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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Borderline apology or cutting edge exploration of the distinction between cult and religion?
28 July 2011
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
When I finished reading "Inside scientology" it took a bit of
reflection before I arrived at my view so far: that this book is
either borderline apologetic (in the guise of not being biased) or at
the very cutting edge of distinguishing between the actions of one
group of followers (the members in good standing of the scientology
organisation) and all the others ("independent scientologists"). The
harmfulness of scientology the subject is obviously controversial. In
Germany, all scientology followers, organised or independents, are
restricted by law from taking government jobs. In California,
"ministerial exception" causes lawsuits against the organisation to
stop in the courts.
First, what I did not like. The word "cult." It is not used much in
this book, indeed it does not appear in the index. The Jim Jones
peoples temple is described as a cult, but there is no reflection on
what made the peoples temple different from the scientology sea
org. One big difference is, of course, that Jim Jones cannot sue
anyone. One book from only a few years ago about a multinational
organisation was never published in the UK - it is rumoured to be the
target of a "super injunction."
Also, while the description of the death of Lisa McPherson is
certainly admirably free of "bias" I wondered why this is the only
harrowing case that was described in such detail. This is - sadly -
far from the only court case from which one can quote devastating
details. Patrice Vic (Jugement Num 7388,Tribunal de Grande Instance de
Lyon, 1996) was a scientologist who was a victim, and Donald Anthony
Strawn - "Tony Strawn" (Pinellas County Criminal Court case
CRC94-12575CFANO) - is a (former) scientologist victimiser.
Then it grabbed me. What I felt was an absence of an overall opinion
about the organisation (I mean, what's the point of mentioning how
polite a few scientologist children are? The same point as mentioning
that Mussolini made the trains run on time??) could also be construed
as a subtle invitation to consider the latest developments regarding
the subject. The subject of scientology is no longer promoted
effectively by only one group, as it was previously. At the same time
that the scientology organisation is losing effectiveness (the mere
fact that this book is published demonstrates this) critics of
scientology (the subject and the organisation) and independent
scientologists are all expanding dramatically - not to say
"exponentially" - especially on the Internet. Reitman gives the
addresses of many websites that I like very much - as well as a few
scientology organisation websites and websites dedicated to
independent scientology.
People with my special interest - the scientology organisation rather
than the subject - could understandably be disappointed with this
book. It is IMHO equally possible that the future will prove that this
book was an important stepping stone in trying to describe, without
much bias, what is good and what is bad about scientology, the subject
as well as the organisation. I think you should buy this book and read
it to find out what you think of the distinction and why it matters,
if you think it matters at all.
My best answer to the question I put in the title is "you decide."
reflection before I arrived at my view so far: that this book is
either borderline apologetic (in the guise of not being biased) or at
the very cutting edge of distinguishing between the actions of one
group of followers (the members in good standing of the scientology
organisation) and all the others ("independent scientologists"). The
harmfulness of scientology the subject is obviously controversial. In
Germany, all scientology followers, organised or independents, are
restricted by law from taking government jobs. In California,
"ministerial exception" causes lawsuits against the organisation to
stop in the courts.
First, what I did not like. The word "cult." It is not used much in
this book, indeed it does not appear in the index. The Jim Jones
peoples temple is described as a cult, but there is no reflection on
what made the peoples temple different from the scientology sea
org. One big difference is, of course, that Jim Jones cannot sue
anyone. One book from only a few years ago about a multinational
organisation was never published in the UK - it is rumoured to be the
target of a "super injunction."
Also, while the description of the death of Lisa McPherson is
certainly admirably free of "bias" I wondered why this is the only
harrowing case that was described in such detail. This is - sadly -
far from the only court case from which one can quote devastating
details. Patrice Vic (Jugement Num 7388,Tribunal de Grande Instance de
Lyon, 1996) was a scientologist who was a victim, and Donald Anthony
Strawn - "Tony Strawn" (Pinellas County Criminal Court case
CRC94-12575CFANO) - is a (former) scientologist victimiser.
Then it grabbed me. What I felt was an absence of an overall opinion
about the organisation (I mean, what's the point of mentioning how
polite a few scientologist children are? The same point as mentioning
that Mussolini made the trains run on time??) could also be construed
as a subtle invitation to consider the latest developments regarding
the subject. The subject of scientology is no longer promoted
effectively by only one group, as it was previously. At the same time
that the scientology organisation is losing effectiveness (the mere
fact that this book is published demonstrates this) critics of
scientology (the subject and the organisation) and independent
scientologists are all expanding dramatically - not to say
"exponentially" - especially on the Internet. Reitman gives the
addresses of many websites that I like very much - as well as a few
scientology organisation websites and websites dedicated to
independent scientology.
