This week it’s answers about the caste system in Scientology, my thoughts on Star Trek’s latest, some push back regarding Greta Thunberg and a lot more. Enjoy!

This week, the questions I answer are:

(1) From what I recall you did not do any of the OT levels but got pretty high up in the Sea Org. As a Sea Org member, did you “outrank” an OT V or even OT VIII? Or did you have to address them as “yes ma’am/no ma’am” or “yes sir/no sir” since they were shelling out so much money? Or was it the case that there was no status difference since the OTs are not actually “working for” the Church the way you were?

(2) I know you are a Star Wars fan but I am wondering if you also consider yourself to be a Trekkie. Have you seen the new Picard series? If so, what are your thoughts?

(3) Greta Thunberg. It’s plain to see that humanity has had an impact on the ecology of the planet however I do not think the scaremongering done by some (AOC’s 13 years til we’re all dead, springs to mind) does a service to the cause of environmental protection. While I do not intend to disparage any child, I also don’t think any child has much to say of value about anything academic. Thus I would deem anyone lining up behind a child, particularly in something as complex as climate science, to be rather foolish. I believe she is well-intentioned but ultimately ignorant and if one’s goal is to advance a cause, I don’t really see how championing a child (who has yet to finish high school much less the higher education necessary to have an informed opinion on this matter) will help that aim. In a discourse that requires scientific appeal, I see her primarily injecting sentiment and I feel like that’s a disservice as opposed to a boon. Your thoughts?

(4) I have been a nurse for more than 30 years and remember being very nervous when I started around people having mental health problems. In my early years as a nurse I tended to put my focus on the physical being and what I could do to heal the physical ailments. Now I have a very different view as I see the need to treat the whole person: body, mind and spirit. In looking at L. Ron Hubbard I see a person whose physical body was being damaged by his own mind. I really think as an outside observer he went crazy in the end. Am I wrong in thinking this could also happen to David Miscavage? He appears to have begun a spiral that could end in madness. What do you think?

(5) What do Scientologists believe about animals? I know that animals play a part In Scientology’s dynamics but I’m unsure how they factor into the belief system. Do they have thetans and, if so, is it believed they reincarnate? Can they spiritually “evolve” and become human?

(6) How would you react if Donald trump revoked Scientology’s tax exemption? I know this is an extremely unlikely event. I still wouldn’t vote for Trump, but if he took away their tax exemption that would mean he finally got something right for once. What do you think?

(7) Have you heard anything from Shelly, Marty Rathbun or Karin Pouw in the last 12 months?

(8) I noticed you have a tattoo on your left forearm. What is it and is there any significance to it?

This week, it’s answers about the children of Scientologists, what is a Scientology mission, my take on The Mandalorian and a lot more. Enjoy!

(1) I’ve seen a number of stories where the children of Scientologists, like yourself, not only follow their parents’ footsteps, but in some cases out-do their parents and join the Sea Org. Now in the normal world, you also have kids who question and even defy their parents when it comes to religion (“Why do I have to go to church?”), politics (“Why should I be a Democrat/Republican like you?”), economics (“I think socialism is better than capitalism!”), etc.

In the normal world, such reactions are seen as growing pains and parents hope their kids will “come around.” In the world of Scientology, if an adult would voice doubts about Scientology, he/she would face disconnection. What happens to a non-Sea Org teen who would dare question his/her parents belief in Scientology?

(2) The Scientology “mission” in my middle-sized city used to be located in an area that is quickly gentrifying. It has since moved to a not-so-pleasant area of town. I also noticed that their hours changed from the regular 9-to-5 times to only being open in the evenings for a few hours, four times a week. Is this becoming a common occurrence at mission locations around the country or world? Who decides on mission locations and times? The people that run that individual locations or the entire organization?

(3) I know you are a Star Wars fan. What are your thoughts on The Mandalorian? Do you think Moff Gideon will turn out to be a Sith Lord?

(4) From my understanding, Scientology auditing requires the use of an E-Meter. This E-Meter utilizes two cylindrical electrical conductors that are held in the hands of the “Pre-Clear” during an auditing session. What if the “Pre-Clear” is handicapped and is missing a hand or an arm? Does this mean they are unable to be audited? Or are there some kind of optional attachments to the E-Meter that are handicapped-accessible? If not, would this person be disqualified from becoming a Scientologist? Or can they become a Scientologist, but are simply disqualified from participating in any auditing?

