The weekly show where I answer viewer questions left for me in the comment sections of my Q&A videos or sent to me by email at [email protected]. This week, the questions I answer are:

(1) I saw how much Tom Cruise made each of the last several years and I noticed something: his income, while high, goes up and down. Sometimes he might make $20 million and the next year it might be $15 million. As far as stats go, he is sometimes down stat. While this can be brushed off by Scientology, since he’s a celebrity and the rules don’t apply, if he is a serious Scientologist, how might he explain the fact that he is sometimes down stat? Shouldn’t he be earning more and more money each year, in order to be “ethical?”

(2) You talked about word clearing and people looking up the definition of a word, but as we know not all dictionaries define words the same and, in fact, do this sometimes in an effort to catch copyright infringement. What is the “Scientology” approved dictionary? I also find this interesting because it’s another process that LRH wasn’t forward thinking with. I mean the word cab as defined in 1850 has a totally different definition then 1950. One was a horse drawn carriage the other a yellow car on the streets of NYC.

(3) I don’t want to open a political maelstrom, but I’m just wondering if you have any comments about the tactics, strategies, and circumstances in place (rather than specifics of the ideology) that could be contributing to what I have gotten used to hearing called “the immovable base” of Trump supporters? I watched one of your videos featuring Janja Lalich speaking about her experience in a political cult and it was very insightful. There’s a lot to be explored about the similarities and differences of religious/spiritual ideology and social/political ideology, as they relate to informing the choices of individuals. Particularly in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica news that is all over the place, I think it’s interesting to look at the implications of privacy and financial integrity that are in play. Do you feel that the heat is more on Facebook or Cambridge Analytica, or do you see it as being pretty even?

(4) Why doesn’t David Miscavige figure out a way of writing the new OT levels? It seems like there are some Hubbard worksheets left, so I feel like it wouldn’t be impossible for someone to write them. Perhaps even a group of people could write them. I met a lot of similar ideas when I was deep into “New Age” and I feel like it would be really easy for someone to use a lot of those materials, especially for something like ‘superpowers’ which is defined in New Age as something like your intuition, the law of attraction, and the like.

(5) You need to tell us WHY YOU LOVE DONALD TRUMP or else we will turn against you. What is the point of “critical thinking” if you don’t have views about BIG ISSUES OF THE DAY, or, more likely, are TOO CHICKEN to alienate half of your viewer base? Come on now, you are an obvious FILTHY COMMUNIST anyway, don’t be shy.

(6) The Church of Scientology used to be across the street from my work building before you personally moved it to the new ideal org in Minnesota. We used to do team building scavenger hunts through the downtown area sending people into the old org. Any ideas about what they thought of these games – were they offended, indifferent, or were we new meat for them to make their weekly stats?

(7) Watching TV the other day and a movie “Edge of Tomorrow ” comes on. I see Tom Cruise in it. It is about space things taking over the earth. About 55 minutes in Tom wants to tell his supervisors about something he knows. The person responds “Don’t tell anyone else. At worst you will be sent to the psych ward for a little better brain dissection.” This is mentioned over three times in the movie. I just wonder if Mr Cruise had that put in intentionally.

(8) Your personal interviews about surviving destructive cults, like the Tim DeWall and Kristiana Miner videos, feel like the beginnings of an oral history collection. Were you influenced/inspired by other oral history projects?

The weekly show where I answer viewer questions from the comments sections of my Q&A videos or sent to me by email at [email protected]. This week, the questions I answer are:

(1) Due to the international nature of the Church of Scientology, how does the Church maintain control over the non-American sections? Surely they can maintain less control over these sections? Does this translate into a situation where the authoritarian control and human rights abuses are less severe for those Scientologists who are based outside of the US?

(2) Hearing about the latest Kirstie Alley tweet I thought she was quoted as saying that Scientology saved her life, that she was addicted to drugs. I thought Scientology shunned people who admitted to using drugs. Is this another example of Scientology bending their rules for celebs?

