Going clear : Scientology, Hollywood, and the prison of belief
(Book)

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Published
New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2013.
Edition
1st ed.
Physical Desc
xiii, 430 pages : ill. ; 25 cm.
Status
Central Point Library Branch
299.936 WRI
1 available
Redwood Campus
BP605 .S2 W75 2013
1 available

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Published
New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2013.
Format
Book
Edition
1st ed.
Language
English

Notes

Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (p. [373]-418) and index.
Description
A clear-sighted revelation, a deep penetration into the world of Scientology by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the now-classic study of al-Qaeda's 9/11 attack, The Looming Tower. Based on more than two hundred personal interviews with both current and former Scientologists--both famous and less well known--and years of archival research, Lawrence Wright uses his extraordinary investigative skills to uncover for us the inner workings of the Church of Scientology: its origins in the imagination of science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard; its struggles to find acceptance as a legitimate (and legally acknowledged) religion; its vast, secret campaign to infiltrate the U.S. government; its vindictive treatment of critics, its phenomenal wealth; adn its dramatic efforts to grow and prevail after the death of Hubbard. At the book's center, two men whom Wright brings vividly to life, showing how they have made Scientology what it is today: The darkly brilliant L. Ron Hubbard--whose restless, expansive mind invented a new religion tailor-made to prosper in the spiritually troubled post-World War II era. And his successor, David Miscavige--tough and driven, with the inenviable task of preserving the church in the face of ongoing scandals and continual legal assaults. We learn about Scientology's esoteric cosmology; about the auditing process that determines an inductee's state of being, about the Bridge to Total Freedom, through which members gain eternal life. We see the ways in which the church pursues celebrities, such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta, and how such stars are exploited to advance the church's goals. We meet young idealists who joined the Sea Org, the church's clergy, whose members often enter as children, signing up with a billion-year contract and working with little pay in poor conditions. We meet men and women "disconnected" from friends and a family by the church's policy of shunning critical voices. And we discover, through many firsthand stories, the violence that has long permeated the inner sanctum of the church. In Going Clear, Wright examines what fundamentally makes a religion a religion, and whether Scientology is, in fact, deserving of the constitutional protections achieved in its victory over the IRS. Employing all his exceptional journalistic skills of observation, understanding and synthesis, and his ability to shape a story into a compelling narrative, Lawrence Wright has given us an evenhanded yet keenly incisive book that goes far beyond an immediate exposé and uncovers the very essence of what makes Scientology the institution it is.

Citations

APA Citation, 7th Edition (style guide)

Wright, L. (2013). Going clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the prison of belief . Alfred A. Knopf.

Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)

Wright, Lawrence, 1947-. 2013. Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief. Alfred A. Knopf.

Chicago / Turabian - Humanities (Notes and Bibliography) Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)

Wright, Lawrence, 1947-. Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief Alfred A. Knopf, 2013.

MLA Citation, 9th Edition (style guide)

Wright, Lawrence. Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief Alfred A. Knopf, 2013.

Note! Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy. Citation formats are based on standards as of August 2021.

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