Critical Q&A

This week, it’s a very complete breakdown of Scientology’s The Way to Happiness, and answers on racism and the media, critical thinking in everyday life and a lot more. Enjoy!

Bridge video link

(1) How important is The Way To Happiness to a full-time Scientologist going up The Bridge? Is it a requirement at any point in Scientology? I’ve always been quite intrigued by this book because it reads nothing like your typical Scientology material written by Hubbard. Did he actually write it? Was the initial intended purpose of it to be used as a gateway into the org as it’s used now in Scientology’s front groups?

(2) I’m curious as to your thoughts on the current racial tension in the west, both socially and politically. A Congressional representative who happens to be black gives a speech dissenting against Biden’s first joint address and Twitter permits a racial slur to trend in reference to him. A man who happens to be black, films a mentally unwell hotel employee having a breakdown and has the audacity and callousness to racialize the issue. A policeman shoots a girl with a knife who is literally about to stab another girl in front of him and is lambasted as a vile racist with Lebron James tweeting a picture of him with the caption “You’re next.” For months, dozens of hate crimes targeting Asiatic people occur as the hashtag #StopAsianHate goes nowhere (committed almost exclusively by non-white people) but the moment corporate media thinks a white person is the culprit the hashtag trends and its front page news on every network. I suppose my question/confusion comes from the seeming inconsistent response to discrimination depending on the source. Why is racial prejudice socially acceptable when some people do it and repugnant when done by others? If it’s a repulsive worldview (and I believe it is) then shouldn’t it be reviled regardless of who the perpetrator is?

(3) I want to start applying more critical thinking to my everyday life, but I don’t know where to start. It seems like so many of my decisions and reactions are just reflexive and don’t take a lot of thought. How can I start being more conscious or aware when everything moves so fast and there’s just so much to think about? You’re doing a great service to the public here with your show.

(4) I had a question about the use of numbers on Scientology’s Bridge, specifically with the auditor levels and org classes. What makes an org a “Class 6”? What makes an auditor a “Class 12”? Does “Saint Hill Size” also have an arbitrary number?

(5) I’ve read a number of LRH short stories. Some are boring, some are delightfully bonkers and the very best ones are like sub-mediocre Twilight Zone episodes. Scientology has a whole production studio and television channel.  Why haven’t they tried adapting his stories to television to lure in “the wogs” like Hubbard wanted? Are they afraid it will make them look less like a real religion? Or did “Battlefield Earth” kind of poison the well?

(6) While googling around for information I discovered this amazing bit of nonsense. I read a (typo-riddled) sample page and apparently this guy thinks David Miscavige is a CIA operative? Is this actually a thing people think?? Incredible!

(7) Are children who are in Scientology able to be kicked out of Scientology? For adults, I can see how the CoS can just kick them out without legal repercussions, but what happens to kids that are declared suppressive? Do children ever get declared? Do the parents of the child still communicate and take care of the child? What is the youngest age that you’ve seen someone get kicked out of Scientology?

(8) How much money would it take for you to star in an off-off-Broadway production of Cats?