This week, it’s answers about cognitive dissonance in cults, woke vs wokeism, how to audit body thetans and a lot more. Enjoy!

(1) You’ve talked about a number of cults on your channel, but one I have not yet seen you mention is the United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors. It is a small group that moved around the US, and was most recently in Georgia. I became aware of it years ago when one of its members was hired to work in my office. Its leader, Dwight York, was convicted in 2004 of child molestation and other crimes and sentenced to 135 years in prison.

The aspect of the cult that I found incomprehensible was how many times its lore changed. It went through African, Islamic, Egyptian, Native American, Jewish phases before landing on being descendants of aliens from the planet Rizq. York himself changed his name and title, and the name of the group, many times as well.

Some of his followers did leave because of the changes in doctrine.  However, others stuck with him, and are still sticking with him, despite all the evidence that he was making it up as he went along. I can see how people could get drawn into a high control group and gradually buy into stranger and stranger beliefs as they became more and more invested, but when the leader keeps changing the doctrine, how can his followers continue to believe?  I’d be interested in any light you could shine on this.

(2) I was wondering if you had any thoughts on this “war on woke.” The anti-work crowd is starting to get really culty. No one could even define what it means. It’s a thought stopping cliche that’s becoming insidious. The Silicon Valley Bank went under because they “went woke”? What does that even mean? What is a woke bank? I was wondering if you had any insights to this phenomena that you would like to share. 

(3) I am not sure if you have talked about this before, but how the hell do you audit a body thetan? How similar would that be to auditing a different person? From what I remember (and I could be wrong), you hold the cans yourself and read the meter and adjust your auditing accordingly, right? How exactly can you tell if you are auditing yourself or the thetans? When you audit someone else, are you auditing their thetans (perhaps unknowingly if you are not OT), or how exactly does this all “work”?

(4) I was wondering what some of your favorite books are from ex-Scientologists that may not get as much of a look-in these days compared to the more popular ones. I just finished reading Jenna Miscavige’s book but hadn’t heard it mentioned all too much in the last few years. I’d be very interested if there’s a resource or database that compiles all the books written by ex-Scientologists, though I’m not sure such a thing exists. What are some of your favorites?

(5) Words like Clear, reasonable and squirrel have very different and serious meanings for Scientologists. Are there any other words or ideas that also have been redefined in this way?

This week, I go into rules about TV in the Sea Org, go deep into what happened at Abu Graibe and how that relates to cultic behavior, discuss ghosts in Scientology and a lot more. Enjoy!

(1) Are some leisure activities for enjoyment acceptable in Scientology? Are you allowed to watch TV as a Scientologist? If so, what are the “rules?” For example, can you watch a NBA game in the evenings after a day of work? Are you even allowed to have your own TVs or is there a communal TV? 

(2) Do Scientologists tend to report the same kinds of paranormal experiences that people in mainstream culture do?  I’m thinking of things like seeing ghosts, or after-death communications. It seems like those kinds of experiences would be inconsistent with Scientology’s views on life after death.

(3) Chris, have you ever covered or looked into the cult like environment that seemed to lead to the Iraq war torture of prisoners at Abu Graibe? Perhaps it was something covered in your academic work on high control groups? It seems like there was a charismatic leader situation behind how out of control and horrific that whole situation became.

(4) The Insider revealed that after the Chase Wave, certain staff were threatened by the org that they should keep quiet or else they would be turned into law enforcement. This has the effect of increasing the hold of the org over these people. 

This reminds me of the database of abusers kept by the JWs. After an internal (sex) abuse investigation with all the two witness rule conflicts and other bias issues, the case is hidden from the public and law enforcement but stored away in the database.  This type of thing is a way of making super loyal soldiers for the org out of the abusers. 

Alexandra Stein alludes to people in cults being turned into deployable assets in that these people are so loyal to the org that they can be used for tasks strongly against the individual’s own interest. Presumably some of these cases involve blooding with guilt of some form, akin to a new gang member having to commit a crime to get in. 

The question here is whether anybody studies this aspect of coercive control and destructive orgs in general. It seems that looking across all the orgs we know about and studying this as an aspect of control in all its various forms would be interesting. Who might do such a thing? 

This is one area where these orgs do seem to show some legal exposure, and showing that it is pervasive across orgs would help try to deal with them at the societal level.

(5) I have a question regarding the structure of the (RTC) Religious Technology Center.

