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| Author | Mike Rinder |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Church of Scientology |
| Publisher | Simon and Schuster |
| Publication date | 2022 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type |
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| ISBN | 9781982185763 |
A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology is a 2022 memoir by Mike Rinder. He was raised as a Scientologist, spent 50 years in the group, and is a former executive director of the Office of Special Affairs.
Synopsis
Rinder's parents became Scientologists when he was 5 years old. He grew up in Australia, which restricted the group's activities at the time. The family took trips to England so his parents could become Operating Thetans. Rinder joined the Sea Org in 1973 instead of going to university. He served upon the Apollo. Later, he is assigned to be a Watch Messenger for L. Ron Hubbard. When the church begins its operations in Clearwater, Florida, Rinder relocates there. One night, several members of the Sea Org pair up and have sex, which is a prohibited activity outside of marriage. Most members who participated in the orgy are punished by being sent to the Rehabilitation Project Force, but Rinder is granted leniency when he decides to marry the woman he was involved with. They have three children together. Their second daughter died of SIDS shortly after she was born, with their other two children being raised in the Sea Org nursery. When Mary Sue Hubbard was the subject of litigation against Scientology, Rinder was one of four messengers sent to seize control of the Guardian's Office.
After Hubbard's death, Rinder is tasked with many important roles by David Miscavige. Some of his roles include dealing with the Lisa McPherson case, mitigating Bob Minton's influence, improving the posthumous public image of L. Ron Hubbard, and directing the construction of the Psychiatry: An Industry of Death exhibit. Rinder also testifies as a witness in litigation involving Scientology. He struggles to meet Miscavige's expectations and is called a suppressive person, despite his high ranking in the organization. Other executives also endure harsh treatment during this time, being deprived of sleep and tasked with physical labour at unexpected intervals, as Miscavige thinks they are all trying to destroy Scientology. Rinder eventually loses his hope that the situation will improve, and leaves. He ends up living with a group of former Scientologists. Rinder then conducts interviews for outside media and becomes a prioritized fair game target, being followed by multiple private investigators and surveillance cameras. He then worked with Leah Remini on Scientology and the Aftermath.
Reception
A review in The Guardian compared the beginning of the memoir to an adventure story and describes the dedication in which Rinder worked for the group. While he was often tasked with important roles such as arranging private tours for celebrity Scientologists, he also endured various forms of mistreatment. KCRW described the book as exposing the "secret inner workings, as well as the dark, dystopian truth about the powerful organization to which he had devoted his life to". A writer for Jezebel stated that it was an exposé of how the Church of Scientology conducts its harassment campaigns. The memoir also describes Rinder's personal experience leaving the group and facing disconnection from his family.
See also
References
- Coccoza, Paula (November 17, 2022). "'At 52, I abandoned everything, every friend, every family member': the top official who escaped Scientology". The Guardian. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
- Buss, Anna (September 30, 2022). "Mike Rinder's 'A Billion Years' memoir details the dark truths of Scientology". KCRW. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
- Juzwiak, Rich. "Church of Scientology Tapped Nicole Kidman's Phone, According to New Exposé". Jezebel. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
- "Tom Cruise 'wanted to woo' David Beckham to Scientology, new book claims". Yahoo! News. September 27, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2024.