(3) What kind of measures has David Miscavige taken to prevent a coup? I don’t understand why somebody hasn’t moved in and taken him off the COB platform. If he were running any other corporation, he would have been ousted long before now. Especially with the bad press and all of the leaked information. I understand there is no “board” that he is the chairman of so there’s really no vote or any of the normal stop-gap measures to move him along but, there are a lot of people working under him. It seems as though it would be easy to have a mutiny. He’s clearly suppressive, as described by Hubbard. It just seems to me, if I were a Scientologist, I might think about taking over. Even just to try and save the organization from this free fall it’s in now. Thoughts?

(4) What about you as a Scientologist, what did you expect to be the end goal? I get the idea that you want to go Clear and become an OT VIII and break the cycle of forgetting your previous lives and obtain powers to control MEST. But then what? From what I gather, Scientologists believe LRH did not die but assumed a state of being where he could willfully discard his body. Am I correct in assuming that is the end goal of all Scientologists? Does a cleared OT VIII thetan who has discarded its body spend the rest of eternity without a body? Or does a cleared OT VIII thetan look for a new body with the expectation that memories of previous lives and the ability to control MEST are retained?

(5) After all of my free time as an EMT (because I don’t wish harm to others) I have been listening to random stuff on the internet. The congresses that Hubbard has given are of course all over the web, but I find myself falling asleep while listening to him. On the up side, it’s a good 2 hour nap but on the downside, I have yet to find a way to “learn by osmosis.” If I, as a person who is only trying to understand the chaos that is Scientology, can’t stay awake how does anyone else listen to this without ending up looking like a narcoleptic?

(6) Do most Scientologists believe that Hubbard actually voluntarily left his body when he died?

(7) Hey Chris, is it common for Scientologist get married In full Sea Org dress uniform?

(8) Are Tom Cruise and David Miscavige honestly friends or is it a friendship of utility?

This week, I did a live stream Q&A episode. You can see the comments and questions on YouTube.

The weekly show where I answer viewer questions left in the comment sections of my Q&A videos or sent to me by email to [email protected]. This week, the questions I answer are:

(1) Since leaving Scientology I have found it incredibly therapeutic to be out in nature. I often find that just going for a walk in the woods truly allows me to clear my mind and calms me. I always think to myself that it is similar to what I would do if “enturbulated” while in Scientology, i.e. the Locational assist, take a walk, etc. I will often go into the woods and just find a comfortable spot to sit and just experience nature, touching it and listening to the sounds. It is almost meditative.

My question would be as an atheist (or however you prefer to identify) do you feel there is a spiritual aspect to nature? Have you explored or considered exploring this as a method of therapy? I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

(2) My question is about the Clear Cognition. A person is supposed to reach the Clear Cognition on their own, without being told. As far as I can tell, Scientology isn’t too keen on people forming their own ideas or coming to their own conclusions. If the conclusion of “Clear” is that the person realizes they have been mocking up their own reactive mind the whole time, how is one expected to figure this out on their own after maybe YEARS of Dianetic auditing? Is this revolutionary “cognition” spoon-fed somewhere in Hubbub’s writings?

(3) How did Scientology ready for the new millennium; you mentioned that you took on supplies because of the Y2K bug, but was there a sense of a quantum change coming with respect to the world and Scientology? Were you expecting to be bringing civilization to a post-apocalyptic wasteland? Or a surge of enlightenment to sweep the world and for Scientology to take off? I guess, I’m asking if Scientology had a millennial aspect as the date approached? Was there an official policy on Y2K?

(4) What is Scientology’s view on animals? Would it be viewed as weird or aberrated if a Scientologist were an animal rights’ activist? What about a vegan? I noticed that high level Scientologist Elena Cardone (Grant Cardone’s wife) is a vegan or vegetarian. So is Grant’s Scientology office manager. I’m guessing it’s not because they feel a special compassion for animals.

(5) I read a comment that Scientologists sometimes offer free e-meter readings around different mental health facilities. This sounds horrifying and like an outright abuse of people in very difficult situations. Is there any truth to this?

