This is hands down the best interview and most compelling story on Scientology i've ever seen. Lawrence tells his story in a typical english dry, understated, manner, which makes the video even more compelling.
John Doe ....Jason Beghe's 2hr interview was my favorite one... check it out!! He's genuine and honest (no pretense). Nick Lister is another good one (interviewed by Aaron)
The really sad thing about this man's story is that he's only one of thousands that have the exact same story. He's not a celebrity, not a wealthy person, just a normal, everyday man who list a good chunk of his life and his family to the abusive cult of Scientology and David Miscavige. That's what we all need to keep in mind, he's only one of thousands of regular, everyday people who have had their lives and their families destroyed by Scientology.
ALL RELIGIONS ARE CULTS USING THE EXACT SAME METHODS TO BRAINWASH PPL INTO THINKING ABSOLUTELY ABSURD MAN MADE FICTIONS, WHY SINGLE JUST ONE OUT, FUKING CALL THEM ALL OUT!!!! ALL RELIGION IS FALSE AND WRONG AND RUINS LIVES, USUALLY THE KIDS OF THE FAMILY SUFFERING AT THE HANDS OF THEIR PARENTS!!!!!!!!!!! ALL CULTS ARE HARMFUL AND DIVISIVE ILLEGAL BUSINESSES TO STEAL UN INTELLIGENT PP LS MONEY IT SHOULD ALL BE OUTLAWED, BUT NO HUMANS ARE SO INTELLIGENT WE GIVE THEM EVERYTHING THEY DEMAND INCLUDING THE ABILITY TO RUN TAX FREE, WHAT UTTER BS AND THE NEWEST GENERATIONS OF EDUCATED PPL ARE SICK OF THEM ALL
@@ella-bt8hp (Hi, just wanted to mention that someone being from middle or upper class doesnt necessarily mean they have money coming out of their ears. Cheers!).
THIS IS A MUST WATCH. Just an amazing story. Take a Sunday afternoon, settle down & watch this in full. Yes, is two hours long, but you waste that much time watching a bad Tom Cruise Movie ;-)
wanted to write the same thing, its like a long and interesting audiobook with lessons to take from it and things to learn from their life. Also the strength that they all 3 had to be toghether is magnificent and the fact that they came out with it leaves me in awe.
I watch the two daughters interviews first, starting with the one that still wanted to be a Scientologist, but got pregnant to leave the SeaOrg. Makes the father's perspective more interesting... @@revfunk8823
I don't know why this ended up in my suggested videos, however I couldn't stop watching it. Mr. Woodcraft is such an honest and sympathetic person, watching what the CoS did to him is heart wrenching. I hope he is doing well today.
In the two hour Jason Beghe interview, conducted by Mark Bunker, he explains how Scientology's neatest trick is not to trap you but to get you to trap yourself.
It’s actually painful to watch this Man is was soo delusional he keeps bangin on bout how smart he is but he’s really not already knowing bout the cult he goes back there like an IDIOT & drags his whole family all his children thru this disgusting organisation! Makes my blood boil Bad parents put not only themselves but their children thru Hell😪😭😓😤😡
@@gina1emo Sounds like his wife was the true believer. She was the one who went back after they'd left for eight years. He didn't want to be disconnected from his family.
The interviewer is excellent, she knows all the Scientology-speak, very well prepared. Pretty lady too. The stories are so sad, the loss of identity, and money, as well as critical thinking
In another interview with one of the daughters (can't remember which one - I've just spent the last like 5 hours watching all three of them, but I think it might be the interview with younger daughter Zoe) it's made clear by the interviewer that she has a background within scientology, and quite frankly, I think no other could have performed these interviews - specially when it comes to Zoe since they were recorded only 10 months after she'd freed herself from this wretched hell-cult.
I kinda wondered who she is, but since these interviews were given for or within the McPherson Foundation, (the woman they talked about at the end, can't remember her first name, sorry), I thought she must be very well versed in Scientology's dogma and methods. I would have liked to have known more about her credentials. Guess I will Google...
You can Google her. She used to be a high ranking officer in scientology for many years. After she left she found out about the Lisa McPherson Foundation and joined them. Now she does interviews to expose all the scientology tricks and criminal behavior.
Magnificent interview. It is painful to hear an articulate, educated, intelligent and intellectually curious man such as Lawrence recount decisions that he made under the influence of mind control. The contradictions are staggering to viewers from the outside, which explains the negative reactions that some have expressed here in the comments. People's anger at the crimes of this organization is misdirected at Lawrence, but still, it is good that people are getting angry. We should be angry! It's the whole point. I have spent endless hours informing myself about Scientology's history and impact, but I'm at the point where I want to start DOING something to help put an end to people's suffering; does anyone know of opportunities for activism in this arena?
I actually just watched this entire interview and was absolutely transfixed at his story because he was explaining things in a relatable, accessible way. He’s thorough enough without getting lost into tangents and he has such a calming voice. The whole time I kept saying “what a daaaaaaaad” because he really understands how he hurt his children and takes responsibility and yet he was the one who fought a really terrifying organization to free his daughters. I live about an hour and a half from the Clearwater campus and I am telling you they are all about shock and awe with everything.
this man's story shows me that we are ALL fragile. We are all amnesic when it comes to who we are and where we came from. It takes time to unravel truth and it's difficult to navigate the waters of being a HUMAN BEING. Nobody is perfect. This man LOVES HIS KIDS and stuck it out. The story demonstrates a huge life lesson that I understand w out having to live it. Thank you Mr. Woodcraft for being a decent human being and telling your story.
Bean she, jeff mays The mother took the kids to the U.S. on her visa. Had he stayed in the U.K., he would likely have never seen his daughters again. It was his persistence in staying by them that finally got them to realize that they'd been brainwashed and got them out. The real culprit here is the girl's mother.
This guy is golden. First impression was, wow, here's someone who was actually a great dad despite being fed the typical Scientology principals. Your girls have your sensibilities. You should be proud. Secondly, those L R Hubbard impersonations!
Another great interview this is an amazing family all of them so articulate and able to tell their story in such a compelling way. I wish them all the best in the world I hope they are doing great today!
By far the most engaging, extraordinary interview I have ever seen - and I have seen a few. What a life. What a horror for him and his kids. Simply mind blowing.
This is real! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Lawrence you not even once said how cruel your wife treated you... you were trapped... thank you universe for letting me spent my time listening to this UA-cam video that was recommended to me. Now, just my experienced my ex filed for a divorce; the family court also based on cult believes and manipulation of mind not solving family problems or bringing families together. My both kids were taken away from me, house was taken and now still paying child support for a 25 year old. I am an American female! It all depends on power play and money. Plus, somehow became part of a radar 24 hour surveillance security cameras. Even during COVID-19, I applied for an unemployment was denied. Kids came out of my body, I raised them ... is this a crime? What a great interview? This interview is a third eye opening of how systems works. And surprisingly they still exists.
sexobscura no fan of the Vatican. Raised Protestant but the two are not comparable. Leave the Church and you don’t have a troop a goons that follow you, threaten you if you speak out, keep you tied up in court and financially drain you.
They don't tell you the clear process, which is a series of confession, self hypnosis, intentionally causing a dissassociative state, then they let you self delude and they delude you. Then they focus on nueral linguistic programing to have you able to convince other people ( specifically those who hypnotists would consider open to hypnosis ) in order to get things you want. (This part is similar to what Tony Robbins teaches but they put a b.s. reasoning for why it works ) then eventually they tell you the alien bullshit, but at the end that doesn't matter because you have deluded yourself so much that you might accept that thats the reason the other parts work.
Wow. I cannot believe Scientology is really getting away this. There are so many people who have been abused by this cult. I admire this man’s courage and honesty.
35 years ago when I was living in LA I for some reason decided to go see what they believed. The lady gave me a personality test or something like that and it was pretty accurate, she then proceeded to try and sell me some course they were offering and I was sitting there thinking, OK, this is a religion but in order to find out what you all believe, I have to pay you for courses? That just seemed really stupid to me. If it was a school or a business of some kind I would have probably signed up for a course but this was supposedly a religion. I immediately realized it was a cult and I wanted nothing to do with them. Now I'm really glad I didn't get sucked in by them.
