Blown for Good
Encyclopedia
Blown for Good: Behind the Iron Curtain of Scientology is a non-fiction
book about Scientology
, written by Marc Headley. It was first published in the United States
on November 5, 2009. Headley's mother was a Scientologist and he joined the organization at a young age. He worked for the organization at its international headquarters in Hemet, California, called Gold Base
for 15 years, and left in 2005. The book details his experiences working as a member of Scientology's highest-leadership group in the organization called the Sea Org
, as well as the management style of Scientology leader David Miscavige
.
Scientology representatives would not comment on the substance of Headley's statements in the book, but asserted in comments to media in November 2009 that the author was involved in frivolous litigation with the organization. Headley said that in response to his speaking out critically against the organization, he was deemed a Suppressive Person
within Scientology and subjected to the practice of disconnection
, whereby his family and friends in Scientology were instructed never to speak to him again. He said in interviews that private investigator
s have monitored him, dug through his garbage, and followed him as he took his children to school. He stated agents of Scientology contacted his employees and stated he was an "anti-religious extremist".
Blown for Good received positive reception in reviews and media coverage. The editor in chief
of The Village Voice
described the book as a "remarkable account", and the associate editor of Catholic Online called it "a bold insider memoir". The book was discussed positively by commentators of the KFI
program The John and Ken Show, and The Observer
noted Headley's book goes into detail regarding "allegations of systematic abuse and bizarre episodes" within Scientology.
. Headley's mother was a Scientologist, and she brought him up within the organization from an early age. He began work as an employee for the organization at age 16. Headley worked out of the organization's international headquarters in Hemet, California, for 15 years. In 2005, Headley escaped from the international headquarters of the organization. He received the help of police
during his escape from the organization.
After leaving the organization, Headley started to write about his experiences in Scientology. His writings were published in the media including news magazines, publications on the internet and other websites. In 2008, Headley was invited to speak in Hamburg
, Germany
, at a conference discussing abuses within Scientology, alongside actor and former Scientologist Jason Beghe
. In 2009, Headley lived in Los Angeles, California, with his wife and two children, where he was a business owner.
to the book is written by former high-ranking Scientology official Mark Rathbun
. "While Marc Headley and I were stationed at the same international headquarters property of the Church of Scientology’s elite Sea Organization for nearly fifteen years, his views of some of Scientology founder Hubbard’s writings and my views differed greatly. I never had time to write or send the note because I could not put the manuscript down. I was gripped by Marc’s personal story," writes Rathbun. The book's title is a reference to the Scientology jargon
word "Blown", meaning any individual who leaves the organization without prior permission to do so.
Headley recounts his 15 years as an employee of the Church of Scientology
. He details what it was like to work for the organization out of its international headquarters called Gold Base
near Hemet, California
at Gilman Hot Springs. He describes what life was like as an employee of the organization headed by Scientology leader David Miscavige
at the secluded 500 acre (2 km²; 0.781250690760893 sq mi) facility, also known as International Base or Int Base. Headley was a member of Scientology's highest-leadership group in the organization, the Sea Organization, or Sea Org
.
Headley worked out of the film-production studio facilities of Scientology from 1989 through 2005. He held multiple positions while employed by Scientology at Gold Base, and these mainly focused on the production of video and audio materials to disseminate the message of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard
. He helped originate scripts of videos whose goal was to introduce new members to Scientology methodology. He would also supervise Scientology presentations presided over by leader Miscavige. Headley reproduced thousands of copies of audio recordings of speeches by Hubbard, and he was often faced with repercussions from Miscavige if production quotas were not satisfied. Headley describes an incident where he says he was physically attacked by Miscavige for making a sarcastic comment.
In 1990, Headley was selected to undergo the Scientology practice of auditing
, and he was told that his partner for this would be Scientologist and actor Tom Cruise
. Cruise had recently finished the film Days of Thunder
. Cruise was paired with the author because Headley was both relatively low on the scale of Scientology courses, and young at the time at age 17, so he would not have been viewed as a risk to speak to the press about his experiences with the celebrity. "[Cruise] was going to do his auditor training and he needed someone to audit and this person had to be low on the bridge. That was me," writes Headley. According to the author, he worked with Cruise on Scientology methodology called Training Routines
, for hours at a time each day. These techniques were intended to give the practitioner a better control over one's mind. Headley worked with Cruise for a total of three weeks.
The author describes a 2004 event where Tom Cruise was awarded the organization's Medal of Valor from Miscavige; video of which was leaked to the Internet
in January 2008. Initially, a video of Cruise planned to be shown at the event featured other celebrities including Will Smith
appearing on camera and praising the actor. Miscavige disapproved, and instead instructed Scientology staff to create a video where Cruise would speak about himself and his views on being a Scientologist. "Dave Miscavige later said that his Tom Cruise video was one of the most important videos that had ever been produced," writes Headley. According to Headley, Scientology employees at the compound in Gilman Hot Springs were made to watch clips edited-together of Cruise, as a form of inspirational material. The clips of Cruise were edited to only include material that reflected positively on the celebrity Scientologist.
Headley outlines behavior patterns of Miscavige in the book. He recounts an incident where Miscavige instructed his management to participate in a game of musical chairs
to the Queen
song "Bohemian Rhapsody
". According to Headley, the Scientology leader ordered 70 executives to fight for chairs while the music was playing, and said that only the last person remaining would be allowed to stay at Gold Base. The other people would be moved to remote Scientology facilities. The Scientology staff competed with each other for chairs during the game and some became emotional because they thought they would be ordered to locations where they would not see their families. Miscavige later stated no one would have to leave the facility. "Turns out it was going to cost a fortune to fly all these people all over the place and the logistics were not finalized as to how to ship everybody off to the different continents. Dave had called down late during the night and said that he was not willing to waste one single cent of Scientology's money," explains Headley.
Headley states he gained approval to sell old Scientology materials on eBay
in order to recoup money for the organization – he was later accused of embezzlement
for doing this. In 2005, when he knew he would be faced with being sent to the organization's prison-like program the Rehabilitation Project Force
, Headley decided to leave. Leaving Scientology would mean becoming separated from his wife Claire, who he had been married to for 13 years, and his other family members, due to the Scientology practice of disconnection
. Headley left Gold Base on his motorcycle
but was followed by Scientology security guards, in an incident which resulted in Headley falling off his bike by the side of the road. Riverside County, California
police arrived, and they helped Headley safely get further away from the Scientology compound. From there he traveled to his father in Kansas City
. He was later reunited with his wife who had also served Scientology as an employee at Gold Base. Prior to his wife's escape from Gold Base, she was monitored closely day and night by the organization.
The author credits multiple sources that he says introduced doubts into his thought processes about his conditions while living at Gold Base. He writes that he listened to The John and Ken Show
on KFI, and that their discussion of Scientology allowed him to think more critically during his time at the compound. He says that viewing Conan O'Brien
make fun of Scientology celebrities changed his views on individuals that the organization had only spoken of internally with reverence.
contacted a representative of the organization for comment on Headley's statements in the book, for a November 30, 2009 article on Tom Cruise and Scientology. The magazine reported that the representative, "would not confirm or deny" Headley's description of his experiences practicing the Scientology auditing technique with Cruise. The Scientology representative told Us Weekly that Headley is "currently engaged in a frivolous lawsuit against the Church." A spokesman for Scientology gave a comment to The Sun
about the book for a November 14, 2009 article, saying, "Marc is currently suing the Church and he has written the book to flank his litigation."
In an interview on The John and Ken Show on KFI, the author was asked if he experienced retaliation from Scientology for speaking critically about the organization. He said that he had been issued a declaration that he was to be considered a "Suppressive Person
" by members of the organization, and explained, "That's basically the thing that goes out to anyone and everyone who is in Scientology, saying, 'This person is a Suppressive Person, and you can no longer speak to him ever again.' If you are in Scientology, and you speak to somebody who is a Suppressive Person, you yourself can be declared a Suppressive Person." Headley said when he left Scientology the organization gave him a "freeloader statement", a bill for US$
62,000, for courses he had received in Scientology. "It's actually illegal, because they are basically charging me for on-the-job training – in California you can't charge somebody for on-the-job training. It's of no real value, but you don't know that, when you're in Scientology. You think, 'Are they going to garnish my wages, are they going to sue me?' You don't know," said Headley. The hosts asked the author if he had been harassed by the organization, and he stated he had experienced this form of retaliation as well. "I've dealt with that. They've had people at my house, watching my house They've had people following me taking my kids to school. They've contacted my employees at my business, that I'm a 'anti-religious extremist' and a member of 'an internet hate group'." Headley said most of those contacted by Scientology found these actions by the organization "laughable" because they knew him personally.
In an appearance on the Kevin and Bean
program on KROQ-FM
, Headley said he was aware of private investigator
s that followed him, and dug through his garbage. He said that Child Protective Services
received an anonymous tip that his children were in danger and therefore had to come and do an inspection at his house. Headley said the Scientology practice of Disconnection
was enforced upon him and he was no longer able to speak with his family members still in the organization. "When I left in 2005, before I even had a chance to contact any of my family, my mother, my sister and my brother were all informed that they would never be able to speak to me ever again. And I haven't spoken to them since the day I left. And if they do choose to speak to me, then they themselves can be declared a Suppressive Person, and then they won't be able to speak to anybody that they know that's a Scientologist," said Headley. As an example, Headley stated, "When my wife gave birth to our first son, I called her parents from the hospital room. And I called and I said, 'Hey, I just want to let you know, Claire's okay.' Click. They hung up. They've never seen their grandchildren."
