Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief

 

Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief, by Lawrence Wright, is, as the title suggests, a very critical survey of Scientology.  But Wright is “fair” when he discusses the actual tenants of the religion.  Scientology has little that is new; it simply uses new terms for ideas that are found in many established religions.  It is certainly as wacky, maybe even less, then the Kabbalah, which I study closely.

The major issue presented here is the allegations of violence and and other criminal forms of control that the Church allegedly uses against dissenting members, journalists, and others critics.  What is documented in this book is illegal, and if even a fraction of what Wright tells us is true, it shows deep systemic criminal problems within the religion. 

But in the end, Wright appears optimistic of Scientology’s prospects.  He reminds us that Mormon’s were considered dangerous radicals, persecuted, killed, and driven into exile in their early years.  Now, many Americans (especially conservatives) see them as paradigms of certain elemental American values.  Christian Science was once considered fringe and dangerous.  Now its newspaper is a major player on the world stage.  One day, Scientology may mellow out, and become far more mainstream.  When the fires of revolution flare out, even the most radical religions move toward mainstream, and acceptance.