This week, it’s answers about how Scientology “handles” people who are LGBT, moral injury, how disconnection is a strategic decision and more. Enjoy!

(1) If I understand correctly, Scientology does a bit of bait and switch in its treatment of gay people. When a gay person first walks in the door and starts doing introductory services, they are assured that it’s okay to be gay in Scientology. As they progress, however, they are told that their “condition” must be “handled”. But what kind of handling is implied here? Does Scientology have a gay conversion program in place? Or is the gay person simply expected to go back into the closet? Or become sexually inactive? Or something else altogether?

(2) I’m somewhat fascinated with the concept of moral injury lately. I think it’s very germane to current and former cult members. I think if someone leaving a cult doesn’t address their own moral injury, they can’t really heal. What I mean by it is that for the vast majority of people, doing something they know is wrong (even when they persuade themselves it’s ok), is traumatic. Like PTSD, it was first discussed regarding soldiers, but research is swiftly expanding to other groups. If someone commits an act they know is morally wrong and it doesn’t cause trauma, that’s most likely because they are a narcissist, sociopath, psychopath or otherwise have damaged empathy. So many people in cults have done things they knew were wrong at the time, but because of the cult, they rationalized it away. The Sea Org is entirely this, I think. And also, though I’m not a psychologist, I think it’s very possible that one reason Marty Rathbun turned out the way he has is because he didn’t thoroughly address his own moral injury. How could he have time, with what Scientology was doing to him? I think dealing with moral injury is central to dealing with cult trauma and often with abuse trauma generally. What do you think?

(3) Tommy Davis was secretly recorded saying to another Scientologist, who he was pressuring to disconnect from somebody, that “there’s a reason groups do this, it’s integral to their survival. Groups who don’t do it get destroyed. And it’s just been proven over and over and over again in Scientology’s 58-year history to whatever degree SPs scream about how horrible it is, bottom line, it is what works, it is what safeguards the Church”. This statement actually surprised me because it reveals that disconnection is understood within the Church of Scientology as a strategic policy to protect the organisation, rather than a purportedly ‘ethical’ practice to separate its members from harmful elements i.e. those defined as suppressive persons. What are your thoughts about this? Do most Scientologists view disconnection in this way, or is this notion of disconnection as strategy limited to the upper echelons of the Church of Scientology? And what other groups that practice disconnection might have Tommy Davis been referring to – religious groups? He can’t possibly have been knowingly drawing parallels between Scientology and other destructive cults, can he?

(4) Did Hubbard say that Xenu was a psychiatrist? Did his utter condemnation of psychiatrists and psychologists (and essentially anyone else who claimed to have something of value to say about the mind) 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, and even after all the research done on the man behind the mystery research experts and ex-members whose experience is a form of expertise continue to come to varied conclusions as to why Ron did what he did. If you have any hypothesis or insight into this I’d love to hear it.

(5) Can you tell us why celebrities don’t show up on the list of high donors or get awards from the IAS? I would think that at least some of the celebs donate at the same levels as the other public donors and I would think that David Miscavige would want to show off their donations to the other members of the IAS. Is this a deliberate choice on the part of Scientology to keep their donations secret, or is this a choice on the part of the celebrity to opt out of receiving an award for their donation?

This week, it’s more answers about Sea Org uniforms, my stance on gun control, my final statement on whether Scientology is a good system or not, and a whole lot more. Enjoy!

(1) I have noticed some pictures of the Sea Org where they are wearing blues, sometimes wearing whites. My father was in the Naval Reserve. He had winter “Blues” and summer “Whites” for his dress uniforms. As you were traveling to cool and warmer assignments, did you have both?