(6) What are your thoughts of Betsy DeVos being head of the Department of Education, even though she has no experience in the field of education and denies a lot of things?

(7) Is Scientology morbid enough to use a memorial service as a fundraiser? I recently saw the invitation to a memorial service at the Seattle Ideal Morgue – the deceased had a “history making impact” on the org and had done “ground breaking research on LRH.” Double plus good! Are they going to pass around the proverbial collection plate after a few Shermanspeak testimonials? Thanks and keep up the good work.

The weekly show where I answer viewer questions left in the comment sections of my Q&A videos or sent to me by email at [email protected]. This week, the questions I answer are:

(1) On a recent video you did with with Jon Atack, he mentioned that Hubbard didn’t actually write most of his books regarding Scientology. I think he said Hubbard only really wrote Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. Can you provide any further elaboration on this? Are Scientologists generally aware of this? Who, besides David Mayo, actually wrote all that gibberish? What about all the policy letters and the other near constant utterances issued before Hubbard’s death?

(2) How does a person overcome the anxiety that comes with not being dogmatic? For instance, given your intimate experiences with the subject of Scientology, you can easily and in good faith respond to the two most common retorts of “that’s not real Scientology” or “it would work this time if we just changed X.” However with other religions, economic systems, ideologies, etc. given their diversity and complexity, it just doesn’t seem feasible to be able to answer those same two questions with a good degree of certainty especially given how broad those subjects are and how big their consequences are if true.

It is definitely true that critical thinking is useful and easy to apply when it comes to small questions but when it comes to these big ones it seems like each person has to choose between action (based on big assumptions and patchy information) or impotence (forever studying).

(3) Since it’s pretty obvious you’re a science fiction fan and you’re a former member of the Sea Org, I would like to know in what way people on staff and in the Sea Org are monitored and restricted when it comes to leisure or cultural activities. By that I mean, were you allowed to read comic books and watch sci-fi movies and series? Was there some sort of blacklist of certain movies, literature, ballets, operas, museums, etc. that were somehow perceived as “perverted” by Scientology and that people in the Sea Org weren’t allowed to watch or take interest in?

(4) I have a theory about how David Miscavige might go about keeping the church going in spite of what appears to be its impending demise that I would like your opinion about. My theory is that David will produce a carefully selected individual (possibly born just after the death of L Ron Hubbard) and claim that this is none other than a new manifestation of Ron himself (his main Thetan perhaps?) returning to bring the church back to its full glory. He could then make the claim that all of the projects such as the ideal org project and the large empty buildings have all been about preparing for his return (a return which he could then claim he knew was coming all along). In doing this, he can then pass the entire mantle of the church (including all of its assets) to this well chosen and well trained individual. What are your thoughts about this theory?

(5) If Scientology doesn’t believe its techniques will work on criminals, what is the point of Criminon? Is it just publicity and money? Seems like a dichotomy.

(6) Hi Chris! Could you share what you know about the policy of Kha Khan as mentioned by Lean Remini in a recent interview with Joe Rogan?

(7) Do you think teenage/mid-twenties Scientologists are more likely to play along by Scientology’s rules or more likely to break them — based on the rebellious nature of being young?

(8) What goes on in the minds of ex-Scientologists that submit themselves to A through E? I think I understand how it’s possible to be trapped in a cult. I also think I have a concept of the decompression process. But I cannot understand why someone would ever RETURN. Are people actually returning, or is this typically just giving in to the harassment, repenting in order to appease the bully and make him stop?

The weekly show where I answer viewer questions left for me in the comments sections of my Q&A videos or sent to me by email to [email protected]. This week, the questions I answer are:

(1) Recently you posted a video about the effect(s) of Anonymous’ 2008 protest of the Church of Scientology. In that video you mentioned that if it weren’t for the work of Anonymous that you would have never been able to make it as far as you have in exposing the ills of Scientology. Would you please explain this a little more in depth please? What would have happened to you had you started speaking out if there had been no Anonymous? What do you think that you would be doing now? Do you think that the Anonymous protests can be seen as the tipping point in Scientology’s death spiral?

