The weekly show where I answer questions from viewers left in the comments section of my Q&A videos or sent to me by email at askchrisshelton@gmail.com. This week, the questions I answer are:
(1) You do not display anger on your videos. You smile and chuckle at the silliness of it all, including your own silliness. Are you mad at your parents for having temporarily become Scientologists in the first place, and possibly leading you to become one? Are you mad at the Church of Scientology? People you worked for or with in the Church?
(2) What do you think is the value of exposure? I assume it is a good thing for people to be aware of what horrible things Scientology is doing, but I think it isn’t that clear with other issues. For example sharing links about suffering and social issues on Facebook instead of doing something tangible like donating. Or even pirating movies and arguing that advertising those movies to your friends makes that okay or even better than actually paying for them. Do you think that position is defensible or is it just a way to sooth your soul / to trick yourself into thinking you are helping without actually spending effort or money?
(3) Chris, my question is what would a parent do if they wanted to kidnap their child out of Scientology?
(4) I’ve been wondering about the recent media site in LA. I know David Miscavige can use it to extract more funds. (“We are under attack, we need to disseminate to the world.”) Just curious about your thoughts on what kinds of films might come out of that site and what they are going to do with the Int media site. Okay, another speculative question: is it possible David Miscavige is getting ready to ditch the Hemet properties, partly to completely erase its connection to the Rehabilitation Project Force (RPF) and partly to hunker down somewhere else? That would be another reason for moving SO personnel out to orgs.
(5) Why is it that Sea org members cannot date, even casually, with public Scientologists? Why not state it up front to public instead of spinning ones wheels?
(6) Chris, do members of the Sea Org chat amongst themselves, asking each other – “What is going on? This isn’t making sense…”
(7) Did you discover things you weren’t supposed to know at your level and if so how did that effect you? Where you disappointed with the OT levels when you learned about them after you left?
Hi Chris. Love your videos, podcasts, and seeing all of your interviews and the talks you give at conferences.
I do feel dismayed at the infighting among a few ex scientology members at various sites I visit though. What is this about?
I would think that they would be bonded by the shared experiences and united in much the same way that war veterans are.
Thank you for all the hard work you do to help us understand how insidious and dangerous the cult is.
Linda-
I know what you are talking about when you say “infighting” amongst the recently liberated. But what is going on within the arguement is most complicated, indeed.
– It is a tall order, to take your beloved and comforting belief system, throw it out the proverbial window and start all over. Hubbard took every advantage of this, knowing this. Those who got out are immediately faced with all kinds of monumental uncertainties. In the battle to settle down with new beliefs, some core principles adopted in Scientology will be very hard to let go of, even if the individual “knows” that leaving was and is the right thing to do. Again, Hubbard was a wizard with the basics. He can offer you an initial basis from which you may feel very secure in your knowledge of the Universe. You may not wish to let entirely go of the philosophy. Others come to recognize the entire doctrine as an entricate and decidedly well-organized trap. I fall into that camp.
Meanwhile, there is a group of ex-Scientologists called “Indies”. These are people that adamantly practice what they believe to be the “good” parts of the “technology”. The world needs such people, I believe, to serve those coming out of the church but still not willing to free themselves from the doctrine altogether. The difference in points of view can escalate rapidly into toxic conversation, but that again is the nature of the beast. Scientologists have always been a hard-core and aggressive lot.
Hope this is informative for you…-mm
Hi Chris, Your latest video, Qand A 26, was the most professional one you have done so far. I wouldn,t miss them for quids. I,m also looking forward to reading your book when it becomes available. One question if I may; In the event of $ci. imploding, caused by a myriad of things, or Miscavige meeting with his just deserves, what is going to become of the buildings and land in the $ci.portfolio? Will all the gullible doners, who have been responsible for their acquisition, have any rightful claim over them, or will they become null and void? Keep it up mate, Scott Tweedie
Hello Chris,
I am an ex-Scio from Australia.
I have been out for quite a few years, but have not made it public.
I just want to thank you for creating this site, and also encourage you to continue the fabulous work that you are doing.
You speak so clearly, and what you say is true and makes sense., and it helps people like me to understand the crazy things that happened to me and my family while we were involved.
You have a beautiful smile too.
All the best to you,
Kjaye
-Scientology is the technology of getting you to buy things that you don’t need.
Miscavige is just the sociopath to stand on top of such an organization, as he just about goes beside himself seeing you pay $100,000 for that next, “precious”, level on The Bridge. Nothing could be more fun.
Of course, the normal human being can’t afford to do that, so he gets his next favorite thing, getting you to work for free (maniacally, your entire life), offering that same next step like a carrot in front of a donkey. Sign your life away on Sea Org and, regardless, that step never gets delivered, not for you. Tom Cruise maybe, not you. The purpose of the Bridge is to keep you trapped, just the polar opposite of Total Freedom.
That he can get away with making you believe that you are inferior for being normal, is just another enjoyable perk for him. Double fun, as he gets to kick back in his relative paradise, spending that money, sleeping in that fine “church” we built for him.
My reason for being here and saying what I do is to expose the truth as I see it,
for this is a nasty truth.
In the simplest terms available to me I mean to expose the difference between what this so-called religion offers verses what they actually deliver, because doing so reveals the tall fallacy that this church truly represents. Because it is also a dangerous trap for the young and bleaguered I beg you please to educate your children- that the best way to learn about this church is from the outside looking in.
-agent mm