. Blown for Good was selected as a finalist in the 2009 "Book of the Year Awards", by ForeWord Magazine. The Editor in chief
of The Village Voice
, Tony Ortega, described the book as a "remarkable account". Ortega noted, "Headley's story provides a damning account of life working for Scientology leader David Miscavige at the secretive desert base, where young people who sign billion-year contracts work 100-hour weeks for little or no pay with the ever-present threat that they may be pulled into hellish disciplinary drills, or separated permanently from friends and family members for the slightest perceived infraction." He concluded the review by commenting, "Perhaps the best service that Headley provides with Blown for Good is giving non-Scientologists the sense of what it's really like to work, day in and day out, in such a strange organization, from the lowliest laborer mucking out excrement in a Gold Base pond (Headley says shit was coming out of his ears and pores for days) to what kind of luxuries the celebrities and high-ranking members enjoy."
On the KFI
talk radio
program The John and Ken Show, commentators John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou talked about Blown for Good and discussed Scientology. One of the commentators said of the statements detailed by the author in the book, "This is, the Scientology cult, is I guarantee you, a thousand times more bizarre than you could have ever imagined. And what these celebrities do, like Tom Cruise, is a thousand times more strange than you could ever imagine. I have never read about behavior like this in my life, I can't imagine it. It's really weird." Paul Beaumont, Toni O'Loughlin and Paul Harris of The Observer
commented that Headley's book, "details – as others have – allegations of systematic abuse and bizarre episodes" of experiences in Scientology. They noted, "Headley's book follows a year in which Scientology has been plagued by unwelcome revelations from high-profile defectors and fresh media investigation into its practices." Catholic Online associate editor and former Archbishop of the Charismatic Episcopal Church, Randy Sly, characterized Blown for Good as "a bold insider memoir". Sly reported on criticism of Scientology in the Australian Senate
by Senator Nick Xenophon
, and commented, "Headley provides vivid accountings of activities within Scientology that confirm the Australian Senator’s concerns." Sly noted, "A number of comments left on the Amazon.com website were from those who indicated they were ex-Scientologists and confirmed the author’s accounts." Ian Punnett of Coast to Coast AM
commented that the song "We Gotta Get out of This Place
", "certainly would be a theme of several of the chapters of Blown for Good".
Hamilton Nolan of Gawker described the book's design as "featuring a dramatic, action-scene-type cover", and called the work "a new tell-all book". Star
described Blown for Good as an "explosive new book". Pete Samson of The Sun
called the book "a revealing account of goings-on within the church". Perez Hilton
wrote of the book's release that the "church of Scientology isn't going to be too happy about this", and commented on statements made by Headley in the book, "The more people speak out about their experiences in Scientology, the more creeped out we get!" The Flemish
daily newspaper
published in Belgium
, De Standaard
, noted the book discusses "remarkable experiences" the author underwent as a Scientology staff member. Mark Rathbun wrote in a post on his blog that he acknowledged he and Headley did not agree on all things Scientology, but thought the book had value, commenting, "Marc Headley and I don’t see eye to eye much on LRH [L. Ron Hubbard] and Scientology. He has his views and I have mine and they are often divergent. Nonetheless, Marc has produced a narrative of his life in the Sea Org that I consider an important read for anyone wanting to understand the current state of the church." In a 2010 article in New Humanist
, Paul Sims noted, "Since its release at the end of last year, Blown for Good has made the kind of impact its author hoped. Having built up an online buzz courtesy of Anonymous, and sold thousands of copies in the US, Headley says he has been receiving letters and emails from Scientologists, many of whom have said the revelations in his book have confirmed their suspicions about the inner workings of the Church."
Non-fiction
Non-fiction is the form of any narrative, account, or other communicative work whose assertions and descriptions are understood to be fact...
book about Scientology
Scientology
Scientology is a body of beliefs and related practices created by science fiction and fantasy author L. Ron Hubbard , starting in 1952, as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics...
, written by Marc Headley. It was first published in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on November 5, 2009. Headley's mother was a Scientologist and he joined the organization at a young age. He worked for the organization at its international headquarters in Hemet, California, called Gold Base
Gold Base
The Gold Base is the international headquarters of the Church of Scientology on a parcel of land in unincorporated Riverside County, California, outside of San Jacinto, and north of Hemet....
for 15 years, and left in 2005. The book details his experiences working as a member of Scientology's highest-leadership group in the organization called the Sea Org
Sea Org
The Sea Organization or Sea Org is an association of Scientologists established in 1968 by L. Ron Hubbard, the science fiction writer and founder of Scientology. Its members are found in the central management organizations of the Church of Scientology as well as in individual churches...
