I was raised a Roman Catholic and am still practicing to this day. Within our church, we do so much with the Respect for Life initiative and I am just having a hard time seeing this aspect in Scientology. Trust me, I have heard and am aware of the mistakes of former priests. Since those allegations have been outed, so much more has been done to better protect our children. It just breaks my heart to hear the stories of these lovely ladies and what….how they were cared for. How their life was disrespected. Their life was was not honored for the innocent child they needed to be. As a mom, I can’t. All my children have served within our church and have so many adults they love and adore in the way children love a long time friend. I am heartbroken these kids in the Org will never really know that.
No church is perfect but there is always an element of where life is respected.
I am facinated. I am apalled. You had at Season 1. As we say in our family”May the Force be with you!”
Quite frankly Scientology has a theme very similar to the ways of North Korea. LR Hubbard and David Miscgavige remind me very much of Kim Jung Un and the regime, aside from legacy. I find myself speechless of the goings on with Scientology yet no serious investigations by US authority. Thank you for your exposure.
I just watched the episode 1 of S2 of “The Aftermath”, and it is really heartbreaking to say the least. What shocked me the most, is the lack of remorse of the perpetrators, especially Mirriam’s parents, who in ALL these years have never approached their OWN daughter to try to correct their wrong acts and help her. I can understand – though I DON’T justify them in any way – that humans can sometimes succumb to their dark sides, and do unthinkable things. But one would expect some kind of remorse, and a strong desire to correct what they did, ESPECIALLY if we are talking about the parents. But they just basically dumped her as a “trouble source”.
I very much believe in rehabilitation and forgiveness – without that, no real healing occurs – but it is very difficult to forgive and rehabilitate someone who doesn’t even care for what he/she has done.
I also don’t believe in punishment and locking others up if there is an alternative via to real rehabilitation , where both the victim and the perpetrator can heal their wounds, and where forgiveness can perhaps occur for the perpetrator by the victim, and for the perpetrator for himself. And in this sense I can understand the approach of religions to handle their matters internally, BUT ONLY if they are actually seeking the redress of wrongs and the rehabilitation and welfare of the parties involved to the responsible end of their complete healing. I mean, that’s part of what REAL religions are expected to do. I prefer the rehabilitation angle that is to be found in religions – for EVERYONE equally – than the punitive approach from the state which has never actually worked to stop criminal actions nor to rehabilitate anyone. And many perpetrators are rehabilitable and salvageable, IMHO.
But in this specific case, the CofS ONLY cares about protecting their OWN asses, protecting the perpetrators instead of forcing them to assume FULL responsibility for their actions and CORRECTING them, and does NOT use honest processing to deal with the wounds, but to MAKE them guilty. No compassion and empathy at all. I mean, they SHOULD be offering these young ladies help (even if they reject it) instead of declaring them “enemies”. That’s what a REAL church would do. They would apologize and try to redress the wrongs, even if only through religious means. Instead, they just dumped them as their own parents did.
I just hope that the producers of the show and the people involved in it, could find workable honest therapy for these two young ladies, beyond the fact of helping them with the legal stuff. I for one, would be very much willing to donate whatever is within my reach, to make sure they get the help they need.
I don’t understand how Scientology gets away with children working those kind of hours. What about child labor laws? As a parent I can’t imagine handing my children over to anyone. That in itself just blows my mind.
I know Leah fell into this documenting the abuse of Scientology what you and Mike are doing is unbelievable. Please keep up the great work you two are doing. I hope the walls of this Occult will fall.
One more suggestion… You may have already thought of this but the lure of the celebrity centers needs some mentioning… Preying on creative people is definitely something that needs to be exposed. Because in the end, so many of us drop our true purpose in favor of making money to donate more to Scientology. This comes from someone who’s attended many artists conventions Etc only to find out it’s just another reg cycle.
Aaaaauuggghhhh I don’t have cable! I have to wait til Weds to watch on aetv.com. It’ll be worth it tho.
Anyway, Mike, good on ya – I hope we run into each other sometime and I can buy you a beer. Hell, I’ll shout ya fer dinner! (my best attempt at speaking Aussie – hope I didn’t mangle it too badly lol).
I hope I run into Leah sometime too just so I can give her a big hug and tell her she ROCKS! I’d like to give her whole family a hug – what a bunch of cool people.
It felt like you guys have just cracked the surface of this. I’m thinking there is a tsunami headed Scientology’s way.
And ya know………… Scientology (L Ron Hubbard) has abused and weaponized the legal system. So I think the Justice Department would be a fitting karma to scrutinize these, sexual abuse on minors, cover ups
But this law suite isn’t just to harass per L Ron Hubbard’s demonic nature. This lawsuite will have convictions. That’s my take.
As you know, FBI cases are NEVER “CLOSED”, only shelved.
Aggressive FOIA filings have picked the scab off of the Email Scandal (yes, THAT one). The FBI has reopened the investigation.
The pressure is building to yank the scab off of you and your cult’s FBI investigation. This time your Mark will be stuck on your side of the razor fences.
BTW, your peer, El Chapo, is being denied access to his ill gotten finances for his legal defense. He is at the mercy of public defenders and an iron clad, water tight case.
You and your cult are moving to the front of the investigation and prosecution lineup of the Justice Department. Let Ding-a-Ling and your other Rent-a-Thugs know that you will not have the funds to hire them. Over to you to Get-a-Defender.
You’re not a Christian if you’re using people this way that is not right having sex with little girls this is not okay with God. you need to figure out your religion because it screwed up it’s all about Scientology is so f***** up in the head that you’re not living in the real life that’s how f***** up you are
After watching Thetans in Young Bodies, one word: POWERFUL. I honestly had no idea this stuff went on. Scientology, your day of reckoning is fast approaching. Kudos to Mike and Leah for taking on Goliath. Just like in the Bible, we know how this will turn out because you guys will not give up until you see justice. Hope you win an Emmy for your courageous work.
Love that analogy MJ! Their ultra-powerful “slingshot” against the supposed giant… it’s the good true-hearted, courageous individuals who win for those suffering in the end!
Music Junkie, your post brought back a memory that I’d forgotten. Child abuse/sexual abuse happens a lot and in many places. The thing that is so disgusting is that when it does happen in the slurch, people are forbidden from telling the authorities. I just remembered that a sweet, beautiful child that I knew from birth, was sexually molested by another staff member’s older son (after I left staff) and the whole thing was covered up and “handled” in the Ethics department. This is mission level. What a betrayal to that child; by her mother and her group. My heart was broken when I heard about this, years after the fact.
Hey Mike, you’ve been so kind to me, particularly when my newest granddaughter was born that I hope I can give just a little something back. You’re truly a wonderful guy who’s proven over and over that you’re not only out of the morass, you’ve returned with a backhoe. There’s a measure of retribution in that but I see a man who is reversing what he feels he did to others. Any “ins” who leave after seeing Aftermath owe you and Leah a great debt. Hopefully they will pay it back by living a full life and maybe helping others who flee the lrh nightmare. Make no mistake sir, you are respected and admired here and all over this country, not mention Canada, Great Britain and Australia just to mention a few. You have a strength that many others don’t possess, but more importantly you lend it to others who are in need. We watchers can see that thus effort from you and Leah comes at a price. I hope we are an affirmation you both. Most humbly submitted….
Based on yesterday’s preview, tonight’s premiere is going to be heart wrenching. Keep those tissues handy. Thank you Mike, for standing up as well. It was brave, honest and forthright. You have my deep admiration.
Here it is, 2 PM in LA and there is a lot of static noise in the air, I can smell the ozone from some electric discharges, and little black clouds are darting around. Can this be related to an upcoming A&E event?
You will do me the justice to remember, that I have always strenuously supported the Right of every Man to his own opinion, however different that opinion might be to mine. He who denies to another this right, makes a slave of himself to his present opinion, because he precludes himself the right of changing it.
Does anybody here knows where can I watch that episode if I don’t have cable? I am not a fan of watching television so I don’t have cable, and I would prefer not to invest in something that I will not be using that much. Is there a way to buy that episode in, let’s say, Amazon, to watch it on an Android phone? Excuse my ignorance; I am not much into TV and stuff.
Last season I was able to watch online at A&E’s website until about halfway through the season. Hopefully they’ll allow that again, but if not, you can get a subscription (month-by-month) on Sling TV by downloading the app to your phone or tablet, or even your TV if it has internet access. It’s at sling.com and if you have t-mobile (cell service) they have some extra deals. Was worth it during the season since we had tablets & a computer attached to the TV so we found some other stuff to watch, but even just to support the show – it was worth it! Hope that helps!
Go get ’em, Mike and Leah. The abuses of scientology have gone on for too long. The public outrage is growing at an ever accelerating rate. The beast is tumbling.
Also, I will be making popcorn to watch the ridiculous and infantile counter-attacks that will be attempted by the “church”. I imagine that David Miscavige is locked and loaded with his foot bullet ammo. We should all be grateful that scientology is in the hands of an incompetent narcissist surrounded by nodding yes men and yes women. Miscavige, at the helm, is scientology’s worst enemy (if the enemy of my enemy is my friend, then what does that make Miscavige? … … should I have him over for a Sunday dinner? Nah.)
Get the air popper ready for the pop corn & have some drinks on hand as well……Ahhh…can’t wait to see their on screen “The Church CHALLENGES”…………so everyone is lying is what THEY are saying????
I love your show. Can’t wait for Season two.
My kids and I watch it together so I can teach them
About cults and how important it is to question life. Your show has taught millions of people about the truths of Scientology which was always so mysterious.
I’m so excited, and I just can’t hide it
I’m about to lose control and I think I like it
I’m so excited, and I just can’t hide it
And I know, I know, I know, I know, I know I want you
Mike and Leah, thank you for this powerful series. Hoping it will awaken many still in and/or on the fence to look and search on the net for further data like I did.
In July was another anniversary for my arrival on Ortega and here. It all started with a friend (non scio.) on facebook posting an article about Leah leaving the church. Intrigued I clicked on link and somehow ended up on Ortega’s blog. All of a sudden I’m watching Marty and Mike fishing and talking, well the rest is history. My thoughts at the time was WTF?? What rock have I been under? It took me close to a year to make my first comment here and two years before commenting at the Bunker out of fear that OSA would track me down. The thought of that now makes me LOL.
So thanks again to the both of you for what you’re doing even with the attacks coming your way. I pray a major avalanche of many fleeing the cult.
The mere fact that you’ve been forbidden to watch Leah’s series, or to discuss among yourselves the very serious allegations of crime, abuse and neglect that have been directly made against the church, should confirm for you the fact that you’re a member of a very high-demand, high-control group which does not trust you to investigate for yourself and to draw your own conclusions regarding those allegations.
If the personal accounts of physical and sexual abuse that season two is focusing in on are untrue, then why are they not being directly addressed by the church and refuted with direct, specific objective evidence and testimony? Where are the church’s knowledgeable and articulate spokespersons? Why is the church’s entire strategy in dealing with these very serious accusations confined to making blanket, generic denials and engaging in hate campaigns against those who claim to have been victimized and abused by the church?
These, and many other questions of a similar nature, jump instantly to mind for all of us on the outside of your Scientology culture…why don’t they do the same for you?
If these church-sanctioned crimes and abuses did occur in the past, but reform efforts since then have eliminated them, then where is the church’s clear and unconditional acceptance of responsibility and dedication to making amends to those who’ve unjustly suffered in the past? Where is the direct, public renunciation of those vile church practices of coerced familial disconnection and fair game? Why has no one at the top been held to account for the atmosphere of fear, threat, coercion and shamed silence which permeates the entire organization?
Harpoona, I think it would be wonderful if someone has an email list of all public Scientologists and could email this to all of them. Many (most probably) would just ignore it and delete it after the first sentence I’m sure, but if it could get through to at least some of them (I think Debbie Cook did something similar) then it would be worth it. Well written.
Thanks, I know that some still-in, UTR and almost-out folks read this blog, so it’s good to speak directly to them. after all, I used to be them, so I can relate.
Mick, Debbie Cook’s email/letter caused a LARGE number of people to start looking. I sent it to every “on the fence” Scio I could think of and even to some die-hards through their FB accounts. I was later contacted by a few that told me THAT letter I sent them was the impetus for their final departure. Yay!!!
Harpoona well stated but the bubble dweller would reply:
– I’m the one who chooses not to watch these entheta suppressive shows
– These allegations are old, obviously being told now in order to collect some huge settlement on the heels of this inflammatory show
– If true I’m sure that the perpetrator was properly handled in ethics
– Our great leader will not stoop so low as to explain these wild allegations
– We are expanding beyond our wildest dreams is why all these SP’s are coming out of the wood work
I joined the SO in 1975 when I was 7 months pregnant. Let me tell you, there was no special berthing provided for us when my son was born. There were two ‘baby rooms’ in the Cadet Org, each room having about ten children in it, in cribs. No one was in charge, except for the reluctant and untrained teenager down the hall. Conditions were deplorable. By the time he was six months old, I was done and we left. Fortunately he doesn’t remember and he is a well-rounded 40+ year old.
Although I eventually came back for the SHSBC as public, I drifted away completely for 3+ decades. I assumed everything was more or less as I had left it in the early 80s. Very surprised to fall into the Aftermath series while channel-hopping at Christmas. My eyes are opened to the decline. I’m looking forward to Season 2; Mike and Leah, you are courageous for doing this.
Your show popped up on my tv auto recordings and I did not know it was another preview. I was so excited! (So I was furious to see you have to share it with another show preview). I understand today is the day so I feel better.
