The Terrible Culture of Scientology: Part 2

[@TrudyPatootie]

Chris.. I really, really like this format with Larisa and Tim and Sylvia being interviewed and then you explaining things in between. It is fabulous.. More! More! More! thanks baby

[@ChrisSheltonMsc]

Thanks. Yeah, it took a lot more work to do it this way but I am very happy with the result.

[@TrudyPatootie]

Well it was brilliant. I felt like I was watching a Very suspenseful mini documentary.. I was on the edge of my seat at the end wanting more. ( sorry bout it taking longer.. sigh) but the end results..were WOW.. You really dug in.. and Larisa was great .. And I was thinking.. " Listen to dad Larisa.. LISTEN TO DAD..)

[@robertmitchell5863]

excellent job Chris! very informative sad & compelling

[@caragoodwin2031]

Baby Bunker

[@drphendrickson]

Nova Chandra l. /

[@ziggyfreecloud3346]

This series really answered some questions I had about regular families who just happened to be involved in Scientology and the jump between a regular Scientologist on the street and a SeaOrg member. Her story is fascinating, and the way it's being told is captivating. It's actually one of the best videos I've watched so far. No bells, no whistles, just a relatable experience.

[@xChaosReignsx]

Agreed

[@tishimself126]

MY GOD! If I didn't hate cults before, listening to these people, especially Larissa tell the stories... astounding and sickening.

[@Juwlz]

The whole "they'd only get bit if they are PTS" is insanity. I remember a few years ago when Tom cruise got injured doing stunts for a movie. Since he probably believes Scientology's views on accidents, I can imagine him running through the crew of the movie trying to figure out who the suppressive person who clearly caused his accident was. Ahh

[@tishimself126]

It's unbelievable the bad news that comes from trying to create a reality which denies the simple truth that is Jesus. But to your point, yes, I think a lot of Tom Cruise's crap behavior is because of his commitment to this Scientology insanity. I've never looked into Scientology but I can see how it is a personal and social corrosive.

[@Rmack137]

It's always a person's fault when they have an accident, in that they are somehow connected to a 'Suppressive Person'. It's never the cults' fault.

[@chuckbeattyo]

Another exceptional interview, such a good look into Scientology family life, being in, then leaving the Scientology part of their life. Excellent covering of the various interaction. Amazing frank discussion, so honest. Excellent honest content. Thankyou for this. Chuck Beatty ex Flag Course Sup (trainer 1977-1983)

[@kbc1883]

It is so interesting/horrifying how patent/child and other family bonds are discouraged or actively undermined. The lack of actual healthy protection of their kids yet ridiculous and harmful levels of abusive control is stunning. And the total overwriting of intuition and the brainwashing and gaslighting… so destructive.

[@montyollie]

Absolutely riveting. Thanks again to all involved for making this series.

[@sweetyamz09]

"I'm not 15 I'm infinity remember?!!" Why didn't that work? hahaha

[@CaiusAntonius]

Poor L Ron Hubbard. What is the eternal penalty going to be, for coercing people into signing contracts for their own enslavement for one billion years? What is the eternal punishment for torturing people, both with mental and spiritual garbage, and with useless chores and repetitive tasks?

[@user-bw9qu9jn1u]

That is what I was wondering.

[@thekkl]

None.

[@cubemissy]

Mister Antonius And I feel bad for hoping he suffers knowing the damage he caused.

[@CaiusAntonius]

Melissa, the other thing about this though, is that his cult is still destroying people's lives. This sin is going to vibrate throughout history. This isn't like a person committed a major sin against others a couple of times. This is thousands of times, to thousands of people. And it continues. I would not want to be him. Read Jude and '2 Peter 2' in the Amplified Bible to see what happens to false prophets.

[@CaiusAntonius]

Why would I believe? Because I had faith and I chose to put it in Jesus Christ. We all believe in something, from the Big Bang to Buddha. Some of us can believe in Christ and have received the free gift of salvation by faith alone, and some of us choose to believe in a works based religion based upon ourselves (such as karma and nirvana, which is nothing but salvation by the self by works). It's easy to be saved. Just some have chosen the pleasure of unrighteousness for a season.

[@PNW_Fiddle]

Great video. I have to say... unbelievable number of bad decisions made by this family. I can blame some of it on the influence of Scientology but not all. There, I said it.

[@addie8292]

Right on. Glad you said it.

[@Mindy14]

Completely agre

[@Valmontst]

I was thinking that same thing!

[@zombiereagan7487]

How does this organization keep any and all law enforcement authorities from serving warrants and making arrests as indicated? It seems very basic that straight-up child abuse is taking place here. How is this legal?

