1 of 9

In 1992, Ted Koppel conducted a landmark interview with David Miscavige (this is the ONLY interview he’s ever done), leader of the Church of Scientology, for ABC’s Nightline where they discuss Dianetics, L. Ron Hubbard’s teachings and the inner machinations of the COS. The interview reveals an antagonistic, aggressive and fervent leader who has clearly “bought into” what the Church of Scientology is selling, “The Way to Happiness.”

This is a multi-part archived series Ted Koppel did for ABC’s Nightline, and while Ted Koppel admits he is skeptical and even goes so far as to say L.Ron Hubbards claims are “ridiculous” the most telling aspect of this interview is what we can glean about David Miscavige. (This is not new, and XenuTV also has excellent information on this amazing interview, including a transcript.)

Miscavige comes across as paranoid, angry and confrontational. He uses body language I have heard commonly described as part of the intimidation techniques used by COS members when dealing with the so-called “suppressive persons.” Miscavige leans into Koppels space, constantly interrupts, points his finger, misdirects from any topic he is not comfortable with, raises his voice and shows a great deal of sarcasm when responding to Koppel’s questions. This is not a comfortable interview to watch. I felt anxious, threatened and fearful as I observed Miscavige use persuasive, but overtly flawed logic to define why Scientology is the only way to improve one’s life.

I encourage anyone who is still on the fence as to what COS is all about with David Miscavige at its helm, to watch this interview. I am certainly not a trained psychologist or even an expert at body language, but my overall instinctual response to this was, “This man is not telling the truth, I feel misled, intimidated, condescended to, provoked, agitated and very uncomfortable.”

If this is what walking into a COS center, advertised as the “Way To Happiness” is like, no thanks. It felt more akin to how an encounter with the Dementors from the Harry Potter series must feel like, or as the author JK Rowling describes “that absence of being able to envisage that you will ever be cheerful again. The absence of hope. That very deadened feeling, which is so very different from feeling sad.”

Is this what faith should feel like? Is this what religion means? Or is this the layer of a powerful cult being stripped of its glossy facade?

For the rest of the interview, look for the videos after the jump.

2 of 9

3 of 9

4 of 9

5 of 9

6 of 9

7 of 9

8 of 9

9 of 9