SCIENTOLOGY EXPOSED

Tory Christman (you may know her as Magoo) spoke out today at CFI-West (Center for Inquiry) for the Skeptics Society. Approximately 125 very interested people attended, and we were told afterward that it was the largest attendance they had for any speaker.

I won't go into everything that Tory covered, but I will say that she is a natural, charismatic speaker. She projected so much humor and vitality that it was impossible not to be captivated. She began, very intelligently, with the following:

1) She is not anti-ScientologIST -- most Scientologists she knows are good, well-meaning people. She is speaking out against Church policy and management, and what she believes are abuses committed by the Church itself.

2) She is telling her own personal story and her experiences in the Church. Other people have been in Scientology for as long as she has and may have an entirely different perspective. She encouraged people to listen to both sides.

3) She explained how when she was a Scientologist that she used to attend meetings just like this one, with the purpose of distracting and discrediting the speaker. Since she knew the tactics, she made it clear that this would not be tolerated.

Her talk was mostly about how she got into Scientology and the process of "waking up". Along the way she touched on various topics such as disconnection, activities of the Guardian's Office (later OSA), pros and cons of Scientology "tech", and the critic movement. Brilliantly, she was able to explain that "group think" and mind-control in Scientology is maintained by the policy of "Keeping Scientology Working." Whenever she spoke about Scientologists doing things that seem irrational, she stressed that Scientologists are operating under this policy -- parts of which she read; it sounded absolutely crazy but helped explain a lot. Afterward, many in the audience commented that they could have listened to her all day; she was that good. The talk lasted about an hour and a half, with an extra half hour for Q&A.

It appeared that there was only one Scientologist in the audience who was sent to "handle" things. She started out with a laundry list how Scientology has helped her and her family, and attempted to discredit Tory's story. Tory gently reminded her that she could only tell her own story, but she was happy that Scientology was working for her and encouraged people to examine both sides. The woman tried to filibuster after that, but there were other people with their hands raised and a number of people in the audience verbally silenced her so others could ask questions.

Tory received not one, but TWO standing ovations. We were told that was the first such response a speaker had gotten at these talks.

Mark Bunker was there to capture the event on video, and Barb came with him from San Diego for support (Barb, it was wonderful meeting you!)

All in all, an outstanding presentation -- and I hope the first of many. Tory, you go! Next stop, Oprah?

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