Amazing interview and incredible for Mike to speak up so loudly.
When I was a teenager in the 00s, I spent a significant amount of my weekends protesting scientology. They had a little base in Belfast, Northern Ireland of all places. I and some friends used to camp out at the bus stop outside with protest signs, and when they went out to do their demonstrations etc on the main street we'd follow them and hand out flyers. Talk about what happened to Lisa McPherson, that kinda stuff. Sometimes we'd just put music on really loud to drown them out and dance in front of their tables so no one approached. They *hated* us and used to take photos of us very obviously every time we showed up to try and show that they were taking 'evidence' or whatever. The guy who organised the protests was in his 20s and they used to show up in a car outside his house and just watch him all day during the week to try and intimidate him. At one point they stormed out of their premises and tried to steal our bags while shouting and screaming at us. Luckily there were some police officers nearby who got our stuff back and escorted them away!
It was a wild time. I moved away to Scotland in '09 and veeeery occasionally see them out on the street. It's nowhere near as big as it is in the US, but it's still so strange to me that they have even a small foothold in the UK. Terrible, awful cult. Please be careful <3
Huge respect for you kicking up a storm back then. From talking to Mike it seems like that protest movement - only getting more visceral, smart and viral thanks to platforms like TikTok - has really kicked them in the guys. Their billboards just can't cut through that shit.
You should take a look at Apostate Alex on Youtube. He used to work at the scientology church in London, eventually left and now he speaks out about the cult, particularly regarding its activities in the UK. Which is really valuable as you don't often hear much about British Scientology, I suppose because there's so little of it. A good thing, of course! But it's funny to think it was once headquartered here, at Saint Hill Manor in Sussex.
Okay, I had no idea that's what Scientology was like?!! I honestly just thought it was a rich people money-laundering thing.
David & Wormfolk! The cat rescue I have been volunteering at since March may have a paid position for me! I am trying not to get my hopes up because I don't know the details but two different people there have independently brought me up to the board of directors to replace an out-going person. It's a very small nonprofit and there are only two paid employees so I would definitely not be rich or anything but this is the kind of job I'd love to have! I'd be doing a good mix of administrative work for the org, dealing with the public and coordinating volunteers, and actually taking care of the cats (and lots of cleaning). I already help take care of the cats and share the social media accounts with another volunteer.
Anyway, positive vibes appreciated! I've been mostly unemployed for two years and have never "stumbled into" a job like this before; I am usually the most unemployable person ever and I'm terrible at interviews. I can't believe two different people there actually like me enough to be like, "Hey, I think you'd be perfect for this!" MY COWORKERS WOULD BE CATS!!!
I probably should have asked this originally but, are there any good docs to watch or books to read that explain the history and details...? Now I am kind of curious....
Yes, there’s loads of material. Read (or watch - there’s a book AND a film) Going Clear. It covers everything from Hubbard’s early life to Miscavige’s iron rule today. Well worth a read (or watch).
Thanks, Cindy! I just sent in my resume today and the shelter manager and board are going to take a look and hopefully talk to me about it soon...! I am sooo excited!!!
I'm so glad Mike was able to get his mother out. I hadn't ever really considered what Scientology does to it's older members, and it's almost more evil than I could imagine.
re: the Tom Cruise of it all. It's been a bit nauseating to watch his reputation be so thoroughly rehabilitated. Culpability in cults can be complicated because they often turn their members into perpetrators as well as victims. But given his status in Scientology, I have a hard time believing he's much of a victim anymore, if he ever was.
And maybe I'm wrong, but it seems like he slips a little bit of Scientologist dogma into the Mission Impossible movies. All the talk about Ethan as a quasi-religious figure who can make things happen by sheer force of will sounds a little culty to me. It's subtle but I definitely think it's there.
It's funny - he used to talk about Scientology and even criticise things like mental health care *openly* on talk shows. Then, at some point in the early 2000s that all just STOPPED. He never spoke of it again. I guess that was the point (South Park?) that the Church started to realise it's BS couldn't cut over all the criticisms.