(5) Is there any single thing that a Sea Org member can do that would just get them thrown out of the Church of Scientology immediately? Or will the Church always try to rehabilitate the person first? And lastly can you guess where the 1138 in my YouTube handle comes from?

(6) Chris I’m sure you have plenty of people in mind that you would love to talk with for 2020 but who is the one person that you would really love to interview?

(7) Who sets the prices of Scientology courses? Do the prices change? And now that recruitment is much lower these days, do they offer sales or discounts?

(8) Have you seen memes that say “liberalism is a mental disease”? The more I see that quip, the more I appreciate liberalism. I think liberalism is a beautiful ideology. The country needs more real liberalism. Without liberalism, society stagnates and could possibly regress back into the Dark Ages. I don’t understand why people hate innovation and creativity. Conservatism is necessary for the early stages, but as society evolves and becomes more advanced, conservatism becomes unnecessary and we outgrow it. I don’t understand why people don’t want society to evolve with science and technology. What is your take on this?

We did a live stream Critical Q&A this week. I had a blast answering questions across a wide variety of topics. Enjoy! 

This week, I talk about the Scientology Parent YouTube channel, Scientology’s take on psychiatry, the nature of cults and a whole lot more. Enjoy!

(1) Do you know the person behind the YouTube channel “Scientology Parent”? He used to be pretty active but suddenly disappeared. He was quite open about Scientology. The channel was something I’ve never seen before: pro-Scientology stuff on social media which was not produced by the Church itself. It would seem obvious that the church didn’t like it. Thoughts?

(2) I am reaching out because I just came across an elaborate display on my walk home. A man asked if I wanted to learn about the dangers of psychiatry. I asked if he is from the Church of Scientology. He said that the organization is funded by Scientology. He then proceeded to tell me about a myriad of evils done by psychiatry and his own mother’s terrible experience. I told him that I’m sorry about his mom. I also said that I don’t doubt that many bad things have been done in the past, but I still don’t think the entire field should discounted. He retreated from me and simply said I was mistaken. I found it interesting that they did not explicitly note Scientology in their literature. I’m curious if you are familiar with this organization and if you have any insights about them. Thank you.

(3) Do food cults count as cults?

(4) I’ve read that many “recruiters” in the past used to make huge dollars selling books, courses and other such things. Is this still a thing? And did the high profile old leaders like Mike Rinder, Marty Rathbun or Pat Broker make big money when they were at the top of the cult? Could a lowly Sea Org member land a whale?

(5) How are ordinary Scientologists supposed to clear the planet? Is going up The Bridge and attaining Clear and OT VIII sufficient, and somehow the rest of us seeing how great our Scientologist neighbor is doing will come knocking on Scientology’s door? Or are ordinary Scientologists supposed to evangelize people too? In which case, how do they handle questions from non-Scientologists about Xenu, family disconnection, Scientology and the Aftermath program, and what is found on the internet? How do they handle being told we’re almost done clearing the planet, but at the same time, there are few people at the local orgs, and a lot of non-Scientologists asking difficult questions? Seems to me one would reach one of two conclusions: (1) Scientology is not facing reality; therefore, how real can it be and I should leave? or (2) the present age is damned and only the enlightened few will be “saved”. Which leads to the next question, what does the afterlife look like for a Scientologist who has reached the highest level? Is the thetan supposed keep coming back in new bodies until the planet is cleared, gets to choose to go to another planet to clear it, wander around creation for the rest of eternity blissfully not caring about uncleared planets or what?

(6) What’s the most watched video of all time on your channel? If memory serves, it used to be the Quiverful video. Is it still?

(7) Do you think those unreleased upper OT levels will get out soon for critics to analyze? Or if Miscavige just wrote them, do you think they could or would compare to how LRH would say it or do you think Miscavige doesn’t think he would be up to the challenge of even trying?

(8) If you were about to embark on a Critical Thinker at Large world tour what would be some of the countries/cities you would like to visit?

This week it’s answers about who Scientology is really trying to reach, how YouTube monetizing works, a rundown on the RPF program and a lot more. Enjoy!

