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Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard's Dangerous "Religion"
"Battleship Scientology: Exposing L.Ron Hubbard's Dangerous Religion" contains 33 articles (& over 50 photos) from Tony Ortega's popular blog ("The Underground Bunker) with intros to the 5 sections by Paulette Cooper ("The Scandal of Scientology." )
At last two of the best-known Scientology exposé writers team up to tell the whole story... from Scientology celebrities, (and how the church uses and abuses them) to the Sea Org (Scientology’s highest level where members who join sign billion-year-contracts to work for them throughout their entire lives) to mysterious deaths, to fair game (from the viewpoint of the attackers as well as the victims) to how Hubbard got some of his (weirder) ideas, to Scientology today (including signs of their decline) and much more.
This book was written for people who (think they) know just about everything there is to know about Scientology, to those who know nothing; the stories range from early Hubbard to what is happening today. The chapters were chosen to appeal not only to former Scientologists, but also never-Scientologists, as well as to people who never bought a single book of theirs to those who spent most of their lives [and some believe, even their past lives] in it.
The 360+ pages and photos reflect not only that what's interesting, but also what's important in understanding what has happened in this church, right down to what's happening today.
Tony Ortega has been chronicling events in Scientology since the early ‘90’s and Paulette Cooper wrote the first major exposé of Scientology ("The Scandal of Scientology") in 1968. She then spent the next 15 years exposing them while they went after her with vengeance. This is chronicled in Tony's first book, "The Unbreakable Miss Lovely."
At last two of the best-known Scientology exposé writers team up to tell the whole story... from Scientology celebrities, (and how the church uses and abuses them) to the Sea Org (Scientology’s highest level where members who join sign billion-year-contracts to work for them throughout their entire lives) to mysterious deaths, to fair game (from the viewpoint of the attackers as well as the victims) to how Hubbard got some of his (weirder) ideas, to Scientology today (including signs of their decline) and much more.
This book was written for people who (think they) know just about everything there is to know about Scientology, to those who know nothing; the stories range from early Hubbard to what is happening today. The chapters were chosen to appeal not only to former Scientologists, but also never-Scientologists, as well as to people who never bought a single book of theirs to those who spent most of their lives [and some believe, even their past lives] in it.
The 360+ pages and photos reflect not only that what's interesting, but also what's important in understanding what has happened in this church, right down to what's happening today.
Tony Ortega has been chronicling events in Scientology since the early ‘90’s and Paulette Cooper wrote the first major exposé of Scientology ("The Scandal of Scientology") in 1968. She then spent the next 15 years exposing them while they went after her with vengeance. This is chronicled in Tony's first book, "The Unbreakable Miss Lovely."
356 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 30, 2018
47 people are currently reading
172 people want to read
About the author
Tony Ortega
5 books19 followersAnthony "Tony" Ortega is an American blogger who is best known for his daily blog The Underground Bunker. He was executive editor of The Raw Story from 2013 until 2015. Previously, he had been a journalist at the New Times LA, the editor-in-chief of the Broward-Palm Beach New Times from 2005 to 2007 and the editor-in-chief of The Village Voice from 2007 to 2012. In 2015 he was executive editor of the YouTube channel TheLipTV. He is author of the non-fiction book The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, about journalist Paulette Cooper and the Church of Scientology's attempts to silence her after her own book was published.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 1, 2019
Titled after Lafayette Ronald Hubbard's penultimate scifi novel Battlefield Earth, this book is a probing look into his so-called religion (or is it a science?) and how the management of that organisation have gone to extreme lengths to silence critics.
Spoiler: the whereabouts of Shelly Miscavage are known - she was spotted twice near Lake Arrowhead in California, probably living at one of the organisation's secure bunkers designed to save Hubbard's prodigious output of books and lectures from an apocalypse.
Co-author Paulette Cooper has been at the sharp end of some of Scientology's practices when she started investigating them in 1969. The organisation's attempt to appear nice by cancelling the policy of Fair Game came with small print effectively saying everything in Fair Game was still fair. Hopefully Cooper felt better when she discovered the Org had nicknamed her Miss Lovely as none of their attempts to smear her reputation worked.
An other example of Hubbard's paranoia and lashing out against perceived enemies was the infiltration and attack against the British charity National Association for Mental Health (NAMH), also in 1969. When the invaders were exposed they were expelled en masse, and the charity reorganised itself as MIND.
These days Scientology spends most of its money not of staff but on buildings - "ideal orgs". In theory these are modern (or modernised), clean, airy buildings perfect for the dissemination of their philosophy and attracting new adherents. The money comes from "regging" members to donate to the cause of "clearing the planet". And donate again, and again, and again. Big donors are rewarded with impressive status titles like "Diamond Laureate with Honours" and lavish ceremonies to dish out big bowling club style bling trophies.
