10 Surprising Facts From the Tampa Bay Times Scientology Exposé

In recent years, scientology has obtained a dominant foothold in Clearwater, Florida. Its impact has devastated local business. Its presence stands in the way of government officials creating a vibrant downtown. We can only speculate about the church’s end goals and how it plans to achieve them.

1. All scientologists are fundamentalist scientologists.

• Extremist organizations require extreme policies. All followers of scientology must be completely invested in the church and shun all family and friends who are opposed to the church.
  

2. More than half of the properties of downtown Clearwater are owned by the church of scientology.

• From 2016-2019, the church doubled its footprint. A major factor in obtaining this growth was parishioner companies who are affiliated with the church.

3. The church has accumulated approximately $3 billion from its followers.

• This wealth is scientology’s primary influence. The church raises money through fund raisers and payments for courses and high-level spiritual counseling. Followers from across the globe travel to Flag, the church’s main campus to participate in these activities.

4. Following 2017, 32 parishioner companies spent $103 million dollars on 92 properties. $99 million was paid in cash.

• This means the average cost per property was a little over $1.1 million. Now imagine that being paid in cash. What does $99 million in cash even look like?!

5. The church often pays double the property value for real estate. Sometimes, the offer even quadruples the value.

• For the church to obtain so many properties so quickly, it had to offer substantially more than the property value, especially considering many of the properties were not for sale. Following their purchase, many of the current owners have done nothing with their acquired properties.

6. Historically, scientologists have come up with elaborate plans to occupy area control.

• Publicized church documents reveal that the church attempted to plant spies in the state attorney’s office, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Clearwater Sun newspaper. The church also framed the mayor in a staged hit-and-run and spread false rumors about an extramarital affair.

7. Parishioners are playing a major role in scientology obtaining real estate. Their involvement makes it difficult for the government to track how much property is associated with the church.

• Parishioner-run companies are the main factor in the church’s rapid expansion since 2017. Mike Rinder, a defected scientologist who used to run the intelligence wing, explains that, “Any property owned by a Scientologist or linked to a Scientologist is owned by the church, because the church owns its parishioners.” Below is a picture of Moises Agami, a developer who bought 20 storefronts and who has donated at least $10 million to scientology.

8. During their spiritual counseling, parishioners are interrogated about their deepest secrets. Scientology is accused of using this information as blackmail.

• Fear is a strong motivator, and it keeps followers loyal. This practice keeps followers isolated from the outside world and discourages them from seeking help outside the church.

9. Sea Org, the church’s full-time workforce, makes its members sign billion-year contracts and is said to only pay its members no more than $50 per week.

• Well this seems excessive. To put this into perspective, a billion years ago was the Mesoproterozoic Era, and every living thing was microscopic. Sea Org started in 1967. There is a long road ahead until year 1,000,001,976.

10. Peter and Emily Lares own a building downtown and have repeatedly declined offers made by real estate agent Daphna Fishler, who is a scientologist.

• The Lares couple owned a diner in downtown Clearwater. Though the diner is closed, they hold on to the building that the church has repeatedly attempted to buy. This resistance makes a strong statement that this organization can’t just throw money at everything that stands in its way.