Part 25 (1/2)

[>] Rinder began to berate her: Since leaving Scientology, Tanja has reflected on what happened between her and Mike Rinder, and in 2009, agreed to speak with him on the phone. Rinder, having left Scientology by that time, apologized for his behavior and, according to Tanja, asked her forgiveness.

17. Exodus Marc Headley first described the musical chairs game to me during several in-depth interviews I conducted with him and his wife in 2007; Amy Scobee also provided an account. Headley later sent me a written version, which he ultimately published in his memoir, Blown for Good. Tom De Vocht confirmed Headley's account in an interview with me, and Marty Rathbun further confirmed the events during his interview with Thomas Tobin and Joe Childs of the St. Petersburg Times in June 2009.

As with the prior chapter, the bulk of this chapter is based on interviews with key sources, notably the Headleys, the Castles, Jeff Hawkins, Tom De Vocht, Steve Hall, Dan Koon, Mike and Donna Henderson, and numerous others. Stefan Castle provided me with the text of his letter to Tanja, correspondence between himself and his lawyer, Ford Greene, and a copy of the missing person report he filed with the Hemet Police Department.

[>] ”How many people are in the org?”: Jefferson Hawkins, ”Statistics,” Leaving Scientology, accessed September 13, 2010, leavingscientology.wordpress.com/doubt-formulas/statistics.

[>] ”vulture culture”: Mike Rinder, ”Survey: What Impinges-Results,” Moving On Up a Little Higher, August 24, 2010, markrathbun.word press.com/2010/08/24/survey-what-impinges-results.

[>] the actress Nancy Cartwright: David K. Lin, ”The Church of $impsontology,” New York Post, January 31, 2008. According to Scientology's Impact magazine, Cartwright was awarded the status of IAS Patron Laureate for her donation. Kirstie Alley, who reportedly donated $5 million in 2007, was awarded a Diamond Meritorious medal.

Epilogue: What Is True for You For the opening of the Scientology Ideal Org in Los Angeles, I relied upon the Church of Scientology's own report of the event, plus video footage provided on the church website; similarly, all information about past and future Ideal Orgs is from the Church of Scientology's own publicity materials. Mat Pesch, Tom De Vocht, and several former Scientologist finance and legal officers (who wished to remain anonymous) provided critical a.n.a.lysis of the Ideal Org program.

Though I had been aware of Scientology's interest in appealing to African Americans, Marty Rathbun was the first to draw my attention to Scientology's current friends.h.i.+p with the Nation of Islam, and Rathbun also provided the text and a PDF file of the Clear African Americans conference schedule on his blog.

Kendra Wiseman has been a source since the earliest days of this project, and the remainder of her story told in this chapter is derived from perhaps two dozen or so lengthy telephone calls and e-mail exchanges over the past five years. Similarly, Natalie Walet, the very first Scientologist I met, has been a constant source, and the quotes that end this chapter come from several long telephone interviews conducted in 2009 and 2010.

[>] ”Today marks a milestone step”: ”Los Angeles Cuts the Ribbon on a New Ideal Church of Scientology,” Church of Scientology International, September 13, 2010, /2010/05/03/.

less for idealistic reasons: Ibid.

At Flag in June 2010: Brochure t.i.tled ”Clear African Americans Convention at the Flag Land Base,” Clearwater, Florida: Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization, 2010.

[>] Farrakhan did not, however: Louis Farrakhan, ”Put On the New Man: Address by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan,” Nation of Islam, August 22, 2010, /2010/01/23 /the-church-of-disaster-capitalism/.

”wake-up call”: David Miscavige, ”Wake-Up Call-the Urgency of Planetary Clearing,” Inspector General's Bulletin No. 44, September 11, 2001.

[>] ”degraded values”: Rathbun, ”Funeral for a Friend,” Moving On Up a Little Higher, May 3, 2010, markrathbun.wordpress.com /2010/05/03/.

[>] he has likened himself: Rathbun, ”The Reformation,” Moving On Up a Little Higher, February 17, 2010, markrathbun.wordpress .com/2010/02/17/the-reformation/.

”My wife and I can't”: Rathbun, ”Miscavige Black Ops Squad Hits Corpus Christi,” Moving On Up a Little Higher, September 10, 2010, markrathbun.wordpress.com/2010/09/10.

”I joined Scientology for”: Rathbun, ”Murder Outs,” Moving On Up a Little Higher, August 13, 2010, markrathbun.wordpress.com /2010/08/13.

”Inquiry into these allegations”: Memorandum, Claire Headley v. The Church of Scientology International et al., Case No. CV 09-3987 DSF, filed in U.S. District Court Central District of California, August 5, 2010.

”Scientology wins”: Thomas Tobin and Joe Childs, ”Judge Dismisses Two Lawsuits Aimed at Scientology,” St. Petersburg Times, August 6, 2010.

[>] According to several reports: Personal interviews with Amy Scobee and Mat Pesch, Jeff Hawkins, and others; Lawrence Wright, ”The Apostate,” New Yorker, February 14, 2011.

”One of the most addictive”: Kendra Wiseman, ”Growing Up a Scientologist,” Ex-Scientology Kids, February 8, 2008; removed from the website; hard copy provided to author by Kendra. Also available at Ex-Scientologist Message Board, exscn.net/content/view/39/52/.

Selected Bibliography.

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Ron Hubbard Died a Man of Mystery,” St. Petersburg Evening Independent, February 1, 1986 Neuffer, Elizabeth, ”Scientology Under Siege in Germany: Church Members Face Surveillance for Roles in 'Antidemocratic' Group,” Boston Globe, June 7, 1997 ”Of Two Minds,” Time, July 24, 1950 ”Poor Man's Psychoa.n.a.lysis,” Newsweek, October 16, 1950 ”Remember Venus?” Time, December 22, 1952 Richardson, John, ”Catch a Rising Star,” Premiere, September 1993 Rigley, Colin, ”L. Ron Hubbard's Last Refuge,” New Times, May 29, 2009 Ronson, Jon, ”After Stanley Kubrick,” The Guardian, August 18, 2010 Sappell, Joel, and Robert W. Welkos, ”The Courting of Celebrities: Testimonials of the Famous Are Prominent in the Church's Push for Acceptability,” Los Angeles Times, June 25, 1990 Smith, L. Christopher, ”Scientology's Money Trail,” Portfolio, December 2008January 2009 Sommer, Dave, ”State Drops Scientology Charges,” Tampa Tribune, June 13, 2000 Stafford, Charles, ”Special Report: Scientology, an In-Depth Profile of a New Force in Clearwater,” St. Petersburg Times, January 9, 1980 Stanley, Alessandra, ”Talk Show Rarity: A True Believer's Candor,” New York Times, June 25, 2005 Strauss, Neil, ”The Pa.s.sion of the Cruise,” Rolling Stone, September 2, 2004 Strupp, Joe, ”The Press vs. Scientology,” Salon, June 30, 2005, /news/feature/2005/06/30/scientology/ Swiatek, Jeff, ”Lilly's Legal Tactics Disarmed Legions of Prozac Lawyers,” Indianapolis Star, April 23, 2000 Tobin, Thomas, ”David Miscavige Speaks,” St. Petersburg Times, October 25, 1998 ---. ”The Man Behind Scientology,” St. Petersburg Times, October 25, 1998 ---.”A Place Called Gold,” St. Petersburg Times, October 25, 1998 Urban, Hugh, ”Fair Game: Secrecy, Security, and the Church of Scientology in Cold War America,” Journal of the American Academy of Religion, volume 74, number 2, June 2006, pp. 35689 Verini, James, ”Missionary Man,” Salon, June 27, 2005, /entertainment/feature/2005/06/27/cruise/index.html Vick, Karl, and David Dahl, ”Scientologists Profit from New Members,” St. Petersburg Times, October 15, 1993 Waldrip, Cheryl, ”Mystery Surrounds Scientologist's Death,” Tampa Tribune, December 15, 1996 ---. ”Scientologist's Death: A Family Hunts for Answers,” Tampa Tribune, December 22, 1996 Wallace, Mike, ”The Clearwater Conspiracy,” 60 Minutes, CBS, June 1, 1980 ---. ”Scientology,” 60 Minutes, CBS, December 22, 1985 Waxman, Sharon, ”Tom Cruise's Effusive 'Oprah' Appearance Raises Hollywood Eyebrows,” New York Times, June 2, 2005 Wright, Lawrence, ”The Apostate: Paul Haggis vs. the Church of Scientology,” The New Yorker, February 14, 2011 Scientology Publications, Tapes, and DVDs Church of Scientology International, Scientology: Theology and Practice of a Contemporary Religion, Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1998 ---. What Is Scientology? Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1998 Hubbard, L. Ron, Advanced Procedures and Axioms, Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 2007 ---. ”All About Radiation,” Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1990 ---. Clear Mind, Clear Body, Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 2002 ---. Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Heath, Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 2007 ---. Dianetics and Scientology Technical Dictionary, Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1975 ---. The Freedoms of Clear, VHS tape, Golden Era Productions, 1987 ---. The Hymn of Asia, Los Angeles: L. Ron Hubbard Library, 1974 ---. ”An Introduction to Scientology,” taped lecture, Los Angeles: L. Ron Hubbard Library, 1966 ---. Introduction to Scientology Ethics, Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1968 ---. London Congress on Dissemination and Help and the London Open Evening Lectures, Lectures 17, Los Angeles: L. Ron Hubbard Library, 1978 ---. Mission into Time, Los Angeles: The American Saint Hill Organization, 1968 ---. Modern Management Technology Defined, Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1976 ---. ”Opinion Leaders,” Hubbard Communications Office Policy Letter, May 11, 1971 ---. The Organizational Executive Course, volumes 17, Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1991 ---. The Original LRH Executive Directives, Series 13, Los Angeles, Bridge Publications, 1983 ---. Philadelphia Doctorate Course Transcripts, volumes 18, Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1982 ---. The Phoenix Lectures, Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1968 ---. Science of Survival, Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 2007 ---. Scientology: 88008, Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 2007 ---. Scientology: The Fundamentals of Thought, Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1983 ---. Scientology: A History of Man, Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1988 ---. Scientology: A New Slant on Life, Copenhagen: New Era Publications ---. ”The Story of Dianetics and Scientology” (lecture), Los Angeles: L. Ron Hubbard Library, 1978 --- Technical Bulletins of Dianetics and Scientology, volumes 116, Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1991 WISE: Your Guide to Members.h.i.+p, members.h.i.+p packet; WISE International, 1990

