This week, it’s answers about some really crazy Scientology scriptures, exactly how Miscavige is literally re-writing Scientology to fit his own agenda, what Volunteer Minsters are doing at disaster sites and a lot more. Enjoy!

(1) I was watching one of your videos recently and thought “Have we ever discussed R&D volumes”? I recall reading through those after watching The Matrix and thinking “My God, the old man was right!” what with his descriptions of bodies in pawn, etc. Is this even something people talk about in modern Scientology? It seems like one of those series of volumes that never gets talked about. There was some crazy space opera in those.

(2) I have been out of Scientology since around the year 2000 and I have only just caught up with what’s been going on with the Tech! Any chance of a bit of a Tech timeline update please? Golden Age of Tech 1 & 2, Clear, all the books being updated (are they much different), Briefing Course removal, Tech Vols now missing from the course rooms – I find that really hard to believe, the long timers must be dazed and confused! I can’t believe that the SHSBC is no longer delivered!  Have I missed anything? Is the Birthday Game still going? 

(3) After reading a press release from Scientology about their Volunteer Ministers, I’m curious exactly what are the “many special areas” the VMs have been “trained” in to be able to assist in emergency situations? I wasn’t aware that special training was provided to the VM to do anything other than assists & handing out food (bought that morning from the corner store). Do these Scientologists making the effort realize the only goal is a photo shoot opportunity?

AND

I have seen on Tony’s Underground Bunker site many articles about whenever there is some type of global catastrophe that Scientology makes sure to insert themselves into the middle of these events. Do they really make any difference at all or, as callous as this may sound, is this purely another opportunity to milk every occasion to show the world that they care and they are contributing when in fact they’re not doing anything of the sort?

(4) Do you think that, with all the study, auditing and word clearing in Scientology, there is a possibility that members can have different or incorrect interpretations of concepts such as thetans or the Xenu story or the dynamics? It seems to me that LRH did not fact-check himself and created a patch quilt of many different theories and called it Scientology, thus leaving many holes and ambiguities in his own writings. How does the COS explain these lapses? Do members even notice, and if they do, how do they explain them? Or is the brainwashing machine so well oiled as to not permit margin of error or thought?

(5) Did Hubbard say that Xenu was a psychiatrist? Did his utter condemnation of psychiatrists and psychologists begin with the mental health community’s flat out rejection of his pseudo-scientific therapy? I suppose I’m trying to see if that event was what motivated him to make them the antagonists in his newly birthed ideology. I realize so many people for so many decades have been trying to pierce the veil into the true motivations behind a man who cultivated so much mystique and misinformation about himself.

(6) The Scientology website states it is for “spirituality and freedom for all”. Would you say there is a pattern of cults using positivity/truth to maintain the lies?

(7) Have you ever heard of anyone in Scientology living with HIV? I looked into it some and found that doctors and medicine (other than psych drugs) are fine, but how would the COS deal with a person with HIV? Would they consider them as 1.1? HIV is not just a “gay” disease so how would the church deal with that person? Did LRH talk about it at all? Would they try to just get rid of them as PTS?

(8) Do you think the pandemic has contributed to Scientology losing members? I would imagine not being able to be “on course” or attend fundraising events may have helped those “under the radar” finally cut ties with the cult.

This week we did our Critical Q&A show live and I got to answer a steady stream of questions about Scientology, old and new. Enjoy! 

Today just for fun I’m posting a bonus Q&A show which features almost nothing but flash answers from one of my viewers, Travis, including a couple of things about Scientology I can almost guarantee you did not know before. Enjoy!

This week it’s answers about Danny Masterson’s possible future in and out of Scientology, my best advice on talking to someone you’re concerned may be in a bad relationship, can Scientology get rid of disconnection and more. Enjoy!

(1) It looks more and more likely Danny Masterson will go to trial. Looking ahead, if he is convicted and sentenced to a lengthy prison stay, a few interesting questions come to mind: 

a. Will he be able to practice Scientology in a California State Prison (a rape conviction would likely see him assigned to a maximum security facility)?

b. Does California allow Scientology prison “Chaplins”?  That brings all kinds of interesting questions to mind.

c. How might Masterson fare in prison? A rape conviction can’t create a very safe, let alone comfortable existence for any celebrity behind bars. 

d. Is there any history showing how Scientologists are thought of or treated in prison?

e. How would corporate Scientology react and respond to a high profile celebrity member being convicted and sentenced to a lengthy sentence? Will they cast him off and try to disassociate from him?