People with my special interest - the scientology organisation rather
than the subject - could understandably be disappointed with this
book. It is IMHO equally possible that the future will prove that this
book was an important stepping stone in trying to describe, without
much bias, what is good and what is bad about scientology, the subject
as well as the organisation. I think you should buy this book and read
it to find out what you think of the distinction and why it matters,
if you think it matters at all.
My best answer to the question I put in the title is "you decide."
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
105 reviews
179 of 190 people found the following review helpful
This is an Important and timely book
16 Jun 2011
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Inside Scientology: The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion is objective, nonbiased and well written. It will raise the blood pressure of the management of Scientology, as well as the hairs on the arms of those unfamiliar with what goes on inside.
I heartedly whipped through this informative book and I highly recommend for general readers,as well as current and former members.
The most important thing I came away with after reading it was that this well researched and written book is an must read for anyone wanting to know why Scientology is so controversial.
The subject and history of Scientology and it's leaders current and past, is such that it would fill volumes. So, I think Janet Reitman accomplished, in good part, what she set out to do with this book:
"It has been my goal to write the first objective modern history of the Church of Scientology," Reitman proclaims in her introduction. "It is the goal of Inside Scientology to translate [L. Ron Hubbard's arcane] language and separate myth from fact."
What to include must have been a real dilemma. As a former member, I just wish there had been more. But for the outsider wanting to know the inside story of the secretive religion called Scientology, they will come away very informed and quite surprised. It does not provide all that there is to know but she provides the essential information and gives the reader enough so that they will have an historical understanding. She compliments earlier works and provides such that one will want to read up on previous works if they have not read them already.
She really did her homework. Hence the large Notes Section and 'Selected Bibliography at the end of the book. Additionally, the internet played a large part in the history of Scientology and she provides information on where to find information, as well.
Reitman does a very good job on the things she covers and for those not intimately aware of the cult as I am, the book provides riviting accounts of members recollections aided by well researched information on the organization, it's policies, procedures and culture. She does this in the most unbiased manner and backs up her work with meticulous researched references.
I was glad to see that she included interviews and information which I either did not expect to be in it, or never knew about before. I was also dismayed that certain events and names were not mentioned but, as I said, it would take volumns. She did her best to fit in what she could without overwhelming the reader. Shje explains scientologese and did it in a very easy to digest style. The research is excellent, as well. The book flows and is an enjoyable read. All that says a lot about this book and the author.
I heartedly whipped through this informative book and I highly recommend for general readers,as well as current and former members.
The most important thing I came away with after reading it was that this well researched and written book is an must read for anyone wanting to know why Scientology is so controversial.
The subject and history of Scientology and it's leaders current and past, is such that it would fill volumes. So, I think Janet Reitman accomplished, in good part, what she set out to do with this book:
"It has been my goal to write the first objective modern history of the Church of Scientology," Reitman proclaims in her introduction. "It is the goal of Inside Scientology to translate [L. Ron Hubbard's arcane] language and separate myth from fact."
What to include must have been a real dilemma. As a former member, I just wish there had been more. But for the outsider wanting to know the inside story of the secretive religion called Scientology, they will come away very informed and quite surprised. It does not provide all that there is to know but she provides the essential information and gives the reader enough so that they will have an historical understanding. She compliments earlier works and provides such that one will want to read up on previous works if they have not read them already.
She really did her homework. Hence the large Notes Section and 'Selected Bibliography at the end of the book. Additionally, the internet played a large part in the history of Scientology and she provides information on where to find information, as well.
Reitman does a very good job on the things she covers and for those not intimately aware of the cult as I am, the book provides riviting accounts of members recollections aided by well researched information on the organization, it's policies, procedures and culture. She does this in the most unbiased manner and backs up her work with meticulous researched references.
I was glad to see that she included interviews and information which I either did not expect to be in it, or never knew about before. I was also dismayed that certain events and names were not mentioned but, as I said, it would take volumns. She did her best to fit in what she could without overwhelming the reader. Shje explains scientologese and did it in a very easy to digest style. The research is excellent, as well. The book flows and is an enjoyable read. All that says a lot about this book and the author.
199 of 214 people found the following review helpful
A Vital Read
6 July 2011
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The three chapters about Lisa McPherson in this book pretty much sum up what is wrong with scientology.
The story of Lisa will tear your heart out. But it will also show you an example, if an extreme one, of an organization based on lies, taking advantage of others and itself being highly dangerous.
Lisa died receiving what organized scientology called "The Introspection Rundown".
In the book Janet Reitman tells of scientology's founder L Ron Hubbard announcing this rundown as a cure for the last unsolvable mental condition "the psychotic break". As quoted from Hubbard in Janet's book: "'I have made a technical breakthrough which possibly ranks with the major discoveries of the Twentieth Century,' he proclaimed in a bulletin dated November 24, 1973. 'THIS MEANS THE LAST REASON TO HAVE PSYCHIATRY AROUND IS GONE'."
Who is Hubbard to make such a "breakthrough"? The point is not whether the introspection rundown should have been two days or seventeen days as is argued by true believers in Hubbard's "technology". The point is this "tech" was written by a man with zero credentials in the field of mental health, who was an academic fraud, who abused people on a wholesale basis and who ripped off many millions from the proceeds of scientology while countless staff were cash starved and countless public were financially ruined.
In every way organized scientology destroyed a beautiful, young woman and took advantage of her for her money. It was completely incompetent without a technology to truly help others. And then it covers up what in my opinion is serious crime knowingly and willingly so that justice even to this day will never be done. It hides evidence and people from investigating authorities and then attacks the investigators brutally and continually.
This organization is built on a foundation of lies. It lies about its founder and its so-called "tech". There are countless examples of this in this book.
To exist it constantly must lie about what it is as one person and family after another is devoured for worldly gain.
And now organized scientology is using its myriad of "secular", benign-sounding front groups to penetrate our schools, businesses, mental health and other sectors of society with their "tech", pretending it is not 100% controlled by organized scientology.
This book is a vital piece of well written information that should be read by millions in order to protect themselves and their loved ones.
The story of Lisa will tear your heart out. But it will also show you an example, if an extreme one, of an organization based on lies, taking advantage of others and itself being highly dangerous.
Lisa died receiving what organized scientology called "The Introspection Rundown".
In the book Janet Reitman tells of scientology's founder L Ron Hubbard announcing this rundown as a cure for the last unsolvable mental condition "the psychotic break". As quoted from Hubbard in Janet's book: "'I have made a technical breakthrough which possibly ranks with the major discoveries of the Twentieth Century,' he proclaimed in a bulletin dated November 24, 1973. 'THIS MEANS THE LAST REASON TO HAVE PSYCHIATRY AROUND IS GONE'."
Who is Hubbard to make such a "breakthrough"? The point is not whether the introspection rundown should have been two days or seventeen days as is argued by true believers in Hubbard's "technology". The point is this "tech" was written by a man with zero credentials in the field of mental health, who was an academic fraud, who abused people on a wholesale basis and who ripped off many millions from the proceeds of scientology while countless staff were cash starved and countless public were financially ruined.
In every way organized scientology destroyed a beautiful, young woman and took advantage of her for her money. It was completely incompetent without a technology to truly help others. And then it covers up what in my opinion is serious crime knowingly and willingly so that justice even to this day will never be done. It hides evidence and people from investigating authorities and then attacks the investigators brutally and continually.
This organization is built on a foundation of lies. It lies about its founder and its so-called "tech". There are countless examples of this in this book.
To exist it constantly must lie about what it is as one person and family after another is devoured for worldly gain.
And now organized scientology is using its myriad of "secular", benign-sounding front groups to penetrate our schools, businesses, mental health and other sectors of society with their "tech", pretending it is not 100% controlled by organized scientology.
This book is a vital piece of well written information that should be read by millions in order to protect themselves and their loved ones.
194 of 213 people found the following review helpful
Scientologists: You Don't Know Scientology!
14 Jun 2011
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought this book despite knowing many details over the span of Scientology history and because of it. Here was an author who reportedly had done intense research, but noone has been able to capture with any depth the full panomara in one full swoop. How could anyone?
Janet Reitman has accomplished this exhausting and trying feat not reading like a dry history book, but a drama/scifi/mystery. I could not put it down until finished. There were many details I didn't know. More important to me personally was even after all this time I was able to piece together various plans and schemes that never made sense until Janet laid it all out.
I hope your steadfast labor, Ms Reitman, finds the tremendous success and widespread distribution it deserves. I firmly believe this will be The Book on the Real Scientology that will be referenced more than any other. I just finished it and am a bit awestruck. I certainly hope politicians, lobbyists, social groups, humanitarian groups and others will read this book and educate themselves fully, as well as parents, and teens, young adults.
The one group that needs to read it the most are Scientologists. In reality, they will be the last. Sincere thanks. Oh, there are juicy details in each chapter that make it a Must Read for almost anyone. When it comes to Scientology bizarre elements, you just can't make this stuff up. Hope to see you interviwed by Steven Colbert in the very near future!
More thoughts after a second read:
It is impossible for any one book to cover All of sci history from All angles. It would take a series, a long one.
There's a very important factor that sometimes gets missed so I'll repeat it. Janet Reitman discusses her sources and research in great depth. She made it clear that she didn't include anything that didn't have many backups of a story or incident.
There's also that tired, old elephant in the room. Sci's legal soldiers always at the ready, and Janet had a well founded, major publishing team behind her with their own legal eyes. Imagine how many keystrokes were deleted to make this book possible at all. It simply would not have gotten published if it had everything many of us would like to see inside.
But then there's the three, three chapters re: Lisa McPherson. And so much more. It's done in chronological order, and contains an enormous amount of background and major moments of the masterminds behind the battlefronts. Additionally I favor this book because there are so many other resources referenced within that any paricular area or point or person someone wants to find out more, there's no spending hours of googling necessary. It's provided and it makes it easy.
Sci's Bridge publications has their "What is Scientology" three-inch (?) tome and how much Truth is inside that piece of work? If someone was curious about sci, would you hand them that garbage? Janet Reitman's "Inside Scientology" holds more truth than all the thousands of sci's "library".
It should come in very handy for press questions or needs for background on a story, for families concerned about a loved one thinking about joining, and for those who know something about it, but want to know more. And like I said, there is a long list of references and links for more info throughout.
Janet Reitman has accomplished this exhausting and trying feat not reading like a dry history book, but a drama/scifi/mystery. I could not put it down until finished. There were many details I didn't know. More important to me personally was even after all this time I was able to piece together various plans and schemes that never made sense until Janet laid it all out.
I hope your steadfast labor, Ms Reitman, finds the tremendous success and widespread distribution it deserves. I firmly believe this will be The Book on the Real Scientology that will be referenced more than any other. I just finished it and am a bit awestruck. I certainly hope politicians, lobbyists, social groups, humanitarian groups and others will read this book and educate themselves fully, as well as parents, and teens, young adults.
The one group that needs to read it the most are Scientologists. In reality, they will be the last. Sincere thanks. Oh, there are juicy details in each chapter that make it a Must Read for almost anyone. When it comes to Scientology bizarre elements, you just can't make this stuff up. Hope to see you interviwed by Steven Colbert in the very near future!
More thoughts after a second read:
It is impossible for any one book to cover All of sci history from All angles. It would take a series, a long one.
There's a very important factor that sometimes gets missed so I'll repeat it. Janet Reitman discusses her sources and research in great depth. She made it clear that she didn't include anything that didn't have many backups of a story or incident.
There's also that tired, old elephant in the room. Sci's legal soldiers always at the ready, and Janet had a well founded, major publishing team behind her with their own legal eyes. Imagine how many keystrokes were deleted to make this book possible at all. It simply would not have gotten published if it had everything many of us would like to see inside.
But then there's the three, three chapters re: Lisa McPherson. And so much more. It's done in chronological order, and contains an enormous amount of background and major moments of the masterminds behind the battlefronts. Additionally I favor this book because there are so many other resources referenced within that any paricular area or point or person someone wants to find out more, there's no spending hours of googling necessary. It's provided and it makes it easy.
Sci's Bridge publications has their "What is Scientology" three-inch (?) tome and how much Truth is inside that piece of work? If someone was curious about sci, would you hand them that garbage? Janet Reitman's "Inside Scientology" holds more truth than all the thousands of sci's "library".
It should come in very handy for press questions or needs for background on a story, for families concerned about a loved one thinking about joining, and for those who know something about it, but want to know more. And like I said, there is a long list of references and links for more info throughout.
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