Fascinating look at the religion/cult/pyramid scheme/self-help system/human trafficker that is Scientology. One of the more interesting aspects for me is that I went into it expecting to snidely deride it’s claim as a religion but instead lowered my view of western religions enough to meet Scientology’s standards. They only sought that status for tax reasons—and I am certainly not saying they shouldn’t pay taxes. I am saying many churches should pay taxes. There has to be some threshold at which taxes are due. Mega-churches forfeit their sanctity when that much unregulated money rolls in. That modest tirade aside, how could you not love a story about a habitually lying, paranoid schizophrenic, racist, homophobic, wife beating, philandering sci fi writer creating a religion that condones slavery of its membership. That the “slaves” are mostly only bound by the chains of idolatry doesn’t excuse their bondage. Richly detailed from hundreds of interviews with past and present members, this well-structured narrative manages to steadily march through the history of founder L Ron Hubbard and dazzle the whole way. And when L Ron finally meets his Howard Hughes-esque end, when you thought Scientology might go into decline without it’s leader—a prone to sudden violence sociopath emerges named David Miscavige making Hubbard’s approach seem almost reasonable or quaint by comparison. This transition also moves Scientology from a distant 60’s / 70’s curio to a more immediate and real threat. As the pile of destroyed lives mounts so does the tension and I found many of these stories concerning and stressful. Just a taste—David Miscavige’s wife has been a “willing” prisoner in presumed poverty for over 17 years and has not been seen in public since being briefly allowed to appear at her father’s funeral. Meanwhile, Scientology’s current leader lives an opulent life including acknowledged dalliances. It’s good to be king.



(Even after finishing this, I wanted more about Scientology, so I immediately rolled into Leah Remini’s TROUBLEMAKER about her life in and final departure from Scientology * * * *) ( )

I have many many quibbles with various aspects of this book, but it is an undeniably well-researched and thorough delve into Scientology that has given me a lot of information. ( )

I put this on pause. What was I thinking? Trump is in the news everyday, I don't need to read about another egotistical sociopath right now. ( )

The sheep shall inherit the earth. Rush 2112 ( )

Yikes. The cult mentality fostered by Scientology can also happen in secular contexts, when people shut themselves off from information that could challenge their belief system. Sea Org members are intentionally isolated and threatened with a profound spiritual exile, along with more mundane physical punishments, for any act of insubordination or questioning.

We are all moving into our own thought silos, unable to have real discourse with those who believe differently than we do. I think that these groups must create a narrative - an origin story, along with a clear delineation of who is in the tribe and who is "the other". Scientologists have their messiah in the strange form of L. Ron Hubbard, but they also consciously label and ostracize apostates like director Paul Haggis. Few belief systems are truly inclusive; most have a charismatic leader and founder figure. Even our own wonderful local ethical society, supposedly a locus of progressivism, obsesses over their founder Felix Adler. ( )