It makes me wonder if his increased openness about Scientology around then was meant as part of a bigger recruitment pushl, but it all just horribly backfired. I definitely remember seeing ads for Scientology on TV at some point.
Ironically, it's probably because Scientology is so small and insular that he's been able to have such a career resurgence. The public's memory is short. 9 out of 10 people don't know any members, so they don't have any direct negative experiences. All they know is Tom Cruise is a member. And they think everyone in Hollywood is nuts anyway.
TOTALLY. It will never not surprise me how short public memory is. Doesn't help that everyone is just bombarded with so much information now (much of it incorrect!) and that it's only going to get worse.
What a great interview, things like this have always fascinated me. I'm glad Mike could rescue his mother, it's so awful how these cults recruit members by preying on vulnerable people going through a hard time.
Been thinking about Elizabeth Moss a little lately, and the amount of cognitive dissonance she must have had, to have the leading role in The Handmaid's Tale, and also be a Scientologist. Simply mind-boggling.
People think i'm exaggerating when I start talking about how Tom Cruise literally fuels a cult with his career. But its TRUE. And its infuriating that more people dont even bat an eyelash to it. I wish he wasnt in one of my favorite films of all time , Interview With the Vampire, because I love it so much but i know it just gives more to him. Thankful that the AMC show exists now so I can enjoy that instead, along with the books.
Mike is brave for speaking up. You are brave (as always) for sharing his account. I hope Scientogy is actually dwindling in numbers. I would love to see the end of it in my lifetime. And your right its no different than any other religion and their crazy stories. But this one is leaps and bounds worse. I hope you both stay safe and watch your backs. They are dangerous folks. Especially where you live so close, David! Take care!
It is *definitely* dwindling. It has holdouts in LA and Florida as he said, but yeah - the protest movement and information spread has really fucked them up.
I was a scientology kid, and honestly, the more distance I get from it the more messed up I realise it is.
And the fear. The only reason I could talk about it in therapy is that they’re so anti therapy I felt pretty secure in the leap of faith that my therapist wasn’t one of them.
I’m a grown ass adult, 30 years away from my last moments on their soil and I’m still unpicking things.
It makes me really sad for members of my family that are still in it.
Thanks for writing this, and thanks to Mike for sharing.
Ugh, I knew Tom Cruise was disgusting. I also dispute anyone who claims he's a good actor. He can do big stunts. He can't act. Money can buy you anything but actual talent.
Thanks Mike for sharing your story, the more of you that do, the more people can avoid getting sucked into the black hole that is Scientology and the more that might be able to get out. I've been following Leah Rimini for years, she's fought like a lioness to expose that place.
I also love that his mother got to watch Going Clear. That must have just been such a surreal thing for her - seeing this cult from the *outside* as the world saw it. I also found myself thinking of Jillian in Mister Organ, and how fucking hard it actually is to remove someone from a brainwashed place.
If anyone wants to read a fascinating book from someone who also broke free - David Miscavige's own niece, I highly recommend Beyond Belief by Jenna Miscavige Hill: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beyond_Belief_(memoir)
When I go back to England to see friends and family I always try to have a cycle ride past their massive mansion and grounds near East Grinstead (there's a great disused railway track that's now a cycle way between Crawley and East Grinstead that goes fairly close). Many years ago you could ride around the estate, but they applied to the local council to get footpaths etc closed, and it seems to have worked :-( Anyhow that little rides around (cameras everywhere!) wer emy tiny protest :-)
The way my eyes lit up when I saw this notification, I love (and also deeply hate) this so much. Thank you for sharing Mike!
I wrote an essay about Scientology at uni and really struggled to keep it neutral and within the word count because there is just SO MUCH to talk about.
I live about 20 minutes from downtown Clearwater. A friend of mine is a part-time assistant for a Scientologist. Her employer's neighbor suffered a house fire during Hurricane Helene last year. The salt water from the Gulf was pushed onto land much further than in previous storms- and when salt water hits a lithium battery in a golf cart or electric car, it catches fire. First responders don't get on the roads until the winds have died down to under 45 mph.
Anyway, my friend's employer wondered what her neighbor's moral failings were to "cause" him to lose his house.