You can buy the books and learn alot about the religion itself, the same way you buy a bible, i think the courses are just extra knowledge and skills to learn but i think it's alittle weird how you bash them for offering services. Do you bitch about your priest when he sends the collection bin for donations to feed the poor and sick children of the world.
Millinial Catalyst no, because in the Christian church, that plate is for offerings - not a required payment (doesn’t matter if you call it a “donation” ) in order to learn what your religion teaches, or to pay for a confession, or to LEAVE the church, should you so desire.
@@millinialcatalyst8101 This is one of the most egregious false equivalencies I've ever read. An offering plate is one thing, what CoS does is categorically different. Somehow, I think you know that's true
@@travelinghermit When people say COS it's interpeted as members too. You can't throw everyone on a crucifix and expect people not to speak out, that's basically the route of torment of some people in some places... so the fact that your so stupid that you blame someone somewhere and expect normal people, victims of psychological warfare to take the blame cause still to this day the people describing cos have never admited online that at least a % of cos perishinors are innocent has been the equalivant of driving them into gas chambers. Be responsable. stop being a douche and own up to "Misproper termage."
@@millinialcatalyst8101 What the actual fuck are you talking about? The OP was making a comparison between an "offering" to CoS's required "Pay to Pray" model, where you can't even learn what the fuck you're supposed to believe without coughing up the cash.
The power of this interview is in the honest delivery. It is remarkable that the man comes out at the end not bent on an angry rant but rather expresses his faith on humanity to overcome suppressive organizations. In the middle, when he was very much afraid of losing his daughter forever to the Sea Org, he tells her she is free to choose whatever she wants for her life! Clearly an honest person, to a remarkable degree. More importantly, he is a person still dedicated to making the world a better place, which is the thing that got him trapped in the first place. Now any intelligent person can see that this interview is much more than some attempt to gain retribution for having been abused or whatever. This interview, my opinion, is the truthful story of what actually happens inside the Church of Scientology. It is corruption, it is deceit, and it is greed, and it goes solidly to the very top of the organization. It is unbelievable. In America, today, how could this be happening. You could take the transcript of this same interview, read it straight in one sitting, absorb every word and still have doubts, it is so outlandish, what it implies. That's what makes seeing the video so powerful and important. This guy is real. I have no doubt about the facts, like his wife being in the Sea Org, that she was actually on the ship and in the room with LRH at times, stuff like that can be proven. But, I have no doubts about the testimonies of Lawrence Woodcraft. He deserves some sort of medal, something akin to the Congressional Medal of Honor, who cares what country he's from? He makes me proud to be a human being. Thank you.
I was riveted to this interview with Lawrence. He reminded me of my own precious and late UK husband 25 years ago who had similar background and experiences in this cult but never went public about it. This is a fantastic story and I felt like I was watching a movie. Hopefully one will be be made of this family. Thank you!
I watched the 2 daughters' interviews and now 20 minutes into the dad's and I keep hearing about how the church cried poverty (squallid living conditions, no medical insurance, no resources for new policies, …) Where does all the money that the 'parishers' pay go to?
To David Miscavich's wardrobe and comfort, and control of others, as well as MANY, MANY, MANY HUGE PURCHASES for the purpose of impressing and pampering Tom Cruise. It's like the "A list" of snobs in high school were given control of the entire city and had every single student & employee at thier beck & call- ready to work around the clock to do your bidding. Don't like the way your spouse looked at you over the breakfast table? No problem. She's gone. But THIS a**hole did not earn his money. He screwed people to get it then bullied the he** out of anyone who didn't go along with it. This man has a VERY SPECIAL place waiting for him when he's done destroying all these lives.🔥🔥🔥
@Julie W. You must have missed the part where he was an ILLEGAL ALIEN in the US who had zero leg to stand on. You can scream all you want about "he should have known", but that is disingenuous if you ask me. No, I can't read minds either.
purplesue66 It’s actually painful to watch this Man is was soo delusional he keeps bangin on bout how smart he is but he’s really not already knowing bout the cult he goes back there like an IDIOT & drags his whole family all his children thru this disgusting organisation! Makes my blood boil Bad parents put not only themselves but their children thru Hell😪😭😓😤😡
He's an amazing person... so smart, loving, a great dad, and just an all around wonderful man. I can apply his philosophy to my own life, even though I was never in Scientology. Thank you!
This is tough to watch. You go from thinking what a putz this guy is for not standing up to his wife once they were out and she wanted to go back in. But then I realize I've had the benefit of not being brainwashed in the first place, and being able to look all this stuff up on the Internet to see how this cult works. Thank you for the great interview. And congratulations to the surviving members of the Woodcraft Family. I wish everyone who thinks about joining could see this interview first. It's harrowing.
Brian Bock He fought many odds. Yes he made mistakes. But he tried for his wife, more than some guys. She dragged him in deeper & the lies. Then you think he's in a new country too. So he faced an uphill battle. He does admit to being brainwashed to some degree, but he didn't grow up in it. & @ least knowing somethings he was able to sneak through to get them out. It sucks the time away, but in the end he has his girls & Granddaughter
I always feel so sad for all these poor people who get suckered in to this cult and end up spending all their lives and thousands of dollars on people who are just using them. Such a shame.
The Italian lady Lawrence Woodcraft talked about is Maria who was swindled of more than US$2million and she lost her inheritance and money from properties she sold and was left desperate and almost penniless before she was deemed useless and kicked out of Scientology. She was verbally and physically abused and yet, manipulated to part with her money which the swindlers made it their business to know about. Poor lady! You can find out about her in the interview she gave post Scientology.
Wow, this poor guy's life was completely ruined by that shit. I feel so bad for him. NEVER walk into a scientology office, you're entire waking life will be completely destroyed. So sad. So very sad.
Don't worry Lawrence :) You did the right thing! Today, in 2015, E3VERYBODY now knows how BAD the so called ''church'' is. Miscavige is going DOWN! You, and others like you are HEROS. May God, (the real one) Bless you and keep you, and your family.
HOLLY FUK YOUR THE WORST TYPE, ALL RELIGIOUS CULTS ARE CUT FROM THE SAME CORRUPT BRAINWASHING CLOTHS, HOW FUKING DARE YOU CHERRY PICK LIKE THAT. GOD DOESN'T EXIST RELIGION USES THAT SHIT TO GET YOU ADDICTED TO THE RELIGION DRUG, THEY ARE ALL CULTS EVERY SINGLE FUKING CHURCH, IF YOU SAY THIS ABOUT SCIENTOLOGY THEN FOLLOW ONE OF THE OTHERS YOU ARE EVEN MORE STUPID THAN THOSE FOOLED BY THE NEW CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT OF SCIENTOLOGY. HUBBARDS STORY IS ACTUALLY MUCH MORE POSSIBLE THAN A FUKING GOD BUT THEY ARE ALL FICTION TO FOOL U FOOLS!!!!
WELL DONE ON FALLING FOR THE FIRST SCIENTOLOGY. TO A PAGAN THREE THOUSAND YRS AGO CHRISTIANS WHERE THE SCIENTOLOGISTS OF THE DAY, SO BY THE MATHS OF IT,IN THREE THOUSAND YRS SCIENTOLOGY WILL HAVE OUT BRED ALL OTHER RELIGIOUS GROUPS JUST AS THE CHRISTIAN OUT BRED THE PAGANS. EVENTUALLY OUR RACE WILL WISE THE FUK UP TO ITSELF
people often consufe the ability to think critically with intelligence. "I wasn't an idiot - I had 2 degrees". Obviosuly just having learned much information is not a shield from getting involved in a cult.
It must feel pretty shameful when you finally get out and you know thoughtless people are out there saying, “what a moron!” I do get annoyed at the “it can happen to anyone!” line.
Imo getting in a cult is largely a result of timing. Almost everyone is vulnerable. That should be obvious at this point with the huge disparity of people who have become ensnared in an endless streams of cults.
@@knowsmebyname exactly. Because cults appeal to emotions, not intelligence. thats why everyone is vulnerable, at certain times more so than at others.
@@niaakima agree. these groups all grew before the internet. that makes a big difference. In my life I was approached to join 3 cults. all attractive young women offered btw. the first two I had things going on and so I had no interest. never gave it a second thought. the third time I had nothing going on...was searching for opportunity even and there was Amway. I got mildly involved and quit before the internet dismantled it. but it's important to remember that there was a time before you could know a groups history in a minute and a half 🙂
this is a fantastic example of how an intelligent person, with critical thinking skills, could still get sucked in. I think the ED glomming in on him & entrapping him in marriage probably had something to do with it.
He used the right word, he was so "gullible", to be flattered by the nice words that the "director" used to recruit him and obviously his wife was pressured or convinced to recruit him too.
In the year 1995 I had taken a job with Scientology in Kansas City, MO. The Sea Org was there recruiting for the celebrity center and I got so intrigued that I signed on the line. The weird thing is they wanted me to leave that evening. So I packed up and took the 7pm flight to Hollywood CA.. When I got there I was escorted to the lodging and I saw how filthy the place was. Immediately I was not happy. That morning I took a shower in ankle deep water of soup scum. They came and got me to get routed in but I was not at ease. One of the staff recognized that I did not want to be there and took me down to an underground passageway with card access to each level. They took me in for questioning for 9 hours without food. Asking me if I worked for the government, Why do I want to leave, Do I work for the media etc. I was getting very worried what would happen to me. Finally after hours of scrutiny, I found away to relieve the pressure. I told them I have been hiding that I had taken LSD and that satisfied the auditor. After they came to the conclusion that I was a suppressive person, I was to the conditions of treason and work my way up. I did not want to bother with that and mentally I was not in the mood to study. I wanted out! My opportunity came when a women walked by, I told her she needed to let me go to the restroom. When open the doors that lead up to public, I ran as fast I could and made it to the gates as they were closing. I made it out. I had a friend that lived in LA and I called him to take me to the Hollywood police department. after four hours a police officer escorted me back to the celebrity center to get my suitcase. They met us at the front gate and gave me my belongings and I got the fuck out of there.
What a wonderful man, person, father and human being you are!!! Blessing for you and your family. Also to Astra and Zoe you are so brave and beautiful...Life's blessings to you all
I like the easy laid back way of this interview. It's casual in style and he seems at ease and she seems interested in listening as well as talking. When with the right personality to begin with it can be very easy to have a genuine conversation that is uplifting and encouraging. That was what I was usually looking for in a normal everyday chat, no matter what the context itself was. Without a competitive edge there's a much more easy natural flow that can be had. I used to learn heaps that way. For me it was also about working on my own people skills because having a one sided conversation is kind of difficult.. This guy has an open, steady voice showing a sensible and educated man. Thoughtful in response but without halting to think. This to me shows a confidence within himself. Unafraid to answer any questions. Showing the maturity of the generation compared with the sometimes excitability that can be seen in modern times. Though excitability can be encouraging too. This is why I enjoyed talking with different personalities because to define or put a man into a stereo type isn't really fair. Many men have strength without having to be overtly masculine. Variety within chats and having regular chats I found more interesting because when I started to have a question about something I could then think who's the best to discuss this particular subject with that's been on my mind. As I have various interests it made it easier. I don't live in a world of secrecy so to me it's just normal everyday conversation though I did enjoy the deeper or more random questions of life too. I would have liked to have heard more from men though rather than I being the one to write all the time. That's where sharing an interest in a similar subject was good too. Visual aid really helps but also to see what another has been doing I loved that. That was a privilege they'd share that with me. That's why I was angered to have my accounts taken over without warning or permission to. I don't see how anyone could justify that at all.
Our strengths are also our weaknesses, kindness can and is exploited everyday, just like here, although this family's experience was/is extreme, sadly it happens everywhere. It can quite literally take years to escape abuse and longer to recover from the effects, but once the filter has been removed it also becomes armour for life. If you do not possess this self awareness and you do not question others and shelve your own experience, which can be so easily done, you are also wide open to manipulation and abuse, because you simply do not see it coming, until you are in too deeply, especially when it is dressed up in what is percieved as goodness. Super brave man speaking out, takes courage, but I strongly suspect it has left him feeling completely broken many times.
Interesting story. Fascinating that a man can be so smart and stupid at the same time. To be fooled once is bad luck but to go back for more knowing what kind of people they are....
It is mind boggling that a smart person would pay thousands of $ to attend auditing or courses which turns out to be repetitive and nonsensical questions or things they ask you to do for hours on end and for days, doing the same thing.
Thankyou for sharing your testimony re the Scientology. I did not know any of your daughters ‘s information about Scientology. I just knew it was mind control. I almost went to a so called ‘counseling ‘ appointment to help with my dealing with a relationship breakup as well as having breast cancer. I’m so glad I did not make that meeting. My immune system would have been under attack.
Why is is there are countless stories like these are told time and time again and Scientology organisation never answers and pays for the pain suffered to these people,why is it top level celebs never question Scientology and take the time to see these poor people's story's,why are celebs so self indulgent and selfish and not see what Scientology is really like. It amazes me how they look at their own experiences and enjoy their celeb centres and everything they have to offer and think yeah this is what Scientology is like for everyone. Wonder if Tom cruise still thinks he is a do'er and not just a talker and really thinks he is saving the world. I'm sick of all these testimonys come out time and time again of pain and suffering and Scientology never pays. Maybe the human race would be better if instead of thinking why am I here,what is the meaning of life and how did we get here ,why don't we just simply recognise we were born,been given the gift of life and what can we do as individuals to make the human race better as a collective. What if we all wake up tomorrow and say hey from now on I'm going to forgive,love,and respect my fellow human beings,if we all made that decision today we would all be better off. But no let's all keep thinking it's every man for themselves as they say and **CK everyone else.
I feel for this guy as he appears to be a genuine and kind individual, but i just cannot understand how he got to the point that he was so easily swindled! Red flags go off in my mind from the very start!
Stacy Brooks is an extraordinary interviewer. She should have been on a major network. I've watched all 3, Lawrence, Astra, and Zoe Woodcraft tell their stories over the past week, entralling story, particularly when you hear the same story and events from different people's perspectives.
It's all about stroking egos. Tell people they're fabulous and amazing, and if they pay more they will become more fabulous. Genius con. Bet this organisation has more narcissistic members than any other.
oooohhhh my ggoshh......this dad has literally been the HERO of both his daughters !!!!!!......this was heartbreaking to listen to but praise GOD that this man never gave up...may you and your family find true happiness and peace of mind.
I have watched a lot of ex-scientologists stories and I thought what can this guy say I haven't already heard. Every story is unique, fascinating and so sad. Glad I listened!
Thank you for sharing your story, and I hope your children and granddaughter are thriving. With a loving father like you behind them, they can onky go frim strength to strength. I'm an ex jw. I've been out 19years now. Thankfully my children left with me, but the physiological damage it did seems permanent, from the abuse I suffered from my jw ex husband, and the cult itself has left it scars in us all.
Yeah I didn't even know we had Scientology buildings over here in Britain. It's very much seen as an American thing and all anyone seems to know about it, is that Tom Cruise has lost his marbles because of it 🤣
There is a problem that people are now burning down churches and buildings related to my family in England now and causing wildfires blaming climate change.
It seems like most of the fault here belongs with the mother. She sounds like she was really irresponsible even before getting into the cult. She showed so little regard for her family.
It's so sad when he starts to break down talking about bringing his daughter to see family in England after his mother passed away. This just shows you how much Scientology beats you down until you are just weak and numb.
Very nice interview, also watched the interviews with Astra and Zoey, so glad that they all got out of Scientology and free from the brainwashing and control.
When I was younger (22) in the mid 1970's, I read Dianetics. I didn't get halfway through this book before literally tossing it across the room saying "This is total BS and crap and worthless cultish thinking. I didn't give it one more thought. I would say to all the critics here, you can say "There but for the grace of God go I", because you must understand the absolute pull of cults lead by charismatic liars (Jonestown, anyone?) and how powerful they are at mind fucking. Especially to those who simply want a more spiritual life or a more meaningful life than what they are doing. How powerful and dangerous cults are to the not only the weak minded but the strong minded as well sometimes! [Ref: Jim Jones, Jonestown massacre] His clever way of getting whole families to join by making them choose between cutting family members off as SP's unless they join too. It s a satanic but brilliant mind fuck. I think we should give them our love and pray for them. My hope is that L. Ron Hubbard is right now in HELL in Satan's special punishment room where the worst sinners (child molesters, rapists, cult leaders and worse) have to stand neck deep in a room filled four feet deep with liquid excrement and biting insects for eons. Once every other millennium. the devil comes by, looks in, claps his hands in delight and says, "Okay, break's over people, everybody stand on their heads!" I can't think of a better punishment, but I'm sure all you guys can think of better ones.. Hahahahahah!
What an amazing dad you are. I can’t imagine the hardships you had and how put together you had to be to save them! I hope you’re all happy today that beautiful baby must be all grown up
@@JacquelynNhi His wife was very controlling This guy is very educated in his field Sometimes when soneone is very skilled in one atea they lack knowledge in others like how to take charge and not be bullied
Well done for coming through your mind control and abuse. As someone else said, they don’t just punch you in the face and make you scrub the kitchen floor for 12 hours on the first date/first interview! These kinds of degenerates are excellent in their manipulative techniques. Most people are susceptible to mind control at all levels. That’s why abuse is rife in the world. I think you are all incredible and deserve much peace, love and happiness. I do wonder, is the internet the thing to bring down this insidious cult? Possibly. If the FBI, inland revenue and courts can’t. Then go after their reputation. I watched Going Clear too. Excellent documentary. Leah Reimi (?) is going after them hard too. Good luck everyone. ❤️
Watching this 10 years in the future is interesting because we know so much more about psychology and high control groups. Some of the interviewers’ questions are almost irritating 🥺 “Why didn’t you just say no? Why didn’t you just sue for custody?” How many ways can he say that he was trapped and didn’t want to lose his family or alienate his kids from their mother 😭
@@Zaza_Grady Stacy’s questions were for people unfamiliar with Scientology. When this was filmed in 2000 very few in the public were aware of how Scientology operates. That is a question they would ask. Why didn’t you leave?
@@XENUTV I understand.. It’s just interesting to hear the way we used to think about these things before we knew better. And I’m not gonna lie, it pissed me off just a tad at times; mostly because I also got out of a high control group myself. But I do understand that they’re questions the uninitiated would naturally want to ask.
One of the best docs on Scientology I’ve heard ... if someone hears this story and doesn’t realize the criminality going on within this org they need their head examined... oh wait psychiatry is bad hahaha
Wow, I feel for this man. Watch his daughters interview too, to get their perspective. I learned from watching how easy it is to hijack a human mind and even more easy to get ppl to give up thinking for themselves and let their mind get hijacked. It's a slow and subtle process and over time ppl are trapped and feel alot of guilt and hopelessness. Human condition we get use to stuff. The recipe to start a new cult.
Well imagine you're whole family is in there and all you noticed where some boring sessions you can easily get out of. If you then get the job opportunity of a lifetime coupled with a wife that euphorically influences you in a very intimate way you got the best condition to go back. Remember this was long before the Internet went commercial. You couldn't just inform yourself about all the nasty stuff on a whim back then. Remember Nazi Germany? It took only 8 years to turn a democracy and millions of people into antisemitic violent lynch mobs. Don't be so arrogant to think yourself above any attempt of manipulation. The banality of evil is a great book that covers just how easy it is to be exploited when you're in the right condition mentally.
when i studied at university i had already read the classics before i attended. my studies at university were read with many multi disciplend comrades with exchanges of ideas. thats the meaning of studying at university. not making money at the completion. no culture, just a course for accomplishing a means to achieve capital.
Now the mother and the father would be charged under child endangerment and neglect laws. Back in the 90's we weren't aware of what was going on like we are now. We can save the kids, but the adults are on they're own. It's a free country.
He maybe very intelligent in certain areas but he was too easily influenced by his ex wife, Scientology’s lies... He needed to get strong and be a hands on parent and get a lawyer to represent her legally.
the thing i don't get is, people keep saying "here i was, an intelligent person, i don't understand why i got into this stuff" and i'm thinking "maybe you're not that intelligent"
Trend's to appeal to a particular personality profile; When these are above 100 on that scale it can lead to rapider justification though just the same this should resolve disentanglement faster so the trick is not be especially critical nor attack them once routed off & not get to fixated that it is really going to do anything which is my flaw;
Exactly and why are people under the impression that just because something is labeled as a religion they they are exempt from following the law. They most certainly are not!!
“I went outside and practically cried with relief that I could now go back to my family” 😢 That hit me hard. How could anyone do this shit to people. This guy just wanted to work his craft and live his life and they just gassed him up so they could tear it apart. It’s fucking disgusting
This is hands down the best interview and most compelling story on Scientology i've ever seen. Lawrence tells his story in a typical english dry, understated, manner, which makes the video even more compelling.
John Doe ....Jason Beghe's 2hr interview was my favorite one... check it out!! He's genuine and honest (no pretense). Nick Lister is another good one (interviewed by Aaron)
He mesmerized me through the entire thing
@@katdonovan2 I want to see it. Link??
Here you go, MG:ua-cam.com/video/KHb0BZyF5Ok/v-deo.html
@@katdonovan2 thank you darling. Happy holiday
The really sad thing about this man's story is that he's only one of thousands that have the exact same story. He's not a celebrity, not a wealthy person, just a normal, everyday man who list a good chunk of his life and his family to the abusive cult of Scientology and David Miscavige. That's what we all need to keep in mind, he's only one of thousands of regular, everyday people who have had their lives and their families destroyed by Scientology.
ALL RELIGIONS ARE CULTS USING THE EXACT SAME METHODS TO BRAINWASH PPL INTO THINKING ABSOLUTELY ABSURD MAN MADE FICTIONS, WHY SINGLE JUST ONE OUT, FUKING CALL THEM ALL OUT!!!! ALL RELIGION IS FALSE AND WRONG AND RUINS LIVES, USUALLY THE KIDS OF THE FAMILY SUFFERING AT THE HANDS OF THEIR PARENTS!!!!!!!!!!! ALL CULTS ARE HARMFUL AND DIVISIVE ILLEGAL BUSINESSES TO STEAL UN INTELLIGENT PP LS MONEY IT SHOULD ALL BE OUTLAWED, BUT NO HUMANS ARE SO INTELLIGENT WE GIVE THEM EVERYTHING THEY DEMAND INCLUDING THE ABILITY TO RUN TAX FREE, WHAT UTTER BS AND THE NEWEST GENERATIONS OF EDUCATED PPL ARE SICK OF THEM ALL
Tim Johnson, You are the cuckoo.
Odog Gow, I am sick of people, ignorant of "all religions", like you.
I'm British this is a middle or upper class man I am pretty sure of that.
@@ella-bt8hp (Hi, just wanted to mention that someone being from middle or upper class doesnt necessarily mean they have money coming out of their ears. Cheers!).
@@ella-bt8hp why is that? I'm just curious like is it his manner of speaking or his particular accent? Or just the way he carries himself?
THIS IS A MUST WATCH. Just an amazing story. Take a Sunday afternoon, settle down & watch this in full. Yes, is two hours long, but you waste that much time watching a bad Tom Cruise Movie ;-)
wanted to write the same thing, its like a long and interesting audiobook with lessons to take from it and things to learn from their life. Also the strength that they all 3 had to be toghether is magnificent and the fact that they came out with it leaves me in awe.
MrBudzini if you can stay awake watching paint dry, then sure, watch this
I watch the two daughters interviews first, starting with the one that still wanted to be a Scientologist, but got pregnant to leave the SeaOrg.
Makes the father's perspective more interesting... @@revfunk8823
MrBudzini I wish there 100 of this the best interviews I’ve seen!
MrBudzini agreed!
I don't know why this ended up in my suggested videos, however I couldn't stop watching it. Mr. Woodcraft is such an honest and sympathetic person, watching what the CoS did to him is heart wrenching. I hope he is doing well today.
In the two hour Jason Beghe interview, conducted by Mark Bunker, he explains how Scientology's neatest trick is not to trap you but to get you to trap yourself.
Martin Kelleher he is spot on
ALL RELIGION CULTS DO THAT ITS HOW THEY GET SO MANY PPL TO FOLLOW INSANITY WITHOUT EVEN NOTICING ITS TOTAL BS
It’s actually painful to watch this Man is was soo delusional he keeps bangin on bout how smart he is but he’s really not already knowing bout the cult he goes back there like an IDIOT & drags his whole family all his children thru this disgusting organisation! Makes my blood boil Bad parents put not only themselves but their children thru Hell😪😭😓😤😡
@it's me its not just a weak mind. They are using specific tricks that make it difficult to consider reality
@@gina1emo Sounds like his wife was the true believer. She was the one who went back after they'd left for eight years. He didn't want to be disconnected from his family.
