TN Read-Along #13: Inside Scientology
Submitted by Sarah D. Bunting on November 17, 2011 – 8:16 AM10 Comments
On this episode of the Tomato Nation Read-Along: Inside Scientology: The Story of America’s Most Secretive Religion, by Janet Reitman. It’s available in print and Kindle formats, as well as on audio, which is how I’ll be “reading” it.
I don’t foresee any spoilers in the traditional sense, so I’ll likely open the discussion thread early next week and let people chat at their own pace, unless anyone objects. Enjoy!
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I live near Clearwater (Scientology HQ), so there’s a lot of local interest in the book. I’m second on the waiting list at the library, so I’m not sure when I’ll be able to join the discussion, but I am looking forward to it.
Off to the bookstore!
Although I have a nagging fear that the Scientologists are monitoring who buys this book, and will be on to me.
See you all in Scientolojail!
Heck, I’ll join in! It should be interesting to get the ‘inside’ story (or, however much insideness they’ll allow). I always try to be open-minded about other religions (although, I’m not sure if this one really counts as a religion, more of a strange belief system), but wee Tom Cruise has ruined that for me already.
Ooh, I just got this book from the library, so I can actually try to follow along! :D I’m really interested in religion in general, so I don’t know if I’ll have a different view on this than other people. Also, from what I heard, L. Ron Hubbard originally wanted to launch a school of psychology/psychiatry, but when his philosophy wasn’t recognized as a science, he decided to make it a religion instead; hence, “Church of Scientology.” (And “Dianetics” was billed as “the modern science of mental health.”) It’s all pretty interesting, I think!! Though no comment on whether Tom Cruise is actually crazy or not. :P
“I don’t foresee any spoilers in the traditional sense …”
I bet I could already make a pretty educated guess about Xenu’s spoiler policy.
I bought this on Kindle a while ago, and I’ve been saving it for the read-along. Yay!
Good writing so far. I’ve only read antagonistic histories and a little bit of the official stuff, so I’m really curious to see how an attempt at objective history works out.
I’ve started listening to it, which is a bit strange, as they selected a male narrator who has a rather plummy newscaster accent. If…that’s a thing, which whatever, I’m tired, obviously (see: today’s Groundhog Vine). But he’s hitting just the right gentle notes of “…really?” from the text, I think.
I’m up to chapter 4 and brimming with commentary!
Yeah, so am I. THE GIANT CLAM. COME ON.