(2) Let me start by once again by stating how impressed I am with both the quality and volume of your work, it is truly an inspiration. Now onto my question. In my adulthood I’ve tempered the ideological zeal that defined my teen and 20s years and become what I believe to be a run-of-the-mill moderate. My thoughts on contentious issues tend to fall evenly on both sides of the tribal divide, erring on the side of individual liberty over collective safety (I believe the expression is I want Log Cabin homosexual couples to be able to protect their cannabis plants with registered firearms). As an American with 2020 approaching, I consider our nation’s political trajectory. I do not like the Orange Man, but I do not hate him either. I look to the viable alternative options, as a person supportive of individual liberty, with great disappointment. Save for candidates the American left would seemingly never rally behind in spite of being completely congruent with their ideology (Gabbard, Yang) I have heard each of these people, some of whom sadly enough were once members of our justice system, talk exuberantly about violating the Constitutional right to own firearms. I’ll disclose some personal details, in hopes of revealing my bias without being boring. I grew up with a father who taught me and my sister to shoot. I learned invaluable lessons about the cycle of nature, and that being charitable didn’t just feel good but that it did good as well. Those lessons still inform my decisions today as a man who believes we humans are custodians of this Earth, and seeing as it has been so good to us we have a duty to be good to it. As an adult I’ve lived in Oakland, Los Angeles and San Diego and seen firsthand the derth of crime that occurs and how desperately needed self-defense is. My sister may be nearly 6 feet tall and capable of handling herself however I can be intellectually honest in saying that against a man of comparable or greater size she would have a real issue in defending herself. How can I in good conscience vote for a person who would actively work toward making self defense for such a person more difficult? Moreover the logic behind further gun ownership regulation just isn’t there. If guns were the X factor in violent crime then the country with the most guns would have the greatest violent crime rate. If guns were the X factor in suicides then the country with the greatest gun ownership would also have the greatest suicide rate. Neither of the former is true. And the legislation that’s being proposed seems to be aimed at a type of firearm used in a statistically minute amount of the crime they aim to prevent. All-in-all, this doesn’t look like the State providing for the general welfare, it looks like a power grab under the guise of compassion. Thoughts?

(3) If I understand correctly, the vast majority of Sea Org members live “on base” (Clearwater, Los Angeles, Hemet, etc). Relatively few are posted at various orgs in places other than Clearwater and Los Angeles (mostly Class V orgs, right?). I am curious what life is like for people in the latter category compared to those who live “on base”. Do people stay in the same posts for a long time or are they periodically rotated back to base? Do people like those posts (it has to feel like a welcome change after living “on base”, at least to some people)? Does the Sea Org use any particularly stringent criteria in deciding who gets to go off base for an extended period of time? What are some of the tools the Sea Org uses to keep the off-base brains well-washed and unclogged by living in the “wog world”?

(4) When is “sec checking” done? I know it’s an integral part of the RPF, but do all Scientologists potentially get a taste of it if they screw something up? Is it integrated into the “Bridge” at any point, like; “to proceed to OT[n], you need [x] hours of Sec Checks”? Is it just for Sea Org members, or can staff get it? I assume the public are NOT subject to it.

(5) Is it possible that if all of its followers just practiced the major points of the religion, Scientology wouldn’t be so bad? Not that I agree with it, I’m just wondering if it’s possible that Scientology by itself doesn’t indicate that the people involved have to be basically enslaved, abused, inprisoned or kidnapped. Is it possible that the people in charge have created this craziness on their own and added it to the practice? Don’t misunderstand my statement because I think this religion is bonkers. The human element is terribly abusive and should be punished for their actions. Just a curious observation.

This week it’s answers about intolerance, Suppressive People, Scientology popping up in The Kominsky Method and a lot more. Enjoy!

(1) I have noticed that most of the religious people I have met are fairly tolerant but I don’t judge a belief or ideology by the people who practice it. If someone says they are “tolerant” yet believe in eternal torment in Hell fire or eternal destruction, that person is not tolerant despite their friendly demeanor. If a person believes in Hell, they are automatically intolerant and support torturing people who don’t agree with their agenda even though they themselves would never torture someone else. Also there is this idea of thought crimes. When I was a Christian, I felt this intense pressure to obsessively police my thoughts for sin. It was miserable because I felt no matter how hard I tried to meet those standards, I could never reach them. This caused me so much anxiety because I felt I was always doing it wrong. It was through all this I concluded that to believe in Hell makes a person intolerant. Am I justified in thinking that because I have experienced this exact thing?

(2) When you left the Sea Org, how did you feel about not having to wear a uniform? About having to decide for yourself what you wanted to wear? About clothing in general?

(3) In your last Q&A show, you said “never-ins”/non-Scientologists aren’t officially labelled SPs (Suppressive Persons). Yet I would think people like Lawrence Wright, Steven Hassan, Paulette Cooper, maybe even “The Angry Pope” would be on some kind of list of people that active Scientologists should not talk to. Is there a word/label that Scientology uses for people saying things that might cause members to re-think “the tech” besides calling them “wogs”?

(4) Hi Chris! I was watching a video collaboration you recently did and you were explaining the story about what happened to Xenu after he had been captured. My question is why didn’t the “good guys” who captured him release or try and save all us poor souls stuck on a “prison planet”? I mean…that’s just rude. Was that ever explained? I’m so curious! I love your channel and recently became a patreon!

