The weekly show where I answer viewer questions left for me in the comment section of my Critical Q&A videos or sent to me by email at AskChrisShelton@gmail.com. This week, the questions I answer are:
(1) I myself have had a cultic experience and there is a book I read on recovery and it mentions about a thing called “floating” which is where there will be times in which you’re just staring into space, if you will, and you start reminiscing on the good times in the cult, think about missing it and want to go back. My question is have you experienced this and ever thought to go back despite the bad stuff due to missing family and friends etc?
(2) I watched and read a lot of stories from ex-Scientology members. Almost all, to the best of my recollection, escaped Scientology because of mismanagement. In your opinion, if management was not the issue, do you believe Scientology’s member count would be close to, let’s say Jehovah’s Witnesses or Mormon numbers? Or you believe the degree of nonsense would eventually result in members leaving the same way that they are leaving now?
(3) I am curious about karate dojos that turn into destructive cult-like situations. Ever since I first heard you mention this I have been very interested in the how and why. Before your show, I had never even considered the possibility or likelihood that this does or could happen. I also have never been a member of a dojo of any kind so the atmosphere and culture of such is relatively unknown to me (aside from what I have seen in movies, which we all know are sometimes inaccurate depictions, whatever the subject). I have done a little research on it but I would love to hear you discuss this.
(4) I wanted to ask if you hold any respect for any Scientologists’ POV. From what I’ve learned, Scientologists are so indoctrinated in a particular way of thinking that they cannot possibly think for themselves. This especially includes politics and their apparent support of Trump. I have also figured out that certain prominent Scientologists, such as Kirstie Alley, are pro life, based on her Twitter feed. This leads me to believe that she has absolutely no knowledge of the Sea Org pressuring women to have abortions. Is this another example of Scientology manipulating their followers? What do you think?
(5) Hubbard uses the words “his research” and his “study”…but it seems that most of it was just made up research. Did no one question the methodology? Peer review? Consensus? Answering my own question in advance…He is the source and that’s it.
(6) One observation I have from watching your videos and checking out related information is that often people join religious groups due to some very intense experiences, something which changes the way they look at the world and at spirituality. I also understand that (at least some of these experiences) can be created by “normal” methods, i.e. methods that are understood by psychology and there is no need to rely on spirituality to explain them. For example I am thinking about the “high” feeling Scientologists have on the TRs. Another example is what Derren Brown demonstrated in his show “How to convert an atheist”. I think in both cases the receiver is convinced that something supernatural is happening, something that can not be explained by science. As a result, they are receptive to the explanation offered and become a “believer”.
Do you have any advice for where/how to experience such an enlightenment safely?
Personally, I would love to experiencing this myself. I also think this should simply be part of public education. It should be part of the curriculum at schools. Kids should learn algebra, experience what it feels to sprint 100 meters and experience how their own mind works. It should be available in community colleges. Heck, I think it should be part of traveling funfairs!
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