Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Mariner Books (2011), Edition: Reprint, 469 pages
Description
Reitman offers the first full, journalistic history of the Church of Scientology, in an even-handed account that at last establishes the astonishing truth about the controversial religion. She traces Scientology's development from the birth of Dianetics through to the present day.
User reviews
LibraryThing member bragan
This book offers a fairly thorough look at the history and current state of Scientology, based in large part on information from former Scientologists (many of them high-ranking), as well as at least one unmonitored interview with a still-practicing member. Reitman has, perhaps wisely, chosen not
The book is divided into four parts. Part I offers a detailed history of Scientology, from its origin as a gleam in L. Ron Hubbard's eye in the 1950s, through a period of growth and scandal in the 1970s. Part II takes the story through the 80s and into the early 90s, including massive changes in the structure of the organization after Hubbard's death. Part III focuses on the case of Lisa McPherson, who, as "treatment" for a psychotic break, was confined to a room in a Scientology-run hotel for many days, where she eventually died. The Scientologists were accused of neglecting to provide proper care for her, despite her deteriorating physical condition, but nothing ever came to trial. Part IV takes Scientology to the present day, including its rise in popularity among Hollywood stars and its careful recruitment of Tom Cruise. It also offers the perspective of a third-generation Scientologist still in the movement, and describes the experiences of several people who left the organization in response to its leader's erratic behavior and what they describe as an "Orwellian" atmosphere.
The tone here generally feels very even and not at all sensationalistic, but the picture Reitman paints of Scientology is strange and often quite disturbing. It's also sociologically fascinating. Over the course of the book, I found myself asking all kinds of interesting questions. What is Scientology, really? A religion? A cult? A business? A self-help movement? A pseudoscience? A scam? All of the above? How similar is it to mainstream religions, really, in its origins or its techniques for controlling its parishioners? What should the limits on freedom of religion be, and does Scientology push those limits too far? Why do some people find spiritual value in what to others sounds plain old crazy? The book doesn't directly address these questions, and it certainly doesn't offer any answers, but it does provoke a great deal of thought.
I would, perhaps, have liked a little more exploration of the day-to-day experience of life as a Scientologist. I'm particularly curious about the details of what goes on in the "auditing sessions" that form the backbone of everyday Scientology, and which Reitman discusses only in very vague terms. Still, even without that, it's an interesting and eye-opening read.
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to use outspoken critics of the church as sources, believing that people who have generally been quieter about their experiences in Scientology are likely to provide a less biased account. The book is divided into four parts. Part I offers a detailed history of Scientology, from its origin as a gleam in L. Ron Hubbard's eye in the 1950s, through a period of growth and scandal in the 1970s. Part II takes the story through the 80s and into the early 90s, including massive changes in the structure of the organization after Hubbard's death. Part III focuses on the case of Lisa McPherson, who, as "treatment" for a psychotic break, was confined to a room in a Scientology-run hotel for many days, where she eventually died. The Scientologists were accused of neglecting to provide proper care for her, despite her deteriorating physical condition, but nothing ever came to trial. Part IV takes Scientology to the present day, including its rise in popularity among Hollywood stars and its careful recruitment of Tom Cruise. It also offers the perspective of a third-generation Scientologist still in the movement, and describes the experiences of several people who left the organization in response to its leader's erratic behavior and what they describe as an "Orwellian" atmosphere.
The tone here generally feels very even and not at all sensationalistic, but the picture Reitman paints of Scientology is strange and often quite disturbing. It's also sociologically fascinating. Over the course of the book, I found myself asking all kinds of interesting questions. What is Scientology, really? A religion? A cult? A business? A self-help movement? A pseudoscience? A scam? All of the above? How similar is it to mainstream religions, really, in its origins or its techniques for controlling its parishioners? What should the limits on freedom of religion be, and does Scientology push those limits too far? Why do some people find spiritual value in what to others sounds plain old crazy? The book doesn't directly address these questions, and it certainly doesn't offer any answers, but it does provoke a great deal of thought.
I would, perhaps, have liked a little more exploration of the day-to-day experience of life as a Scientologist. I'm particularly curious about the details of what goes on in the "auditing sessions" that form the backbone of everyday Scientology, and which Reitman discusses only in very vague terms. Still, even without that, it's an interesting and eye-opening read.
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LibraryThing member DieFledermaus
Reitman’s look at the history of Scientology provides a good background and fills in the more sensationalized version of the story to make it, if possible, even more disturbing. Actually, the “Xenu the galactic overlord” part isn’t even the craziest or worst thing described. Reitman tries
The first parts of the book focus on Hubbard’s life. Some of the episodes that have been subsequently blown out of proportion, like his military service, are examined in detail. The picture that comes through is one of a charismatic and ambitious con man. Hubbard’s career as a churn-it-out sci-fi writer later led to the publication of Dianetics, a self-help book with some elements that now sound, frankly, crazy but that Reitman puts in context of a number of flourishing self-help ideas, religions and cults. Some of the creepy (or unintentionally hilarious) bits are quotes taken from Hubbard’s writing – for example, his assertion that the average woman had multiple self-induced abortions or the trauma caused by an incident known as “The Clam”. Dianetics made Hubbard briefly rich but he was unable to control the practice. This experience would make him extremely controlling with all the Scientology branches and tech as well as litigious. Dianetics set forth the reason for people’s problems – past traumas that had to be worked through and cleared in auditing sessions, which had to be paid for, of course. After the Dianetics fad ended, Hubbard came back with Dianetics plus – Scientology. Many of the ideas were the similar but the notorious E-meter was used and various sci-fi aspects filtered into the new movement. People had to pay to be audited, pay to set up a branch of Scientology, pay part of the money they received from auditing, pay for the tech, and so on.
The evolution of the church from one stocked by 60’s idealists to a tightly controlled, hierarchical structure under the increasingly paranoid Hubbard is mostly related by a high up ex-member. It would have been nice to have multiple sources for this but Reitman did note that she had cross-checked as much as she could and interviewed a wide range of people. Later, describing the elite Sea Org and Hubbard’s Messengers, Reitman has stories from multiple Scientologists. Sometimes the organization of the church could be confusing as there were so many branches and acronyms and titles. Hubbard was quite paranoid but there was opposition to the church – both from people concerned about its cult-like aspects and the government, as Scientologists did things like harass the IRS and break into government buildings. The description of the controlling behavior by Hubbard and others certainly sounds like a cult. Hubbard continually moved around, trying to find a base for Scientology, at times running it from a ship that was always on the move. In his later years, he was almost a caricature of a wealthy, crazy recluse. One of his most trusted underlings was the ambitious David Miscavige.
After Hubbard’s death, Miscavige moved quickly to take power, rolling over his rivals and expelling anyone who opposed him. He continued Hubbard’s policy of harsh retaliation against ‘enemies’ and used lawsuits and harassment. He also tried to increase Scientology’s reach with various campaigns – new marketing efforts, outreach to celebrities, charities and good works. The church also made a hard push to be granted tax-exempt status and Reitman’s opinion seems to be that it was a mistake and a response to the harassment of the IRS.
The more recent history of Scientology is told through the personal stories of several famous and ordinary people – Lisa McPherson, a longtime devoted Scientologist who died under mysterious circumstances and whose death led to a criminal investigation, celebrities like John Travolta and Tom Cruise, and defectors high up in the organization as well as some who grew up in the church and are still Scientologists. Through the McPherson story, Reitman describes the development of Clearwater – the Florida town that became a Scientologist base, with tensions between the locals and the church. McPherson’s story also illustrates the high cost (social and financial) of her rise in the church as well as the tight-knit but controlling community.
