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Critical Q&A #305

This week, it’s answers about an LRH party game; confidential, shadowy Scientology organizations, some straight talk on belief and the appeal of Scientology and a lot more. Enjoy!

(1) Some time ago, you had Ross and Carrie on your show. I just heard Carrie on Serious Inquiries Only. In the course of a conversation with the host, she proposed a party game: one by one, players would be given quotes, which they would need to attribute to either Sigmund Freud or L. Ron Hubbard. Do you think it would be a difficult game to play? Perhaps more importantly, would it be a fun game to play?

(2) I have recently found out about the Writers of the Future, a contest for science fiction and fantasy writers. There is no entry fee and writers get to keep the rights to their work. I thought this was too good to be true so I poked around and realised winning works are published through Galaxy Press and to contact them you email them at Author Services which is a part of the Church of Spiritual Technology, right?. Is this just a shell competition with the aim of getting details of people in order to harass them into doing courses in the usual Scientology way?

(3) Due to current COVID restrictions here in Ireland, I’m left wandering around outside the maternity hospital while my wife is inside getting her scans. While walking around, I see a building known as the “Scientology National Affairs Office”. It’s on Merrion Square. I’ve never heard of this before. Is it the same as the Office of Special Affairs or something different? Only a few years ago, Scientology moved to an Ideal Org outside of the city in a huge (always empty) site. Surely this small office could be housed there too?

(4) I’ve seen Scientology documentaries in the UK that point to individuals suffering from complete financial neglect to maintain courses in an attempt to reach Clear. One man, an astrophysicist, gave his car and flat to the organization because he couldn’t afford either. He then had to contend with Org members living in his house and driving his car. How is this possible? How do potential millionaires give millions to attain Clear when that money could have set them up for life as potential Forbes 100 contestants? What is in this set of programs that creates such irresponsibility?

(5) I have a moral/ethical dilemma. I hope you can help me think it through. As a long time Scientology watcher and critic, I feel it’s my duty to speak out against the church and draw attention to its misdeeds. But I’m wavering in the extent to which I abstain from supporting public Scientologists’ work. It’s easy to boycott the megastar who’s personally profited from Sea Org slave labor, or the hasbeen sitcom actress who shrilly accuses critics of raping babies. But I find myself making excuses for the second generation musician who keeps his membership fairly quiet, the character actor in the fun Marvel film, or the older star from a 70s sitcom and cult classic films. Am I complicit in making Scientology “look good” by buying an album or watching a movie with a famous Scientologist in it? Is it enough to make up for that consumption by supporting ex-Scientologists and sharing what I know with others? Am I overthinking this?

(6) Is there a reason that an “intensive” is 12-1/2 hours? Why not 10 or 20 hours? Why the 1/2 hour and not a round number?

(7) Are there any Scientologists in the US armed forces and if not why ? I am very much looking forward to your answer on this question.

(8) What type of clothing does Xenu wear according to Scientologists?

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