, as well as the management style of Scientology leader David Miscavige
David Miscavige
David Miscavige is the leader of the Church of Scientology and affiliated organizations. His title is Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center , a corporation that controls the trademarked names and symbols of Dianetics and Scientology. Miscavige was an assistant to Hubbard while a...
.
Scientology representatives would not comment on the substance of Headley's statements in the book, but asserted in comments to media in November 2009 that the author was involved in frivolous litigation with the organization. Headley said that in response to his speaking out critically against the organization, he was deemed a Suppressive Person
Suppressive Person
Suppressive Person, often abbreviated SP, is a term used in Scientology to describe the "antisocial personalities" who, according to Scientology's founder L. Ron Hubbard, make up about 2.5% of the population...
within Scientology and subjected to the practice of disconnection
Disconnection
Disconnection, when used in Scientology, is a term used to describe the severance of all ties between a Scientologist and a friend, colleague, or family member deemed to be antagonistic towards Scientology. The practice of disconnection is a form of shunning. Among Scientologists, disconnection is...
, whereby his family and friends in Scientology were instructed never to speak to him again. He said in interviews that private investigator
Private investigator
A private investigator , private detective or inquiry agent, is a person who can be hired by individuals or groups to undertake investigatory law services. Private detectives/investigators often work for attorneys in civil cases. Many work for insurance companies to investigate suspicious claims...
s have monitored him, dug through his garbage, and followed him as he took his children to school. He stated agents of Scientology contacted his employees and stated he was an "anti-religious extremist".
Blown for Good received positive reception in reviews and media coverage. The editor in chief
Editor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
of The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
described the book as a "remarkable account", and the associate editor of Catholic Online called it "a bold insider memoir". The book was discussed positively by commentators of the KFI
KFI
KFI is an AM radio station in Los Angeles, California. It received its license to operate on March 31, 1922 and began operating on April 16, 1922 as one of the United States' first high-powered, "clear-channel" stations...
program The John and Ken Show, and The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
noted Headley's book goes into detail regarding "allegations of systematic abuse and bizarre episodes" within Scientology.
Author
Marc Headley was raised in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. Headley's mother was a Scientologist, and she brought him up within the organization from an early age. He began work as an employee for the organization at age 16. Headley worked out of the organization's international headquarters in Hemet, California, for 15 years. In 2005, Headley escaped from the international headquarters of the organization. He received the help of police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
during his escape from the organization.
After leaving the organization, Headley started to write about his experiences in Scientology. His writings were published in the media including news magazines, publications on the internet and other websites. In 2008, Headley was invited to speak in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, at a conference discussing abuses within Scientology, alongside actor and former Scientologist Jason Beghe
Jason Beghe
Jason Beghe is an American film and television actor and critic of Scientology. As a young man he attended the Collegiate School in New York City, where he became best friends with John F. Kennedy, Jr. and David Duchovny. Beghe is married and lives in Los Angeles, California.Beghe starred in the...
. In 2009, Headley lived in Los Angeles, California, with his wife and two children, where he was a business owner.
Contents
The forewordForeword
A foreword is a piece of writing sometimes placed at the beginning of a book or other piece of literature. Written by someone other than the primary author of the work, it often tells of some interaction between the writer of the foreword and the book's primary author or the story the book tells...
to the book is written by former high-ranking Scientology official Mark Rathbun
Mark Rathbun
Mark "Marty" C. Rathbun was Inspector General of the Religious Technology Center , the organization that controls the copyrights and trademarks of the materials relating to Dianetics and Scientology...
. "While Marc Headley and I were stationed at the same international headquarters property of the Church of Scientology’s elite Sea Organization for nearly fifteen years, his views of some of Scientology founder Hubbard’s writings and my views differed greatly. I never had time to write or send the note because I could not put the manuscript down. I was gripped by Marc’s personal story," writes Rathbun. The book's title is a reference to the Scientology jargon
Jargon
Jargon is terminology which is especially defined in relationship to a specific activity, profession, group, or event. The philosophe Condillac observed in 1782 that "Every science requires a special language because every science has its own ideas." As a rationalist member of the Enlightenment he...
word "Blown", meaning any individual who leaves the organization without prior permission to do so.
Headley recounts his 15 years as an employee of the Church of Scientology
Church of Scientology
The Church of Scientology is an organization devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. The Church of Scientology International is the Church of Scientology's parent organization, and is responsible for the overall ecclesiastical management, dissemination and...