My heart goes out to this family. Lawrence is heroic for fighting for his daughters. I wish them a happy long life full of love and laughter. 💞
The interviewer is excellent, she knows all the Scientology-speak, very well prepared. Pretty lady too. The stories are so sad, the loss of identity, and money, as well as critical thinking
In another interview with one of the daughters (can't remember which one - I've just spent the last like 5 hours watching all three of them, but I think it might be the interview with younger daughter Zoe) it's made clear by the interviewer that she has a background within scientology, and quite frankly, I think no other could have performed these interviews - specially when it comes to Zoe since they were recorded only 10 months after she'd freed herself from this wretched hell-cult.
I kinda wondered who she is, but since these interviews were given for or within the McPherson Foundation, (the woman they talked about at the end, can't remember her first name, sorry), I thought she must be very well versed in Scientology's dogma and methods. I would have liked to have known more about her credentials. Guess I will Google...
You can Google her. She used to be a high ranking officer in scientology for many years. After she left she found out about the Lisa McPherson Foundation and joined them. Now she does interviews to expose all the scientology tricks and criminal behavior.
She IS fine.
June Hutchinson has a plan on coming in today omg
Magnificent interview. It is painful to hear an articulate, educated, intelligent and intellectually curious man such as Lawrence recount decisions that he made under the influence of mind control. The contradictions are staggering to viewers from the outside, which explains the negative reactions that some have expressed here in the comments. People's anger at the crimes of this organization is misdirected at Lawrence, but still, it is good that people are getting angry. We should be angry! It's the whole point. I have spent endless hours informing myself about Scientology's history and impact, but I'm at the point where I want to start DOING something to help put an end to people's suffering; does anyone know of opportunities for activism in this arena?
this comment was very very well said. i could not agree more
*We LOVE YOU, Lawrence!!!* Thank♥️You!
You are a supreme example of a *GOOD MAN WHO Loves his kids enough to do ANYTHING* to be with them.
This is very good interview. You are able to visualize and empathize with Mr Woodcraft's story. I wish him and his family all the best
I actually just watched this entire interview and was absolutely transfixed at his story because he was explaining things in a relatable, accessible way. He’s thorough enough without getting lost into tangents and he has such a calming voice. The whole time I kept saying “what a daaaaaaaad” because he really understands how he hurt his children and takes responsibility and yet he was the one who fought a really terrifying organization to free his daughters. I live about an hour and a half from the Clearwater campus and I am telling you they are all about shock and awe with everything.
This guy is a great dad. His daughters are lucky to have him
this man's story shows me that we are ALL fragile. We are all amnesic when it comes to who we are and where we came from. It takes time to unravel truth and it's difficult to navigate the waters of being a HUMAN BEING. Nobody is perfect. This man LOVES HIS KIDS and stuck it out. The story demonstrates a huge life lesson that I understand w out having to live it. Thank you Mr. Woodcraft for being a decent human being and telling your story.
truestar070 ..He's an idiot who got his family involved with a lunatic cult..The guy deserves a kick in the balls
Bean she exactly! What a spineless chicken shit!
Bean she, jeff mays
The mother took the kids to the U.S. on her visa. Had he stayed in the U.K., he would likely have never seen his daughters again. It was his persistence in staying by them that finally got them to realize that they'd been brainwashed and got them out. The real culprit here is the girl's mother.
MmeDefarge (Expose NYC Meth Labs) I have no love for the mother either!
IDK what it is about this guy that captivates me. I wanted to hear more, and am I the only one that finds him pleasantly entertaining?
I can't believe I listened to the whole two hours!
No. He doesn't captivate me. He is a Londoner lol
Same I’ve just listened to 2 hours of his daughter’s interview n now half way through this one 😂
Rozy Cantsay yes me to! Very pleasant articulated person as his daughters to!
Same here
This guy is golden. First impression was, wow, here's someone who was actually a great dad despite being fed the typical Scientology principals. Your girls have your sensibilities. You should be proud. Secondly, those L R Hubbard impersonations!
Another great interview this is an amazing family all of them so articulate and able to tell their story in such a compelling way.
I wish them all the best in the world I hope they are doing great today!
I am so in love with this man. What an amazing human and father. The planet would be saved if every person had a parent like this who cared for them!
He is nice, but something is wrong with him. He enabled this mess.
By far the most engaging, extraordinary interview I have ever seen - and I have seen a few. What a life. What a horror for him and his kids. Simply mind blowing.
This is real! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Lawrence you not even once said how cruel your wife treated you... you were trapped... thank you universe for letting me spent my time listening to this UA-cam video that was recommended to me.
Now, just my experienced my ex filed for a divorce; the family court also based on cult believes and manipulation of mind not solving family problems or bringing families together. My both kids were taken away from me, house was taken and now still paying child support for a 25 year old. I am an American female! It all depends on power play and money. Plus, somehow became part of a radar 24 hour surveillance security cameras. Even during COVID-19, I applied for an unemployment was denied. Kids came out of my body, I raised them ... is this a crime?
What a great interview? This interview is a third eye opening of how systems works. And surprisingly they still exists.
it seems like the biggest delusion is that doing meaningless busywork as well as reading Hubbard, somehow is saving the planet?
It's basically about how much money they can get out of you. And all the things they learn are a bunch of hooey.
your thinking of Catholicism
sexobscura no fan of the Vatican. Raised Protestant but the two are not comparable.
Leave the Church and you don’t have a troop a goons that follow you, threaten you if you speak out, keep you tied up in court and financially drain you.
They don't tell you the clear process, which is a series of confession, self hypnosis, intentionally causing a dissassociative state, then they let you self delude and they delude you. Then they focus on nueral linguistic programing to have you able to convince other people ( specifically those who hypnotists would consider open to hypnosis ) in order to get things you want. (This part is similar to what Tony Robbins teaches but they put a b.s. reasoning for why it works ) then eventually they tell you the alien bullshit, but at the end that doesn't matter because you have deluded yourself so much that you might accept that thats the reason the other parts work.
@@sexobscura both agree the same mumbojumbo
Wow. I cannot believe Scientology is really getting away this. There are so many people who have been abused by this cult. I admire this man’s courage and honesty.
35 years ago when I was living in LA I for some reason decided to go see what they believed. The lady gave me a personality test or something like that and it was pretty accurate, she then proceeded to try and sell me some course they were offering and I was sitting there thinking, OK, this is a religion but in order to find out what you all believe, I have to pay you for courses? That just seemed really stupid to me. If it was a school or a business of some kind I would have probably signed up for a course but this was supposedly a religion. I immediately realized it was a cult and I wanted nothing to do with them. Now I'm really glad I didn't get sucked in by them.
You can buy the books and learn alot about the religion itself, the same way you buy a bible, i think the courses are just extra knowledge and skills to learn but i think it's alittle weird how you bash them for offering services.
Do you bitch about your priest when he sends the collection bin for donations to feed the poor and sick children of the world.
Millinial Catalyst no, because in the Christian church, that plate is for offerings - not a required payment (doesn’t matter if you call it a “donation” ) in order to learn what your religion teaches, or to pay for a confession, or to LEAVE the church, should you so desire.
@@millinialcatalyst8101 This is one of the most egregious false equivalencies I've ever read. An offering plate is one thing, what CoS does is categorically different. Somehow, I think you know that's true
@@travelinghermit When people say COS it's interpeted as members too. You can't throw everyone on a crucifix and expect people not to speak out, that's basically the route of torment of some people in some places... so the fact that your so stupid that you blame someone somewhere and expect normal people, victims of psychological warfare to take the blame cause still to this day the people describing cos have never admited online that at least a % of cos perishinors are innocent has been the equalivant of driving them into gas chambers.
Be responsable. stop being a douche and own up to "Misproper termage."
@@millinialcatalyst8101 What the actual fuck are you talking about? The OP was making a comparison between an "offering" to CoS's required "Pay to Pray" model, where you can't even learn what the fuck you're supposed to believe without coughing up the cash.
47 mins in and enthralled. A great video.
