Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief
This book is in a Controlled Release!
1 journaler for this copy...
7 stars: Good
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From the back cover: "... At the book's center, two men whom Wright brings to life, showing how they have made Scientology what it is today: The darkly brilliant L. Ron Hubbard- whose restless, expansive mind invented a new religion tailor-made to prosper in the spiritually troubled post WW II era. And his successor, David Miscavige--tough and driven, with the unenviable task of preserving the church in the face of ongoing scandal and continual legal assaults. We learn about Scientology's esoteric cosmology; about the auditing process that detrmines an inductees state of being; about the Bridge to Total Freedom, through which members gain eternal life. We see the ways in which the church pursues celebrities such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta, and how such stars are exploited to advance the church's goals. We meet young idealists who joined the Sea Org , the churches clergy, whose members enter as children, signing up with a billion year contract and working with little pay in poor conditions. We meet men and women disconnected from friends and family by the church's policy of shunning critical voices. And we discover, through many firsthand stories, the violence that has long permeated the inner sanctum of the church.
In Going Clear, Wright examines what fundamentally makes a religion a religion, and whether Scientology is, in fact, deserving of the constitutional protections achieved in its victory over the IRS. Employing all his exceptional journalistic skills of observation, understanding, and synthesis, and his ability to shape a story into a compelling narrative, Lawrence Wright has given us an evenhanded yet keenly incisive book that goes far beyond an immediate expose and uncovers the very essence of what makes Scientology the institution that it is.
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I read this immediately after reading a first hand account of Jonestown. This was interesting, a good read, but could have used a bit of an edit as well. The beginning portions about Hubbard's life and some of the tenets of Scientology itself, could have been edited out. Still, an interesting read.
Scientology does not "kidnap" its converts the same way as Jim Jones did, for example. Most of them work, and pay money into the "church". (and most are in Hollywood/ So Cal). However, Scientology still manipulates its members to stay, and the Sea Org members are living in near slave labor conditions, as part of their "billion year contract".
Details of Tom Cruises's various relationships, including with Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes, was interesting in a titillating way. The church of course was involved in all the relationships, choosing someone for Cruise, and then excising them (Kidman particularly) when it suited them.
----------
From the back cover: "... At the book's center, two men whom Wright brings to life, showing how they have made Scientology what it is today: The darkly brilliant L. Ron Hubbard- whose restless, expansive mind invented a new religion tailor-made to prosper in the spiritually troubled post WW II era. And his successor, David Miscavige--tough and driven, with the unenviable task of preserving the church in the face of ongoing scandal and continual legal assaults. We learn about Scientology's esoteric cosmology; about the auditing process that detrmines an inductees state of being; about the Bridge to Total Freedom, through which members gain eternal life. We see the ways in which the church pursues celebrities such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta, and how such stars are exploited to advance the church's goals. We meet young idealists who joined the Sea Org , the churches clergy, whose members enter as children, signing up with a billion year contract and working with little pay in poor conditions. We meet men and women disconnected from friends and family by the church's policy of shunning critical voices. And we discover, through many firsthand stories, the violence that has long permeated the inner sanctum of the church.
In Going Clear, Wright examines what fundamentally makes a religion a religion, and whether Scientology is, in fact, deserving of the constitutional protections achieved in its victory over the IRS. Employing all his exceptional journalistic skills of observation, understanding, and synthesis, and his ability to shape a story into a compelling narrative, Lawrence Wright has given us an evenhanded yet keenly incisive book that goes far beyond an immediate expose and uncovers the very essence of what makes Scientology the institution that it is.
--------------
I read this immediately after reading a first hand account of Jonestown. This was interesting, a good read, but could have used a bit of an edit as well. The beginning portions about Hubbard's life and some of the tenets of Scientology itself, could have been edited out. Still, an interesting read.
Scientology does not "kidnap" its converts the same way as Jim Jones did, for example. Most of them work, and pay money into the "church". (and most are in Hollywood/ So Cal). However, Scientology still manipulates its members to stay, and the Sea Org members are living in near slave labor conditions, as part of their "billion year contract".
Details of Tom Cruises's various relationships, including with Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes, was interesting in a titillating way. The church of course was involved in all the relationships, choosing someone for Cruise, and then excising them (Kidman particularly) when it suited them.
Journal Entry 2 by PokPok at -- Mailed, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Sunday, March 12, 2017
Released 7 yrs ago (3/12/2017 UTC) at -- Mailed, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
(Mailing to a good friend. Hope she joins BC!).
Welcome to BookCrossing!
Thank you for picking up this book. Please make a journal entry on the BookCrossing site (www.bookcrossing.com) to let me know that this book has found a good home with you. You may choose to remain anonymous or to join (its free). If you join, please consider indicating that you were referred by PokPok. I hope you enjoy the book. You can make another journal entry with your comments when you’ve finished reading. Whenever you’re ready to send it on its way, make release notes if you are leaving it “in the wild” again for anyone to catch. Then watch its journey. You’ll be alerted by e-mail each time someone makes another journal entry. It’s all confidential (you’re known only by your screen name and no one is ever given your e-mail address), free, and spam-free.
Welcome to BookCrossing!
Thank you for picking up this book. Please make a journal entry on the BookCrossing site (www.bookcrossing.com) to let me know that this book has found a good home with you. You may choose to remain anonymous or to join (its free). If you join, please consider indicating that you were referred by PokPok. I hope you enjoy the book. You can make another journal entry with your comments when you’ve finished reading. Whenever you’re ready to send it on its way, make release notes if you are leaving it “in the wild” again for anyone to catch. Then watch its journey. You’ll be alerted by e-mail each time someone makes another journal entry. It’s all confidential (you’re known only by your screen name and no one is ever given your e-mail address), free, and spam-free.
