What can possibly make sense of a billion-year contract or a billion-page menu? We're on the case, with a conversation that ranges from Scientology’s Sea Org to The Cheesecake Factory’s dizzying array of food options. This week, we’re talking about Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief. Cameos include (but are not limited to): Rock Hudson, Majorie Cameron, John Travolta, Aleister Crowley, and (most importantly, as far as Merinda’s concerned) Kate Bornstein. When does the relationship between religion and money seem fine v. not-fine and why? What makes makeshift military pastiche different from time-honored religious rituals/garb? What makes a group appeal to people, and when do we feel compelled (or not) to explain that appeal in the first place? And does our podcast deserve a playlist?

Links:

A Queer and Pleasant Danger: The true story of a nice Jewish boy who joins the Church of Scientology and leaves twelve years later to become the lovely lady she is today

(Kate Bornstein’s memoir, 2021):

https://www.beacon.org/A-Queer-and-Pleasant-Danger-P1760.aspx

My (New) Gender Workbook (2013):

https://transreads.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/2019-03-16_5c8d897ecfb93_kate-bornstein-my-new-gender-workbook-a-stepbystep-guide-to-achieving-world-peace-through-gender-anarchy-and-sex-positivity.pdf

Cat Power Sings Dylan: The 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert

https://open.spotify.com/album/4OnjUMJXgFC6lG8JHOrwuu

Queen of the Villains trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL86963D0MQ

Follow us on all of the socials at @cultfavoritepod.

Production assistance from the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Alabama.

Theme music produced with Udio.