'Inside Scientology: The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion' by Janet Reitman is a well-researched investigation into the history, dogma, and actions of the Church of Scientology. Reitman reviews a lot of documentation, interviews, and church literature to paint a portrait of the creation, evolution, and current practices of Scientology. The writing style is engaging with ample citations to validate every fact presented. delves into the inner workings of Scientology, from the 1950s right up to the publication, exploring the secrets of the organization in an unbiased and informative manner.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings may include discussions of mental health issues, abuse within the organization, and high-pressure environments.
From The Publisher:
Based on five years of research, access to confidential documents, and extensive interviews with current and former Scientologists, Janet Reitman sheds some long-awaited light on the ever-elusive religion of the Church of Scientology.
Scientology, created in 1954 by pulp science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, claims to be the world's fastest growing religion, with millions of members and huge financial holdings. Celebrity believers keep its profile high. Teams of volunteer ministers offer aid at disaster sites like Haiti and the World Trade Center.
But Scientology is also a very closed faith, harassing journalists and others through litigation and intimidation, even infiltrating high levels of the government to further its goals. Its attacks on psychiatry and its requirement that believers pay as much as tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars for salvation have drawn scrutiny and skepticism. Ex-members use the internet to share stories of harassment and abuse.
Reitman offers the first full journalistic history of the Church of Scientology in an even-handed account that establishes the 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 global spiritual corporation with profound control over its followers and ex-followers. This is a defining book about a little-known world.
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Wow, what a thoroughly engaging book. I went from not surprised (who out there hasn't heard that L. Ron Hubbard had crazy ideas?) to shocked (the abuse!) to completely creeped out (the IRS stuff, Lisa McPherson, harassing critics).
What can you read after
Inside Scientology: The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion?
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