(2) I was wondering if you could offer your thoughts on dealing with friends or family members who may be getting themselves into a dangerous relationship but are not aware of that possibility. I have a friend whose family member is set to marry someone who is all about strict Biblical patriarchy and also displays narcissistic tendencies. My friend and I have both been down that road with a mutual ex-friend of ours who ended up almost killing his then-wife. She’s tried expressing her concerns to her family but they either seem to be ignoring her or think she’s crazy. I thought you might have a unique perspective on this given your experience with highly controlling groups and people.

(3) We all know how damaging Scientology’s controlling techniques are, especially the threats of disconnection. This has been prominent in the reporting on the Masterson case already and more people will be made aware of this horrible policy going forward. Do you think that public awareness (and perhaps some legal activity) might force the church to change the policy somewhat? I don’t know if you heard about the recent court ruling in Belgium that decided that shunning was a human rights issue and the JW church had to pay damages. It’s an interesting tack — and focuses more on what the church *does* rather than what it *believes.* Is Scientology’s disconnection policy so important to retaining members that the church will never — CAN never — let go of it?

(4) I have a question for you I’ve been meaning to ask for some time in your opinion what are the chances of a married couple remaining married if one becomes a Scientologist and the other does not? I would be interested in your views on this as someone that I know has been married twice and originally the wives were not Scientologists but became so as I’m sure the husband somehow talked them into this. With all of the negative toxic information currently available it does seem strange to me that anyone would willingly go along with this. As you know, non-Scientologists are fully aware of all of the adverse publicity currently available. Or does the power of love supersede this?

(5) In your last Q&A, you spoke about the question of “deserving” being in a cult. This brought to mind the question of whether any person “deserves” contracting COVID or “deserves” dealing with the after-effects of COVID.  I’m asking for personal reasons: I have a family member who has been belligerent, even hostile, regarding mask wearing, social distancing, listening to scientists/doctors, etc.  She contracted COVID last year and was extremely ill for a few weeks. Since then, she can no longer smell or taste.  She STILL has doubled down that COVID is a conspiracy brought about by the Democratic Party in collusion with China. I am having a very hard time being sympathetic with her and honestly, I have felt like she deserved being so ill, and she now deserves the after-effects. Do you feel the same way about this situation? i.e. does no one deserve to suffer in this way? Just curious. I’m not proud of my feelings and I’m trying to be more compassionate.

(6) If I, a never-in who knows too much, were to go into a mission and ask for auditing, would I be able to get it? Or would I have to do the Dianetics Seminar, or the Personal Efficiency Course, or something before? I’m starting to find it hypocritical to criticise the auditing process without having had firsthand experience.

This week, it’s answers about celebrities in Scientology, training levels, whether people deserve to be in cults or not and a lot more. Enjoy!

(1) a) Do you think that a homosexual celebrity like Catherine Bell could ever be openly gay and still remain in good standing with Scientology or is she most likely pressured to never open that closet door in public? b) Are you of the opinion that certain Scientology celebrities are probably aware of the controversies and crimes of COS but choose to stay in anyway? Perhaps due to the privileges that they are rewarded or maybe even out of paranoia from what breaking away could mean to their reputations? The amount of dirty laundry that the Church has documented on all the celebs from their auditing sessions must certainly play a factor in any hesitancy to ever be critical against the Church.

(2) a) Since Dave took out a major part of the training bridge (Class VI course) how can they train Class VIII and Class XII auditors? Do they just say whatever and skip the most important auditor course there is? b) According to Jon Atack and Karen de la Carriere there were only a few Class XII Case Supervisors ever made in all the history of Scientology and currently there might not be even one left, is this true? And if so, how can they deliver the Ls?

