Chris Shelton is a former Scientologist and Sea Org member and is now a writer, consultant, podcaster, YouTuber and advocate for critical thinking.
Born and raised in California, Chris grew up in and became an active part of the Church of Scientology at a young age. He started working for the group at 17 years old and continued for 25 years, experiencing a great deal of physical and psychological abuse in the process. Chris left the Sea Org in late 2012 and escaped the Scientology mindset within a year after his escape. He has been working on educating the public about the dangers of destructive cults ever since while he has been recovering from his own experiences and transitioning back into a normal life.
As a cult expert, he has personally helped hundreds of people either recover from destructive cult influence or assist their family and friends in how to best communicate and work with cult members to help get them out from under undue influence.
Chris started a YouTube channel which has over 45,000 subscribers, produces the Speaking of Cults podcast each week as well as this blog and has produced hundreds of videos laying out the scam of Scientology, educating on critical thinking and interviewing former members of Scientology and other destructive cults, as well as a range of therapists, cult exit counselors, educators and media personalities. Chris has also given talks and presentations around the United States about his experiences and has been featured on numerous podcasts and television shows. He was featured on Leah Remini’s Scientology and the Aftermath on A&E and served as a consultant to the show for its first two seasons. He has also written a critical analysis of Scientology and L. Ron Hubbard called Scientology: A to Xenu – An Insider’s Guide to What Scientology is Really All About, available on Amazon in printed form, e-book format and as an audio book.
“Logic and critical thinking skills are vital to successful and sensible living, but are lacking in modern education. If we can provide someone with the ability to think better, we then give that person the ability to successfully and constructively influence the world around them. Being able to reason gives anyone the ability to sift through the lies and misconceptions that make up so much of our lives.”
Chris Shelton