. He details what it was like to work for the organization out of its international headquarters called Gold Base
Gold Base
The Gold Base is the international headquarters of the Church of Scientology on a parcel of land in unincorporated Riverside County, California, outside of San Jacinto, and north of Hemet....
near Hemet, California
Hemet, California
Hemet is a city in the San Jacinto Valley in Riverside County, California, United States. It covers a total area of , about half of the valley, which it shares with the neighboring city of San Jacinto. The population was 78,657 at the 2010 census....
at Gilman Hot Springs. He describes what life was like as an employee of the organization headed by Scientology leader David Miscavige
David Miscavige
David Miscavige is the leader of the Church of Scientology and affiliated organizations. His title is Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center , a corporation that controls the trademarked names and symbols of Dianetics and Scientology. Miscavige was an assistant to Hubbard while a...
at the secluded 500 acre (2 km²; 0.781250690760893 sq mi) facility, also known as International Base or Int Base. Headley was a member of Scientology's highest-leadership group in the organization, the Sea Organization, or Sea Org
Sea Org
The Sea Organization or Sea Org is an association of Scientologists established in 1968 by L. Ron Hubbard, the science fiction writer and founder of Scientology. Its members are found in the central management organizations of the Church of Scientology as well as in individual churches...
.
Headley worked out of the film-production studio facilities of Scientology from 1989 through 2005. He held multiple positions while employed by Scientology at Gold Base, and these mainly focused on the production of video and audio materials to disseminate the message of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard
L. Ron Hubbard
Lafayette Ronald Hubbard , better known as L. Ron Hubbard , was an American pulp fiction author and religious leader who founded the Church of Scientology...
. He helped originate scripts of videos whose goal was to introduce new members to Scientology methodology. He would also supervise Scientology presentations presided over by leader Miscavige. Headley reproduced thousands of copies of audio recordings of speeches by Hubbard, and he was often faced with repercussions from Miscavige if production quotas were not satisfied. Headley describes an incident where he says he was physically attacked by Miscavige for making a sarcastic comment.
In 1990, Headley was selected to undergo the Scientology practice of auditing
Auditing (Scientology)
Auditing was developed by L. Ron Hubbard, and is described by the Church of Scientology as "spiritual counseling which is the central practice of Dianetics and Scientology".-Description:...
, and he was told that his partner for this would be Scientologist and actor Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise
Thomas Cruise Mapother IV , better known as Tom Cruise, is an American film actor and producer. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards and he has won three Golden Globe Awards....
. Cruise had recently finished the film Days of Thunder
Days of Thunder
Days of Thunder is a 1990 American auto racing film released by Paramount Pictures, produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Tony Scott. The cast includes Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid, Cary Elwes and Michael Rooker. The film also features appearances...
. Cruise was paired with the author because Headley was both relatively low on the scale of Scientology courses, and young at the time at age 17, so he would not have been viewed as a risk to speak to the press about his experiences with the celebrity. "[Cruise] was going to do his auditor training and he needed someone to audit and this person had to be low on the bridge. That was me," writes Headley. According to the author, he worked with Cruise on Scientology methodology called Training Routines
Training routines (Scientology)
The training routines are introductory services used in the Church of Scientologyas well as affiliated programs Narconon, Criminon and WISE. The church describes them as a way of learning to communicate effectively and to control situations...
, for hours at a time each day. These techniques were intended to give the practitioner a better control over one's mind. Headley worked with Cruise for a total of three weeks.
The author describes a 2004 event where Tom Cruise was awarded the organization's Medal of Valor from Miscavige; video of which was leaked to the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
in January 2008. Initially, a video of Cruise planned to be shown at the event featured other celebrities including Will Smith
Will Smith
Willard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. , also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor, producer, and rapper. He has enjoyed success in television, film and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor in Hollywood...
appearing on camera and praising the actor. Miscavige disapproved, and instead instructed Scientology staff to create a video where Cruise would speak about himself and his views on being a Scientologist. "Dave Miscavige later said that his Tom Cruise video was one of the most important videos that had ever been produced," writes Headley. According to Headley, Scientology employees at the compound in Gilman Hot Springs were made to watch clips edited-together of Cruise, as a form of inspirational material. The clips of Cruise were edited to only include material that reflected positively on the celebrity Scientologist.
Headley outlines behavior patterns of Miscavige in the book. He recounts an incident where Miscavige instructed his management to participate in a game of musical chairs
Musical chairs
Musical chairs is a game played by a group of people , often in an informal setting purely for entertainment such as a birthday party...
to the Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
song "Bohemian Rhapsody
Bohemian Rhapsody
"Bohemian Rhapsody" is a song by the British rock band Queen. It was written by Freddie Mercury for the band's 1975 album A Night at the Opera...