[@swimgirl24]

Zombie Reagan Because it’s all protected under “religious freedom”. It’s absolutely insane. People shouldn’t be able to use that stupid excuse to cover up child abuse but for some reason it’s allowed. :/

[@jackiejns983]

This is really powerful. And sad. SO glad people got out of it. The billion dollar fraud making kids scramble for clothes, posing in stolen valor military garb they have to scramble for -- its just heartbreaking. But I do agree with other poster who said that ex-COS people seem so serene and relieved. VERY similar to kidnapped victims. SIgh. thank you for making this series.

[@jesse85]

*casually tries to move in with skrillex*

[@nerdposse8948]

Thanks Larisa, Tim and Sylvie for opening yourselves up and sharing this awful story

[@ladynottingham89]

I'm sure Tim, Sylvia, and everyone else involved raising this young woman are decent people, but their parenting choices left a lot to be desired. Starting with Larisa's mother leaving her children, to her father's whirlwind marriage, to them sending her off to that weird school when she shoplifted, to allowing her to live with other people, ALL of these were bad choices. Honestly, it seemed to me like they felt their daughter was a nuisance. Their solution to her problems was to send her off somewhere and wash their hands off her. No wonder she was acting up. My father always told me if you want to know the cause of any kid's problems, look no further than the parents.

[@spikeoramathon]

Yay! I've been waiting for the continuation!

[@lorigava7157]

I am listening to this and having flashbacks to my five awful years in an Evangelical Christian School recalling the stories of my fellow students, a lot of multiple combo families and dropping in and out of the school. What finished off my years enrolled was when a malignant narcissist took over as as High School Administrator, I put my foot down and insisted I was going back to public school which was a vacation after the trauma drama that had been the private Christian School.

[@andyprompt]

"They're only gonna get bit if they're PTS"?!?!?! Holy God - that's one of the worst things I've heard so far.

[@jayare2744]

pts? would love clarification, i cant watch the whole video sorry.

[@andyprompt]

a "potential trouble source" - in other words, they're not going to get bit by spiders unless they are associated with a suppressive person.

[@jayare2744]

wow thx!

[@andyh027]

Yeah, why aren't they handling poisonous snakes? Perfect way to find out who's PTS!

[@BigHugsFromHell]

