Thank you so much for having me on your show, it was a pleasure speaking with you and I'm excited to see the response this video gets! :) Oh, and HUGE congrats on 10k Subs!!!!!!!
Im gonna second what Alex said towards the end: you're helping a lot of people by providing this content and not just people who have been in a cult. I have never been in a cult but there is so much of what is being shared in these interviews that help me deconstruct my world view and self understanding that was created from the toxic family structures I grew up in. The deconstruction process, the constant realization that "oh that thing is ALSO a way that I've been told I or the world works but that is actually not true"... the uncovering of your true authentic self layer by layer as you peel away all of this bs... It's really a very similar process. And just hearing from other people that have gone through - or is still going through - that weird, interesting and difficult process makes me feel a LOT less alone and a lot more sane.
@IngLi Bu Exactly right! These principles of capturing the mind are applied by suppressive governments, suppressive "religions", and suppressive persons (Narcissists). It is ALL THE SAME: control, control, control.
@More Michelle Very well said, I live in Utah, born and raised. I was raised Pentecostal ( very strict, cult like as many of the others) left there as a young teen and basically just followed the Christian beliefs with the kings James bible on my own. I was visited 2 to 3 times a week by missionaries trying to get me into the Mormon church, they wouldn’t listen to anything I was saying, they just continued to compare how close my beliefs were to theirs, one had gotten so mad at me telling them very nicely no, he said I’m going to go to hell for not wanting to listen to them and have them over to my house 3 times a week to teach myself/ my children the Book of Mormon. That alone told me all I needed to know, I was actually very mind blown because out of every missionary I’d come across, none had never spoken to me in that manner. The whole blacks being cursed because of our darker skin tone is absolutely absurd/racist, how they don’t see that is wild. I appreciate your videos very much because they truly do help many people, I’ve wanted to start a channel and speak out on the Pentecostal pov but have just been very nervous to do so. Please continue your work because it helps wake some up and gives courage to those who are scared to speak up. Thanks again @Cults to consciousness hun, I know all too well about these church cults.
while watching her videos for the last couple ddays i realized this is why im so intrigued by cult stories. I relate not bc i was in a cult but becaused i was also emotionally and mnetally abused for majority of my life. Im sorry for whatever you went through, we didnt deserve it. I relate to oyu 100%!! hearing others talk about their truama and healing helps me realize my own.
Listened to the end and have found a great liking for the strength this young man to admit he had been captured by a cult. I wish him all the best and I wish him every success in the future. He deserves it!
I lived a few miles away from FLAG in Clearwater, Fl. The church has bought over half of the properties/land in Clearwater proper. They have ruined the town. It’s sad.
Thank you for having Alex on your podcast. I have been following him since he started and he is doing great work helping people understand that Scientology members are not, at heart, bad people while at the same time, giving the perspective that the philosophy and organization are deeply flawed and lead people to do horrible things in the name of the cult.
Dropped from in AA’s show, subscribed to your channel. Thanks for the work you do, providing a place for those in coercive control groups to learn about those groups and see that there are good people and a chance for a good life on the outside
Hey Alex, It is great to see and hear some new stories from you. I love that you are getting out there and speaking your truth and the truth of many others who were in scientology.
41:50 - I didn’t realize that, either, it wasn’t clear. He did say the first time he went to talk to them he was a teenager but I really thought this story was over more of a span of time, i didn’t realize he was still a teenager throughout all of this.
Congrats on 10k. I found your channel after watching Dani and have been catching up on your past videos. I have never been in a cult and thanks to these types of videos I never will. Great interview Alex I am a subscriber to your channel also. Thanks for sharing.
In my country, Scientology will not advertise as such. They have people standing around with dvd's and flyers on street corners and they tell you about this interesting scientific documentary about space that they're selling, and talk about new ways to help people and community / spirituality. And you're like "Yeah ok, why not, sounds interesting" and then they'll have you write down your address and phone number to buy it "because of taxes" or some other bullshit reason. Which, red flag, I know, but when that happened to me, I was 13 years old and very trusting. Told my dad about it and he said "That was a scientologist, that's their thing. That's how they trick people to join" So I threw the DVD and the flyer away. Never heard from them again, thankfully. Ngl, I was scared they'd come and harass us.
This is not a dig, but it's always so interesting to me to hear from somebody who joined Scientology in the last decade or so. Just because there is so much information out there about what they are and what they do to people that it surprises mean that they're still able to get new people who are normal, rationally thinking people. and yet they do!
Maybe some people are attracted to having the backing of a powerful destructive organisation. Maybe they feel weak in life, but if they become a Scientologist they think they will be protected, and their enemies in life will have to back off.
