It takes a lot of guts to publicly confront past errors. And there is no doubt that Mike did invaluable work to try to redeem himself.
4 weeks ago | 1
I’m not sure if for some there is just no redemption. If he harmed someone personally then that’s a forgiveness issue, not redemption. I think he went above and beyond to try to remedy the harm he caused. I don’t know that many of us will be that effective in our own lives.
4 weeks ago | 4
He redeemed himself greatly in some broad areas on the show, podcasts, and his books. On the other hand, he didn't redeem himself in other ways in the details that truly mattered to all of the people he harmed. He directed and carried out fair gaming policies for 30 years and covered up crimes he did himself and had others do. People under his direction were abused, stalked, harassed, intimidated, property damaged, lives and careers ruined, pets killed, SA covered up, and much, much more. He could have helped answer all the questions of the person's who asked him and wanted to know the details of what happened and who was involved in their situatios, but now they'll never know. These people will never have peace. He also derailed many people from getting justice. It was very selfish! He had time to answer the questions from the community and for people one on one but refused to. Instead, he ignored their requests and lashed out at them. He never even explained why. I'll never understand it. I think it was narcissism and selfishness like David Miscavige and L Ron Hubbard drilled into the members. Only the biggest narcissistic people rose up the ranks to leadership positions like he held. His last videos were only to criticize the people he was mad at. He could have also used that chance to apologize and take accountability for things he hadn't yet. He hurt many people very deeply while they were inside and outside of Scn. Most people have no idea how traumatized his victims and survivors are unless you have heard their stories. I admired and respected him greatly for so long. The last few years though the more I learned and witnessed the more I was shocked and lost respect.
4 weeks ago | 4
I have two points - I don't think he really faced his role in the abuses of Scientology. He always used distancing language. However, he did a lot of good things when he left, whether for the right reasons or just to stroke his ego. None of us are truly altruistic. I'm sure he was a complex person as we all tend to be. PAnyway, may he rest in peace now.
4 weeks ago | 3
I think that Mike Rinder was working hard at redeeming himself and a few of the bigger names to cone out of COS the apologized to and was granted pardon. The thing that bothered me was he got to a point where his ego would not allow for his continued apologies. He hurt many people and he just got fed up with making amends. He carried further by coming in and taking over the Aftermath Foundation, treating it like his was the only voice that mattered. He also started doing things behind the backs of others, particularly Aaron. Aaron helped when Mike got out. Gave him a job and helped his family settle n the Clearwater area. Yes was a ‘bigger name’ and yes because of the television show and working with Leah Remini he became a bigger name, but that does not excuse his actions. A sincere apology would have gone a long what in stopping the divisions that were created in the community in Mike’s name. But he refused to truly admit fault. That is one reason I felt there was an arrogance in Mike’s attitude. The SPTV community raised money for him and the started criticizing many members who donated to help him.
4 weeks ago | 4
Mike became a good friend to a number of people I know. He had a family. And he had people who loved him. IMO there were things he did that he never owned but regardless he did a great deal to expose the abuses of this horrible cult. For that he should be remembered with respect. People are complicated. Ex-sc’ists seem to suffer more health issues than most- smoking, working on ships with asbestos, being yelled at, etc. not to mention all the mental health issues. IMO Mike redeemed himself and did good things before his death.
4 weeks ago | 1
I voted "I'm not sure" because I'm not nor ever have been a scientologist and I think people affected by Rinder's term at OSA (since it's inception in the wake of the Guardians' Office which he helped to terminate, according to his book) are the only ones who can make that judgement. It's clear that he did a lot of bad shit. It's not clear that he's done enough since he left to make up for it, and Mirriam Francis is a great example of that. Looking at the last few years, it seems to me that Rinder still lived by the same ethical paradigm that he instilled into OSA and that's not a good thing. Using his book as a guide, he did not leave Co$ because he thought it was wrong. He left to get out from under David Miscavige's torture and torment of him personally. I think that has to be taken into account when assessing Rinder's post-scientology activity.
4 weeks ago | 2
He definitely redeemed himself as much as he ever could. His work with Leah gave way to everyone known in scientology. He lived everyday trying to redeem himself. Personally and publicly. He was raised in a cult. From 5 years old. That strict and abusiv3 clutch was all hes ever known. Gibe grace. He had to change everything hes ever known and fought hard to. He did.
3 weeks ago | 0
I'm not sure. Even though he probably did commit crimes. I would like to know what crimes he committed . Otherwise I find it difficult in my mind to decide if he redeems himself or not. But for me I do stand with the abused.
3 weeks ago | 0
Mike could've redeemed himself, but he took the opportunity to just trash Aaron, which needed to be done. But he never came clean about his own crimes that he committed while in Scientology. If he had, I would've said he redeemed himself.
4 weeks ago | 1
The Anthony RR Mills Show
Mike Rinder Died yesterday, January 5, 2025. He was a controversial figure in and out of the CoS. Please vote in the attached poll and feel free to share your own comments. Also, check out my CoS videos on YouTube. Thanks!
From Wikipedia: Michael John Rinder (April 10, 1955 – January 5, 2025) was an Australian-American senior executive of the Church of Scientology International (CSI) and the Sea Organization based in the United States. From 1982 to 2007, Rinder served on the board of directors of CSI and also held the post of executive director of its Office of Special Affairs, overseeing the corporate, legal and public relations matters of Scientology at the international level.
Rinder left Scientology in 2007. Ever since then, he had spoken about the physical and mental abuse inflicted upon staff members by Chairman of Scientology, David Miscavige, and by Rinder himself before his departure from the organization, and has explained how abuse was embedded into the culture of Scientology. From 2016 to 2019, he co-hosted the Emmy Award-winning A&E documentary series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. In 2020, he and Remini reunited to launch the podcast Scientology: Fair Game. In September 2022, he published a memoir titled A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology.
1 month ago | [YT] | 28