The show where I answer your questions based on what you have sent me by email or left me in the comments section of my Q&A videos. This week we start with a wonderful comment from a subscriber.
Comment of the week from DreamingCatStudio
Hi Chris I enjoy videos so much. I’ve never been involved with a cult, but I’m interested in the psychological states (for example vulnerability or disconnection from meaning and purpose) that can be the precursors for otherwise intelligent and healthy people to get sucked in, because there are other life experiences–working for a corporation, social pressure–that can have similar results as a cult experience.
I call your approach “critical thinking with a heart”, because while being meticulous to provide facts about damaging and hurtful Scientology practices, you’re not demonizing the people involved. You have empathy and understanding. I try to practice non-violent communication, and your approach is very in line with those principles.
I wanted to share how something has shifted for me. At first I started watching your videos with a sense of righteous outrage: “How dare those Scientologists do that to people? They’re evil, sadistic, horrible, should be arrested, locked up, punished.” While I am still deeply disturbed, sad and angry at the harm many are still experiencing in that cult, and still believe they should be held accountable for their actions, through self-examination, I’m also copping to some similar behavior in my own life: There are times when I blindly follow or believe something because I feel like it or because I feel pressured into it and it’s easier to not make waves rather than examine it. There are times when I take an “us versus them” stance, because I feel safer judging and labeling others rather than acknowledging my own feelings. There are times when I try to influence other people’s opinion and actions, because I think I’m right and they’re wrong.
Slowly the hard, sharp line between “me and Scientologists” has gotten softer and more blurred — not because I endorse or excuse their hurtful behavior, but because I see better now how people can get involved and even do harm to others.
Questions taken up in this weeks’ video:
(1) I have noticed that there a number of people who identify themselves as “independent Scientologists,” as if there is in fact something immutably valid to salvage of the system outside of the Church of Scientology. I am curious to know what this means if, as we now know, the whole system was based on the derivative musings of a narcissistic madman, now perpetuated by a dangerous sociopath. Is it simply the belief in the therapeutic practice of auditing and an intermediate point of transitioning away from the system?
AND
What do you think of people like Mark Rathbun who still “believe” and practice Scientology and people like that? Thank you for your work. Carry on
(2) Hello Chris! I enjoy and subscribe to your You Tube channel. As an ex public Scientologist, I am under the radar at present. I developed a physical condition and have used that as to why I can’t be on course, on the Purification Rundown, on staff etc. Could you give some tips on those souls who may feel the need to back out rather than speak out. I’ve heard you say that speaking out is what makes an impact, but most of us know when that time is right. I know I’ll lose friends, or maybe not, but none the less I have chosen to do so quietly.
(3) Hi Chris, thanks for your great videos. In this video, you’re talking about your time in the Rehabilitation Project Force (RPF). In the book Going Clear, I got the impression that during the RPF, you sleep in some crummy place, but I think you said you were married at that time. Were you able to go home at night to your wife? Many thanks.
(4) Great work as always Chris! You are so warm and well spoken, I would take every college course you offered if you were a professor. Question: I realized through reading A Piece of Blue Sky that a lot of L Ron Hubbard’s conspiracy theories still persist today on the internet. I have met many people who believe in a “prison planet,” the Illuminati, etc. Since the verbiage is the same for these “theories” did they come from Hubbard’s paranoid ramblings? Are some of the people perpetuating these ideas former Scientologists or were they influenced by Dianetics years ago?
(5) As I understand it, you were removed from Scientology. You did not route out and you did not blow, you were asked to leave, right? If that’s true, where do you think you’d be now had you not been told to leave? Would you still be in, do you think? In the RPF? An Independent Scientologist, or do you think you’d have left of your own accord by now?
(6) Thank you Chris for all that you do! My question is if there’s ever been a petition type attempt at having Scientology’s IRS tax exempt status reviewed? Is that even possible? What can we common folk do to help with something like this? Thanks in advance!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Chris, thank you again for these videos. Here’s another question for your consideration. There have been many high-profile exposés of Scientology, recently including the Emmy-winning HBO documentary “Going Clear.” Similar accounts have come up time and again through the history of Scientology; how were public-relations flaps (TV or newspaper series, public protests, unflattering news stories, etc.) experienced by you when they occurred? Are staffers informed about such things, or shielded from them? Did they alter your work assignments in any way?
Oh thanks for listening the main point of Scientology is I am a spirit I agree we have found a solid beginning point and have much to discover but we are looking in right direction!!! I do respond to ARCU lets go that way! Cheers!
I would like to know what made you personally sucked into scientology and how come you spent over 8 years working for the Scientology and being a part of it and suddenly you turned around from it and set up your personal anti Scientological blog. What exactly made you change your mind about the Scientology and what had been keeping you so long involved in it?
Something about this Anne story isnt right.
How could she be missing so much?
Honestly, when I listen to the videos and read the questions and answers some of them are so complicated and difficult to understand that I believe only those who are or were involved in the cult might be able to understand the main point. it makes me hard to believe that this webpage is really against the Church of Scientology. It’s rather something that is like a parody helping to promote the original thing and stay in touch with those who turned around and left and also to make sure that they never forget the Scientology. The problem with the world is that the good things are being created and developed but good people with good intentions and later they always either get sold or stolen by the bad people.
This video shows Scientology Portland Ideal Org exec Gwen Barnard interviewed a day after the ideal org opened in 2013. She claims that she has title to the building, not the national Church of Scientology.
Chris, you worked on ideal orgs in the western US, perhaps including the Portland ideal org. You have stated that after an ideal org is built its title reverts to the Church of Scientology. Is Gwen Barnard mistaken or lying. Is it possible that the title was going to be transferred, but had not been in 2013 when this conversation took place?
Oops. Here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzXn8CEFyD8