oneonewasaracecar
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I discovered a book on cults by James R. Lewis called Cults. The third edition, which I have quoted from is published by Equinox publishing. The previous 2 editions were published by ABC-Clio.
ISBN: 978-1-84553-973-3 (hardcover)
978-1-84553-974-0 (paperback)
I noted inaccuracies in the description of Scientology. They appear to be lifted directly out of Scientology PR statements with no critical statements or corrections. It seems that the author is either very lazy, a shill or both. He covers a number of cults and his apologetics also covers cults in general. I will post further quotes going forward. This quote is from the glossary.
ISBN: 978-1-84553-973-3 (hardcover)
978-1-84553-974-0 (paperback)
I noted inaccuracies in the description of Scientology. They appear to be lifted directly out of Scientology PR statements with no critical statements or corrections. It seems that the author is either very lazy, a shill or both. He covers a number of cults and his apologetics also covers cults in general. I will post further quotes going forward. This quote is from the glossary.
pp 158-159
Scientology, Church of: The Church of Scientology, one of the genuinely new religions to originate in the United States in the twentieth century, was founded L. Ron Hubbard (1911-86). Hubbard grew up mostly in Montana, but as a teenager traveled throughout Asia and the East. In 1929 he enrolled in George Washington University, studying mathematics, engineering, and nuclear physics. He subsequently took up a literary career, publishing numerous stories and screenplays in various genres, including adventure, mystery and science fiction. Hubbard served in the United States Navy during the Second World War.
By 1950 Hubbard had completed enough of his research to write Dianetics, the Modern Science of Mental Health. This book described techniques designed to rid the mind of irrational fears and psychosomatic illnesses. Dianetics quickly became a bestseller, and groups were soon formed so that individuals could assist each other in the application of Hubbard's "auditing" techniques. He lectured extensively, and wrote more books. In 1951 he announced that the "applied religious philosophy" of Scientology had been born. It was described as a subject separate from Dianetics, as it dealt not only with the mind of an individual, but with one's nature as a spiritual being.
In 1954, the first Church of Scientology was established in Los Angeles, California. In 1959 Hubbard moved to Saint Hill Manor, in Sussex, England and the worldwide headquarters of Scientology were relocated there. In 1988, Hubbard resigned his position as Executive Director of the Church and formed the "Sea Organization," a group of dedicated members of the Church. In 1975 these activities outgrew the ships, and were moved onto land in Clearwater, Florida. From this time on until his death in 1986, Hubbard continuously wrote and published materials on the subjects of Dianetics and Scientology, as a number of works of science fiction.
The Church of Scientology has been involved in a considerable number of controversial episodes since 1958, such as battles concerning tax issues, a ten-year battle with the Food and Drug Administration regarding the Electro-meters used to assist auditing, and the conflict with the Australian government. The most notorious series of events in the Church began in July 1977, when the FBI conducted a raid on the Washington, DC, and Los Angeles churches and seized many files of documents. The raid was declared illegal, but the documents remained in government possession and were open to public scrutiny. According to these documents, the Church was keeping files on people it considered unfriendly, and there had been various attempts to infiltrate anti-cult organization.
After the raid, the Church sent a number of top officials incognito to selected government agencies which were collecting data on the Church. However, several members were indicted and convicted for theft of government documents. The convicted members were released from their offices in the Church, which began a reorganization and closing of the office responsible for initiating illegal activities.
Problems with the IRS continued through the 1980s and 1990. L. Ron Hubbard was charged with criminal tax evasion, and the IRS often moved against the Church in ways that questioned its tax-exempt status. These problems terminated in a landmark decision in 1993, when the IRS ceased all litigation and recognized Scientology as a legitimate religious organization. The Church has also been extensively attacked in Europe.
www.scientology.org