I want to echo what Brian said above in that I think one of THE biggest reasons you are successful is that you are both so genuine with self-reflection and self-criticism. That is the diametric opposite of everything the church is about – which is one reason it will eventually fail. Self-criticism is honesty. It is authenticity. It is evolution. It makes the self-aggrandizing lies Cos tells itself and others look false, delusional and suspicious. And I am sure that it will help people who are coming to the place of healing where it is both healthy and safe to ask questions and determine your own outlooks.
I know that it will be particularly disturbing for people to recount instances of abuse that took place in the church, ones it either ignored or may have perpetuated. I am glad you are there for them to receive those stories in compassion.
One small thing (and it is the only criticism I can think of at all for this whole series). Last night Leah talked about how a belief in reincarnation that CoS has results in devaluing children. I think that was a mistake. Up until now, you have stuck to criticizing doctrinal things that CoS says and does that are harmful because of how they are applied – not necessarily WHAT the ideas are.
Reincarnation is a fundamental tenet of many non-Judeo-Christian-Islamic religions (and it was also present in early or more esoteric forms of Judaism and Christianity). There are many, many people who believe in it today. As a spiritual concept itself, the idea of coming back over and over to learn lessons of life is not harmful. Nor is the idea that people often reincarnate to be with people they have known before or are familiar with, because it allows them to work together learning spiritual lessons. It does not make people devalue relationships in any way, shape or form. Some people think it takes the pressure off of being perfect in this life because spiritual growth is an ongoing process with many chances to evolve over time. Combined with the law of karma it prevents abuse, because cruel things done in this lifetime must just be repeated until the lesson is learned and spiritual advancement attained. In fact, almost all religions originating in Asia believe in reincarnation.
However, the way the concept of reincarnation is handled in CoS is very toxic because of how the entire belief structure is set up and administered. A lot of other cults that do not believe in reincarnation (some of them, in fact, being Christian) are just as abusive to children and for the same reason. They look at children as property belonging to the church, not the parents. It is a tactic to control everyone.
The bonds between parent and child are incredibly strong, and breaking them and transferring that bond to an organization is the truly evil thing that occurs in this situation. I want to beg Leah to rethink this because, so far, you have been truly intelligent about respecting specific religious tenets in the church and only talking about how poorly they are applied or how they are twisted to use as a hammer to punish others.
Anyway, I wish you both all the luck in this new journey. You have many people you love and care about surrounding you, and who have your back. And you have the support of millions of us who have never been in (hopefully people can find a different word than an old racist slur to call us), who want you to know we have your back. Mind-control, for any reason, is evil and abusive. It robs us of the most important tenet of all and that is respecting universal free will. Thanks for all you do!
” Last night Leah talked about how a belief in reincarnation that CoS has results in devaluing children. I think that was a mistake.”
Hi Cecy,
Having my own daughter in the cult since she was 16 and observing her transformation from a child into a loyal officer has proved to me that Leah’s comment is very accurate. IMHO it absolutely does devalue children because it basically says that you are not a ‘child’ but just another immortal thetan …. “now get off your ass, stop crying because you miss your parents and get to work!”
Believing in reincarnation or not is a personal choice each person makes. Make it something that adults can use to evaluate a child’s conduct and justify a way of treating them and you have something totally different and potentially very dangerous. $cientology is a case in point.
“Reincarnation is a fundamental tenet of many non-Judeo-Christian-Islamic religions (and it was also present in early or more esoteric forms of Judaism and Christianity). There are many, many people who believe in it today. As a spiritual concept itself, the idea of coming back over and over to learn lessons of life is not harmful. ”
Yep, that’s true. And Hubbardology said we all could get whole track recall and come back. Hubbard failed, there are no reported cases of people coming back with memory of being a scientologists or a mother or dad or whatever of another. Somehow or another, nobody who has done auditing can recall exactly who their mother or dad or whoever was last life.
Hubbard tried to solve that mystery of reincarnation and sold us on the idea or concept as well as a precision science, standard tech, KSW, will allow one to have whole track recall, or being cause over life which would mean being able to discard the body like a suit and come back with full memory of who one was last life so that the cycle of birth, continue and death would not be that cycle of action.
Never happened. No other religion has succeeded as well.
Hubbard even admitted he failed and wasn’t coming back, LOL. The old man could never stop using rhetoric.
Most people who believe in reincarnation these days don’t believe that people walk around with full knowledge of former lives. It would kind of spoil the point of learning lessons. And most religions who believe in reincarnation are wisely not that interested in finding out – it turns into an ego thing, which is also counterproductive. For many years, however, the Dalai Lama was chosen by individuals who had to pass a test to verify they knew certain things that only the previous lama would know, so that is not the practice in Tibetan Buddhism.
A growing body of evidence exists from a broad variety of groups (and I have been studying the phenomena for many decades) of hypnotherapists and even some scientists that people can be regressed and very often vividly remember previous lives with verifiable historical details. Parapsychology researchers in countries all over the globe have amassed a lot of data over the past century, even though it is not yet mainstream at this point. But it is climbing out of the New Age woo-woo stage and pretty quickly. It has been successfully used by some therapist to explain and treat phobias and conditions that do not result from any trauma in the person’s current life, or can otherwise be explained.
The thing that makes these examples somewhat believable is that people recounting them are not creating stories where they are famous or important people. While it may be more a function of a universal database (sometimes called an akashic record) where certain people can tap into a record of events in certain states of mind, that does not exist in the current spectrum or frequency available to the ordinary senses, it is not a phenomenon that has been thoroughly disproven or debunked by any means.
Just because LRH was a dipshit who twisted the idea, doesn’t mean the entire concept is invalid. That man turned everything normal and decent he encountered into some kind of sordid perverse version of the original, designed only to control others and benefit himself. I think it’s important to separate ideas and doctrines he borrowed from others, from both Eastern and Western cultures, and distorted, from similar ones that still may be legitimate.
I live in a Buddhist country (Thailand) and this society treasures children. Belief in reincarnation as itself does not cause people to devalue children in ANY way.
Scientology culture is what leads people to devalue ANY personal relationship at all. Your spouse, colleague, relative or best friend today will on any given day decide you are now to be treated as a stranger (worse than one really)
Cecybeans and others – I did not get that Leah was putting down the belief in reincarnation or that children are souls, etc. She was pointing out that the church uses this belief to be irresponsible for children in the church and anything that happens to them, whether it be rape, molestation, injustice or any kind of abuse. Scientology as set up by Hubbard has no responsibility for anything that happens to any of us, it is all our fault and not theirs. This is why there is no reform in the church, they truly believe they are above the law and especially now it’s Miscavige carrying this on as it fit into his own personality as well. He believes he can beat people up, lock them up, sec check them and RPF them for years on end and that that is OK. Even Paulette Cooper way back in 1969-1970 when she wrote her book “The Scandal of Scientology” was only trying to point out that this religion (Scientology) needed to reform it’s problem areas, like taking people off the street and training them quickly as auditors with not enough care and attention as some people were going a bit nuts with the tech or the auditing, however she also said that if Scientology were to correct these weak areas they could become “one of the greatest religions of all time”…… What an incredible complement, yet LRH and the GO took only the bad that she said and went after her with the intent to put her in a mental institute for saying negative things about LRH and the church. If LRH had accepted criticism and made things better when a weak area was pointed out we would have a completely different scene today, we wouldn’t have this massive mess of mental, physical & spiritual abuse, entrapment, enslavement, Disconnection and Fair Game. All of these things are only necessary because LRH would not allow himself to be criticized or corrected and now Miscavige is the same way and has taken it even a step further. This is what made me realize LRH was not out to help mankind, it was all about his egotistical and narcissistic self. If he was truly helping mankind and truly cared for others with love & compassion we would not have this monster machine today that creates so much disaster for human beings. Hubbard locked people in the chain locker back on the ships in 1968, this is not a man who is “saving the planet” and cared about his fellow man. Hubbard and Miscavage have destroyed more lives than they have helped. It really makes you wonder what are their true intentions…….
I think Leah was referring to the fact that Scientology emphasizes that, as a person has had many parents and many children over the course of thousands of lifetimes, the current family is not very important. I’m not sure if all religions and philosophies that believe in reincarnation do that, but I don’t think so.
Cecy-Very well spoken essay. But, after watching and re-watching the episode, my understanding of Leah’s statement on reincarnation was specific to Scientology and not a general view of that particular belief.
…..”a belief in reincarnation that CoS has results in devaluing children. ” You said it yourself; the belief that the CoS has….
Okay – I may have misunderstood her intention then. I watched it twice and that was my impression. That she was making it correlative. But I am glad to be in the minority. Living in a Western society, full of religions that don’t believe it in anyway, and are far harsher about their criticism of it, it makes my own point very small. But I have great respect for how both Mike and Leah are managing to circumvent criticizing the ideology itself – because that does feed into the “religious intolerance” bullshit they spout, and concentrating on its practices.
Plenty of so-called “Christian” churches are full of horrible examples of corruption and sexual abuse (FLDS comes to mind), and the law still somehow is able to prosecute them, so I think there is great hope.
And while I hate to say it, it may be actually be an advantage to prosecutors that these children have no real close connection to their biological families. When abused children are removed from other “religious” environments, the court often is loathe to take them away from their parents, seeing it as emotionally traumatic to sever that bond. CoS has completely given up that argument or option.
I hope that these abuses, and others involving child labor, trafficking, etc. are able to be collected in some kind of class action suit. The hardest thing for these kinds of victims is having to testify in court individually. Even in the best circumstances it can feel like victimizing them twice.
I have great respect for you, Cecy. That’s why this is the only ‘social media blog’ that has my participation. Intelligent conversation is never wasted.
(And there are some very funny posters on here as well.) ?
Thank you! I enjoy a lot of the content here, although sometimes I feel like I’m attending someone else’s high school reunion. I don’t know the buzzwords and secret handshakes.
But I’ve been interested in and studied comparative religion for a long time. And what I have observed in organized religions is that it’s not the dogma that is necessarily toxic, it’s how it is applied. And that there are people in almost every single one that exist on the globe, or throughout history, that have done terrible things to other people twisting the language of its tenets or donning the ideology as a disguise and justification.
None of us here know anything for sure about what goes on in the universe, we’re basically spitballing. We are barely crawling out of our own solar system. Religions can be artistic and beautiful ways for us to explain life and the cosmos to help us find meaning in life. And they can also be horrific prisons of arrogance and control when in the wrong hands.
I feel so much for the people who have been through this. There is no beauty or freedom in any of us thinking we have all the answers and that it somehow makes us superior to anyone else. It’s like the difference between fascism and democracy. Inequality and lack of freedom or tolerance for others is just backward, it’s not evolution, it’s devolution as a species. It’s efficient and effective but it adds nothing positive to our universe. The concept of Free Will in self-development one of our highest attributes. Anything less is disrespectful to each other and those we share the world with, which is my ultimate benchmark for judging the worth of any philosophy.
This is one of the best statements I’ve seen in a while Cecybeans and I agree completely. Any dogma in the right hands can have great effects yet the same dogma in the wrong hands can have destructive effects, it’s all about the intention behind the person leading from the top, do they really have everybody’s best interests in mind or are they just busy trying to run their own powerful empire.
So excited today finally got here. Been telling all my friends that this is must see TV. Posting on FB and Twitter too. My TV digital guide shows that many episodes from season one begin airing at 4pm EST leading up to the premiere of Season 2. KAW – Keep Aftermath Working!
Kim has promised to stop going ballistic. Will you and your Mark promise to stop your cult’s abuses?
I takes a bluesaltwater state of mind to ignore your swamp being drained and the chemotherapy-like side effects it produces. Trite bashings and fox-fixations won’t help a bit. Grin and bear it.
The honesty and transparency you have provided to the world is matched by only one other person I have known about. I put you on par with T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) who wrote Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Within his accounting of the Arab uprising was his soul-open account of his participation, the good and bad, the light and the dark. All in the open.
It is an honesty that spans all levels of existence. You do and live the GOOD LIFE.
The church is one of the most vile groups around. It’s really rich how it got Mike’s kids to speak about what a bad father he was, never seeing them, etc. Never mind that Mike was living by the rules dictated to him by the SO/david miscavige.
Its so sad. Frankly, I’m sad for those kids because one day its going to dawn on them, the enormity of what they did, and it won’t ever be a question of being forgiven by others, but of forgiving themselves. None of the grieving parents on this blog want their children to suffer guilt. But unfortunately, we are each who we are, and at some point, responsibility kicks in, and we have to look at ourselves in the mirror and say, “Yes, I did that.” And no forgiveness from others ever takes that away. We each have to work that out for ourselves.
Jim…I have a very small ‘library’, less than 25 books, and Seven Pillars is one of them. In this day and age, it is to me remarkable that we get to see the kind of openness presented by Mike, Leah, and the others who have told their stories. If you embark on the trail to tell the story, there are no cutoffs or detours from the truth…the whole truth.
I just got a disconnection letter from a very dear friend. She used words like “fallen angel” and “the dark side” and the SP’s I have chosen to be friends with and she’s all about LRH’s tech. (Let’s ignore the fact that she was willing to talk to me, a declared SP, who lost my son to disconnection when I had never spoken out. I just love the way the church uses the fact that I have spoken out against me. Once someone is declared and had relationships torn apart, they are never supposed to speak out because that will just “prove” that they truly are SP’s. Even once declared, we should toe the line for the church.)
I know many on the outside have differing opinions but I believe in the hands of a benevolent dictator, LRH policies would have been applied in a much more benign and kind way to individual parishioners. I’m not saying the church would have succeeded or been booming. But there would have been far fewer broken families, friendships, psyches, and hearts.
