Critical Q&A

This week, I go on a roll about Tom Cruise, talk the nature of existence, clarify what “missions” are in Scientology and more. Enjoy!

(1) You’ve probably had a ton of feedback on this, but I would like to hear more about your thoughts about Tom Cruise’s supposedly ‘leaked’ audio where he berated some of the film crew of his Mission Impossible 7 movie. A lot of the public who are not aware of his narcissistic tendencies have applauded his threats and actions as taking a hard stance on COVID precautions, which is understandable if they are not aware of his close relationship to David Miscavige. I have also seen from quite a few ex-Scientologists that his “Tone 40” and delivery, shouting and threats of termination were pretty much what would encompass a Miscavige-style rant to Sea-Org members.

Today, there are reports that at least 5 of the crew members have quit as a result of this leaked rant being made public. Do you think that the audio was intended for the public to hear, to paint Cruise in a favorable light of being a tough leader and concerned for the health of the crew? It seemed to me like it was more for the benefit of his own production company and future career. Also, do you think the crew left of their own volition? I know he is surrounded 24/7 by Scientologists, so were the crew members members of the Church? Or were they heavily investigated and vetted before being hired to work in such close proximity to Cruise? Could they have been put through some sort of unofficial “light auditing” by Cruise’s staff to see about their possible PTS-ness? If they quit on their own, could they have been “encouraged” to leave by Cruise’s people if the Church felt that they would speak out, or would they have to sign more NDAs on the way out? I have so many questions about this situation, just because I imagine that with COVID precautions on top of lockdowns, quarantines, and the general tightness of film production, that this situation could even be leaked out in the first place. 

(2) There is a Scientology mission just south of me in Battle Creek, Michigan. I know you said missions are established for a specific task or purpose.  What specific task would they be performing in a small city in a part of the state that has most likely less than a handful of practicing Scientologists? 

(3) THERE NEVER WAS A BEGINNING!

We living, thinking, conscious beings are used to a reality of cause and effect. In our attempts to explain the realities we face we have invented two basic explanations.

The first explanation lays the responsibility for existence on a supreme being: God or whatever other name.

If such a being exists, there can be no search for its source. That leads to an infinite regression of causes and effects until the original cause is identified. Such a force would have a nature that drove it to create whatever we experience as reality, including ourselves, our identities and consciousness.

A second explanation postulates a condition wherein the elements of existence interact and undergo changes, resulting in the reality we face, including identity and consciousness.

Either way, there is — and always was — something INTRINSIC in reality that exists — and always has existed — without prior cause.

Obviously, the first explanation is Religion, with its system of explanations being called INTELLIGENT DESIGN which you must call a BELIEF.

The second explanation is some variation of EVOLUTION. The difference is small: with evolution, the intelligence is built-in to the intrinsic elements, ultimately a form of which has always existed — NO BEGINNING. Subscribing to this explanation would also be a BELIEF.

Can either of these explanations ever be proved?

(4) Happy belated Birthday! 

I love your channel; came for the Scientology, stayed for the critical thinking!

As I’m sure many people are, I’m frustrated by the conversations I’m having with the Trump supporters in my life. Specifically, people who find ways to defend his bullying, inappropriate tweets, handling of the pandemic, name calling, all of it.  I believe If there’s to be any healing, we need to find ways to hang in there with those we disagree with the most. I need a strategy.  Could you share how you’re handling this?   

(5) Many years ago, I worked with a Scientology recruiter who was always trying to get co-workers (myself included) to come with him to the New York City Church.  Aside from his rather unique belief system, which I now recognize in retrospect as pure Scientology, I remember him always recommending that, if you injure yourself that you should always go back and touch the point of injury on your body back to the point of contact for its healing qualities.  For example, if you stub your toe on a table, you should touch your toe to the point of impact to take away the pain.   In all of my reading and viewing on the topic of Scientology, I have never seen this mentioned.  Is this a Scientology belief?

(6) Have you seen the 2nd season of “The Boys”? If so, what do you think of the Scientology type organization one member joins to rehabilitate his public image?

(7) Why do you think David Miscavige had a dog dressed up in uniform and he forced other Sea Org members to salute it? Does the fact he used a dog have any relevance to Scientology?

(8) I am not a scientologist, but I have heard about scientology through various media such as South Park. Do you recall there being a large reaction inside the church that the public scientologists were aware about? Did you hear about South Park’s scuffles with scientology when you were inside, or did you hear about the events after leaving?