This week, it’s answers about Scientology’s infamous Duke of Chugg, an honest discussion of how people slide back into their old cults, the inventor of the E-Meter and a lot more. Enjoy!
(1) Hi Chris, I was looking at an old INCOMM newsletter from 1985 and noticed that their computers back then had a strange keyboard. Where a normal keyboard would have its nav cluster and arrow keys, these had a raised area with an array of tiny, almost pin-like keys. It turns out that this keyboard was actually designed and patented by the Church of Scientology. Did you ever use one of these and, if so, could you explain how it worked? Do you have any idea why the Church would spend resources on such an odd project as creating its own keyboard?
(2) How often did you wear your Class A Sea Organization uniform, which if I recall is the dress whites? Did you ever get strange reactions wearing it in public? Was it considered cool internally or more of an eye roller.
(3) I watched your interview with Jessica Schab with particular interest because her story seemed so unique; a New Age guru who had seen the light of reason and saw through her previous fascination with dodgy beliefs. I wanted to see where she is now, only to discover that she has reverted to her former indoctrination, even stating on her Youtube page that her encounter with critical thinking was “brainwashing.” She is now back in touch with her spirit guides and her followers and she seems to have doubled down on her alt.beliefs which now appear to include COVID denial. I am sure there is a lot going on there in her head to cause such a dramatic reversal, but I wondered if you’d ever seen this before: people going back to former indoctrinated beliefs but doubling down to perhaps counter their previous apostasy.
(4) What ever happened to Volney Mathison?
(5) It has been well documented that LRH spent hours, days and weeks sequestered away researching the creation of Dianetics and then ultimately Scientology. And as you know we have heard much about his exhaustive research, but we’ve never heard anything about how he conducted that research and it seems to me that the technique is not dissimilar from writing a novel which is what he did with some extraordinary success prior to inventing Scientology. Please correct me if I’m wrong, but what I have read is that he would retire to his quarters and write the story of Scientology which we are told is the science of the mind but what we are not told is how he came by those results and what proof was used to explain his findings except that this is what he discovered end of explanation. After all as we all know science is always scientifically proven although in this case nothing can be proved. I can only speak for myself in this matter but for me that is hardly enough proof to dedicate my life to one man’s explanation….albeit, and extremely detailed and all encompassing story. So why are these questions not asked from within Scientology how come it’s just acceptable on face value? Some of these beliefs are outlandish and beyond comprehension. Please explain why this is acceptable and fully understood by those in Scientology and not questioned.
(6) Has a never-in listener listened too much to your podcast if they understood your David Miscavage flipping burgers joke?
(7) Are you cool with a carpeted bathroom?
(8) Scientology has been approved to renovate a building in downtown Detroit recently, capitalizing on the rebuilding going on of course. What can I do to warn my community of this evil and possibly stop the growth of this org?