(3) At the end of the podcast episode from Lloyd Evans’ channel with Sarah Edmondson, they discuss the circumstances where people do need to stay inside a destructive cult and where it would not be appropriate or advisable for them to wake up or be woken up. Lloyd Evans gives two examples: 

1. people who deliberately hurt other people just because it benefits them and who therefore probably deserve to be in a cult; at least to some degree their behavior is being controlled, and maybe if they weren’t their behavior would be even more psychotic and even more damaging;
2. people who have already seriously harmed their loved ones as a result of their cult beliefs (e.g. Jehovah’s Witnesses parents whose child has died because of a refusal to give blood transfusions) and where the person waking up would quite conceivably trigger a serious breakdown and possibly suicide.

When do you think it would be advisable not to wake someone up from a destructive cult? Do you agree with these two scenarios? Can you think of any more?

(4) I’m curious what your personal opinion is regarding Scientology successes. Have any of these people actually achieved ANYTHING in the way of inner healing, maturity and self-improvement through Scientology? Or is it possible they have simply slid deeper into hypnotic self-delusion?

(5) I was watching David Miscavige on a YouTube video called “Briefing to OT Ambassadors” from 2004 and he was presenting the Materials Guide Chart and the new video on demand displays for the orgs. In those displays he was talking about the different groups of LRH lectures and how many Scientologists don’t know the differences. There are Congresses, ACCs, Foundations and some others. What are the differences with these groups of lectures? 

(6) Over time, you have interviewed many interesting guests on your podcast. How do those interviews come about? Do you pursue potential guests? Do they find you? Or is there a person in the middle who can suggest a guest they know and make an introduction? 

(7) Hypothetical– a high-profile scientologist blows and becomes an out-spoken activist against Scientology. Scientology uses personal information from this person’s PC folder as part of a smear campaign, to embarrass or discredit or otherwise harm them. But there are laws around “priest-penitent privilege” which, if Scientology is a “church”, it seems they would have to follow. Is it against the law for them to publicly share anything revealed during auditing since it’s basically a religious confession?

(8) Before states and countries were beginning to lift travel bans, how did the Flag Service Organization deal with not being able to have people come down every 6 months for their OT7 security checks?

(9) Do you approve of tazers?

This week, it’s a very complete breakdown of Scientology’s The Way to Happiness, and answers on racism and the media, critical thinking in everyday life and a lot more. Enjoy!

Bridge video link

(1) How important is The Way To Happiness to a full-time Scientologist going up The Bridge? Is it a requirement at any point in Scientology? I’ve always been quite intrigued by this book because it reads nothing like your typical Scientology material written by Hubbard. Did he actually write it? Was the initial intended purpose of it to be used as a gateway into the org as it’s used now in Scientology’s front groups?

(2) I’m curious as to your thoughts on the current racial tension in the west, both socially and politically. A Congressional representative who happens to be black gives a speech dissenting against Biden’s first joint address and Twitter permits a racial slur to trend in reference to him. A man who happens to be black, films a mentally unwell hotel employee having a breakdown and has the audacity and callousness to racialize the issue. A policeman shoots a girl with a knife who is literally about to stab another girl in front of him and is lambasted as a vile racist with Lebron James tweeting a picture of him with the caption “You’re next.” For months, dozens of hate crimes targeting Asiatic people occur as the hashtag #StopAsianHate goes nowhere (committed almost exclusively by non-white people) but the moment corporate media thinks a white person is the culprit the hashtag trends and its front page news on every network. I suppose my question/confusion comes from the seeming inconsistent response to discrimination depending on the source. Why is racial prejudice socially acceptable when some people do it and repugnant when done by others? If it’s a repulsive worldview (and I believe it is) then shouldn’t it be reviled regardless of who the perpetrator is?

(3) I want to start applying more critical thinking to my everyday life, but I don’t know where to start. It seems like so many of my decisions and reactions are just reflexive and don’t take a lot of thought. How can I start being more conscious or aware when everything moves so fast and there’s just so much to think about? You’re doing a great service to the public here with your show.

(4) I had a question about the use of numbers on Scientology’s Bridge, specifically with the auditor levels and org classes. What makes an org a “Class 6”? What makes an auditor a “Class 12”? Does “Saint Hill Size” also have an arbitrary number?

