# Anybody ele watching "Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 25, 2016, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ele-watching-leah-remini-scientology-and-the-aftermath/775581 "2016-12-25T02:04:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2016, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ele-watching-leah-remini-scientology-and-the-aftermath/775581/61 "2016-12-30T23:12:17Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > Has anyone else read, “[Beyond Belief - My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008XOJ7C2/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title)”, by Jenna Miscavige Hill? > > Her parents were Sea Org members, and she was basically raised by COS child minders until she was 6, sent away to live at (and help refurb) the COS ranch. Signed her billion-year contract and joined the Sea Org at 7. Was pretty much raised to believe that because she was a “spiritual being”, her parents really weren’t anything more than other “spiritual beings”, and not to be too attached to them. > > StG I read it. It’s an interesting viewpoint, but not one of the vital books on the cult. Worth reading if you’ve read five other books on Scientology. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2016, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ele-watching-leah-remini-scientology-and-the-aftermath/775581/62 "2016-12-30T23:16:53Z")
Yep, it’s a good book. Jenna got no breaks by being David Miscavige’s niece either. They worked her as hard, if not harder, than any of the other children in the Sea Org. And by worked I mean brutal physical labor, such as moving and placing rocks for retaining walls. Indoctrinated Scientologists believe that children are ancient “thetans” in smaller bodies. They don’t believe that children should be treated any differently than adults. Jenna’s father is Ron Miscavige Jr. He and Jenna’s mother left the cult in 2000. Jenna and her husband left in 2005. Her grandfather, Ron Sr., left the cult in 2012. David Miscavige’s wife Shelly hasn’t been seen in public since 2007 (she’s not “missing” just hidden away). They never had kids. Jenna and Ron Sr. have both written books critical of the cult. David Miscavige has no family in his life anymore. He doesn’t care. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2016, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ele-watching-leah-remini-scientology-and-the-aftermath/775581/63 "2016-12-30T23:23:30Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > I read it. It’s an interesting viewpoint, but not one of the vital books on the cult. Worth reading if you’ve read five other books on Scientology. I read it because it was briefly on sale on Kindle for $1.99. A great read for the price. StG ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2016, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ele-watching-leah-remini-scientology-and-the-aftermath/775581/64 "2016-12-30T23:41:13Z")
> [@Leo\_Krupe](#): > > The church rightfully gets criticized for its actions, but apparently none of the members think Xenu deserves any criticism (or thought). Nitpick. Xenu is the Scieno’s Satan, their devil. Those who know about and believe in him would have plenty of criticism if they were allowed to talk openly about any aspect of Scientology, but they’re not allowed to discuss anything but the most trivial matters with each other. > [@Leo\_Krupe](#): > > LRH is left virtually blameless. But I guess in an argument, it’s best to focus on one point at a time, and the ex-members are focusing on what they themselves experienced. And since LRH died 30 years ago, I suppose they don’t think he’s relevant (in the current conversation). LRH gets plenty of criticism from former members, if you look in the right places. Search Hana Whitfield, Marjory Wakefield, Jeffrey Augustine’s Scientology Money Project to start. For the currently indoctrinated, LRH isn’t dead at all, he just shed his body and went off to do research elsewhere. I assume that most of the indoctrinated think that if LRH were unhappy with Miscavige, he’d come back and whoop ass. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2016, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ele-watching-leah-remini-scientology-and-the-aftermath/775581/65 "2016-12-31T01:57:56Z")
> [@Leo\_Krupe](#): > > That’s one of the paradoxes I find somewhat troubling about the ex-members. They say that at its core, Scientology is good and helpful. I’ve not found specifics on that claim, and if anyone can enlighten me, all the better. The very lowest levels, which borrow heavily from Korzybski’s General Semantics, are no better or worse than a lot of “self-help” systems - and a lot of the people who got out say they still use those bits. In fact, there is a whole group of people who like to practice Scientology but don’t want to have anything to do with the “Church”. They call themselves “Freezone” - the CoS calls them “Squirrels” (thus the bit with CoS people stalking Mike Rinder wearing “Squirrel-Busters” t-shirts. But as time went on, Hubbard kept making grander claims and inventing higher levels to keep the money rolling in - and getting crazier and crazier. Nobody would ever take a second course if they didn’t get \*something \*out of it, but by the time they get to the really crazy stuff, they have a big investment in it. They often double down like gamblers. Leah Remini talks about hitting the crazy stuff (OT III aka “The Wall of Fire” aaka “Aliens? Are you fucking kidding me?”) and keeping on because, by that time, it was her entire life. All her family, friends, her whole identity. So it is possible to be a practicing Scientologist and loathe the “Church.” ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2017, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ele-watching-leah-remini-scientology-and-the-aftermath/775581/66 "2017-01-01T08:25:39Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > I wish someone would make movies from Marc Headley’s Blown For Good and Tony Ortega’s book about Paulette Cooper, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely. I have the perfect lead for Paulette Cooper - Nicole Kidman. Or would that make Tom’s head explode? ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2017, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ele-watching-leah-remini-scientology-and-the-aftermath/775581/67 "2017-01-01T11:10:52Z")
So scientology sells a service for money? ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2017, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ele-watching-leah-remini-scientology-and-the-aftermath/775581/68 "2017-01-01T18:50:15Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > I have the perfect lead for Paulette Cooper - Nicole Kidman. Or would that make Tom’s head explode? I love her, but I just saw her in Lion and she’s too old now. My idea is Jennifer Lawrence. She’s perfect for it, and I can see her on the movie poster in this book cover pose. [http://tonyortega.org/the-unbreakable-miss-lovely/](http://tonyortega.org/the-unbreakable-miss-lovely/) ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2017, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ele-watching-leah-remini-scientology-and-the-aftermath/775581/69 "2017-01-01T18:55:57Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > So scientology sells a service for money? That’s what they want rubes to believe. Any self-help section in the library would be more helpful, you wouldn’t have to spend your life savings and then some, and you’d get to keep your mind, your free-will, your friends and family. Plus people wouldn’t look at you and think you’re an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2017, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ele-watching-leah-remini-scientology-and-the-aftermath/775581/70 "2017-01-02T03:53:08Z")
I just watched Episode 4, the event producer Marc Headley. He explained how statistics quoted in church publications are exaggerated to impress their members. They want members to believe the church’s mission to change the world is successful. Marc and his wife Claire explained how marriage works in Sea Org. They rarely saw one another. Working on different schedules. No kids allowed. Claire was encouraged to have multiple abortions. Their escape from Gold Base sounded like a movie plot. Crazy stuff and deeply disturbing. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2017, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ele-watching-leah-remini-scientology-and-the-aftermath/775581/71 "2017-01-02T14:07:37Z")
> [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > On the Open Seas, your Captain is God. > > Commodore Hubbard ran a tight ship. L. Ron Hubbard was known for saying that the fastest way to get rich was to invent a religion. He proved it, too. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2017, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ele-watching-leah-remini-scientology-and-the-aftermath/775581/72 "2017-01-02T15:42:29Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > So scientology sells a service for money? No-Scientology sells an _unknown_ service for an untold amount of your time and an untold amount of your money without telling you what the church really believes, then makes your life a living hell when you you try to leave it’s longer-than-life contract, sometimes using blackmail and sometimes telling lies about you to friends, family and coworkers. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ele-watching-leah-remini-scientology-and-the-aftermath/775581/73 "2017-01-03T14:27:43Z")
So, after binging what we could on this show, we decided to watch Going Clear on HBO. For the most part, the doc goes through the same things that Leah does, with the same people, but it did leave me with one lasting takeaway: If I were Tom Cruise, I’d be way into Scientology too! Dude just needs to mention what he wants to someone and it’s there for him. Literally anything he desires he can get, free of charge. If I could have anything I wanted just by saying it, I’d say I love the hand that feeds me too. I don’t care if it’s Scientology, Catholocism, or the friggin Church of Satan. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ele-watching-leah-remini-scientology-and-the-aftermath/775581/74 "2017-01-03T22:57:27Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > So, after binging what we could on this show, we decided to watch Going Clear on HBO. > > For the most part, the doc goes through the same things that Leah does, with the same people, but it did leave me with one lasting takeaway: If I were Tom Cruise, I’d be way into Scientology too! > > Dude just needs to mention what he wants to someone and it’s there for him. Literally anything he desires he can get, free of charge. If I could have anything I wanted just by saying it, I’d say I love the hand that feeds me too. I don’t care if it’s Scientology, Catholocism, or the friggin Church of Satan. One of the escapees told of the people in the Orwellian “Rehabilitation Projects Force” planting a field of flowers for Tom and his then-wife Nicole to run through. They do it because he was someone would could bring in new recruits (which Hubbard charmingly termed “raw meat”.) But I just can’t imagine that even Tom’s celebrity can work much longer. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ele-watching-leah-remini-scientology-and-the-aftermath/775581/75 "2017-01-05T20:24:26Z")
So are CoS members encouraged to go see Tom Cruise movies or stuff put out by other CoS members? ---
**Author:** ![Clawdio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@Clawdio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clawdio)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ele-watching-leah-remini-scientology-and-the-aftermath/775581/76 "2017-01-05T21:47:38Z")
Are there “walking-around” members of CoS? This show and Going Clear seem to focus on people that were part of the central organization living in one of the “compounds” (if that’s the right word). I get how they could control media consumption of those folks, but I assume there are members of the church that otherwise live “normal” lives. How do they fool those people? And keep them fooled? ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Krupe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Leo\_Krupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Krupe)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ele-watching-leah-remini-scientology-and-the-aftermath/775581/77 "2017-01-05T21:56:02Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > So are CoS members encouraged to go see Tom Cruise movies or stuff put out by other CoS members? I can’t speak to that specific point, but they sure do make sure “Dianetics” is a consistent best-seller. > [@](#): > > But apparently Hubbard’s followers have not trusted sales of his books entirely to the fickle winds of the marketplace. > > Sheldon McArthur, former manager of B. Dalton Booksellers on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, said, “Whenever the sales seem to slacken and a (Hubbard) book goes off the bestsellers list, give it a week and we’ll get these people coming in buying 50 to 100 to 200 copies at a crack–cash only.” > **[Costly Strategy Continues to Turn Out Bestsellers](https://www.latimes.com/local/la-scientology062890-story.html)** > > Call it one of the most remarkable success stories in modern publishing history. I wouldn’t put anything past these people in order for them to get what they want. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ele-watching-leah-remini-scientology-and-the-aftermath/775581/78 "2017-01-05T22:06:40Z")
> [@Clawdio](#): > > Are there “walking-around” members of CoS? This show and Going Clear seem to focus on people that were part of the central organization living in one of the “compounds” (if that’s the right word). I get how they could control media consumption of those folks, but I assume there are members of the church that otherwise live “normal” lives. How do they fool those people? And keep them fooled? Most of them are not in the compounds - that’s just the Sea Org people. Before Leah joined the Sea Org, she and her mother were housemates with another Scientologist. If they had started reading material critical of Scientology, that person would have been required to file a “Knowledge Report” of their activities. Hell, they did it to themselves - they were expected to install a CoS supplied Net.Nanny program on their computers that would block all critical web sites (and report what sites they DID visit). ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ele-watching-leah-remini-scientology-and-the-aftermath/775581/79 "2017-01-05T22:10:39Z")
> [@Leo\_Krupe](#): > > I can’t speak to that specific point, but they sure do make sure “Dianetics” is a consistent best-seller. > > [Costly Strategy Continues to Turn Out Bestsellers](http://www.latimes.com/local/la-scientology062890-story.html) > > I wouldn’t put anything past these people in order for them to get what they want. In a previous discussion, a Doper who worked at a B. Dalton reported receiving sealed boxes of Dianetics - with B. Dalton price stickers already applied. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ele-watching-leah-remini-scientology-and-the-aftermath/775581/80 "2017-01-05T22:46:17Z")
The Sea Org people are considered the Scientology ministers, which is in part how they get away with the slave labor - it’s not considered different than monks who work in a monastery and get room, board and a small stipend. They’re the ones allowed to do auditing. The Sea Org members don’t have money to contribute, so they contribute labor - 14 hours a day, 7 days a week. The people who are financially supporting the Co$ are the “public Scientologists”, who pay for auditing, to take the courses, buy the books and DVDs. StG [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ele-watching-leah-remini-scientology-and-the-aftermath/775581.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ele-watching-leah-remini-scientology-and-the-aftermath/775581.md?page=5)