(2) You say that Scientologists believe that you control what happens to you, or that you “pulled it in,” but Scientology blames its bad reputation on Big Pharma, evil psychs and SPs. Does David Miscavige pull these groups in because of what HE did in a prior life?

(3) What are the “grease pits” and what is a “Category B EPF Program”?

(4) Scientology is trying to open up a new Narconon centre in Ireland. There has been a lot of Scientology activity in Ireland recently. I heard more about it on the radio today and basically, the whole country is outraged! Would Scientology think they have a chance here? I know for a fact they do not, people of all ages are aware of them, but it sure seems they are pushing to open more buildings in my home country. Do you think I should be concerned? I am definitely not the only one!

(5) One of the big gripes I always had when I was in Scientology was that they could never be in a lower condition towards you no matter how deserving of that lower condition they were. Is there policy on this? What do you think it would look like if the church actually attempted to do the lower conditions towards the public? Do think it could actually garner them some good PR?

(6) Hi Chris! Love your channel. When a person completes OT 8 what do they do next? Wonder “I spent all my money for this?!” Help others reach OT 8?

(7) In The Joe Rogan Experience #908, Leah Remini said she went to the Internet to look for the OT materials before she did OT3 and didn’t know what to make of it. Doesn’t that bar her from doing any OT level afterwards? From what I have seen researching confidential material, especially from outside sources, disqualifies a person from the upper levels. How was she able to continue? Do donations have something to do with it? Also, don’t PC’s sign something saying they’re not allowed to tell others what the OT levels are about or they have to pay certain amount of money for everyone they told? Is this only enforced if they are in the Church or can they be sued if they break that agreement? If this is so, why Remini hasn’t been sued for talking about confidential material (like BT’s)?

(8) What is a Scientologist supposed to do if they hear anything about a higher OT level than the one they are on? Did you hear anything about a higher level when you were in?

The weekly show where I answer questions viewers leave in the comments section of my Q&A videos or send to me by email at [email protected]. This week, the questions I answer are:

(1) In the ethics system described in Scientology with the eight dynamics (self, family, group, mankind, etc) why are the higher dynamics more valued in Scientology and the 1st and 2nd disregarded when all dynamics are important for survival? Hence, the church forces violation of its own ethics system. Is there a name or label for this ethical system and from where did L. Ron steal it?

(2) In your recent podcast with Jon Atack, it really struck me when you mentioned kids being brought up to be obedient vs. “thoughtfully rebellious,” or whatever term it was that you used. I was raised Christian (lots of rules, took 40 years to completely get out), was of course taught to be polite, I think am generally considered to be a nice person…and this is a serious problem. Though most people would probably view me as a strong, independent sort, I’ve come to recognize that — because I’m generally surrounded by kind people — I don’t have much capacity to deal with strong, unwanted pressure. It seems that if someone is willing to go outside the norms of typical polite behavior, they have a degree of control over the more polite people — because we are trained to be pleasers.

I had a brief experience that brought this realization home, and it was such a small, stupid thing (nothing like what you guys dealt with in Scientology): I was at the mall and fell prey to a super-aggressive salesmen at one of the kiosks. I paused politely and reached for a little “free sample” he proffered, he grabbed my arm, pulled me in, and I was trapped there with a hard sell for 15 minutes. He just kept after me with question / benefits / sales / special deals, one after another after another. I was incredibly uncomfortable, but I couldn’t figure out how to extricate myself. I almost bought an expensive “Special deal just for you!” from him just to escape. Fortunately I deflected, resisted, insisted 10+ times that I would check the reviews online *myself*, made my 30th excuse, and finally left.

After the experience, I was so angry — not at him, but at myself: Why did I put up with it when I was so uncomfortable? Why wasn’t I able to be stronger and just leave like I wanted to? I really hope it’s a lesson learned, and that I’ll do better next time I’m facing unusual pressure, whether in a sales situation or otherwise. But I always recall this experience when you talk about people being convinced to join Scientology or give money or etc. If I was so susceptible with this minor thing, how would I do if someone were pressuring me even harder? Probably not very well, I’m thinking.