(1) I curiously went onto the Scientology website tonight and they were advertising the 8 dynamics. It seemed more like an advertisement for a Hollywood-esque lifestyle marketing company with perfect beautiful families in lovely suburbania. How much does Scientology market itself as an upscale posh lifestyle choice over a religion?

(2) I know you have been having an issue with YouTube de-monitizing some of your videos. Does it help you if we watch the entire commercial or just click the “skip ad” button.? I’m sure many people would happily watch the commercial if they knew it would help you. I’m not sure how that works for YouTube.

(3) In one of your recent videos, I think it was one with the ex-Mormon guy, you mentioned that around 75% of people on the RPF end up leaving. My question is: How do they leave? Do they blow, or do they simply go up to someone in authority and say: ‘I’ve had enough, I want to leave’.

I’m curious about how simple this process is. What effort does Scientology put in to stop people from leaving? Legally, they can’t stop you from leaving but I’m sure they will use all kinds of threats to get you to stay. If you leave the RPF, are you out of the Sea Org/Scientology for good? Are you automatically declared and disconnected?

Finally, how do you physically leave? As I understand it, the RPF is in the middle of nowhere. Does RPF management give you a lift back into town? Can you call someone to come and get you? Or are you left up to your own devices?

(4) I was raised Catholic and still go to church. Of course the problems of the church weigh on me, but I still have determined to stick with a lot of the belief system. But I call myself a cafeteria Catholic, I pick and choose. I had a catering company and had a great client. An older Monsignor in Baltimore who had family money and was quite profane and fun. He had a monthly card game at his house and I cooked for the Cardinal of Baltimore, this Monsignor, a couple of bishops and other muckety mucks. I was friendly with the Monsignor and was able to talk with him on a human level.

HIS belief was that a major cause of the church scandals was the CHANGE in Divinity school in the 60’s and 70’s. Training priests ALWAYS walked alone, with their thoughts and their prayer. In the 60’s the priests started walking together. My Monsignor says that when people get together a “feeling out” process starts to emerge and BAD thoughts start to get shared. A confederacy of sorts. He said it wasn’t the ONLY cause, but it didn’t do anything good. Of course many young Catholics “hid” in the church and since priests couldn’t get married, it gave cover to gay priests in {at that time} an acceptable way. I’ve also seen marriages break up when guys/gals in my neighborhood start walking together for exercise. Mike Pence is a nut but he might be right in a narrow way: when people start talking, lots of stuff CAN happen, some of it bad.

I know that Scientology is a snitching culture but did these “confederacies” exist. Two Sea Org members walking around bitching about this and that? And how about your situation? Did you have a buddy that you trusted to tell your concerns about? And a guess about how many folks have left the Sea Org because they found out that their gripes are “shared”?

(5) In the later 90’s and early 2000’s, when I was working as a sales clerk at the late, great Hollywood Book City bookstore on Hollywood Blvd, I actually recall seeing you dashing about the neighborhood. I also observed many a Sea Org member (who at the time we referred to as “pod people”) in their cheap blue costumes, often clustered by the Hubbard Life Exhibition building a few streets down, appearing sullen and withdrawn while quietly chain-smoking. It struck me then, as now – and you’ve touched on this before – as to what a physically ill-kept and generally unhealthy lot the Sea Org is, given their lack of proper health care, poor diets, sleep deprivation and overall impoverished lifestyle.

To that point, I’m curious as to how end-of-life care is considered within the Sea Org. Is it reasonable to assume that they suffer shorter than average lifespans? Is there any data on CoS death rates? And how do they speak of aging? Is it ever openly discussed? Do they all expect to – as they claim Hubbard had – “voluntarily discard the body?” I can’t begin to imagine what Sea Org funerals are like. Do they even have conventional funerals? Or just conduct “Hip Hhip Hurrah!” parties à la LRH’s thoroughly bizarre “death briefing” of 1986?

(6) Charles Manson was a Scientologist? BUT HE USED IT ON HIS WOMAN?? And that is how HE BRAINWASHED? Is that true?

(7) There are 8 OT levels and 8 dynamics in scientology. Does OT 1 have anything to do with the first dynamic, OT 5 having do to with the 5th dynamic, and OT 8 having to do with the 8th dynamic respectivity? Also when a Scientologist completes OT 8, can David Miscavige take away their OT 8 status and force him or her to start at OT 1 again?