As far as I understand after reading about RTC on Wikipedia, the board consists of the Chairman of the board, David Miscavage.(DM) and other members, although I can’t find who the other members are. Are there authority laws that the board must follow and accounts that must be reported to the authorities about their annual meetings? Can the members of the board or members of the Church of Scientology legally vote to replace DM as Chairman of the Board? Or is the only option that a larger number of sea org members and board members join together so they outnumber DM’s entourage of bodyguards so they can “help” DM to “voluntarily” be escorted to a car that takes him to Gold Base? Once there he is “escorted” (or carried if necessary) and thrown into a locked windowless room with a desk and a simple bed where a small inscription carved into the wall above the bed is visible that reads:   “SHELLY WAS HERE”  

(6) In the United States military there is a policy where you are allowed to disobey an unlawful order. Does anything exist like this in Scientology? If a superior is violent at you why can’t you defend yourself and retaliate? I know there’s the suppressive person thing but if you knock the guy out even though he’s in command why can’t you call him a suppressive person? The leadership breaks Hubbard’s rules all the time. 

(7) Thanks for all your videos and output on the subject of Scientology and other cults. One thing I am curious about: when a departing sea org member is charged a ‘freeloader debt’ can they not retort by asking for back-paid wages? It seems as though if the church is going to retrospectively treat them as a paying customer, could they in turn treat the church as an employer who has failed to pay them for all their work? 

(8) Have you ever witnessed a low ranking Sea Org member blow up at a high ranking senior? What happened? When you were in charge, did anyone blow up at you? 

This week, I talk honestly about cult apologists and the effect they’re having on the Norwegian fight against cults, give the straight Hubbard data on why they chase down escaped Scientologists, explain more about the path to OT 3 and a lot more. Enjoy!

(1) On this channel, both the host and the viewers wonder what, if anything, can be done about the disconnection policy in Scientology and similar practices in other cultic organizations. To that end, what do you think about the situation with Jehovah’s Witnesses in Norway? 

For the benefit of fellow viewers, the background. A few months ago, the Norwegian government notified the JWs that their policy of “disfellow-shipping” the apostates is in contravention of Norwegian human rights law and Norwegian laws on the rights of children. JWs ignored the warning, so the government, after a waiting period, removed their religious exemption.  One important consequence of that: marriages performed by JWs after they 

lost the exemption would not be legally recognized in Norway.

Any thoughts?

(2) Why is it that Scientology goes to such enormous lengths to reclaim escapees because clearly they are now suppressive persons, so why do they? Does anyone stop to think as to why these people are trying to escape in the first place ? There is an incredible amount of resources, man-power, and time spent in tracking these people down to make them return, so can you please explain the reasoning behind all of this?

(3) Can you please share your insight on which regions of the United States Scientology has the strongest and weakest presence (i.e. Pacific Northwest, the South, Midwest, East Coast, etc.)? I would love to hear your input on the reasons why Scientology targets certain areas to open new Orgs? Does Scientology try to maintain a presence in regions based upon certain demographic factors such as political affiliation, average income, ethnic diversity, religion, etc.

(4) Something that seems counterproductive to me is to reveal the Xenu stuff as early as OT3 when it may scare members away since it’s such a brutal leap into unadulterated sci-fi.

Wouldn’t OT7 or OT8 people be more able to cope with this newfound weirdness?

Or is it that LRH was indeed such a true believer in his own mythos that he thought every new OT3 member would be automatically on board with galactic overlords and volcanoes and all?

(5) I have a question that I would like to hear your opinion on. I’m an atheist but I respect other people’s choice to believe what they want. But I am often confused by how often one encounters the phenomenon (Please pray for her/him). Most often, it occurs when someone is critically ill and the risk of dying is clearly increased. Then you usually hear or read on Facebook that everyone should pray for the sick person’s recovery. If the sick person survives and recovers, it can be explained by the large amount of prayers to God who healed the person. But if the person dies, it is said that God wanted to bring him home to sit by his side in heaven. Personally, I feel great powerlessness and sadness when a relative or friend is seriously ill, while at the same time I accept that everything that happens can be explained scientifically even if I cannot understand that information at the time. But for believers, they feel that God knows best and that he always makes the right choice. So why ask people to pray to god then if god will make his choice anyway and that choice can never be the wrong decision? Is religion a way for people to protect themselves from what we don’t understand emotionally?

(6) Why are Scientologists sea org members still wearing masks and gloves?

(7) People know about the steel plates hidden in the bunker and that there is a  secret manuscript for Excalibur, however are there any other strange or special Scientology artifacts/relics?

(8) Are there any Hubbard policies for OT’ s, that they do not use their “New Powers” against Scientology in the form of manipulating the E- Meter or the Auditor for example in Security checks? Or asked in another way, do OT’ s belief that they “could” influence Scientology Technology, if necessary?

This week we celebrated our 400th episode of Critical Q&A with a special call-in, extended-length episode. We had a great time answering a ton of questions and offering insights into recovery, emotions, talking to cult members and a lot more. Enjoy!

This week, I go deep into some points on Scientology confessionals, how Scientologists know if someone is a suppressive person, what OT 8s do when they realize it’s all garbage and a lot more. Enjoy!

(1) Could you tell something more about these security checks? Are the questions always and for everyone the same? What questions would come for a returnee? Can I find a list of these questions on the internet?

(2) You have discussed how someone can be declared a suppressive person. Since no Scientologist is to interact with the declared SP, how are Scientologists informed when someone is declared?  Is there an email, news article, etc? If a Scientologist doesn’t know the SP, how can they avoid them?  Is there a master list?

(3) I was wondering what happens to people who spend 100s of thousands of dollars to get to OT8 and then realize that all of the gains/abilities promised to them didn’t happen. Do they blame themselves and think they still need more auditing? Do they just pretend to have the abilities promised? Do they realize it’s all been a scam and then either go psychotic or leave the church? That has to be a terrible blow to realize it’s all been a lie.

(4) Last week you clarified what “rudiments” are in an auditing session, but what is meant by the term “out rudiments” and also, what are “middle” rudiments? Also, Hubbard mentioned a “theta bop” as something an E-meter does. Is that just him being silly or is there such a thing?

(5) I am interested to know if whilst you were in did it ever cross your mind as to why so many people were against Scientology? How did you rectify this within your own mind as to why people thought about Scientology in such a negative way?

Also, did it ever cross your mind as to why people had to “escape”? How did you come to terms with that? After all, nobody had to escape from Christianity, Catholicism, or Judaism, as far as I know.

(6) I was wondering if there was an extinction-level event on Earth, for example a meteor, or a nuclear holocaust etc., what would happen to all the thetans? There would be no bodies to occupy. Also, isn’t there a thing about the soul catchers where we can’t leave our solar system? From my understanding the lore is you have to reach OT 15 to be able to transcend everything so if you only made it to OT 8 would you be out of luck anyway?

(7) When David Miscavige came around during your time in the Sea Org, did he do all the talking, or were those around him briefing him? What was his overall tone when he spoke? Was he dismissive or did he put on a positive motivational valence?

(8) How does dating work in the Church orgs? Any rules for staff and the public? Does the church have to approve the relationship? 

This week I go into some deep “technical” stuff about Scientology beliefs and practices, funny misunderstandings in the real world of cult terms, some discussion of individual vs group identity and a lot more. Enjoy!

(1) In a lecture to auditor trainees in the 1960s in England, Hubbard talked about two things: “out-rudiments” and “instant reads.” Around instant reads (on the e-meter) he also mentioned random, latent and prior reads. O, great brain! What are these types of readings and what are out-rudiments?

(2) In Scientology, the acronym DB stands for “degraded being.” In cop shows on TV, DB usually means “dead body”. In tech, DB is (or perhaps used to be) short for “database”. I wonder if there have been some funny or bizarre misunderstandings based on this acronym or some other one that means one thing in Scientology and something else in the real world.

(3) I’ve often heard you talk about the situation known as “pulling it in” whereby if something bad goes wrong in your life it’s your fault because you’ve done something to make it happen. Prior to being a Scientologist, when those things happened, what was that, then? Just dumb luck or misfortune? What makes it your fault when you’ve paid money to be a Scientologist? Seems to me it’s just the same thing as what happened prior to being a Scientologist but if not, please explain. 

(4) If you watch videos produced by the CoS, you can plainly see people being audited in a communal room that appears to be filled with desks right next to each other.  Given the fact that auditing requires answering very personal questions, where is the privacy and confidentiality?

(5) Can you please give me your opinion about the Episcopal Church. I went on Sundays as a kid and it was great. It was obvious our pastor was kind of gay. He had a nice family and we all loved them. Then a lady with her significant other at another church in California stirred things up, demanding to be recognized as being gay. The way I remember it, this split the church in two. Can you comment on this?

(6) In watching the event where David Miscavige announced the death of L. Ron Hubbard, Miscavige said that Hubbard had departed or abandoned his body “at 2000 hours Friday the 24th January AD 36.” What the heck was he talking about?  In AD 36, most of the known world was ruled by the Roman Emperor Tiberius.  Am I missing something here? 

(7) I consumed LSD one time. It had no effect on me.  Possibly it was really old acid. Possibly it was just a dirty piece of paper that someone sketchy gave me. Regardless, does that make me ineligible for the Sea Org?

(8) If the Sea Org does not legally exist, how can Sea Org members be considered the “clergy” of Scientology by a court of law? If the Sea Org does not legally exist, how can the court honor “priest/penitent” privilege? I heard that the “penitent” party can waive their right to “priest/penitent” privilege so a “priest’s” testimony can be allowed in a court of law. Is this true? Can the “priest” still refuse to testify if the “penitent” waives their right?

I was able to go live with you all to answer a host of questions and also give a first-class demonstration of what Scientology group processing looks and feels like first-hand. It is crazier than it sounds. Enjoy!

We had a lively comments section this episode while I answered a ton of questions related to psychology, cults and Scientology. Enjoy!

This week, it’s answers about testing in Scientology, how I think Hubbard’s death had to be explained and a lot more. Enjoy!

(1) Recently I went into a Church of Scientology and did some of the tests they offer as a free service. I did the OCA or personality test as well as their 30-minute IQ test. I have a few questions for you about them:

a. Was the IQ test designed to be hard to complete in 30 minutes?

b. With the OCA, I did not say I was very depressed, or aggressive or critical of others, nor did I say I had the feeling my life was without a point. The person administering my test came back after I completed it, and said I was very depressed, quick to anger, and someone who looks down on others, and then said I was someone who did not see the point of living. Was this a one-off, or does this happen to everyone who takes the OCA?

c. After completing these tests, my IQ was listed as being in the high 120’s, which they said was significantly higher than most people. Is that normal?

(2) How do you think the leaders of Scientology would’ve explained Hubbard‘s death if he had died in some other fashion, such as falling off a cliff, a car crash, cancer or whatever? How would they have framed that, since I think if he just died suddenly they’d have a hard time repeating the whole “went off to do OT research” story. What are your thoughts?

(3) I once knew a bully from my school days who one day messed up with the wrong guy.  After that he was like a different person. Do you think something like that could happen with David Miscavige if someone fought back?

(4) I was thinking about the fact that when someone attests to the state of Clear in Scientology, they get a Clear Number which tells them where they are in the grand queue of Clears. When they take that status away and then you re-attain it, do they re-number you or do they artificially inflate the numbers by counting these twice?

(5) I was wondering what would happen legally and within the institution of Scientology if a child/minor of Scientology parents was declared an SP? Would they just throw them out on the street? Let’s say they had no other family to go to. How would that scenario play out? 

(6) I’ve been listening to LRH lectures from the Clearing Congress (1958). At one point he talks about working on a mother’s valence to get rid of her son’s valence (lack of personal creativeness). What is the Scientology theory behind this? I know it doesn’t make sense, but clearly for LRH it did. You can’t cure someone of the flu to get rid of someone else’s flu.

This week, it’s answers about why Hubbard/Miscavige mistreat their staff, an honest assessment of why Scientology doesn’t get a deep look on the internet, what Scientologists mean by “the able” and a lot more. Enjoy!

(1) What impact would it have had if the Sea Org prioritized morale with more days off, more parties and better food? Did squeezing the staff actually make more production or did it just lead to massive turnover?

(2) In different lectures LRH talked about two things that I haven’t heard before. What does “being located” and “boil off” mean in Scientologese? 

(3) In the recent podcast you did with an ex-Scientologist from London, he said he was attracted to it by the line “It will make the able more able.” Have you ever seen somebody join Scientology in a wheelchair or otherwise disabled? Does that make him unappealing since they will never be more able, physically at least?

(4) I have never heard ex-Scientologists talk about exactly what occurs in an auditing session or security check. I’m curious if auditing sessions or security checks are considered privileged by the law. Is that why there’s not a lot of info on it in podcasts or YouTube live chats?

(5) I’m interested in your thoughts regarding Scientology – and by extension other thought control subjects – what the implications of Quantum Mechanics might be, particularly the effects of observation on a system?

(6) Sonic the Hedgehog or Mario?

(7) I was wondering what David Miscavige eats. Does he eat with the people, does he have a personal chef? Can he only eat what everyone else eats or does he have a special diet? Does he travel alone, with an entourage? Do the people closest to him know his cons?

(8) How does Miscavige get away with not having done the whole bridge and becoming OT8? I have read and heard from many podcasts and YouTubers that he is nowhere near OT8, am I mistaken?