(5) Hi Chris…love your show. Have you watched The Kominsky Method, specifically season 2, episode 8 “A Thetan Arrives”? I thought it was hilarious and was wondering what your thoughts were?

(6) Hi Chris. I’ve been watching your videos for the past several weeks now and have really been enjoying your content. That being said, a few weeks ago I found a Scientology program on TV called Origins of Thought (or something like that) and was curious to see if I would be able to recognize any of the terms/lingo I had learned from your videos. It was an episode about how there isn’t really destruction and how everything is an endless cycle of creation. About 10 minutes in I had to stop watching because I felt like I was about to lose my mind. I was wondering if this experience is common among outsiders when exposed to this type of programming.

This week, it’s answers about victims vs perpetrators, how Miscavige keeps people around despite his abuses, sexuality in Scientology and a lot more. Enjoy!

This week, the questions answered are:

(1) Are people who get involved in MLMs and then recruit others into their downline, victims or perpetrators?

(2) My son and his girlfriend got into Dianetics and other stuff in Scientology a while back and she got bad in it and he looked online and got lucky right away with yours’ and others’ videos. Thank you for that by the way. He LOVES her. My question is: will Scientologist keep trying to get you in if you keep hanging out with them? I’m worried he will get sucked back in.

(3) If LRH really did make the OT 9, 10 and 11 and not Miscavige, what would you think of that and would that change your thoughts in anyway, even a little bit? Not a positive way but just a “Wow, he really did it!” kind of way. I know you’d still believe how you do, I’m just interested in what it would say and would it be some amazing thing to the Church.

(4) I know the rank-and-file Sea Org members live a very Spartan existence, and then at the other end you’ve got David Miscavige living like an emperor. Obviously someone like him wouldn’t let anyone else live as well as he does, but do the other top executives get some taste of the high life?

(5) Hi Chris. I love your show, and I think what you and others are doing to expose cults is really important. My question is if you’ve ever heard of sexual abuse or misconduct by LRH himself. Given how much his writings protect sexual abusers, and how much power he had over his followers, it seems like something that might have happened. However, I don’t remember ever hearing reports, even from people who worked with him closely back in the early days. Do you have any thoughts on this?

(6) How does Scientology view sex? My question is if shame is associated with sexual activity in Scientology? How open are Scientologists to sexual exploration and knowledge? From what I’ve pieced together from what you’ve said in the past, Scientology’s view on sexuality seems limiting and rigid (not to mention their view of LGBTQ+).

This week, it’s answers about people who jump from one cult to another, a surprising court case, what Scientology means by “clearing the planet” and a lot more. Enjoy!

This week, the questions answered are:

(1) What are your thoughts on people who leave cults or other high control groups but then get involved in new age stuff or other woo? 

(2) What is a TV show or film that is universally loved but you yourself for some reason do not enjoy? For me it’s Friends, Lost and Breaking Bad. Thank you for all your content you release and all the hard work that you do. 

(3) What do you think of Vokes v. Arthur Murray, Inc (1968) where a dance school cajoled an elderly woman into spending over $31,000 through false praise, awards, and trips to other school locations? Does your time in Scientology offer any additional insight into the dynamics of the situation?

(4) Sometime ago, during your normal opening announcements for one of your videos, you had mentioned something quite awesome. You had mentioned that you had completed a paper that was submitted for review to be published. What’s the status with that? Were you able to get that essay published? If so, in what publication can we read it? Also, have you written anything else that is being considered for the same? Thank you for your time and keep on keeping on with your awesome work.

(5) Curious how does the Church of Scientology logically reason out that the whole planet will be cleared if you have so many SPS? And if they don’t come back to the fold, how do you get everyone?

(6) I see some destructive cult characteristics like an “us vs them” mentality in some entertainment franchises. For example, I am a Super Mario fanboy and someone else who likes Sonic the Hedgehog starts calling me “stupid” or “retarded” for liking Mario and tells me If I don’t like Sonic then I should die. I have seen some toxic fanboys and haters who fit the description of being in a destructive cult such wanting characters and their artists to “die in a fire” or kill themselves or engage in doxxing and cyberbullying. These are just cartoons! Am I right to see this as cult-like behavior?

This week, it’s answers about the role cult followers play, how allergies and asthma specifically are “cured” in Scientology, how Sea Org members get hospital care and a lot more. Enjoy!

