment lol. God bless you.
Ramina and Richard, I can’t wait to put my arms around you again! So so so glad and grateful to see you with your family. Leah and Mike … We love you forever!
Miss Whitfield, I’m so glad you’re posting here. You must have quite a few stories to tell! And we’d like to hear them.
It took a lot of guts for her to go on the show and admit she screwed up and now has seen the light..thats a hero scientology shiould be scared off. Very scared
I don’t think that the word “cult” accurately describes Scientology.
In my opinion, Scientology is a “pyramid scheme”, hidiing behind the facade of being a “church”, operating as a “Quasi-Cult” ( no alternative “deity” or “worship services” ), which employs many of the “brainwashing” techniques used by the former USSR to forcibly spread Communism ( I suggest that you read LRH’s “Brainwashing Manual” – 50 pages long and definitely a “scary read” ! ) to establish and maintain “control” ( literally ) of all of its Members.
LRH’s Brainwashing Manual also opened my eyes, as to how the USA has been, and currently is, being dragged towards Socialism, Marxism, and, ultimately Communism. I’ll leave “Politics” (sorry) out of this discussion, but History is proving my observations from that manual to be correct. Remember that Kruschev said that the “USSR would take the United States, without firing a shot” . . . I believe that this has been underway, for many decades !
Links :
http://www.freewebs.com/slyandtalledgy/Brainwashing%20Manual%20Parallels.pdf
http://www.apfn.org/pdf/The_Brainwashing_Manual.pdf
Everyone please share those links . . . They are “eye-opening”.
I’ve watched several of the episodes you and Leah have done. Keep up the good work!!
The small videos smearing her on my social media were certainly a stir, half the populous that took the time to watch her getting smeared commented on how ugly this whole cult was created for the sake of the money. You know I could not resist commenting lol. Thanks for the hard work you all do for the sake of saving lives, my other alternative was suicide. Even tho I’m still under the old radar (spy satelites) the so called Pieces of Eight built. I could care less about myself, it’s the other ones that can see through thier secrets and pick up the pieces and go home.
Ugh. Scientology SUUUCKS!!! Typos…REALLY?! That’s pathetic. Those people really are programmed like robots. Smdh…Mike you have class and intelligence, and your compassion is boundless. It’s admirable how you stick up for your friends and fellow survivors without fear. Keep goin’ ?
The single thing that absolutely bothers me the most is the designation “religion” and all it’s benefits. Tax savings, hiding behind the 1st Amendment and the entire Constitution for that matter, and it’s all predicated on the thoughts and writings of a mad man. Some would consider LRH a genius and they would be correct if his convoluted sense of self righteousness actually did good for anyone other then the likes of Ron Miscarriage. [sic]. They may be correct in so much as the “company’s” ability to reap billions of dollars from people and then simply build pyramids to themselves with their ill gotten booty. However as we have seen this cult is dangerous to the minds of the young people whom we need to lead this country into the future and thankfully this show is helping to break it down and expose Scientology for what it is. It’s not a God based religion, it is a cult.
Hot Damn Mike – that last show was so good. Powerful. Very powerful.
Death to Scientology by one thousand cuts of TRUTH getting exposed.
Thank you – Mike and Leah – you are truly saving lives.
We love you.
Last nights show was amazing. My favorite part was the dog who is now disconnected. Proving just how idiotic scientology is.
Nooooo. Aaron’s dog is now disconnected from his neighbor lady? Say it isn’t so? That’s really low. The dog doesn’t understand disconnection. Poor pooch. ?
My wife and I HOWLED over that one!
Good doggie! Good doggie!!!
Watching the show last night I was overwhelmed with the feeling that I was observing something transformative occurring. I think I actually saw the very moment the wall of lies that scientology has so aggressively built being knocked down by a tsunami of pure human love and absolute truth. Moved to tears.
Right on. The most tears I’ve shed at any time in the series.
What kind of church makes you confess you transgressions and then makes them public if you leave? How horrible. I read “Dianetics” when it came out in the ‘80 s and I’m so glad I didn’t take the bait. Love the show. It reinforces my conviction to stay away from this “church”.
“What kind of church makes you confess your transgressions and then makes them public if you leave?” Only a CULT would do that.
Such a powerful episode! Ramina and Chantal go and live the rest of your lives happily and together and if living well is the best revenge then show Scientology that they can’t ever break you or tear you apart again!
My daughter and I have been watching the show since it first aired. It is an amazing, heart wrenching, enlightening show. My question is when people you don’t know come forward with their stories how do you vet them? I have read several tweet’s from some individuals who claim they were in Scientology but they were not on your show. I understand not everyone will be either. Just curious as to the process. I hope at the end of the day people see Scientology for what it really is. I pray for hearts to be healed and families restored.
