| 15 Scientology Revelations From Lawrence Wright’s ‘Going Clear’ |
Scientology is such a bizarre organization, and so obviously the creation of a man with serious mental health issues, that it has always been hard to understand how some very competent people get involved -- I had several scientist friends who got completely embroiled in it, much to my consternation. Lawrence Wright who is a meticulous journalist has searched out the truth about Scientology and produced an extraordinary non-fiction work of investigative reporting, Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief. - Stephan A. Schwartz, www.schwartzreport.net |
| The Daily Beast |
| More Rastafarians Than Scientologists? According to a former spokesperson for the church, there are only 30,000 members in an organization that church members are 'forcefully encouraged†to join, the International Association of Scientologists. A survey called the Statistical Abstract of the United States estimates only 25,000 Americans call themselves Scientologists. 'That’s less than half the number identifying themselves as Rastafarians.†(The Church of Scientology claims 8 million members worldwide-supposedly the number of people who have donated to the church. A recent ad claims 4.4 million new members every year.) The church has $1 billion in liquid assets, and in terms of cash reserves this figure eclipses the holdings of most major world religions. It claims to own about 12 million square feet of property around the world, with 26 of them in Hollywood, valued at $400 million. At its headquarters in Clearwater, Fla., it owns 68 largely tax-exempt pieces ... |
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Comments: 3
I know religions and holy books are bizarre, but Scientology lately seems to be outdoing all the other famous ones.
Locking people up for a year and a half? Trying to frame people for crimes? Trespassing into gov't offices and stealing info? Physically abusing staff? Getting the voice of Bart Simpson to donate $10 M. Etc. Wow. And I didn't even finish the article yet.
You know, on second thought - we really should mix religion and politics.
Have you seen The Master yet; which may or may not be about Scientology? I just read the screenplay and it's a trip. I'm still trying to see the movie at some point...