The OW thing reminds me of thr show Severance, when they do something that's considered wrong and have to repeat the same apology statement over and over hundreds of times until the admins are satisfied. I wonder if they had any inspiration from these stories. It was great to hear from Alex! I'm so glad he got out.
I recently found your channel and have really appreciated its existence. This showed up in my life in a time when I've needed it and am looking back at things from the conservative leaning Catholic Church upbringing I had that was NOT normal and is still harmful. Hearing the stories of your amazing and varied guests is so empowering and helpful.
the temple in london is located in the most expensive borough of outer london called richmond, the same area where the american university is. they used to do a spread out stress test in front of the tescos...the value of that property must be insane
I love this channel so much. When I heard that Scientology was not only in the US, I literally went and searched for it, because I seriously thought that South Africa didn't have it 😅 I'm very clearly living under a rock. So I see that they give tours and I kinda want to go and check it out
Oh my gosh! Congratulations on your marriage!! How exciting! I hope you guys have many, many happy years together. I just came across your channel today, & the first video I watched was the previous one before this one I believe, with Dani & I must say that I feel so much uplifting & powerful positive energy from all you guys stand for. Even not having been a part of anything like you guys were I still heavily empathize & support you in everything you endeavor. Have a great day!!
Keep up the awesome videos. First saw you on Growing up in scientology. Subscribed right away. Another good interview with a former Jehovahs Witness is Lloyd Evans. He has a very informative channel if you want to learn about jws.
If someone came in and asked why the billion year contracts? If it's not a cult why wouldn't you be able to go to church and have your own faith, without a contract? And even if it only applies to employees again, why such an extreme contract? Do you not trust/have faith in your members? What would the "scientology answer" be to that?
Not a scientologist, but I would assume the answer would be something similar to "why sign a contract with your partner that you can't leave them until you die? Isn't that extreme? If it's not a controlling relationship wouldn't you be able to have your own love without a contract? Do you and your partner not trust each other to stay together? Contracts aren't always about enforcement, but about demonstrating and solidifying commitment. Our members WANT to sign these contracts as a testament to their own journey and belief in what they're doing. No one is made to sign a contract unless they want to, and everyone is free to be in scientology without signing a contract. Only those who WANT to dedicate their present and future lives to the cause sign them."
I remember one day I was walking around London with my Dad near the Tower Bridge area and some lady handed me a flyer and i didn't think much of it. An hour later I pulled it out of my pocket and it was a heckin scientology invitation flyer and i was like WHAAAAAAT i always thought this stuff wasnt so overt
😂 oh no, they aren’t sneaky at all when it comes to recruiting. Years ago I was standing in line for a tv “extras” casting and they literally came down the line handing out flyers targeted for actors.
@Cults to Consciousness Heard about your channel through @Apostate Alex! Congratulations on getting out of a very large, controlling cult. 😊👍. A BIG Congratulations on your upcoming marriage! 😊❤ Been with Alex since he opened his channel, and I'm so happy watching his channel grow so quickly! GREAT interview! 😊👍
Such an interesting video, sorry about what you went through being in Scientology. I live in the UK and had no clue this was going on. The host is pretty great and let's the guest talk 😊 loving the white top btw.
A great deal of the behaviors of this church are similar to me upbringing as a fundamentalist mormon. Although I grew up in a very small village next to a polygamist colony. Anything can be normalized If authority figures act like its normal. Breaking the mindset is a a huge part of my struggles and when your very large family is all part of it and life was mapped out for you, it's really difficult to change internally.
Mostly this is true but every town is going to have enough well educated individuals who don’t breakfast on misogyny, institutionalized pedophelia, and patriarchal violence to make a difference.
1 Main Goal of High Demand Religions / Groups is to ( immediately) get a person to " fall into a line of COMPLETE Agreement that the Organization is ALWAYS Right"... Thus taking away the Individual' Right of Autonomy. you CAN NOT Disagree, you CAN NOT Doubt
It's really damaging if you have a Serious Mental Illness and you need a medical intervention. They don't believe in psychiatric medication and as someone with Bipolar Disorder who does need medication to survive this is a no starter and their activism to ban necessary treatment is damaging. Transversely, I know people who have legitimately been subjected to trauma in the psychiatric system. This may sound counterintuitive but I have heard of survivors of psychiatric abuse who are legitimately trying to change the system who's criticism is dismissed as just repeating Scientology ideology. It's also very damaging.