". According to Headley, the Scientology leader ordered 70 executives to fight for chairs while the music was playing, and said that only the last person remaining would be allowed to stay at Gold Base. The other people would be moved to remote Scientology facilities. The Scientology staff competed with each other for chairs during the game and some became emotional because they thought they would be ordered to locations where they would not see their families. Miscavige later stated no one would have to leave the facility. "Turns out it was going to cost a fortune to fly all these people all over the place and the logistics were not finalized as to how to ship everybody off to the different continents. Dave had called down late during the night and said that he was not willing to waste one single cent of Scientology's money," explains Headley.
Headley states he gained approval to sell old Scientology materials on eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
in order to recoup money for the organization – he was later accused of embezzlement
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted....
for doing this. In 2005, when he knew he would be faced with being sent to the organization's prison-like program the Rehabilitation Project Force
Rehabilitation Project Force
The Rehabilitation Project Force, or RPF, is a controversial program set up by the Church of Scientology Sea Organization, intended to rehabilitate members of the Sea Organization who have not lived up to the Church expectations or have violated certain policies...
, Headley decided to leave. Leaving Scientology would mean becoming separated from his wife Claire, who he had been married to for 13 years, and his other family members, due to the Scientology practice of disconnection
Disconnection
Disconnection, when used in Scientology, is a term used to describe the severance of all ties between a Scientologist and a friend, colleague, or family member deemed to be antagonistic towards Scientology. The practice of disconnection is a form of shunning. Among Scientologists, disconnection is...
. Headley left Gold Base on his motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
but was followed by Scientology security guards, in an incident which resulted in Headley falling off his bike by the side of the road. Riverside County, California
Riverside County, California
Riverside County is a county in the U.S. state of California. One of 58 California counties, it covers in the southern part of the state, and stretches from Orange County to the Colorado River, which forms the state border with Arizona. The county derives its name from the city of Riverside,...
police arrived, and they helped Headley safely get further away from the Scientology compound. From there he traveled to his father in Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. He was later reunited with his wife who had also served Scientology as an employee at Gold Base. Prior to his wife's escape from Gold Base, she was monitored closely day and night by the organization.
The author credits multiple sources that he says introduced doubts into his thought processes about his conditions while living at Gold Base. He writes that he listened to The John and Ken Show
John and Ken
John Chester Kobylt and Kenneth Robertson Chiampou, known professionally as John and Ken are American talk radio hosts of a four-hour weekday radio show, The John and Ken Show, on KFI AM 640 in Southern California. The John and Ken Show airs from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m....
on KFI, and that their discussion of Scientology allowed him to think more critically during his time at the compound. He says that viewing Conan O'Brien
Conan O'Brien
Conan Christopher O'Brien is an American television host, comedian, writer, producer and performer. Since November 2010 he has hosted Conan, a late-night talk show that airs on the American cable television station TBS....
make fun of Scientology celebrities changed his views on individuals that the organization had only spoken of internally with reverence.
Response by organization
Us WeeklyUs Weekly
Us Weekly is a celebrity gossip magazine, founded in 1977 by The New York Times Company, who sold it in 1980. It was acquired by Wenner Media in 1986. The publication covers topics ranging from celebrity relationships to the latest trends in fashion, beauty, and entertainment...
contacted a representative of the organization for comment on Headley's statements in the book, for a November 30, 2009 article on Tom Cruise and Scientology. The magazine reported that the representative, "would not confirm or deny" Headley's description of his experiences practicing the Scientology auditing technique with Cruise. The Scientology representative told Us Weekly that Headley is "currently engaged in a frivolous lawsuit against the Church." A spokesman for Scientology gave a comment to The Sun
The Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
about the book for a November 14, 2009 article, saying, "Marc is currently suing the Church and he has written the book to flank his litigation."
In an interview on The John and Ken Show on KFI, the author was asked if he experienced retaliation from Scientology for speaking critically about the organization. He said that he had been issued a declaration that he was to be considered a "Suppressive Person
Suppressive Person
Suppressive Person, often abbreviated SP, is a term used in Scientology to describe the "antisocial personalities" who, according to Scientology's founder L. Ron Hubbard, make up about 2.5% of the population...
" by members of the organization, and explained, "That's basically the thing that goes out to anyone and everyone who is in Scientology, saying, 'This person is a Suppressive Person, and you can no longer speak to him ever again.' If you are in Scientology, and you speak to somebody who is a Suppressive Person, you yourself can be declared a Suppressive Person." Headley said when he left Scientology the organization gave him a "freeloader statement", a bill for US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
62,000, for courses he had received in Scientology. "It's actually illegal, because they are basically charging me for on-the-job training – in California you can't charge somebody for on-the-job training. It's of no real value, but you don't know that, when you're in Scientology. You think, 'Are they going to garnish my wages, are they going to sue me?' You don't know," said Headley. The hosts asked the author if he had been harassed by the organization, and he stated he had experienced this form of retaliation as well. "I've dealt with that. They've had people at my house, watching my house They've had people following me taking my kids to school. They've contacted my employees at my business, that I'm a 'anti-religious extremist' and a member of 'an internet hate group'." Headley said most of those contacted by Scientology found these actions by the organization "laughable" because they knew him personally.
