This week it’s answers about Orwell’s influence on Hubbard, belief based on books or symbols, the top reasons why Scientology is imploding now and a lot more. Enjoy!

(1) Given the level of control in Scientology, do you think that LRH was influenced by George Orwell (1984, Animal Farm) and Aldous Huxley (Brave New World). Those books are about controlling society and how people are allowed to behave, think and feel and fit within Steven Hassan’s BITE model. Curious about your thoughts on how those works affected the development of Scientology and other cults.

(2) In my life, I have had numerous occasions where I have discussed religion with local Christians who have attempted to add me to their fold. Being an open minded critical thinker, I have had no issue discussing the topic with them. However, one thing has always frustrated me. They will not put the Bible down when talking about their faith even when I ask them directly. Everything they say is related to or directly from the Bible. Is this common in religion? If I could somehow get them to put aside the holy book, would I be more successful in arguing my point, which is that unfortunately, there likely is no God and we die and that’s the end of it? I figure that if they are going to try to convert me, I am free to express my view as well. They initiated the conversation, not me. Anyways, thanks for answering and keep up the good work.

(3) What do you feel would be your top 5 reasons/happenings of Scientology implosion in the past 2 decades? As an example It could be Mike Rinder’s blog, the Going Clear Doc —- your channel? Looking at a two decade view. 

(4) It seems to me that tons of Scientology celebs have works on films and movies that feature people not being absolutely quiet during scenes of violence or trauma, something which, according to Dianetics, causes debilitating engrams. Unlike removing engrams, there is no money to be made in preventing engrams. But assuming that Hubbard’s theories are uncontestable scientific fact, wouldn’t society be radically healthier within a generation if we discouraged dialogue and excessive noise such a sirens after tramatic events? Shouldn’t there be a Citizens Commission for Being Quiet during Accidents, a front group that would picket movies like Jack Reacher for setting a bad example of engram-generating activity?

(5) At any point when you were a Scientologist, did it become apparent to you that there were many things that people outside of Scientology knew that Scientologists didn’t? For example, but not exclusively, OT3 and Xenu. Did you ever ponder upon how it was that non-Scientologists could know such things?

(6) I’m interested in learning more about Narconon. I’ve seen “The Group” documentary and some news reports about destructive cults that use things like the Alcoholics Anonymous curriculum and severely distort them to control people, take their money, and abuse them. Is it similar with Scientology and Narconon? Or is it just the Purification Rundown scam? Thanks for raising awareness about Scientology and other destructive groups.

This week it’s answers about Scientology’s Cause Resurgence Rundown, what it would take for me to get back in good graces with Scientology, body thetans and a lot more. Enjoy!

(1) I heard Aaron Smith-Levin in a video mention “Cause Resurgence” and that it was basically paying Scientology to torture you. Can you talk more about the purpose and goals of Cause Resurgence and did you ever have to do it?

(2) How long would your A-to-E steps take to get into good standing with the church again?

(3) Have you ever experienced personally or heard of any Scientologist accusing another of “giving them their disembodied thetans”? Someone “audits off” some pesky thetans and their roommate/partner/co-worker gets upset thinking they have now acquired these “unwanted friends”. Scientology infighting over handing thetans around like a disease?

(4) Celebrity scientologists… are they always open publicly about being in Scientology?

(5) In his book on ethics where the strange kha-khan example is found, Hubbard jokingly writes “a staff member can get away with murder so long as his statistic is up and can’t sneeze without a chop if it’s down.” What are the limits for someone who is upstat and (excluding Miscavige) what are some of the worst breaches of Scientology policies and procedures you witnessed or knew of being justified by this principle?

(6) After watching your recent excellent video about mind control, I have to ask: How did you become a Rush Limbaugh ditto-head and what finally cured you of this condition?

This week, it’s answers about Scientology’s personality test, tax exemption and what is going on in Clearwater, a takedown of Hubbard’s Revolt in the Stars and a lot more. Enjoy!

(1) One of the tools Scientology uses for attracting new members is the so-called “Oxford Capacity Analysis”. For the benefit of the fellow listeners, the OCA has no relation to either the city or the university; it is a questionnaire devised by Ray Kemp in 1959 and eventually attributed to Hubbard. The test is administered to random passerby, often in public spaces, such as street fairs. The OCA consists of 200 questions; after the respondent answers the questions, test results are printed out in the form of a graph, and the person administering the test “explains” to the respondent what the graph supposedly shows. The OCA is supposedly designed to elicit problem areas in the respondent’s life; in reality, its purpose is to entice the test subject into visiting the local org to find out how Dianetics and Scientology can help them with the problem supposedly identified by testing. (Please correct me if my description is off.)

I have heard that very rarely, the OCA produces results that the person administering the test must interpret as “we can’t help you”. Is this true? If so, what would produce this kind of outcome? Would it be a trouble-free person or an irredeemable basket case? Or is it something else entirely?

(2) With Mark Bunker’s video of Nov 29, 2021 showing him talking turkey about Scientology, things are starting to get real and going on record. What do you think would happen to David Miscavige’s reputation within Scientology if they lost their tax exemption? That brings up many questions but maybe you could paint a picture from everything to how they would spin it to how it would affect Sea Org members, public, staff, OTs, Tom Cruise, etc. Would Tom Cruise come out and speak publicly against this attack on the church or get involved at all? Would Miscavige simply blame it on all the members or would the members start to blame it on him? Would it affect how everyone got paid and the cost of services? I understand that your response would be complete conjecture but I’m still curious about what you think might happen.

(3) In Jon Atack’s book, he describes how extremely rare Class XII auditors were. Assuming this was the case, why and what are the practical differences between class XII and XI auditors?

(4) L Ron Hubbard attempted to make the screenplay “Revolt In the Stars” into a film, which seems to be essentially the Xenu story. Surely if this did end up being turned into a film, then everyone could see it and this part of the so called “secret levels” would simply end up in the hands of everyone. Regardless of the nonsense of getting sick or dying if you are exposed to it and the obvious contradictions making this public, is there not a real chance that this would have lead to even more public ridicule of scientology brought upon by itself, if they released it as a film – as opposed to exposure by others. Also would it not reduce the cash flow if OTIII is basically available to all. Who is going to pay thousands for what would end up being a public DVD?

(5) Recently I see more individual Scientologists communicate publicly on social media about Scientology. For example a Charlie Wakley talking on Youtube about how he uses Scientology in his life and interviewing others. Or “Spread a Smile” videos posted by Scientologists on Facebook and Tick Tock as pointed out by Tony Ortega in his recent article “Blame the media for fake virus news”.

In my perception this didn’t happen so much in the past. I assumed that this would be discouraged by the Scientology organisation. Individual Scientologists “talking Scientology” to the world would mean, that they also get responses and, Xenu forbid, this might lead to an actual conversation and some out of the bubble thinking.

Probably the videos aren’t so obvious Scientology, but Charlie? Isn’t he guilty of some big NO NO’s? Verbal Tech? Talking about his Case out of session! Inciting other to do the same.

Thoughts?

(6) I am interested in understanding what, if any, tax deductions are associated with parishioner course payments. Do they qualify as charitable contributions? I suppose they do but it’s hardly charitable.

(7) What is your favorite non-original-trilogy Star Wars media? If it is a serial media (e.g., books, graphic novels, TV series, etc.) is there is a specific title/volume/episode that stands out as the best one?

(8) What is your favorite conspiracy theory?

This week we went live for the second week in a row as part of our 2021 year-end holiday celebration. We got to comment on the new Matrix movie and what Scientologists would think of it as well as a lot of other movie and cult-related stuff. Enjoy!

This week we went live to answer your questions and covered very recent revelations from inside Scientology about it collapsing maybe faster than we think as well as a bunch of other mostly Scientology-related questions. Enjoy!

This week, it’s answers about completing Scientology’s OT 7, coming to terms with waking up from a cult, my day-to-day as a Sea Org manager and a lot more. Enjoy!

(1) Why does it take years to complete OT 7? How do you know it’s finished? Why could it not be finished in two months for example? Who is the final judge to say it’s completed?

(2) I wondered if you could share your experience on what happens to people’s spiritual aspirations once they come to terms with the fact they were in a cult and they “wake up” to the fact they once believed in nonsense. Do you see any patterns, or are these continued journeys as varied as the personalities and needs of each person? Do they go traditional religion or alt.spirituality? Do they go classic or New Age? Or none at all? And what has happened to your spiritual aspirations? I might not be too far off the mark to guess that you have gone secular with critical thinking but do you still have any spiritual hankerings, and what form do they, or might they take?

(3) I was wondering if you could go into a day of what it was like in your management position. What kind of things did you do in your job exactly?

(4) I’d like to ask you about something everyone who has been under significant undue influence has experienced. How do you get in touch with your real you, the person who is there — although not fully emerging — the person you were before being manipulated by the narcissist or the cult? Do you happen to know any literature, books, videos about that particular subject?

(5) How did your extended family process your immediate family’s journey in and out of Scientology?

(6) How entrenched are Scientologists in secular institutions globally such as credit card companies, police forces, lawyers, etc?

(7) What is the difference between magic and illusion?

This week, it’s answers about Sea Org symbolism, a breakdown of OT 8, what I think Miscavige is trying to accomplish in Clearwater and a lot more. Enjoy!

(1) Tony Ortega recently posted a promotional video for the Freewinds featuring Sea Org members with swords. Are there actual LRH policies on swords? Did you have to deal with swords in the Estates Project Force or later in your Sea Org career? Or are the swords just props that Miscavige hands out when he wants to make videos?

(2) Does Scientology in any of its multiple publications actually point out in bullet point fashion or any fashion for that matter, the indisputable wins that you will absolutely have once completing OT 8? It seems to me that not much is ever spoken publicly about this as maybe the reason is that none of what is promised actually happens.

(3) I was reading the latest article by Tracy McManus about the Scientology situation in Clearwater. It describes how entities owned by Scientology members were buying up property around the Flag Land Base and leaving those properties undeveloped. What are they trying to achieve? People have mentioned they want a buffer zone around the Flag land base, but why would this be important to Miscavage? Why go to so much trouble and spend so much money? There are plenty of high-security buildings owned by governments and corporations in built-up areas, why does Scientology feel the need to own entire city blocks? Is it just more Miscavage paranoia, or is there a more rational reasons (as far as any Scientology reason is rational)?

(4) Do you believe there is anything you could write to a Scientology address that the recipient of the letter would read and actually get them thinking that it’s all a waste of their life and talent? Is there a location that has been set up in the country where a defector can go to first to hide and get on their feet? Has anyone thought of setting up a organization for those just leaving the church? Are there a group of volunteers dedicated to covertly retrieving those who wish to leave? And finally is there any way to communicate to the entire organization at once, i.e. a mass email list or something of that nature?

(5) Chris, have you watched the Hollywood Reporter roundtable for Drama Actresses? It is a wonder, considering that Nicole Kidman is an SP that Elizabeth Moss has been allowed to be photographed together, let alone talk to each other. How did they pull this off? Or has Elizabeth Moss finally left Scientology and I can enjoy her new show with a clear conscience?

(6) Have you heard of the Star Wars Ewok Adventures (Caravan of Courage /The Battle for Endor, 1984/1985)? Have you watched them? If so, what are your thoughts on them?

(7) We hear about all the vitamins that scientologist’s take. Does scientology manufacturer them or own a stake in the company that makes them?

(8) Does Dracula worry about Covid?

This week, it’s answers about Scientology’s infamous Duke of Chugg, an honest discussion of how people slide back into their old cults, the inventor of the E-Meter and a lot more. Enjoy!

(1) Hi Chris, I was looking at an old INCOMM newsletter from 1985 and noticed that their computers back then had a strange keyboard. Where a normal keyboard would have its nav cluster and arrow keys, these had a raised area with an array of tiny, almost pin-like keys. It turns out that this keyboard was actually designed and patented by the Church of Scientology. Did you ever use one of these and, if so, could you explain how it worked? Do you have any idea why the Church would spend resources on such an odd project as creating its own keyboard?

(2) How often did you wear your Class A Sea Organization uniform, which if I recall is the dress whites? Did you ever get strange reactions wearing it in public? Was it considered cool internally or more of an eye roller.

(3) I watched your interview with Jessica Schab with particular interest because her story seemed so unique; a New Age guru who had seen the light of reason and saw through her previous fascination with dodgy beliefs. I wanted to see where she is now, only to discover that she has reverted to her former indoctrination, even stating on her Youtube page that her encounter with critical thinking was “brainwashing.” She is now back in touch with her spirit guides and her followers and she seems to have doubled down on her alt.beliefs which now appear to include COVID denial. I am sure there is a lot going on there in her head to cause such a dramatic reversal, but I wondered if you’d ever seen this before: people going back to former indoctrinated beliefs but doubling down to perhaps counter their previous apostasy.

(4) What ever happened to Volney Mathison?