The worst battles are when people have decided to leave Scientology, especially if they were on the staff or had signed the billion year contract for the Sea Org (the most dedicated Scientologists, founded when Hubbard thought he could escape scrutiny by sailing the Seven Seas). Mike Rinder and Leah Remini are two of the most well known as they went public and invited other ex-members to talk about their experiences for the TV show Aftermath. To be branded SP (suppressive person) or PTS (potential trouble source) and expelled is the org's attempt to keep those inside from hearing any descenting voices. It is this high control environment and obvious lies (definitely not the fastest growing religion for some decades) that leads to Scientology being called a cult.
The worst disaster in Scientology was the death of Lisa McPherson in 1995. After a minor car crash and showing signs of mental instability she was locked in a room in the Org's Fort Harrison Hotel, in Clearwater Florida, for 17 days for the so-called Introspection Rundown. She was denied real food and both medical and psychiatric help. Scientology tried to cover-up the circumstances of her death and deny any wrong doing. Before Scientology will allow you to partake their "courses" they make you sign a waver absolving the Org from any responsibility should something bad happen to you. Obviously if something good happens then the Org will take full credit and you must give thanks to LRH and COB.
Many families have reported being torn apart by the disconnection policy. Hopefully the people I know who are still in won't fall foul of this. If you are reading this then know I am ready to help you leave any time - just ask.
Spoiler: the whereabouts of Shelly Miscavage are known - she was spotted twice near Lake Arrowhead in California, probably living at one of the organisation's secure bunkers designed to save Hubbard's prodigious output of books and lectures from an apocalypse.
Co-author Paulette Cooper has been at the sharp end of some of Scientology's practices when she started investigating them in 1969. The organisation's attempt to appear nice by cancelling the policy of Fair Game came with small print effectively saying everything in Fair Game was still fair. Hopefully Cooper felt better when she discovered the Org had nicknamed her Miss Lovely as none of their attempts to smear her reputation worked.
An other example of Hubbard's paranoia and lashing out against perceived enemies was the infiltration and attack against the British charity National Association for Mental Health (NAMH), also in 1969. When the invaders were exposed they were expelled en masse, and the charity reorganised itself as MIND.
These days Scientology spends most of its money not of staff but on buildings - "ideal orgs". In theory these are modern (or modernised), clean, airy buildings perfect for the dissemination of their philosophy and attracting new adherents. The money comes from "regging" members to donate to the cause of "clearing the planet". And donate again, and again, and again. Big donors are rewarded with impressive status titles like "Diamond Laureate with Honours" and lavish ceremonies to dish out big bowling club style bling trophies.
The worst battles are when people have decided to leave Scientology, especially if they were on the staff or had signed the billion year contract for the Sea Org (the most dedicated Scientologists, founded when Hubbard thought he could escape scrutiny by sailing the Seven Seas). Mike Rinder and Leah Remini are two of the most well known as they went public and invited other ex-members to talk about their experiences for the TV show Aftermath. To be branded SP (suppressive person) or PTS (potential trouble source) and expelled is the org's attempt to keep those inside from hearing any descenting voices. It is this high control environment and obvious lies (definitely not the fastest growing religion for some decades) that leads to Scientology being called a cult.
The worst disaster in Scientology was the death of Lisa McPherson in 1995. After a minor car crash and showing signs of mental instability she was locked in a room in the Org's Fort Harrison Hotel, in Clearwater Florida, for 17 days for the so-called Introspection Rundown. She was denied real food and both medical and psychiatric help. Scientology tried to cover-up the circumstances of her death and deny any wrong doing. Before Scientology will allow you to partake their "courses" they make you sign a waver absolving the Org from any responsibility should something bad happen to you. Obviously if something good happens then the Org will take full credit and you must give thanks to LRH and COB.
Many families have reported being torn apart by the disconnection policy. Hopefully the people I know who are still in won't fall foul of this. If you are reading this then know I am ready to help you leave any time - just ask.
January 5, 2019
More great information about this cult!
I’m a never-in who is fascinated by this cult. The things they get away with and thrive on are incredible and hard to believe in this day and age. Just when you think humanity has matured, you realize only a small portion are using their critical thinking skills. Scientologists are not. Brainwashing at its finest! I’ve read many books on this topic and this one has some new stories and details. Highly recommend!
I’m a never-in who is fascinated by this cult. The things they get away with and thrive on are incredible and hard to believe in this day and age. Just when you think humanity has matured, you realize only a small portion are using their critical thinking skills. Scientologists are not. Brainwashing at its finest! I’ve read many books on this topic and this one has some new stories and details. Highly recommend!
December 12, 2018
Outstanding!!!!
February 18, 2023
This was an interesting read. Each short chapter was telling of a different black mark in Scientology's history, allowing the reader to then pick from these stories for further research. I've read many, many books and autobiographies about Scientology and there were stories in this book that I'd never heard before. I only gave it 4 stars instead of 5 bc there was a lot of technical jargon that I got lost in.
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February 10, 2021Informative and enjoyable, but as skosh disjointed and I wish it had been more tightly edited before being released in book form. Good stuff though!
May 25, 2019
This book has some truly fascinating details about Scientology from the most prolific reporters to ever cover the subject. My major criticism was that the writing style is a very dry. I appreciate the journalistic fidelity to the the subject matter, but would have liked to hear more personality in the writing.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews