Fifty-six years after its founding by the science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, who died in 1986, the church is fighting off calls by former members for a Reformation. He said the church does require departing staff members to pay freeloader bills and to sign affidavits drawn up by church officials, but he contends that the affidavits never contain confidential information drawn from auditing sessions. We never have. She flew out to Denver, but Rinder didn't want to speak to her, and he returned from Denver. Our dedicated Editorial team verifies each of the articles published on the Biographyhost. "Why did we work so hard for this organization," Collbran asked, "and why did it feel so wrong in the end?". In 1993, when she was 16, Christie joined the Sea Organization, where she remained for 13 years. 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The very survival of a religion is contingent on its protecting itself.. What Growing Up in a Cult Taught Me About Parenting . When she was 8 or 9, she took the basic communications course, which teaches techniques for persuasive public speaking and improving self-confidence and has served as a major recruiting tool for the church. He is 66 years old as of 2021. Youre so into it, its everything you know: your family, your eternity.. Christie's current address is 808 Bentwood Crt, Palm Harbor, FL 34683-1901. However, Rinder showed no interest in his children after disconnecting from his family. Ms. Collbran, who is 33, said she loved the church so much that she never thought she would leave. To save a few weeks? "And since they're removed, the church is expanding like never before," said Davis, a second-generation Scientologist whose mother is the actress Anne Archer. Letters they wrote to each other were intercepted, they said. "It was all built on lies," Collbran said. Anyone can read what you share. Why did we work so hard for this organization, Ms. Collbran said, and why did it feel so wrong in the end? Ridiculous. They may spend hundreds of hours in one-on-one "auditing" sessions, holding the slim silver-colored handles of an e-meter while an auditor asks them questions and takes notes on what they say and on the e-meter's readings. She fully believed in the mission: to clear the planet of negative influences by bringing Scientology to its inhabitants. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. After Christie Collbran hooked up with Mike Rinder, she turned her back on her parents and abandoned her familyjust like Rinder did with his. After Christie Collbran hooked up with Mike Rinder, she yelled and screamed at her mother to leave her religion, then Christie abandoned her familyjust like Rinder did with his. Mike Rinder, who for more than 20 years was the church's spokesman, said the disconnect policy originated as Hubbard's prescription for how to deal with an abusive spouse or boss. He was crushing me. In fact, Cooper couldnt even bring himself to at least mention that his ingnue interviewee was the absentee Rinders current live-in lovercertainly a germane fact for viewers to assess her credibility. Cathy said that she and her children had never heard from Rinder for those two years. After failing such job attempts, he teamed up with some other individuals who were also expelled from the Church to establish a competitor church. The same year, she left the Sea Org and Christ. Michael John Rinder (/ r n d r / ; born 10 April 1955) is an Australian-American former senior executive of the Church of Scientology International (CSI) and the Sea Organization based in the United States. "And what we see here is evidence of the fact that we're definitely better off without them.". But, after 13 years, she grew disillusioned with the Church's leadership and left. Christie King Collbran and her husband, Chris, gave a detailed account of they were effectively raised to serve the ultra-secret Sea Organization, or Sea Org in the Church. Collbran says she still believes in Scientology - not in the church as it is now constituted, but in its teachings. Born into a family of Scientologists, Collbran, now 33, was raised in a loving home by her parents, Ed and Liz King. After being expelled from the Church, Rinder tried to hold down various jobs, including Toyota car salesman and telemarketer. Born into a family of Scientologists, Collbran, now 33, was raised in a loving home by her parents, Ed and Liz King. But the time in which she crossed the finish line at Memorial Stadium's 50-yard line really was . But, you know, after all this time and all she's said and all she's done, it's like, she's not a loving daughter. The family livedas the Kings still doin a suburb outside Los Angeles. And what we see here is evidence of the fact that were definitely better off without them.. And it was her decision. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. "Since Anonymous has come forward," said Marc Headley, who belonged to the Sea Org for 16 years, "more and more people who have been abused or assaulted are feeling more confident that they can speak out and not have any retaliation happen.". We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Chris Collbran, wants nothing to do with his former church. Completely. CLD, CLC, PCPD. "These were not the claims made by 'outsiders' looking to dig up dirt against us," he wrote. She left the soap in dramatic fashion in 1999 and went on to star in a number of TV dramas over the next decade. It's pinch-yourself material." Her parents were dedicated church members in Los Angeles, and she attended full-time Scientology schools for several years. His friends sought out his council when making life decisions. We commit to cover sensible issues responsibly through the principles of neutrality. All Episodes Devotionals. The couple's deteriorating relationship and Chris' degrading mental stability led him to attempt suicide. She thought that she could talk to me and tell me the things that she was going to tell me that would make me think ScientologyI should abandon it. By 16, she was recruited into the Sea Org. They worked seven days a week, often on little sleep, for sporadic paychecks of $50 a week, at most. The Collbrans went back to work for the church in Los Angeles, but Christie Collbran found the atmosphere so oppressive that she again resolved to leave. Coopers response as to why he didnt let his viewers know would no doubt be his favorite catchphrase: I didnt think it was relevant.. When Mr. Collbran decided he wanted to leave the Sea Org, he was sent to Los Angeles, where potential defectors are assigned to do menial labor while they reconsider their decision. In 1969, he again visited the home to participate in advanced Scientology courses and auditing. She is an actress, model, and spokesperson for the Girl Scouts, USA. 3.2K views 12 years ago Christie King Collbran never wanted to become a Scientology defector. They have two children, one daughter named Taryn and one son named Benjamin. "It was all built on lies," Collbran said. CLEARWATER, Fla. Raised as Scientologists, Christie King Collbran and her husband, Chris, were recruited as teenagers to work for the elite corps of staff members who keep the Church of . The Sea Org is a religious order that requires enormous dedication, he said, and leaving any religious order can be a lengthy process. Anonymous said it was protesting the Church of Scientologys attempts to censor Internet posts of material the church considered proprietary including a video of Tom Cruise, an ardent Scientologist, that was created for a church event but was leaked and posted on YouTube. Over the next several years, Christie's relationship with the Church and Chris headed south. CC King was born on August 14th, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was well known as a hot shot Establishment Officer. His resignation letter, leaked to a defectors' Web site, recounted his indignation as he came to think the defectors' accusations must be true. When Rinder quit the Sea Org, he also decided to abandon his wife and their children because they remained Scientologists. And it went on and on and onher screaming at me about various things that she wanted to get across to me that she thought was bad. Scientologists believe human beings are impeded by negative memories from past lives, and that by applying Hubbard's "technology," they can reach a state known as clear. Christie King Collbran, who was core to the Scientology leadership group, has left her post after having to hide being pregnant. He also oversaw a large extent of Scientology litigation and directed the destruction of anti-Scientologists. Rinder was born in Adelaide, Australia, to Ian and Barbara Rinder in 1955. I can't believe the encouraged abortions. The documentary investigates the Church of Scientology and some former members, who allege "the Church uses a mind control technique to put opponents at a psychological disadvantage." In Johannesburg, officials made the church look busy for publicity photographs by filling it with Sea Org members, the Collbrans said. Christie and I together were seen as a major threat to Miscavige, and the harassment was non-stop. The church says the defectors are lying. The auditors tried to talk them out of leaving, and the Collbrans wavered. I didn't get any messages or a normal letter, even if it's a little note, or anything. He had already paid her airfare from Florida, so he too really had no choice but to pass her off as a credible source and take her for a stroll in New Yorks Central Park. See Photos. "Eventually I realized I was part of a con," he said, "and I have to leave it and get on with my life.". 2023 www.theledger.com. She said the defectors stories were like what you would hear if I asked your ex-husband what he thought of you., Its so not news, she said. It still took two months before the church let the Collbrans go, in 2006, and not before making them sign affidavits. And then it ratcheted up and ratcheted up andto the point where Christie was screaming in my ear. This is funny: Raised as Scientologists, Christie King Collbran and her husband, Chris, were recruited as teenagers to work for the elite corps of staff members who keep the Church of Scientology . She further stated that her mother was "damaged for life" as she is in pain every day. And it was her decision. But the Ideal Orgs are supposed to be self-supporting, and the Johannesburg church was generating only enough to pay each of the Collbrans $17 a week, Mr. Collbran said. Marty Rathbun, who was once Mr. Miscaviges top lieutenant, is now one of the churchs top detractors. Manage Settings "We never have. Scientology is an esoteric religion in which the faith is revealed gradually to those who invest their time and money to master Hubbard's teachings. They would lose the possibility of living for eternity. It didnt work. In 1969, he again visited the house to participate in advanced Scientology courses and auditing. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'biographyhost_com-leader-3','ezslot_14',152,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-leader-3-0'); Rinder claimed in his blog that when he decided to exit from the Sea Org, he had to choose between abandoning his wife and two children or continuing to facilitate the abuses of Miscavige. Scientologists believe that human beings are impeded by negative memories from past lives, and that by applying Mr. Hubbards technology, they can reach a state known as clear. In Johannesburg, officials made the church look busy for publicity photographs by filling it with Sea Org members, the Collbrans said. In Johannesburg, officials made the church look busy for publicity photographs by filling it with Sea Org members, the Collbrans said. In 2008, organizers with the Internet-based group Anonymous began waves of protests outside Scientology churches in many countries. It still took two months before the church let the Collbrans go, in 2006, and not before making them sign affidavits. In the past, Christie has also been known as Collbran Christie June, Christie June Collbran and Christie J Collbran. Last year, it built or renovated five churches. Her marriage on the rocks, she's severed all ties with her family, breaking her parents hearts, and now she knows not where to turn. TRANSCRIPT: Our family was going along this path. Rinder married his first wife, Cathy Bernardini, in 1976, when they both were members of the Sea Org. They signed a contract for a billion years -- in keeping with the belief that Scientologists are immortal. But there were a few pertinent details that went unmentioned on her ambling interview with Cooper. Rinder served as a spokesperson for the Church of Scientology for over two decades before being removed from his disgrace in 2009. Our family was going along this path. ", In June 2013, he married his second wife, Christie King Collbran, also raised as Scientologist. All Rights Reserved. Christie celebrated 45th birthday on January 29. The defectors say that the average Scientology member is largely unaware of the abusive environment. To become pregnant to avoid standard procedures in leaving a religious order? The building, which is 380,000 square feet, has 33-foot ceilings and a chapel that will seat 250 people. It is a gradual process, but eventually scientologists become convinced they are the only people on earth who understand what is going on, that anyone who questions or doubts them is an "enemy of mankind" and that hurting people or destroying their lives is justified as being for the "greater good." He also dealt with legal and governmental matters of the CSI at an international level. VIDEO TRANSCRIPT. Christie Collbran Birth Doula Services Jan 2009 - Dec 20146 years Tampa, Florida, United States Supported and guided families to have a positive birth and postpartum experience. He shared that he did all he could to end the abuse within Scientology to bring about change. CLEARWATER | Raised as Scientologists, Christie King Collbran and her husband, Chris, were recruited as teenagers to work for the elite corps of staff members who keep the Church of Scientology running, known as the Sea Organization, or Sea Org. In 11 hours with a reporter over two days, Mr. Davis, the churchs spokesman, gave the numbers of Sea Org members (8,000), of Scientologists in the Tampa-Clearwater area (12,000) and of L. Ron Hubbards books printed in the last two and a half years (67 million). He is also co-hosting theScientology: Fair Gamepodcast with Leah Remini. "That's the difference between the old Scientology and the new: The brave new Scientology is all these beautiful buildings and real estate and no people," said Rathbun. And if I don't do something he's going to do damage,'" she said. Owner at Christie King's Home Daycare. She married Chris Collbran in 1999, when she was 22 and he 18. Christie King Collbran was in the Sea Org from the age of 16 until the age of 29. Let Children Think For Themselves Christie Collbran . These accusations were made by top international executives who had devoted most of their lives to the church.. FREEDOM is a trademark and is used with the owner's permission. Christie and Chris Collbran were married in a simple ceremony at the Scientology center in Manhattan. After Christie Collbran hooked up with Mike Rinder, she yelled and screamed at her mother to leave her religion, then Christie abandoned her familyjust like Rinder did with his. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. In March 2007, Rinder was suddenly sent on a mission to London to defend the CSI and prevent British journalist John Sweeney from premiering his television documentary,Scientology and Me. They soon discovered others who felt the same. Actress: Delivering Christmas. Finally, Christie Collbran was permitted to go to Los Angeles, but husband and wife were kept separated for another three months, the Collbrans said, while they went through hours of special auditing sessions called "confessionals." They would lose the possibility of living for eternity. In the end, the documentary premiered on 17 May 2007 as a part of BBC One's Panorama series. Rinder later toldThe New York Timesin March 2010 that his mother, sister, brother, daughter, and son disconnected from him after he departed from the church. The churches used to be busy places where members socialized and invited curious visitors to give Scientology a try, he said, but now the church is installing touch-screen displays with little need for Scientologists on site. Born into a family of Scientologists, Collbran, now 33, was raised in a loving home by her parents, Ed and Liz King. They now had a child and no money, but they thought they were still in good standing with their church. Im not going to leave Scientology because youfor whatever reasons youre telling me that I shouldafter being in Scientology for decades, and having it change my life for the better throughout the entire time, Im not going to abandon it because of what you say. The podcast was launched on 21 July 2020. The church says the defectors are lying. The Sea Org is a religious order that requires enormous dedication, he said, and leaving any religious order can be a lengthy process. Chris Collbran said he saw an officer hit a subordinate, and soon found that the atmosphere of supervision through intimidation was affecting him. And, and I was likereally, I was traumatized, I really was traumatized. What does that say about her character, her sense of maternal responsibility? CLEARWATER, Fla. Raised as Scientologists, Christie King Collbran and her husband, Chris, were recruited as teenagers to work for the elite corps of staff members who keep the Church of Scientology running, known as the Sea Organization, or Sea Org. Joanie Sigal is a 36-year parishioner in Clearwater who promotes the churchs antidrug campaign to local officials. She finally left the Sea Org three years ago. Christie Collbran remained in Johannesburg, and for three months the church refused to allow them to contact each other, the Collbrans said. Last year, it built or renovated opulent Scientology churches, which it calls Ideal Orgs, in Rome; Malmo, Sweden; Dallas; Nashville; and Washington. Source: New York Times. He said he did not know how to account for the findings in the American Religious Identification Survey that the number of Scientologists in the United States fell from 55,000 in 2001 to 25,000 in 2008. Christie was with us and then all of a sudden she took a big U-turn. All of the auditing that you do, theres files kept on it, Ms. Collbran said. In 1993, when she was 16, Christie joined the Sea Organization, where she remained for 13 years. They worked seven days a week, often on little sleep, for sporadic paychecks of $50 a week, at most. Today, Rinder lives in Palm Harbor, Florida, with his current wife, her son Shane, and their son Jack. She joined the Sea Organization at 16 in 1993 and married Chris Collbran at 22 in 1999. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'biographyhost_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_12',171,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); It was her second marriage, and the information about her first marriage is unknown. It actually backfired on her. All of the personal things you ever said, all the secrets, the transgressions, are all kept in there. Christie calls and talks to Liz [mother] and Christie starts sort of yelling and screaming at Liz, saying that she's a dupe. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'biographyhost_com-leader-2','ezslot_13',150,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-leader-2-0'); According to STAND League, Rinder soon launched a "billion-dollar" anti-Scientology harassment scheme with an anti-Scientologist Robert Almblad to profit off his independent church. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'biographyhost_com-box-4','ezslot_5',146,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-box-4-0'); Rinder worked in the Sea Org for 34 years, serving in many posts, primarily in top-level positions. They do believe in God, or a Supreme Being that is associated with infinite potential. Author (s): Laurie Goodstein. As per STAND League, he shoved one under a desk, another whom he threw against a wall, and another whose tooth he broke by slamming a clipboard into the side of her head. Then, in 2006, even while their fractured marriage was nearing its end, Christie got pregnant. And in Clearwater, it continued buying buildings (54 in all) and constructing a 380,000-square-foot mecca that looks like a convention center. She fully believed in the mission: to "clear the planet" of negative influences by bringing Scientology to its inhabitants. But even more important, they knew that if they left the Sea Org without going through the church's official exit process, they would be declared "suppressive persons" - anti-social enemies of Scientology. Finally, Christie Collbran was permitted to go to Los Angeles, but husband and wife were kept separated, the Collbrans said, while they went through hours of special auditing sessions called "confessionals." Her parents remain dedicated Scientologists. Continue with Recommended Cookies. The documentary investigates the Church of Scientology and some former members, who allege "the Church uses a mind control technique to put opponents at a psychological disadvantage." But after 13 years and growing disillusionment, the Collbrans decided to leave the Sea Org, setting off on a Kafkaesque journey that they said required them to sign false confessions, pay thousands of dollars to the church, and see their parents, siblings and friends cut off all communication with them. Christie King Collbran was in the Sea Org from the age of 16 until the age of 29. She said the defectors' stories were like what you would hear "if I asked your ex-husband what he thought of you. Anonymous said it was protesting the