Thank you for being so honest I think this is very brave to be so open
The power of this interview is in the honest delivery. It is remarkable that the man comes out at the end not bent on an angry rant but rather expresses his faith on humanity to overcome suppressive organizations. In the middle, when he was very much afraid of losing his daughter forever to the Sea Org, he tells her she is free to choose whatever she wants for her life! Clearly an honest person, to a remarkable degree. More importantly, he is a person still dedicated to making the world a better place, which is the thing that got him trapped in the first place. Now any intelligent person can see that this interview is much more than some attempt to gain retribution for having been abused or whatever. This interview, my opinion, is the truthful story of what actually happens inside the Church of Scientology. It is corruption, it is deceit, and it is greed, and it goes solidly to the very top of the organization. It is unbelievable. In America, today, how could this be happening. You could take the transcript of this same interview, read it straight in one sitting, absorb every word and still have doubts, it is so outlandish, what it implies. That's what makes seeing the video so powerful and important. This guy is real. I have no doubt about the facts, like his wife being in the Sea Org, that she was actually on the ship and in the room with LRH at times, stuff like that can be proven. But, I have no doubts about the testimonies of Lawrence Woodcraft. He deserves some sort of medal, something akin to the Congressional Medal of Honor, who cares what country he's from? He makes me proud to be a human being. Thank you.
The interviews with his daughters are even more harrowing!
The amount of Scientology jargon this man intersperses his language with unconsciously show quite how dangerous Scientology really is.
I was riveted to this interview with Lawrence. He reminded me of my own precious and late UK husband 25 years ago who had similar background and experiences in this cult but never went public about it.
This is a fantastic story and I felt like I was watching a movie. Hopefully one will be be made of this family. Thank you!
I watched the 2 daughters' interviews and now 20 minutes into the dad's and I keep hearing about how the church cried poverty (squallid living conditions, no medical insurance, no resources for new policies, …) Where does all the money that the 'parishers' pay go to?
to storing info in the earth so future people will find it
@@shaharazon2449 was that a serious response?
To David Miscavich's wardrobe and comfort, and control of others, as well as MANY, MANY, MANY HUGE PURCHASES for the purpose of impressing and pampering Tom Cruise. It's like the "A list" of snobs in high school were given control of the entire city and had every single student & employee at thier beck & call- ready to work around the clock to do your bidding. Don't like the way your spouse looked at you over the breakfast table? No problem. She's gone. But THIS a**hole did not earn his money. He screwed people to get it then bullied the he** out of anyone who didn't go along with it. This man has a VERY SPECIAL place waiting for him when he's done destroying all these lives.🔥🔥🔥
They paid millions for Cruise birthday party for example…
I lived directly across the street from this place. Walking past it always made me wonder about all those cameras everywhere!
You are so lucky to be declared a suppressive person by a criminal & cult organisation. A BADGE OF HONOR 💜🌷👍😇🍸
Lucky as opposed to dead I guess but it means they will never see or talk to their family ever again so if that's lucky...
There should be a facebook group for suppressive people. Or better yet a church of the suppressive people
I love this guy! Wishing you and your family the best☺
well half his family at least.
How in the hell can this business get tax treatment?
There is no “religion” they will not allow you to leave if you want
Scientology and islam . They'll come after you
Because governments aren't as powerful as people think...
This man is a sweetheart. Just genuinely good. His ex-wife was a fool and his daughters are lucky.
@Julie W. : Amen !
@Julie W. He was brainwashed dude... A brainwashed person can't tell right from wrong, he was lucky enough to get out...
@Julie W. You must have missed the part where he was an ILLEGAL ALIEN in the US who had zero leg to stand on. You can scream all you want about "he should have known", but that is disingenuous if you ask me. No, I can't read minds either.
purplesue66 It’s actually painful to watch this Man is was soo delusional he keeps bangin on bout how smart he is but he’s really not already knowing bout the cult he goes back there like an IDIOT & drags his whole family all his children thru this disgusting organisation! Makes my blood boil Bad parents put not only themselves but their children thru Hell😪😭😓😤😡
Gina Star yeah right. All those emojis really speak of how deeply you think and feel on the subject. Look in the mirror and earl with your own issues.
Thank you for being courageous and speaking out. I appreciate you.
He's an amazing person... so smart, loving, a great dad, and just an all around wonderful man. I can apply his philosophy to my own life, even though I was never in Scientology. Thank you!
This is tough to watch. You go from thinking what a putz this guy is for not standing up to his wife once they were out and she wanted to go back in. But then I realize I've had the benefit of not being brainwashed in the first place, and being able to look all this stuff up on the Internet to see how this cult works. Thank you for the great interview. And congratulations to the surviving members of the Woodcraft Family. I wish everyone who thinks about joining could see this interview first. It's harrowing.
Brian Bock
He fought many odds. Yes he made mistakes.
But he tried for his wife, more than some guys.
She dragged him in deeper & the lies.
Then you think he's in a new country too.
So he faced an uphill battle.
He does admit to being brainwashed to some degree, but he didn't grow up in it.
& @ least knowing somethings he was able to sneak through to get them out.
It sucks the time away, but in the end he has his girls & Granddaughter
He's brilliant! The more you watch the better it gets. Thank you, Lawrence Woodcraft!!
I always feel so sad for all these poor people who get suckered in to this cult and end up spending all their lives and thousands of dollars on people who are just using them. Such a shame.
Agree
The Italian lady Lawrence Woodcraft talked about is Maria who was swindled of more than US$2million and she lost her inheritance and money from properties she sold and was left desperate and almost penniless before she was deemed useless and kicked out of Scientology. She was verbally and physically abused and yet, manipulated to part with her money which the swindlers made it their business to know about. Poor lady! You can find out about her in the interview she gave post Scientology.
Wow, this poor guy's life was completely ruined by that shit. I feel so bad for him. NEVER walk into a scientology office, you're entire waking life will be completely destroyed. So sad. So very sad.
An absolutely breathtaking and tearful story. Lawrence Woodcraf is a brave man, al my sympathy.
Don't worry Lawrence :) You did the right thing! Today, in 2015, E3VERYBODY now knows how BAD the so called ''church'' is. Miscavige is going DOWN! You, and others like you are HEROS. May God, (the real one) Bless you and keep you, and your family.
The real god? You have to be kidding. A cult is a cult is a cult.
HOLLY FUK YOUR THE WORST TYPE, ALL RELIGIOUS CULTS ARE CUT FROM THE SAME CORRUPT BRAINWASHING CLOTHS, HOW FUKING DARE YOU CHERRY PICK LIKE THAT. GOD DOESN'T EXIST RELIGION USES THAT SHIT TO GET YOU ADDICTED TO THE RELIGION DRUG, THEY ARE ALL CULTS EVERY SINGLE FUKING CHURCH, IF YOU SAY THIS ABOUT SCIENTOLOGY THEN FOLLOW ONE OF THE OTHERS YOU ARE EVEN MORE STUPID THAN THOSE FOOLED BY THE NEW CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT OF SCIENTOLOGY. HUBBARDS STORY IS ACTUALLY MUCH MORE POSSIBLE THAN A FUKING GOD BUT THEY ARE ALL FICTION TO FOOL U FOOLS!!!!
WELL DONE ON FALLING FOR THE FIRST SCIENTOLOGY. TO A PAGAN THREE THOUSAND YRS AGO CHRISTIANS WHERE THE SCIENTOLOGISTS OF THE DAY, SO BY THE MATHS OF IT,IN THREE THOUSAND YRS SCIENTOLOGY WILL HAVE OUT BRED ALL OTHER RELIGIOUS GROUPS JUST AS THE CHRISTIAN OUT BRED THE PAGANS. EVENTUALLY OUR RACE WILL WISE THE FUK UP TO ITSELF
Yes, and today he would have been charged with child endangerment and neglect. We can save the kids now, but the adults are still on their own.
@@odoggow8157 wow, shouty much
people often consufe the ability to think critically with intelligence. "I wasn't an idiot - I had 2 degrees". Obviosuly just having learned much information is not a shield from getting involved in a cult.
It must feel pretty shameful when you finally get out and you know thoughtless people are out there saying, “what a moron!”
I do get annoyed at the “it can happen to anyone!” line.
Imo getting in a cult is largely a result of timing. Almost everyone is vulnerable. That should be obvious at this point with the huge disparity of people who have become ensnared in an endless streams of cults.
@@knowsmebyname exactly. Because cults appeal to emotions, not intelligence. thats why everyone is vulnerable, at certain times more so than at others.
