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Home » Culture and Criticism

TN Read-Along #13: Inside Scientology

Submitted by 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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10 Comments »

  • RJ says:

    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.

  • Jen S 1.0 says:

    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.

  • Sarah D. Bunting says:

    See you all in Scientolojail!

  • Kat from Jersey says:

    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.

  • senlin says:

    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

  • Sandman says:

    “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.

  • Another Elizabeth says:

    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.

  • Sarah D. Bunting says:

    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.

  • Jen S 1.0 says:

    I’m up to chapter 4 and brimming with commentary!

  • Sarah D. Bunting says:

    Yeah, so am I. THE GIANT CLAM. COME ON.

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