Cruise and Travolta have been ridiculed for their involvement with the church but Reitman’s description of how Miscavige and the church chased and pressured celebrities is a bit creepy. Miscavige comes off even worse in the stories of former high-ranking Scientologists – he lounged in luxury while the staff worked around the clock for meager pay, he was paranoid and had poor managerial skills, and he became violent and cruel which set off another round of purges and defections. The Scientology community is shown in a good and bad light from two women, one of whom left the church and strained her relationship with the family. The other woman remained in the church but went to college and is shown as poised, intelligent and clear-eyed about the good and bad aspects of Scientology. With the instant connection and anonymity of the internet, many of the secrets of Scientology have been leaked. It has also allowed former Scientologists to connect. There’s not much of a religion outside the official church, but Reitman shows the start of some Scientologists outside of Scientology. Very interesting and detailed portrait of a secretive religion. The author tries hard to be balanced, but the book will probably make you Google map your nearest Church of Scientology and resolve to avoid it.
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to be balanced by discussing some of the positives about Scientology and noting that much of her information comes from former and disgruntled members of the church. She also describes the appeal of many aspects of the church (at least initially for some) as well as the charisma and attraction of its founder. However, it’s difficult to be balanced as the history of L. Ron Hubbard is very spotty and can be easily contrasted to the overly positive portrait of him in the religion. His successor, David Miscavige, comes of as extremely controlling and creepy. Even so, much of the negative culture associated with Scientology – extreme litigiousness, ill-treatment of members, a constant push for profit – started with Hubbard. The first parts of the book focus on Hubbard’s life. Some of the episodes that have been subsequently blown out of proportion, like his military service, are examined in detail. The picture that comes through is one of a charismatic and ambitious con man. Hubbard’s career as a churn-it-out sci-fi writer later led to the publication of Dianetics, a self-help book with some elements that now sound, frankly, crazy but that Reitman puts in context of a number of flourishing self-help ideas, religions and cults. Some of the creepy (or unintentionally hilarious) bits are quotes taken from Hubbard’s writing – for example, his assertion that the average woman had multiple self-induced abortions or the trauma caused by an incident known as “The Clam”. Dianetics made Hubbard briefly rich but he was unable to control the practice. This experience would make him extremely controlling with all the Scientology branches and tech as well as litigious. Dianetics set forth the reason for people’s problems – past traumas that had to be worked through and cleared in auditing sessions, which had to be paid for, of course. After the Dianetics fad ended, Hubbard came back with Dianetics plus – Scientology. Many of the ideas were the similar but the notorious E-meter was used and various sci-fi aspects filtered into the new movement. People had to pay to be audited, pay to set up a branch of Scientology, pay part of the money they received from auditing, pay for the tech, and so on.
The evolution of the church from one stocked by 60’s idealists to a tightly controlled, hierarchical structure under the increasingly paranoid Hubbard is mostly related by a high up ex-member. It would have been nice to have multiple sources for this but Reitman did note that she had cross-checked as much as she could and interviewed a wide range of people. Later, describing the elite Sea Org and Hubbard’s Messengers, Reitman has stories from multiple Scientologists. Sometimes the organization of the church could be confusing as there were so many branches and acronyms and titles. Hubbard was quite paranoid but there was opposition to the church – both from people concerned about its cult-like aspects and the government, as Scientologists did things like harass the IRS and break into government buildings. The description of the controlling behavior by Hubbard and others certainly sounds like a cult. Hubbard continually moved around, trying to find a base for Scientology, at times running it from a ship that was always on the move. In his later years, he was almost a caricature of a wealthy, crazy recluse. One of his most trusted underlings was the ambitious David Miscavige.
After Hubbard’s death, Miscavige moved quickly to take power, rolling over his rivals and expelling anyone who opposed him. He continued Hubbard’s policy of harsh retaliation against ‘enemies’ and used lawsuits and harassment. He also tried to increase Scientology’s reach with various campaigns – new marketing efforts, outreach to celebrities, charities and good works. The church also made a hard push to be granted tax-exempt status and Reitman’s opinion seems to be that it was a mistake and a response to the harassment of the IRS.
The more recent history of Scientology is told through the personal stories of several famous and ordinary people – Lisa McPherson, a longtime devoted Scientologist who died under mysterious circumstances and whose death led to a criminal investigation, celebrities like John Travolta and Tom Cruise, and defectors high up in the organization as well as some who grew up in the church and are still Scientologists. Through the McPherson story, Reitman describes the development of Clearwater – the Florida town that became a Scientologist base, with tensions between the locals and the church. McPherson’s story also illustrates the high cost (social and financial) of her rise in the church as well as the tight-knit but controlling community.
Cruise and Travolta have been ridiculed for their involvement with the church but Reitman’s description of how Miscavige and the church chased and pressured celebrities is a bit creepy. Miscavige comes off even worse in the stories of former high-ranking Scientologists – he lounged in luxury while the staff worked around the clock for meager pay, he was paranoid and had poor managerial skills, and he became violent and cruel which set off another round of purges and defections. The Scientology community is shown in a good and bad light from two women, one of whom left the church and strained her relationship with the family. The other woman remained in the church but went to college and is shown as poised, intelligent and clear-eyed about the good and bad aspects of Scientology. With the instant connection and anonymity of the internet, many of the secrets of Scientology have been leaked. It has also allowed former Scientologists to connect. There’s not much of a religion outside the official church, but Reitman shows the start of some Scientologists outside of Scientology. Very interesting and detailed portrait of a secretive religion. The author tries hard to be balanced, but the book will probably make you Google map your nearest Church of Scientology and resolve to avoid it.
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LibraryThing member Carlie
If you are looking for a comprehensive missive about the intricacies of practicing Scientology, this is not the book for you. This book focuses on the roots of Scientology, the recruitment process, the conflicts with U.S. and world governments, the changes in management and organizational structure
L. Ron Hubbard must have been one hell of a charismatic guy because he thought up not one religion but two, and managed to attract thousands of people to follow his doctrines. I think he accomplished this partly because he did things on such a grand scale. His fibs and schemes were so big that I think people trusted him purely out of disbelief that someone would tell such a tale. For example, when just 21 years old he chartered a schooner to lead an expedition in search of pirate treasure. He recruited fifty people to go with him at a cost of $250 per person. They never made it due to bad weather and bad planning, but Hubbard still spun it as a success.
Hubbard wrote Dianetics in 1950, outlining how the mind works according to this philosophy and the need for auditing to rid the mind of engrams, or lasting scars in the reactive mind. It was not a religion per se, but people began practicing it, and Hubbard began opening training facilities, charging people to become professional auditors. He held demonstrations and lectures and gathered followers. The money starting coming in rapidly, but in less than two years people began defecting while Hubbard made a series of bad financial decisions.
In 1952, Hubbard announced to his remaining flock a new science called Scientology. In this science, an E-meter is used during auditing sessions that measures emotional charges. This twist on Dianetics incorporated and defined how the soul works along with the mind. Scientology, as I understand it, is outlined thus:
Alien beings known as thetans created the universe and used our bodies as physical shells. However, they are trapped inside of our human bodies and the universe they created, having lost their former power through many years of being implanted with positive and negative ideas. The goal of Scientology is to recover true memories (as opposed to the ideas implanted in them) through auditing and using the E-meter. As the false memories are uncovered and discarded, humans reach a state of Clear. Once Clear, they reach higher and higher levels of being able to control thought, life, matter, energy, space, and time along the Bridge to Total Freedom and become Operating Thetans.
Apart from the mechanics of Scientology, much space in the book is devoted to recruitment, FBI investigations, and IRS kerfuffles. Recruiting new members and the pressure to enlist members in costly classes and auditing sessions that enlarge the coffers of the organization and the higher ups in particular is discussed. At one point, members of the church were indicted on federal charges after it was discovered that they were part of an espionage plot involving infiltrating the FBI. Many years of court cases plagued the IRS when Scientology brought multiple lawsuits against the agency, ending in the IRS throwing up its hands and granting tax-exempt status and recognizing Scientology as a religion.