It all just feels like a hobby for rich people, you know? Scientology absolves you from having to care for others around you, because it teaches that bad things happen to you when you aren't living clear.
Wow. What wankers to take out credit cards in the poor mother's name and run up massive debts. They used to have an upstairs room in Queen St Auckland in the 1970s and try and recruit people after luring them upstairs to do a personality test. I thought they were weirdos then - I suspected they were white slave traders, and waiting to kidnap people and spirit people off to some overseas country, and in a way they were.
When I lived over near Clearwater, FL there was definitely a sense of them just buying up all these places and the local leaders being so in bed with them. Nothing ever seemed to get finished and just reminded me of Leah Remini’s shows that exposed them hoarding property with skeletons of projects and staff inside. This article was great and needed but so sad. I never thought of the senior population being serviced by these skeleton crews.
Amazing interview and incredible for Mike to speak up so loudly.
When I was a teenager in the 00s, I spent a significant amount of my weekends protesting scientology. They had a little base in Belfast, Northern Ireland of all places. I and some friends used to camp out at the bus stop outside with protest signs, and when they went out to do their demonstrations etc on the main street we'd follow them and hand out flyers. Talk about what happened to Lisa McPherson, that kinda stuff. Sometimes we'd just put music on really loud to drown them out and dance in front of their tables so no one approached. They *hated* us and used to take photos of us very obviously every time we showed up to try and show that they were taking 'evidence' or whatever. The guy who organised the protests was in his 20s and they used to show up in a car outside his house and just watch him all day during the week to try and intimidate him. At one point they stormed out of their premises and tried to steal our bags while shouting and screaming at us. Luckily there were some police officers nearby who got our stuff back and escorted them away!
It was a wild time. I moved away to Scotland in '09 and veeeery occasionally see them out on the street. It's nowhere near as big as it is in the US, but it's still so strange to me that they have even a small foothold in the UK. Terrible, awful cult. Please be careful <3
Huge respect for you kicking up a storm back then. From talking to Mike it seems like that protest movement - only getting more visceral, smart and viral thanks to platforms like TikTok - has really kicked them in the guys. Their billboards just can't cut through that shit.
Huge respect, Rowan.
You should take a look at Apostate Alex on Youtube. He used to work at the scientology church in London, eventually left and now he speaks out about the cult, particularly regarding its activities in the UK. Which is really valuable as you don't often hear much about British Scientology, I suppose because there's so little of it. A good thing, of course! But it's funny to think it was once headquartered here, at Saint Hill Manor in Sussex.
Thankyou! For anyone else interested: https://www.youtube.com/@apostatealex
Okay, I had no idea that's what Scientology was like?!! I honestly just thought it was a rich people money-laundering thing.
David & Wormfolk! The cat rescue I have been volunteering at since March may have a paid position for me! I am trying not to get my hopes up because I don't know the details but two different people there have independently brought me up to the board of directors to replace an out-going person. It's a very small nonprofit and there are only two paid employees so I would definitely not be rich or anything but this is the kind of job I'd love to have! I'd be doing a good mix of administrative work for the org, dealing with the public and coordinating volunteers, and actually taking care of the cats (and lots of cleaning). I already help take care of the cats and share the social media accounts with another volunteer.
Anyway, positive vibes appreciated! I've been mostly unemployed for two years and have never "stumbled into" a job like this before; I am usually the most unemployable person ever and I'm terrible at interviews. I can't believe two different people there actually like me enough to be like, "Hey, I think you'd be perfect for this!" MY COWORKERS WOULD BE CATS!!!
It definitely is a rich people money laundering thing also. It was basically a pyramid scheme when it started, then conveniently became a religion.
and YAY CATS 😻
I probably should have asked this originally but, are there any good docs to watch or books to read that explain the history and details...? Now I am kind of curious....
I watched an Australian investigation team try to find Shelly Miscavige, but the most telling documentary would have to be "Going Clear".
Yes, there’s loads of material. Read (or watch - there’s a book AND a film) Going Clear. It covers everything from Hubbard’s early life to Miscavige’s iron rule today. Well worth a read (or watch).
Thanks for this; will look into it.
💪💪💪🫂🫂🫂🐱🐈🐈⬛🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼 Fingers & toes 🤞🏼
Thanks, Cindy! I just sent in my resume today and the shelter manager and board are going to take a look and hopefully talk to me about it soon...! I am sooo excited!!!
"My co-workers would be cats" is probably the best thing I've heard all week. Good luck!
Thanks so much! :)
I'm so glad Mike was able to get his mother out. I hadn't ever really considered what Scientology does to it's older members, and it's almost more evil than I could imagine.
re: the Tom Cruise of it all. It's been a bit nauseating to watch his reputation be so thoroughly rehabilitated. Culpability in cults can be complicated because they often turn their members into perpetrators as well as victims. But given his status in Scientology, I have a hard time believing he's much of a victim anymore, if he ever was.
And maybe I'm wrong, but it seems like he slips a little bit of Scientologist dogma into the Mission Impossible movies. All the talk about Ethan as a quasi-religious figure who can make things happen by sheer force of will sounds a little culty to me. It's subtle but I definitely think it's there.
It's funny - he used to talk about Scientology and even criticise things like mental health care *openly* on talk shows. Then, at some point in the early 2000s that all just STOPPED. He never spoke of it again. I guess that was the point (South Park?) that the Church started to realise it's BS couldn't cut over all the criticisms.
It makes me wonder if his increased openness about Scientology around then was meant as part of a bigger recruitment pushl, but it all just horribly backfired. I definitely remember seeing ads for Scientology on TV at some point.
Ironically, it's probably because Scientology is so small and insular that he's been able to have such a career resurgence. The public's memory is short. 9 out of 10 people don't know any members, so they don't have any direct negative experiences. All they know is Tom Cruise is a member. And they think everyone in Hollywood is nuts anyway.
TOTALLY. It will never not surprise me how short public memory is. Doesn't help that everyone is just bombarded with so much information now (much of it incorrect!) and that it's only going to get worse.
Short memory alright. I wonder how honest the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic will be?
What a great interview, things like this have always fascinated me. I'm glad Mike could rescue his mother, it's so awful how these cults recruit members by preying on vulnerable people going through a hard time.
Been thinking about Elizabeth Moss a little lately, and the amount of cognitive dissonance she must have had, to have the leading role in The Handmaid's Tale, and also be a Scientologist. Simply mind-boggling.
Out of all "celeb" Scientologists, she always mystifies me the most. I wonder if at any point during Handmaid's Tale she was like, "Hmm."
What an incredible story - all the elements of a Mission Hollywood blockbuster.
Rescuing ones mother from a cult is surely an exemplary way to use ones military training.
Ngā mihi, Mike, for sharing your and your mother's story of enduring love for one another.
People think i'm exaggerating when I start talking about how Tom Cruise literally fuels a cult with his career. But its TRUE. And its infuriating that more people dont even bat an eyelash to it. I wish he wasnt in one of my favorite films of all time , Interview With the Vampire, because I love it so much but i know it just gives more to him. Thankful that the AMC show exists now so I can enjoy that instead, along with the books.
Mike is brave for speaking up. You are brave (as always) for sharing his account. I hope Scientogy is actually dwindling in numbers. I would love to see the end of it in my lifetime. And your right its no different than any other religion and their crazy stories. But this one is leaps and bounds worse. I hope you both stay safe and watch your backs. They are dangerous folks. Especially where you live so close, David! Take care!
It is *definitely* dwindling. It has holdouts in LA and Florida as he said, but yeah - the protest movement and information spread has really fucked them up.
Good.
I refuse to watch anything he does for this reason. I’ve been told by many that it’s pointless but it’s my own little protest.
👍🏾💯 SAME 👏
Brilliant piece.
I was a scientology kid, and honestly, the more distance I get from it the more messed up I realise it is.
And the fear. The only reason I could talk about it in therapy is that they’re so anti therapy I felt pretty secure in the leap of faith that my therapist wasn’t one of them.
I’m a grown ass adult, 30 years away from my last moments on their soil and I’m still unpicking things.
It makes me really sad for members of my family that are still in it.
Thanks for writing this, and thanks to Mike for sharing.
Holy shit - I am so glad you got out. And it means a lot that this piece resonated. What part of the world were you part of the "church" in?
NZ/Australia. Which I’m very grateful for - a lot easier than the states. Still, absolute and genuinely insane place
A couple who were my neighbours broke up because the mr got seduced by Scientology. He was a college graduate so not unintelligent.
I wish someone would in N Z would investigate the Exclusive Brethren and their wealth and influence in politics and policy making
Ugh, I knew Tom Cruise was disgusting. I also dispute anyone who claims he's a good actor. He can do big stunts. He can't act. Money can buy you anything but actual talent.
Thanks Mike for sharing your story, the more of you that do, the more people can avoid getting sucked into the black hole that is Scientology and the more that might be able to get out. I've been following Leah Rimini for years, she's fought like a lioness to expose that place.
David - keep going at them!
She fought to find out what happened to her friend, Shelly. Hasn't given up on her.
What an account. Mike's rescue mission of his mum sounds way more absorbing than any Mission Impossible film!
So brave to share his experience like this.
Thanks David. Epic
I also love that his mother got to watch Going Clear. That must have just been such a surreal thing for her - seeing this cult from the *outside* as the world saw it. I also found myself thinking of Jillian in Mister Organ, and how fucking hard it actually is to remove someone from a brainwashed place.
Oh true, poor Jillian was just utterly lost to it.
Yeah thank God Mike's mum was able to see it and he had the skills to get her out.
Its just so sad and disgusting how many people are in the business of literally breaking others for their own benefit
"In the business of literally breaking others for their own benefit." You nailed it and it's *everywhere*. In individuals, in churches, in cults.
If anyone wants to read a fascinating book from someone who also broke free - David Miscavige's own niece, I highly recommend Beyond Belief by Jenna Miscavige Hill: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beyond_Belief_(memoir)
When I go back to England to see friends and family I always try to have a cycle ride past their massive mansion and grounds near East Grinstead (there's a great disused railway track that's now a cycle way between Crawley and East Grinstead that goes fairly close). Many years ago you could ride around the estate, but they applied to the local council to get footpaths etc closed, and it seems to have worked :-( Anyhow that little rides around (cameras everywhere!) wer emy tiny protest :-)
The way my eyes lit up when I saw this notification, I love (and also deeply hate) this so much. Thank you for sharing Mike!
I wrote an essay about Scientology at uni and really struggled to keep it neutral and within the word count because there is just SO MUCH to talk about.
I live about 20 minutes from downtown Clearwater. A friend of mine is a part-time assistant for a Scientologist. Her employer's neighbor suffered a house fire during Hurricane Helene last year. The salt water from the Gulf was pushed onto land much further than in previous storms- and when salt water hits a lithium battery in a golf cart or electric car, it catches fire. First responders don't get on the roads until the winds have died down to under 45 mph.
Anyway, my friend's employer wondered what her neighbor's moral failings were to "cause" him to lose his house.
It all just feels like a hobby for rich people, you know? Scientology absolves you from having to care for others around you, because it teaches that bad things happen to you when you aren't living clear.
Wow. What wankers to take out credit cards in the poor mother's name and run up massive debts. They used to have an upstairs room in Queen St Auckland in the 1970s and try and recruit people after luring them upstairs to do a personality test. I thought they were weirdos then - I suspected they were white slave traders, and waiting to kidnap people and spirit people off to some overseas country, and in a way they were.
When I lived over near Clearwater, FL there was definitely a sense of them just buying up all these places and the local leaders being so in bed with them. Nothing ever seemed to get finished and just reminded me of Leah Remini’s shows that exposed them hoarding property with skeletons of projects and staff inside. This article was great and needed but so sad. I never thought of the senior population being serviced by these skeleton crews.
Just googled and seems trust is really waning even with Clearwater politicians. (sorry FOX but this piece seemed legit) https://www.fox13news.com/news/clearwater-group-opposed-church-scientology-buying-downtown-street-share-counter-proposal