(8) Do you think we will ever hear Katie Holmes tell her story?

It’s our special Christmas edition, which basically means I’m answering your questions while wearing my Star Wars Xmas sweater. This week, it’s answers about how cult members act in real-world jobs, Scientology ads on my videos, status levels in the church and my ideas about militant veganism. Enjoy!

(1) Is it normal for co workers who are also members of groups like Scientology or Jehovah’s Witnesses to think they are better than you or have a big persecution complex? I’ve dealt with co-workers from both groups. A few have been fired for various reasons out of my control. One I saw outside of work and they tried to blame me for being let go. Another one actually sent a letter to me through the company blaming me for their firings and calling me a racist, bigoted Nazi.

(2) Last night I watched the latest Q&A on YouTube and it was preceded by an ad from Scientology. I got distracted watching the episode, so I decided to watch it for the second time, and the same Scientology ad came before it. What do you think is going on? And, more importantly, how do you feel about it?

(3) I’ve been learning about cults for the last two years (Scientology and the Aftermath being what started everything). After watching your AMAZING interviews with Sarah Landry, but also the Wild Wild Country and Holy Hell documentaries on Netflix, I noticed something. In the Nithyananda, Rahneeshpuram and Buddha Field cults, everyone had a new name attributed to them by the leader to disconnect them from their “previous lives.” Without necessarily giving new names to people, does Scientology have a practice that would serve the same purpose, aka creating a new identity to the parishoners?

(4) I’d be interested in your discussion of Model Session (the standard pattern of communication that Hubbard devised to provide predictability for the PC, auditor and Case Supervisor and to perform standard checks that ensure auditing sessions start with the PC ready to be audited).

In my limited experience as an auditor, I found reads and floating needles difficult to recognize and I found myself relying more on PC indicators (how the person looks). It was like the PC and the auditor would conspire to get through the session with credible worksheets and an after-session exam report. I found this both as an auditor and as the PC but I can’t speak for Examiners. Now, in retrospect, I am ashamed to admit such a breach of integrity. Do you think such collusion was commonplace?

(5) Have you ever talked about militant veganism online? Have you heard of the documentary “What The Health” on Netflix? I ask because at one point I was ‘converted’ to veganism because vegan doctors such as Michael Greger, John MacDougall and T. Colin Campbell were preaching online the dangers of meat consumption, and made many promises of weight loss and improved health by cutting out all animal products. I posted my story on Abbey Sharp’s video on What The Health, but just to give an overview, I adopted a healthy vegan diet and within two months my digestive health deteriorated, I lost muscle mass and I nearly passed out at the grocery store. My doctor told me that everyone is different and that while some people do well without animal protein, others cannot. I eventually regained my health after introducing meat back into my diet, but the recovery was very slow.
I started watching your videos which have helped me think critically about diet and health in general. I hadn’t posted much in public about my brush with veganism until What The Health came out, and it angered me that the filmmakers were using graphic and grotesque imagery to illustrate their claims about the supposed dangers of meat consumption. Moreover they claim that doctors profit from the ill health of a public that consumes meat. I suppose my question to you is: would the actions of the filmmakers and plant based doctors amount to coercive persuasion and thought reform, in your opinion? Furthermore, what advice would you give to anyone who is thinking of radically changing their diet?

(6) I know Hubbard hated Christianity but what would he have to say about Islam? I am curious if LRH’s hatred of organized religion would also apply to Islam.

(7) Will Smith and his wife Jada have long been accused of being Scientologists but, despite donating tons of money to Scientology-related causes, have always denied the claim and say something like, “We respect Scientology teachings but we are not Scientologists.” However, in a recent YouTube video celebrating his son Jadens’s 21st birthday, Will Smith said people were trying to “invalidate his experience”, a phrase used only by Scientologists. Despite the use of this weird Scientologese, the Smith’s official line still is “We respect Scientology but we respect all faiths. We are not Scientologists. BLAH BLAH BLAH.” Do you think the decision to publicly deny their affiliation to Scientology is the Smith’s choice because they know their Church’s brand is certifiably toxic or a decision from the Church because they know that celebrities having Scientology-related public outbursts (like Tom Cruise had in the 2000s) would hurt their already ruined brand even more? Or do you think, perhaps, the Smith’s aren’t affiliated with the Church of Scientology but may be Independent Scientologists or Scientology-inspired NOI members?

(8) I get that people who get to OT3 are totally brainwashed so they accept the crap. But this is the very beginning of the course. Be honest, how many people just told you to go fuck yourself and left?

This week it’s answers about high-level Scientologists’ proclivity for cancer, the real deal with “Kha-Khan,” the Scientology call centers and a lot more. Enjoy!

This week, the questions I answer are:

(1) Near the end of your podcast on martial arts cults with Louis Martin, you were discussing high rates of suicide and cancer for OT VIIIs. Regarding cancer rates, you explain psychosomatic reasons (high stress factors) why OT VIIIs might develop cancers. I was surprised you didn’t mention that they also might believe themselves above seeking medical care and rely on their OT powers to cure themselves. Was it an omission as can happen during a spontaneous conversation or do you not think it to be the case?

(2) Does the appointment of ‘Kha-Khan’ really exist in Scientology and if so, does John Travolta have the right to kill people?

(3) I was out of Scientology for about 40 years, but maintained a level of interest with my only contact being their never ending letters, magazines and other promotion via USPS. Then they somehow got my phone number and started calling me. Each time I firmly told the caller I did not want to be called and that I was done buying books and services. The calls continued until I eventually changed my number. I’m curious to know how COS telemarketing works. What means they take to find former member’s telephone numbers? Is there a “call center” and is it computerized? Do they have a folder – online or paper – with a record of my calls? Did they note my repeated request to stop calling?

(4) Is there or do you know of moles in Scientology that feed information to the outside of their organisation? Also, are you aware of Scientologists who want to leave but are finding it hard to make that transition? I can’t even imagine what it would be like to be stuck and unable to make that first step, and are you and others there to help them through this transition?

(5) In your discussion on the Mormon Stories podcast about your life after leaving Scientology, you mentioned that you had suffered PTSD as a result of your experiences. It is incredibly admirable that you have become so willing and able to openly discuss your difficult past to help people. I wondered what advice you might have for others suffering from PTSD to overcome their demons and use them as a force for positive change in their lives.

(6) Are Scientologist allowed to drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes/cigars? I’m sure it sounds like a stupid question but I have read that they do not believe in mind altering drugs. Coffee and alcohol are mind altering so I’m wondering if the pick and choose to fit their needs. I can’t find these answers ANYWHERE.

(7) Why did Pat Broeker never go public?

(8) Did LRH really invent the dictionary?

This week, it’s answers about whether Scientology was destined to happen, whether Scientologists are atheists, connecting with the real world after leaving a cult and a lot more. Enjoy!

(1) Aside from David Miscavige, are there some Scientologists at the upper echelons of the Church of Scientology who are ‘in on the con’ to some degree and even outright fake believers, or is it simply limited to Miscavige? It interested me that former senior figures Marty Rathbun and Mike Rinder practised independent Scientology for many years after exiting the Church, so they clearly did not view Scientology as an outright con. What do you think?

(2) Chris, are you familiar with the “great man” theory of history? Here is how it works: some people say that, if Hitler did not exist, someone else would have done the same thing, while others say nonsense, without him, Germany would have had a leader who would not have invaded Poland or started a holocaust, but merely retaken some lost territory and then signed a new peace deal with England and France. Here is how it applies to cults: people say that, if LRH never existed, those Scibots would have fallen for the next con man or cult leader who came by because they are so stupid and mentally ill. It is obvious to me, as a viewer of your channel, that they are not stupid or mentally ill, and if they had joined Naturopathy or vegetarianism instead of Scientology, things would have been different. What say you?

(3) Hi Chris – just watched your live stream today. Great stuff and I binge watch a lot of your previous Q&A vids and Sensibly Speaking podcasts). You talked about religion and atheism and I was thinking, since Scientologists don’t believe in nor worship a “God” and only LRH as “Source,” doesn’t that make them atheists by default? Would love to hear your perspective on this.

(4) I know there must be hundreds of answers to this but how hard is it to reconnect to non-Scientologists after leaving the cult?