Reitman has done her homework and the book is well researched with evidentiary documents and interviews with current and former church members. Her aim was to maintain objectivity, which she manages most of the time. However, to her credit, the church is so secretive that I can imagine it is much easier to find dirt than Scientology’s version of the truth. This was a revealing look into an organization that tries to remain under wraps and goes to great lengths to obfuscate their practices.
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over time, the interjection of the church in personal lives and decisions, the difficulties in leaving, the decline of L. Ron Hubbard and the rise of David Miscavige, and the political embroilments that ensue.L. Ron Hubbard must have been one hell of a charismatic guy because he thought up not one religion but two, and managed to attract thousands of people to follow his doctrines. I think he accomplished this partly because he did things on such a grand scale. His fibs and schemes were so big that I think people trusted him purely out of disbelief that someone would tell such a tale. For example, when just 21 years old he chartered a schooner to lead an expedition in search of pirate treasure. He recruited fifty people to go with him at a cost of $250 per person. They never made it due to bad weather and bad planning, but Hubbard still spun it as a success.
Hubbard wrote Dianetics in 1950, outlining how the mind works according to this philosophy and the need for auditing to rid the mind of engrams, or lasting scars in the reactive mind. It was not a religion per se, but people began practicing it, and Hubbard began opening training facilities, charging people to become professional auditors. He held demonstrations and lectures and gathered followers. The money starting coming in rapidly, but in less than two years people began defecting while Hubbard made a series of bad financial decisions.
In 1952, Hubbard announced to his remaining flock a new science called Scientology. In this science, an E-meter is used during auditing sessions that measures emotional charges. This twist on Dianetics incorporated and defined how the soul works along with the mind. Scientology, as I understand it, is outlined thus:
Alien beings known as thetans created the universe and used our bodies as physical shells. However, they are trapped inside of our human bodies and the universe they created, having lost their former power through many years of being implanted with positive and negative ideas. The goal of Scientology is to recover true memories (as opposed to the ideas implanted in them) through auditing and using the E-meter. As the false memories are uncovered and discarded, humans reach a state of Clear. Once Clear, they reach higher and higher levels of being able to control thought, life, matter, energy, space, and time along the Bridge to Total Freedom and become Operating Thetans.
Apart from the mechanics of Scientology, much space in the book is devoted to recruitment, FBI investigations, and IRS kerfuffles. Recruiting new members and the pressure to enlist members in costly classes and auditing sessions that enlarge the coffers of the organization and the higher ups in particular is discussed. At one point, members of the church were indicted on federal charges after it was discovered that they were part of an espionage plot involving infiltrating the FBI. Many years of court cases plagued the IRS when Scientology brought multiple lawsuits against the agency, ending in the IRS throwing up its hands and granting tax-exempt status and recognizing Scientology as a religion.
Reitman has done her homework and the book is well researched with evidentiary documents and interviews with current and former church members. Her aim was to maintain objectivity, which she manages most of the time. However, to her credit, the church is so secretive that I can imagine it is much easier to find dirt than Scientology’s version of the truth. This was a revealing look into an organization that tries to remain under wraps and goes to great lengths to obfuscate their practices.
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LibraryThing member picardyrose
Those poor people.
LibraryThing member JonathanGorman
Very well researched and written.
LibraryThing member everfresh1
Good book that sheds light on the origin, background and current state of Scientology. A lot of facts I didn't know about - quite shocking. The author really just touches on the key principles of Scientology doctrine. I would like to see more deep analysis of Hubbard's teachings - although it is
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probably a subject of a separate book. Show Less
LibraryThing member satyridae
I will confess that the only reason I picked this book up in the first place was because I wanted to learn if there was any truth to the story (which I love) that Heinlein and Hubbard sat down one night and bet each other that they could each make up a religion and have a huge number of bona fide
I soldiered on, despite my disappointment, and was rendered speechless with horror any number of times. I am not a religious type, and I find all of the religions I know anything in-depth about deeply weird, but the Scientologists are batshit. I knew about the aliens. I didn't know about the billion-year contracts, or the tossing people overboard from the yacht for minor infractions. Or the locking them up, or the letting them die from dehydration resulting from psychosis brought on by "auditing". I knew about the money, the corporate model, but not how punishingly avaricious the church was with its rank and file.
It was a fascinating book on a lot of levels. My only minor quibble is that I didn't get a real feel for what, exactly, the devotees get from the various classes/auditings/e-meters & etc. I got a clear picture of the trauma, of the betrayals, of the reporting on one another, of the keeping of files on people- but I really have no understanding of what benefits (and there must be some) there are.
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believing converts in 5 years. Heinlein's Church of All Worlds didn't really take off like Hubbard's Scientology. Sadly, Reitman doesn't mention this story, though this will not prevent me from continuing to tell it. I soldiered on, despite my disappointment, and was rendered speechless with horror any number of times. I am not a religious type, and I find all of the religions I know anything in-depth about deeply weird, but the Scientologists are batshit. I knew about the aliens. I didn't know about the billion-year contracts, or the tossing people overboard from the yacht for minor infractions. Or the locking them up, or the letting them die from dehydration resulting from psychosis brought on by "auditing". I knew about the money, the corporate model, but not how punishingly avaricious the church was with its rank and file.
It was a fascinating book on a lot of levels. My only minor quibble is that I didn't get a real feel for what, exactly, the devotees get from the various classes/auditings/e-meters & etc. I got a clear picture of the trauma, of the betrayals, of the reporting on one another, of the keeping of files on people- but I really have no understanding of what benefits (and there must be some) there are.
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LibraryThing member HadriantheBlind
An impressively researched story - good journalism about a modern 'religion' and its secretive and destructive means. Also has good background on the cult's dirty history, about the mercurial personality of its leader, as well as the abuses and aggressive hounding of its members. Useful.
LibraryThing member jen.e.moore
Detailed but not insightful; really the only interesting thing about this book is the sheer amount of information about the Church of Scientology that Reitman was able to dig up.
LibraryThing member librarianbryan
It is what it is, the book and what the book is about. The whole deal felt as trashy as fleece pants but I couldn't stop listening. And it made me feel dirty. Reitman's use of the paint-by-the-numbers journalistic nonfiction rulebook serves her purpose well but probably won't get her the same
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hysterical praise as other popular nonfiction writers that write no better or worse than her about creepy subjects. Show Less
LibraryThing member tajuddinabd
Seriously I cannot brains the people who blindly follow the religion invented by someone who failed to show the real virtue in life - the Hubbard himself screwing his life, doing immoral things (cheating his wife and his wife cheating him, too), etc. So how on earth people could ever worshiping
Seriously insane and unimaginable!
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this man, after bunch of immoral thing surrounded his life? Where's gone the good exemplar? Seriously insane and unimaginable!
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LibraryThing member yougotamber
The book was very enlightening and I'm glad I read it. It's one of those books where the truth might lie in a fuzzy cloud. I do believe Scientology is much like a cult and will steal all your money but was it responsible for the death of a member? Did it throw people overboard? How much of this is
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factual or just ideas? I can say that before reading this book, my knowledge of the subject was strictly based on South Park and hearsay but now I feel I grasp a better understanding. This understanding has actually scared me a little. Biggest cult ever? Yes. Read the book if you like controversy and sociology, it's quite interesting to say the least. Show Less
LibraryThing member MarkBeronte
Scientology, created in 1954 by a prolific sci-fi writer named L. Ron Hubbard, claims to be the world’s fastest growing religion, with millions of members around the world and huge financial holdings. Its celebrity believers keep its profile high, and its teams of “volunteer ministers” offer
Now Janet Reitman offers the first full journalistic history of the Church of Scientology, in an evenhanded account that at last establishes the astonishing truth about the controversial religion. She traces Scientology’s development from the birth of Dianetics to today, following its metamorphosis from a pseudoscientific self-help group to a worldwide spiritual corporation with profound control over its followers and even ex-followers.
Based on five years of research, unprecedented access to Church officials, confidential documents, and extensive interviews with current and former Scientologists, this is the defining book about a little-known world.
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aid at disaster sites such as Haiti and the World Trade Center. But Scientology is also a notably closed faith, harassing journalists and others through litigation and intimidation, even infiltrating the highest levels of the government to further its goals. Its attacks on psychiatry and its requirement that believers pay as much as tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars for salvation have drawn scrutiny and skepticism. And ex-members use the Internet to share stories of harassment and abuse. Now Janet Reitman offers the first full journalistic history of the Church of Scientology, in an evenhanded account that at last establishes the astonishing truth about the controversial religion. She traces Scientology’s development from the birth of Dianetics to today, following its metamorphosis from a pseudoscientific self-help group to a worldwide spiritual corporation with profound control over its followers and even ex-followers.
Based on five years of research, unprecedented access to Church officials, confidential documents, and extensive interviews with current and former Scientologists, this is the defining book about a little-known world.
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LibraryThing member bibleblaster
A brilliant investigation into a little-understood and culturally significant contemporary religion. If you want to understand all of the references in the latest Tom-Cruise-Katie-Holmes-divorce-stories to things like "the Sea Org," this book will fill you in. More importantly, if you want to see
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the journey from inspiration to idea to institution to insane-protection-of-said-institution, this is the book for you. Makes one wonder about religions, ideologies, institutions well beyond Scientology. I was fascinated...often horrified, but fascinated nonetheless. Show Less
LibraryThing member bness2
A must read for anyone who has ever heard of Scientology. Could barely put it down when I started. Scientology is not a religion, it is business that preys on people's weaknesses. I just hope Scientology continues its downward slide in popularity.
LibraryThing member SESchend
Very good run-down and history of Scientology, and not the polemic like too many of these books can be.
Whether it's deemed a self-help phenomena/practice or a religion, Scientology seems to help some people. Alas, there's far more people decrying its negative practices at the higher ends.
It's
Whether it's deemed a self-help phenomena/practice or a religion, Scientology seems to help some people. Alas, there's far more people decrying its negative practices at the higher ends.
It's
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only cemented my opinion that the guys in charge (both LR Hubbard & David Miscavige) were/are narcisstic and petty and egalomaniacal to serious extremes and have little connection with what their alleged religion espouses. Show Less
LibraryThing member GlennBell
This is a thorough discussion of L Ron Hubbard, the origin of the Church of Scientology, and the activities of the Church of Scientology from an insider's perspective. The level of detail is sometimes too much but it proves the veracity of the information provided. The information provided appears
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to be from past members, some of which were in positions of authority. I learned a lot about Scientology. The bottom line is that it is a scam that preys on the naive. The church sucks money and service from its adherents. Those sucked into this cult are brainwashed and coerced into continued involvement by peer pressure or sometimes brutal tactics. I recommend the book to anyone curious about Scientology. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jeanne.Miller
The confirmed facts alone are cause for nightmares. They implemented (and were convicted of) an extensive plan to overtake the U.S. government - making Watergate look like child's play. They so harassed IRS agents (stalked them, intimidated their families, filed thousands of law suits against them
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individually) that we just gave them the distinction out of fear. A group that believes aliens inhabit our bodies based on the writings of a science fiction author is not a religion - it's a cult. God has no place in Scientology. Show Less
LibraryThing member reader1009
Adult nonfiction. I only got to disc 5 or so (there are 13), but the first part tells the story of charismatic hypnotist (and all-around snake-oil-salesman) Lafayette Ron Hubbard's life, including early schemes, the development of his business, the descent into delusion, authorization of
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Watergate-type conspiracy and general evasion from authorities in the latter half of his life. Show Less
Awards
Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction (Longlist — Nonfiction — 2012)
Village Voice Favorite Books (2011)
Notable Books List (Nonfiction — 2012)
Language
Original publication date
2011-07-05