Here is some of what I said to my friend:
“It’s about the abuses. it’s not about the religion or LRH’s tech as applied correctly.
“IT’s about the ABUSES. Period. David miscavige is killing LRH’s legacy. He has altered the tech, beaten people up etc, and much more. Period.
“Not Leah. Not the SP’s. Not “the dark side.”
“So, in an odd way, we are on the same side. But I believe if people don’t stand up against the abuses, the church will continue to contract.
“I wish you the best and hopefully one day there won’t be anyone pitting friends against friends and family against family.
“David miscavige is the SP bringing down the church. No one else.”
Mary, that’s really sad what this church will make someone do to a friend. Their practice of trying to silence victims who speak out against abuse is so despicable. They demand conformity or they will seek to destroy a person. It’s just sick. Check that, it’s just pure evil.
” Mary, that’s really sad what this church will make someone do to a friend. ”
I agree Mick but I also see it as another personal choice that has to be made. Yes, it takes an incredible amount of will to stand up to the group and hold your position. In the end, that really is what Scientology is supposed to be all about IMHO.
Everyone on this site and those who are not here but have left have had to draw their own line in the sand. In a way, the cult is separating the wheat from the chaff. To truly uphold the principles expressed for example in the ‘Creed of a Scientologist’ one would have to leave. It truly is a very sick group but in a way, presents some very basic choices to all who have ever been involved as to whether they will choose to live with honor and integrity or slither away into some dark recess.
This is a battle between good and evil and there is nothing external about it. No heaven, no hell, no god ,no satan, just ourselves and the choices that we make which determine the quality of our lives. I’m glad I chose to be here on this blog. I hope we can continue to create a safe space for anyone still in that wants a hand to get out.
Yo Dave,
Just when you were thinkin that things might not get any worse good buddy, they are. Season 2 is going to bring Your idle morgues down around your ears. And I was thinkin about your friend Marty this morning. This issue with kids and abuse is starting to explain some of Your behavior Dave, in a way that I had never really thought possible. But it does raise the question ……………………….Dave. Have you? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm……….
Mary – that was a good response to your friend. Unfortunately she doesn’t get it and if she’s an “old timer” and has had any auditor training she should know better as in “a 3 swing FN”, REALLY???? And I can go on and on. Anyway I am disgusted by people like her and feel zero pity for the hell they are in.
I was once friends with a few people who became “born again Christians” in a very strict cult….they turned their backs on several of their friends because they said “we didn’t know Jesus”. Despite the fact many of us attended church in our choice of our religion…we did not have “the inside track” to get to Heaven & were viewed as “fallen angels & sinners who won’t repent because we didn’t join their church & recognize the savior the way they do”.
In life even long time friends come & go in & out of our lives for a variety of reasons. Our lifestyles change, our opinions change, our marital status changes, we move away, OR we “get controlled” by a religion.
IMO this woman lost a very very loving, kind, sweet thoughtful person when she shut the door on your friendship……..the saddest part of it all is that she doesn’t even realize it. because she’s so well indoctrinated into “the organization”.
All we can do for them is Pray they see the light one day, & then surround ourselves with people from this blog & Tony’s blog who really CARE about us & understand the pain & emotional scars that’s been left behind.
Mary, hugs to you and yours..one day What Has Been Taken Away Shall Be Returned To YOU!
BalletLady, you said that all you can do is pray for these people is pray that they see the light one day. I have relatives who are Born Agains. They live and breathe their evangelicalism.
Now, I don’t know how typical my relations are of the majority of Born Agains, but if mine ARE typical, then THEY are praying for YOU to “see the light”.
They are what Scientology would call “solid”. REALLY solid.
NOTHING gets thru that does not agree with their fundamental beliefs. Rock solid.
My relatives pray for ME to be “saved”. All the time. That’s what they tell me.
“Saving” me is a goal of theirs, apparently.
When I tell them I’m a hopeless case they don’t laugh.
Hellfire everlasting is no laughing matter to them, its very real, and they KNOW that’s where I’m going unless I become a Born Again, like them.
So, what does one do with people like this? When they’re practically the only remaining relatives one has on the paternal side of the family?
Well, they live a good distance away. They’re good people in many ways. I try to keep their good qualities in mind. If you’re car broke down in the middle of the night on a lonely road, they wouldn’t pass you by. They’d stop and help you, because its their Christian duty. They’re law abiding, honest, decent people.
I’m polite, I’m respectful, kind. I talk about the weather. (Forget politics because God is a Republican, the Democrats are Minions of the Devil, and Hillary IS the Devil).. I refrain from laughing when their stubbornness and ignorance amuse me. I keep my sarcastic mouth shut when it irritates me. And, this is all easy because they don’t live close by. If they lived nearby…hmmm… not sure if I could keep up the facade.
Thank you. I truly believe it too. Even though there is plenty of LRH policy that’s whack and bring it into the realm of being a cult, there is PLENTY of LRH policy that is good, kind and yes, religious.
David Miscavige has taken it in the direction its gone for over 40 years and it’s mean, vindictive, cruel, abusive and has veered so far south of “doing something for the guy in front of you” that at this point in time, it’s hard for me to buy into this shitty church is because of LRH policy (maybe to some extent and to the extent that he allowed it to be taken over by a sociopath).
I fully agree with you Mary Kahn. David Miscavige is the SP, it’s so obvious. He is destroying scientology. He put scientology and scientologists in pieces. He is the worst ennemy of scientology, and hopefully when all will be said and truth will prevail, he’ll be known in scientology history book as the SP who almost destroyed scientology. Some take Hubbard as a target, that’s the effect of the third party.
I have a question on abuses for anyone. I am not a past or present. But didn’t the abuses occur before David also? Possibly not as bad. But they did occur right?
Thanks for responding.
Mary, first I want to thank you for your courage to speak out. I am not so brave.
It is really important that the underlying message of Aftermath is not lost. The current condition of SCN is NOT attributable to Miscavige….the founder set this all into place early on.
The Int Base has the hole, but Flag had the chain locker, the bilges, and the lower hold where the RPF lived. Miscavige is both a duplication AND amplification of Hubbard’s practices of abuse. Tearing apart families was the order of the day for the crazy founder. No matter how much he wrote and practiced to minimize an emphasis on the value and importance of family, familial loyalty is used as a weapon against defectors and dissenters – he KNEW how important family is. Aside from psychiatry, family was his biggest competition. He wanted that loyalty for himself. He wanted unconditional devotion from his ‘children’ (followers) but never gave the unconditional love of a parent.
My parents, when they resigned 33 years ago – remained believers for a long time. They originally followed Mayo. They thought that if someone could wrest SCN away from Miscavige, then things would improve. They eventually saw the light.
It’s bad. SCN itself is bad. Miscavige could die tomorrow and if a different person took over, SCN would still be bad.
Mary Khan … though LRH did indeed say in one of his very last HCO Bs that if you do not disconnect from a declared SP, then YOU are an SP as well. He wrote that. He oversaw the declaring of some of his most dedicated and valuable followers, like Mayo. He set the vindictive tone for Miscavige and there’s no getting around that.
Spike, you’re sadly mistaken. That you think lrh went off the deep end is wrong, wrong, wrong. He was never in the shallow end unless you’re counting the gene pool.
Hey Wynski, with all due respect, please don’t pile on. Thanks. Many people on this blog, with their stories, have observed LRH becoming noticeably worse in his latter years.
As well, Wynski, I’m not sure what you think my viewpoint was. I was personally told to ‘handle or disconnect’ when I was 19, so I have first hand experience with this.
Mike, again, thanks to you and Leah for bringing this painful subject into the light. It needs to be talked about. Cussed and discussed until victims of abuse no longer feel shame, fear rejection because they were abused. This is my core outrage with CofS. I’m having flashes now of my abuse by a babysitter. I was 8. As an adult I’ve talked about this, privately in therapy, and confidentially to my man. However, I am more private a person than most people I know. I don’t advertise my business. I cant watch rape scenes in movies, have trouble with same sex scenes.
All my love, positive energy flowing out to everyone of Aftermath and all survivors of abuse.
Hi Mike as you know Leah @ your work is so important because your giving the victims a face. I to a victim, and happy I survived that experience. Thank you again for this – this dangerous cult needs to be exposed!
I’m not sure if we can watch it in England for a while. Even the A&E app doesn’t work here. I think the special was available quite soon, I hope we don’t have to wait a couple of months.
Mike, I am sure your schedule of late has been arduous and will continue for some time with the new Aftermath series rolling out. And I suspect you have been dragging up lost feelings about your kids which I can see from the short promo last night still causes you pain. But with some luck, we all hope your $cn children may see the light because of your efforts for everyone still in $cn. Thank you.
Facing your own past serious transgressions is a courageous personal achievement, but doing so publicly, before a viewing audience of millions, is heroic. Hopefully, Mike’s heroic example will serve to encourage others to come forward and do the same!
So far, Leah and Mike’s series has focused in on telling the personal stories of the individuals who’ve been harmed, and the families which have been torn apart, by this killer cult, which is as it should be. However, the other side of those stories which remains to be told concerns those who’ve been the instrument of the cult’s evil in directly perpetrating those heinous acts. Every one of the individuals who’ve carried the cult’s poison water needs to be publicly exposed and held to account for their crimes and abuses, if they don’t step forward themselves, based on their own moral consciences, to accept personal responsibility for carrying out the evil policies and despicable practices of the cherch.
For example, that fat rat of an International (in)Justice Chief needs to be featured on 60 Minutes, with a bike-mounted film crew dogging him wherever he goes, until the extent of his complicity in carrying out the cult leader’s evil intentions is fully exposed.
What the cult never does is to accept responsibility for its past crimes, abuses and consequential mistakes, or make amends for the incredible amount of harm that it’s been responsible for. That complete unwillingness to accept any kind of responsibility is exactly how you know for certain that the cult doesn’t even recognize them as such. That means that they will continue to be perpetrated until all of the cult’s serious crimes and massive human/civil rights abuses are thoroughly exposed and its leaders held to account for them, either through internal reform measures or through the court of Public Opinion, where the cult is currently on trial for its life.
Mike – we are all sending you hugs! Thank you for doing what you are doing. It is the right thing to do and we can see it is hard. You are a courageous man.
Thank you Leah Remini – for having the courage to help us all!! You are delivering a blow to that evil cult that will take them down once and for all!!
That quote is from the policy called “Keeping Scientology Working”, the first policy you study on every major Scientology course.
Here is the rest of the paragraph: . “If they’re going to quit let them quit fast. If they enrolled, they’re aboard, and if they’re aboard, they’re here on the same terms as the rest of us – win or die in the attempt. Never let them be half-minded about being Scientologists. The finest organizations in history have been tough, dedicated organizations. Not one nambypamby bunch of panty-waist dilettantes have ever made anything. It’s a tough universe. The social veneer makes it seem mild. But only the tigers survive – and even they have a hard time. We’ll survive because we are tough and are dedicated. When we do instruct somebody properly he becomes more and more tiger. When we instruct half-mindedly and are afraid to offend, scared to enforce, we don’t make students into good Scientologists and that lets everybody down. When Mrs. Pattycake comes to us to be taught, turn that wandering doubt in her eye into a fixed, dedicated glare and she’ll win and we’ll all win. Humour her and we all die a little. The proper instruction attitude is, ‘You’re here so you’re a Scientologist. Now we’re going to make you into an expert auditor no matter what happens. We’d rather have you dead than incapable.’” L Ron Hubbard
If you had any thoughts, hesitations, doubts or reservations a careful reading of that paragraph will put them to rest. You have the choice of being incapable, and dead, or believing in the supremacy of Hubbard and “alive”.
Dave Miscavige, Chairman of the Board of the Religious Technology Center and self-styled “Pope” of the Church of Scientology has that policy engraved in his brain as the prime directive of his existence. All wandering doubts and nambypamby open-mindednesses have been purged from his soul with an atomic branding iron. He is the true tiger, at least in his own mind, determined to survive in the face of all attacks, whether by pretty actresses, TV shows or abused former members who speak out on the internet.
It would be ludicrously funny if it were not for the damaged lives of the victims.
Focus on KSW is always about #7, #8, #9, and #10, just as Ron wrote. But before he listed the numbers 1-10, there is a paragraph (#4) in HCOPL 7Feb1965 that states :
“The only thing you can be upbraided for by students or pcs is “no results’. Trouble spots occur only where there are “no results”. Attacks from governments or monopolies only occur where there are “no results” or “bad result”.
That factually makes this paragraph SENIOR to numbers 1-10. It was of no avail when I pointed this paragraph out to staff, and told them to deliver what was promised. Beating everyone with a stick (#7-10) was far easier than the truly harder work of digging in and resolving the pcs life issues. Auditors had the tools to perform therapy if given the freedom to fully guide the pc (never allowed). The staff were, and are, clueless regarding mental therapy. All hail COB (cluelessness personified).
Note that this particular tigerette killed off the Briefing Course, the one that made superb auditors. You rarely hear anything from them any longer about “making auditors”. That’s been relegated to the background and the only “excitement” is either how much money they’ve collected or the opening of another empty building. So much for tigers. 🙂
“Now we’re going to make you into an expert auditor no matter what happens.”
Yeah, right – anyone showing up at Saint Hell or ASHO or any SH org anywhere and asking to sign up for the BC can’t. The Cl. VIII course is also not being delivered. I’ll bet they make him give the $ he had saved up for the training to the fucking IAS or Ideal Org or some other such bullshit.
