My wife and I are totally transfixed with the new A&E show, Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. I remember hearing about L. Ron Hubbard and Dianetics back in the 70’s and even as a teen I thought to myself, “well that sounds like a cult.” I didn’t even read any of Hubbard’s books but just the book’s name and the fact the author was a science fiction author made me think it was out of this world (not in the groovy way of its time).

 

I have to give Remini a lot of credit. She is treading into the shark-infested waters of a major conglomerate with a lot of clout and thus far has come out clean. The show goes beyond the bitterness and anger she and other jilted Scientologists express after leaving the sect, and delves into the deeper concerns of protecting families, their lives and their children.

 

I think the first time I ever heard of Scientology was when I was at a previous job and a fellow co-worker (let’s call him Glenn) told another of his “church”.

 

Glenn was kind of shy and never came across as being very personable, though many of us tried to be inviting and friendly. He kept mostly to himself, going about his business as a copywriter.

 

Then one day, our bosses learned that Glenn had missed a couple days of work and not reported in. An attempt to contact him went nowhere, and we eventually learned he had had cut his leg which got infected. He became gravely ill and —because of his beliefs in Scientology — he tried to cure the infection with vitamins and home remedies.  No doctor needed.

 

Well, he never did return to his job though he nearly died and almost lost his limb because his “religion” forbade him from seeking a certified medical doctor. Ridiculous!

 

On her show, Remini expounds on her own story, but mostly she helps to tell the stories of numerous former Scientologists who have defected and started new lives. However, in many of the stories the escapees told of physical, sexual and mental abuse, family break-ups and numerous suicides.

 

Raised as a member of Scientology from childhood, Remini left the organization in 2013 and began public criticism of Scientology based on her own experiences. Two years later, she released Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology, her memoir about her experience with Scientology and reasons for leaving it. In 2016, she followed up her book with the now-current documentary television series.

 

Impressively, Remini interviews her subjects in a highly-professional, journalistic way. She asks pertinent questions and shows empathy, understanding and real concern — rather than just documenting the abhorrent conduct of the so-called church.

 

What really irks me most is Scientology uses the cross of Christ on their buildings (in obvious fashion to demonstrate they indeed are a church in order to be non-profit), and even celebrate Christmas outside and inside their premises to lure people to their cult.

 

Disgusting.

 

They even have a Celebrity Centre in California designed specifically to target and lure well-known (and sometimes not well-known) celebrities to promote the company and boost their image.

 

Remini and many of her guests say the “church” takes advantage of dispirited people who come from broken homes, are physically and mentally abused or are destitute and looking for some kind of hope in a dark world. She says the pretense of the “church” is to shine a light to those poor, forsaken souls, yet all they actually do on the inside is look out for themselves and their high-ranking members.

 

Why don’t Scientologists just leave their “church” if they are so dissatisfied you might ask?

 

Because if they do, they are forbidden from staying in contact with family members who are part of the “church”, forbidden from talking negatively about the organization and basically chastised  and berated through Scientology websites, incident reports, printed brochures, posters and newsletters.

 

Some “church” huh?

 

The stories are real. The stories are eye-opening. The stories should — in the end — bring our nation’s justice system to the very doorsteps of this crazed cult.

 

Remini is hell-bent on taking down the Scientology “church” and from what I’ve seen so far on her program, I believe she can and will.