I really think you should consider interviewing Drew and Tayor!! They are from the fundamentalist Mormon side, now atheist. Drew runs a channel called Genetically Modified Sceptic and Taylor has a channel called The Antibot, I really love your work as well as theirs ❤❤❤ Keep up the great work ❤
After I started seeking outer knowledge from mormonism I got hooked up with Scientology as one of my stages I went through. And thank goodness I had enough sense about me to get out early. But it wasn't easy. Later I found out because my mother was a convert to the mormon church that before that she also had that experience with Scientology and a about destroyed her. Thank goodness I got wise very quickly due to having other experiences with other religion and cults.
Over the course of the pandemic, I watched or listened to what must amount to hundreds of hours of documentaries and podcasts and interviews about ex-Scientologists and post-Mormons, and yet listening to these two comparing and contrasting some of the worst parts of their respective religions is still a bit jaw-dropping. There's so much harm being normalized.
My ex boss wanted me to implement a course he and his wife went to for his practice. He had his office manager hand me the course/book. I said I would not touch that book because is was Hubbard’s teaching.
This last part has made me realize why the polarization is happening in the US...why the cognitive dissonance is so hard to uproot. People wrap up their entire being, their entire identity in their political party. All their friends are affiliated with that party. The talking heads on TV preach to them and tell them to hate and fear the other party and those affiliated with it to the point where any deviation from the party's ideals is a deviation from all that is sacred... More people need to watch your channel... I don't take cults lightly of course and political parties are not the same as cults...but there are some similar tactics I think.
This was very interesting because I’m Jewish and we also have stories and rituals (called Kabbalah) that can only be told / learned when someone is of a certain age, presumably, having been in the religion for 40 years. I never thought too much about this, but it’s interesting to hear that Mormons and Scientologists have something similar
I lived in Utah for 6 years. Almost joined (boyfriend warned me to) but when I didn't all my Mormon friends disappeared 😢but glad I didn't. Glad to find your channel. Love Alex too
That's a great boyfriend!😊 We were born into it multi generational... one seldom has "friends" just assignments! Grateful for C2C found this channel after watching this awesome young lady on John's channel. Congrats on your upcoming wedding! 🥂❤
You should have joined. Being a Mormon makes you part of a very exclusive club and your fellow Mormons will have your back and you would have so many opportunities.
Ty for this. Nearly always women are blamed for being molested or raped - (victim gets blamed ) - being in an environment you should not have been blah blah blah - hearing this all the time - so much like all this “Scientology” BS. Crystal From India
Good interview. I have to be honest, I still find it hard to believe that I would have ever gotten involved with a cult. I have never been religious, but I think I have my own beliefs.
Thanks! Also keep in mind, it doesn’t have to be the obvious ones. People can find themselves in relationships with narcissists which can lead to culty control in the same way Scientology and Mormonism control their members.
Such a sweet-hearted man with so much to give wasting his life and time on nothing. If Scientology works, why hasn’t the world changed at all and indeed, has gotten more violent. Better he volunteer in community youth centre or nursing home: direct help with real benefit immediately seen. It’s good to see his critical thinking skills have improved, somewhat. Hopefully, he is not as naive as he was as a young teen.
Ok so if your a C Org & sign a 1 billion year contract for all your lives, say you die, you come back, how do they know you signed that contract & what if you sign it again, does the time start over or is it 2 billion years?
53:33 - They do realize how awful it is. That’s why legitimate psychology and psychiatry are often stigmatized or outright demonized. If you get proper help/counsel, you’re more likely to recognize the abuse and form true independence. If that happens, your abuser (be it a cult or otherwise) looses control over you and their power diminishes. They can’t have that. It’s extremely intentional.
As a former Scientologist, I can whole heartedly tell you that when you are under the influence of a coercive group, you genuinely do not see the harm you are doing to other people because you think, with all your heart and soul, that what you're doing is helping.
@@apostatealex I apologize for not clarifying; I meant the leaders/founders of the organization-who purposefully set up the manipulative and repressive system in which they operate-are responsible for and know full well what they are doing. I didn’t mean the members of said organization who are abiding by the system. I also haven’t specified an organization because it is common in many/most high pressure groups like cults, MLMs, and some organized religions.