I'm from Clearwater, myself, and to me, this stuff matches a whole lot of the things I've seen, albeit as an outsider looking in; and if anything, it's barely the tip of the iceberg. I'm a bit older than this girl, but there's every chance I've seen her and/or her friends around. They're the type of people I always felt the worst for, though I doubt they're out for my opinion. tl;dr: Needless to say, it's quite a relief whenever I see a story of someone who's managed to get out or learn more. Life's too short. It's not like it's a great world, or a perfect world everywhere else, but life's too short to spend half of it confused out of your wits and desperate, unable to even face its real challenges head-on, open-eyed, and alert -- the other half, surrounded mostly by the unfamiliar, very big rest of the world. I just hope they'll find their own better places to fit. Around here, once old enough to be getting jobs, it's fairly common to wind up with co-workers whose lives have been pretty similar to the story above, Larisa's story, and more often than not they can be well-meaning and decent people, if somewhat naive, sheltered, easily confused, or in some way stunted beyond their ability to know. For example, two guys born into that life who bused tables at a restaurant I also worked at, used to approach me whenever a new video game came out to see if I'd gotten it, and ask me in whispers if it was any fun. "What's the background? What do you do? How's it compared to, etc..." There were certain things they'd play and see of the outside, but a lot they were cut off from, so would almost live this stuff vicariously by hearing it from me -- never did get to have them over, or convince them to just hang out after hours, though myself and others always gave them an open invitation -- and I realized, they craved to be normal. Yet, the more you'd talk, they didn't even seem to know what normal was, almost over-compensating for it whenever they had the chance, much like this girl seemed to describe in her own "rebellious" phases. Later, I've come to understand that such separation is almost the goal, or a part of it, to the point where normalcy itself is virtually synonymous with corrupted, low, and bad -- that I'm one big bad wolf among many on the outside of their house, blowing in the door, unwelcome and hardly a person to know (I mean if conversation got serious or parents heard of you) -- where, although I'd be the first to admit I'm no angel, even at my best I'd still be their idea of a villain, and that keeps them ultimately scared and suspicious of your every word to the point that they almost invariably shy away from connecting in the manner of healthy, communicative human beings. When you can't arrive at even that level of mutually agreed upon normalcy, it's difficult to see how one might ever share more than the vaguest of acquaintances with such a kid, and eventually, you'll have to watch them be lost again back into their fold, just vanished like a ghost, which it hardly has to be said is incredibly frustrating. However, this type of member is a far, far cry from the recruiters and those joining off the street, from which I've seen some genuinely nasty behaviors. I used to frequent that same Starbucks she described, as well, and on occasion, some recruitment would go on in there which I can only compare to the techniques of pick-up artists trying to get a date. They'd "neg" people, especially women in my experience, attacking their confidence while offering supposed solutions to dreamed-up faults. One girl, my friends and I had to physically help out of there when a recruiter had put her in tears, like he'd forgotten they were out in public and let his temper flare. She'd apparently had family begin to warn her from continuing classes, and this guy was shouting, "They're f-ing nobodies! Losers! And without us, you'll be a loser just like them for the rest of your life!" (yeah pretty foul mouths to boot). His behavior was exactly like that of an abusive partner, except in this case, scientology was the partner and he was merely one small mouthpiece on its behalf. It's hard to do justice here, but from tone to body language, you knew he was this sort of twisted type, showcasing his authority. I've seen this kind of language. I've seen girls be touched up. I've seen people slapped across the face in yet more shouting matches. I've seen people stalked, people handed packets of "vitamin" pills that get them totally zonked out, people rushed around and locked away. I've seen people who don't even speak English, particularly from France, shipped in and isolated further by that extra layer of language barrier. Even as a witness you can feel totally helpless in all but a few exceptions, due mainly to their status and known vindictiveness/litigiousness, and you aren't even the one who's trapped; or rather, it has a way of entrapping into learned helplessness even those on the outside who are merely in proximity to it. On and on it goes, and all this, though I did take the chance to tour a building of theirs on one occasion, is stuff seen only from the street level. It leaves you to wonder what's going on behind the walls. Seeing this video was enlightening, and helpfully contextualizing after all these years of asking while getting few answers. I'm just sorry it's taken so long to find a channel like this, hitting at things out in the open (by the way good luck to this channel and the work it's been doing). But the kids raised into it, who never knew anything else? They almost never displayed these same character traits like the wider group, except they can still be so difficult to talk to should these topics come up (though as I said they'll often light up at other topics not related to scientology), being so close to it and wrapped up by it. Suddenly, if the topic goes back to their inner life, you find you are speaking another language, where you are forced to realize that even basic concepts like, "good or bad person," etc., and by extension also right or wrong treatment of others, are totally backwards to common sense. It's so hard to find an understanding, then, or have a breakthrough or any real connection. You'll get called fake and all of these other things (oh and the looks on their faces when they'd find out my mom was a psychologist), and suddenly, regardless of whether or not you hit it off in many other ways or could have been friends irrespective of these surface beliefs, you don't ever see them anymore and don't know if they'll ever be reached. They're just gone. They're like prisoners (literally like extras on that show, "The Prisoner"), where even if not physically restrained they are still prisoners to the words in their heads, and beholden mainly to a much smaller group of very dedicated manipulators, fear-mongers, judges, and watch-dogs of the group mentality. Those, I would usually describe as vicious, temperamental, manipulative, abusive, lacking in basic courtesy and decency -- overall, basically of the sort who would find it difficult to achieve social acceptance or success anywhere else, and so are vulnerable to being convinced that they are flawed or in need of these structures, because indeed they are flawed (often quite sick inside in some cases) -- leaving me to theorize that joining offers at least a proportion of them the chance at a real power trip like they'll rarely find anywhere else. In any group, if left un-checked, such types can cause serious damage and dig in like ticks; but in scientology, they not only seem to have achieved this digging-in long ago, perhaps from the start, but have been elevated, protected, and so left wholly unfettered. I'm not much for pity, but those kids who didn't sign up for that? To live under that thumb? I pity them.

[@xyzsame4081]