Here is a link to a Youtube video of Nathan and Tara. They speak about their experiences of being on the show, and how the producers vet the particpants. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=riY1XJcUr0s
Mike, it makes me sad that all the people in your program have suffered such loss due to their “religion” I am a Lutheran and I don’t have any of these experiences due to my religion. I know it is because I am in a real religion and I honestly feel very blessed because of it!
I pray you, Leah and all your guests find peace. Life it too short and wonderful for this much suffering.
I love your show. Thank you for having the courage to stand up to something so wrong as Scientology. I am hoping the government will do something to stop this insanity!
That’s because Scientology is NOT a religion..gained religion status so no taxes have to be paid. It makes my blood run cold every time the word religion is even used on the show.
No true “religion ” isolates suppresses or disconnects…. (maybe the Amish?) Or forces people into bankruptcy to belong.
Before we start patting ourselves on the back for believing a “real” religion, please note that the Lutheran church evolved from Martin Luther, who hated Jews. And like other religions, it takes money from people by promising them that invisible beings will determine, through God’s grace alone, that they will either live forever or go to Hell forever, and people like me, who grew up a Christian and decided it wasn’t true, will be horribly punished for eternity. You see, Lutherans and the rest of us protestants are told that we are nothing without God. We are born bad. So, the only difference between being Lutheran or Scientologist or Baptist, as I was growing up, is the level of emotional abuse being administered to members of the congregation (in exchange for money). Those who leave Scientology for another religion are simply giving up one controlling fantasy for another. Thanks for your support of Mike, Leah and the show. But “real” religion? Please.
damn good response.
+100, kengullette. True, and well said.
It is very sad what people claiming to be an upstanding organization can do to people. They are almost like Hitlar’s Regime. My sister was a Scientologist and although we were never really close I never respected or could I condone how she treated our mother or tried to get us all in by giving us copies of RLH’s book Dianetics.
I feel so sorry for these people that are under attack by a “so called” Church. I will keep praying for those people that are still believing in all this.
Also for all of the people that have left and trying to put their lives back together.
I love what you are doing and the lives that have been changed because of it. Please keep going.
“It is very sad what people claiming to be an upstanding organization can do to people”
Isn’t it, though!
Personally, I think we’re living thru a 21st century display of the evil acts a religious organization can perpetrate on those select people the organization doesn’t like – simply because it can.
Our First Amendment effectively gives a religious organization cover to do horrible things.
Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, etc., our First Amendment is a beautiful thing, a precious right, and the Church of Scientology uses it for the purpose of abuse.
God, I was part of this group once. I helped it. Yes, I left quickly after I found out the truth, but then, all those years before…I should have known, somehow. I should have known.
Wow, what a powerful show and a perfect season 2 finale! The best thing is that A & E continues to rerun these shows, over and over again! Mike and Leah are definitely SP’s in the best possible ways. (they are very special people) I am now looking forward to the hate site for Aarons sp dog…. ? ?
The best episode of all, that emanated the powers of love, motherhood, and compassion for humanity. Scientology goes bezerk against people who have these qualities and proves itself to be anti-motherhood, anti-love and compassion, and anti-humanity. I went to bed last night with tears streaming down my face, but these were happy tears that LOVE conquers all. Ramina and her family are the victors over this heinous cult that cannot stand to see love prevail like this because the cult is totally void of love, and it plays no role of any kind in Scientology policy or operations. The cult is sinking to its lowest lows. My heart swells with pride because of this show and what Leah, Mike, A&E, and all contributors have achieved by doing the right thing and exposing our truths.
Right on, Karen! Great post!
Scientology either directly or indirectly attempts to strip away one’s humanity in the name of “clearing” and “full OT” and “safeguarding the third dynamic” . If Scientology was doing what it claims it is doing, then ex members would still have good relationships with people who have a current Scientology membership. Big Pharma isn’t doing Scientology in, it has it’s own blood on everything it touches and destroys.
Scientology Cult Brainwashing
I don’t think that the word “cult” accurately describes Scientology.
In my opinion, Scientology is a “pyramid scheme”, hiding behind the facade of being a “church”, operating as a “Quasi-Cult” ( no alternative “deity” or “worship services” ), which employs many of the “brainwashing” techniques used by the former USSR to forcibly spread Communism ( I suggest that you read LRH’s “Brainwashing Manual” – 50 pages long and definitely a “scary read” ! ) to establish and maintain “control” ( literally ) of all of its Members.
LRH’s Brainwashing Manual also opened my eyes, as to how the USA has been, and currently is, being dragged towards Socialism, Marxism, and, ultimately Communism. I’ll leave “Politics” (sorry) out of this discussion, but History is proving my observations from that manual to be correct. Remember that Khrushchev said that the “USSR would take the United States, without firing a shot” . . . I believe that has been underway, for many decades !
Links :
http://www.freewebs.com/slyandtalledgy/Brainwashing%20Manual%20Parallels.pdf
http://www.apfn.org/pdf/The_Brainwashing_Manual.pdf
Everyone please share those links . . . They are “eye-opening”.
I’ve been catching up on all the second season of Aftermath on Youtube (we don’t get it on TV in South Africa) and was amazed at Jackson (the Miscavige episode) saying he was accused by the CoS of bestiality. That’s a new one! Reminds we of when I first went to an AO and on going through my PC worksheets my auditor wanted to know why I’d murdered my sister (quite seriously asked by a worried looking out-TRs auditor). I told my auditor that firstly, it was my sister wanting to murder me, and in any event it hadn’t actually happened. I’ve often since wondered what crap is written on those worksheets by PCs clearly not understanding a word said. I once had a Japanese auditor who as far as I could tell could not understand a word of English. Only just enough to read out a sec check question (but not enough to ack). Any ways, I couldn’t understand a word he said. I still wonder what the hells he wrote on my worksheets??
I of course meant ‘auditors not understanding a word’.
Senior Moment? At my age there… ummmmm…..crap! Never mind.
Even if everyone on the show had been expelled, what were they expelled for, exercising free will, thinking for themselves, acting on their gut instincts? These are things every human being has a right to do. No one has the right to dictate how someone should feel, think, say, or act.
Yes, those are the exact virtues of humanity which Scientology does not allow and considers them crimes. Scientology truly is a hate school displaying extraordinary low intelligence. The more it is exposed the stupider it gets.
Oddly enough there are very clear statements by Hubbard that outline the goal of Scientology which is to “restore full self-determinsm to the individual”. These can be found in books like ‘Scientology 8-8008″ the Axioms and Logics of Dianetics and Scientology, The Factors and The Q’s. However if you read accounts of former members-especially former Scientology Mission holders who were QUITE successful in their day, they were frequently saying things like “Scientology says it want to create OT’s but once they do they don’t know what to do with them”. The truth is Scientology has a starting point but if you are successful at all in Scientology, you end up at the exit. It does not allow, by virtue of it’s inherent contradictions, a person a rise up to higher levels of self determined thought and not get attacked and suppressed by the very organization that serviced the individual. Some will argue that Scientology never made anyone more able, but it’s not true according to many who left, because they rose up high enough in character and integrity to realize the organization is incapable of making similar gains as they did. I’m actually not surprised many ex-members claim they got nothing out of Scientology, I suspect the collective organizational mass consciousness inside cannot stand the idea of people getting better and then going on to live their own lives. Why would it be okay for others to live their lives when the staff who serviced them in the first place had to give up their own? In Scientology-speak thats called “running a can’t have” on the public. How dare you study about 8 dynamics and then have the audacity to go live them!
“I suspect the collective organizational mass consciousness inside cannot stand the idea of people getting better and then going on to live their own lives. Why would it be okay for others to live their lives when the staff who serviced them in the first place had to give up their own? In Scientology-speak that’s called “running a can’t have” on the public. How dare you study about 8 dynamics and then have the audacity to go live them!” Excellent point, Doug Parent.
Scientology is a “pyramid scheme”, hiding behind the facade of being a “church”, operating as a “Quasi-Cult” ( no alternative “deity” or “worship services” ), which employs many of the “brainwashing” techniques used by the former USSR to forcibly spread Communism to establish and maintain “control” of all of its Members.
Doug Parent, I got a lot out of it then stayed away for 35 years. I enjoyed and am enjoying my life. Then returned my attention to the group to find it had changed into … ‘this’. I like your analysis. 🙂
Doug,
You said it far better than I could have.
Doug,
Rereading your post and the comment that the orgs were unprepared to ‘handle’ OT products reminded me….
Back in the day i got the USMC magazine, and one of the cartoons showed a startled captain at his desk with a master sergeant in the doorway holding back a bunch of wild-eyed marines with guns and knives. The sergeant is saying: “I just trained them up to fighting edge….. Now what the hell do I do with them?”
Yes, good debunking of those worthless losers who create their fiction at Scientology. I am continually proud to watch you stand up and do the right thing by helping these people rebuild their life and protect them by showing how ugly Scientology is. It’s a shame they continue to follow this stupid policy response. The best response would have been no response, instead they act like bullying morons who obviously have no self esteem and throw their money away so people can tell them how to be evil to other people. Sick. Good for you guys! Praying and Jesus and God Bless.
So happy this show is bringing light to what is really going on!!! This is the beginning of the end of “?” !!!!! Great show!!!!! Maybe more families will reconnect now !!!!
Thank you to Mike and Leah for exposing this cult and a huge thank you to all the brave participants!
I am not exactly a mushy person, but the interview with Ramina really got to me. It was extremely powerful. One could feel the pain, the embarrassment, the regret, the need to be forgiven… decades of lives and relationships lost for no good f’ing reason. I hope she stays strong and has the support system to get through these trying times, and I hope her daughter will find it in her heart to truly forgive her parents.
I hope you guys will make an updates show sometime in the future, with all the people who have appeared on the show.
