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Going Clear

2018/08/15 15:51:36瀏覽1431｜回應0｜推薦16

Writer:

Lawrence wright is an American author, screenwriter, staff writer for The New Yorker magazine, and fellow at the Center for Law and Security at the New York University School of Law. Wright is best known as the author of the 2006 nonfiction book The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11. Wright is also known for his work with documentarian Alex Gibney who directed film versions of Wrights one man show My Trip to Al-Qaeda and his book Going Clear.(R.1)

Story:

As a study of group psychopathology and cult abuse, Alex Gibney’s documentary about Scientology is horribly compelling. Using interviews with ex-members such as Oscar-winning writer-director Paul Haggis, Gibney shows how this aggressively paranoid organisation evolved from a postwar evangelical racket by pulp sci-fi author L Ron Hubbard: a cosmic worldview based on his own imaginings, but with Barnumesque genius marketed through quasi-scientific “auditing”.(R.2)

Scientology is a body of religious beliefs and practices launched in May 1952 by American author L. Ron Hubbard (1911–86). Hubbard initially developed a program of ideas called Dianetics, which was distributed through the Dianetics Foundation. The foundation soon entered bankruptcy, and Hubbard lost the rights to his seminal publication Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Healthin 1952. He then recharacterized the subject as a religion and renamed it Scientology, retaining the terminology, doctrines, the E-meter, and the practice of auditing.Within a year, he regained the rights to Dianetics and retained both subjects under the umbrella of the Church of Scientology.

Hubbard describes the etymology of the word Scientology as coming from the Latin word "scio", meaning know or distinguish, and the Greek word “logos”, meaning “the word or outward form by which the inward thought is expressed and made known”. Hubbard writes, “thus, Scientology means knowing about knowing, or science of knowledge”.(R.5)

At the end of the 1940s, L Ron Hubbard – a sinophobic college dropout turned pulp writer (his pseudonyms included Joe Blitz and Legionnaire 148) turned reckless naval officer (one report claimed he was "lacking in the essential qualities of judgment, leadership and co-operation") turned ulcerous and gonorrhea-afflicted war veteran – hatched a plan to revive his stuttering fortunes. "Id like to start a religion," hes reported to have declared. "Thats where the money is."

The line between fact and fiction, objective reality and fevered speculation, has always been foggy when it comes to Scientology. Thats partly because of Hubbard and the weird eschatologies he devised, which involved a despotic leader named Xenu and billions of spirit-like creatures called thetans who were transported to Earth only to be dropped into volcanoes before being blown up by hydrogen bombs.

Its also a result of the litigious and bullying tactics of church members, who scare off would-be investigators (to the point that Wrights book cant be published in the UK). And perhaps its something to do with our desire for a narrative – equal parts Hollywood Babylon, ufology and David Koresh-style cult – that couches postwar American history, especially the gulf between its sunny side-up rhetoric and its rather glummer social polity, as one big conspiracy theory.

The Hubbard that emerges from Going Clear is certainly no saint. Hes a serial cheat, an abusive husband who kidnapped one of his daughters from an early wife and claimed to have "cut her into little pieces and dropped the pieces in a river", an increasingly sybaritic ideologue who believed Americas jails and mental hospitals were full of inmates who had been unsuccessfully aborted by their "sex-blocked mothers to whom children are a curse, not a blessing of God".

But Hubbard, even though he lived in a country estate in Sussex in the early 60s, and dreamed of taking over Rhodesia, is also the embodiment of a peculiar and not unimpressive kind of American dynamism: a Barnum-like huckster, confidence man as philosopher, the quack who would be king. That will-to-power – as epic in its ambition as the tales in the science fiction journals where his theories were first elaborated – is also evident in the worlds most famous modern-day Scientologist, Tom Cruise, who is reported here as saying: "If fucking Arnold can be governor, I could be president." (The book records Cruises denial that he ever said this.)