If you come across Scientologists - CORRUPT them in small and friendly steps (that's how they sucker in new recruits btw, slowly, steadily and with friendlyness. the auditing helps them to find the "carrot" for the prospects - what motivates THAT person). The way to corrupt them and to sow doubts is to show them the nice life that people OUTSIDE can have (not so long working hours, music, money for your own use, vacations, not being asked constantly for "volunteering" and "donations" - they are more or less bullied for it - especially in larger orgs) Never brag about the good life, or they will declare how much they are committed to their miserable (allegedly noble) existence. Instead JUST EXPOSE them. They will have to use some extra energy, to process the fact that other people undeniably have a nicer and easier life than them. DO NOT EVER OPENLY CRITICIZE their religion (they shut down immediately). No, you show them the video game, invite them to play there, invite them to some nice food (if you can afford and can be bothered - you can improve your karma - lol ). ... you ask them some SUBVERSIVE questions. Like how long they work, have they considered going to college, if the organization is well managed and if there are MANY NEW people showing interest (very long, probably, no and no). Is it REALLY true that it is so hard for Sea Org members to have children, babies, that they have to marry when they are dating someone (everything more than kissing is a huge deal and so they are often pressured into marrying at the age of 15 or 16 - that is for Sea Org, not kids from regular Scientologists who live in their own place and have a paid job often with non-scientologists). Chris Shelton has a series of videos "Me, my mum and Scientology" and in the last video they talk about what works and what does not work to SEED SOME DOUBTS and help people out of the cult. Which has always to do with obvious discrepancies in the persons experiences (as opposed to telling them about celebrities or regular news about Scientology) - for Chris it was when his mother told him that according to Hubbard communication was so important in the org (which he could not deny) so they should keep communication going between them. She knew he withdrew, only after he left he told her that he was approached several times to stop contact with her - even though she was never "shunned" officially and kept her reservations about the church secret. His mother had become a Scientologist when he was 2 years old, she said she had some gains, but could keep some healthy distance and found Scientology increasingly unhelpful, watched things she didn't like and started having doubts. She and her husband were somewhat disillusioned with the experience and the chaos in management, while Chris the 17 year old son was worked (by the members) to join the Sea org. For which he needed their permission. Both parents were not happy, they wanted him to go to college to get some perspective . Well then they made the mistake to argue with him, while Chris was lovebombed by Scientology. (so was the 17 year old going to listen to the parents ......?) Some years later Chris Shelton (the overworked, stressed out but loyal Sea org member) was approached to disconnect from his "lukewarm" mother (she had not officially left the church). C hris went AWOL in 2003 (breakdown from being overworked) and again around 2011 and in between he was punished for 3,5 years with "work camp". They talk about how his parents could have helped him get out of the trap (he left in 2011 or at least started to allow himself to have doubts). Again: after having finished "work camp" and being done with the punishment, he travelled through the country and visited the orgs with the splendid new EMPTY buildings. The respective people in the orgs were all told that everyone BUT THEM did wonderfully (new recruits, sales) due to the new buildings (in the years before there had been a huge push to donate - so Miscavige had been increasing his real estate, the church has not grown in members, but in fortune under Miscavige). The orgs could not be fooled regarding their own results, but they all thought everyone but them did fine under "if you will build it the new members will come". And no one dared oppose that official narrative. But Chris travelling from org to org KNEW it was a fairy tale. And at the same time he was free from the relentless brainwashing and daily reporting and from being held "accountable" every day. So he had space to THINK, could PROCESS the difference between claims (of the infallable church and management) and reality, could allow himself to NOTICE the discrepancies and ALLOW some doubts to grow. I also read a story of a Scientologist being on the internet viciously defending the church (not sure if she or he was allowed that to do, maybe even ordered by the church to troll on behalf of Scientology). And he or she was against their will impressed with the constant friedliness of one of the moderators. When asking for retraction or editing of abusive language, or educating the Scientologist HOW to make a convincing argument while being in alignment with the forum rules, so the contribution of the Scientologist could remain in the forum (which is exactely what the church would not do). That Scientologist had assumed any person opposing the church MUST be vile, so being met with politeness, respect, the willingness to keep the conversation going - and a friendly exchange ! - pierced a hole in the wall of defense (the person describing that is out now of the cult). Something similar I heard from a woman that grew up in the Westboro Church that was engaged on Twitter by some very friendly activists regarding the hateful message of that fundamentalistic "Christian" church). Friendlyness pierced her bubble (she did a Ted talk about it). Another interesting story is from Larry Woodcraft, there is a series of interviews with Larry (the father, the architect), and his two daughters Astrid (Astra) and Zoe. He was British, the mother was and likely still is a zealot of Scientology (so Larry, his wife, 2 daughters, 1 son and a grandmother were in the cult). He remained after becoming disillusioned for the sake of the family and assuming his ex-wife would undermine contact with his daughters (minors then). What helped: Astrid was pressured into the Sea Org, married with 15, never admitted to not being happy (it took her years to notive herself and to admit, her father sensed she was not happy, but not to what extent - and that could not be openly talked about. So he have her love, support and the little sort of secretitve breaks from the org - including her own car so she could visit him in his house). So she kept contact with her father, did so more or less covertly, she had been asked to avoid him. Her father had not officially left Scientology, but was eyed with suspicion for likely being a "bad" influence on the faithful - well he was. At some point he and Astrid travelled to Britain (funeral) and she got the family treatment - wealthy Brits, nice restaurants, taxis, a lively and welcoming extended family, being away from the constant messaging of the cult, and with father and family instead. That impressed 17 - 18 year old Astra. Astrid escaped when pregnant (they wanted to get her an abortion). She left and stayed with the baby with her father. Her younger sister Zoe visited, fell in love with the baby, was invited to join a holiday in Hawaii, they doubled down on the schemes and bought a puppy, assuming she would love that, too. He said and I quote: Astra and I PLOTTED how to get Zoe out of Scientology. It was a battle for her mind. He had to be very carful not to say anything directely against Scientology. Zoe then was worked to join the Sea Org, luckily she was conflicted about (although she hardly dared to admit that to herself). The problem was that she feared to lose her other relatives in the cult (else it would have been a piece of cake). One of the major impacts: She was incensed about the idea that her sister had been pressured to terminate the pregnancy (incl. by her husband who was 7 years older than her, so she was 15 and he was 22 when they married). Sea Org is the "elite" organisation - people are like serfs there for Scientology. Having children means they cannot be moved around and worked such long hours. In the beginning there had been homes for children, parents often seeing their kids rarely. But there had been abuse, neglect, they needed to meet minimal school standards. It was all costs, responsibilities, distraction, legal liabilities, and bad PR on top. So they came up with the "policy" of no pregnancies. Females need to get an abortion or they must leave Sea org (they are not kicked out of the organization, but it is considered a disgrace). Astrid used that to her advantage, she intentionally got pregnant and kept it secret for some time, then she COULD leave w/o being shunned. And the marriage did not work anyway, so THAT did not hold her back. Anyway Zoe loved her niece, the forced abortion thing got to her, and she knew if she gave in to sign the "billion year contract" for Sea Org, she would never be allowed to have such a cute baby herself. That and some strategic sly tactics of her father and her sister pierced a hole into the wall. At some point they got desperate, and went full information mode, telling her about a lot of negative things that had happened. (Not sure if they had encouraged her to seek info on the internet before or if that was "too much"). Anyway that was risky but paid off, some of the arguments klicked, she made up her mind, decided that she would NOT join Sea Org, would risk to offend/upset/lose mother, brother and grandmother in the cult and that she would move to her father (she must be in her twenties now). I think she tried to "leave" properly.