Love you Mike! Blessings on you and your family – drive on. Its striking a chord…
…and well on the way to becoming a symphony!!!
A symphony of truth?
I am/was not involved in Scientology but I and my family were involved with another cult/church who used very similar tactics such as mind control, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, physical abuse, etc.. on their members. I have watched every episode of your show and I am so thankful for everyone involved with it because not only does it expose Scientology for the evil that it is but it also shines a light on other organizations who behave in a similar manner. I too spent time at a “ranch” in the middle of nowhere being forced to clean the outside of a double wide trailer with a toothbrush in 100 plus heat and fed food you would not give to a dog in order to break me down and “correct my behavior”. My family was nearly torn apart because the so called leader of this cult became enamored with one of my sisters but through much prayer and faith we have all come out the other side and I know that what you and Leah are doing will have wide reaching ripples in helping others to come out to the light too. Please continue what you are doing and fight the good fight. Thank you.
Hey scientologists, has Miscavige fatigue set in yet? Or is he really ĶSW?
KSW! Did you mean “Keep Scientology Withering”? In that case, yes! And he’d doing a damned fine job of it.
The dwarf is just such a dick.
What a bunch of douchebags. Hey Miscavige, don’t you have anything else in your bag of tricks? Your antics are getting boring. Oh, and are you smearing a bit of Vaseline on the camera lens to make your script readers look more angelic or something?
Hey those attack videos wouldn’t be financed by donators’ tax free money, would they? Maybe these videos will be exhibits in the coming IRS review of your cult’s tax free status. So keep it up, L’il buddy! You will go down in history as the finest foot bullet marksman in the history of Teegeack and this sector of the trillion+ year old universe. (Imbecile.)
keep up the fight . I want to show you all have my love and support and the Scientology haters need to disappear with there dumbass lies.
The walls of L Ron Hubbard’s sick twisted doctrines on critics has been breached big time by Aftermath. It’s a gift from heaven in my view. And a gift from Mike, Leah, all of the Contributors and A&E.
The truth is kicking your demonic evil ass Miscavige. I’m thinking you need an exorcism. I’m thinking Aftermath is dilivering that exorcism, with the truth, love, and sacredness of family, in contrast to your criminally insane malignant personality.
The more you apply Ron’s evil doctrines on critics, the more we see his and your evil.
Because your criticism of critics IS an unquestionable revelation of your depravity and revelation that EVERY SINGLE JUDGEMENT OF CRITICS IS ACTUALLY WHAT YOU YOU YOU ARE DOING.
DM……….
You are destroying yourself by expressing yourself. Please continue.
The names L Ron Hubbard and David Miscavige are now, for the whole world, names synonymous with evil.
This outcome of infamy, for you both, is the result of applying Ron’s anti social, criminally insane doctrines, that needs to be purged from our society and world.
The walls HAVE been breached, the wicked witch IS melting.
At some point there will be a feature film Dave. Maybe Aftermath has made it safe, POPULAR AND FINANCIALLY PROFITABLE to be critics.
God Bless Aftermath!
Your evil is being revealed by the love of everyday common family members. A love you detest.
A love you destroyed in yourself by being a disciple of a Malignant Narcissist.
DM
you are a thing of pity.
Wow, I guess I had some emotions from this episode.
I love all of you guys for what you are doing, I am crying for joy! ? ❤️??
Wow. You’re my new best friend, the wordsmith warrior.
Brian,
Well written, as always. You wrote: “…Because your criticism of critics IS an unquestionable revelation of your depravity….”. That bought to my mind an old bulletin (HCOB 22Dec1960) called O-W A LIMITED THEORY.
In that bulletin Hubbard said the cycle went from an independent being all the way down to being critical of self, with BEING CRITICAL as the next to last step. The cherch is certainly critical of anything and everything it views as ‘not self’. And, If we can take David Miscavige’s criticisms and degradation of staff as being critical of ‘self’ (since he is the cherch) then this cherch group is truly on it’s last steps.
I do enjoy rubbing in their faces their hallowed Red/Green Implant Commands.
Job well done!
Wow wow wow!!! Incredible episode tonight! I have been brought to tears by many of the episodes and tonight was no different. I, also, got really worked up and pissed off…I was pissed right along side Ramina. Wow!! She let it rip when expressing her disgust of the cult and the damage this cult has done to her family. Very emotional interview. Fell in love with her as I did her with her beautiful daughter weeks ago. I am so happy for Chantel and her family. A beautiful life ahead for them all.
Your joy, Mike and that of Leah’s, was felt tonight as you sat in witness to the reconnecting of this family. But, also, your pain, Mike, as you await the day for your own family to reunite. I was a blubbering mess as I witnessed this, too. This day is coming, my friend.
Mary Kahn…….I just love you and every time I see you I just want to hug you. Sammy is so blessed to have you waiting for him. Almost there, love!
The Headleys…what a remarkable couple you both are. So much integrity. You look so happy now.
Aaron… I cannot watch you without crying. So much understanding and forgiveness in your heart. Don’t let up the pressure….
Dave M – F**k You!
Thank you Teen. I think Leah and Mike are doing great work in educating the public at large about the abuses committed in the church of scientology and in the name of “mankind’s only answer.” Unfortunately, it will take a miracle to get many (such as my son) to unravel from the wondrous web of mental trappings to wake up and come home. But I will always be here for my son and I am always willing to help anyone in any way I can to come out of that web or to establish themselves in the real world once awakening happens.
” Unfortunately, it will take a miracle to get many (such as my son) to unravel from the wondrous web of mental trappings to wake up and come home.”
The most unfortunate aspect is how well the individual is trained to construct their own ‘mental trappings’ and then accept it as their own! The ‘wake up and come home part’ is in our futures Mary. I hope it comes sooner than later for you and all of us!
Geezers, don’t ever be human around Scientology, for if you are and speak your piece, Scientology will hunt you down and do all it can to hurt & silence you. Welcome to the enemy that needs all manner of subterfuge to survive.
Yeah but apparently even a dog can now be an SP!!!
Funny I was just thinking about that dog a few days ago and the prosperous thinking of the old hag. Stupid to the max!
I hope that the dog got his declare Order.
I have been waiting 5 years for mine. I feel like a downstat because there are no hate websites about me. I will have to apply the proper condition and get my stat up. I could say that maybe they just dont say bad things about the dead but I do not believe that.
It just keeps getting better and better. Hope that you do not stop now. You’ve got them on the ropes. Now for the knockout punch! That last episode made me aware of the damage the Church has done to me spiritually. I have had thoughts of suicide most of my life. In my last auditing on the Freewinds I was doing a tailor-made FPRD list on the subject as there was an RTC order to get it done after it came up in a CMO metered interview that I was going to kill myself after I was not allowed to go to my parents 50th wedding anniversary party. After it came up in the interview no-one tried to talk me out of it. The auditing was going great until it bogged and it came up on the correction list that I was dying. I tested positive for HIV a few days later and was off the ship the next day.
The Church claims that it does not interfere in the lives of it’s members. Actually, it does not interfere with the deaths of its members.
Speaking of dogs, have a shaggy dog story myself, a true one. When I was in the church I had two little dogs, cute as can be and friendly to a fault. Everyone loved my dogs. But at that time I lived in a group house of Scn roommates. There was one guy the dogs didn’t like and they would do a low growl when he was near. And once when he came in the room, the dog I was holding started shaking and was obviously afraid of him. Upon much questioning, it came out that he had kicked the dog and yelled at and scared them frequently when I wasn’t there to protect them. Yet this guy actually told me he had had some kind of PTS interview and that his “item”, his “SP terminal” was the dogs. He said he was PTS to the dogs and they were suppressing him. These two small little adorable dogs were, in his mind, the big SP on his case. I wouldn’t believe this story if I hadn’t lived it. Needless to say, I and my SP dogs moved out shortly after that. I heard later that this guy broke his leg and it was taking forever to heal. Well it couldn’t have been my dogs that were the “item” because they were long gone by then.
Sounds like a dog PC. Woof.
LOL, Moxie
Speak your piece? You got a gun somewhere?
In the late 90s I was the Executive Director of SafetyCare, an Australian company. All the managers were called down to Melbourne. What a beautiful city! I spent two weeks there. I really didn’t want to leave. The people are great!
In the mid 70s, I had moved back to Hawai’i. I hooked up with a couple of Aussies and we surfed all over Oahu. They told me that Australia was looking for people to become citizens. I could kick myself for not moving down there. So…I Yawn, you better come to the states. Specially Southern California. I’ll be waiting patiently…
Oh, one more thing: Good on ya, mate!
Good on you too mate! Yeah. Melbourne is a cool place – I like it too. Really good atmosphere and food etc plus quite friendly for a big city.I live in the middle of nowhere now on what is referred to as the wilderness coast – and loving it. Sydney is a monster of a city these days. The road system is a nightmare imo, like it was designed by a drunk spider with a mean disposition, not my ‘cup of tea’ anymore.
Have no idea on when I’ll be returning to the US but I’m sure it’ll be one of these days. The relatives get a bit insistent… Always fly into LA and stay with family there first so we’ll have some suds as you call it on the next visit – be fun!
$cientology is supposed to improve people. But if everyone who has left was a liar, thief, abuser, abandoner, or incompetent, etc. during their 10, 20, 30, 40 years with the organization CO$ failed in their mission to make people better. Or is it the co$ itself that made them these horrible people, warping them while they did their service to the church? Either way it points to how ineffective Scientology is and the lie that they are, their smear sights only CONFIRM the lie of the “religion.”
This is what numbers as more and more people come out and speak do. I have this dream that one episode will have pictures of ex-Scientologists in many countries gathered in groups and the captions: 4,000 Ex-Scientologists in the US, 2,000 Ex-Scientologists in the UK, 1,500 Ex-Scientologists in Australia, (etc.) have left the church, most with stories of abuse, betrayal, disconnection, etc. Shall we tell their stories? Co$ sit down with us.
Sort of like a document dump where co$ scrambles to ID all those in the pics and prepare for hundreds of new stories and new allegations. They will eventually have to tap the same people to do the POW videos and maybe a few of those people will begin to ask questions, read the blogs and the books, view the show and the movies – and leave too.
Anyway that’s my dream.
Mirriam and Saina your stories have shaken the foundations, and it cause Ramina to leave. Never doubt yourselves. This whole episode was powerful and emotional – it should shake the foundation of the organization more.
Mike and Leah, there is so little I can say, because it comes with tears. This is what I hoped for, for almost 40 years. Thank you
I envy you and all of the others who can still cry. I have not cried in 30 years. I need some therapy. Maybe a few rounds of electric shock therapy will handle it. I can’t even seem to die properly.
My crystal ball has an image of Leah and Mike collecting another Emmy next year and DM having a heart attack.
Bill,
I think DM came close to a heart attack when, last year, he found that Leah and Aftermath were put on the Emmy list.
DM: “G** Da** it!!!! I ordered her to be put on the ENEMY’s LIST!!!!!!!!!!
Hey, ENEMY & EMMY. Well, Emmy is kicking ass. As for enemy? The dwarf has a ton of them. He just doesn’t know it.
Enemy needs an enema to relieve his enmity.
Also think it’s weird that all these people became “horrible” only after they left and spoke out. That poor woman had 42 years in….if she was so horrible, why didn’t they kick her out????? All those people in for 20 and 30 years….didn’t become bad until they left….such bullshit.
Amazing show tonite…I was riveted….unfortunately, right at the high point where Leah was reading the text from Remina, to her daughter, the show stopped and colored block lines (indicating stand by) came on for several minutes, then the screen went black, …I switched to the next channel to see if it was a Comcast problem but it was just your show….the entire reading and then some was gone and didn’t return until the almost end of the interview on the couch. I wonder what THAT was about….hopefully just tech difficulties from A & E and not sabotage of some sort…..I am sad to see the season end…..will there be a Season 3? I can’t imagine you stopping now…..this freight train is just gettin’ rolling…..PLEASE keep going!!!!.
I believe there will be 2 or 3 “special” episodes aired soon. Although they might not be aired on Tuesday night.
From your mouth to God’s ear, dear Mary. Both m’Lady and I thoroughly enjoyed your contributions. And what a fabulous smile h’ast thou! 🙂
Lynda I had no problem with Direct Tv. Maybe you can watch it on demand or AE will be showing again I am sure. Most riveting episode.
You can also watch online, if you’re into that. I watch on my Xbox with a subscription to the season through Xbox Store. No issues with broadcast in digital format.
Lynda, did it hurt when you got riveted?
Hugs. To ALL of you. It sux. I commend you. Amen to Ramina. It’s got to be tough to face. But, she did it. Family is worth soooooooooooooooooooooooo much more than a fake “religious” cult will ever be. <3
Mike, you and Leah are amazing, as are ALL of the folks coming forward, mad props to Ramina you are a wonderful example of motherhood and very brave I am so happy you have your family back. Stay strong and stay the course many have your backs
“You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.” – Abraham Lincoln
Keep going with your extremely brave actions against this horrible cult, for because of you and the beautiful Leah (and all of the other wonderful people in this fight), less and less people are being “Fooled”!
If Scientology is so great, why does it contain so many “scumbags”? I mean every single person who speaks out is immediately labeled a drunk or a pedophile or a failure in some way. So if that’s true, then why are so many “undesirables” inside at one point or another? And also, if this is “the way” and “provable by science” why didn’t it work for all these thousands of people who have spoken out and had all their dirty laundry aired by their own “church” ? At what point does this lack of promised results become not the exception, but the rule?
Right. After IT takes your time, your money and then your friends and family, IT “expels” you.
Good old cycle of action – create, survive, destroy. Closer to the truth would be deceive, demean, defrock.
Mary Kahn!!! I wish I could give you a giant hug! You are a warrior sister!!! ?
Well you have got to give them their due Wendy. At least they have the tech to find and locates all of these undisireables before they can cause much of a problem. In my case they got right on it. I completed Clear, Class VI auditor and Oh Tea Three by 1977. 35 years later they caught on to me and decided I was a suppressive.
Dang, I sure do miss being in the Cult!
Yo Dave, What can be done good buddy to make you feel a bit better today? You say Julian has a few more declares to issue before tomorrow at too? You have to be getting right down near the bottom of the barrel these days? Who’s to stay and who’s to go ……………… I think everyone around You is a loser Ess Pee these days Dave. Dig em out, expose their crimes and lose the bastards ………. and do it fast Dave. Try and get it done in under 30 years!
By then Your SuMP ought to be open for business.
Dave is busy with his next phase of expansion: The Ideal Hole Program. He wanted to use the name IHOP, but there were legal issues. I believe it will be called iHole.
The iHole indeed! Now that’s some funny shit!
It’s senior to an a-hole.
Newcomer, just remember what a Sump pump is full of.
I’m afraid to ask.
Newcomer, don’t forget to mention that you completed OT VIII in the church and still they weren’t on to you. It wasn’t until you refused to give money or approve money your wife gave to the IAS that they then had a blinding cognition that this OT VIII was actually an SP. If they had tech on handling and shattering suppression like the course of the same name, they would have ferretted you out decades ago and kicked you out then. But then the reason they couldn’t see you as an SP back then was because you are NOT an SP. That is the lie on the line that they perpetuate.
Newcomer has Super Powers. He just rarely shows them.
These days, I’m happily engaged in conversations with Wogs, and I must say, whenever the discussion is skillfully steered towards the Aftermath Show, one-for-one it’s quite believed.
I wonder if a special episode could also include one that rips apart the Scn response. Their words are so insane and damning that they can be easily used against them.
As you so thoroughly point out, their response is VILE and anti-humanity. It’s unfathomably stupid and juvenile and just proves all the points.
I’d love to throw their fistfuls of poop right back at them.
wow….I just finished the episode. You’re always ahead of me and it’s so bloody reassuring.
No respectable “religion” feels the need to go to such insane lengths be this venal and petty over its detractors. Ever. It gives itself away as a nasty authoritarian cult by acting like an amoral, obsessive bounty hunter. And those people are dangerous. Particularly because it chases its ex-members down with harassing websites and smear campaigns. Every. Single. Time. Who does this? Insane ex-boyfriend stalkers? Unscrupulous politicians? Or hostile foreign entities that want to meddle in elections (especially the inflammatory fake stories and sock puppet accounts and bots. Remind you of anything recent?)
It is the antithesis of morality – no self-respecting religion would act so unaware of that basic tenet (and then have the gall to whine about “religious bigotry” – they are about as “persecuted” as a rabid weasel).
Yes, there are other religious sects that are hypocritical, that try to cover abuses. They pay people a lot to keep quiet. And there are some that are disgustingly judgmental and hypocritically lack the compassion they are ideologically founded upon. But the ONLY place I have ever seen this sort of aggressive and vitriolic attack on accusers and victims is when powerful abusers (aka Harvey Weinstein who hired ex-Israeii military PI people to “befriend” his victims in a preemptive attempt to get dirt on them), or powerful companies (like the Koch Brothers who are so underhanded they excoriate family members in litigation and harass whistleblowers with detectives the same way CoS does) who are protecting their flagrantly illegal acts from millions and billions in fines. It’s well documented. NOBODY does this to people who have forked over hundreds of thousands of dollars to them. Nobody is that stupid!
Obviously this whistleblowing is having some kind of an effect, evidenced by some policy changes to make future crimes less likely to occur, and that’s good, although it doesn’t give the impression of righting wrongs but more like what the Nazis did during Geneva Convention inspections in POW camps – handing out blankets and good food that would disappear when the authorities left.
However, given the fact these paranoid policies of tormenting, lying, brutally attacking any outsider that publicly objects to anything they do were written into the recipe of CoS by LRH himself, and are treated like gospel, it does not look like Ron’s first successor (or any that follow) would likely overturn these policies – like disconnection unless there is an internal revolt and they are rewritten. They seem to be a part of the dna of this cult. Deny, deny, deny. Attack, attack, attack. Like some sleazy fascist regime. And they show no confidence in themselves – that their tenets are so fragile they cannot stand up to any scrutiny or debate whatsoever. That proves they don’t even believe the logic of their own system if they have to bubblewrap it from all outside influence.
It goes without saying we are unspeakably proud of you all, of your bravery in admitting your own suffering and any that this place has caused you to administer to others. We are struck by your strength and will to not only survive but thrive after you leave, to not let this thing destroy who you can be (and we know enough about actual neuroscience to be able to believe that habits that are programmed can be deprogrammed even it if takes a while). Leah and Mike, you must feel so good at the opportunity to facilitate this.
Your protectiveness and warm support of each other are incredibly touching. You have won our hearts, you have convinced our minds, and you have steeled our souls to standing with you until this terrible travesty is overturned like the rotten and decayed statue of false idolatry it has become. You have many, many friends you have no idea even exist yet. Don’t be afraid to ask them for their sympathy, support and help. The outside world is crawling with assholes – we all have to navigate that. But that’s the point of it all – to find the good amidst all the shit. The journey to become people who can locate that prize is what makes it worthwhile.