In an appearance on the Kevin and Bean
Kevin and Bean
Kevin and Bean is the morning show on KROQ-FM, an alternative rock-format radio station in Los Angeles, California. It is hosted by Kevin Ryder and Gene "Bean" Baxter. The show has been on the air since 1990 and intersperses music and news with comedy bits, celebrity interviews, listener call-ins,...
program on KROQ-FM
KROQ-FM
KROQ-FM — branded 106.7 KROQ — is a commercial modern rock radio station licensed to Pasadena, California serving the Greater Los Angeles. The call sign is pronounced "kay rock." It is the flagship station of Loveline hosted by Dr...
, Headley said he was aware of private investigator
Private investigator
A private investigator , private detective or inquiry agent, is a person who can be hired by individuals or groups to undertake investigatory law services. Private detectives/investigators often work for attorneys in civil cases. Many work for insurance companies to investigate suspicious claims...
s that followed him, and dug through his garbage. He said that Child Protective Services
Child Protective Services
Child Protective Services is the name of a governmental agency in many states of the United States that responds to reports of child abuse or neglect. Some states use other names, often attempting to reflect more family-centered practices, such as "Department of Children & Family Services"...
received an anonymous tip that his children were in danger and therefore had to come and do an inspection at his house. Headley said the Scientology practice of Disconnection
Disconnection
Disconnection, when used in Scientology, is a term used to describe the severance of all ties between a Scientologist and a friend, colleague, or family member deemed to be antagonistic towards Scientology. The practice of disconnection is a form of shunning. Among Scientologists, disconnection is...
was enforced upon him and he was no longer able to speak with his family members still in the organization. "When I left in 2005, before I even had a chance to contact any of my family, my mother, my sister and my brother were all informed that they would never be able to speak to me ever again. And I haven't spoken to them since the day I left. And if they do choose to speak to me, then they themselves can be declared a Suppressive Person, and then they won't be able to speak to anybody that they know that's a Scientologist," said Headley. As an example, Headley stated, "When my wife gave birth to our first son, I called her parents from the hospital room. And I called and I said, 'Hey, I just want to let you know, Claire's okay.' Click. They hung up. They've never seen their grandchildren."
Reception
The book was first published November 5, 2009, and was made available through the author's website at www.blownforgood.com and on Amazon.comAmazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
. Blown for Good was selected as a finalist in the 2009 "Book of the Year Awards", by ForeWord Magazine. The Editor in chief
Editor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
of The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
, Tony Ortega, described the book as a "remarkable account". Ortega noted, "Headley's story provides a damning account of life working for Scientology leader David Miscavige at the secretive desert base, where young people who sign billion-year contracts work 100-hour weeks for little or no pay with the ever-present threat that they may be pulled into hellish disciplinary drills, or separated permanently from friends and family members for the slightest perceived infraction." He concluded the review by commenting, "Perhaps the best service that Headley provides with Blown for Good is giving non-Scientologists the sense of what it's really like to work, day in and day out, in such a strange organization, from the lowliest laborer mucking out excrement in a Gold Base pond (Headley says shit was coming out of his ears and pores for days) to what kind of luxuries the celebrities and high-ranking members enjoy."
On the KFI
KFI
KFI is an AM radio station in Los Angeles, California. It received its license to operate on March 31, 1922 and began operating on April 16, 1922 as one of the United States' first high-powered, "clear-channel" stations...
talk radio
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
program The John and Ken Show, commentators John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou talked about Blown for Good and discussed Scientology. One of the commentators said of the statements detailed by the author in the book, "This is, the Scientology cult, is I guarantee you, a thousand times more bizarre than you could have ever imagined. And what these celebrities do, like Tom Cruise, is a thousand times more strange than you could ever imagine. I have never read about behavior like this in my life, I can't imagine it. It's really weird." Paul Beaumont, Toni O'Loughlin and Paul Harris of The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
commented that Headley's book, "details – as others have – allegations of systematic abuse and bizarre episodes" of experiences in Scientology. They noted, "Headley's book follows a year in which Scientology has been plagued by unwelcome revelations from high-profile defectors and fresh media investigation into its practices." Catholic Online associate editor and former Archbishop of the Charismatic Episcopal Church, Randy Sly, characterized Blown for Good as "a bold insider memoir". Sly reported on criticism of Scientology in the Australian Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
by Senator Nick Xenophon
Nick Xenophon
Nicholas "Nick" Xenophon is a South Australian barrister, anti-gambling campaigner and politician. He attended Prince Alfred College, and studied law at the University of Adelaide, attaining his Bachelor of Laws in 1981. Xenophon established and became principal of his own law firm, Xenophon & Co....