Not that I care, but those courses *are* scientology. Not even scientology is delivering scientology these days. If I were still into scientology, I’d be very upset about that.
Thank God I’m not.
I’m spending the time and money on learning new languages and travelling to places where those languages are spoken. That is so much more fulfilling than the Fatman’s crap, and it costs less.
Have my DVR set in case I’m not home in time. Cannot wait to watch the second season!
Mike and Leah, thank you.
My brother and I were in the cadet org from 1979 – 1981. Luckily my parents moved a little north to Ventura but we still had to do services at the Mission that used to exist here.
Time to bring them down and put a stop to this thing.
Mike: What you have opened yourself for takes more guts, courage and integrity than I can possibly imagine. That you have deliberately chosen this path to expose ALL of the inhumanity of this pseudo “church”, being willing to admit your own culpability and taking responsibility for it, makes you stand out in my mind in a bright and glowing way. You and Leah have opened a door to the truth of scientology and hubbard which will NEVER be closed. You’ve also made it safe for others to come forward. The trickle has become a torrent! You have my total respect.
Thank you Mike, Leah and A&E for your tireless efforts to expose this cult. Had a discussion with a bunch of friends about Aftermath this weekend and posted it on our group page as a reminder that season 2 begins tonight. Counting the days until “this thing” unravels at warp speed. May all the disconnected and imprisoned and wounded soon begin healing.
Seeing the preview last night, this seems like it will be a very emotional episode for me. It’s hard for me to say I’m “looking forward to it” due to how difficult it’s likely to be to listen to, but it’s necessary that we hear these victims’ stories.
And Mike, your segment where you spoke of your two children still in and said “I was a Sea Org father”, that really had an impact on me. I hope you’ve come to a sense of peace and realize that you are a good person and a loving father and that what was done to you is not a fault of yours, but a result of what this organization does to a person who only has the best intentions at heart and a fervent desire to help others.
Time for everyone, especially Mike, to stop beating himself up over something he had little to no control over. I’ve said it before, NO one, no organization, church, etc should have that much power over anyone else. Mike knew exactly what would have happened to him had he not taken the fastest exit OUT of the door by escaping his monitors. Like others, he’d have been sent far away from his 1st family & never permitted to see or hear from them again….either way…a divorce would have been “suggested” after Mike escaped & he would have no control over that either.
This is going to be a toughie to watch. Mike you are being very strong and I admire and salute you for your courage and humility. You and Leah, your team and the interviewees are doing an incredible thing. I will be encouraging my daughter to watch this.. will be hard for her perhaps but also I think, purging.. might release some buried stuff that needs to be looked at in the light of day. We love you guys for everything you are doing and for having the guts to bare your souls in front of millions. Many Karmic points. Many. Love JL.
Mike, looking forward to it. You and Leah have had a huge impact on the cult and its members. They are now trying to defend lies by telling more lies.
Not working to well for them. And Daveys scam is wearing thin.
And poor Tom Cruz is finally going PTS to the true SP. all caught on video.
Break a leg.
Probably not. But generally it is available 24 hours later at RuTube. I have occasionally used that web site for viewing, but I always used a VPN connection just in case!
Nothing cuts through the logic of ‘greatest good for the greater number of dynamics’ than child abuse. Anyone with a heart just knows it is wrong, wrong, wrong.
An organization that is supposedly ‘salvaging this sector of the universe’ while boasting to be the most ethical group on the planet is about to be exposed for what it is…a cult with no regard for human rights, integrity, or the innocence of childhood.
Shine the light Mike and Leah, shine the light. Thank you for everything you do despite the personal risk.
Wynski: Post-Dianetics, he was a felon;even more evil. Locking a 4-year-old in the chain locker, indeed! Locking ANYone in the chain locker would be beyond the pale, fo sure, and it was only because of Mary Sue’s sacrifice that he wasn’t convicted as the mastermind of that series of felonies and other treasonable acts against humanity. He made “Human emotion” into being a bad thing; Thus he wasn’t even up to the level of fully functioning human, couldn’t see that he was violating nature’s laws by many or most of his proclamations denigrating honest and open emotional congress.
GAWD, the guy was such a sub-human misanthrope. Of COURSE he had to go to sea so he could so easily sail away from anything he couldn’t confront. I’m surprised he didn’t simply leave his third family behind in some filthy port. Oh WAIT! He did — in so-called Clearwater, wasn’t it?
When I was stationed overseas, in various shitholes, we would do something for the local kids (if it was “safe”). We would beg & borrow to get equipment and soccer tee shirts….the purpose was to provide a small among of joy in an otherwise miserable environment. You can imagine my contempt upon returning stateside and finding that children are being exploited in my own country ! This evil origination has to be destroyed !
I think I’ll just hold a large bucket under my chin….if it’s not tears that will be flowing…I’ll probably “lose my dinner” hearing all the child abuse stories of horror. urge everyone to contact any and all politicians to have the Statue of Limitations REMOVED on Child Sexual Abuse……this must stop. Adults who sexually assault a child should received the harshest penalties of all….
Marie, I can only tell you HBO has it in their on-demand nenu. Just watched again for the third time myself (of course shaking my head at Marty’s duplicity.) I think it may be available on Amazon video.
Thanks Barbara! I know…I had to get HBO just to watch it. But I want to buy it via Comcast. So I just have it in my purchases, but there is no option to buy?
Mike I just want to say that, to me, you are being the hero by being so honest with your feelings about the past. In a word: sanity.
You embrace your past and you reveal it through your emotions and thoughts.
Marty on the other hand is a pathetic, pitiful mass of denial and delusional arrogance.
Marty’s arrogance has its foundation in fear and self loathing in my opinion.
You are dealing, consciously, with your past, and Marty is smothered by his inability to look at himself and deal with his past.
You are dealing with your shadow self. Marty is projecting his shadow self by blaming victims of abuse.
You are taking responsibility by looking at self. Marty is in the dark regarding himself. It’s a true pity what has happened to him.
I truly appreciate your goodness and willingness to learn and grow. ❤️
I look forward to watching tonight. And I know millions do as well. I’ve had people coming out of the woodwork, people I haven’t seen in decades call me and tell me they will be watching. People who were NOT Scientologists.
Thank you Leah!! We love you❤️
Thank you A&E. I’ve purchased a temporary package just to watch this show as I do not watch TV.
I HOPE YOU GUYS MAKE A FRIGGN FORTUNE. I HOPE A & E MAKES A FORTUNE!!!!!!!!!❤️??
Because that means millions are watching.
That means millions will know about the true nature of L Ron Hubbard and the demonic side of his church.
Over the years you also have helped me to extricate myself from the cult. You have been frank and truthful, qualities unheard of among Scientologists: So, thanks.
Mike and Leah are giving Miscavige the drubbing (thrashing, walloping, thumping, pummeling, beatdown and pasting) he so richly deserves. And, LRH is getting his contrived and insane 1984 world exposed for what it really is: an upside-down cult designed to create slaves and grab money. A world of opposites where slavery = freedom and lies = truth.
In describing the difference between how Marty and Mike have dealt with the moral weight of their very similar cult transgressions, you state: “You are dealing with your shadow self. Marty is projecting his shadow self by blaming victims of abuse.”
What’s critically important to realize here is that folks who are in complete and abject denial of the evil that they’ve done — like the cult’s sadistic sociopathic ruler — are not just strongly compelled to project and displace blame onto others, but to do so reflexively, as if required by universal law. If you can’t confront and take direct responsibility for the harmful acts that you’ve perpetrated, then you WILL try to lay the blame for them onto others, regardless of how idiotic or obviously illogical those actions are sure to be perceived as by every objective onlooker.
Even worse, folks like Marty and his tiny tyrannical master, who have knowingly and purposefully committed many serious crimes and abuses against others, very often go beyond just displacing blame and projecting responsibility onto others, to the point of further victimizing those who’ve they’ve already harmed, which compounds their crimes and places them beyond redemption or any hope of forgiveness…in other words, it turns them into the epitome of true evil!
What’s truly astonishing here is the fact that this kind of blatant, glaring and extreme evil not only doesn’t register as such in the minds of the cult’s duped and morally comatose rank-and-file parishioners, but that these egregious examples of pure evil could be perceived by them as somehow being constructive, beneficial and *gag* even praiseworthy!
True evil is very hard to confront, in part, because it’s so rare. But we should never make the mistake of being “reasonable-minded” when we encounter it, because that’s where the true dark heart of this killer cult beats; and it’s where the final stake needs to be driven in order to finally, at very long last, clear the planet of this virulent and pernicious meme disease once and for all!
Evil isn’t going to wake up one day, seized by a sudden fit of moral conscience, and decide to do something different; it’s not going to turn itself in to answer for its crimes. It’s not going to apologize, beg forgiveness or try and make up for the harm that it’s done…it’s just going to continue to be what is and do what it does, until someone or something stops it.
That’s what we’re here for and we’re not going to stop until the cult stops perpetrating crimes and abuses!
If you’re still in and following the orders of this Super SP, then you need to confront and shatter the evil and suppression that is within the cherch and not allow it to be projected out onto those whose lives have already been seriously harmed by the cult’s evil practices, or onto the families who’ve been ripped apart by it.
He’s finally showing his PTSness due to his BFF. Unfortunately when they take him into session the biggest SP he’s connected to will never come up on the list.
Saw a small glimpse of what’s to come last night. Mike, you look like you could use a hug. You can see it in your eyes, all you have witnessed, endured and suffered. Every.time. I see you, you can tell that you are where you are supposed to be and what it took from you to get there.
Aftermath begins tonight. Three very powerful words from a power Team who has worked tirelessly to bring the Truth to the world. Congratulations Leah & Mike. ??
I was raised a Roman Catholic and am still practicing to this day. Within our church, we do so much with the Respect for Life initiative and I am just having a hard time seeing this aspect in Scientology. Trust me, I have heard and am aware of the mistakes of former priests. Since those allegations have been outed, so much more has been done to better protect our children. It just breaks my heart to hear the stories of these lovely ladies and what….how they were cared for. How their life was disrespected. Their life was was not honored for the innocent child they needed to be. As a mom, I can’t. All my children have served within our church and have so many adults they love and adore in the way children love a long time friend. I am heartbroken these kids in the Org will never really know that.
No church is perfect but there is always an element of where life is respected.
I am facinated. I am apalled. You had at Season 1. As we say in our family”May the Force be with you!”
Quite frankly Scientology has a theme very similar to the ways of North Korea. LR Hubbard and David Miscgavige remind me very much of Kim Jung Un and the regime, aside from legacy. I find myself speechless of the goings on with Scientology yet no serious investigations by US authority. Thank you for your exposure.
I just watched the episode 1 of S2 of “The Aftermath”, and it is really heartbreaking to say the least. What shocked me the most, is the lack of remorse of the perpetrators, especially Mirriam’s parents, who in ALL these years have never approached their OWN daughter to try to correct their wrong acts and help her. I can understand – though I DON’T justify them in any way – that humans can sometimes succumb to their dark sides, and do unthinkable things. But one would expect some kind of remorse, and a strong desire to correct what they did, ESPECIALLY if we are talking about the parents. But they just basically dumped her as a “trouble source”.
I very much believe in rehabilitation and forgiveness – without that, no real healing occurs – but it is very difficult to forgive and rehabilitate someone who doesn’t even care for what he/she has done.
I also don’t believe in punishment and locking others up if there is an alternative via to real rehabilitation , where both the victim and the perpetrator can heal their wounds, and where forgiveness can perhaps occur for the perpetrator by the victim, and for the perpetrator for himself. And in this sense I can understand the approach of religions to handle their matters internally, BUT ONLY if they are actually seeking the redress of wrongs and the rehabilitation and welfare of the parties involved to the responsible end of their complete healing. I mean, that’s part of what REAL religions are expected to do. I prefer the rehabilitation angle that is to be found in religions – for EVERYONE equally – than the punitive approach from the state which has never actually worked to stop criminal actions nor to rehabilitate anyone. And many perpetrators are rehabilitable and salvageable, IMHO.
But in this specific case, the CofS ONLY cares about protecting their OWN asses, protecting the perpetrators instead of forcing them to assume FULL responsibility for their actions and CORRECTING them, and does NOT use honest processing to deal with the wounds, but to MAKE them guilty. No compassion and empathy at all. I mean, they SHOULD be offering these young ladies help (even if they reject it) instead of declaring them “enemies”. That’s what a REAL church would do. They would apologize and try to redress the wrongs, even if only through religious means. Instead, they just dumped them as their own parents did.
I just hope that the producers of the show and the people involved in it, could find workable honest therapy for these two young ladies, beyond the fact of helping them with the legal stuff. I for one, would be very much willing to donate whatever is within my reach, to make sure they get the help they need.
I don’t understand how Scientology gets away with children working those kind of hours. What about child labor laws? As a parent I can’t imagine handing my children over to anyone. That in itself just blows my mind.
I know Leah fell into this documenting the abuse of Scientology what you and Mike are doing is unbelievable. Please keep up the great work you two are doing. I hope the walls of this Occult will fall.
One more suggestion… You may have already thought of this but the lure of the celebrity centers needs some mentioning… Preying on creative people is definitely something that needs to be exposed. Because in the end, so many of us drop our true purpose in favor of making money to donate more to Scientology. This comes from someone who’s attended many artists conventions Etc only to find out it’s just another reg cycle.
Aaaaauuggghhhh I don’t have cable! I have to wait til Weds to watch on aetv.com. It’ll be worth it tho.
Anyway, Mike, good on ya – I hope we run into each other sometime and I can buy you a beer. Hell, I’ll shout ya fer dinner! (my best attempt at speaking Aussie – hope I didn’t mangle it too badly lol).
