But for all its notoriety, scientology has remained americas least understood new religion, even as it has been one of its most successful. But one of the most laughable and irksome myths about scientology is this bizarre idea that its secretive. Scientology hides from grave allegations behind the mask. Scientology is a religion, rules supreme court telegraph. Americas book of secrets scientology tv episode 2014. I read this book out of curiosity and i must admit i didnt read the whole volume. I only read the parts that gave me a better understanding of this selfproclaimed religion. As someone who is agnostic and doesnt follow any organized religion, it seems to me that scientology is mostly interested in money and its image, rather than helping people. Pauwels, bergier, and lovecraft lovecraft in bergier lovecraft and scientology. The story of americas most secretive religion by janet reitman. The secrets of scientology is a documentary which was broadcast on 28 september 2010 as part of the bbcs panorama documentary strand. Americas book of secrets s03e01 scientology youtube. I also give americas book of secrets credit for doing what ancient. Hubbard, was a prolific american author and founder of dianetics and the controversial church.
All are available for purchase on click book images for details. The auditors code requires that a minister auditor never use the secrets of a preclear. The emeter, chapter 18 of paulette coopers historic book, the scandal of scientology. Because i run a website about scientology family life, and because im extremely open about being a scientologist, i end up fielding questions on a regular basis from students. The story of americas most secretive religion, recently named by the new york times as one of its 100 notable books of 2011. Scientology holds in common many of the beliefs of other religions and philosophies. If youre like most people in the 21st century, this may be the image you have of scientology. From the facts behind the nsa spying scandals big brother and the boston bombings american ter. Why people do horrible things for belief going clear gives a glimpse into how indoctrination really works. Ron hubbard, underlings, celebrities and cult slaves in this story of americas most secretive religion it is a riveting read not only for its thorough research, and winning style, but because reitman has left no greed undescribed in the 396 pageturner. Scientology has been recognised officially as a religion after britains highest court swept aside 158 years of law to rule that worshipping a god is not essential to religion.
It considers man to be a spiritual being with more to him than flesh and blood. Ackerman, jonathan adams, barry aird, jamie dewolf. My religion has a lot that gets said about it in the media. Read about what is scientology, the beliefs of scientologists, and how the religions spiritual purpose is to enable man to improve his life through a greater understanding of himself and attaining a higher state of spiritual awareness, healing and enlightenment. Xenu also called xemu, was, according to scientology founder l. Scientology is officially recognized as a religion throughout the united states by federal, state and local governments. A collection of handselected books on church of scientology, chosen on the basis of apparent usefulness and quality. It is one of the most secret organizations in america. State department and immigration and naturalization service ins decisions finding that scientology is a bona fide religion. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion on inside scientology. So what is it about the scifi writers religion that exerts.
Hubbard initially developed a program of ideas called dianetics, which was distributed through the dianetics foundation. It is a body of knowledge which, when properly used, gives freedom and truth to the individual. Watch scientology full episode americas book of secrets. Americas book of secrets scientology tv episode 2014 imdb. Americas book of secrets on h2 again opens the vault of information usually hidden from the public view, including previously undisclosed historical narratives and insider information. From the facts behind the nsa spying scandals big brother and the boston bombings american terrorists to americas secret prisons, scientology, the. The book taught me that scientology is not a small marginal phenomenon, but actually a quite large organisation with a serious amount of funds. Ill be in america s book of secrets tonight on h2 history channel 2 at 10pm eastern. Scientology it is one of the most secret organizations in america. For example, he once observed that scientology is not a psychotherapy. The story of xenu is covered in ot iii, part of scientologys secret advanced. Our motivation for revealing the secrets of scientology is not to denigrate scientologists or to make a judgement on whether or not scientology is a religion.
Ill be in americas book of secrets tonight on h2 history channel 2 at 10pm eastern. Part ii of this note briefly examines the origins and operations of the church of scientology. Well reveal the hidden origins, strict doctrine, secret language and celebrity allure of the wealthy and influential institution. To argue that scientology is a genuine religion is not to say that it is a good religion or a bad religion, a true religion or a false religion. Hubbard characterized scientology as a religion, and in 1953 incorporated the first church of scientology in new jersey adherents. This, of course, is a very different view to that espoused by prevailing scientific thought which views man as only a material object, a complex. The foundation soon entered bankruptcy, and hubbard lost the rights to his seminal publication dianetics. Campbell that the best way to avoid paying taxes was to start your own religion. Should germany stop worrying and love the octopus freedom of. A religion based on the cosmic revelations of an inspired geniusthat boasts more than 100,000 faithful followers throughout the world. The story of americas most secretive religion is a 2011 book by journalist janet reitman in which the author examines the church of scientology. Now janet reitman tells its riveting full story in the first objective modern history of scientology, at last revealing the astonishing truth about life within the controversial religion for its members. Buy americas book of secrets, season 3 microsoft store. Part iii surveys german and american protections of religious liberty.
In 1961 there was a scandal in the sleepy uk town of east grinstead. From the facts behind the nsa spying scandals big brother and the boston bombings american terrorists to americas secret prisons, scientology, the gold conspiracy and americas doomsday plans, this series features indepth interviews with top journalists, law enforcement officials and whistleblowers. Other components include political aspirations, business ventures, cultural productions, pseudomedical practices, pseudopsychiatric claims, and among its most. Most americans dont think scientology is a religion. Americas book of secrets s03e01 scientology mady sonmarlayn. A religionbased on the cosmic revelations of an inspired. Inside scientology is a masterful piece of reportinga compelling introduction to america s most secretive religion, as the subtitle has it.
These are theological questions which go beyond the scope of this paper. I wont get into how it was, but one day i was sitting in a hotel in siberia, downing a few vodka shots with misha, the owner. Presented by john sweeney, it is a followup of his 2007 investigation into the church of scientology and features interviews with former highranking members of the organisation. Your community and guide to relationship advice, the latest in celebrity news, culture, style, travel, home, finances, shopping deals, career and more. The emeter, chapter 14 of the report of the board of inquiry into scientology the anderson report, victoria, australia, 1965. St louis post dispatch inside scientology leaves no scandal unturned in the life of l. As i read it, i had an awareness that the author was afraid of this litigious. Back for an exciting third season, americas book of secrets on h2 goes deeper, farther and wider than ever in its unceasing effort to bring viewers the truth behind todays most shocking headlines. Reitman, a contributing editor for rolling stone, began studying the church in 2005. It was published in march 2009 by oxford university press. In truth, the only reason scientology was turned into a religion, was to achieve tax exemption in order to increase profits, and to protect the cult from people it had pissed off by saying that their religion was being attacked by them. The story of americas most secret religion, author janet reitman tell the fascinating history of the mysterious organization and its members. Americas book of secrets s03e01 scientology by anne p.
Americas book of secrets on h2 again opens the vault of information usually hidden from the public view, including previously undisclosed historical narratives. She is a contributing editor at rolling stone magazine and the author of the bestselling inside scientology. Ron hubbard seemed to reject the designation religion for the beliefs and practices of scientology. Roy wallis, in his book the road to total freedom, london, heinemann, 1976, says. Unusual for a religion, the church of scientology has organised systematic. America s book of secrets s03 ep01 scientology hd watch. A religionbased on the cosmic revelations of an inspired geniusthat boasts more than 100,000 faithful followers throughout the world. Americas book of secrets then tries to trace the influence of chariots of the gods on popular culture, and it tries to rope in star wars, which was not in fact based on chariots.
Scientology, hollywood and the prison of belief looks at the. Gma is your source for useful news and inspiration on how to live your best life. The narrator reminds us that the foundations of government, religion. She published an article in rolling stone about scientology the next year and continued her research for five years. We were having a polite argument about what life was actually like in america. He then worked out the plotting of scientology as a successor to his earlier selfhelp system of dianetics, which used a counseling technique. Americas book of secrets official order all seasons. This is the scientology book that contained the process which led to genuine and justified outrage when it was practiced upon young children at school without consent. How and why does the government monitor or intervene in some cultsyet seemingly turn a blind eye to. Scientology is a body of religious beliefs and practices first described in 1950 and organized as a movement in may 1952 by american author l. Inside scientology is an in depth, albeit critical, look at the religious movement known as scientology.
The survey, conducted by cbs news, found that 70 percent of. Are their goals religious, political or simply financial. Our motivation is only to compare other religions with islam and to further the command to seek beneficial knowledge before making decisions. In addition to lewis, other contributors to the book include j. Tied to h2s other hit series, ancient aliens to the extent that they are reusing a. Scientology hides from grave allegations behind the mask of religion john sweeney l ron hubbards church is under increasing attack, but by calling itself a religion scientology is shielded from.
Religionfacts does not necessarily endorse the contents of these books. Even for those who have no interest in parsing when cults become religions or why faith upends fact, reitman tells a spellbinding story of a largerthanlife personality whose quirks, ticks and charisma shaped america s newest homegrown religious movement. H2 has some weird fetish for promoting submission to gods will as the highest form of human service. Operation clambake the inner secrets of scientology. That was tom cruise jumping up and down on a couch, while promoting war of the worlds in 2005 on oprah. Scientology is a compilation book about the church of scientology and the new religious movement scientology, edited by james r. There is a new book that is really interesting called god is not one. News world americas the secrets of scientology tom cruise says katie holmes is now a fullyfledged follower of l ron hubbard. Although some social scientists insist that scientology is a religion, the more appropriate position to take is that the organization is a multifaceted transnational that has religion as only one of its many components.
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