(5) I’ve read a number of LRH short stories. Some are boring, some are delightfully bonkers and the very best ones are like sub-mediocre Twilight Zone episodes. Scientology has a whole production studio and television channel.  Why haven’t they tried adapting his stories to television to lure in “the wogs” like Hubbard wanted? Are they afraid it will make them look less like a real religion? Or did “Battlefield Earth” kind of poison the well?

(6) While googling around for information I discovered this amazing bit of nonsense. I read a (typo-riddled) sample page and apparently this guy thinks David Miscavige is a CIA operative? Is this actually a thing people think?? Incredible!

(7) Are children who are in Scientology able to be kicked out of Scientology? For adults, I can see how the CoS can just kick them out without legal repercussions, but what happens to kids that are declared suppressive? Do children ever get declared? Do the parents of the child still communicate and take care of the child? What is the youngest age that you’ve seen someone get kicked out of Scientology?

(8) How much money would it take for you to star in an off-off-Broadway production of Cats?

This week, it’s answers about recovering from Scientology and past mistakes, how Scientologists think about the numbers, how the OT 3 death trap really works and a lot more. Enjoy!

Rachel Bernstein video on learned helplessness 

(1) I find it fascinating that at least a dozen times in my Sea Org “career” in Canada (and a bit in L.A) I looked from the top floor of the building I was in and looking down on people and thought “Wow, I’d like to be like them one day and be free.” I was quite sad during those times and felt helpless when really, I just needed to put on my sneakers and walk out and get on a bus. Have you ever had those kind of moments? More importantly how did you deal with the regret when you got out? I still look at it and wonder why did it take so many years – I feel like a Dodo bird sometimes gotta tell ya. My wife now tells me I am too decisive sometimes. LOL – I just don’t waste time anymore. 

(2) A couple of weeks ago I read on Tony Ortega’s Underground Bunker site about Scientology making a huge announcement that 5 people (yes that’s FIVE) had finally become CLEAR. The entire concept of Scientology is to ultimately clear the entire planet but let’s take a look at this. The current population of Clearwater is 118,000 people. It would take just under 47 years to clear the entire population of Clearwater at that rate.

There are 7.8 billion people, increasing by 83 million a year. Has it not occurred to the Scientologists that this endeavor is completely and utterly unattainable? I understand the Sea Org staff are very isolated but surely the public Scientologists who have outside lives can see the math on this? Do they not stop to wonder about this ridiculous situation? 

(3) I have heard you as well as others speak about the “consequences” for people who are not properly prepared to see the the OT3 material. Leah said something about them getting sick and dying and I believe you used the term “free wheeling”. Do you think Scientologists are doubling down on this since the material is becoming more and more available through the internet?

(4) I’ve been wondering why the Church of Scientology would not let staff live in their org buildings. They are enormous and the staff would save money. Would it be out-exchange?

(5) I was wondering how you think the proposed UK ban on gay conversion therapy would affect Scientology? As so many have pointed out, we know they are wildly homophobic but manage to hide the fact they feel they can “audit it out” and generally wriggle out of the bad PR. Do you think it’s likely they will be taken to court over it, and how do you feel they will handle it?

(6) Are Scientologists afraid of graveyards or funerals for the fact that maybe that thetan might get stuck to them? I’ve heard people say David Miscavage is terrified of being around children because of all the thetans they carry around. 

(7) What’s the most obvious scam cult out there in your opinion?

(8) Do you think OT9 and OT10 will be ‘officially’ be released in your lifetime?

This week, it’s answers about Xenu, Schrödinger’s Jesus, critical thinking and a whole lot more. Enjoy!

(1) What if a Sea Org member who is OT3 or higher said in an auditing session that they were Xenu in a past life? What would an auditor do? And what would you have done?

(2) I heard you mentioned that L Ron Hubbard said that Jesus was a criminal and a pedophile. I thought that all the Abrahamic and other religions were constructs that you were brainwashed with and therefore didn’t exist. So how could Jesus exist and not exist at the same time?

(3) You refer to yourself as “The Critical Thinker at Large” and to my satisfaction, after watching many of your videos, you are that. Would you have described yourself as a critical thinker while you were an active Scientologist? If so, why? If not, why not?

