Today we are joined by former second-generation Scientologist Aaron Smith-Levin. Aaron became a member of the Church of Scientology at around the age of 4, after his mother joined up in Philadelphia. Aaron details his life within Scientology, from joining staff at age 12, to signing his billion year Sea Org contract in his 20’s, to eventually leaving the cult along with his wife and children. We discuss what it was like as a child growing up knowing nothing other than Scientology. We discuss how Scientology is often contradictory and at odds with its own belief system, along with the posthumous influence of L Ron Hubbard, regarded by Scientologists as both god and man.
Later Aaron relates the fascinating story of how Patt and Annie Broeker were ousted by David Miscavige in the course of his quest to gain control of the group. We also discuss Scientology’s dangerous and barbaric views about disabled people; Aaron describes the “superman” mentality of Scientologists and how they blame disabled people for their handicaps. Aaron explains that Scientology doesn’t regard them as worthy of help, and explains the Scientological concept of “making the able more able.” We round off the podcast with a discussion of the current state of Scientology — Aaron and I talk about the involvement of Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam with Scientology, and what this means for the future. We briefly consider the rumors of OJ Simpson being a Scientologist, and Aaron notes some other interesting celebrities who dabbled in Scientology.
I had the great pleasure to join John Adams and Chris Kendell again on the Afternoon Commute. This time around we discussed Scientology. We started out by focusing on one of Hubbard’s earliest mentors, rocket scientist and Crowley acolyte Jack Parsons. We discussed Parsons’ relationship with the government and his high-level military clearance while running the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. We also discussed Parsons’ and Hubbard’s infamous sex magick rituals that they performed in California. I also talked about Parsons’ girlfriend (possible handler/ intelligence asset) Marjorie Cameron. I discussed Cameron’s rather interesting background as the only woman working for the Joint Chiefs of Staff during WWII, and her fascinating past as a spy. Later we discussed Hubbard more directly. We explored his use of hypnotism and his experimentation on his own family during the early stages of Scientology and his writing of “Dianetics.” I also introduced my own theories about the relationship between Scientology and the CIA. We explored Scientologists (and CIA contractors) Ingo Swann and Harold Puthoff’s work on psychic warfare at the Stanford Research Institute. Later on, Chris and John asked me about the famous 1993 IRS judgement that declared the cult a religion, granting it massive power and influence.
Chris and I then explored the nature of cults on a broad level. We examined the concept of the State as the largest cult around. I also discussed how Scientology has slowly been infiltrating the alternative movement. Through the use of the Citizens’ Commission on Human Rights and their stance on vaccines, the cult has been trying its best to get in bed with the alternative community.
This is another long conversation where we get into a ton of different topics and ideas, so make sure you have your E-Meter handy!
[Note: There is a slight audio problem with my recording which makes it sound as if I have a terrible lisp.]
In this interview Pearse Redmond shares some of his research and thoughts on Scientology and cults in general. What is a destructive cult, and why would anyone join one in the first place? A better question might be: what pseudo-cults have I, myself been involved in, and to what extent? Human nature is ours, but it is also the Garden from which the guru attempts to pick Forbidden Fruit.
Porkins Policy Review 