Scientology (Lewis book)

Scientology

Author	James R. Lewis
Language	English
Subject	Scientology
Genre	New religious movements
Publisher	Oxford University Press
Publication date	March 2009
Publication place	United States
Pages	464
ISBN	0195331494

Scientology is a compilation book about the Church of Scientology and the new religious movement Scientology, edited by James R. Lewis. It was published in March 2009 by Oxford University Press. In addition to Lewis, other contributors to the book include J. Gordon Melton, William Sims Bainbridge, Douglas E. Cowan, David G. Bromley, Anson Shupe, James T. Richardson, and Susan J. Palmer. Scientology gives an overview and introduction to the organization, and presents an analysis of the movement from the perspective of sociology. The book compares the organization to other religious movements, and goes over its history of controversy. It delves into the practices of the organization and activities of its missions.

A literary review of the book in Private Eye was negative, and the review questioned Oxford University Press for publishing "tendentious drivel". The review called into question the bias of the contributors, and pointed out that multiple assertions in the book made controversial statements about Scientology's founder L. Ron Hubbard in contradiction to documentation given in previously published works on the subject. The Independent also commented on the book's assertions that the facts of Hubbard's life were not in dispute, and noted that other reports on the book state that it gives an "unusually sympathetic" portrayal of Scientology.

Editor

At the time of the book's publication, James R. Lewis was employed as a lecturer in the subject of philosophy at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point.

Contents

Contributors to the book include: J. Gordon Melton, James R. Lewis, William Sims Bainbridge, Douglas E. Cowan, David G. Bromley, Anson Shupe, James T. Richardson, and Susan J. Palmer. Scientology is organized into six sections. The first section presents an overview and introduction to Scientology, as well as problems seen with an analysis of the organization. The articles in the second part of the book present methods of comprehending Scientology from the perspective of sociology. In the third section of Scientology, the organization is compared with other religious methodologies. Scientology's history of controversy and conflict is discussed in the fourth section of the book, and the fifth section analyzes the organization's activities in its various missions. The sixth section of the book takes a look at the "distinctive practices" of Scientology.

The book does not devote significant attention to abuses in Scientology, instead focusing on the teachings of the organization. Lewis puts forth the assertion that the organization is going through a period of "healthy growth", and asserts that the controversy surrounding Scientology has helped its size increase due to the publicity and attention it brings. Lewis writes that Scientology members come from the New Age movement, but also notes that the organization provides multiple different types of services.

William Sims Bainbridge, a sociologist, asserts that Scientology has experienced growth along the West Coast of the United States. Bainbridge looked at statistical data on the percentage of websites managed by Scientologists, and his studies revealed that the most significant portion was in the Pacific Northwest and the state of California. According to Bainbridge, the experience of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard in science fiction writing combined with the Church of Scientology's skill with the "emerging cyberculture" might lead to ways that the organization can change in a future that further utilizes technology.

In a section of the book on dealings of the organization in Denmark, researchers found that there was a decrease in the number of people joining the organization, and that the number of dedicated Scientologists in the country remained steady for the past two decades. University of Copenhagen researchers Rie Wallendorf and Peter B. Andersen write that the Church of Scientology in Denmark is wary of those external to the organization, and that this detracts from the likelihood that new members will join.

Charles De Gaulle University researcher Regis Dericquebourg writes that when compared to the Scientology procedure known as "Auditing", members tend to have a low level of engagement in other ceremonies carried out by the organization. According to Dericquebourg, these Scientology ceremonies include social functions which are frequented mainly by "elite members". University Michel de Montaigne researcher Bernardette Rigal-Cellard investigated the various Scientology missions and determined that these missions operated with a United States-based type of methodology. This form of organizational structure and operational tactics is seen as not working well in areas where the U.S. is not seen favorably, including sections of Western Europe, but agreeable to locations sympathetic to American culture.

Critical reception

Scientology received a negative review in Private Eye. The review criticized the book's presentation of asserted facts regarding the life of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, as given by contributors J. Gordon Melton and David G. Bromley. Melton stated his contribution gave, "an overview of the life of L. Ron Hubbard anchored by the general agreed facts", and Bromley asserted, "the basic outline of L. Ron Hubbard's life is not contested". The Private Eye review called this notion "poppycock", writing, "Everything about Scientology's founder is contested, though no one reading this book would realise that." As an example of disputed material about Hubbard's life, the review contrasted assertions by Melton about the Military career of L. Ron Hubbard with documented statements from author Russell Miller in the biography, Bare-Faced Messiah.

"What is utterly mystifying is why one of the oldest and most respected publishing houses in the world chooses to give its imprimatur to this tendentious drivel."

 —Private Eye

Private Eye criticized the editor of the book, James R. Lewis, "far from being a neutral scholar, James Lewis is a veteran apologist for cults, or 'new religions' as he prefers to style them." The review noted that multiple contributors to Scientology had also previously written for a prior book by Lewis called Sex, Slander and Salvation (1994), which it described as a "white-washing job" and "a sympathetic study of the Children of God (now rebranded The Family), the cult notorious for child sexual abuse". The review pointed out that after the 1995 Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway carried out by the religious group Aum Shinrikyo, James R. Lewis flew to Japan and defended the organization, noting that "They also paid his airfare, hotel bill and living expenses."

The Private Eye review concluded by criticizing Oxford University Press for publishing the book, "Lewis seems never to have met a cult he didn't like. That's his prerogative. What is utterly mystifying is why one of the oldest and most respected publishing houses in the world chooses to give its imprimatur to this tendentious drivel." Private Eye joked that the peer reviewers of the book may have been controversial figures Lord Archer and Lord Black.

Richard Ingrams of The Independent wrote that media accounts of the book suggest "its treatment of the Scientology cult is unusually sympathetic". Ingrams noted that a contributor to the book wrote that the facts of L. Ron Hubbard's life were not in dispute. Ingrams then pointed out, "it is well known that L Ron's CV makes Lord Archer's look like a model of objective truth."

Richard Cimino, founder and editor of the Religioscope Institute-published newsletter Religion Watch, wrote that the book "focuses less on the church's abuses than on its organizational dynamics and teachings, although its authors do broach controversial issues." Cimino commented that the book is "divided about whether the movement and its distinctive blend of science, psychotherapy and esoteric religion is growing". In an article about Scientology by B.A. Robinson at the website of the organization Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, Scientology is listed as a "recommended book".

See also

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• A Piece of Blue Sky
• Bare-faced Messiah
• Scientology and the legal system
• Scientology controversies

Further reading

• Wallis, Roy (1977). The Road to Total Freedom: A Sociological Analysis of Scientology. Columbia University Press. ISBN 0231042000.
• Whitehead, Harriet (1987). Renunciation and Reformulation: A Study of Conversion in an American Sect. Cornell University Press. ISBN 0801418496.

External links

• Scientology, at website of publisher