@@niaakima agree. these groups all grew before the internet. that makes a big difference. In my life I was approached to join 3 cults. all attractive young women offered btw. the first two I had things going on and so I had no interest. never gave it a second thought. the third time I had nothing going on...was searching for opportunity even and there was Amway. I got mildly involved and quit before the internet dismantled it. but it's important to remember that there was a time before you could know a groups history in a minute and a half 🙂
@@knowsmebyname yes thats one great thing about the internet. I've also been watching a lot of utube videos 📹 😳 😅 on people leaving the mormon church.
Glad to see you talk. I was intrigued with Scientology years ago. Could have easily gone down this path. Thank you all for exposing them
this is a fantastic example of how an intelligent person, with critical thinking skills, could still get sucked in. I think the ED glomming in on him & entrapping him in marriage probably had something to do with it.
He used the right word, he was so "gullible", to be flattered by the nice words that the "director" used to recruit him and obviously his wife was pressured or convinced to recruit him too.
In the year 1995 I had taken a job with Scientology in Kansas City, MO. The Sea Org was there recruiting for the celebrity center and I got so intrigued that I signed on the line. The weird thing is they wanted me to leave that evening. So I packed up and took the 7pm flight to Hollywood CA.. When I got there I was escorted to the lodging and I saw how filthy the place was. Immediately I was not happy. That morning I took a shower in ankle deep water of soup scum. They came and got me to get routed in but I was not at ease. One of the staff recognized that I did not want to be there and took me down to an underground passageway with card access to each level. They took me in for questioning for 9 hours without food. Asking me if I worked for the government, Why do I want to leave, Do I work for the media etc. I was getting very worried what would happen to me. Finally after hours of scrutiny, I found away to relieve the pressure. I told them I have been hiding that I had taken LSD and that satisfied the auditor. After they came to the conclusion that I was a suppressive person, I was to the conditions of treason and work my way up. I did not want to bother with that and mentally I was not in the mood to study. I wanted out! My opportunity came when a women walked by, I told her she needed to let me go to the restroom. When open the doors that lead up to public, I ran as fast I could and made it to the gates as they were closing. I made it out. I had a friend that lived in LA and I called him to take me to the Hollywood police department. after four hours a police officer escorted me back to the celebrity center to get my suitcase. They met us at the front gate and gave me my belongings and I got the fuck out of there.
😮😮😮
Laurie was so brave. God bless his family. 🙏
His voice is so soothing, even while discussing Scientology...I’m on my 3rd replay today!
This is truly heartbreaking. The whole thing. Definitely a MUST WATCH.
I fell asleep to UA-cam and woke up to this in the morning. Wow what a documentary. Glad I didnt sleep through all of it.
Amazing interview!
What a wonderful man, person, father and human being you are!!! Blessing for you and your family. Also to Astra and Zoe you are so brave and beautiful...Life's blessings to you all
I like the easy laid back way of this interview. It's casual in style and he seems at ease and she seems interested in listening as well as talking.
When with the right personality to begin with it can be very easy to have a genuine conversation that is uplifting and encouraging.
That was what I was usually looking for in a normal everyday chat, no matter what the context itself was.
Without a competitive edge there's a much more easy natural flow that can be had. I used to learn heaps that way. For me it was also about working on my own people skills because having a one sided conversation is kind of difficult..
This guy has an open, steady voice showing a sensible and educated man. Thoughtful in response but without halting to think. This to me shows a confidence within himself. Unafraid to answer any questions.
Showing the maturity of the generation compared with the sometimes excitability that can be seen in modern times.
Though excitability can be encouraging too.
This is why I enjoyed talking with different personalities because to define or put a man into a stereo type isn't really fair. Many men have strength without having to be overtly masculine. Variety within chats and having regular chats I found more interesting because when I started to have a question about something I could then think who's the best to discuss this particular subject with that's been on my mind. As I have various interests it made it easier.
I don't live in a world of secrecy so to me it's just normal everyday conversation though I did enjoy the deeper or more random questions of life too. I would have liked to have heard more from men though rather than I being the one to write all the time. That's where sharing an interest in a similar subject was good too. Visual aid really helps but also to see what another has been doing I loved that. That was a privilege they'd share that with me. That's why I was angered to have my accounts taken over without warning or permission to. I don't see how anyone could justify that at all.
Our strengths are also our weaknesses, kindness can and is exploited everyday, just like here, although this family's experience was/is extreme, sadly it happens everywhere. It can quite literally take years to escape abuse and longer to recover from the effects, but once the filter has been removed it also becomes armour for life. If you do not possess this self awareness and you do not question others and shelve your own experience, which can be so easily done, you are also wide open to manipulation and abuse, because you simply do not see it coming, until you are in too deeply, especially when it is dressed up in what is percieved as goodness. Super brave man speaking out, takes courage, but I strongly suspect it has left him feeling completely broken many times.
Interesting story. Fascinating that a man can be so smart and stupid at the same time. To be fooled once is bad luck but to go back for more knowing what kind of people they are....
I think the same thing
It is mind boggling that a smart person would pay thousands of $ to attend auditing or courses which turns out to be repetitive and nonsensical questions or things they ask you to do for hours on end and for days, doing the same thing.
Thankyou for sharing your testimony re the Scientology. I did not know any of your daughters ‘s information about Scientology. I just knew it was mind control. I almost went to a so called ‘counseling ‘ appointment to help with my dealing with a relationship breakup as well as having breast cancer. I’m so glad I did not make that meeting. My immune system would have been under attack.
Why is is there are countless stories like these are told time and time again and Scientology organisation never answers and pays for the pain suffered to these people,why is it top level celebs never question Scientology and take the time to see these poor people's story's,why are celebs so self indulgent and selfish and not see what Scientology is really like.
It amazes me how they look at their own experiences and enjoy their celeb centres and everything they have to offer and think yeah this is what Scientology is like for everyone.
Wonder if Tom cruise still thinks he is a do'er and not just a talker and really thinks he is saving the world.
I'm sick of all these testimonys come out time and time again of pain and suffering and Scientology never pays.
Maybe the human race would be better if instead of thinking why am I here,what is the meaning of life and how did we get here ,why don't we just simply recognise we were born,been given the gift of life and what can we do as individuals to make the human race better as a collective.
What if we all wake up tomorrow and say hey from now on I'm going to forgive,love,and respect my fellow human beings,if we all made that decision today we would all be better off.
But no let's all keep thinking it's every man for themselves as they say and **CK everyone else.
My goodness. Can a person let himself be so gullible, so vulnerable? Wow.
Exactly. This is just sad.
The caught him when he was vulnerable after the break up.
Thank you! This was very interesting and hopefully will help scientologists today.
Wow! What a fascinating listen!!! A story I will never forget.
I feel for this guy as he appears to be a genuine and kind individual, but i just cannot understand how he got to the point that he was so easily swindled! Red flags go off in my mind from the very start!
Stacy Brooks is an extraordinary interviewer. She should have been on a major network. I've watched all 3, Lawrence, Astra, and Zoe Woodcraft tell their stories over the past week, entralling story, particularly when you hear the same story and events from different people's perspectives.
It's all about stroking egos. Tell people they're fabulous and amazing, and if they pay more they will become more fabulous. Genius con. Bet this organisation has more narcissistic members than any other.
This man understands the dialectic and fights for his family, great guy!
Wow, it really made me cry in some moments. I don't think I could have gone trhoug that.
Amazing story! Thank you for your courage.
oooohhhh my ggoshh......this dad has literally been the HERO of both his daughters !!!!!!......this was heartbreaking to listen to but praise GOD that this man never gave up...may you and your family find true happiness and peace of mind.
This was a fantastic interview and heart wrenching the stories about his daughters
Fascinating. Wonder if his wife ever got out? This is 20 years later already. Thank you for sharing your story.
I have watched a lot of ex-scientologists stories and I thought what can this guy say I haven't already heard. Every story is unique, fascinating and so sad. Glad I listened!
Thank you for sharing your story, and I hope your children and granddaughter are thriving. With a loving father like you behind them, they can onky go frim strength to strength. I'm an ex jw. I've been out 19years now. Thankfully my children left with me, but the physiological damage it did seems permanent, from the abuse I suffered from my jw ex husband, and the cult itself has left it scars in us all.
You stole my identity and medical records and inheritance and destroyed my phones and computers and server.