[@Rmack137]

I was a Sea Org member for about a year and a half around 1980. I recall, because I was in when John Lennon was murdered. The EPF was NOTHING like that back then. We pretty much lived like other S.O. members, only we did 'mest work' during our workday, which consisted mostly of cleaning, which was a 9 to 5 schedule. We did a couple hours of study every night. I can't remember if we got days off yet, but we did once I was posted at ASHO day. I think I did a week of 'expediting' after the EPF, which is running memos around and delivering files and such, and then I was posted as the examiner. This is the person who gives an after -session check to make sure the person's 'needle' was 'floating'. It was total bullshit, any movement qualified. It took a while, but I finally figured this out. We got all of Sunday off, and just study on Saturday, If I remember. We could read or watch T.V. all we wanted. The internet didn't exist yet, so they had all the media running scared. Apparently, Miscavige has severely restricted any freedoms that Sea Org members used to have. Although I understand Hubbard was going nuts at the end. For instance, he sent out writings that forbid perfume. My first wife wore a lot of Tea Rose perfume, so this is definitely something that changed drastically.

[@HappyQuailsFarm]

You could package sets of DVDs containing these videos and sell them at conferences and gatherings. Surprisingly, plenty of people are still not familiar with KZbin and some only use the internet for email..

[@ChrisSheltonMsc]

Hmmmm...

[@Zerinity42]

I would I could not subscribe fast enough to your channel. You are doing wonderful work. My husband and I have started putting in the budget a little bit to donate to your cause every month and will beginning that this pay cycle. You and everyone fighting this fight need a deserve help. And I want to help anyway I can to free as many ppl from this evil as I can and if helping you is the way I can get involved .... sign me up!!! Never stop and never give up. You and all the ppl in the battle deserve so much recognition and for our government to wake up and start helping you in this fight!!

[@ChrisSheltonMsc]

Thank you so much Nastassia. I really appreciate your support!

[@elysiahoy9249]

Larissa, I hope you are doing well. I'm SO happy you are out! We were in Mojave "school" together for a few months. You were pretty much the only semi normal girl around my age there. I missed you when you left. That place was horrendous. Horrendous. Sending you big hugs for sharing your story and being so brave in doing so.

[@DannyDemonic666]

Love your channel Chris! Ive heard tons of interesting stories as Scientology is a fascinating but scary cult to follow. What's scary in her story isn't even the details as much as how revealing her speech patterns are. When confronted with using obvious Scientology lingo, she can't find the normal non-Scientology analogous words to describe it and even gives up and thinks the Scientology language she used is understandable on its own. It's as if she still doesn't know the difference between regular speech and Scientology jargon and can't help but constantly use it. Shows you how indoctrinated she is.

[@aadams1006]

It's been hard to follow this from the beginning because of all the Jargon and acronyms. I guess if you spend time in the Church of Scientology you lose the ability to speak English like a regular person.

[@Bobjb999]

I'm hooked on this multi-part series, and look forward to part 3! John Duingan's multi-part yt story of his life in Scientology is another series easy to get hooked on. Btw, there seems to be a pattern of a number ex-Scientologist's who come across to me as extremely charming people, Larisa Smith, Claire Headley, and Jenna Miscavige being examples!

[@TrudyPatootie]

As well as Chirs Herm.. Decompression is a wonderful thing. I am proud of all of them for working their way through the mire.

[@gailpatterson8740]

FANTASTIC series! What a brave young lady to persevere! Good on you!

[@thekkl]

"I'm not even fifteen I'm infinity!"