(4) Since Scientology’s confidential materials are so readily available online, I wonder if a PC can just look up cognitions for each level, say them almost exactly line for line during an auditing session and progress up the bridge incredibly quickly? I know that someone who has already went down the rabbit hole is unlikely to continue doing Scientology, but let’s say they use that knowledge to try to “cheat” their way into clear or even OT levels, would that be possible?

(5) On a recent live Q&A, you were wearing an Invader Zim t-shirt. I am curious: what has been your experience with that show? 

(6) I am currently listening to your podcast with LEAH and MIKE where you are discussing the RPF. Based on what you are saying it would appear that Sea Org members who are sent there are being given an opportunity to right whatever wrongs they have done and this is a way of redeeming one’s self. Therefore the question is do all of the people on the RPF feel that this is a good thing for them and they are very fortunate to be given this opportunity or do they see it the way the outside world sees it as a prison sentence?

(7) Who would win in a cage fight between Xenu and Darth Vader?

This week, it’s answers about the thinking that Scientologists do to rationalize such things as disconnection, some thoughts about Teen Challenge and other faith-based addiction programs, more about going exterior in Scientology and a whole lot more. Enjoy!

(1) This is a question that I have wanted to ask you for a long time. An enormous amount of high-profile Scientologists leave. Some speak out and some don’t but those that do are labeled as suppressives, so my question is: considering that at the time these people were the most ethical people on the planet, how did they get so far without Scientology realizing that they were in fact SPs? How did that happen and why was it not discovered? Does that question ever get discussed by those that remain as to why these high up individuals have all of a sudden left ? The people I am talking about are without a doubt the highest echelons of Scientology management. 

(2) I was wondering if you could comment with your thoughts on troubled teen programs such as Teen Challenge. Some of these programs seem to be using methods and techniques that are not science or evidence based and end up causing more harm than anything to the people who go through them. In fact I have heard of such horror stories as reenacting the rape or sexual assault that took place as part of the “therapy” or break down/build up process for survivors of those crimes who were residents or patients or whatever. I also heard from a friend that went to Teen Challenge that none of the people she was there with who had alcohol or drug problems are clean now. As an aside do you think any of these might possibly check any of the BITE model boxes? 

(3) Hi Chris. Could you explain why Scientologists care so much about ‘going exterior’? It’s not something I would be interested in doing, so I don’t get the appeal. Is it about being invisible + flying?  If so, you’ve probably heard about that question ‘Would you rather have the power of flight or invisibility?’ Hubbard is basically covering both bases, isn’t he? 

(4) I’ve heard it said, regarding the NXIVM defectors and in general, that there’s a risk of ex-cult members becoming activists too soon, before they’ve dealt with their healing and self-care. Was that your experience at all? If not, why?

(5) If Hubbard were to live and develop Scientology in the 2020s, rather than in the 1950s, do you think he would require electronic recording of auditing sessions? If so, would it be audio or video? If not, why not? More broadly, do you have any thoughts about the effects of technology on the practices of destructive cults? The impact on outward-aimed functions (Internet PR, recruitment via social media, etc.) is clearly visible from the outside, but what about internal functions aimed at the current members? Some future Hubbard could conceivably come up with a God helmet attached directly to an AI… What do you think?

(6) I heard you on the fair game podcast and I never knew that you don’t have a Bachelor’s degree – that’s so surprising because you’re super smart and in graduate school – how can you get a Master’s degree without first earning a Bachelor’s? Are you required to do a thesis? Did you take the GRE or GMAT?

(7) What is the derivation and meaning behind the “Much Love” sign-off that is frequently seen in Scientology correspondence? Is that only used by Sea Org members?  By public? It seems incredibly corny outside of a family or true friendship context, and I can’t believe anyone believes it signifies any sincerity (in the true sense).   I don’t remember seeing the concept of “Love” used in other Scientology writing.

(8) Which one of the following would you be if you could: 17th century pirate, drug runner for Pablo Escobar, samurai, or king of England during the plague?

This week we went live to answer a bunch of questions, most related to Scientology and destructive cult thinking and we had a lot of fun doing it. Enjoy!