When Leah Remini left the Church of Scientology in 2013, after 30 years of living within its walls and its principles, she decided she was not going to do so quietly.
At the time, the actress was decisive about her her exit. Talking to People magazine when news of her departure became public knowledge, she said: “No one is going to tell me how I need to think, no one is going to tell me who I can, and cannot, talk to.”
Since that time, Remini’s voice has grown in decibels, influence and presence. Refusing to stay quiet about her experiences and ordeals within the church, she has revealed, in greater detail, the level of devotion she once had in an Ask Me Anything on Reddit on Wednesday.
Admitting she spent “millions” of her own money in giving to the Church, Remini wrote that if she was to pick the “most shocking” part of all Scientology’s secrets, it would be the misleading encouragement to reach the “top” level of the Church.
“When you reach the top of The Bridge (OTP 8) you will be told that God is a lie for LRH (L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the church) and there are more levels ahead, that will cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars,” she wrote.
“There is no end to Scientology.”
Remini, 46, also revealed the reason it can take so long for members of the church to objectively criticise its own practices is because Scientologists are prohibited from reading any material created from non-members.
“Very early on in the brainwashing process, L. Ron Hubbard’s ‘technology’ teaches you that outside sources (i.e. the news, the Internet, books, magazines) are ALL LIES and hellbent on destroying something decent like Scientology,” she wrote.
It’s this kind of narrative that meant it took Remini more than 30 years to recognise the “abusive practices” of the church despite Scientology as a whole facing widespread and worldwide criticism for years.
Watch: Leah Remini talks to ABC about her time in the church. Post continues after video.
“I was taught to believe that the controversy was due to people being unaware of what Scientology was truly doing in the world which was good things.”
Remini has always been transparent in admitting leaving the church was part of a “long term struggle” rather than being born from one single catalyst. However, the one overriding reason for her exit came down to the “vitriolic” way the church would attack those who refuted its practices.
“Seeing the “church” attack those who were speaking out, those who gave their life, life savings, their children to this organisation… says a lot about the organisation,” she said.
After being introduced to the church by her mother, it has been widely speculated that the 46-year-old left the church in July of 2013 after questioning its controversial leader, David Miscavige, on the disappearance of his wife, Shelley. Shelley has made no public appearances since 2007 and despite several missing persons reports filed, the LAPD classified the reports as “unfounded”.
Today, Remini is considered what the church calls a “suppressive person” — one who is not allowed to be in contact with other members of the church despite having a goddaughter and close friends who still identify as Scientologists. She admits she is still being “watched” and “tracked” by the Church three years after leaving.
“I felt alone,” Remini recalls of the times she began to question a church she gave so much her life to.
“If you ever confided in friends then you were (as policy dictates)… reported and turned in. Very 1984, very George Orwell.
“Most Scientologists are second or third generation, they were born and raised into an ideology and have been surrounded and isolated. It is all they know. They are victims.
“Most of the original Scientologists are all out and have spoken out. Unfortunately, their children were indoctrinated by them… are still loyal, faithful and have cut off communication due to the policy of disconnection.”
For Remini, despite recognising so many dangerous practices that the Church promotes, one in particular stands out.
“They deny mental illness and afflictions. They promote that you can heal your psycho-sematic issues with their ‘technology’. They will get in the way of people taking medications. They will prevent people from getting the real medical help that they need and in some cases have caused suicides because of it. Scientology is mentally abusive because we are all taught that we are responsible for everything,” she wrote.
Today, Remini acknowledges that she doesn’t identify with any religion, but that doesn’t mean she’s void of any faith at all.
“I’m not an atheist. It’s not about being anything now. I do have faith in God.”