Church of Scientology's attempts to censor Internet posts of material the church considered proprietary - including a video of Tom Cruise, an ardent Scientologist, that was created for a church event but was leaked and posted on YouTube. But not long after the couple left the Sea Org, Christie turns up on Marty Rathbuns doorstep. But after 13 years and growing disillusionment, the Collbrans decided to leave the Sea Org, setting off on a Kafkaesque journey that they said required them to sign false confessions about their personal lives and their work, pay the church thousands of dollars it said they owed for courses and counseling, and accept the consequences as their parents, siblings and friends who are church members cut off all communication with them. which Rindercallsthe "floating headquarters for Scientology. Searching for Web sites about Scientology that are not sponsored by the church (an activity prohibited when they were in the Sea Org), they discovered that hundreds of other Scientologists were also defecting including high-ranking executives who had served for decades. But even more important, they knew that if they left the Sea Org without going through the churchs official exit process, they would be declared suppressive persons antisocial enemies of Scientology. "The very survival of a religion is contingent on its protecting itself.". The 42-year-old finished Saturday's Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend wheelchair half-marathon in 2 hours and 37 seconds. His mother, Barbara, was a bookkeeper, and his father, Ian, was an entrepreneur who owned several businesses, including a wholesale grocery distribution agency, aerosol canning company, travel agency, and restaurant. Though Hubbard was sometimes cruel and harsh, he was compassionate and humorous other times, but Miscavige was exclusively cruel and harsh.". As for the defectors, Mr. Davis called them apostates and said that contrary to their claims of having left the church in protest, they were expelled. Church of Scientology International (CSI). Rinderwasraised a Scientologist from the age of six. We never will.". As for the defectors, Davis called them "apostates" and said they were expelled. Now a successful real . If the church believed that someone was an enemy and needed to be silenced or destroyed, it was my job and I did it," hesaid. "All of the personal things you ever said, all the secrets, the transgressions, are all kept in there. Their parents, siblings and friends who are Scientologists would have to disconnect completely from them, or risk being declared suppressive themselves. They signed a contract for a billion years in keeping with the churchs belief that Scientologists are immortal. She endured sadistic and bizarre injustice for the simple reason that she would not robotically follow demands to abandon her personal integrity. Collbran, who is 33, said she loved the church so much that she never thought she would leave. Church of Scientology Mission CLEARWATER, Fla. Raised as Scientologists, Christie King Collbran and her husband, Chris, were recruited as teenagers to work for the elite corps of staff members who keep the Church of Scientology running, known as the Sea Organization, or Sea Org. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'biographyhost_com-box-3','ezslot_1',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-box-3-0'); Mike Rinder is an Australian-American former Scientologist known for being a former senior executive of the Church of Scientology International (CSI) and the Sea Organization (Sea Org), based in California. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. They have refused to speak to her ever since. She still gets auditing, from other Scientologists who have defected, like Rathbun. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'biographyhost_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_9',148,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); In October 2009, Rinder and CSI's fellow senior executive Marty Rathbun told St. Petersburg how Scientology silenced critics. . His resignation letter, leaked to a defectors Web site, recounted his indignation as he came to believe that the defectors accusations must be true. Its pinch-yourself material.. And since theyre removed, the church is expanding like never before, said Mr. Davis, a second-generation Scientologist whose mother is the actress Anne Archer. And at its base here on the Gulf Coast of Florida, it continued buying hotels and office buildings (54 in all) and constructing a 380,000-square-foot mecca that looks like a convention center. Joanie Sigal is a 36-year parishioner in Clearwater who promotes the church's anti-drug campaign to local officials. The family livedas the Kings still doin a suburb outside Los Angeles. (Photo: Facebook). Born into a family of Scientologists, Collbran, now 33, was raised in a loving home by her parents, Ed and Liz King. Fair enough, except she didnt tell it all. Mr. Headley, who wrote a book about his experiences, is suing the church for back wages, saying that over 15 years his salary averaged out to 39 cents an hour. The reason, they agree sadly, is that they no longer see eye to eye on Scientology. Well, at least they have each other. The couple welcomed their son named Jack in April 2012. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Christie Collbran remained in Johannesburg, and the church refused to allow them to contact each other, the Collbrans said.