Going Clear has been eagerly awaited following the Pulitzer prize-winning Wrights 2011 New Yorker article about the church, which drew heavily on the testimony of Academy award-winning film-maker Paul (Crash) Haggis, a former Scientologist and father of two lesbian daughters who later recoiled from the churchs anti-gay theories. The book is diligently researched, calmly expository, and full of fascinating side-stories (most readers will be unaware of Hubbards fondness for the teachings of English occultist Aleister Crowley or his influence on the writings of William Burroughs).

(R.13)

Highlights vs self- reflection:

1.p.4:four-step”dissemination drill”. ..The first step is to make contact..the second step is to disarm any antagonism…the third is to find the ruin.. the fourth is to convince the subject that Scientology has the answer.

2.p.5:The central term a “thetan.” was somebody to identify his beingness with a thin.. None of these beingnesses are the person. The person is the thetan.

Golden Sentence:

1.p.182: you must labour until we have dominion over the minds and bodies of every important person in your nation

2.p.130:The goal of Scientology was to clear the planet and save humanity from its endless cycle of self-destruction

3.p.432:I am not interested in revenge, I’m interested in the truth.

4.p.439:They have the right to believe whatever they choose. But it is a different matter to use the protections afforded a religion by the First Amendment to falsify history, to propagate forgeries, and to cover up human-rights abuses.

Conclusion:

1.Hubbard’s life is filled with bullying and lies, Hubbard sent materials about the book to the American Psychological Association. But authorities took the work to be "psychological folk art" and dismissed it as "a passing fad, like the hula hoop," suggesting a possible part of the reason for Hubbards later vehement disdain rage at the profession. (R.3)

2.p.110:If Scientology really did bestow enhanced powers upon its adherents, Hubbard himself should be able to exercise them. Hubbard’s frailties were obvious to everyone; among other things, his hands were beginning to shake from palsy and he was hard to hearing, constantly exclaiming, ”What?” He sensed the presumption that surrounded him.

3.16-year old David Miscavige dropped out from school, and enlisted to the Church of Scientology, where are no parent-child relationship, but follow the rule of Scientology, where no private money but only salary. Everyone will keep under surveillance of the Scientology. While Hubbard’s disappearance, Miscavige took over his place with his super charisma. Scientology is a world of western communism of religion.

4. Marty rathbun:"Bigotry is born out of ignorance."

Going Clear Questions by Clive:

Lawrence Wright’s insightful, gripping, and ultimately tragic exposé of Scientology, “Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, & the Prison of Belief,’’ grew out of his 2011 New Yorker profile of Oscar-winning screenwriter/director and Scientology defector Paul Haggis, who told Wright plainly: “I was in a cult for thirty-four years.” During that time Haggis refrained from investigating anything negative he heard about his religion because he was “afraid of looking.”

But Wright wasn’t. Despite Scientology’s “vindictive behavior toward critics and defectors,” The New Yorker submitted 971 fact-checking queries to the church and received 47 binders of documents in return — 7 linear feet of previously secret church papers. “Going Clear’’ is the product of three years of researching those 47 binders, along with interviews with over 200 current and former Scientologists, and what it reveals about the organization will disturb everyone who reads it.

“Dianetics,’’ the foundational text of Scientology written by L. Ron Hubbard, was first published in the May 1950 issue of Astounding Science-Fiction. Wright devotes the first part of “Going Clear’’ to Hubbard, a man he describes as “complex, charming, delusional, and visionary,” following Hubbard’s extraordinary journey from pulp sci-fi author to religious leader.

This initial biographical section could stand as an engrossing book in itself. In 1950 Hubbard turned from sci-fi to self-help, writing “Dianetics,’’ marketed as an alternative to psychotherapy. It was a bestseller, but Hubbard had even bigger plans for his new spiritual “technology.” “I’d like to start a religion,” said Hubbard, who died in 1986 at 74. “That’s where the money is.”

According to Wright there may be only 25,000 to 30,000 active Scientologists worldwide, but the church holds $1 billion in liquid assets, a figure that “eclipses the holdings of most major world religions.” The money comes from “relentless fund-raising, the legacy of Hubbard’s copyrights to the thousand books and articles he published,” and the structure of Scientology’s program, in which believers must pay money in exchange for spiritual progress (via a process known as “auditing”).

