)The plan was discovered in FBI raids on Scientology’s Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., offices in 1977, which yielded wiretap equipment, burglary tools and about 90,000 pages of documents. Both feel the church has been miscast. “Among the things that have made this movement so controversial,” says S. Scott Bartchy, director of the Center for the Study of Religion at UCLA, “are its claims that its forms of therapy are ‘scientific’ and that the ‘truth’ will only be revealed to those who have the money to purchase advancement to the various levels leading to ‘being clear.’ It is this unvarnished demand for money that has led many observers to opine that the entire operation looks more like a business than a religion.” Clearing the stages along the Bridge to Total Freedom is a process that can take years and cost tens and often hundreds of thousands of dollars—one veteran Scientologist told me she “donated” $250,000 in a twenty-year period. “I was wrapped up in work,” he says.
“It’s not evil, just out-ethics,” says Paul. On January 17th, 1986, Hubbard suffered a crippling stroke. A closed faith that has often been hostile to journalistic inquiry, the church initially offered no help on this story; most of my research was done without its assistance and involved dozens of interviews with both current and former Scientologists, as well as academic researchers who have studied the group, Ultimately, however, the church decided to co-operate and gave me unprecedented access to its officials, social programs and key religious headquarters. This series takes an unprecedented look behind the scenes into the many fascinating operations of the global Scientology movement.
Many Eastern religions have similar beliefs, and Natalic is quick to note that Scientology is “actually a very basic religion. According to church officials, Sea Org members can leave anytime they want. “It’s saying to them, ‘See this kid, he left without permission. Her story covers what it was like to be a member of this religion from the celebrity experience to the horrible working conditions of the sea org members, I highly recommend this book. This shopping feature will continue to load items when the Enter key is pressed. The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper
In 1963, the Food and Drug Administration confiscated hundreds of E-meters from Scientology’s Washington, D.C., offices (the FDA accused the church of making false claims about its healing powers). The focal point of the complex is a beige estate house, known as the Castle, which houses the film wing.
Her grandmother is what’s called an “Operating Thetan,” or “OT.” So is Tom Cruise, who is near the top of Scientology’s Bridge, at a level known as OT VII.
Apostates are not just discredited from the church; the are also excommunicated, isolated from their loved ones who, under Scientology rules, must sever or “disconnect” from them. “You don’t have to do it,” Laurie says. Buy this if you want to learn about the cult that is scientology Good book on a twisted 'religion'.Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2017 But aside from its staff, I find the place to be almost entirely empty. “Scientologists see themselves as possessors of doctrines and skills that can save the world, if not the galaxy.” says Stephen Kent, a professor of sociology at the University of Alberta, in Canada, who has extensively studied the group.Church officials boast that Scientology has grown more in the past five years than in the previous fifty. Paul was sent to Mace-Kingsley Ranch, located on 2,000 acres in New Mexico, which was closed in 2002.
Scientologists own more than 200 businesses in Clearwater. Rebellious by nature, he says it did very little for him. Between school and church, life was “kind of a bubble,” she says.It is a steamy night, and Natalie is dressed in a sleeveless black Empire-waist blouse and tight jeans; her short, bitten nails are painted red. If you are interested in the inside story about Scientology Janet Reitman`s book is definitely one to read, its well written and keeps you interested all the way through.
“What else are you going to do with your life?” she says, with a flick of her dark, wavy hair.The Sea Org has often been portrayed as isolated, almost monastic; members are rarely allowed to see films, watch TV or read mainstream magazines. Scientologists are taught that SPs are evil — Hitler was an SP, says Rinder. This Scientology documentary shows just how difficult it is to leave the cult, as well as great insider information from one of the highest ranking members.One unique aspect of this documentary is also a discussion on independent Scientology…something that doesn’t turn up in other documentaries about Scientology, but does provide hope for the future of this cult. In Scientology’s overview text, Most of the dedicated Scientologists I meet echo this opinion, including Kirstie Alley, who has been a Scientologist for more than twenty years and is the international spokesperson for Narconon, the church-supported anti-drug program.