(5) It has been well documented that LRH spent hours, days and weeks sequestered away researching the creation of Dianetics and then ultimately Scientology. And as you know we have heard much about his exhaustive research, but we’ve never heard anything about how he conducted that research and it seems to me that the technique is not dissimilar from writing a novel which is what he did with some extraordinary success prior to inventing Scientology. Please correct me if I’m wrong, but what I have read is that he would retire to his quarters and write the story of Scientology which we are told is the science of the mind but what we are not told is how he came by those results and what proof was used to explain his findings except that this is what he discovered end of explanation. After all as we all know science is always scientifically proven although in this case nothing can be proved. I can only speak for myself in this matter but for me that is hardly enough proof to dedicate my life to one man’s explanation….albeit, and extremely detailed and all encompassing story. So why are these questions not asked from within Scientology how come it’s just acceptable on face value? Some of these beliefs are outlandish and beyond comprehension. Please explain why this is acceptable and fully understood by those in Scientology and not questioned.

(6) Has a never-in listener listened too much to your podcast if they understood your David Miscavage flipping burgers joke?

(7) Are you cool with a carpeted bathroom?

(8) Scientology has been approved to renovate a building in downtown Detroit recently, capitalizing on the rebuilding going on of course. What can I do to warn my community of this evil and possibly stop the growth of this org?

This week, it’s a detailed look at how the Truth Rundown works, an even deeper look at QAnon and Trump supporters, what if Bezos or Musk wanted to do Scientology and a lot more. Enjoy!

(1) I wonder if you could tell us more about the pointy end of the Truth Rundown. I seem to remember you saying that you’ve both delivered and received it. I want to try and understand what happens when someone actually recants a true fact they’ve previously expressed. How are they persuaded to profess a new belief that contradicts what they know to be true? Is it all for show and everybody knows that the CoS is just trying to quell public criticism or opposition, or are they deadly serious and trying to change the solid foundation of what a person believes? And are there irreparable consequences or do people simply revert to the truth in their mind when there is no longer the same pressure to conform? I find the whole business insidious and very troubling.

(2) On November 2, 2021, hundreds of QAnon supporters of one particularly fringy variety gathered in Dallas, at the location where President Kennedy was fatally shot, to see his son, JFK Jr. (who in real word has been dead since 1999), reveal himself as alive, well, and planning to be the Republican vice-presidential candidate for 2024. At 12:30 PM, the time of President Kennedy’s shooting, the crowd began to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. (Why? Who knows…) When nothing happened, the crowd slowly began to dissipate, with some people saying that JFK Jr. would appear at the Rolling Stones concert later in the day. What do you think the chances are that a few months down the road we’ll hear “eyewitness claims” that JFK Jr. actually appeared to the crowd that day, possibly “in spirit” (whatever that means)? Any other thoughts or comments?

(3) Let’s say Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk decided they wanted to be OT 8 and they told David Miscavige they will drop $1 billion to get there in 6 months or as fast as possible. How would Scientology accommodate that request? What is the fastest they could get there given unlimited funds?

(4) Given that Hubbard isn’t regarded as a prophet but rather someone who developed the tech using scientific research, would it be possible for anyone to continue his research? If it is considered to be science surely it could be further advanced? If either Miscavige or someone else was to announce that he had done a load of independent research into Scientology tech and made a load of new advances, how would Scientologists react? As I understand it all changes so far have been done with the justification that they are just what Hubbard intended but could the Church instead alter things by simply saying they had continued to further advance the tech?

(5) It takes years to finish OT 7. You do this by yourself with no real involvement on a daily basis by Scientology. Therefore why does it take this long and why can’t you finish in two months? Who is to say you finished it as we all know it’s all a bunch of nonsense except for those who are doing it but why can’t you say after two months, “Right, I’m finished. Bring on OT8!” You pay all this money and then do everything yourself. I mean, if that isn’t pulling the wool over one’s eyes so to speak and I don’t know what is!

(6) Is it true that the federal government required Scientology to put disclaimers on E-meters? Are the disclaimers still attached, what do they say, and what do Scientologists think of the disclaimers, if anything?

(7) Do you have any recommendations for unintentionally hiliarious/completely insane Hubbard lectures?

(8) When Tom Cruise was awarded the Freedom Medal of Valor, when Miscavige called him “the most dedicated Scientologist I know,” do you think he really thought that? I’ve always thought that he knew it would piss off the Sea Org members and he took some sinister delight in it. From what I’ve heard of COB he really seems to enjoy being cruel and mocking others. What was yours and those that you knew reactions and what are your thoughts on his motivation?

This week it was answers done live, talking about the collapse of the Scientology mission network, Hubbard’s writing, some fun comments on Brexit and a lot of critical thinking. Enjoy!