The second section of Wright’s book, “Hollywood,” provides the answer to one of the great mysteries of the modern world: What’s the deal with Tom Cruise and Scientology? As early as 1955 Scientology published a list of celebrities it described as “game” to be “hunted,” including Marlene Dietrich, Bob Hope, and Walt Disney (none of whom took the bait). Scientology opened its first Celebrity Centre in 1969 in Hollywood to cater to the special needs of those burdened by fame, which today includes John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, Beck, Will Smith, and Greta Van Susteren, among others. But Cruise is by far Scientology’s biggest trophy and most visible cheerleader.

In exchange for his support, Cruise receives individualized spiritual attention, gifts including custom motorcycles, and glory within the church. In 2004 Scientology’s current leader, David Miscavige, honored Cruise with Scientology’s Freedom Medal of Valor — a “diamond-encrusted platinum medallion” — for being “the most dedicated Scientologist I know.”

“There are really three tiers of Scientologists,” Wright explains. Cruise and other celebrities enjoy special status at the top. Below them are the everyday Scientologists — anyone who buys a copy of “Dianetics’’ and signs up for “auditing” These make up the majority of church members.

At the bottom are, ironically, the clergy: the several thousand members of Sea Org, many of whom joined as children. Almost all of the controversies surrounding Scientology stem from the experience of Sea Org members, but the church’s aggressive policy against naysayers has been disturbingly effective. The Cult Awareness Network, for example, was one of Scientology’s loudest critics until the church drove the group into bankruptcy in 1996, bought the rights to its name, and relaunched it as a pro-Scientology organization.

Wright concludes his tale by returning to Haggis’s painful defection from Scientology, and that of several high-level Sea Org members. When Marc and Claire Headley “escaped” from Gold Base, the church’s compound in Riverside County, Calif., they sued the church for violating human trafficking and labor laws. The court, however, agreed with the church’s argument that the Headleys “were ministers who had voluntarily submitted to the rigors of their calling.” Ones personal beliefs can often spark heated debates and this book has certainly been an example of that, stirring up much conversation and media attention from critics, fans, church members, and more. Now we can start our own discussion by thinking about the following questions.

QUESTIONS:

1. What was your biggest surprise in reading Going Clear?

(1) It’s nothing to do with religion, but a outstanding star war movie, isolated all the believers from media and force them to follow him with violence and ridiculous rules. And it happened in USA-A free country!

2. Is Scientology a religion or a cult?

(1) Russell expressed his point with characteristic clarity: "Religion is based primarily and mainly upon fear.Psalm: I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Scientology makes people more afraid and frightened. So I do believe it’s cult.

3. How do you think Hubbard was effective and ineffective as a leader?

(1) According to Jeffrey Augustine, author of the blog The Scientology Money Project, the church has a book value of $1.75 billion, about $1.5 billion of which is tied up in real estate, mostly at its headquarters in Clearwater and in Hollywood, Calif. So I believe that Hubbard is a great leader and businessman.

4. Does this make you skeptical of any other beliefs, even your own personal beliefs?

(1) "Religious beliefs and practices might persist in part because they make us more cooperative and generous with others." I do believe that a good religion could cultivate us to be a better man.

5. Why, if at all, do you think the beliefs of Scientology and Hollywood mesh together?

(1)Miscavige coule be the mega fanboy of Tom and worked all his effort to recruit him. Once he owns this great cheerleader, he earns his fortune and career.

6. Over the past few years many people have come forward to share their struggle with leaving, or attempting to leave, the church of Scientology. But changing faiths is common practice around the world. Why is Scientology particularly hard to leave?

(1) They will cut off your old relationship, you will feel more isolated than before.

(2) You will be spied on by the church.

