In the late 1990’s, I was a member of the Church of Scientology in Los Angeles. At that time, the Cult Awareness Network (CAN) was a non-profit organization devoted to disseminating information about “brainwashing” and “cults”. Worried parents and family members would call their offices (before the Internet) and they would provide them with information.
As a Scientologist, I was recruited into Scientology’s war on CAN, and I’ve written about it here on my blog.
I watched from the inside what Mike Rinder’s Office of Special Affairs did to gut their number 1 enemy at the time, and take over its operations. 60 Minutes detailed this application of Scientology policy called “Controlled Opposition” many years ago.
The Scientologists who appeared on screen at the time, Kendrick Moxon and Heber Jentsch, were working with Mike Rinder as the head of the Office of Special Affairs. Prior to this 60 Minutes segment, the fact that Scientologists were answering the phones at the Cult Awareness Network was a secret.
It’s frightening to most people what Scientology is capable of. But for Scientology, it’s business as usual.
Do you think Scientology has abandoned its policy of “controlled opposition” since Mike Rinder ‘left’ Scientology?
Don’t be naïve.
Part 1
Part 2: