By Anna Schecter
Rock Center
Though Katie Holmes has not addressed reports that Scientology was a reason she split with Tom Cruise, a former Church of Scientology spokesman said some families, including his own, were torn apart when one spouse wanted to leave the religion.
“My wife, my son, my daughter, my mother….they disconnected from me. They will not communicate with me,” said Mike Rinder in an interview with Kate Snow airing on Thursday, July 12 at 10pm/9c on NBC's Rock Center with Brian Williams.
Rinder joined the church as a child in Australia and rose to be Scientology’s international spokesman before he left the church in 2007.
He said he had been unhappy inside the church for a long time, but was afraid to leave because he said the church encouraged members to cut ties with relatives who want to leave.
“Part of that environment is keeping track of how people think…it’s a crime to …think bad thoughts about what’s going on and people will turn you in. Even your spouse will turn you in or your children will turn you in and then you’ll be in trouble,” he said.
When he finally decided to leave, he said he called his wife of 31 years and their two children and asked them to join him.
“The first thing that I did was I contacted them and said, 'Okay, I'm done. I'm gone. I'm in Virginia. Please come and join me.' And the answer was, ‘F-you.’ Literally,” he said.
In addition to losing his family, Rinder said he has been harassed by the church, an assertion the church denies.
“They've had private investigators follow me for months and months and months, everywhere I went,” he said.
In 1998, Rinder was on the other side of the fence, defending Scientology in an interview with Dateline.
"There isn't and hasn't been any effort which has been taken to quote silence critics," said Rinder to Dateline in 1998.
Today, Rinder says he frequently lied to the public in his role as a church spokesman.
The Church of Scientology says it does not encourage members to cut ties with relatives who have left the church.
In a letter to NBC News, an attorney for the church wrote that Rinder is, “untrustworthy, unreliable and biased,” adding that he is a self-promoter who is using a tragic personal matter to forward his own anti-Scientology agenda. The church denies following or harassing Rinder after he left the church.
The church has said Rinder abandoned his wife and their two children and has accused him of being violent towards his ex-wife and other members of the church.
NBC News could not reach Rinder’s ex-wife for comment.
Rinder said at times he was violent towards some church members prior to his separation from the Church of Scientology, but said it was all part of the environment inside the church.
More from Rock Center:
Families question Scientology-linked rehab after recent deaths
Breaking Away: What is Scientology?
Breaking Away: What happens when a Scientologist leaves?
Tom Cruise's former Scientology auditor speaks about Cruise/Kidman Divorce
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A religious organization with a "CELEBRITY CENTER!!!"(In my Austin Power's voice)ARE YOU FREEEKKEEENG' KIDDING ME!!!Are there 2 section's in heaven,one for regular everyday work your but off folk's and one for celebritie's!?The segment on the goon squad "SQUIRREL BUSTER'S!"really!seriously,does the attorney general of the United State's,the head of the F.B.I.,member's of the senate,congress own a TV set?How many citizen's of the U.S. have to be defrauded(banking/religious),abused(children/college/religious) before somebody does something?
As an outsider looking in, the view is blocked. My chosen denomination of Christianity frowns on the Scientology views and beliefs, and many fellow members associate the term "cult" with it's membership.
If your waiting for this Presbyterian to bash the Scientology beliefs, policies and general membership....stop waiting, because I live in a nation that allows all men to freely choose his religious beliefs and followings. I respect their members choice to join the religion of his/her choice.
Any link to the celeb breakup and Scientology is unclear to me. But what is clear is the link, and direct involvement that fellow members of my religious organization had in the split with my ex wife and break up of my family, after 23 years of marriage. A marriage, that for the most part, was blissful and non-abusive.
What is ...is. But I will never forget how underhanded a few of my fellow patrons became toward me, acting on what they were told by my emotionally distraught wife.
My now ex wife and I are good friends today and have been since our divorce in 2003. I believe she knows that a mistake was made on her part and has since left the Presbyterian fellowship.
My point is that it may be more common than not that a church and it's membership has a contributing roll in marital splits. The whole idea seems opposite of what role you would think the church would play in splits.
