The weekly show where I answer viewer questions left in the comment section of my Q&A videos or sent to me by email at AskChrisShelton@gmail.com. This week, the questions I answer are:
(1) Are you familiar with the connection between L. Ron Hubbard and Aleistar Crowley? To what degree did they know each other, communicate and possibly influence one another? My first anti-Scientology book was called Hubbard: Madman or Messiah? by Bent Corydon. I no longer have the book but I recall that Hubbard wanted to emulate Crowley, right down to iconic photograph portrait poses. Hubbard has called Crowley “my good friend.” Was he just making that up or was he being truthful or figurative? Do you consider Hubbard a black magician in any sense of the phrase? Also, is the story true that Hubbard was working for an intelligence agency to infiltrate Crowley’s operation?
(2) When did you learn that Charlie Manson was a big believer in Scientology? I doubt that the Church trumpets this connection. Chick Corea might be terminally unhip, but at least he doesn’t have any facial tattoos. It looks like Charlie took the pieces he liked, added some Dale Carnegie and went out to build a cult. His biggest takeaway from Scientology: find people who are damaged, not broken. Do you think that, in the wrong hands, Dianetics and Scientology can be used as manuals for building a personalized destructive cult?
(3) Who is this Don Purcell guy? What was the source of his wealth? Why did Hubbard know him and why was this guy willing to bail him out?
(4) Hey Chris! This may be a relatively simple question, but I was wondering if you had many experiences when you were in Scientology witnessing other Scientologists crying. Was it considered expressing weakness to cry? Worse for men than for women? What were the reasons for their sadness, and what were you supposed to do as a Scientologist? An assist? Recommend they do more auditing? Write a knowledge report? Thanks for any light you can shed on this. You are one of my favorite light-shedders.
(5) Regarding the topic of whether Scientologists expect LRH to return…if they’re not expecting him, why are there homes for him and offices for him all over the world?
AND
If Hubbard didn’t think he was going to reappear as a leader of religion anymore; why oh why do the Scions spend soooo many dollars on the construction and upkeep of his offices, waiting there for him in pristine condition when he is ready to make his grand return? WTF?
(6) Chris, love the show. You mentioned in this video that you went back to LA recently and happened to be right outside “Big Blue.” Is it tough to see such vivid reminders of your life in Scientology?
(7) I looked at the most recent posts on Marty Rathbun’s blog, and it looks like the OSA took it over. This looks very sad. Why is his blog now putting up posts that attack opponents of Scientology? Did the terms of ending his lawsuit mean he had to turn his internet properties over to CoS? Do you have any idea what caused this to happen?
(8) Not sure if this is a question or just a comment, but the thing that strikes me when listening to you speak about Scientology is just how boring and tedious it all sounds. Besides the absurdity of it all and the obvious money-grubbing, it’s hard for me to believe people can tolerate being asked over and over about minute details during auditing and having to read/listen to boring texts and speeches. Years ago, I purchased a copy of Dianetics at a used book store just to see what it was all about, and I wasn’t able to get past the boring, repetitive BS on the first few pages. Do many people leave after a few sessions simply out of boredom?
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Finally got how much LRH wanted admiration. He seemed to dramatize his axioms the most desired particle! Game on! Always interesting shows on ur part! Rw
Aleister Crowley did come to the U.S., and wrote about it. Mexico in 1900, where he was given the 33rd degree in Masonry, and the U.S. from 1914 to 1919. Since he died in 1947, unlikely he ever actually met LRH.
LRH probably was initiated into OTO by Parsons.
For OTO 6th (iirc) degree initiation, one allowable task is “start your own religion”. On this note, I’ll also point out that the founder of modern Wicca, Gerald Gardner, was initiated into the OTO in 1946 by Crowley.
On the pod you’ve talked about twins in the rpf. How many twins did you have during your time there? Do twins develop friendships there/do you still want to see each other post-rpf? Were you ever punished for their actions after they left the rpf? Do you know if they were punished for you leaving Scientology? Do you know if any of them they ever escaped?