The weekly show where I answer questions from viewers left in the comments of my Q&A videos or sent to me by email at AskChrisShelton@gmail.com. This week, the questions I answer are:
(1) Chris, as you know I watch all your video posts and have recently read your book which I love and enjoy. I still have some questions. I think the answers might have something to do with the mindset of Sea Org/Staff members, but here goes: why does ‘going Clear’ and getting to the higher OT levels take so long? An example was Tim DeWall who explained his mission to get to Clear and years later he’s no nearer. If the primary goals are to ‘clear the planet’ and ‘save all mankind’ and the Scientologists believe they are in ‘a race against time’ – why is it so difficult? I know it might be to drain money out of people and the ‘levels’ actually don’t work, but, if the Sea Org and Staff members genuinely believe what they are doing (rather than knowingly perpetuating the con) why are the Case Supervisors not approving people moving on more quickly/easily?
(2) What do you think of Russia’s recent banning of Scientology in the country? I have seen anti-Scientology people who say that the way Russia went about it was morally wrong.
(3) Scientologists are indoctrinated to believe many things that most people would consider prejudiced. For example, Hubbard was very anti-homosexual. It seems that one of David Miscavige’s favorite ways to discredit someone is to say that they are homosexual. Then there are the rumors about John Travolta using Scientology to hide his homosexuality, etc.
When one comes out of a lifetime of Scientology and enters into the “wog” world, how difficult is it to reconcile the fact that members of the gay community are not evil? I imagine it would be similar to a person growing up in a family with ties to the KKK if they were to leave one day and disavow the way they were raised. I wonder how difficult it is to reprogram oneself when it comes to such ingrained beliefs not dealing directly with spirituality or religion, but simply attitudes towards other humans.
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
(4) Congratulations on your continued healing process and I wish you strength moving forward. If it’s not too personal a question, what has been the most difficult aspect of the recovery process? Is there still something you wish you could change about how you feel?
(5) Not a Scientology question: When people say they don’t believe in the “Christian God” do they mean Jesus? Or are they talking about the god as portrayed in the Old Testament? Is this statement meant to imply that there is or could possibly be a supreme deity or higher power, but that orthodox Christianity fails to properly characterize an accurate picture of who God actually is? I know atheists will use this term pejoratively to delegitimize Christian theology. What do agnostics mean when they specifically claim they don’t believe that “that god” exists?
(6) Now that you’re out, and re-evaluating what you believe, is it your desire that Scientology be completely broken down and abolished, or are you more interested in seeing if there’s anything salvegable once David “Let Him Die” Miscavige is rousted? If tomorrow, the IRS declared that religious groups would no longer be tax exempt, how would that affect your feelings toward Scientology?
(7) Tony Ortega suggested in a recent interview that the appeals for money had shifted in the noughties (i.e. circa. 2000-2009). Originally he claimed the money would have been used to buy new courses for the individual donating, later appeals would ask for money which would then be used for the upkeep of the global organisation. People apparently got awards (medals, I think) if they gave above a certain sum. One chap allegedly gave more than ten millions USD. I can’t help wondering, what happens to all the money? What do they do with it? Are overheads high? What is the point of having so much?
(8) When you were still in the Church, what did you think of Paulette Cooper?
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