Inside Scientology: The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion

Janet Reitman

Jun 2011 · HarperCollins

About this ebook

“The most complete picture of Scientology so far.” —Garry Wills, New York Times Book Review

Based on five years of research, access to confidential documents, and extensive interviews with current and former Scientologists, Janet Reitman sheds some long-awaited light on the ever-elusive religion of the Church of Scientology.

Scientology, created in 1954 by pulp science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, claims to be the world’s fastest growing religion, with millions of members and huge financial holdings. Celebrity believers keep its profile high.

But Scientology is also a very closed faith, harassing journalists and others through litigation and intimidation. Its attacks on psychiatry and its requirement that believers pay as much as tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars for salvation have drawn scrutiny. Ex-members use the internet to share stories of harassment and abuse.

Reitman offers the first full journalistic history of the Church of Scientology in an account that establishes the 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 global spiritual corporation with profound control over its followers and ex-followers. This is a defining book about a little-known world.

“[A] searing expose.” —People Magazine

“A masterful piece of reporting.” —Washington Post

“This book is fearless.” —Wall Street Journal

“[A] frightening portrait of a religion that many find not just controversial, but dangerous.” —Boston Globe

“[Reitman's] revelations — including abuse allegations against church leader David Miscavige and details about the organization's aggressive courtship of Tom Cruise — come with impressive backup.” —Entertainment Weekly

Ratings and reviews

Q. What did you think of the book? A. I think Janet did an excellent job. I fear for her, since Scientologists may do her like they did another journalist, Paulette Cooper. Q. What did they do to Paulette Cooper? A. She had written a negative book on Scientology and as retribution, Scientologists literally drove her to a nervous breakdown. I hope Janet has back-up, and I should be pretty sure she does. Q. Does she paint a negative picture of Scientology in this book? A. Mostly, but she is fair. She interviewed young people who have grown up as second or third generation Scientologists and appear to have benefited from the philosophy of L. Ron Hubbard. Q. What is that philosophy? A. Well, Janet put it the way I see it also. She said Scientology is fundamentally a narcissistic philosophy that demonizes doubt and insecurity as products of a reactive mind. Narcissism scares me, because narcissistic people are basically out for themselves, regardless of others. That is how Hubbard is depicted in this book. But Janet did note some of his products, such as Narcanon, his learning philosophy, and his management philosophy, seem to have wafted in a positive way through parts of society. His study technology seems useful, especially looking up words in the dictionary. That could be real useful. Q. So you are scared of Scientologists? A. Well, not the individuals, since I cannot actually say I know any, but the idea of stepping on others to reach your own goals, that turns me off. Hubbard seemed to espouse that philosophy. What is odd about Hubbard is that, although he believed in reincarnation, he never touched on the idea of karma, having to pay back debts you incurred for hurting or using others. Without the idea of karma, reincarnation does just become a narcissistic venture. That is where the thetans of Hubbard differ from, say, the astral bodies of mystics. Q. Who promotes the idea of paying back karmic debts through reincarnation? A. Oh many, many philosophies and religions, but of course Hinduism may have started such thought. I recently read a book about Macro Philosophy by Don Pym that promotes the philosophy. Hubbard seemed to believe in reincarnation but if he had believed in paying back for those he harmed he would have lived his life differently. Maybe he will come back and make amends. He has to come back and make amends and maybe he is already with us somewhere in the world in another body.

Many of he hypocrisies I witnessed first hand. I just couldn't reconcile them, but janet Reitman gets right to the root of the problems, especially under the tyrannical leadership of David miscavige. Everyone should read this, especially folks who are still into Corporate Scientology.

Interesting to read about a cult from an insiders point of view. From inside the cult.. Trying to brainwash me.. Nice. Oh well, I'm not white anyways or looking to part with the money that I do have. 🤑🤑😂👻 spooky PS Please don't camp outside my house and warn others of me

About the author

JANET REITMAN is a contributing editor at Rolling Stone. Her work has appeared in GQ, Men's Journal, the Los Angeles Times Sunday Magazine, and the Washington Post, among other publications. She holds a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University, and was a finalist for a National Magazine Award in 2007 for the story "Inside Scientology."