At some points it sounds like Islam ngl.. growing up in a 99% Muslim country there are things that felt weird to me since I was extremely young. They told us that no one leaves Islam because it’s so perfect. That it’s the last book and the one that was never touched or changed therefore the truthful one and empowered by god to never be touched. If something doesn’t make sense then it’s coz the book wasn’t written by humans so it will always be on a higher lvl and that everything that is in the book happened in real life or even if u try to talk to anyone friend or family and try to contradict something u will be seen as a sinner be frowned on and a disgrace sometimes it felt forced even and if there was no way to answer my question I got “we’re not imams we aren’t on that lvl yet to understand..” as for the imams and ppl on a higher lvl of faith were so rigid and frowned upon any questions that argued against their faith.. not saying Islam is a huge cult just saying that even religions have cultish parts and a quick example is the prayers or Ramadan (u are forced to fast and if you even drink water in public during this month you will literally be thrown rocks at)
@Apostate Alex, I'm so glad to know you're in therapy with a cult-aware specialist! There aren't enough of those!! I firmly believe ALL Psychiatrists, Psychologists, and Therapists should be *fully trained* in that type of therapy before receiving their certification to treat ANYONE!
Do look up John Sweeney. He is in Ukraine for the past year & does a wonderful 5min clip, almost daily on the war. He has a wonderful perspective, wit & an orange hat.💙
Obviously people who fall into cults aren't dumb but they have to be something, right? There has to be a reason all these cult people seem to be similar in personality.
Thank you so much for having me on your show, it was a pleasure speaking with you and I'm excited to see the response this video gets! :) Oh, and HUGE congrats on 10k Subs!!!!!!!
Thank you, Alex! It was great having you on! So much to discuss! Thanks for sharing your story 🙏
@@CultstoConsciousness Looking forward to part 2 already!
Thank you for your story. I think it's lovely you could feel sadness at a song. And feel joy for having the emotion to begin with.
Alex is amazing. As a fellow Brit, I've been waiting for a UK point of view on Scientology from an ex member more my own age.
Well done Alex! 🎉
Im gonna second what Alex said towards the end: you're helping a lot of people by providing this content and not just people who have been in a cult. I have never been in a cult but there is so much of what is being shared in these interviews that help me deconstruct my world view and self understanding that was created from the toxic family structures I grew up in. The deconstruction process, the constant realization that "oh that thing is ALSO a way that I've been told I or the world works but that is actually not true"... the uncovering of your true authentic self layer by layer as you peel away all of this bs... It's really a very similar process. And just hearing from other people that have gone through - or is still going through - that weird, interesting and difficult process makes me feel a LOT less alone and a lot more sane.
@IngLi Bu
Exactly right! These principles of capturing the mind are applied by suppressive governments, suppressive "religions", and suppressive persons (Narcissists). It is ALL THE SAME: control, control, control.
Thank you so much for sharing! I’m so happy that it’s helpful!❤️
@More Michelle Very well said, I live in Utah, born and raised. I was raised Pentecostal ( very strict, cult like as many of the others) left there as a young teen and basically just followed the Christian beliefs with the kings James bible on my own. I was visited 2 to 3 times a week by missionaries trying to get me into the Mormon church, they wouldn’t listen to anything I was saying, they just continued to compare how close my beliefs were to theirs, one had gotten so mad at me telling them very nicely no, he said I’m going to go to hell for not wanting to listen to them and have them over to my house 3 times a week to teach myself/ my children the Book of Mormon. That alone told me all I needed to know, I was actually very mind blown because out of every missionary I’d come across, none had never spoken to me in that manner. The whole blacks being cursed because of our darker skin tone is absolutely absurd/racist, how they don’t see that is wild. I appreciate your videos very much because they truly do help many people, I’ve wanted to start a channel and speak out on the Pentecostal pov but have just been very nervous to do so. Please continue your work because it helps wake some up and gives courage to those who are scared to speak up. Thanks again @Cults to consciousness hun, I know all too well about these church cults.
while watching her videos for the last couple ddays i realized this is why im so intrigued by cult stories. I relate not bc i was in a cult but becaused i was also emotionally and mnetally abused for majority of my life. Im sorry for whatever you went through, we didnt deserve it. I relate to oyu 100%!! hearing others talk about their truama and healing helps me realize my own.
I would like to hear about those that left Johova Witness
So great to hear from someone in the Uk. It’s not often people hear in the UK get to see and hear from our own country. Thank you both very much.
Listened to the end and have found a great liking for the strength this young man to admit he had been captured by a cult. I wish him all the best and I wish him every success in the future. He deserves it!
I lived a few miles away from FLAG in Clearwater, Fl. The church has bought over half of the properties/land in Clearwater proper. They have ruined the town. It’s sad.
My favorite episode so far, and they are all AMAZING.
Thank you for having Alex on your podcast. I have been following him since he started and he is doing great work helping people understand that Scientology members are not, at heart, bad people while at the same time, giving the perspective that the philosophy and organization are deeply flawed and lead people to do horrible things in the name of the cult.
Thank you Mat, I appreciate your support!
Couldn't agree more!
Dropped from in AA’s show, subscribed to your channel. Thanks for the work you do, providing a place for those in coercive control groups to learn about those groups and see that there are good people and a chance for a good life on the outside
Hi Debbie! Thank you! Welcome to C2C!
@@CultstoConsciousness ❤️
Hey Alex, It is great to see and hear some new stories from you. I love that you are getting out there and speaking your truth and the truth of many others who were in scientology.
Thank you Ted
41:50 - I didn’t realize that, either, it wasn’t clear. He did say the first time he went to talk to them he was a teenager but I really thought this story was over more of a span of time, i didn’t realize he was still a teenager throughout all of this.
Very informative
Oooh almost wedding day! Have fun and enjoy your moment together ❤ thanks for another insightful interview 🎉
Thank you so much!!!❤️🙏
Coming back to this a year later and seeing over 200k subs you're now having is so awesome.
Congrats on 10k. I found your channel after watching Dani and have been catching up on your past videos. I have never been in a cult and thanks to these types of videos I never will. Great interview Alex I am a subscriber to your channel also. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much Heather! Always a pleasure to see you on here!
What an amazing young man.
Social modeling is the most powerful tool in shaping people's behaviors and compliance. Marketing companies capitalize on this also.
In my country, Scientology will not advertise as such. They have people standing around with dvd's and flyers on street corners and they tell you about this interesting scientific documentary about space that they're selling, and talk about new ways to help people and community / spirituality. And you're like "Yeah ok, why not, sounds interesting" and then they'll have you write down your address and phone number to buy it "because of taxes" or some other bullshit reason. Which, red flag, I know, but when that happened to me, I was 13 years old and very trusting. Told my dad about it and he said "That was a scientologist, that's their thing. That's how they trick people to join" So I threw the DVD and the flyer away. Never heard from them again, thankfully. Ngl, I was scared they'd come and harass us.
Yay 10,000! Congrats
Thank you!!🎉
I'm going to listen to this twice because I'm having a glass of wine.
Jon Atack has been speaking out against scientology for a long time and is from the uk.
Thank you for sharing your story.
Squee!! Two of my favorites in one video!
This is not a dig, but it's always so interesting to me to hear from somebody who joined Scientology in the last decade or so. Just because there is so much information out there about what they are and what they do to people that it surprises mean that they're still able to get new people who are normal, rationally thinking people. and yet they do!
Maybe some people are attracted to having the backing of a powerful destructive organisation. Maybe they feel weak in life, but if they become a Scientologist they think they will be protected, and their enemies in life will have to back off.
Their numbers are declining rapidly, these new members most likely leave soon after. Scientology's considered a joke these days by most people.
Whoop, I'm so happy to see another video from you. Always learn so much from them!! 😊😊
Glad you like them! ☺️
Here from Apostate Alex's channel and to support SPTV 🤗 great interview
In Australia Scientology has been made illegal
Congrats on 10k. You're interviews are really insightful. Thank you!
Thank you so much! I’m really happy that you enjoy them!
The OW thing reminds me of thr show Severance, when they do something that's considered wrong and have to repeat the same apology statement over and over hundreds of times until the admins are satisfied. I wonder if they had any inspiration from these stories. It was great to hear from Alex! I'm so glad he got out.
Thank you Sydney
You’re so right! Maybe they did!
Shelise, *thank you so much* for having our Alex on for this interview! You're very good at this. 😊💕👍
Aww thanks for watching!! I appreciate the compliment 🥰
I'm glad you understand that you're allowed to feel your emotions, you always were but now you understand it. That makes me smile
Thanks Joey :)
this is so interesting girl!! tuning in for the second time now...
Amazing episode last time too!
Thank you!!
so wild that the Panorama doc was a huge help in getting Mike Rinder to leave, but got Alex in!
Id love to see a video about Pentocostials
I recently found your channel and have really appreciated its existence. This showed up in my life in a time when I've needed it and am looking back at things from the conservative leaning Catholic Church upbringing I had that was NOT normal and is still harmful. Hearing the stories of your amazing and varied guests is so empowering and helpful.
Hi! welcome to C2C! I’m so happy you have found it helpful. ❤️
the temple in london is located in the most expensive borough of outer london called richmond, the same area where the american university is. they used to do a spread out stress test in front of the tescos...the value of that property must be insane
I love this channel so much.
When I heard that Scientology was not only in the US, I literally went and searched for it, because I seriously thought that South Africa didn't have it 😅 I'm very clearly living under a rock.
So I see that they give tours and I kinda want to go and check it out
Great show! Love learning about all things Staff and Sea Org. I’ll definitely give Alex a follow. And Shanise, each show gets better and better!
Aww thank you so much, Shawn!
Shalise..... Thank you for doing these stories I am learning so much about the cults you are talking about.
You are so welcome!
I am impressed by all of your interviews. 😍 😍 😍
Thank you, Pye! 🙏
OMG!! How strong you are Kelli!!
What an incredible story you tell. Well done with your recovery.
Bravo 👏🏻
27:46 this is how Human Design does it too. You can “interpret your own way” until you have questions, and then you’re shamed for being wrong
This was brilliant! Thank you! 😊
Glad you enjoyed it!
@@CultstoConsciousness 💜💜💜
Oh my gosh! Congratulations on your marriage!! How exciting! I hope you guys have many, many happy years together. I just came across your channel today, & the first video I watched was the previous one before this one I believe, with Dani & I must say that I feel so much uplifting & powerful positive energy from all you guys stand for. Even not having been a part of anything like you guys were I still heavily empathize & support you in everything you endeavor. Have a great day!!
Aww that makes me so happy! Thank you!!! Only 10 days from the wedding! Eeee!
Keep up the awesome videos. First saw you on Growing up in scientology. Subscribed right away. Another good interview with a former Jehovahs Witness is Lloyd Evans. He has a very informative channel if you want to learn about jws.
Congrats on 10k! That's fantastic! You bring on really good interviewers.. lovin' the intellectual aspect!
Thank you so much!!
I am addicted to this channel!
🥳🥳🥳
Congratulations on your 💍🎉❤ . May you always love face to face & fight back to back 💋
Loving the content! Have a wonderful wedding ☺️
Thank you so much!🥰
If someone came in and asked why the billion year contracts? If it's not a cult why wouldn't you be able to go to church and have your own faith, without a contract? And even if it only applies to employees again, why such an extreme contract? Do you not trust/have faith in your members? What would the "scientology answer" be to that?
Not a scientologist, but I would assume the answer would be something similar to "why sign a contract with your partner that you can't leave them until you die? Isn't that extreme? If it's not a controlling relationship wouldn't you be able to have your own love without a contract? Do you and your partner not trust each other to stay together? Contracts aren't always about enforcement, but about demonstrating and solidifying commitment. Our members WANT to sign these contracts as a testament to their own journey and belief in what they're doing. No one is made to sign a contract unless they want to, and everyone is free to be in scientology without signing a contract. Only those who WANT to dedicate their present and future lives to the cause sign them."
Great conversation . Great to see there parallels between the religions and how they affected both of you .
I remember one day I was walking around London with my Dad near the Tower Bridge area and some lady handed me a flyer and i didn't think much of it. An hour later I pulled it out of my pocket and it was a heckin scientology invitation flyer and i was like WHAAAAAAT i always thought this stuff wasnt so overt
😂 oh no, they aren’t sneaky at all when it comes to recruiting. Years ago I was standing in line for a tv “extras” casting and they literally came down the line handing out flyers targeted for actors.
Apostate Alex and Apostate Prophet are great!
I just found this channel and I’m here to stay :)
Wooo! Welcome to C2C!
Great podcast episode!
LOVE THE SHOUT OUT TO A-A-RON!
@Cults to Consciousness
Heard about your channel through @Apostate Alex! Congratulations on getting out of a very large, controlling cult. 😊👍. A BIG Congratulations on your upcoming marriage! 😊❤
Been with Alex since he opened his channel, and I'm so happy watching his channel grow so quickly!
GREAT interview! 😊👍
Oh, forgot to mentioned, I subbed. 😊💕. Cult-exposers must stick together!
Thank you so much! And I am appreciating all your comments! ❤️❤️❤️ wedding is less than 2 weeks away!
Such an interesting video, sorry about what you went through being in Scientology. I live in the UK and had no clue this was going on.
The host is pretty great and let's the guest talk 😊 loving the white top btw.
Thank you Daniela!
Thank you Daniela! 🥰
Dude! Alex, we had the internet in 2010! 😂 I'll be tuning in to your channel too.
Thanks Ed!
I wonder how the makers of that Scientology documentary would feel knowing their film got this kid to go right into the belly of the beast 😅
I didn't even know we had scientology in the UK! That's crazy!! Thank you for sharing your story Alex!
Mormons seem to pop up in weird places too!
@@bonniegomez5333 yeah we have a Mormon temple near me actually! A stunning building and surroundings tbh
A great deal of the behaviors of this church are similar to me upbringing as a fundamentalist mormon. Although I grew up in a very small village next to a polygamist colony. Anything can be normalized If authority figures act like its normal. Breaking the mindset is a a huge part of my struggles and when your very large family is all part of it and life was mapped out for you, it's really difficult to change internally.
Mostly this is true but every town is going to have enough well educated individuals who don’t breakfast on misogyny, institutionalized pedophelia, and patriarchal violence to make a difference.
Loving this! Any chance you'll be at Solstice this year, or creating a community?
Hi Wess! I think I’ll skip it this year, but I’d love to start creating a community!
1 Main Goal of High Demand Religions / Groups is to ( immediately) get a person to " fall into a line of COMPLETE Agreement that the Organization is ALWAYS Right"...
Thus taking away the Individual' Right of Autonomy.
you CAN NOT Disagree, you CAN NOT Doubt
What a great interview. I was so happy for Alex when he told his story about being at the concert. Thanks to you both. 😊
Glad you enjoyed it!😁❤️
How'd they get around it in the UK where it's not a church!? Because it's not every day 16-18 hour's a day? allegedly
It's really damaging if you have a Serious Mental Illness and you need a medical intervention. They don't believe in psychiatric medication and as someone with Bipolar Disorder who does need medication to survive this is a no starter and their activism to ban necessary treatment is damaging. Transversely, I know people who have legitimately been subjected to trauma in the psychiatric system. This may sound counterintuitive but I have heard of survivors of psychiatric abuse who are legitimately trying to change the system who's criticism is dismissed as just repeating Scientology ideology. It's also very damaging.
I really think you should consider interviewing Drew and Tayor!! They are from the fundamentalist Mormon side, now atheist. Drew runs a channel called Genetically Modified Sceptic and Taylor has a channel called The Antibot, I really love your work as well as theirs ❤❤❤
Keep up the great work ❤
Thank you!
Drew wasn’t Mormon. He and Taylor were just evangelical Christian.
@@Alyse_bell he has specifically said he came from the fundamentalist Mormon religion
After I started seeking outer knowledge from mormonism I got hooked up with Scientology as one of my stages I went through. And thank goodness I had enough sense about me to get out early. But it wasn't easy.
Later I found out because my mother was a convert to the mormon church that before that she also had that experience with Scientology and a about destroyed her.
Thank goodness I got wise very quickly due to having other experiences with other religion and cults.
The Mormon stuff constantly makes me think, "We don't talk about Bruno," when Shaleese talks about it. 😅
😂🙌
Over the course of the pandemic, I watched or listened to what must amount to hundreds of hours of documentaries and podcasts and interviews about ex-Scientologists and post-Mormons, and yet listening to these two comparing and contrasting some of the worst parts of their respective religions is still a bit jaw-dropping. There's so much harm being normalized.
I'm no expert, but you are so good at this @Cults to Consciousness. impressive.
Oh my gosh you made my day 🥰😁 thank you!
My ex boss wanted me to implement a course he and his wife went to for his practice. He had his office manager hand me the course/book. I said I
would not touch that book because is was Hubbard’s teaching.
This last part has made me realize why the polarization is happening in the US...why the cognitive dissonance is so hard to uproot. People wrap up their entire being, their entire identity in their political party. All their friends are affiliated with that party. The talking heads on TV preach to them and tell them to hate and fear the other party and those affiliated with it to the point where any deviation from the party's ideals is a deviation from all that is sacred... More people need to watch your channel...
I don't take cults lightly of course and political parties are not the same as cults...but there are some similar tactics I think.
For sure! Government can get super culty.
This was very interesting because I’m Jewish and we also have stories and rituals (called Kabbalah) that can only be told / learned when someone is of a certain age, presumably, having been in the religion for 40 years. I never thought too much about this, but it’s interesting to hear that Mormons and Scientologists have something similar
Very interesting! Thanks for sharing!
I lived in Utah for 6 years. Almost joined (boyfriend warned me to) but when I didn't all my Mormon friends disappeared 😢but glad I didn't. Glad to find your channel. Love Alex too
That’s so unfortunate and so common. Glad you didn’t join though! Promise it would’ve been way worse. Welcome to C2C!!🙌
That's a great boyfriend!😊 We were born into it multi generational... one seldom has "friends" just assignments! Grateful for C2C found this channel after watching this awesome young lady on John's channel. Congrats on your upcoming wedding! 🥂❤
You should have joined. Being a Mormon makes you part of a very exclusive club and your fellow Mormons will have your back and you would have so many opportunities.
@@ridinwithjake Glad you are watching. It's all so interesting isn't it?
Ty for this. Nearly always women are blamed for being molested or raped - (victim gets blamed ) - being in an environment you should not have been blah blah blah - hearing this all the time - so much like all this “Scientology” BS.
Crystal From India
I would love to see an episode about kids that were raised by the teachings of Michael Pearl!
Good interview. I have to be honest, I still find it hard to believe that I would have ever gotten involved with a cult. I have never been religious, but I think I have my own beliefs.
Thanks! Also keep in mind, it doesn’t have to be the obvious ones. People can find themselves in relationships with narcissists which can lead to culty control in the same way Scientology and Mormonism control their members.
Interesting.
01:19:19
Such a sweet-hearted man with so much to give wasting his life and time on nothing. If Scientology works, why hasn’t the world changed at all and indeed, has gotten more violent. Better he volunteer in community youth centre or nursing home: direct help with real benefit immediately seen. It’s good to see his critical thinking skills have improved, somewhat. Hopefully, he is not as naive as he was as a young teen.
Ok so if your a C Org & sign a 1 billion year contract for all your lives, say you die, you come back, how do they know you signed that contract & what if you sign it again, does the time start over or is it 2 billion years?
Secret keeping, to be part of the group.
He looks like the guy from mythbuster
53:33 - They do realize how awful it is. That’s why legitimate psychology and psychiatry are often stigmatized or outright demonized. If you get proper help/counsel, you’re more likely to recognize the abuse and form true independence. If that happens, your abuser (be it a cult or otherwise) looses control over you and their power diminishes. They can’t have that. It’s extremely intentional.
As a former Scientologist, I can whole heartedly tell you that when you are under the influence of a coercive group, you genuinely do not see the harm you are doing to other people because you think, with all your heart and soul, that what you're doing is helping.
@@apostatealex I apologize for not clarifying; I meant the leaders/founders of the organization-who purposefully set up the manipulative and repressive system in which they operate-are responsible for and know full well what they are doing. I didn’t mean the members of said organization who are abiding by the system.
I also haven’t specified an organization because it is common in many/most high pressure groups like cults, MLMs, and some organized religions.
At some points it sounds like Islam ngl.. growing up in a 99% Muslim country there are things that felt weird to me since I was extremely young.
They told us that no one leaves Islam because it’s so perfect. That it’s the last book and the one that was never touched or changed therefore the truthful one and empowered by god to never be touched. If something doesn’t make sense then it’s coz the book wasn’t written by humans so it will always be on a higher lvl and that everything that is in the book happened in real life or even if u try to talk to anyone friend or family and try to contradict something u will be seen as a sinner be frowned on and a disgrace sometimes it felt forced even and if there was no way to answer my question I got “we’re not imams we aren’t on that lvl yet to understand..” as for the imams and ppl on a higher lvl of faith were so rigid and frowned upon any questions that argued against their faith..
not saying Islam is a huge cult just saying that even religions have cultish parts and a quick example is the prayers or Ramadan (u are forced to fast and if you even drink water in public during this month you will literally be thrown rocks at)
Woah! That sounds extremely difficult. Thank you for sharing!
here before 1mil :)
But everyone who's an ex-scientologist say's dianetics isn't even Scientology
@Apostate Alex, I'm so glad to know you're in therapy with a cult-aware specialist! There aren't enough of those!! I firmly believe ALL Psychiatrists, Psychologists, and Therapists should be *fully trained* in that type of therapy before receiving their certification to treat ANYONE!
Do look up John Sweeney. He is in Ukraine for the past year & does a wonderful 5min clip, almost daily on the war. He has a wonderful perspective, wit & an orange hat.💙
I came across him once when I was out bookselling for the Church!
@@apostatealex yes he's been quite outspoken 💙
But your not in the beginning or are you in the UK?
Obviously people who fall into cults aren't dumb but they have to be something, right? There has to be a reason all these cult people seem to be similar in personality.
Possibly vulnerable, though they don't see it themselves. But, those looking to manipulate / coerce see the vulnerability & take advantage of it.
Nice dress shelise
Not a monk or nun: a slave.
Contrats on just getting married, I hope you’re still on a honeymoon! 🎉🎉🎉
Thank you so much! Just got home! Filmed my most recent episode with some serious jet lag 😂🫠
Child sexual confessions to a bishop sounds so gross 🤢
Yall owe aa Ron huge thanks,he's the c.o.b of scientology podcasts, but he was raised in a cult and doesn't know it
I've seen the BBC Sweeny Panarama doc a few x. I think Tommy Davis would cause even Jesus to lose it, he's so slimy.
I hope you had a lovely wedding :)
Over 3000 views and only 240 likes...🤨 come on guys
❤️🙏 thanks for the comment!
Except the salesman, they make money to get a person to buy things and enter, maybe you didn't in the UK and that's the difference
10000 and 1 your welcome