I hope I run into Leah sometime too just so I can give her a big hug and tell her she ROCKS! I’d like to give her whole family a hug – what a bunch of cool people.
An emotionally powerful episode that left me shocked and speechless. Excellent work by and kudos to all involved. Thank you Leah and Mike.
Three words come to mind very definitely:
Building a case
Bravo, that’s the the direction. But the case doesn’t have to be built; simply revealed. The build will come soon.
It felt like you guys have just cracked the surface of this. I’m thinking there is a tsunami headed Scientology’s way.
And ya know………… Scientology (L Ron Hubbard) has abused and weaponized the legal system. So I think the Justice Department would be a fitting karma to scrutinize these, sexual abuse on minors, cover ups
But this law suite isn’t just to harass per L Ron Hubbard’s demonic nature. This lawsuite will have convictions. That’s my take.
It’s showtime.
Dave,
As you know, FBI cases are NEVER “CLOSED”, only shelved.
Aggressive FOIA filings have picked the scab off of the Email Scandal (yes, THAT one). The FBI has reopened the investigation.
The pressure is building to yank the scab off of you and your cult’s FBI investigation. This time your Mark will be stuck on your side of the razor fences.
BTW, your peer, El Chapo, is being denied access to his ill gotten finances for his legal defense. He is at the mercy of public defenders and an iron clad, water tight case.
You and your cult are moving to the front of the investigation and prosecution lineup of the Justice Department. Let Ding-a-Ling and your other Rent-a-Thugs know that you will not have the funds to hire them. Over to you to Get-a-Defender.
Well said !
Yes threefeetback, “The wheels of justice turn slowly, but grind exceedingly fine.”
Mike
Yes! Yes! Yes!
You and Leah are giving us HOPE
To get justice served to the EVIL Scientology finally
Please
Don’t stop!
We love you and Leah!!
?????
Oh My Holy Xenu Mike !
The A&E show is frucken Awesome!!!
Crying our eyes out!! It is THE BEST!!
THANK YOU MIKE RINDER and LEAH REMINI!!
We love you! ??????
The government sued the FLDS for child labor picking pecans. I would think they could do the same to Scientology
You’re not a Christian if you’re using people this way that is not right having sex with little girls this is not okay with God. you need to figure out your religion because it screwed up it’s all about Scientology is so f***** up in the head that you’re not living in the real life that’s how f***** up you are
How pissed is David Miscavige right now?!
Wouldn’t you love to be a fly on the wall! Do you think he is blaming particular people for not stopping this production?
After watching Thetans in Young Bodies, one word: POWERFUL. I honestly had no idea this stuff went on. Scientology, your day of reckoning is fast approaching. Kudos to Mike and Leah for taking on Goliath. Just like in the Bible, we know how this will turn out because you guys will not give up until you see justice. Hope you win an Emmy for your courageous work.
Love that analogy MJ! Their ultra-powerful “slingshot” against the supposed giant… it’s the good true-hearted, courageous individuals who win for those suffering in the end!
Music Junkie, your post brought back a memory that I’d forgotten. Child abuse/sexual abuse happens a lot and in many places. The thing that is so disgusting is that when it does happen in the slurch, people are forbidden from telling the authorities. I just remembered that a sweet, beautiful child that I knew from birth, was sexually molested by another staff member’s older son (after I left staff) and the whole thing was covered up and “handled” in the Ethics department. This is mission level. What a betrayal to that child; by her mother and her group. My heart was broken when I heard about this, years after the fact.
Best wishes, Mike. I keep envisioning you guys getting up and accepting an Emmy!
I’m on west coast. Anyone know what time it will start out here?
So Tom Cruise fractured his leg in a stunt on Sunday while filming Mission Impossible 6.
I wonder what he did to pull that in and when he will be sec-checkec for the Overts and Withholds he has to cause him to go out of Present Time.
Someone on the set must be an SP and he should disconnect from them immediately.
Hey Mike, you’ve been so kind to me, particularly when my newest granddaughter was born that I hope I can give just a little something back. You’re truly a wonderful guy who’s proven over and over that you’re not only out of the morass, you’ve returned with a backhoe. There’s a measure of retribution in that but I see a man who is reversing what he feels he did to others. Any “ins” who leave after seeing Aftermath owe you and Leah a great debt. Hopefully they will pay it back by living a full life and maybe helping others who flee the lrh nightmare. Make no mistake sir, you are respected and admired here and all over this country, not mention Canada, Great Britain and Australia just to mention a few. You have a strength that many others don’t possess, but more importantly you lend it to others who are in need. We watchers can see that thus effort from you and Leah comes at a price. I hope we are an affirmation you both. Most humbly submitted….
I’m reminded of an old saying:”The best revenge is living well.”
Part of that, to me, is moving on, not obsessing about them
You mean you’ll be watching it out of body? How bitchin’ is that!
Based on yesterday’s preview, tonight’s premiere is going to be heart wrenching. Keep those tissues handy. Thank you Mike, for standing up as well. It was brave, honest and forthright. You have my deep admiration.
Here it is, 2 PM in LA and there is a lot of static noise in the air, I can smell the ozone from some electric discharges, and little black clouds are darting around. Can this be related to an upcoming A&E event?
Those black clouds in LA must be trailing the Demented Midget and his current batch of flunkies
You will do me the justice to remember, that I have always strenuously supported the Right of every Man to his own opinion, however different that opinion might be to mine. He who denies to another this right, makes a slave of himself to his present opinion, because he precludes himself the right of changing it.
Thomas Paine
What a wonderful and POWERFUL quote, and what America is based on !!
Thanks for sharing.
Does anybody here knows where can I watch that episode if I don’t have cable? I am not a fan of watching television so I don’t have cable, and I would prefer not to invest in something that I will not be using that much. Is there a way to buy that episode in, let’s say, Amazon, to watch it on an Android phone? Excuse my ignorance; I am not much into TV and stuff.
Last season I was able to watch online at A&E’s website until about halfway through the season. Hopefully they’ll allow that again, but if not, you can get a subscription (month-by-month) on Sling TV by downloading the app to your phone or tablet, or even your TV if it has internet access. It’s at sling.com and if you have t-mobile (cell service) they have some extra deals. Was worth it during the season since we had tablets & a computer attached to the TV so we found some other stuff to watch, but even just to support the show – it was worth it! Hope that helps!
Yes, it does help; thanks Jenyfurrr!
If I get Sling TV now that the first episode of Season 2 has already aired, will I still be able to see that episode? Thanks in advance!
yes I’m watching it now on Sling tv – that’s why I got it
Thanks Valerie! I was able to watch it today on A&E online on my Android phone.
Go get ’em, Mike and Leah. The abuses of scientology have gone on for too long. The public outrage is growing at an ever accelerating rate. The beast is tumbling.
Also, I will be making popcorn to watch the ridiculous and infantile counter-attacks that will be attempted by the “church”. I imagine that David Miscavige is locked and loaded with his foot bullet ammo. We should all be grateful that scientology is in the hands of an incompetent narcissist surrounded by nodding yes men and yes women. Miscavige, at the helm, is scientology’s worst enemy (if the enemy of my enemy is my friend, then what does that make Miscavige? … … should I have him over for a Sunday dinner? Nah.)
Get the air popper ready for the pop corn & have some drinks on hand as well……Ahhh…can’t wait to see their on screen “The Church CHALLENGES”…………so everyone is lying is what THEY are saying????
I love your show. Can’t wait for Season two.
My kids and I watch it together so I can teach them
About cults and how important it is to question life. Your show has taught millions of people about the truths of Scientology which was always so mysterious.
Exactly true.
I can’t wait. Truth Revealed.
Oh it’s going to be revealed alright. The dwarf will have a conniption.
Yesssss!
Looking forward to!
To quote the Pointer Sisters:
I’m so excited, and I just can’t hide it
I’m about to lose control and I think I like it
I’m so excited, and I just can’t hide it
And I know, I know, I know, I know, I know I want you
https://youtu.be/sS6eUIpwwds
And its corollary, the infamous Jessie scene from “Saved by the Bell”:
“I’m so excited
I’m so excited
I’m so —
SCARED”
kind of applies in this case too.
Gosh, Valerie, I never knew you felt that way about me.
The second battle has commenced. Truly, a good verses evil confrontation.
It’s like the movie The Exorcist, where the priest confronts pure evil.
So, OSD who’s head is it that turns round, round & round after watching this season??!!
I cannot wait!
Mike and Leah, thank you for this powerful series. Hoping it will awaken many still in and/or on the fence to look and search on the net for further data like I did.
In July was another anniversary for my arrival on Ortega and here. It all started with a friend (non scio.) on facebook posting an article about Leah leaving the church. Intrigued I clicked on link and somehow ended up on Ortega’s blog. All of a sudden I’m watching Marty and Mike fishing and talking, well the rest is history. My thoughts at the time was WTF?? What rock have I been under? It took me close to a year to make my first comment here and two years before commenting at the Bunker out of fear that OSA would track me down. The thought of that now makes me LOL.
So thanks again to the both of you for what you’re doing even with the attacks coming your way. I pray a major avalanche of many fleeing the cult.
Dear still-in Scientologists,
The mere fact that you’ve been forbidden to watch Leah’s series, or to discuss among yourselves the very serious allegations of crime, abuse and neglect that have been directly made against the church, should confirm for you the fact that you’re a member of a very high-demand, high-control group which does not trust you to investigate for yourself and to draw your own conclusions regarding those allegations.
If the personal accounts of physical and sexual abuse that season two is focusing in on are untrue, then why are they not being directly addressed by the church and refuted with direct, specific objective evidence and testimony? Where are the church’s knowledgeable and articulate spokespersons? Why is the church’s entire strategy in dealing with these very serious accusations confined to making blanket, generic denials and engaging in hate campaigns against those who claim to have been victimized and abused by the church?
These, and many other questions of a similar nature, jump instantly to mind for all of us on the outside of your Scientology culture…why don’t they do the same for you?
If these church-sanctioned crimes and abuses did occur in the past, but reform efforts since then have eliminated them, then where is the church’s clear and unconditional acceptance of responsibility and dedication to making amends to those who’ve unjustly suffered in the past? Where is the direct, public renunciation of those vile church practices of coerced familial disconnection and fair game? Why has no one at the top been held to account for the atmosphere of fear, threat, coercion and shamed silence which permeates the entire organization?
One word answer: Dave.
Harpoona, I think it would be wonderful if someone has an email list of all public Scientologists and could email this to all of them. Many (most probably) would just ignore it and delete it after the first sentence I’m sure, but if it could get through to at least some of them (I think Debbie Cook did something similar) then it would be worth it. Well written.
Thanks, I know that some still-in, UTR and almost-out folks read this blog, so it’s good to speak directly to them. after all, I used to be them, so I can relate.
Mick, Debbie Cook’s email/letter caused a LARGE number of people to start looking. I sent it to every “on the fence” Scio I could think of and even to some die-hards through their FB accounts. I was later contacted by a few that told me THAT letter I sent them was the impetus for their final departure. Yay!!!
Harpoona well stated but the bubble dweller would reply:
– I’m the one who chooses not to watch these entheta suppressive shows
– These allegations are old, obviously being told now in order to collect some huge settlement on the heels of this inflammatory show
– If true I’m sure that the perpetrator was properly handled in ethics
– Our great leader will not stoop so low as to explain these wild allegations
– We are expanding beyond our wildest dreams is why all these SP’s are coming out of the wood work
and on and on and on. It really boggles the mind.
I joined the SO in 1975 when I was 7 months pregnant. Let me tell you, there was no special berthing provided for us when my son was born. There were two ‘baby rooms’ in the Cadet Org, each room having about ten children in it, in cribs. No one was in charge, except for the reluctant and untrained teenager down the hall. Conditions were deplorable. By the time he was six months old, I was done and we left. Fortunately he doesn’t remember and he is a well-rounded 40+ year old.
Although I eventually came back for the SHSBC as public, I drifted away completely for 3+ decades. I assumed everything was more or less as I had left it in the early 80s. Very surprised to fall into the Aftermath series while channel-hopping at Christmas. My eyes are opened to the decline. I’m looking forward to Season 2; Mike and Leah, you are courageous for doing this.
Your show popped up on my tv auto recordings and I did not know it was another preview. I was so excited! (So I was furious to see you have to share it with another show preview). I understand today is the day so I feel better.
I want to echo what Brian said above in that I think one of THE biggest reasons you are successful is that you are both so genuine with self-reflection and self-criticism. That is the diametric opposite of everything the church is about – which is one reason it will eventually fail. Self-criticism is honesty. It is authenticity. It is evolution. It makes the self-aggrandizing lies Cos tells itself and others look false, delusional and suspicious. And I am sure that it will help people who are coming to the place of healing where it is both healthy and safe to ask questions and determine your own outlooks.
I know that it will be particularly disturbing for people to recount instances of abuse that took place in the church, ones it either ignored or may have perpetuated. I am glad you are there for them to receive those stories in compassion.
One small thing (and it is the only criticism I can think of at all for this whole series). Last night Leah talked about how a belief in reincarnation that CoS has results in devaluing children. I think that was a mistake. Up until now, you have stuck to criticizing doctrinal things that CoS says and does that are harmful because of how they are applied – not necessarily WHAT the ideas are.