7. Do you think it is possible that Scientology and the “auditing technologies” have healing capabilities?

(1)It’s just a method to spy on you

8. Does R.L. Hubbard remind you of anyone else?

(1) communism and Nazi

Neo-Nazi Miscaviges wife Shelly was disconnected since about 2005. None of the members and nonmembers knows where she is or what happened to her. This would be a good case for the Crime Scene show. Is she alive and a prisoner or did Miscavaige kill her.

September Meeting

Today we had a great meeting which dived into the topic of cults, Scientology and the idea of faith and beliefs. Our group had a lot of observations and comments and it was a lively discussion. The book is excellent although it could be a bit too thorough at times. The book was a catalyst for an amazing and lively discussion of religion and cults. Scientology and the book were more of a jumping off for discussions rather than an analysis of the book. We spent much of our discussion comparing religion with cults and what the differences were. We certainly agreed on many of the similar questionable elements and Faye made a valuable comparison between Hubbard and Jim Jones…although you could say the same about Mao Tse Tung and Joseph Stalin. Most religions ask for donations, but don’t mandate them, and at the local level anyway, they have open books. Most churches act as social centers in their communities, but don’t expect you to make them the lone nexus of your entire being… unless that’s your cup of tea. And certainly not every cult has to exhibit every cult-like characteristic to be pretty obviously a cult. Through our discussion we came up with the ideas that cults are often an organization run by a strong authoritarian figure. This figure is often a prophet or “the messiah,” though that’s not strictly necessary.

The leader of cult is in absolute control of the organization and is the only judge of the organization’s doctrine, (which can change at any time). The leader makes many, perhaps all of the life decisions, career decisions, etc. for his followers. One topic we discussed quite a bit was that cults and Scientology in particular, is an organization that uses deceptive recruitment techniques to find new members. Scientology is an organization that uses fear of “the other” to cement loyalty and of course is an organization that claims to have the only truth, the only path to salvation or mystical knowledge. This is NOT the case with traditional religions. Cults say that you’re going to be corrupted listening to the words of others, but religions traditionally thrive on discussion, questions of faith and doctrine. Cults thrive in a vacuum, religion does not. The most common thing in cults, and certainly in Scientology is that the organization isolates followers as much as possible from the outside world. This can be physical isolation, but also social isolation. The organization forbids or restricts contact with family members, those outside the organization, etc. Overall it was a great discussion of a best-selling book that has lifted the lid on a life most of us (thankfully) have never come across. A huge thank you to Ming-Li for staying up so late to join us and providing her insights and opinions.

Related Reading:

1.Lawrence swright: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Wright\

2.Going Clear Review: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jun/25/going-clear-scientology-and-the-prison-of-belief-review-horribly-compelling-study-of-a-creepy-organisation

3.Ten things we learned from Scientoloty.Doc “Going Clear”: https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/features/10-things-we-learned-from-going-clear-20150330

4.Scientology: https://www.scientology.org.tw/

5.Scientology: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology

6.Scientology: https://www.scientology.org.tw/what-is-scientology.html

7.Scientology: https://tw.youcard.yahoo.com/cardstack/9ce2c850-0fdc-11e8-9391-f5baf97ffc0b/%E5%B1%B1%E9%81%94%E5%9F%BA%E5%88%B0%E5%BA%95%E6%98%AF%E4%B8%8D%E6%98%AF%E9%82%AA%E6%95%99%EF%BC%9F8%E5%BC%B5%E5%8D%A1%E5%B8%B6%E4%BD%A0%E8%AA%8D%E8%AD%98%E9%98%BF%E6%B9%AF%E5%93%A5%E7%9A%84%E5%AE%97%E6%95%99

8.Scientology: http://scientology-chinese.com/blog/post/31000471-%E5%B1%B1%E9%81%94%E5%9F%BA%E6%80%8E%E6%A8%A3%E6%AE%98%E5%AE%B3%E6%88%91%E5%80%91%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%B6%E4%BA%BA

9.Scientology: https://www.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=5066390

10.Scientology: https://www.thenewslens.com/article/89160

11.South Park episodes: