In 1964, I was a 16-year-old Atheist who made friends with a couple of very bright brothers next door, also Atheists. When they started getting into Scientology, they invited me to check it out, so I went for a personal 'evaluation', an hour long test with questions and multiple choice testing. Afterward, they gave me a book by L. Ron Hubbard, which I read with suspicion. When they finished their 'evaluation' they called me for another interview to discuss my test results. They told me that I was too *critical!* So I responded with "You're damn right, and that's why I won't join your bullshit organization!"

@InvectivePleasure

6 жыл бұрын

SIMKINETICS I believe that the test is the gullibility test. They want to know from the start how gullible you are, and how likely you are to get sucked in to their bs so that they can get the largest profit from you.

@danielleantony9971

6 жыл бұрын

Omg I wanna take this test 😂

@motnosniv

6 жыл бұрын

danielle daffers I read a story sbout 2 young girls who took the test. After the scientologist told one of them what a messed up person she was, she killed herself.

@danielleantony9971

6 жыл бұрын

Jimmy Catalina that would happen to me x

@sdidora5

3 жыл бұрын

@@motnosniv horrible I'm sorry hun. Xoxo

Ron is now doing something great for humanity. Thank you Ron for your perspective and insight. I will certainly be reading your book.

"THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN CONTROL PEOPLE IS TO LIE TO THEM. You can write that down in your book in great big letters. The only way you can control anybody is to lie to them." - L. Ron Hubbard

I have much respect for this man.

It is so sad about Scientology has ripped families apart with their disconnection policy.

Fantatstic interview. He's a great speaker, I didn't notice him stumble or trip over his words at all. Very impressed for a guy at 81 years old. I hope I'm as aware as him when I get to that age.

RIP ron, you did good and when you knew better, you did better

When he said the Scientologists bought every variation of his name, I thought they might have bought the obvious pun of "Ron Miscarriage". But googling that only gave me Harry Potter fan fiction I never wanted to know existed.

That was one of my favorites you've done Seth. Great guest and highly informative. Wow to this one.

"there comes a time thief, when the jewels sises to sparkle, and the gold looses it's luster, an the throne room becomes a prison, all that is left is a fathers love fore his child" That just struck me at the end of this talk. Very sad :' (

@edwincasimir28

7 жыл бұрын

Classic Conan line!

In addition to those mentioned by Seth, here are some other Scientologists of note: Actor Anne Archer, bass guitarist Billy Sheehan, actor Jenna Elfman, actor Bobby Lee, actor Erika Christensen, actor Juliette Lewis, and the late Isaac Hayes. Lisa Marie Presley left the cult in 2014. I credit South Park with summarizing Scientology the best.

@GeorgiaOverdrive

7 жыл бұрын

TheOicyu812 Beck is also a Scientologist

@motnosniv

6 жыл бұрын

TheOicyu812 also Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Tom Cruise, John Travolta, kirstie alley, laura prepon, chris and danny masterson, jada pinkett smith, ethan suplee too.

@KarmasAbutch

Жыл бұрын

One of the reasons David Bowie broke up (ziggy stardust &) the spiders from mars … pianist Mike Garson became a Scientologist and converted Trevor Bolder / Woody Woodmansey for a time. Bowie only began working with Garson again later when he was sure he’d left the cult. 👨🏻‍🎤

Ron seems like nice charismatic and "real" person. Would be perfect con-man, but I'm glad he is actually a good guy.

Awesome interview Ron Miscavige and Seth Andrews !

"Holding on to anger against somebody is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies". What an awesome figure of speech, and funny too when recited the right way like Ron did here. - Thanks for an interesting podcast..

I once went into a scientology meeting out of curiosity. It didn't take long to feel a sense of something is wrong here. Thank GOD I left.

Mister Ron Miscavige, you have a new friend in me!

Ron is this normal, down to earth guy. Not like my preconception of some cultie. Goes to show anyone can be sucked in.

@LukeSumIpsePatremTe

7 жыл бұрын

But was he like that, when he was in the cult?

@WWZenaDo

7 жыл бұрын

Most people aren't aware of two significant factors that cause normal, smart people to be sucked into cults. 1. Cults *LIE* about who and what they are. They lie about *EVERYTHING*, especially to potential recruits. 2. Cults often actively seek out highly vulnerable people (or to knock potential recruits off balance, causing them to doubt themselves). For example, the Jehovah's Witness cult leaders (aka the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society) actively suggest that JW proselytizers talk with pregnant women, those who have just given birth (post-natal depression), and the relatives & friends of recently deceased people. They will even go so far as to check local obituaries (to write "comforting" letters pointing the mourners towards the cult) and will occasionally even troll (as in fishing for) local cemeteries looking for people visiting graves.

@LukeSumIpsePatremTe

7 жыл бұрын

They did test the IQs of high ranking nazi officers. They were usually very smart people. So being smart isn't preventing people from joining crazy cults. Cults work on manipulating you emotionally. Smart people are extremely good at rationalizing their crazy beliefs.

@mickelodiansurname9578

7 жыл бұрын

LukeSumIpsePatremTe Anyone can be a victim of an attack on ones obedience to authority. Following the group is a natural trait for communal animals like humans. It can be hijacked and intellect is no safeguard. But you can 'test' your personal obedience level. In fact that's exactly what recruiters for these cults do. They test ones general ability to do as one is told and believe its their own free will. So if anyone ever suggests they will give you a free test... well don't swallow it. However without this trait there would be no civilisation. Its an important trait in being human. See Stanley Milgram

@thatrandomchannel8589

7 жыл бұрын

Billy Bob not me my friend.

Thank Xenu, for "suppressive persons" like Ron, who expose these religions for what they really are!

It is a cult of greed and power and I pray it is truly coming to an end within the next decade or less

@micheleflory2720

7 жыл бұрын

Ugh . It is so typical to try and compare Christianity and an actual cult and say well all religion at some point of origins was and is a cult also . If you research the actual aspects of destructive cults compared to certain religions , such as Christianity , it is drastically different . However I'm not going to devote a whole topic here in this thread on KZread bc it's pointless . This argument or defense of Scientology as being wrongly targeted bc when you look at the whole issue overall many mainstream religions are also cults . Well , that is a half truth maybe fir some religions such as Mormonism and Jehovah witnesses , but Scientology compared to Christianity as any comparison is absolutely ridiculous. But I'm sure I'll get retorts saying it still , but before certain people do that actually research that claim bc it is wrong .

@kelsosunshine3400

6 жыл бұрын

Michele Flory that may come to fruition what with the instant access everyone has to the internet. Back in the day it wasn't so easy to look these things up if you had any doubt. Now the best they can do is try to convincingly doctor information. But most people can see through this no problem. Leah Remini and Mike Render said on the q&a episode of Scientology and the aftermath that they truly believe Scientology will dwindle into nothing in the near future. We're still talking decades as you say...which is not soon enough for my liking lol

What timing, I recently drove by Gold Base (I was in the area and had to see it) and it was definitely interesting to see. Ron seems like a good guy, I like his attitude towards everything. Great interview, Seth.

Great interview. Sad and scary story though.

He is pretty lucid for being 81.

@blancoslate

7 жыл бұрын

... and a great sense of humor too :)

@jayzenitram9621

7 жыл бұрын

I was pretty interested in hearing this guy's story, but I gave up halfway through it because of the guy's story telling style. I can't fucking stand people who interject a shit ton of trivial detail and take an eternity to get to the point. Add to that when they start dropping names of people I don't know or give shit about and I'm out.

@sdidora5

3 жыл бұрын

Ron is a brilliant man who has a big heart and soul. He should connect with leah remini in my opinion.

@ericametzinger4061

3 жыл бұрын

Definitely

such a sad life to live, to be sheltered from the entire world.

I watched Scientology and the Aftermath and came away from it thinking David Miscavige was a horrible sociopathic monster with nothing redeemable about him. After listening to this I think, hmm may there is something human in there somewhere. Maybe it's a father's bias to advocate for their child, but Ron's words in this podcast were disarming all the same. Can I blame him for that? I don't know. Those who have been harmed by Scientology and/or David Miscavige directly or indirectly may not be so forgiving even if he does recant and apologize for decades of abuse. Either way I wish Ron Miscavige the best of luck in reaching his kids. Keep doing what you're doing sir.

I was in a clut for many years in Miami fl. I’m thinking of writing a book on it too. El Rey Jesús.

Great podcast, Seth.

just oedered the book. looking forward to reading.

Very interesting, watched the Rogan interview as well.

I wonder if Zenu is in the same consteallation as Kolob.

Anyone else get a little teary eyed at the end??

To bad we didn't have The Thinking Atheist podcast 2000 years ago :-)

Oh, this'll be fascinating ...

@apteropith

7 жыл бұрын

1:05:28 Ya, you said it.

Sounds like a religion written by a failed science fiction writer looking for an innovative way to make a pile of cash. Oh.

@BaronVonQuiply

7 жыл бұрын

I found a copy of Dianetics at a dollar store. I picked it up and flipped through it as I knew Hubbard was a Sci-Fi writer but quickly found that I was looking at what I assumed to be a Self-Help program. Of all the people disappointed by that book, I imagine I got off rather easy.

@sdidora5

3 жыл бұрын

Lol chip xoxo

I wish for him that one day, him and his son may share a hug...

@MzSuzy2698

5 жыл бұрын

[mk]ULTRAPOLIS I don't you want that.

Why on earth do you have to 'escape' a church?

💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙 The advertisement for ""The Great Courses Plus..."" sounded like a cult too... the way the sounded advertised it...

Scientology Scared me a lot! thanks Seth. I'm not a Atheist and Love people no matter what religion your in. thanks. ^^ Also, Real Science rocks.

I'm bookmarking this video for when people say you unfairly target Christians. In truth, you _fairly_ target religion insofar as it is harmful, and in the cases of both fundamentalist Christianity and Scientology, they are big targets indeed. Keep fighting the good fight.

There was no Internet, but there was a Reader's Digest article.

Ron seems like a cool dude.

People meet and finds similarities between them. They form an organisation. They elect a governing body. They grow big and becomes rich and leaders become greedy and delusional. Fanatics stay and put up with the wrongs rather than admit something is wrong with their organisation. This story keeps repeating itself 😃

Not to defend these people, but to correct a minor point. As a hobbyist shooter, I use a suppressor. (A more appropriate term than silencer) to protect my hearing. Suppressors are legitimate tools. " Silencer" is a term created by the media. Guns cannot be "silenced", do not believe the movies.

What was the book ron recommended i think it could be useful

Am I the only one who thinks Ron sounds like Stan Lee?

@necrosunderground

5 жыл бұрын

I thought I was the only one thinking that!

@FIREBALLER100

4 жыл бұрын

He not only sounds like Stan Lee- he kinda looks like him a little too.

Ron should make a movie.....somebody make a movie. This is sad for any dad.

A silencer (a.k.a. suppressor) is a good accessory for target practice. Rifles are _loud_. They can permanently damage ones hearing. Without a silencer, you have to wear ear protection that makes it hard to hear things you need to hear. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is a short story by James Thurber.

congradulations sirand your wife on getting out of the cult.

💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙Damn...we got to REMEMBER........................ QUESTION...EVERYTHING............ 💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙

What are the 19th century books Ron talks about that one can get on Amazon?

@Captain_MonsterFart

4 жыл бұрын

try searching for books 'in the public domain" on google and you'll find lots of title's i am sure.

glad it's fixed

(Around 4:30) I don't think they all believe that, or consider it to be some sort of requirement. I don't even think some are necessarily even aware (similar to how many Christians are often unaware of atrocious things, or claim that they disagree or do not believe that specifically but believe other things). My parents (from Johannesburg and Durban, both in South Africa) were involved in Scientology sometime between the 70's and sort of mid 80's (before I was alive or old enough to remember anyway). Anyway that whole "Genesis Story" came as a bit of surprise to them when mentioned (and I do not think it can be brushed off as just a case of "shame"), that just seemingly was not really mentioned or particularly relevant to their Scientology experience and interactions. They did not doubt the "Genesis Story" but were somewhat surprised by it. It certainly might not have been used as a selling point and maybe simply never really came up. [I am only aware of Scientology as an outside observer, based on stories and accounts as opposed to personal interactions, I am quite ignorant on the matter; but honestly "life's too short", I plan to keep it that way. This whole "Anti-SJW" hive-mind (some of them, and quite a lot of them as well "Not All Not All", some are really not fair or reasonable, and simply really horrible and unreasonably self-serving and blatantly severely intolerant and bigoted and also against academia, research and science as well as arguably undeniably irrational), on KZread and Twitter and other social media, is all the cult experience I probably ever need for the rest of my life.]

@petersmythe6484

7 жыл бұрын

I should mention this discussion came up during a South Park episode relevant to Scientology, and my older brother asked "are you aware of any of this"? And the answer was "no not really, I am just not aware of that".

David Miscavage has a lot to answer for.

In the Hare Krishnas, when people leave, they are said to have "blooped". There are no reprisals though, as there is with Scientology.

@JohnSmith-cl3ez

7 жыл бұрын

mon librepenseur... ISKcON et krishna murgas... indeed. they have some amity between others, and treat non-belief quite well relative to other paradigms. I have met different ISKCON individuals from backgrounds such as Ukraine, the continent (ie, India/Pakistan) and from other nationstates origins. many members appear to be demographically tripartite. ISKCON's futures divisions are intriguing, their involvement with WFSF is interesting, and have much detente et diplomacy framework. they also study mathematics et 'mandala'; a curious art form they craft over lifetimes. some subfaction would very much want to cause harm to those who do not 'pay it forward' after take advantage to ISKCON. I do not perceive them as being a harm to the general public or as adversarial though on many levels. Ananda Marga, the Gupta International (a female proximate of Ananda Marga), and ISKCON though do seem to vie with one another... though, as one of non-belief, agnostic igtheism, I very much defend to their right to believe as they wish, where they respect to secularite, do not cause harm, and do not use differential fecundity gerrymander as a weapon.

Damn your Xenu, damn you!!! Once I reach Level 7, you're going to get yours!!!

Gutsy interview, Ron. Very best wishes to you!

Should totally get Tom Cruise to play Ron Miscavige in the movie. :)

@alexisrose1675

7 жыл бұрын

lmao. he doesn't have the credentials.

@MzSuzy2698

5 жыл бұрын

Well he's short enough.

49:50 "Ron Miscavige, a man on the run" Seth could have a future in replacing the "in a world of..." movie guy.

why doesnt someone fly over and drop informational pamphlets?

who is interviewing Ron here ?

Riveting story … couldn’t stop listening

We are all familiar with the story of Xenu. Those of us who watch South Park anyway. LOL.

Jesus Christ is Lord and He is coming back soon. Hallelujah.

@Crashawsome

9 ай бұрын

Yeah, that’s what your cult leader told you

@adrianablessed718

9 ай бұрын

the bible is saying that. please read the Bible and get ready. we are leaving this world soon. hallelujah @@Crashawsome

Good grief....

A "chase car"? WTF? Was that a prison or what? Don't you have your right to freedom? What they're going to do, drag you back to the church, that's kidnapping.

@alexisrose1675

7 жыл бұрын

They intimidate people into rejoining saying they will force their family to stop speaking to them. Manipulative money hungry tyrants.

@motnosniv

6 жыл бұрын

Lau Jacob Yes that's exactly what they have done.

Happy for him he wasn't trapped in the closet for too long.

Given the way Scientology uses the term, it would be funny if someone who left Scientology wrote a book and titled it, "Blowing Myself". .... Sorry. ;-)

You know what, I'm not even shocked with all this. It's not like you can be sure you're not getting scammed any minute of any hour of any fucking day of your life... People would pay any money for someone to tell them their lives have a meaning and be convincing.

@motnosniv

6 жыл бұрын

durcheinander How much are you willing to pay me?

I'm listening to him tell his stories. He's telling his stories like someone who has told each of these stories hundreds of times. This means that he probably used the exact same stories as he talked new members into giving up all of their money and belongings to join a group that will then basically enslave you.

@motnosniv

6 жыл бұрын

MrOttopants They are not stories. He's relating the experience that he lived.

@TheMusachioedBrony

6 жыл бұрын

MrOttopants I don’t think so. Ron was never part of the recruitment process. He joined the Sea Org and worked at their production studio on music for all their promotions.

I’d like to meet David Miscavige and his boyfriend Tom Cruise

When you look at David Miscavige, you're looking at the face of evil, itself.

(33:15) (33:45) (38:50)

I heard that Hubbard bet a friend that he could start a religion.

Wait......they were placed in volcanos, but needed nukes to finish them off? Lava is fucking hot yo!

@gaminawulfsdottir3253

Жыл бұрын

Volcanoes are a convenient excuse for why no archaeological or fossil evidence can be found to back up outlandish lies.

Hah, whey you go to the main Scientology site - and under the profile of Ron Miscavige - there are long stories of 30 current members that have worked with him, smearing him. I suppose they have such profiles of all the "suppresive" persons. Imagine that on every company/corporation - you go to their site and for each fired person from the company - there is a profile under his name when 20-30 current employes write how lasy, incompetent and shitty a person he was....Ron is right - it is not a religion, it's a CULT!

Seth, I'm trying to imagine why you didn't ask him if he now believes in a god. I suppose that if he is labeled an atheist that he wouldn't sell as many books and that would be a bad thing. Is that why you didn't ask him?

@TheMindIlluminated

6 жыл бұрын

Scientology doesn't really have god as a central component, so your statement doesn't make sense.

@gaminawulfsdottir3253

Жыл бұрын

It's really not relevant.

Then they peel back the onion , they lost the plot.

Sounds like super LDS

1,000 an hour! Oh yeah these 2 are clueless. It was 50 bucks when they started in '72. At most now it's 200.

Which one is the giver and who is the taker? I think Dave's the giver, Tom likes to be ridden hard.

I appreciate him telling his story but I can't stand how often he swears "Jesus Christ".

Cult of personality

LRH IS GOD.

9 minutes into the podcast and there is still no interview but instead commercial about some self help courses...yawn.

Too many ads interrupting. I give up listening - ADS INTERUPTION TOO ANNOYING!!!!

sounds like north korea

Errrr... Ex-Jehovah's Witness here, but have had brushes with Scientology. I don't recall anything in Scientology about being a "god". More like being a highly powerful being that is held back by alien "thetans" which have illicitly attached themselves to a person's inner personality...?

He kinda sounds like a nut. But I suppose he has to be a nut to have been into Scientology for all those years. And he is also over 80, so there is that too. I've known a couple old guys who kinda ramble with stories.

@motnosniv

6 жыл бұрын

Phloid82 Just cuz he's old doesn't mean he has lost his mind. You probably won't even remember this comment when you reach the age of 80.