Reincarnation is a fundamental tenet of many non-Judeo-Christian-Islamic religions (and it was also present in early or more esoteric forms of Judaism and Christianity). There are many, many people who believe in it today. As a spiritual concept itself, the idea of coming back over and over to learn lessons of life is not harmful. Nor is the idea that people often reincarnate to be with people they have known before or are familiar with, because it allows them to work together learning spiritual lessons. It does not make people devalue relationships in any way, shape or form. Some people think it takes the pressure off of being perfect in this life because spiritual growth is an ongoing process with many chances to evolve over time. Combined with the law of karma it prevents abuse, because cruel things done in this lifetime must just be repeated until the lesson is learned and spiritual advancement attained. In fact, almost all religions originating in Asia believe in reincarnation.
However, the way the concept of reincarnation is handled in CoS is very toxic because of how the entire belief structure is set up and administered. A lot of other cults that do not believe in reincarnation (some of them, in fact, being Christian) are just as abusive to children and for the same reason. They look at children as property belonging to the church, not the parents. It is a tactic to control everyone.
The bonds between parent and child are incredibly strong, and breaking them and transferring that bond to an organization is the truly evil thing that occurs in this situation. I want to beg Leah to rethink this because, so far, you have been truly intelligent about respecting specific religious tenets in the church and only talking about how poorly they are applied or how they are twisted to use as a hammer to punish others.
Anyway, I wish you both all the luck in this new journey. You have many people you love and care about surrounding you, and who have your back. And you have the support of millions of us who have never been in (hopefully people can find a different word than an old racist slur to call us), who want you to know we have your back. Mind-control, for any reason, is evil and abusive. It robs us of the most important tenet of all and that is respecting universal free will. Thanks for all you do!
Well spoken.
I agree. Spoken well. Now…what the Hell are we talking about?
” Last night Leah talked about how a belief in reincarnation that CoS has results in devaluing children. I think that was a mistake.”
Hi Cecy,
Having my own daughter in the cult since she was 16 and observing her transformation from a child into a loyal officer has proved to me that Leah’s comment is very accurate. IMHO it absolutely does devalue children because it basically says that you are not a ‘child’ but just another immortal thetan …. “now get off your ass, stop crying because you miss your parents and get to work!”
Believing in reincarnation or not is a personal choice each person makes. Make it something that adults can use to evaluate a child’s conduct and justify a way of treating them and you have something totally different and potentially very dangerous. $cientology is a case in point.
Cecybeans,
yep, that’s true as you wrote:
“Reincarnation is a fundamental tenet of many non-Judeo-Christian-Islamic religions (and it was also present in early or more esoteric forms of Judaism and Christianity). There are many, many people who believe in it today. As a spiritual concept itself, the idea of coming back over and over to learn lessons of life is not harmful. ”
Yep, that’s true. And Hubbardology said we all could get whole track recall and come back. Hubbard failed, there are no reported cases of people coming back with memory of being a scientologists or a mother or dad or whatever of another. Somehow or another, nobody who has done auditing can recall exactly who their mother or dad or whoever was last life.
Hubbard tried to solve that mystery of reincarnation and sold us on the idea or concept as well as a precision science, standard tech, KSW, will allow one to have whole track recall, or being cause over life which would mean being able to discard the body like a suit and come back with full memory of who one was last life so that the cycle of birth, continue and death would not be that cycle of action.
Never happened. No other religion has succeeded as well.
Hubbard even admitted he failed and wasn’t coming back, LOL. The old man could never stop using rhetoric.
Most people who believe in reincarnation these days don’t believe that people walk around with full knowledge of former lives. It would kind of spoil the point of learning lessons. And most religions who believe in reincarnation are wisely not that interested in finding out – it turns into an ego thing, which is also counterproductive. For many years, however, the Dalai Lama was chosen by individuals who had to pass a test to verify they knew certain things that only the previous lama would know, so that is not the practice in Tibetan Buddhism.
A growing body of evidence exists from a broad variety of groups (and I have been studying the phenomena for many decades) of hypnotherapists and even some scientists that people can be regressed and very often vividly remember previous lives with verifiable historical details. Parapsychology researchers in countries all over the globe have amassed a lot of data over the past century, even though it is not yet mainstream at this point. But it is climbing out of the New Age woo-woo stage and pretty quickly. It has been successfully used by some therapist to explain and treat phobias and conditions that do not result from any trauma in the person’s current life, or can otherwise be explained.
The thing that makes these examples somewhat believable is that people recounting them are not creating stories where they are famous or important people. While it may be more a function of a universal database (sometimes called an akashic record) where certain people can tap into a record of events in certain states of mind, that does not exist in the current spectrum or frequency available to the ordinary senses, it is not a phenomenon that has been thoroughly disproven or debunked by any means.
Just because LRH was a dipshit who twisted the idea, doesn’t mean the entire concept is invalid. That man turned everything normal and decent he encountered into some kind of sordid perverse version of the original, designed only to control others and benefit himself. I think it’s important to separate ideas and doctrines he borrowed from others, from both Eastern and Western cultures, and distorted, from similar ones that still may be legitimate.
I live in a Buddhist country (Thailand) and this society treasures children. Belief in reincarnation as itself does not cause people to devalue children in ANY way.
Scientology culture is what leads people to devalue ANY personal relationship at all. Your spouse, colleague, relative or best friend today will on any given day decide you are now to be treated as a stranger (worse than one really)
Cecybeans and others – I did not get that Leah was putting down the belief in reincarnation or that children are souls, etc. She was pointing out that the church uses this belief to be irresponsible for children in the church and anything that happens to them, whether it be rape, molestation, injustice or any kind of abuse. Scientology as set up by Hubbard has no responsibility for anything that happens to any of us, it is all our fault and not theirs. This is why there is no reform in the church, they truly believe they are above the law and especially now it’s Miscavige carrying this on as it fit into his own personality as well. He believes he can beat people up, lock them up, sec check them and RPF them for years on end and that that is OK. Even Paulette Cooper way back in 1969-1970 when she wrote her book “The Scandal of Scientology” was only trying to point out that this religion (Scientology) needed to reform it’s problem areas, like taking people off the street and training them quickly as auditors with not enough care and attention as some people were going a bit nuts with the tech or the auditing, however she also said that if Scientology were to correct these weak areas they could become “one of the greatest religions of all time”…… What an incredible complement, yet LRH and the GO took only the bad that she said and went after her with the intent to put her in a mental institute for saying negative things about LRH and the church. If LRH had accepted criticism and made things better when a weak area was pointed out we would have a completely different scene today, we wouldn’t have this massive mess of mental, physical & spiritual abuse, entrapment, enslavement, Disconnection and Fair Game. All of these things are only necessary because LRH would not allow himself to be criticized or corrected and now Miscavige is the same way and has taken it even a step further. This is what made me realize LRH was not out to help mankind, it was all about his egotistical and narcissistic self. If he was truly helping mankind and truly cared for others with love & compassion we would not have this monster machine today that creates so much disaster for human beings. Hubbard locked people in the chain locker back on the ships in 1968, this is not a man who is “saving the planet” and cared about his fellow man. Hubbard and Miscavage have destroyed more lives than they have helped. It really makes you wonder what are their true intentions…….
I think Leah was referring to the fact that Scientology emphasizes that, as a person has had many parents and many children over the course of thousands of lifetimes, the current family is not very important. I’m not sure if all religions and philosophies that believe in reincarnation do that, but I don’t think so.
Cecybeans, I didn’t take it that way at all.
Cecy-Very well spoken essay. But, after watching and re-watching the episode, my understanding of Leah’s statement on reincarnation was specific to Scientology and not a general view of that particular belief.
…..”a belief in reincarnation that CoS has results in devaluing children. ” You said it yourself; the belief that the CoS has….
Okay – I may have misunderstood her intention then. I watched it twice and that was my impression. That she was making it correlative. But I am glad to be in the minority. Living in a Western society, full of religions that don’t believe it in anyway, and are far harsher about their criticism of it, it makes my own point very small. But I have great respect for how both Mike and Leah are managing to circumvent criticizing the ideology itself – because that does feed into the “religious intolerance” bullshit they spout, and concentrating on its practices.
Plenty of so-called “Christian” churches are full of horrible examples of corruption and sexual abuse (FLDS comes to mind), and the law still somehow is able to prosecute them, so I think there is great hope.
And while I hate to say it, it may be actually be an advantage to prosecutors that these children have no real close connection to their biological families. When abused children are removed from other “religious” environments, the court often is loathe to take them away from their parents, seeing it as emotionally traumatic to sever that bond. CoS has completely given up that argument or option.
I hope that these abuses, and others involving child labor, trafficking, etc. are able to be collected in some kind of class action suit. The hardest thing for these kinds of victims is having to testify in court individually. Even in the best circumstances it can feel like victimizing them twice.
I have great respect for you, Cecy. That’s why this is the only ‘social media blog’ that has my participation. Intelligent conversation is never wasted.
(And there are some very funny posters on here as well.) ?
Thank you! I enjoy a lot of the content here, although sometimes I feel like I’m attending someone else’s high school reunion. I don’t know the buzzwords and secret handshakes.
But I’ve been interested in and studied comparative religion for a long time. And what I have observed in organized religions is that it’s not the dogma that is necessarily toxic, it’s how it is applied. And that there are people in almost every single one that exist on the globe, or throughout history, that have done terrible things to other people twisting the language of its tenets or donning the ideology as a disguise and justification.
None of us here know anything for sure about what goes on in the universe, we’re basically spitballing. We are barely crawling out of our own solar system. Religions can be artistic and beautiful ways for us to explain life and the cosmos to help us find meaning in life. And they can also be horrific prisons of arrogance and control when in the wrong hands.
I feel so much for the people who have been through this. There is no beauty or freedom in any of us thinking we have all the answers and that it somehow makes us superior to anyone else. It’s like the difference between fascism and democracy. Inequality and lack of freedom or tolerance for others is just backward, it’s not evolution, it’s devolution as a species. It’s efficient and effective but it adds nothing positive to our universe. The concept of Free Will in self-development one of our highest attributes. Anything less is disrespectful to each other and those we share the world with, which is my ultimate benchmark for judging the worth of any philosophy.
This is one of the best statements I’ve seen in a while Cecybeans and I agree completely. Any dogma in the right hands can have great effects yet the same dogma in the wrong hands can have destructive effects, it’s all about the intention behind the person leading from the top, do they really have everybody’s best interests in mind or are they just busy trying to run their own powerful empire.
I got to see a preview. A&E appears to have stepped up their game. Recommending all my FB friends record this most important show: http://www.aetv.com/shows/leah-remini-scientology-and-the-aftermath?gclid=CjwKCAjwt8rMBRBOEiwA2F2biP8KqlrZGWTzUdN4Y5M9O05N-FHtEaEs_h903AJ2lEFnNXxhen3HAxoCKlEQAvD_BwE&cmpid=paidsearch_&ef_id=WW-eJAAAAE1GGRft:20170815160553:s
I loved the preview: “Honey, am I a big ugly bully?” “No, darling, you’re the most beautiful bully I know!”
LOL
How can you not love Leah?
So excited today finally got here. Been telling all my friends that this is must see TV. Posting on FB and Twitter too. My TV digital guide shows that many episodes from season one begin airing at 4pm EST leading up to the premiere of Season 2. KAW – Keep Aftermath Working!
Dave,
Kim has promised to stop going ballistic. Will you and your Mark promise to stop your cult’s abuses?
I takes a bluesaltwater state of mind to ignore your swamp being drained and the chemotherapy-like side effects it produces. Trite bashings and fox-fixations won’t help a bit. Grin and bear it.
Mike Rinder,
The honesty and transparency you have provided to the world is matched by only one other person I have known about. I put you on par with T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) who wrote Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Within his accounting of the Arab uprising was his soul-open account of his participation, the good and bad, the light and the dark. All in the open.
It is an honesty that spans all levels of existence. You do and live the GOOD LIFE.
The church is one of the most vile groups around. It’s really rich how it got Mike’s kids to speak about what a bad father he was, never seeing them, etc. Never mind that Mike was living by the rules dictated to him by the SO/david miscavige.
Its so sad. Frankly, I’m sad for those kids because one day its going to dawn on them, the enormity of what they did, and it won’t ever be a question of being forgiven by others, but of forgiving themselves. None of the grieving parents on this blog want their children to suffer guilt. But unfortunately, we are each who we are, and at some point, responsibility kicks in, and we have to look at ourselves in the mirror and say, “Yes, I did that.” And no forgiveness from others ever takes that away. We each have to work that out for ourselves.
I second that!
Third.
Mike Rinder being compared to Lawrence of Arabia.
Now I’ve heard everything.
Jim…I have a very small ‘library’, less than 25 books, and Seven Pillars is one of them. In this day and age, it is to me remarkable that we get to see the kind of openness presented by Mike, Leah, and the others who have told their stories. If you embark on the trail to tell the story, there are no cutoffs or detours from the truth…the whole truth.
Boy oh boy, are you gonna be a busy little bee tomorrow.
Yes, thank you.
I just got a disconnection letter from a very dear friend. She used words like “fallen angel” and “the dark side” and the SP’s I have chosen to be friends with and she’s all about LRH’s tech. (Let’s ignore the fact that she was willing to talk to me, a declared SP, who lost my son to disconnection when I had never spoken out. I just love the way the church uses the fact that I have spoken out against me. Once someone is declared and had relationships torn apart, they are never supposed to speak out because that will just “prove” that they truly are SP’s. Even once declared, we should toe the line for the church.)
I know many on the outside have differing opinions but I believe in the hands of a benevolent dictator, LRH policies would have been applied in a much more benign and kind way to individual parishioners. I’m not saying the church would have succeeded or been booming. But there would have been far fewer broken families, friendships, psyches, and hearts.
