This week, it’s answers about Scientology declaring people “suppressive,” why people leave destructive cults, how labels are used in cults and a lot more. Enjoy!
(1) Can you talk about what happens to people who get ceclared SP for reasons that are not related to questioning Scientology doctrine? I’m thinking of all those involved in the “Chase Wave” scandal, who probably thought they were “making it go right” and who are still dedicated believers who then suddenly find themselves effectively excommunicated. Would they just have been removed from Staff or the Sea Org, but still participating as a public Scientologist, or are they booted out completely? I can understand that any organisation needs to hold people accountable for criminal or unacceptable behaviour. But I don’t recall any incidents in other religions where scandals (of terrible things such as abuse) have resulted in the person being denied the ability to participate in their faith, as opposed to just being removed from a leadership position or officially employed by a church. And on a related subject, did you ever meet someone who, after being declared an SP, successfully completed their “A to E” steps and re-joined Scientology? Did you notice a change in their commitment to Scientology and did they stay around for a long time?
(2) As we are all aware, membership in Scientology is falling drastically and is probably at an all-time-low right now. What in your opinion is the number one reason for the dropping numbers? What is the number one cause for people leaving? Is it because eventually people realize they’ve been conned and it doesn’t work? That would be my opinion but I’d like to hear from you.
(3) The Heaven’s Gate cult actually held a series of public meetings where they could be questioned directly. During such a Q&A session, do you think there was anything anyone could have said that would have caused the leaders to question or change their beliefs? How common is it for a cult to open themselves up to such scrutiny?
(4) A while back an SO member told a friend that he had a “new 2d”. I realized I never liked that term. It lacks any emotional commitment but I guess in the Sea Org that is a good thing as marriages are often temporary and couples often separate for years. Do you think labeling relationships with a number and letter tends to make them less valuable?
(5) Why do some thetans find bodies and some just get stuck to them? Why can’t a thetan become a whale or a raccoon or a plant? What’s the difference between having a human body and having another form of life?