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Veteran television actor Jason Beghe tells the Village Voice that the Church of Scientology will be feeling blindsided by the YouTube video of him that hit the Internet on March 14.
Long-held frustrations with the church motivated Beghe to leave Scientology seven months ago, after he had spent about 12 years in the organization as one of its most celebrated success stories. Over the course of about a year, he negotiated his “disassociation” with the church, trying to give every indication to church officials that he was parting on good terms.
In reality, he says, he was already planning to go public with damning allegations about L. Ron Hubbard’s controversial religion.
Beghe most recently appeared in the CBS series Cane, and he’s been a regular television presence since the mid-1980s, showing up in series like Everwood, JAG and Numb3rs. Overnight, however, he’s becoming much better known for being the first Scientology celebrity to come out against the church. Hubbard’s minions covet celebrities like no other religion, and although some, like Nicole Kidman, have only temporary affiliations with it, none with Beghe’s experience has ever been so public in denouncing it.
Speaking on the phone from his home in Malibu, Beghe, 48, says the 3-minute video is part of a much longer session. After leaving the church, Beghe had reached out to a Norwegian man, Andreas Heldal-Lund, who runs Operation Clambake (xenu.net), probably the most comprehensive anti-Scientology website on the Internet. Heldal-Lund convinced him to meet him along with another of the church’s most well known critics, Mark Bunker, known as “wise beard man” to the “Anonymous” movement that in recent months has organized worldwide protests against Scientology.
“They came to my place out here, and we spent the day together. They set up a camera and I blabbed. And I barely scratched the surface,” Beghe says.
Originally from New York, Beghe turned a modeling career into television acting with relative ease. “I’m one of those guys who works. I never had a problem getting a job,” he says. “I never became a huge star, but I never stopped working.” While taking an acting class from Scientologist Milton Katselas in 1994, Beghe says he decided he wanted to learn more about the religion.
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But I can give you my take on it on its face value. Generally... pretty sad.
What is Jason Beghe upset about exactly?
Maybe it's because of all the people he left behind who are allegedly "brainwashed", that he has some sense of responsibility for?
That overused hackneyed term can be easily addressed and shown to be false to some one whose only source of information is the Entertainment News page and they are honest and able to discern truth from fiction or... sour grapes. After 14 years Jason Beghe knows that that accusation is a bold face lie. Yes ... simply stated, a lie and he knows it is such.
Maybe it's because he spent 14 years learning the philosophy and application of Scientology techniques so to reach the very respectable level of an "OT 5 auditor". But perhaps discovered he was not up to the challenge. Failing to honestly achieve the level he says he did, must mean, of course that everyone else is a "brainwashed, robotic version of ..." themselves. Maybe that is why he is so upset?
Maybe it's because his success as a celebrity auditor was in his eyes a sham? And to all those fellow Scientologists, friends and associates who were earnestly and honestly going about their lives. Failed to see this embarrassing truth, that he is not "the poster boy for Scientology". Being almost caught in a lie day in and day out can be quite stressful. Maybe that is why he is so upset?
Maybe he is upset because he should have left sooner?
Maybe he is so upset because the Church followed thru on his request for a refund?
Maybe he is so upset because besides his wife no one followed him out the door?
Maybe he is so upset because after 14 years he realized he was never as sincere as he thought he was and that it took him 14 years to figure it out. That's got to be embarrassing or at least it should be if he had some pride.
Maybe he is so upset because the Entertainment News reporters who he is telling his story to, don't care a lick about him, his wife or his story beyond how it furthers their own narrow goals of a paycheck.
Maybe he is so upset because no matter how resolute, how adamant he is, the more reporters he talks to, the more videos he places on You Tube... he knows that he can only be "right" by diminishing himself. The bigger the media makes him the smaller the man he proves himself to be.
Maybe he so upset because his story was placed next to "Ivana Trump Gets Married' ? Next to Katie Couric Exit: A Pile-On."
This can go on, I'll stop here with this confession. I'm a 30 year Scientologist and I'm OT 5.
My wife and my daughters are Scientologists, we haven't been brainwashed to believe that we were not brainwashed. The lessons I learn in Scientology, the tools I apply to my life have made me and my family happier and willing to help others who honestly desire it.
lifegoeson8
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> With everything that California is confronting between immigration, taxes, Presidential elections - why would the Village Voice waste their time on issues like this that are just meant to upset others and discriminate against one religion. Jason had his choice of being a Scientologists or not - he decided not - it appears many years ago.
You are a true hero! Thank you for speaking out when so many others are afraid to. You are a strong brave man and I thank you for that!
Thank you to the Village Voice for interviewing you. You are right about the recordings! I was on staff at Celebrity Centre International and I know for a fact the auditing sessions are taped. This is because the Religious Technology Center and the Case supervisor wants to make sure your auditor doesn't apply the technology wrong, but it also ensures pure control over your cycles and "how" you are handled later on.
The information can and does get used against you. It is a very controlling mechanism.
Thanks again to you Jason. You are doing the right thing and you have a lot of support!
You are a very brave person to be willing to come forward and speak, and you are continuing to help give a voice to those who are still silent in the shadow of Scientology's human rights abuses.
Mr. Beghe? Thank you for speaking out and welcome back to IRL society.
Good luck with your new deal, and thank you.
Good luck Jason :D
I applaud his bravery in telling the truth of his experience. I'm sure there is hardship in his future because of it, but I also hope there is great reward, as well.
I look forward to enjoying a less "glassy eyed" Jason Beghe performance soon!