Here is some of what I said to my friend:
“It’s about the abuses. it’s not about the religion or LRH’s tech as applied correctly.
“IT’s about the ABUSES. Period. David miscavige is killing LRH’s legacy. He has altered the tech, beaten people up etc, and much more. Period.
“Not Leah. Not the SP’s. Not “the dark side.”
“So, in an odd way, we are on the same side. But I believe if people don’t stand up against the abuses, the church will continue to contract.
“I wish you the best and hopefully one day there won’t be anyone pitting friends against friends and family against family.
“David miscavige is the SP bringing down the church. No one else.”
Mary, that’s really sad what this church will make someone do to a friend. Their practice of trying to silence victims who speak out against abuse is so despicable. They demand conformity or they will seek to destroy a person. It’s just sick. Check that, it’s just pure evil.
” Mary, that’s really sad what this church will make someone do to a friend. ”
I agree Mick but I also see it as another personal choice that has to be made. Yes, it takes an incredible amount of will to stand up to the group and hold your position. In the end, that really is what Scientology is supposed to be all about IMHO.
Everyone on this site and those who are not here but have left have had to draw their own line in the sand. In a way, the cult is separating the wheat from the chaff. To truly uphold the principles expressed for example in the ‘Creed of a Scientologist’ one would have to leave. It truly is a very sick group but in a way, presents some very basic choices to all who have ever been involved as to whether they will choose to live with honor and integrity or slither away into some dark recess.
This is a battle between good and evil and there is nothing external about it. No heaven, no hell, no god ,no satan, just ourselves and the choices that we make which determine the quality of our lives. I’m glad I chose to be here on this blog. I hope we can continue to create a safe space for anyone still in that wants a hand to get out.
Yo Dave,
Just when you were thinkin that things might not get any worse good buddy, they are. Season 2 is going to bring Your idle morgues down around your ears. And I was thinkin about your friend Marty this morning. This issue with kids and abuse is starting to explain some of Your behavior Dave, in a way that I had never really thought possible. But it does raise the question ……………………….Dave. Have you? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm……….
“To truly uphold the principles expressed for example in the ‘Creed of a Scientologist’ one would have to leave”.
This. And, oh, the irony.
Mary – that was a good response to your friend. Unfortunately she doesn’t get it and if she’s an “old timer” and has had any auditor training she should know better as in “a 3 swing FN”, REALLY???? And I can go on and on. Anyway I am disgusted by people like her and feel zero pity for the hell they are in.
Yes. She’s an old timer but very little training.
Her loss.
Mary, excellent response to your friend. These were the main points to hammer home and you did it beautifully. Way to go!
I was once friends with a few people who became “born again Christians” in a very strict cult….they turned their backs on several of their friends because they said “we didn’t know Jesus”. Despite the fact many of us attended church in our choice of our religion…we did not have “the inside track” to get to Heaven & were viewed as “fallen angels & sinners who won’t repent because we didn’t join their church & recognize the savior the way they do”.
In life even long time friends come & go in & out of our lives for a variety of reasons. Our lifestyles change, our opinions change, our marital status changes, we move away, OR we “get controlled” by a religion.
IMO this woman lost a very very loving, kind, sweet thoughtful person when she shut the door on your friendship……..the saddest part of it all is that she doesn’t even realize it. because she’s so well indoctrinated into “the organization”.
All we can do for them is Pray they see the light one day, & then surround ourselves with people from this blog & Tony’s blog who really CARE about us & understand the pain & emotional scars that’s been left behind.
Mary, hugs to you and yours..one day What Has Been Taken Away Shall Be Returned To YOU!
BalletLady, you said that all you can do is pray for these people is pray that they see the light one day. I have relatives who are Born Agains. They live and breathe their evangelicalism.
Now, I don’t know how typical my relations are of the majority of Born Agains, but if mine ARE typical, then THEY are praying for YOU to “see the light”.
They are what Scientology would call “solid”. REALLY solid.
NOTHING gets thru that does not agree with their fundamental beliefs. Rock solid.
My relatives pray for ME to be “saved”. All the time. That’s what they tell me.
“Saving” me is a goal of theirs, apparently.
When I tell them I’m a hopeless case they don’t laugh.
Hellfire everlasting is no laughing matter to them, its very real, and they KNOW that’s where I’m going unless I become a Born Again, like them.
So, what does one do with people like this? When they’re practically the only remaining relatives one has on the paternal side of the family?
Well, they live a good distance away. They’re good people in many ways. I try to keep their good qualities in mind. If you’re car broke down in the middle of the night on a lonely road, they wouldn’t pass you by. They’d stop and help you, because its their Christian duty. They’re law abiding, honest, decent people.
I’m polite, I’m respectful, kind. I talk about the weather. (Forget politics because God is a Republican, the Democrats are Minions of the Devil, and Hillary IS the Devil).. I refrain from laughing when their stubbornness and ignorance amuse me. I keep my sarcastic mouth shut when it irritates me. And, this is all easy because they don’t live close by. If they lived nearby…hmmm… not sure if I could keep up the facade.
Thank you. I truly believe it too. Even though there is plenty of LRH policy that’s whack and bring it into the realm of being a cult, there is PLENTY of LRH policy that is good, kind and yes, religious.
David Miscavige has taken it in the direction its gone for over 40 years and it’s mean, vindictive, cruel, abusive and has veered so far south of “doing something for the guy in front of you” that at this point in time, it’s hard for me to buy into this shitty church is because of LRH policy (maybe to some extent and to the extent that he allowed it to be taken over by a sociopath).
I fully agree with you Mary Kahn. David Miscavige is the SP, it’s so obvious. He is destroying scientology. He put scientology and scientologists in pieces. He is the worst ennemy of scientology, and hopefully when all will be said and truth will prevail, he’ll be known in scientology history book as the SP who almost destroyed scientology. Some take Hubbard as a target, that’s the effect of the third party.
I have a question on abuses for anyone. I am not a past or present. But didn’t the abuses occur before David also? Possibly not as bad. But they did occur right?
Thanks for responding.
Yes, the abuses also happened under the leadership of L. Ron Hubbard (and with him knowing)
E.g.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw-At2NNyZo
I always wondered this as well. So Hubbard knew….
Mary, first I want to thank you for your courage to speak out. I am not so brave.
It is really important that the underlying message of Aftermath is not lost. The current condition of SCN is NOT attributable to Miscavige….the founder set this all into place early on.
The Int Base has the hole, but Flag had the chain locker, the bilges, and the lower hold where the RPF lived. Miscavige is both a duplication AND amplification of Hubbard’s practices of abuse. Tearing apart families was the order of the day for the crazy founder. No matter how much he wrote and practiced to minimize an emphasis on the value and importance of family, familial loyalty is used as a weapon against defectors and dissenters – he KNEW how important family is. Aside from psychiatry, family was his biggest competition. He wanted that loyalty for himself. He wanted unconditional devotion from his ‘children’ (followers) but never gave the unconditional love of a parent.
My parents, when they resigned 33 years ago – remained believers for a long time. They originally followed Mayo. They thought that if someone could wrest SCN away from Miscavige, then things would improve. They eventually saw the light.
It’s bad. SCN itself is bad. Miscavige could die tomorrow and if a different person took over, SCN would still be bad.
Mary Khan … though LRH did indeed say in one of his very last HCO Bs that if you do not disconnect from a declared SP, then YOU are an SP as well. He wrote that. He oversaw the declaring of some of his most dedicated and valuable followers, like Mayo. He set the vindictive tone for Miscavige and there’s no getting around that.
Joe, I think LRH must have gone off the deep end by then, getting rid of Mayo signalled the beginning of the end (IMHO).
Spike, you’re sadly mistaken. That you think lrh went off the deep end is wrong, wrong, wrong. He was never in the shallow end unless you’re counting the gene pool.
Spike, disconnect or be declared policy was MANY years before Mayo was gotten rid of. I’m afraid you don’t know LRH policy & tech well at all.
Hey Wynski, with all due respect, please don’t pile on. Thanks. Many people on this blog, with their stories, have observed LRH becoming noticeably worse in his latter years.
So what does that tell you about the tech? Not the best advert for it’s efficacy, is it?
Spike, when I see disinformation, I call it. Suck it up sunshine.
Hey Wynski, do you ever consider your words before you type them? Give me a break already!!!!!
As well, Wynski, I’m not sure what you think my viewpoint was. I was personally told to ‘handle or disconnect’ when I was 19, so I have first hand experience with this.
It’s been a long day, turning in.
Mary, Hubbard was a criminal psychopath. That is from actual EVIDENCE. His legacy is insanity and criminality.
Mike, again, thanks to you and Leah for bringing this painful subject into the light. It needs to be talked about. Cussed and discussed until victims of abuse no longer feel shame, fear rejection because they were abused. This is my core outrage with CofS. I’m having flashes now of my abuse by a babysitter. I was 8. As an adult I’ve talked about this, privately in therapy, and confidentially to my man. However, I am more private a person than most people I know. I don’t advertise my business. I cant watch rape scenes in movies, have trouble with same sex scenes.
All my love, positive energy flowing out to everyone of Aftermath and all survivors of abuse.
Thank you Mike and Leah.
Hi Mike as you know Leah @ your work is so important because your giving the victims a face. I to a victim, and happy I survived that experience. Thank you again for this – this dangerous cult needs to be exposed!
I’m not sure if we can watch it in England for a while. Even the A&E app doesn’t work here. I think the special was available quite soon, I hope we don’t have to wait a couple of months.
Mike, I am sure your schedule of late has been arduous and will continue for some time with the new Aftermath series rolling out. And I suspect you have been dragging up lost feelings about your kids which I can see from the short promo last night still causes you pain. But with some luck, we all hope your $cn children may see the light because of your efforts for everyone still in $cn. Thank you.
Facing your own past serious transgressions is a courageous personal achievement, but doing so publicly, before a viewing audience of millions, is heroic. Hopefully, Mike’s heroic example will serve to encourage others to come forward and do the same!
So far, Leah and Mike’s series has focused in on telling the personal stories of the individuals who’ve been harmed, and the families which have been torn apart, by this killer cult, which is as it should be. However, the other side of those stories which remains to be told concerns those who’ve been the instrument of the cult’s evil in directly perpetrating those heinous acts. Every one of the individuals who’ve carried the cult’s poison water needs to be publicly exposed and held to account for their crimes and abuses, if they don’t step forward themselves, based on their own moral consciences, to accept personal responsibility for carrying out the evil policies and despicable practices of the cherch.
For example, that fat rat of an International (in)Justice Chief needs to be featured on 60 Minutes, with a bike-mounted film crew dogging him wherever he goes, until the extent of his complicity in carrying out the cult leader’s evil intentions is fully exposed.
What the cult never does is to accept responsibility for its past crimes, abuses and consequential mistakes, or make amends for the incredible amount of harm that it’s been responsible for. That complete unwillingness to accept any kind of responsibility is exactly how you know for certain that the cult doesn’t even recognize them as such. That means that they will continue to be perpetrated until all of the cult’s serious crimes and massive human/civil rights abuses are thoroughly exposed and its leaders held to account for them, either through internal reform measures or through the court of Public Opinion, where the cult is currently on trial for its life.
I’ll have to watch on alternate delivery system. Can’t wait!
You mean you’ll be watching it out of body? How bitchin’ is that!
OSD! Shhh. Can’t let everyone in on the secret. 🙂
Thank you Mike and Leah.
Mike – we are all sending you hugs! Thank you for doing what you are doing. It is the right thing to do and we can see it is hard. You are a courageous man.
Thank you Leah Remini – for having the courage to help us all!! You are delivering a blow to that evil cult that will take them down once and for all!!
Some LRH thought stopping at its finest:
When somebody enrolls, consider he or she has joined up for the duration of the universe—never permit an “open-minded” approach.
That quote is from the policy called “Keeping Scientology Working”, the first policy you study on every major Scientology course.
Here is the rest of the paragraph: . “If they’re going to quit let them quit fast. If they enrolled, they’re aboard, and if they’re aboard, they’re here on the same terms as the rest of us – win or die in the attempt. Never let them be half-minded about being Scientologists. The finest organizations in history have been tough, dedicated organizations. Not one nambypamby bunch of panty-waist dilettantes have ever made anything. It’s a tough universe. The social veneer makes it seem mild. But only the tigers survive – and even they have a hard time. We’ll survive because we are tough and are dedicated. When we do instruct somebody properly he becomes more and more tiger. When we instruct half-mindedly and are afraid to offend, scared to enforce, we don’t make students into good Scientologists and that lets everybody down. When Mrs. Pattycake comes to us to be taught, turn that wandering doubt in her eye into a fixed, dedicated glare and she’ll win and we’ll all win. Humour her and we all die a little. The proper instruction attitude is, ‘You’re here so you’re a Scientologist. Now we’re going to make you into an expert auditor no matter what happens. We’d rather have you dead than incapable.’” L Ron Hubbard
If you had any thoughts, hesitations, doubts or reservations a careful reading of that paragraph will put them to rest. You have the choice of being incapable, and dead, or believing in the supremacy of Hubbard and “alive”.
Dave Miscavige, Chairman of the Board of the Religious Technology Center and self-styled “Pope” of the Church of Scientology has that policy engraved in his brain as the prime directive of his existence. All wandering doubts and nambypamby open-mindednesses have been purged from his soul with an atomic branding iron. He is the true tiger, at least in his own mind, determined to survive in the face of all attacks, whether by pretty actresses, TV shows or abused former members who speak out on the internet.
It would be ludicrously funny if it were not for the damaged lives of the victims.
