Nice post, Hozier. Here are a couple of timeless quotes from the AA philosophy which might apply to the cult experience. “First Things First” “Live and Let Live” “Easy Does It”

Also, as they say in AA, “Keep Coming Back”

You may have both, Sir.

I sit here in silence, trying to keep my happy/good relationships together, while at the same time, wanting to shout from the rooftops to tell my friends what I’ve discovered, and what they could discover too, if they only opened their eyes. I really appreciate what Chris Shelton, Aaron SL, Mike Rinder, and dozens of others have done for this movement.

It’s so frustrating that I can’t talk about this stuff with anyone in my immediate vicinity, and weird because I feel like a fraud sometimes because y’all are so brave for talking about it publicly and I am absolutely terrified. Thank you for all that you all do, and have a happy new year.

My thoughts exactly even though I could’t put them into words the way you did. Great job.

As I recall, the SCN marriage ceremonies were pretty much ripped off from Christian ones… Pretty standard stuff, and might have included OBEY with the love &* honor in one of the versions. Back in 1980, KRs, though they existed, weren’t as draconian as I see represented currently, and part of life was sharing how we felt about things in our lives. For instance, I knew more than I probably should have about my friend, Cathy’s attempts to get pregnant as a new bride, My then girlfriend went through a rough patch and I spent much of my “enhancement” time trying to get her into Review, which never happened(And contributed to my later bout of depression that was the genus of my being routed out. IF both of us could have gotten appropriate handling, or even an empathetic ear, I might never have left. Heck, at the time, they were beginning to program their Texas Instrument Mini-computer, a type of machine I later programmed for quite a bit greater salary than Tubby was paying. One of the machines I coded may well be looking over the harbor that “Fleecewinds is squatting in as I type. Curaçao was one of our customers; the machines are tough as nails, and the code was rock-solid when I left. Can’t say the same about ANYthing in the SCN arena.

I’d bet this exact conversation is happening with most scientologist couples right about now.

It’s over, COB. How ever many times you replay the ANNOUNCEMENT. How ever many times you watch yourself on Ted Kopel. However many meaningless ribbons you yank. IT IS OVER. You better start dealing with reality.

Thanks Bix!

Peter, this is profound. She has my admiration for doing the right thing. As do you. Best to you both.

I join in your prayers, Brian. If even a “2nd tier” celeb, someone like Erica Christensen or Juliette Lews left, the effect on the cult would be devastating. I also pray that those individuals who have left and chosen to stay silent would start coming forth and opening up about it.

I keep getting ‘invalid security token” & have to keep reposting. This “star with the like”….I am NOT on Facebook or Twitter, nor do I desire to be. I hope this “invalid security token” can be fixed.