This week, it’s answers about Scientology’s personality test, tax exemption and what is going on in Clearwater, a takedown of Hubbard’s Revolt in the Stars and a lot more. Enjoy!
(1) One of the tools Scientology uses for attracting new members is the so-called “Oxford Capacity Analysis”. For the benefit of the fellow listeners, the OCA has no relation to either the city or the university; it is a questionnaire devised by Ray Kemp in 1959 and eventually attributed to Hubbard. The test is administered to random passerby, often in public spaces, such as street fairs. The OCA consists of 200 questions; after the respondent answers the questions, test results are printed out in the form of a graph, and the person administering the test “explains” to the respondent what the graph supposedly shows. The OCA is supposedly designed to elicit problem areas in the respondent’s life; in reality, its purpose is to entice the test subject into visiting the local org to find out how Dianetics and Scientology can help them with the problem supposedly identified by testing. (Please correct me if my description is off.)
I have heard that very rarely, the OCA produces results that the person administering the test must interpret as “we can’t help you”. Is this true? If so, what would produce this kind of outcome? Would it be a trouble-free person or an irredeemable basket case? Or is it something else entirely?
(2) With Mark Bunker’s video of Nov 29, 2021 showing him talking turkey about Scientology, things are starting to get real and going on record. What do you think would happen to David Miscavige’s reputation within Scientology if they lost their tax exemption? That brings up many questions but maybe you could paint a picture from everything to how they would spin it to how it would affect Sea Org members, public, staff, OTs, Tom Cruise, etc. Would Tom Cruise come out and speak publicly against this attack on the church or get involved at all? Would Miscavige simply blame it on all the members or would the members start to blame it on him? Would it affect how everyone got paid and the cost of services? I understand that your response would be complete conjecture but I’m still curious about what you think might happen.
(3) In Jon Atack’s book, he describes how extremely rare Class XII auditors were. Assuming this was the case, why and what are the practical differences between class XII and XI auditors?
(4) L Ron Hubbard attempted to make the screenplay “Revolt In the Stars” into a film, which seems to be essentially the Xenu story. Surely if this did end up being turned into a film, then everyone could see it and this part of the so called “secret levels” would simply end up in the hands of everyone. Regardless of the nonsense of getting sick or dying if you are exposed to it and the obvious contradictions making this public, is there not a real chance that this would have lead to even more public ridicule of scientology brought upon by itself, if they released it as a film – as opposed to exposure by others. Also would it not reduce the cash flow if OTIII is basically available to all. Who is going to pay thousands for what would end up being a public DVD?
(5) Recently I see more individual Scientologists communicate publicly on social media about Scientology. For example a Charlie Wakley talking on Youtube about how he uses Scientology in his life and interviewing others. Or “Spread a Smile” videos posted by Scientologists on Facebook and Tick Tock as pointed out by Tony Ortega in his recent article “Blame the media for fake virus news”.
In my perception this didn’t happen so much in the past. I assumed that this would be discouraged by the Scientology organisation. Individual Scientologists “talking Scientology” to the world would mean, that they also get responses and, Xenu forbid, this might lead to an actual conversation and some out of the bubble thinking.
Probably the videos aren’t so obvious Scientology, but Charlie? Isn’t he guilty of some big NO NO’s? Verbal Tech? Talking about his Case out of session! Inciting other to do the same.
Thoughts?
(6) I am interested in understanding what, if any, tax deductions are associated with parishioner course payments. Do they qualify as charitable contributions? I suppose they do but it’s hardly charitable.
(7) What is your favorite non-original-trilogy Star Wars media? If it is a serial media (e.g., books, graphic novels, TV series, etc.) is there is a specific title/volume/episode that stands out as the best one?
(8) What is your favorite conspiracy theory?