, and commented, "Headley provides vivid accountings of activities within Scientology that confirm the Australian Senator’s concerns." Sly noted, "A number of comments left on the Amazon.com website were from those who indicated they were ex-Scientologists and confirmed the author’s accounts." Ian Punnett of Coast to Coast AM
Coast to Coast AM
Coast to Coast AM is a North American late-night syndicated radio talk show that deals with a variety of topics, but most frequently ones that relate to either the paranormal or conspiracy theories. It was created by Art Bell and is distributed by Premiere Radio Networks. The program currently...
commented that the song "We Gotta Get out of This Place
We Gotta Get out of This Place
"We Gotta Get out of This Place", occasionally written "We've Gotta Get out of This Place", is a rock song written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil and recorded as a 1965 hit single by The Animals...
", "certainly would be a theme of several of the chapters of Blown for Good".
Hamilton Nolan of Gawker described the book's design as "featuring a dramatic, action-scene-type cover", and called the work "a new tell-all book". Star
Star (magazine)
Star is an American celebrity tabloid magazine.-History:Star was founded by Rupert Murdoch in 1974 as competition to the tabloid National Enquirer with its headquarters in New York City. In the late 1980s it moved its offices to Tarrytown, NY and in 1990 Murdoch sold the magazine to The Enquirers...
described Blown for Good as an "explosive new book". Pete Samson of The Sun
The Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
called the book "a revealing account of goings-on within the church". Perez Hilton
Perez Hilton
Mario Armando Lavandeira, Jr. , better known as Perez Hilton , is an American blogger and television personality. His blog, Perezhilton.com , is known for posts covering gossip items about celebrities...
wrote of the book's release that the "church of Scientology isn't going to be too happy about this", and commented on statements made by Headley in the book, "The more people speak out about their experiences in Scientology, the more creeped out we get!" The Flemish
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
daily newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
published in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, De Standaard
De Standaard
De Standaard is a Flemish daily newspaper published in Belgium by Corelio . Circulation was about 102.280 in 2007. It was traditionally a Christian-Democratic paper, associated with the Christian-Democratic and Flemish Party, and in opposition to the Socialist Flemish daily De Morgen...
, noted the book discusses "remarkable experiences" the author underwent as a Scientology staff member. Mark Rathbun wrote in a post on his blog that he acknowledged he and Headley did not agree on all things Scientology, but thought the book had value, commenting, "Marc Headley and I don’t see eye to eye much on LRH [L. Ron Hubbard] and Scientology. He has his views and I have mine and they are often divergent. Nonetheless, Marc has produced a narrative of his life in the Sea Org that I consider an important read for anyone wanting to understand the current state of the church." In a 2010 article in New Humanist
New Humanist
New Humanist is a monthly magazine published by the Rationalist Association in the UK. It has been in print for 125 years; starting out life as Watts's Literary Guide, founded by C. A. Watts in November 1885....
, Paul Sims noted, "Since its release at the end of last year, Blown for Good has made the kind of impact its author hoped. Having built up an online buzz courtesy of Anonymous, and sold thousands of copies in the US, Headley says he has been receiving letters and emails from Scientologists, many of whom have said the revelations in his book have confirmed their suspicions about the inner workings of the Church."
See also
- A Piece of Blue SkyA Piece of Blue SkyA Piece of Blue Sky: Scientology, Dianetics and L. Ron Hubbard Exposed, published in 1990, is an examination from a critical perspective by former British Scientologist Jon Atack of the history of L. Ron Hubbard and the development of Dianetics and the Church of Scientology...
- The Complex: An Insider Exposes the Covert World of the Church of ScientologyThe Complex: An Insider Exposes the Covert World of the Church of ScientologyThe Complex: An Insider Exposes the Covert World of the Church of Scientology is a non-fiction book about the organization and practices of the Church of Scientology, written by former Scientologist John Duignan with Nicola Tallant. The book was published in Ireland on October 7, 2008 by Merlin...
- Scientology and the legal systemScientology and the legal systemThe Church of Scientology has been involved in court disputes in several countries. In some cases, when the Church has initiated the dispute, question has been raised as to its motives. The Church says that its use of the legal system is necessary to protect its intellectual property and its right...
- Scientology controversies
External links
- Blown for Good, official website
- Riverside County Sheriff's Department Police Reports regarding Marc Headley's Escape, ScribdScribdScribd is a Web 2.0 based document-sharing website which allows users to post documents of various formats, and embed them into a web page using its iPaper format. Scribd was founded by Trip Adler, Tikhon Bernstam, and Jared Friedman in 2006...