Headlines in the news today indicate a large drop in the overall belief that church is an essential part of a happy life. Attendance and tithing is dwindling at a steady rate of decline.
If you are expecting me to support the new ideas of non attendence, once again, stop expecting it, because I am still a member of my Presbyterian church, I have come to terms with my anger and blame, forgiven those involved and promote the happy family goes to church ideals.
Whatever the reason or cause for the celeb break up is or was, is not my concern, nor do I feel any curiosity in learning about it, what so ever. I do sympathise with almost any male divorcing in California. If I were to be forced to pick a side in this celeb split, Tom would be my side, and although they both chose to get together, overlooking their great difference in age, I believe Kate stood to gain much more in their partnership than Tom did. Fame and wealth to be blunt, some things she didn't have until their union.
Understand that my point of view has strong influencial overtones, based on personal experiences.
CULT
I've always found it amazing that so many people get suckered into an alien-based religion invented by a 3rd rate science fiction author. Having read a couple of his novels (before I really knew who he was), he obviously saved his best story telling for the creation of the cult. His novels are terrible, even when compared to the lower rungs of dime-novel tripe.
Bumpersticker Prayer in the Bible Belt:
"Lord, Save me from your Followers!"
I had a conversation with a Southern Baptist churchgoer onetime. A really nice lady and a woman of deep faith. I explained to her about my spiritual doctrine and how many of us in my fold are spiritually disturbed.
Her reply: Honey, what you do think Church and Religion are for? Many people are spiritually sick. It is just sad that they are confused. But as looking as they are seeking God, it keeps many of us out of deeper trouble.
Then it dawned on me...many try to play God and "convince" "coerce" "force down our throats" religion and a point of view of God instead of just giving a message and let God work through each and every one of us as He/She sees fits. Even the Atheist plays a role in this world.
Who among us has not felt superior or inferior to our fellow man/women?
Let Go Let God.
I long ago gave up on organized religion. The very fact that there are so many of them, purporting to worship the same God, yet presenting different interpretations of what God wants of us, makes it obvious they're all about control. I don't need a formal organization to know what's right and wrong. I treat people the way I would like to be treated. They're human beings like I am. I don't need to be herded into a building once a week to listen to a robed human tell me how I should or shouldn't behave or believe.
Me too. Church has become a place of confusion and the MEGA Churches are the worse. Mega Churches aren't about God, it is about keeping the pastor happy in his multi-million dollar home. I would go to a poor church before I would step foot in a mega church
if God is all powerful, he doesnt need any help from religion.
I know little to nothing about scientology. If it helps someone connect spiritually and find peace so be it. I just worry about a faith that does not tolerate criticism well or approve of satire about it. I remember South Park having a go at them and one actor quit because they lampooned scientology. South Park Lampoons everybody. In my opinion, a faith that does not tolerate tomfoolery or lampooning of itself, is not a faith I would enjoy being attached to.
The IRS should declassify Scientology as a religion. More and more evidence is now coming forward that Scientology is a cult, not a religion.
Then, the IRS may have to investigate the whole country for other types of fraudulent "churches."
There are so many family businesses that claim that they are a church, and, there's different networks of them across the country, and they spread across different countries, at times.
They quit their network they are accountable to when there is conflict. They either join another one, or create a new one. This has been going on for ages in this country.
Some are legitimately, but, sadly, a church, while others are just a scam.
They run their churches like a small family business, like a tribal community.
At times, people just need to realize the fraudulent places need to cease and desist operations.
But, that's not going to happen to often.
People need people. They truly believe they are a cummunity of believers.
What type of believers? Who knows.
There will be a new one created to start a new belief system.
And there will be a new tribal leader living off their new believers.
They are wolves in sheep clothing.
What a stupid religion.
I invite everyone to join Scientia (and become Scientian), which simply means that they believe in a God of Science, or a God primarily guided by scientific principle, since the entire Universe primarily operates on these principles of Science. There is obviously great Intelligent Design behind the origin of our Universe, since it takes very great intelligence to write the extremely complex mathematical formulas which underlie the laws of our Universe. Welcome aboard, everyone, whoever believes these (obvious) issues as well! - Rick Carter
PS - This can also be spelled Sciencia or Sciencian as well.
As long as a god requires believe, its counter to science. Science is about observing, describing, and questioning. You accept the uncertainities of your own observations and theories-- there is no believing.
I bet they send agents out in the middle of the night to put all of the removed Space Cooties back on your body. Just stay away from those guys in black suits carrying containers with the label "Warning! Space Cooties! Stay away! Unless you want us to take some of yours off." and all will be well.
(Please don't get me wrong! There actually are outside offensive totalitarian ETs who are covertly trying to crash and explode our emerging human world in a final programmed cataclysm of global insanity and warfare (fueled with WMDs) known as the Christian Apocalypse or World War III, so they can use their eminent domain rights of military intervention to eventually steal and annex our extremely valuable celestial real estate, while also rendering mankind extinct on this precious planet at the same time. The real "Gospel" or "Good News" is that mankind potentially has countless millions (even billions) of years of growth, development and expansion ahead of them so long as they don't fall for these ET installed terminal religious belief system known as the Abrahamic religions.) - Rick Carter
Regarding Scientology's response. They always say it is just a few disgruntled apostates. There is a list of over 1800 people who have quit the church and spoken out publically. Google: the big list that left the church of scientology. Each persons' name, details, and links to where they have posted information against the church are given.
They also gave Rock Centre a book of photos of their new orgs. Recently, in Israel, scientology's lawyers admitted in court that they had shooped some photos of a new org, pretending it was open when it wasn't, in order to fund raise. Duping their own people. They also release fliers with questionable photos of orgs on them.
There claim of over 10000 orgs and missions just dropped by 1 recently, as a whole mission in Israel defected from the church.
Their church rehab is called Narconon. The one in Trois Rivieres in Canada was shut down by Canadian authorities as their treatment is dangerous. Narconon in Lawton, OK, is currently under investigation for deaths occuring within its walls.
The church spokesperson never addresses the issues, merely spouts off about the complainants being apostates, then tries to say how great they are.
They have one in Tarpon Springs, Florida.
Just up the road from their Florida headquarters in Clearwater.
Many thought the compound was bought by Tom.
But, it is a "Retreat."
They have one in Tarpon Springs, Florida.
Just up the road from their Florida headquarters in Clearwater.
Many thought the compound was bought by Tom.
But, it is a "Retreat."
I wonder if the FBI has ever investigated Scientology. If you go downtown in Clearwater Fl. you see all these people going in and out of the Scientology building and to me they look like Robots with no Personality at all. They all wear the same style clothes or I guess you could call it a uniform. They talk to nobody. It's like watching a weird Big Brother movie. I wouldnt go near or have anything to do with that Cult.
Like an Apple Store? ;)
Sounds like Mormonism...
Not to offend anybody but L. Ron Hubbard was a genius and Scientology should be ranked as some of the best science fiction of the 20th century. How does one take fiction and make people think it is science or religion? Answer: through experimentation. What works and what doesn't work to herd the flock? There are infamous stories of the early days when he was experimenting in public with this or that figuring out his master plan. Some of the tenants of the program, audits and the self hypnosis actually work but like anything else there are diminishing returns not to mention the cost of all this continuous improvement $$$$. Many of the former scientologists really liked the OT3 level but they agree the security checks in Clearwater were a bummer. Also the rules Hubbard came up with to make sure no one challenged his authority is classic fascism and could have come right out of mein kampf. If one looks at who is in the news and one has researched this stuff one can see why someone such as these celebrities can't see the forest for the trees. They take themselves too seriously to get the joke. L. Ron is laughing his butt off in whatever universe he landed on. This is very entertaining stuff so if you get a chance look up some of Hubbard's handwritten notes posted online. However the Germans don't think any of this is very funny but hey, lighten up. Hubbard was a science fiction writer and Scientology was his masterpiece so take it for what it was, a work of fiction.
I cant name one book he wrote except that stinker Battlefield: Earth. He must not be that good.
When Katie Holmes filed her divorce papers against Tom Cruise, asking for full physical and legal custody of Suri, she committed one of Scientology's highest 'ethics' offenses - a scientologist suing another scientologist. Scientologists are not allowed to sue one another without express consent of the church and, in the case of marriages, only if the marriage is sorted out before court proceedings are begun.
By filing those papers, she made it clear that she had divorced Scientology before she divorced Tom Cruise and that she didn't care that the church would label her a 'suppressive person' - the big 'SP' Tom talks about in that infamous video millions have viewed since it first appeared on Gawker, since the Church lost in it's bullying attempts to get it removed from the internet.
I am a critic of the church and it's practices and, as such, I am not a big fan of independent scientologists Mark Rathbun or Mike Rinder , both of whom committed some unrepentent horrendous acts against critics at the behest of the church over their many years as high level execs in Scientology. I hold no loyalty to L Ron Hubbard and his 'tech' as they do but I support them for speaking out about this dangerous organization, especially for speaking out about the disconnection policies which hurts and destroys so many families. Mike Rinder escaped when a rare opportunity allowed him to do so. From what I can tell, he was pretty overwhelmed and beaten down mentally at the time and did not have time to consider the consequences fully before he acted.
Katie Holmes did and left after she created a safety plan with the help of real friends and suportive family. Many others have done the same thing or are working on their escape steps, while others have lost family contact through no fault of their own because the organization cut them off without warning. The bottom line is that this disconnection practice is a form of extortion and uses blackmail to prevent exs from talking. What kind of church treats humans as if they do not have rights, which destroys families and breaks hearts everyday? Scientology. It's worse than you think. Katie Holmes knew that and prepared for the escape and we are all so happy she is out of Scientology and the arm of it's influence on her real family.
Where do I join?
All religions are cults. Fairy tales. Scientology? Sure, Mormons - sure. Christianity. Sure. Palaces in the sky? Talking burning bushes, walking on water, flying in the clouds, angels and demons? Really? Die and go to some palace where the streets are lined with gold and everyone you never loved is there and no disease? Please people if you haven't figured out that this is merely a fairy tale then you are an idiot.
"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." John 13:34
If you do not do this, then you do not get to go to heaven, so you will not be seeing people you "never loved"!
Here's your 10 commandments-- original edition. _http://dwij.org/forum/amarna/2_cmndmts_book_of_the_dead.html
Scientology is all about money, power and control -- just like Catholicism and Islam. They are afraid someone will spill the beans and expose them for the cult of weirdos they really are. Any 'religion' that encourages someone to shun a family member is NOT a religion!
What happens? The one leaving should be thrown a party! Scientology is money laundering cult.
This Sick group is no different than the Jim Jones CULT!
It seems quite hypocritical to me. They, according to Rock Center, do not believe in God, yet they use the cross, the cross Jesus Christ died on to save us from our sins, as their emblem. I can not see it as a religion, as they do not read the bible,
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the father, but by me" John 14:6
This Hubbard guy seems to have deceived a great many people,
"And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you" Matthew 24:4
There are lots of religions that don't follow the bible. Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism. There are religions that don't follow a god or a single god. That "cross" has been used in LOTS of religions. Its an ancient symbol that appeared in Sumerian culture thousands of years before Christianity was thought of.
The Cross comes from the center of the zodiac circle where the equinox lines cross in from the the Sun symbol. A detached version is the circle and cross symbol that people think is Irish but its really ancient. The story of dieing on the cross is a description of the Sun's progression stopping on Dec 22 (fro 3 days) while in front of the Southern Cross then "rising" to start its progression back.
If there are PI's following him, and he knows they're following him, and they are a threat...why not catch one of them, call the cops, and let them haul him away for an investigation? Then you have your proof they were hired by Scientology... 'nuff said.
So you're saying one person gets a brain, the other stays a spooky religious nutbag, and the relationship has "problems"? LOL!
Not the words i would use....but the thought is the same.