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Outlook: I sailed the oceans in a Scientology jazz band

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Neil Sarfati plays his saxophone in 2012

13/01/2022 GMT

I sailed the oceans in a Scientology jazz band

BBC World Service - Outlook, I sailed the oceans in a Scientology jazz band

Neil Sarfati toured on board a ship with Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard

In 1968 Neil Sarfati was 23 and feeling "lost" when a friend told him about Scientology. Soon he boarded their ship, the Apollo, and began playing in L. Ron Hubbard's jazz band.

In 1968 Neil Sarfati was 23 and feeling "lost", when a conversation with a neighbour introduced him to Scientology. What began as self-help movement born out of the teachings of the founder, science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, had become an organisation with a large and devoted following. Fearing the world would be destroyed unless the teachings of Scientology took hold, Neil left his job and wife and made his way to Los Angeles to sign up to the Sea Org, an elite group of its most dedicated members. He boarded their ship, the Apollo, and began playing saxophone in the crew’s new jazz band, The Apollo Stars, in ports dotted around the Atlantic coast of Africa and Europe. But as Hubbard became increasingly creatively involved, Neil started to doubt his commitment to Scientology. 

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Presenter: Emily Webb

(Photo: Neil Sarfati in 2012. Credit: Neil Sarfati)

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