And you have proven that human bonds and love are much stronger than any crazy ideology. THAT is what will save this planet. Not the Bridge to Bankruptcy.
FABULOUS and right on the money Cecybeans.
yes, me thinks this too. You’re such a stellar contributor to this blog. You elevate the discussion.
Thank you both so much! I know I am too verbose, but being allowed to express myself here has really saved me from tearing out large clumps of my hair. I can only imagine what y’all are going through.
I think Mike’s title Something Can Be Done About It, while a wonderful play on CoS verbiage, is too tactful.
I’d like to see something a tad more incendiary like F**king Burn It Down Already! (so much for elevation).
Mike, keep up the good work. This evil organization needs to pay for the harm and abuse they create. Let’s start with getting their tax status rescinded.
The Aftermath family couldn’t be more different than the CO$. I just finished watching the episode with my family. We cried, we laughed and we celebrated. We witnessed healing and integrity. We saw bravery and honesty and openess and truth. We saw forgiveness. We were inspired and filled with hope. We saw children treating parents with respect and a mother choosing her children. But then, to immediately see the ugliness of the smear campaign! It is stomach turning. It is the complete opposite. The lowest of the low is making children turn on their parents. Obviously, gloves are off because they are against the ropes. The evilness of making a child speak out again their parent on those pow videos is beyond words. And they are pawns. CO$ does not care what it does to the child. It is obvious that they are uncomfortable and being hurt by the experience. Kids want to be with their parents no matter how old and no matter what happens. Chantal is evidence of that. So happy for her mom! Her message was powerful. So thank you for putting a light on their ugly posts. Thanks for the hope and change you are providing. Looking forward to more reunion shows. Praying for your family.
Amazing show. You guys are doing an awesome job! Can’t be easy. It’s bound to help more than you’ll ever know.
Funny how these people are never exposed by Scientology until they speak up. This cult is so predictable it should be embarrassing to them. Every single thing they do – you tell us they’ll do and the dummies play right into your hands. Laughable.
And that’s why people laugh at the cult. It’s fun to do!
Only the most cultured do.
I see their slander ads on YouTube all the time since I watched an anti-Scientology documentary on there. ONE. That incredible reaction made me curious and ultimately led me here. They’re destroying people’s lives and what you’re doing is so important. Keep it up.
cannot play any of the clips you have posted here Mike, what’s up?
Sorry — none of them are live links. Not trying to promote anyone looking at their video, just wanted to show their faces. It is not a link to the preview either — the show has now aired — just an image.
Thanks Mike for no links. Don’t need to give them stats and we now know what they say.
Fantastic show!
YES. I can’t stomach them and don’t want to give them the clicks. Thanks to Mike for doing the dirty job for us.
Fantastic recap Mike.
Keep doing the great work you’re doing, Mike. Tonight’s show was incredibly powerful. I’m so glad you and Leah are pressing forward and that all of these people have joined in force!
Maggie
The truth is clearly evident. The sickening Scientology retaliatory tactics will back-fire on them. Karma is coming.
And Karma doesn’t like Scientology.
I hope she is wearing a ninja suit and swinging a light saber.
We need to “part Xenu’s hair” with a light saber . . . Cut the head off the Scientology “monster” !
I was tremendously impressed and moved by this episode. What you are doing is incredibly important. THIS is ironically the kind of work you once aspired to achieve through Scientology. People who once felt powerless are starting to speak out everywhere, and this includes recent events in Hollywood. You are all very brave, and Ramina’s courage to allow her eyes to be opened to truth is powerful indeed.
I hope others see this episode and it spurs them into reconnecting with their family members who are SP’s. That would be a true miracle!
They just suck. Period. And whomever writes their scripts for their vids totally lacks a brain as well.
Mike, if these people really were that bad and did the horrible things they say they did (wife-beater, thief, etc) why doesn’t Scientology produce documents or proof of these claims? Do they think we’re stupid? Don’t they realize that by continually labeling those who left the cult as horrible people we’d see that their responses about those who speak out are redundant?
You can be an outstanding executive in the slurch, stellar member for 30 years…but the second you tell the truth, you were ALWAYS slime and a degraded suppressive person. Sorry, Cult of Scn; you can’t have it both ways.
THESE are YOUR Clears and OTS = you created them. You reap what you sow.
Nah.
Those videos are for internal consumption and what I see is actually how little David Miscavige thinks of Scientologists intelligence and integrity. It’s all so transparently staged and written with an utterly laughable level of credibility. Very sloppy. The Scientology body public knows that all is not well. These aren’t “cracks in the wall” now but gaping holes you can drive a cement mixer truck through. Hubbard with all his warts would at least have made some gesture to show that internal reform was being STAGED as a response to the allegations. (Ron’s Journal 68 anyone?) After all Scientology was his baby. Seems to me that Miscavige HAS to give them a response to the Aftermath (no matter how thin) as a gesture of denial because it’s expected in order to maintain the facade of innocence.