The weekly show where I answer viewer questions from the comments of my Q&A videos or which are sent to me by email at AskChrisShelton@gmail.com. This week, the questions I take up are:
(1) Well done for finding the courage to leave Scientology. How did you learn to trust your conclusions after you left? After being deceived for so long doesn’t it play on your mind that you may be succumbing to other cognitive biases without noticing?
(2) I found your channel after hearing you on Ross and Carrie’s podcast, and since then I’ve been marathoning your videos. I love your work. It seems to me like people who have a tendency to blame themselves for problems they’re having, people quick to find fault with themselves or who have low self esteem woud have trouble completing the auditing required to “move up the bridge”. Is this the case? Were you in the RPF for so long because you are someone who is quicker to blame yourself for things? I am an ex-fundamentalist-Christian and because I have a rather low opinion of myself I was very susceptible to that group’s message of “God is perfect, you are an awful, sinful creature who needs to be saved by us.” I was wondering whether Scientology preys on that same personality trait too.
(3) Chris, you have a lot of experience with Scientology but how do they compare to Landmark Education? My sister-in-law, a sick girl who was taking Landmark’s courses, went into the hospital and then a care facility to recuperate and recover. Her course lead called her in the facility and asked why she hasn’t made progress on the project she was trying to complete. That, and with her families advice, was the last straw for Landmark. She told her ‘lead’ that she was in the hospital for so and so weeks and now in a facility to help her recover. She couldn’t have done the work, for that I attest, that was required and they needed to wait. That answer wasn’t good enough for them and luckily my in-law had enough sense to say enough. Are there any related parts between the two groups? By the way, I was the only good family member, mind you I was an in-law, that attended her graduation from her ‘mind molding’ experience. Pat me on the back but my main goal was to support her but understand the culture of individuals who would take these classes and be told to recruit more.
(4) I had a question about the L rundown. Did you ever do them? They seem to be a bizarre labyrinth of questions about groups, churches, race, politics, etc. This part stood out to me:
34. Have you ever created a secret society?
35. Have you ever caused trouble as a member of a secret society?
36. Have you ever harmed a secret society?
37. Have you ever pledged your allegiance to a secret society?
Why was Hubbard so obsessed with the idea of secret societies for these high level services? Was it sheer paranoia or were groups (not CIA) actually trying to get into Scientology? Or is it something completely else that I’m missing?
(5) Which episode of Scientology and the Aftermath were you on?
(6) Has anyone ever been considered a past life Scientologist, and taken up a previous person’s contract?
(7) If people are so brainwashed and beaten down when they go to the RPF, couldn’t the argument be made that they didn’t have the mental capacity to sign?
(8) You have mentioned several times that no Scientologist has shown any OT abilities. How can we be sure they are not following the guidelines in An Open Letter to Clears?
I have enjoyed your programs and think you’re doing a good service.
However, I did achieve OT abilities and that is what is still keeping me stuck to the subject, the subject, not the church.
I want more abilities, greedy as I am.
So, now you have it. I am one person who has done the levels and admits to having OT abilities.
Off to Vegas you go then. Of course you probably knew I was going to say this.
(8) You have mentioned several times that no Scientologist has shown any OT abilities. How can we be sure they are not following the guidelines in “An Open Letter to Clears”?
In that letter, Hubbard said he that didn’t want Scientologists to OPENLY display their OT powers because that would upset us wogs. However, he didn’t say anything about using OT powers surreptitiously.
For example, you go to Vegas, don’t tell anyone you are a Scientologist, and you start quietly cleaning up. The key word here is quietly. Using your psychic, remote viewing, and mindreading abilities you start with Blackjack, Craps, and Poker. Then using your telekinetic powers you move on to Roulette and Slot Machines. Remember, you keep it all on the down low, the DL if you will. Remember no open displays of superiority, no fist pumping, and no arrogant celebratory boasting. You then quietly cash in your chips and slip out of town. That’s using your OT powers intelligently.
When they catch on to you in Vegas, then it’s off to James Randi for a quick mill and in due course a Nobel Peace Prize.