Janet Reitman: Inside Scientology

[Anamnesis]

Originating from an article for Rolling Stone, Reitman describes her work as "the first objective modern history" of the church.

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 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.

 

[Peder]

Thanks for the cite. Apart from celebrities, I've known a few.

 

[Anamnesis]

Did they talk about their religion often?

 

[Peder]

Did they talk about their religion often?

No, not especially; certainly nothing like any attempt to proselytize. In fact, we were more curious than they were talkative. They avoided any details about their Scientology meetings. The one man was very focused on money. But since many people are, I can't really suggest that was because of his connection with Scientology. It seemed to be more about a possible inheritance from a rich uncle.