Acknowledgments.

This book would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of Jann Wenner and Will Dana, my editors at Rolling Stone, who first a.s.signed me a story about Scientology in 2005 and then gave me the time and resources to develop it in a way few editors are willing to do. I am also indebted to the many others at Rolling Stone who offered their guidance and support, notably Sean Woods, Eric Bates, Jodi Peckman, Jim Kaminsky, and Coco McPherson.

My agent, Laurie Liss, was the first person to encourage me to expand my research into a book and helped shape the proposal as well as offer her tireless support and advocacy in the years since. Numerous individuals at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt made this book possible, among them Eamon Dolan and Webster Younce, who acquired the book and were early, and enthusiastic, supporters; the amazing Andrea Schulz, who saw the book from first draft to publication and worked relentlessly to make it the very best it could be; Lisa Glover, who managed production, and Susanna Brougham, who provided expert copyediting; and Christina Morgan, who took care of every other detail. In addition, an extra special thanks is due to Will Blythe, a longtime mentor and friend, for being the rare editor who can take a disorganized pile of pages and give them shape, structure, and depth. I truly could not have written this book without his help.

Of the many former and current Scientologists, academics, and researchers who spoke with me, I am most grateful to the woman I have called ”Sandra Mercer”; without her insights, encouragement, and guidance, I would never have understood the first thing about Scientology. I am also deeply indebted to Nancy and Chris Many, who, over countless tuna sandwiches and cans of Diet c.o.ke, educated me about the Sea Organization, provided me with a library of Scientology texts and other doc.u.ments, and offered their house as a refuge and meeting place. A special thank-you also goes to Anne, Jeffrey, and Anthony Aylor; Chuck Beatty; Jason Beghe; Maureen Bolstad; Larry Brennan; Caroline and John Brown; Tanja and Stefan Castle; Neville Chamberlin; Art Cohan; Jana Daniels; Mark Fisher; Steve Hall; Jeff Hawkins; Marc and Claire Headley; Mike Henderson and Donna Shannon; Bruce Hines; Gale Irwin; Don Jason; Jason Knapmeyer; Dan Koon; Sinar Parman; Mat Pesch; DeDe Reisdorf; Glenn Samuels; Amy Scobee; Teresa Summers; Tom De Vocht; Natalie Walet; the late Alan Walter; Kendra Wiseman; Astra Woodcraft; and the many other former and current Scientologists who shared with me their joys, sorrows, fears, hopes, and disappointments during my five years of research into this mysterious and often incomprehensible church. That a number of them still value L. Ron Hubbard's technology, if not the organizational management of the Church of Scientology-and were eager to differentiate between the two-is a testament to the growing number of Scientologists who hope to form an independent, and free, movement. I wish them all the best of luck in doing so.