Still the best videos of former Scientologists. Thank you Mark
England stood up to scientology so I give them respect for that!
Yeah I didn't even know we had Scientology buildings over here in Britain. It's very much seen as an American thing and all anyone seems to know about it, is that Tom Cruise has lost his marbles because of it 🤣
@@asrah14 I wish my family would’ve never gotten on that boat a few hundred years ago 🚢
There is a problem that people are now burning down churches and buildings related to my family in England now and causing wildfires blaming climate change.
It seems like most of the fault here belongs with the mother. She sounds like she was really irresponsible even before getting into the cult. She showed so little regard for her family.
Some head of his family , this fool is..............
thats cuz the cult made her like that.
this is horrifying.the treatment of the children is particularly disgusting. where are the authorities?
Jason filmat tuaj me pelqejn shume ju bashk me atistet ini nje mrekulli suksese sa me shume
It's so sad when he starts to break down talking about bringing his daughter to see family in England after his mother passed away. This just shows you how much Scientology beats you down until you are just weak and numb.
What a smart articulate fella he put his stories so well good watch
I like his spirit. He is really funny and it is amazing that he can laugh about it
Very nice interview, also watched the interviews with Astra and Zoey, so glad that they all got out of Scientology and free from the brainwashing and control.
When I was younger (22) in the mid 1970's, I read Dianetics. I didn't get halfway through this book before literally tossing it across the room saying "This is total BS and crap and worthless cultish thinking. I didn't give it one more thought.
I would say to all the critics here, you can say "There but for the grace of God go I", because you must understand the absolute pull of cults lead by charismatic liars (Jonestown, anyone?) and how powerful they are at mind fucking. Especially to those who simply want a more spiritual life or a more meaningful life than what they are doing. How powerful and dangerous cults are to the not only the weak minded but the strong minded as well sometimes! [Ref: Jim Jones, Jonestown massacre]
His clever way of getting whole families to join by making them choose between cutting family members off as SP's unless they join too. It s a satanic but brilliant mind fuck. I think we should give them our love and pray for them.
My hope is that L. Ron Hubbard is right now in HELL in Satan's special punishment room where the worst sinners (child molesters, rapists, cult leaders and worse) have to stand neck deep in a room filled four feet deep with liquid excrement and biting insects for eons. Once every other millennium. the devil comes by, looks in, claps his hands in delight and says, "Okay, break's over people, everybody stand on their heads!" I can't think of a better punishment, but I'm sure all you guys can think of better ones.. Hahahahahah!
Terri M well, shoot, I repeated myself in this post. memo to self: always proofread your post before posting.
tessamersus That was one of my favorite jokes too. Ok break times over😂
you came away with that impression from a book that explains the parts of the mind? Really? You think that's evil? You think that's cultish!?
What an amazing dad you are. I can’t imagine the hardships you had and how put together you had to be to save them! I hope you’re all happy today that beautiful baby must be all grown up
I’m listening to the 3 interviews.... I have no words. How is this family doing today? I know these were done awhile ago.
The wife entered self imprisonment
i think the real problem source here was Leslie..
Emilie Mouradian i mean the church is awful but holy crap she sounds horrid
That and that this guy didnt have the balls to tell her no. If you cant speak up for yourself at least speak up for your kids.
@@JacquelynNhi His wife was very controlling This guy is very educated in his field Sometimes when soneone is very skilled in one atea they lack knowledge in others like how to take charge and not be bullied
He is also at fault. He is totally naive.
She was just a pawn in a game of cults
Had I not been a Jesus freak when I was introduced to Scientology I might of come on board. In hindsight I'm glad I missed the boat.
Yep. The best way to resist mind control and being brainwashed is to already be mind controlled and brainwashed... (I am not kidding.)
you are a great dad. dont beat yurself up. you managed a very difficult situation calmly and methoically. the moter, however, needs some real help.
Well done for coming through your mind control and abuse. As someone else said, they don’t just punch you in the face and make you scrub the kitchen floor for 12 hours on the first date/first interview!
These kinds of degenerates are excellent in their manipulative techniques. Most people are susceptible to mind control at all levels. That’s why abuse is rife in the world. I think you are all incredible and deserve much peace, love and happiness.
I do wonder, is the internet the thing to bring down this insidious cult? Possibly. If the FBI, inland revenue and courts can’t. Then go after their reputation. I watched Going Clear too. Excellent documentary. Leah Reimi (?) is going after them hard too. Good luck everyone. ❤️
Watching this 10 years in the future is interesting because we know so much more about psychology and high control groups. Some of the interviewers’ questions are almost irritating 🥺 “Why didn’t you just say no? Why didn’t you just sue for custody?” How many ways can he say that he was trapped and didn’t want to lose his family or alienate his kids from their mother 😭
@@Zaza_Grady Stacy’s questions were for people unfamiliar with Scientology. When this was filmed in 2000 very few in the public were aware of how Scientology operates. That is a question they would ask. Why didn’t you leave?
@@XENUTV I understand.. It’s just interesting to hear the way we used to think about these things before we knew better. And I’m not gonna lie, it pissed me off just a tad at times; mostly because I also got out of a high control group myself.
But I do understand that they’re questions the uninitiated would naturally want to ask.
One of the best docs on Scientology I’ve heard ... if someone hears this story and doesn’t realize the criminality going on within this org they need their head examined... oh wait psychiatry is bad hahaha
Wow, I feel for this man. Watch his daughters interview too, to get their perspective. I learned from watching how easy it is to hijack a human mind and even more easy to get ppl to give up thinking for themselves and let their mind get hijacked. It's a slow and subtle process and over time ppl are trapped and feel alot of guilt and hopelessness. Human condition we get use to stuff. The recipe to start a new cult.
Who is going to make their life a movie? I could visualise every single word he was saying. He is a good story teller.
What a lovely man and father!
38:00 I’m pulling my hair why the hell does he even consider going back after all he had learned! 🤯
Omg, I just scrolled down to see if your time stamp was the place where I also had that thought. Holy crap. I can't even.
Yep. I also feel frustration.
Well imagine you're whole family is in there and all you noticed where some boring sessions you can easily get out of. If you then get the job opportunity of a lifetime coupled with a wife that euphorically influences you in a very intimate way you got the best condition to go back.
Remember this was long before the Internet went commercial. You couldn't just inform yourself about all the nasty stuff on a whim back then.
Remember Nazi Germany? It took only 8 years to turn a democracy and millions of people into antisemitic violent lynch mobs.
Don't be so arrogant to think yourself above any attempt of manipulation. The banality of evil is a great book that covers just how easy it is to be exploited when you're in the right condition mentally.
It just goes to show that you cannot save some people from themselves. It is what it is!
Very interesting interview and other videos. Welldone!
when i studied at university i had already read the classics before i attended. my studies at university were read with many multi disciplend comrades with exchanges of ideas. thats the meaning of studying at university. not making money at the completion. no culture, just a course for accomplishing a means to achieve capital.
Now the mother and the father would be charged under child endangerment and neglect laws. Back in the 90's we weren't aware of what was going on like we are now. We can save the kids, but the adults are on they're own. It's a free country.
He maybe very intelligent in certain areas but he was too easily influenced by his ex wife, Scientology’s lies... He needed to get strong and be a hands on parent and get a lawyer to represent her legally.
the thing i don't get is, people keep saying "here i was, an intelligent person, i don't understand why i got into this stuff"
and i'm thinking
"maybe you're not that intelligent"
Trend's to appeal to a particular personality profile; When these are above 100 on that scale it can lead to rapider justification though just the same this should resolve disentanglement faster so the trick is not be especially critical nor attack them once routed off & not get to fixated that it is really going to do anything which is my flaw;
Thank goodness Astra and Zoe had this man for a father. What a story ~ but it's not a story ~ it really happened. Scientology needs to be stopped.
amazing. I love what he said at the end. it's NOT religious bigotry to want the abuses and illegal activities stopped.
Exactly and why are people under the impression that just because something is labeled as a religion they they are exempt from following the law.
They most certainly are not!!
@@soulfireonfire6423 also interesting is how people will speak out about Sharia law, but somehow feel like they can't speak out against scientology. 😒
“I went outside and practically cried with relief that I could now go back to my family” 😢
That hit me hard. How could anyone do this shit to people. This guy just wanted to work his craft and live his life and they just gassed him up so they could tear it apart. It’s fucking disgusting