Q: How did you escape Scientology?
A: I didn't escape exactly. I just quietly vanished. Only Scientologists who join the elite fraternity known as the Sea Organization (Sea Org) are forced to escape. Members live communally, sacrifice many personal freedoms and are constantly monitored. Under those conditions, escape is often the only way out. I was a "public Scientologist," meaning I lived independently and could come and go as I pleased. Still leaving was traumatic. Q: How much money did you spend in Scientology. A: So much over a thirty-four year period that I have never added it all up. That said, within the first few years, I spent over one hundred and fifty-thousand dollars. It was all the money I had and was broke and scared because I had a daughter to provide for. Once I got back on my feet financially, I continued to make contributions over the years buying taped lectures and courses and making donations to various so-called Scientology charities. |