(5) From your point of view as an experienced YouTube content creator, do you think the new rules and alleged fines and deletions coming in January are going to send everyone’s favorite free internet TV channel into the same garbage chute that MySpace went down or are we all just being paranoid and over reacting?

(6) I am a hard core gamer, I know that cults can be many things, but I have been wondering are there video game cults out there?

(7) How does Scientology try to record “evidence” that the actions people take are voluntary other than the non-disparagement contract?

(8) If, as you believe, Miscavige no longer believes in Scientology, then what’s stopping him from simply inventing new OT levels?

This week’s Critical Q&A was done live, with me reading the questions out as I answered them from live comments/questions. We covered a lot of territory, including Scientology upper levels and their tax exemption, street epistemology, atheism and a whole lot more. Enjoy!

This week, it’s answers about whether Tom Cruise is quitting Scientology, what kinds of things have never been released from within Scientology, the Sea Org mindset and a lot more. Enjoy!

(1) I saw a headline, “Tom Quits Scientology.” I wondered if you have any insight into this. There doesn’t seem to be a lot out there on the internet. Also, considering what you said in the recent Mormon Stories podcast, I wondered how bad of a loss that would be to the church, and what they might do. Do you think they would declare him?

(2) Is there any information in the Scientology library of writings, lectures, etc. that has not been leaked by ex-members yet? What type of information might be contained in such unleaked information?

(3) After listening to many of your videos and those of other ex-Scientologists as well as reading a stack of articles on the subject, I’ve come up with a definition of Scientology which I’d like your thoughts about:

Scientology is a belief system based on the assumption that Science had reached a certain level of development in the 1960s which made it possible to develop not just a physical technology but also a kind of mental technology through which one could affect the mind and personality of a person by ridding him of his subconscious self, the so-called Reactive Mind. The basis of this road to personal transformation is called auditing and consists of multiple questions techniques, monitored by an auditor through the medium of an electric resistor called an E-Metre (Scientology’s equivalent of Mormon Underwear). When, after some years of putting these methods into practise, they were seen not to have any lasting effect on the clients, rather than revise the system, Hubbard began to look for supernatural reasons for the failure, lighting upon the idea of Body Thetans who are corrupting the human psyche and which, through further auditing, might be eliminated, leading to the desired super-human powers of the mind. In order to provide some sort of cosmology for how these body thetans came about, Hubbard came up with a bit of science fiction that, quite likely, he knew himself to be just that, namely the whole Xenu narrative, which really explains nothing nor has anything to do with anything even in Scientology.

We have, thus, a two-tiered system, the first based on an illusory epistemology which failed to produce results, propped up by a further time and money-consuming series of futile activities based on no logical foundation at all, which have the sole purpose of keeping the money coming in.

(4) Your conversation with John Dehlin the other day brought up CST – the Church of Spiritual Technology – which jogged my memory about a silly question I had. Maybe Dylan Gill would know this – but when Miscavige declared the Golden Age of Tech and vanquished all of those misplaced, suppressive semi-colons, did the poor folks at CST have to scrap all of those stainless steel plates they’d engraved with LRH’s complete works and start over?

(5) I understand that Sea Org members are clearing the planet by helping with auditing etc but I don’t understand why Sea Org members never wonder who is doing the other work such as making less crime in countries or helping underprivileged children to read or all the work Miscavige claims Scientology is achieving each year? Didn’t you ever wonder why you never met anyone in the Sea Org that said, “Yeh I just got back from somewhere where I taught all the kids to read and the literacy rate is now 89 PERCENT”. Also, the Sea Org members that are sent to disaster zones to have a few pics taken and then leave or more baffling is the person who arranges the trip and takes the phony pics not to see that something is wrong.

(6) It seems like many of the former Sea Org guests you’ve had on the show have spent time on the RPF. Is it ‘normal’ for Sea Org members to have been on the RPF? Did you know many members that hadn’t spent time there?

(7) Have any Scientologists, while imagining their past lives during auditing, ever claimed that they knew or met L. Ron Hubbard or David Miscavige? What would be the auditor’s reaction? Would they be believed? Would they get in trouble?

(8) So Chris, you and Melissa are about to sit down and enjoy a movie; what are your favorite go to snacks?