To send me questions for the show, email them to me at [email protected]. This week, the questions I answer are:

(1) Years ago, I took martial arts classes at a studio where many of the senior black belts revered the studio director with near-religious awe. He was their master, their guru, their swami. They ascribed all sorts of mystical knowledge and spiritual wisdom to him. The irony was, the director seemed to have no desire for such veneration. He did not appear seek it, nor did he appear to exploit it in any way. Frankly, I even wonder how aware he was that a number of his longtime students viewed him in this manner. The need of mega-maniacal cult leaders to acquire followers seems pretty straightforward. But what about the need of would-be followers to enter into guru-disciple relationships? There do seem to be people in the world who have such a need. What role, if any, do you see that playing in cult formation? 

(2) You’ve mentioned how Scientology claims mental and physical well being through following its programs. With this in mind, could you please explain how allergies are seen within the Church especially within the Sea Org? I know it’s quite banal but are they looked down upon as a failure to ‘will’ themselves better? Conditions within the bases sound very tough and I couldn’t imagine that there would be too much sympathy or choices for staff members with allergies. Just hoping to get a little insight into the day to day running of the church.

(3) I have heard that the level of involvement with Multi-Level Marketing schemes is extremely high within the Mormon faith. I am wondering how prevalent MLM involvement is within Scientology. I do know the majority of those that get involved with MLMs tend to be women. I am also aware of the fact that women in Scientology do not have the same issues as those in the LDS church as far as their levels of allowed participation within the organization. That being the case, I would not be surprised if the level of MLM involvement in Scientology was comparatively low due to the disparity in the amount of free time females have within those groups.

(4) If Sea Org members don’t have health insurance, how do they handle medical bills if they have to go to the doctor or be hospitalized for an extended period of time? Seeing as medical bills can become very large very fast, it would seem to be a major issue to pay off medical bills with no insurance. After being successfully treated for whatever medical issue the person had, would the Sea Org member be sec checked for having withholds that caused thier extended illness? Or what if somehow they had been put under psychiatric observation or suicide watch unbeknownst to Scientology and the Church finds out after the fact? Would the person be declared a suppressive person or thrown into “The Hole”? 

(5) I saw a video of Miscavige on Ted Koppel’s Nightline show in 1992. As a guy who was in, did you watch it? And did you (and everyone else) think at the time that COB “knocked it out of the park” and “defeated” Koppel? The main thing I got out of it (after all of my exposure to Scientology critics) is that his really poor education was on full display. It was a disgrace. Koppel maneuvered him into so many corners and other than changing the subject he never escaped one of them.

(6) Ron Miscavige recently talked about his frustrations with our government. It seems as if not one politician in the US says or does anything. Why is this?  I really don’t think they could get away with litigating the government to death again. We are in different times. Am I wrong to assume this? It boggles the mind that NOTHING is done. Are they simply afraid that it will hurt their career if they take on a church because of religious freedom? What is the reason NOBODY seems to do anything?  This is a BUSINESS!!! How on Earth can they not see this? 

This week, it’s answers about how David Miscavige runs Scientology, how much is Scientology making a week, what do I think about Pascal’s Wager and a lot more. Enjoy!

This week, the questions I answer are:

(1) Since David Miscavige has dismantled Scientology International Management, how does he get Scientology business done? Are there any executives left or does Miscavige simply run everything himself? Since Int Management is largely gone, in general what Scientology executives are there left? And do the executives get any perks or better pay than the staff or Sea Org?

(2) How much does the  Church of Scientology pay its staff versus its income? Are they breaking even? What is the percentage of what the Church makes compared to what they pay out?

(3) What is your opinion of Pascal’s Wager?

(4) Is there a spectrum in Scientology for suppressive persons in terms of how suppressive they are or how high they are in fair game priority? The highest SP being a former OT 8 or Sea Org member with inside information the Church does not want revealed to the lowest SP being some random wog who casually comments on YouTube videos (like me, LOL)?

(5) I have a question about the Church’s stance on abortion. Seeing how the church pushes pregnant Sea Org members to get an abortion, why do they (the Church) not fight any of the anti-abortion laws? Don’t these laws keep Sea Org members from clearing the planet and focusing on their job ? Also, why don’t pro-life Christians ever target Scientology for protest when it comes to abortion?

(6) Does an auditor who brings you to Clear have to be a Clear or higher themselves? I would think so since they witness all the details.

(7) I have a question about the Bridge of Total Freedom. Is it total freedom of “body thetans”? If so, it’s like Ron Hubbard invented a problem and then charged money to solve it. 

(8) Hello Chris, love the channel and your content.  I wanted to know: what happens in Scientology when you die?  Is there such a thing as a “Scientology Funeral”? If so, what does it entail?

The weekly show where I answer viewer questions sent to me by email at [email protected]. This week, the questions I answer are:

(1) An article in Wikipedia states, “OT III also deals with Incident I, set four quadrillion years ago.” Did Hubbard really write or say that such an incident occurred four quadrillion years ago? If so, how does an OT III reconcile that with the fact that the universe (as most students have learned by the time they graduate from high school) is slightly under 14 billion years old? 

(2) I find the hypocrisy of a Scientologist playing the part of a heroine in a series involving an oppressive regime to be blindingly obvious. Can you exain why it is that Elizabeth Moss can’t see the similarities between the antagonists in The Handmaid’s Tale and the very real, very oppressive cult that she is a part of? I assume this has something to do with the indoctrination she went through or is still going through?

AND

I hear a lot of far right Christians whining about socialism and communism and oppose it, but support a theocratic government, and yet claim to be anti-government. How do they get over this cognitive dissonance? It doesn’t make any sense. They seem to hate big government when it suits their agenda, but when it does they suddenly support big government. It really bothers me when the religious right is blatantly hypocritical about their stance on government policy. Despite being a left wing person, there are some stances of the GOP that I agree with such as guns and taxes, but when fundamentalism and homophobia is bundled in with these positions it is not worth voting for these guys. I am not a fan of the Democrats either, but they don’t piss me off as much as the GOP because at least the Democrats are not ram-rodding you with religion like some segments of the GOP do. How can they claim to be for freedom but turn around and be anti-choice and anti-gay marriage? 

(3) After what I saw that Scientology does to critics, I’m scared even to make a comment in your YouTube channel with my full name and that’s why I write to your email address. How is that Scientologists believe that they are working towards “a world without criminality” while they are doing criminal things themselves?

(4) I have often heard that Scientology does not want David Miscavige to testify in a deposition and will typically settle a case before it gets to that point.  What I want to know is why? If Scientology is so adept at stretching the truth and consistently telling lies, why would it make any difference whether or not he is deposed if he is not going to be telling the truth anyway?  Is it simply a fear of him possibly being indicted on perjury charges?

(5) Ascending to power has no policy. Miscavige’s rise is tough to understand other than “JUST DOING IT” because no one knew what to do. Could it be that simple? It seems he just said “I am in charge.”

(6) What percentage of the Sea Org are pre-clear?

(7) I know that some businesses use Hubbard’s WISE system, but do any businesses pay for individual employees to go up the Bridge/audit and/or do Scientology courses?

(8) I grew up in a decently scientific household (dad an engineer, mom a math teacher). Does it bother anyone else that Hubbard and subsequently all Scientologists say “Space and Time” instead of spacetime? The term “the fabric of spacetime” originated 25 years before Einstein was born by William Clifford in the 19th century. So the fact that Scientology’s mantra is “Matter Energy Space and Time” is glaringly unscientific. Does that bother anyone else?

This week, my wife and I did the Critical Q&A live and I read out all the questions that we were being asked as we went. Enjoy!

The weekly show where I answer viewer questions. This week I took a different turn by answering a series from a past live stream which we didn’t have the time to address live. The questions I answer are:

(1) How is being ‘in the hole’ justified in a country like the US who has freedom and free choice, a legal system and so on? To me it’s something like the gulags in North Korea.

(2) What are still-in’s told about Ron and Jenna and all of the Hubbard defendants leaving? Do they even know?

(3) How does your wife deal with yourself as u been in a cult where as she hasnt

(4) Loved your episodes on LRH’s data series. Would love more analysis on CoS from an intelligence/business point of view. Could you do some more on that angle?

(5) how did you and Melissa meet?

(6) I recall you saying the failed Ideal Org project was what helped you wake up. Are the current SO members not aware of how “not thriving” the church is. Wouldn’t this be demoralizing?

(7) Do you think Tommy Davis isn’t talking because he still believes? or do you think they have something on him to compel that silence?

(8) Could you please say YUGE? That’s a word I think we should keep.

(9) If IRS revokes tax exemption status on Scientology Church… how damaging will this be for a Church?

(10) Would you consider getting another tattoo?

(11) Have you ever looked into JZ Knight and the Ramtha cult? If so, do they have any association with Scientology?

(12) Will Nora Crest be back for another interview?

(13) Does $cientology live to see the 22nd century?

(14) What makes church church and scientology being a sect? whats the difference?

(15) How lavishly does DM live?

(16) Hey I wanted to know if an ex members contacted you for support? Also would you do a network to help those that have gotten out but need assistance

(17) have u ever read nietzsche?