John, now 45, says: “The test is a clever recruitment device because it appeals to people who are searching for something. I was unhappy and latched on to the prospect of gaining confidence. I probably needed proper psychological counselling but I got nothing of the sort. The result of my initial test was Urgent Action Required. These friendly people seemed to have the answer in Scientology and I surrendered myself to it.”

Then came the really weird shit, including the hard-core reincarnation beliefs that humans souls are constantly recycling themselves through bodies that don’t matter at all. That last bit will seem much more important after these paragraphs:

Under a regime of sleep deprivation, brainwashing and so-called counselling, John gave up his mind to the bizarre teachings. He says: “On one occasion I sat on the floor while others shouted in my face and flicked things into my eyes. It went on for hours. I wasn’t allowed to react or blink. You’re suppressing your natural reactions and that helps Scientology creep in to take over your mind.”

John quickly became fanatical about his new-found faith. He says: “I saw myself as a soldier for Scientology. I believed it was the only route out of oblivion for mankind. The doctrine teaches a human’s body doesn’t matter because it is the Thetan, or soul, which survives. If I’d been told someone had to be eliminated because they were a threat to Scientology I could have justified the killing. They’d just lose their body, which isn’t needed.”

Essentially, the lives of humans (in particular, Suppressive Persons) don’t mean jack shit to Scientologists. That should raise some red flags to U.S. government officials, who are apparently too lazy and/or scared shitless to mess with all of those pesky, mysterious deaths. Here is still more frightening information: after just three months of such brainwashing, John was invited to join the Sea Org at the cult’s L.A. headquarters, and he actually jumped at the chance:

For John it was his ticket to the Scientology big-time. He says: “As a Sea Org member I’d get to wear a special uniform and be highly respected by other Scientologists. We were told other members would bow to us. Suddenly I felt important.” But when John arrived at the cult’s headquarters in LA, conditions were not what he’d imagined. He says: “We were expected to work, eat and sleep Scientology with every minute of the day scheduled, from 7am until lights out at 11pm.”

Part of John’s job involved grounds keeping at the Scientology Celebrity Centre, and he couldn’t help but notice the vast difference between the Sea Org’s living conditions and what was given to the celebs. What cemented John’s disillusion, ironically, was the moment he met Tom Cruise and his beard (hahahahaha!):

[John] spent almost two decades devoting his life to the cult — until a bizarre encounter with Scientology poster boy Tom Cruise made John begin to question his faith. He says: “In 2004 Tom was welcomed to the annual International Association Of Scientologists Gala Ball as the Most Dedicated follower. I was working in the grounds and Tom came out wearing a bad fake beard. It was pathetic. Scientologists look upon Tom Cruise as one of their best assets, but it was him who made me think twice about the cult. I was earning £15 a week, doing my best to spread the word. I had no privacy or time to relax and was afraid or stressed all the time. Yet I wasn’t as dedicated as Cruise? It hurt.”

It took John two more years to work up the willpower to leave, despite knowing that Scientology’s “intelligence agency,” the Office of Special Affairs (OSA), would try and find him at all costs:

John says: “Members who try to leave Scientology are subjected to the Rehabilitation Project Force. This uses military tactics and are feared. A friend, Alice, was put through rehabilitation. At 19 she was subjected to daily interrogations for six months. One afternoon Alice swallowed a tin of paint thinner and jumped from a 15ft roof. The whole thing was hushed up. Alice is now crippled.”

Sure enough, the OSA officers attempted to intercept John by reportedly harassing and staking out his family members’ homes. Finally, John found refuge in Dublin because every Scientology officer there had, thankfully, been sent back to England.

The entirety of the article can be found here. In addition, Gawker has some information about the latest against the cult, which allege that Tom Cruise himself has bribed judges. Oh, and Katie and Tom are, apparently, quite serious about this immortality stuff, for Suri Cruise doesn’t wear a sweater in late October while walking the streets of New York City. Crazy fucks!

UPDATE: There’s a much better conversation going down in the Scientology Goons Beat The Crap Out Of Protesters post. Visual evidence certainly helps in that regard, no doubt.

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