Yes Bruce,
Focus on KSW is always about #7, #8, #9, and #10, just as Ron wrote. But before he listed the numbers 1-10, there is a paragraph (#4) in HCOPL 7Feb1965 that states :
“The only thing you can be upbraided for by students or pcs is “no results’. Trouble spots occur only where there are “no results”. Attacks from governments or monopolies only occur where there are “no results” or “bad result”.
That factually makes this paragraph SENIOR to numbers 1-10. It was of no avail when I pointed this paragraph out to staff, and told them to deliver what was promised. Beating everyone with a stick (#7-10) was far easier than the truly harder work of digging in and resolving the pcs life issues. Auditors had the tools to perform therapy if given the freedom to fully guide the pc (never allowed). The staff were, and are, clueless regarding mental therapy. All hail COB (cluelessness personified).
The movie Nut Job could easily be about Dave.
“We’d rather have you dead than incapable.’” L Ron Hubbard”…….Yeah that’s the same thing the “Killer Mormons of Kirkland Ohio” said…….( http://www.foxnews.com/story/2006/10/24/cult-leader-convicted-killing-family-5-executed-in-ohio.html) that’s why we executed their leader – by lethal injection!
THEY ARE COMING FOR YOU, MIDGET dave!
Well said and well deciphered.
Note that this particular tigerette killed off the Briefing Course, the one that made superb auditors. You rarely hear anything from them any longer about “making auditors”. That’s been relegated to the background and the only “excitement” is either how much money they’ve collected or the opening of another empty building. So much for tigers. 🙂
“Now we’re going to make you into an expert auditor no matter what happens.”
Yeah, right – anyone showing up at Saint Hell or ASHO or any SH org anywhere and asking to sign up for the BC can’t. The Cl. VIII course is also not being delivered. I’ll bet they make him give the $ he had saved up for the training to the fucking IAS or Ideal Org or some other such bullshit.
Not that I care, but those courses *are* scientology. Not even scientology is delivering scientology these days. If I were still into scientology, I’d be very upset about that.
Thank God I’m not.
I’m spending the time and money on learning new languages and travelling to places where those languages are spoken. That is so much more fulfilling than the Fatman’s crap, and it costs less.
Have my DVR set in case I’m not home in time. Cannot wait to watch the second season!
Mike and Leah, thank you.
My brother and I were in the cadet org from 1979 – 1981. Luckily my parents moved a little north to Ventura but we still had to do services at the Mission that used to exist here.
Time to bring them down and put a stop to this thing.
Mike: What you have opened yourself for takes more guts, courage and integrity than I can possibly imagine. That you have deliberately chosen this path to expose ALL of the inhumanity of this pseudo “church”, being willing to admit your own culpability and taking responsibility for it, makes you stand out in my mind in a bright and glowing way. You and Leah have opened a door to the truth of scientology and hubbard which will NEVER be closed. You’ve also made it safe for others to come forward. The trickle has become a torrent! You have my total respect.
Yay!!!
Thank you Mike, Leah and A&E for your tireless efforts to expose this cult. Had a discussion with a bunch of friends about Aftermath this weekend and posted it on our group page as a reminder that season 2 begins tonight. Counting the days until “this thing” unravels at warp speed. May all the disconnected and imprisoned and wounded soon begin healing.
Seeing the preview last night, this seems like it will be a very emotional episode for me. It’s hard for me to say I’m “looking forward to it” due to how difficult it’s likely to be to listen to, but it’s necessary that we hear these victims’ stories.
And Mike, your segment where you spoke of your two children still in and said “I was a Sea Org father”, that really had an impact on me. I hope you’ve come to a sense of peace and realize that you are a good person and a loving father and that what was done to you is not a fault of yours, but a result of what this organization does to a person who only has the best intentions at heart and a fervent desire to help others.
This madness must be stopped.
Time for everyone, especially Mike, to stop beating himself up over something he had little to no control over. I’ve said it before, NO one, no organization, church, etc should have that much power over anyone else. Mike knew exactly what would have happened to him had he not taken the fastest exit OUT of the door by escaping his monitors. Like others, he’d have been sent far away from his 1st family & never permitted to see or hear from them again….either way…a divorce would have been “suggested” after Mike escaped & he would have no control over that either.
This is going to be a toughie to watch. Mike you are being very strong and I admire and salute you for your courage and humility. You and Leah, your team and the interviewees are doing an incredible thing. I will be encouraging my daughter to watch this.. will be hard for her perhaps but also I think, purging.. might release some buried stuff that needs to be looked at in the light of day. We love you guys for everything you are doing and for having the guts to bare your souls in front of millions. Many Karmic points. Many. Love JL.
I’m so pumped! This will be great! What happened to CoS TV channel?
They’re going to show Aftermath too. They just don’t know it yet.
Mike, looking forward to it. You and Leah have had a huge impact on the cult and its members. They are now trying to defend lies by telling more lies.
Not working to well for them. And Daveys scam is wearing thin.
And poor Tom Cruz is finally going PTS to the true SP. all caught on video.
Break a leg.
Even the 20 minutes last night was riviting!
Will season 2 be available for purchase soon through Amazon? I don’t have cable and this method works well for me.
Try this Mark. https://www.sling.com/devices
Probably not. But generally it is available 24 hours later at RuTube. I have occasionally used that web site for viewing, but I always used a VPN connection just in case!
I buy a limited sling tv. $20 a month. Then you can just dump it. I watch on iPad.
Buckle up!
Miscavige might be so upset about the upcoming show, he may actually wake up at 10 am.
No way! He never gets up before 1pm. And his face is bloated…
Nothing cuts through the logic of ‘greatest good for the greater number of dynamics’ than child abuse. Anyone with a heart just knows it is wrong, wrong, wrong.
An organization that is supposedly ‘salvaging this sector of the universe’ while boasting to be the most ethical group on the planet is about to be exposed for what it is…a cult with no regard for human rights, integrity, or the innocence of childhood.
Shine the light Mike and Leah, shine the light. Thank you for everything you do despite the personal risk.
Some of Hubbard’s earliest felonies were in the area of child abuse. Pre-Dianetics he was a felon.
?
Wynski: Post-Dianetics, he was a felon;even more evil. Locking a 4-year-old in the chain locker, indeed! Locking ANYone in the chain locker would be beyond the pale, fo sure, and it was only because of Mary Sue’s sacrifice that he wasn’t convicted as the mastermind of that series of felonies and other treasonable acts against humanity. He made “Human emotion” into being a bad thing; Thus he wasn’t even up to the level of fully functioning human, couldn’t see that he was violating nature’s laws by many or most of his proclamations denigrating honest and open emotional congress.
GAWD, the guy was such a sub-human misanthrope. Of COURSE he had to go to sea so he could so easily sail away from anything he couldn’t confront. I’m surprised he didn’t simply leave his third family behind in some filthy port. Oh WAIT! He did — in so-called Clearwater, wasn’t it?
You’re spot-on with your comments here.
Yes jere. I didn’t mean to say he wasn’t a criminal throughout his life after founding his scam.
When I was stationed overseas, in various shitholes, we would do something for the local kids (if it was “safe”). We would beg & borrow to get equipment and soccer tee shirts….the purpose was to provide a small among of joy in an otherwise miserable environment. You can imagine my contempt upon returning stateside and finding that children are being exploited in my own country ! This evil origination has to be destroyed !
Saw previews. I’ve got my kleenex ready.
I’m thinking the same thing. I’ve got two boxes ready. I hope that’s enough.
I think I’ll just hold a large bucket under my chin….if it’s not tears that will be flowing…I’ll probably “lose my dinner” hearing all the child abuse stories of horror. urge everyone to contact any and all politicians to have the Statue of Limitations REMOVED on Child Sexual Abuse……this must stop. Adults who sexually assault a child should received the harshest penalties of all….
Looking forward to it. Thank you. Mike, do you know if/when it will be available on Amazon (season pass)?
I bought season 1 on comcast and plan on buying season 2.
But does any one know when Going Clear will be available for purchase on demand?
Marie, I can only tell you HBO has it in their on-demand nenu. Just watched again for the third time myself (of course shaking my head at Marty’s duplicity.) I think it may be available on Amazon video.
Thanks Barbara! I know…I had to get HBO just to watch it. But I want to buy it via Comcast. So I just have it in my purchases, but there is no option to buy?
Yet?
Thank you Mike. Thank you so much.
Mike I just want to say that, to me, you are being the hero by being so honest with your feelings about the past. In a word: sanity.
You embrace your past and you reveal it through your emotions and thoughts.
Marty on the other hand is a pathetic, pitiful mass of denial and delusional arrogance.
Marty’s arrogance has its foundation in fear and self loathing in my opinion.
You are dealing, consciously, with your past, and Marty is smothered by his inability to look at himself and deal with his past.
You are dealing with your shadow self. Marty is projecting his shadow self by blaming victims of abuse.
You are taking responsibility by looking at self. Marty is in the dark regarding himself. It’s a true pity what has happened to him.
I truly appreciate your goodness and willingness to learn and grow. ❤️
I look forward to watching tonight. And I know millions do as well. I’ve had people coming out of the woodwork, people I haven’t seen in decades call me and tell me they will be watching. People who were NOT Scientologists.
Thank you Leah!! We love you❤️
Thank you A&E. I’ve purchased a temporary package just to watch this show as I do not watch TV.
I HOPE YOU GUYS MAKE A FRIGGN FORTUNE. I HOPE A & E MAKES A FORTUNE!!!!!!!!!❤️??
Because that means millions are watching.
That means millions will know about the true nature of L Ron Hubbard and the demonic side of his church.
Thumbs up Brian!
Over the years you also have helped me to extricate myself from the cult. You have been frank and truthful, qualities unheard of among Scientologists: So, thanks.
Mike and Leah are giving Miscavige the drubbing (thrashing, walloping, thumping, pummeling, beatdown and pasting) he so richly deserves. And, LRH is getting his contrived and insane 1984 world exposed for what it really is: an upside-down cult designed to create slaves and grab money. A world of opposites where slavery = freedom and lies = truth.
Thank you so much Robert. You have no idea how much your post means to me. You made my day.
I hope your life is happy and prosperous❤️
Very well said and I concur fully and completely!!
In describing the difference between how Marty and Mike have dealt with the moral weight of their very similar cult transgressions, you state: “You are dealing with your shadow self. Marty is projecting his shadow self by blaming victims of abuse.”
What’s critically important to realize here is that folks who are in complete and abject denial of the evil that they’ve done — like the cult’s sadistic sociopathic ruler — are not just strongly compelled to project and displace blame onto others, but to do so reflexively, as if required by universal law. If you can’t confront and take direct responsibility for the harmful acts that you’ve perpetrated, then you WILL try to lay the blame for them onto others, regardless of how idiotic or obviously illogical those actions are sure to be perceived as by every objective onlooker.
Even worse, folks like Marty and his tiny tyrannical master, who have knowingly and purposefully committed many serious crimes and abuses against others, very often go beyond just displacing blame and projecting responsibility onto others, to the point of further victimizing those who’ve they’ve already harmed, which compounds their crimes and places them beyond redemption or any hope of forgiveness…in other words, it turns them into the epitome of true evil!
What’s truly astonishing here is the fact that this kind of blatant, glaring and extreme evil not only doesn’t register as such in the minds of the cult’s duped and morally comatose rank-and-file parishioners, but that these egregious examples of pure evil could be perceived by them as somehow being constructive, beneficial and *gag* even praiseworthy!
True evil is very hard to confront, in part, because it’s so rare. But we should never make the mistake of being “reasonable-minded” when we encounter it, because that’s where the true dark heart of this killer cult beats; and it’s where the final stake needs to be driven in order to finally, at very long last, clear the planet of this virulent and pernicious meme disease once and for all!
Evil isn’t going to wake up one day, seized by a sudden fit of moral conscience, and decide to do something different; it’s not going to turn itself in to answer for its crimes. It’s not going to apologize, beg forgiveness or try and make up for the harm that it’s done…it’s just going to continue to be what is and do what it does, until someone or something stops it.
That’s what we’re here for and we’re not going to stop until the cult stops perpetrating crimes and abuses!
If you’re still in and following the orders of this Super SP, then you need to confront and shatter the evil and suppression that is within the cherch and not allow it to be projected out onto those whose lives have already been seriously harmed by the cult’s evil practices, or onto the families who’ve been ripped apart by it.
I couldn’t help but notice that TC got hurt while doing a stunt right before the airing of the second season of Aftermath….
He must have gone PTS to the show coming out. After all, that’s a lot of SP’s to confront.
He’s finally showing his PTSness due to his BFF. Unfortunately when they take him into session the biggest SP he’s connected to will never come up on the list.
He pulled it in!
Congrats Leah and Mike..your tireless efforts to bring justice are not unnoticed! I am there with you all the way! Cannot wait until tonight!
Saw a small glimpse of what’s to come last night. Mike, you look like you could use a hug. You can see it in your eyes, all you have witnessed, endured and suffered. Every.time. I see you, you can tell that you are where you are supposed to be and what it took from you to get there.
Thank God for you!
Well said Marie!
The “preview” was powerful. It suddenly ended and I wanted more, more more!!!
You’re going to get more, more, more in just a few hours.
Waits impatiently in Australia until I can watch
let us know if you need help in Clearwater
Tic Tock Tic Tock!
Patiently waiting for season 2 sooo excited! Ty Mike and Leah for everything you do!!!!
(smile)
Aftermath begins tonight. Three very powerful words from a power Team who has worked tirelessly to bring the Truth to the world. Congratulations Leah & Mike. ??