A Billion Years: My Escape from a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology

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I think that the internet has had a huge impact on not just Scientology, but any organization that relies on keeping people in the dark, both those who are still within the organization, and also those who are outside,” Rinder observes. “That has shifted the dynamic, moved the balance of power, and the reporting by Larry Wright and the film by Alex Gibney, changed things dramatically, in my view.” In A Billion Years, the dark, dystopian truth about Scientology is revealed as never before. Rinder offers insights into the religion that only someone of his former high rank could provide and tells a harrowing but fulfilling story of personal resilience. Mike was born in Australia and raised in a scientology family. He joined the organization’s elite inner core (the “Sea Org”) at age 18 and rose through the ranks, working directly with both L. Ron Hubbard and his successor David Miscavige. He has a unique insider’s perspective on scientology. Incredible. I listened to the audiobook and Mike did such a good job with the narration here. I've listened to quite a few books where the authors did their own narration, and it's not always great. It's really an ideal way to do an audiobook though if you've got the skill for it.

Overall I found this to be an amazing audiobook experience full of compelling stories, insightful facts about Scientology, and honest reflections by Mr. Rinder. Very eye-opening and highly recommended! " — GeraldT1, 1/10/2023 We’re celebrating a little anniversary at the Bunker this morning. Yes, it’s been ten years since we started up tonyortega.org, and we can hardly believe it’s been a decade already. At the outset, I was enthusiastic and determined to get the truth out to counteract what I believed were lies about Hubbard perpetuated by those who sought to take him down. Ultimately, however, the task of writing a church-authorized biography of L. Ron Hubbard was a fool's errand. There were too many things that could not be ignored or explained in the man's life. If everything that was a lie, embellishment, or embarrassment was omitted, the biography would be so full of holes that even scientologists wouldn't buy it. Furthermore, if we published a book that full of lies, we opened ourselves up to being dissected by reviewers and critics...So instead of publishing a biography that risked opening scientology up to criticism, we followed the example of the LRH Life Exhibition and published issues of Ron magazine that covered carefully selected stories about Hubbard's life, such as 'Master Mariner' and 'The Humanitarian.' Each included convenient facts but left huge gaps." (p. 136-37) Next, fifteen years after leaving Scientology Rinder suddenly emerges now as the cause of Scientology's tax exemption. He was mum on the subject for fifteen years - rightly deferring to me on that subject - precisely because he had little to nothing to do with the dozens of court struggles Great audiobook and highly recommended for an insider's scoop on this insidious organization. Mike relates the harrowing tale of his life in L. Ron Hubbard's fake navy and how his family cruelly disowned him when he escaped (Google "Scientology disconnection"). This was a fine addition to my library and all I can add beyond that is that Scientology should not be tax exempt! " — Keith R6, 1/19/2023Rinder goes on to elaborate on “the wall” around Scientologists, his personal story of 45 years in the cult, and his eventual escape from crazy-town. I won’t spoil the book by telling all his stories, but things get more weird, and more overtly abusive, than you can probably imagine. Very, very Lord of the Flies. Mike escaped from scientology in 2007 – leaving behind all his family (parents/siblings and wife/children) who “disconnected” from him. At 53, with no money, college degree, resume or support system he began a new life. Today he is happily remarried with a 10 year old son. He writes a daily blog on scientology and has recently published a memoir A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life at the Highest Levels of Scientology. David] Miscavige was the best man at Tom and Nicole's wedding on December 24, 1990, in Telluride, Colorado, where Cruise had a home. Though I was not there, my old friend Sinar Parman, Hubbard's personal chef, was flown in to cook for the newlyweds. It was the first time I became aware that Sea Org members were used as personal staff for Cruise. It was indicative of how far Miscavige was willing to go to ally Cruise. Other Sea Org members were sent to help set up the house. This became a standard pattern with Cruise. Miscavige would dispatch Sea Org members to do various tasks to 'help Tom'." (p. 139)

Remini Redux ( https://markrathbun.blog/2019/08/22/r...) and Bullshit Alert: Ortega, Rinder, Remini ( https://markrathbun.blog/2020/09/15/b...- Ultimately Mike Rinder's audio book provides an unforgettable listening experience that shows us how powerful individual resilience can be when faced with overwhelming odds. It will leave you feeling inspired by its message that no matter how dark life may seem at times, there is always hope if you stay true to yourself."There is a file on everybody who has ever said or done something that Scientology disagrees with, and it's kept by the Office of Special Affairs, which is the organization that I used to be in charge of,” Rinder notes. negotiations and historically in-depth IRS audits that culminated in tax exemption. Even with my detailed descriptions over the past several years publicly available, Rinder's new fiction betrays a remarkable degree of ignorance about Scientology's history vis a vis the IRS. I listened to many testimonials and experiences of people on Youtube, who were mentioned in the book. Too many people 'escaped'. Too many folks lost their families and friends in 'disconnection'.

I was originally going to give this book 3 stars. It was a good book, but did not really provide me with any new details. But then I saw this book: By the time Cruise went to Oprah’s TV show and had the infamous couch jumping moment, Rinder says Cruise had increasingly become a public promoter of CSI.Along the way, for this longtime Scientology watcher, Rinder recites a history that we already had some familiarity with, but with new details that we found absolutely fascinating. From the reorganization of Scientology following the 1977 FBI raid which was the agency’s largest in its history at that time, to Hubbard’s final years in hiding and who was with him, to Miscavige’s moves to take over as undisputed strong man, to the years of effort to wrestle the IRS to its knees in 1993, Rinder has brilliant new personal insights that help complete the picture of this evolution. Mike shares thoughtfully about how all aspects of life was dictated by Scientology, from food choices to clothing options, down to controlling even which members could be friends with each other. Yet even through these difficult times, there were moments of humanity shining through from people within the organization who wanted nothing more than freedom from their own prison system. The audiobook is full of details that bring home just how manipulative, coercive and oppressive living under such circumstances can be.