[@PatriceBoivin]

It's ironic they use an OCA test... borrowing concepts from psychology like the MMPI-R

[@davidhenderson4326]

Being 45 & seeing ALL THE EVIDENCE with what was going on, and highly educated myself..... IF still predominately strong in ANY ASPECT, to bring down in ANY ASPECT, I would with help from CIA, FBI, NSA, AND ANY GOVERNMENT BLACK SECTOR to go in and INFULTRATE..... Being educated in Physics, Psychology, Sociology, 35+ years in Political Science, Biblical Studies & Registered Pastoral Studies and Marriage , Forensic Science and Criminology, along with studies in Trial Law. THIS IS NAZI GERMANY REGIME Declassification and Programming / Reprogramming, and NAZI Prison Camps ALL OVER AGAIN. I can't understand with EVERYTHING that went on in NAZI GERMANY WW2, the Government Insertion, War Crimes Tribunal, and EVERYTHING having to do with the Timothy McFaye Combine situation, that the Government DIDN'T MAKE THE TIES ..... COME ON!!!!!!!!! I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY NO ONE GOVERNMENT WISE DIDN'T STOP, AND WHY PEOPLE LOOKED AT HIGH STANDARDS IN HOLLYWOOD, GOVERNORS, SENATORS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, ANYONE DIDN'T STAND UP TO THIS, UNLESS THE CREM DE LA CREM DIDN'T SEE THIS AS THEIR MAIN FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTORS LIKE IN HOLLYWOOD ESPECIALLY, AND THE GOVERNMENT. I'D ASSUME AS A HUMAN BEING THAT DOESN'T WANT SUCH SEVERE CIRCUMSTANCES TO HAPPEN TO THEMSELVES, UNLESS THEY WENT THROUGH THE SAME WITHOUT PAYING THEIR WAY TO BYPASS ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP WITHOUT EXPERIENCING IT THEMSELVES, WOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING...........WHY!!!!!

[@CaiusAntonius]

So when you join Scientology, you're constantly harassed to sign up to imprison yourself without pay for one billion years? I notice she compared it to a concentration camp rather than to a prison. The thought that she was in prison probably never occurred to any of them. That only makes me wonder how can anyone be deceived into this cult, and how can so many people tolerate so much mistreatment for so long? The other things are, it is sad she refused to go to regular school. She might have been able to get out. Also a shame that her dad decided that she had to live with only other tologists. I wonder how well these people's minds and hearts function.

[@dalearthur7493]

Well, If the Son of G-d is your Saviour, as you attest, then how "these people's minds and hearts function" ought not to be a question for you.

[@CaiusAntonius]

This reminds me of the story of King Nebuchadnezzar's pride, from the Book of Daniel. When he was puffed up in pride, God took his kingdom away from him, and made him live in the wilderness like an animal for several years. There are also verses that state that God will allow some evil men to fall into a woman's deep pit if they are sinners. The mouth of a strange woman is a deep pit. He that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein. And I find more bitter than death, the woman, whose heart is snares and nets and her hands as bands. Whoso pleases God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be taken by her.

[@DannyDemonic666]

Mister Antonius Wow you're just as nuts as these people are. Don't think for a second your make believe is any more real than Xenu is.

[@miam2120]

People don’t make a conscious decision to join destructive cults that’s why they’re destructive cults

[@JegoEXP]

What is going thru your head when you marrying your teen-age boyfriend in some sham ceremony, moving across the country, working for nothing, and not being able to talk to your family. Hmm... sounds like my dream! I don’t understand how you can justify that in your head...just trusting some person you have only known for a short time that this is the greatest thing ever. You don’t think once that maybe I’m getting taken advantage of by this organization?

[@Valmontst]

You can tell she isn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer! 😉

[@icelandman5432]

Brilliant video. What an awful organisation.

[@JessieBanana]

I am trying to be understanding of the parents, but it's so hard. Do these people understand what it means to be a parent? You're not supposed to just get rid of a child because you're fed up (of relatively normal behavior) or because you want to join an academy. You don't lash out at your child just because they lash out at you. You're the adult. And you certainly don't have this tit for tat attitude, where you question whether she owned to phone bills or not.

[@ChrisSheltonMsc]

Please watch the entire series here. I understand why it can be difficult to understand, but when you get the whole story it will be clearer.

[@singingsiren82]

I keep thinking the same thing Jessie, but, from what I can tell, the adults are taught that children are basically adults in smaller bodies... so taking that into context, they would treat the child as an adult, with adult responsibilities and getting adult responses when things went wrong.

[@Exsugarbabe1]

She was dumped by her biological mum, shuffled around schools, told she was an adult in a child's body yet horribly punished for being a teen, where's the stability? The parents bought up a child in a very strange framework and their common sense was warped, they were brainwashed and simply didn't think like most normal parents.

[@madisoncannoles4907]

Chris Shelton • I haven't been able to find the part 3 video for these, and I REALLY want to see its conclusion.... If any of you guys can point me in the right direction :) TY

[@noxprsn]

Please tell her thanks for sharing her story (and as she gets older, she will get better).

[@MonkDave666]

As a huge fan of Bad Religion, I am utterly horrified that Sean used one of my favourite bands as part of his creepy "shtick" :-)

[@sallysimpson5096]

Oh PLEASE!!! Its a free country with free speech. Iggy pop sold "Lust for Life" to Carnival Cruises. I've heard a Bowie song on Muzak while grocery shopping. Lou Reed's Wild Side was on a car commercial. There are many more examples. The fact that you are "horrified" that someone "used your favorite band" on a youtube interview is silly!! I saw Bad Religion in 1984 & 1985, LIVE. They ARE NOT SELL OUTS. The fact that they are mentioned here is insignificant.

[@jimmyshrimbe9361]

SoCali Guera your sentiment is what's insignificant.

[@Thefreemans-interesting-music]

If you want to go just go. If they restrain you then that is kidnapping, call the cops. You owe them no reason or excuse.

[@thebensman9786]

The Scientology LRH vernacular is weird! So glad I never had any religion imposed upon me as a kid!

[@lek0mania]

I dramatically need third part! it's faboulus!

[@xyzsame4081]

1:11:00 it is interesting how they get to ACCEPT people THEIR FRAMING. These are UNPAID volunteers (and recruited without telling them what they get themselves into, when folks sign up for the military they have an idea what to expect, and they are getting paid). - So the idea is you want to leave, they make you do procedures (e-meter) you cannot just leave just because you want to. Well leaving is taking back your right to decide - so that is a contradiction. Of course the whole setting from the beginning is to shift the understanding from "I am a free person, I can stay or go, I do not have to put up with unreasonable demands" to "You do what you are told, you do senseless work without questioning it. you accept being separated from your spouse, you accept a tight schedule, you run you do not walk" Nothing to do with saving mankind or getting ahead spiritually. This is to break the will, to get them into OBEDIENCE. Not giving them enough time to sleep and enforcing a tight schedule when there is no objective necessity for it is part of reducing the frame. The range of options for the trainees. Serfs in training. Once those transgressions by Scientology are accepted (resp. the serf in training is surprised / overwhelmed), they double down. It seems there is a "crossroads" effect going on with humans, once you have accepted that someone crosses your border - or you crossa line, it is very hard to take that back (see the famous experiments of Stanley Milgram - he wrote an easyly understandable book for the non-academics about it). "No, I am not willing to accept such treatment, I did not sign up for THAT". "No I will not play the cruel prison guard" (in social experiments, where it is surprisingly easy to get folks to do harm to other persons who never did anything to them. You either speak up IMMEDIATELY - or there is a very high chance you'll accept that - and then some more. Actually and sadly a lot more. It moves the level of "accepted" behavior, transgression. It shifts what people are willing to endure or can be brought to inflict upon others. On the other hand rebellion is contagious as well (again the Milgram experiment). For authoritarian regimes it is therefore very important to isolate doubters or rebels. Imagine her giving contra when insulted during drill (because she "dared" to use a little make-up) or when receiving useless tasks. Telling them you are not putting up with that and that you are going to leave. - That would have laid a subversive foundation, a seed of future disobedience and doubt for the other serfs in training. Which is why they isolate doubters (when they leave quietly the others will at least notice, when they leave with an eclat, it would shake the bubble for real). The rely on the fact that homo sapiens is a very social creature. When everybody accepts that shit - even a spoilt teenager (and it looks like she was that) puts up with that shit. Considering the wishes of the parents regarding phone bills, making in it through public school. Investing some effort to get along with the family - No, she wouldn't do it. But miraculously that seemingly rebellious young person became a sheep (like most humans do under such circumstances). And it did not take very much to make her - or the others - playing the clown for Scientology.

[@SpecialBlanket]

She was spoiled? Why, because her phone bill was high? Dude, her whole world was shattered by having recently left a CULT. She made contact with people still in because her mind was fucked up. Not because she was spoiled.

[@OuterBankerHours]

All scientology is, is buildings, members get nothing, just bossed around

[@michellesunshinestar]

A church member actually helped me out of Mormonism. She helped me get the form. She said she still believed, but I bet she had doubts.

[@CM-fk3or]

Never thought I'd hear Aphex Twin mentioned during an interview about Scientology....

[@baldkea]

would be good to see you cover the Lisa McPherson story, Chis :-) (tim b)

[@ellenwalker4377]

wait a minute, did she say the sea org guy used the zeitgeist film in recruitment?

[@ChrisSheltonMsc]

Yes. I made a whole video about it here in this channel.

[@ellenwalker4377]

wow, i'd love to see that, what's the title?

[@ChrisSheltonMsc]

Here it is. kzbin.info/www/bejne/apLOhHWfapl4l80

[@Lillireify]

Oh cmon, I have to wait another week to watch next part?! Nooooo! :( Jokes aside, your videos are amazing, keep up your awesome work! Looking forward to watch more :)

[@aramagoo]

I am confused about Larisa getting static for smoking cigarettes .I saw a short film of Ron and a some little-girl Commodore's Messengers and the girls were smoking cigarettes .

[@1311182244]

She got flack from her non-smoking parents. Not all Scientologists smoke or approve of it.

[@aramagoo]

Karla Nava Although what you are saying is logical, because her parents had rank and there is a virtual mystique around cigarette smoking. I would think that the parents would be afraid of having ethics put on them .

[@1311182244]

I don't know what you're talking about. Seems like you think cigarette smoking is required? lol. I am the biological mother of Larisa - so trust me - I know what I'm talking about.

[@aramagoo]

Karla Nava You "did" know what I was talking about,did although I did not think cigarette smoking was required .What I believe is required, is strict conformity.I can understand it not pertaining to your daughter's smoking habits .

[@TrudyPatootie]

What are you talking about? Why would Ethics be put in on the Parents because they didn't want their teenage daughter smoking? That absolutely sounds ludicrous to me.

[@andremattsson6270]

Larisa could potentially be the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.

[@Valmontst]

And also one of the absolutely craziest!

[@YourPoint1981]

This is so cool

[@SpecialBlanket]

36:44 -- did anyone else catch this?! the guy luring them into the sea org is named Brandon FAUST and drives a mustang? sounds like a deal with the devil...

[@mugwump9131]

Scientology or not these parents seem toxic, they make me uncomfortable.

[@OuterBankerHours]

R factor is Not in the english language. It is Hubbard jibberish. Combining 2 words that already exist and pulling a definition out of his butt

[@allim.5941]

I am from Clearwater, but not a Scientologist. I’m prob this chicks age, and I too ran away at 15, but I stayed gone. Two words: emancipated minor

[@OuterBankerHours]

Strange angry man.

[@loiscassels8966]

I didn’t like him right from the start.

[@Mindy14]

She says lawn instead of Lon.

[@Mrs.TJTaylor]

He says Scientologists are “the most stable people I know”. Be he’s a Scientologist and his kids were bounced all over the country for their entire lives. Some huge disconnect with his thinking. And very poor introspection.

[@mugwump9131]

He’s explaining his reasoning at the time, not current

[@sherrysmith337]

The EPF really changed.

[@rhosbein]

Sherry Smith How did it change? Was it better or worse?

[@OuterBankerHours]

Im sorry your parents messed you up like that

[@melniee2551]

Very interesting listen! I find the obsession with smoking interesting though, I'd be more concerned about the moldy bathrooms and blood stained clothing. Hope that doesn't sound judge-y, just an observation. Sounds like a very traumatic and chaotic upbringing for her.

[@CaiusAntonius]

These people did ALL this for Scientology, but I bet they couldn't simply believe for one second that Jesus is the Son of God who died for their sins. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

[@DannyDemonic666]

Mister Antonius Wow talk about drinking the kool aid. Your silly make believe is harmless but don't act like these people are nuts and you're a realist. If you have to go through life imagining some bearded God on a throne judging you then go ahead but its just as much a delusion as Scientology. I was raised Greek Orthodox and thought all that was true until I became a logical adult.

[@CaiusAntonius]

Nikkii, the penalty for sin is death. Everyone gets a free will choice: Do you want to believe in Christ and become overcome by His righteousness? Or do you want to follow the lusts of your own heart and deceive yourself into thinking there is no God who demands holiness? Christ died to show His love for us, to rescue us from death, because the penalty for serving sin instead of God is death. His death was an expression of His love for us. He also had the power to take up His life again, and simply believing in Him and His sacrifice rescues us from eternal death known as hell. All creation was made for God's pleasure. We are to serve Him, not ourselves, because we don't own ourselves. Everything was made by Him, and He is the source of all life. Therefore our lives are owed to Him. You have a freewill choice to reject Christ, but the consequences are eternal death and everlasting fire. It seems if you are disrespecting God by calling Him a zombie and otherwise mocking Him, that you made your choice long ago.

[@sallysimpson5096]

I have morals, good judgement and freewill. I don't need Jesus or god to be my unpaid babysitter.

[@richardanderson7091]

So you were acting like a teenager shame on you LOL another great video great interviews

[@lanniemozzer8521]

Don't scientologists have to learn how to spell? I found three errors in that life history form.

[@ceeteemcdee9680]

She looks much older than she sounds, too much make up. At times she comes across as a bit narcissistic & it's as though her priority in life is smoking cigarettes. I haven't gotten through this series with this girl & not sure if I will. I appreciate your work & the interviews with her dad & mom but she's kind of annoying in a stuck on herself kind of way.

[@JegoEXP]

This girl desperately needed some parental discipline. The more I listen to this story, the more I dislike Larissa. What a spoiled brat

[@MissBenzo]

She had cult discipline, dumbass

[@jimmyshrimbe9361]

You're an idiot.

[@jimmyshrimbe9361]

You basically said "Her parents failed her and I hate her for that."

[@billlindamood1416]

A ca

[@Dadaandthepillsband]

I don't like this girl.