You’ve mentioned how you would hard-sell people into Scientology, and how the church practices extreme sales techniques both in recruiting and on both its own members — and of course these techniques are used in the wider world, too. Could you sometime explore proactive ways to resist pressure, from your own experience? Do you think it simply comes down to a willingness to be rude? Are there other techniques to learning resistance — perhaps without going so far as to subject oneself to “bull-baiting”?

(3) I was reading the comments on a recent post over on Mike Rinder’s blog, L. Ron Hubbard, Messiah or Hypnotic Operator. There was an interesting discussion about how sympathy and empathy are seen in Scientology and how that differs from the world outside. I’d be interested in your take on that and how it impacts relationships between Scientologists. I believe that people form deep bonds when they are immersed in a dangerous or destructive environment. I’m sure that’s true in Scientology but I wonder if this control and change of the language impacts that.

(4) I have a question about Scientology that came up after your Critical Q&A #145 that I just watched. It was about people and disabilities. I took a bullet thru my knee in Vietnam in ’69 which took out my kneecap and left me somewhat disabled. According to Scientology, did I want this bullet to hit me or pull it in or whatever they call it? I am curious as I have noticed some strange happenings at my local VFW and American Legion with people wanting to talk about PTSD and Narconon. I know it is a Scientology run thing and I want to help protect my fellow brothers. Knowing what they think about my wound would help me to deal with it.

(5) Are all, or most, independent Scientologists are what has been termed ‘Hubbard apologists’?

(6) Hey Chris I’ve been dying to know: why does Scientology write hand written letters by mail rather than type? I could never read the writing and just plain odd. Thanks

(7) You have to comment on the Scientology Super Bowl ad.

(8) Does the church of Scientology keep emergency supplies for staff and sea org members? If there was a natural disaster would there be basic supplies such as food, water and first aid supplies available?

This live stream disappeared from my YouTube channel without any alert to me, so I have re-uploaded it and re-published it. Questions answered in the live stream cover topics such as Scientologist and opportunist Joy Villa, how the OT levels became public knowledge, who Stephen Fischman is and a lot more. Enjoy!

The weekly show where I answer viewer questions left for me in the comments section of my Q&A videos or sent to me by email at [email protected]. This week, the question I answer are:

(1) You mentioned in a recent podcast that you first began to criticise the Church of Scientology online using a pseudonym but that the Church was nonetheless able to deduce your identity. You also said that they were quite sophisticated on the internet in tracking down their critics (or something to that effect). Could you tell us a bit about your personal story here and Scientology’s online capabilities in this regard?

(2) A long-time Scientologist friend of mine and I were walking by this center for blind people and one of them needed help with directions, so I helped them. My Scientologist friend commented that he had no sympathy for “those people.” I can’t remember what explanation he gave, but how would a Scientologist explain disabled people?

(3) The question of the usefulness of Scientology has raised its head periodically. In one of my earlier messages to you, I asked if the workable parts could be sifted out and implemented in a different context, i.e. with a different management or administrative structure. I write this without resurrecting my old message, but your answer went heavily into two areas: 1) the techniques are available elsewhere, or were outright plagiarized to begin with; 2) the evil aspects of the operation of Scientology – mainly Disconnection and Fair Game – disqualify any attempt to salvage or implement any aspect of Scientology technology.

A point I failed to raise or emphasize is that any implementation of methods or technology should, unequivocally be divorced from the abusive ethics and “justice” practices. Secondly, a major value in what Scientology / Hubbard offers is that everything is in one place, sifted down to a set of elements that — if they were to be sought in the diverse locations wherein they unquestionably exist — would be much more difficult to obtain (learn and teach).

Also, much of what Scientology offers “nicely packaged in one place” is not valid, per your investigations; so there would have to be a winnowing process to find an acceptable body of useful techniques, such as the Success Through Communications Course instead of the TR’s 0-9? Maybe a hybrid? Yes, such a reorganization of the technology would entail a lot of work, but there may be sufficient numbers of trained ex-Scientologists willing to tackle such a project. Your (updated) thoughts? or are you sick to death of answering variations of this question?

(4) Is Mormonism a destructive cult? I really enjoy hearing you bring your Scientology expertise to other movements. Keep up the great work

(5) Why do you think that “Excalibur” was never released? It seems like Miscavige is a bit desperate to create new levels, and it would seem like releasing this book would be another way of generating income.

(6) Hi Chris. I’ll bottom line it for you. What do you think should happen to Scientology? Do you think it is capable of the dramatic change necessary to recover any credibility it might have had, or do you think that it is too corrupt to ever be salvaged and should be dismantled?

(7) Couldn’t there be an effort to place ads on Twitter, Facebook and other social media? Ads that very politely acknowledge Scientology with caution? Not hate or slanderous, just mentions of facts. Exact time, place, form and event items, ie. Church tax status, deaths in Narconon etc. It could be funded by an on-line fund-me type campaign. Depending on how smart the keywords and locales are, these simple ads could pop up anywhere, across any interests much like the billboard “Call Me” campaign but only on everyone’s screen or smart-phone.

(8) Does Scientolgoy still give out Clear numbers? Mine was in the 3000’s back in 1972. Curious what the count is now.

The weekly show where I answer viewer questions left in the comments sections of my Critical Q&A videos or sent to me by email to [email protected]. This week, the questions I answer are:

(1) You mentioned in “Bridge to Nowhere” videos that, from talking to other OT 8s, they have confirmed there are no other levels to be offered after OT 8. First, as much as I agree with the fact that they are milking people for more money and fund-raising and saying there aren’t enough staff to deliver any other levels, there has been talk about introducing levels nine and ten for past many years. From working for them before, do you know if in fact these levels especially OT 9 called “Orders of Magnitude” and OT 10 called “Character” are just made up?

(2) Can you answer a question on an upcoming Q and A about the “Why TRs” movie, the one on the Saint Hill Special Briefing Course which Isaac Hayes narrates? I have long believed that movie’s concepts get no discussion. LRH makes the point that the Class 6s need to have in memory, the principles for their future lives on other planets when they find themselves sometime in a future life on a decayed civilization and they have to get Scientology going there on their own.

(3) Hi Chris, it seems that Scientology has more than its share of divorces: being separated by work schedules, one spouse being sent to another location, spouse sent to the RPF, spouses at different levels, a spouse blowing. It seems that the church at times encourages divorce. What is your take? It also seems some marriages survive despite Scientology’s best efforts.

(4) Hi Chris! I have a question for you. In Edinburgh, the Scientology Org is close to a mosque which has the Mosque Kitchen cafe attached which does an awesome curry. This got me thinking – if the Church of Scientology established a Scientology Kitchen, what kind of food would they do? I’d be interested to hear what the Sea Org members eat from day to day and whether it was all the beans and rice that so many ex-Scientologists mention!

(5) I’ve read, that Psychs (psychiatrists and psychologists) are evil beings who have come to Earth from the planet Farsec, and have a few questions in relation to that. I find the claim as improbable and ridiculous as the Xenu myth, and wonder why Scientology critics give it relatively little attention? Are Scientologists high and low aware that Hubbard said this, or is it a secret revealed at some late OT level like the Xenu myth? Is that info “booby trapped” and is it supposed to result in death should it be known prematurely? How would a Scientologist react to non-Scientologists questioning the Psych-Farsec myth? I suppose all the Scientology-produced information, exhibitions, etc. omit all information about the psychs true origins, right? Will a Scientologist sit at a table with a psych? Do Scientologists believe that the psychs are aware they are, in reality, an alien sent here to keep man enslaved?

(6) Hi Chris. When you are in Scientology you amass lots of written material concerning your personal details such as preclear and ethics folders, etc. If you leave Scientology for whatever reason can you demand all personal details concerning you be kept or disposed of as you see fit? Is there any difference between US and UK law?

(7) How many OT 8s are still practicing Scientology?