With the release of the new HBO documentary, “Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief”, it becomes even more difficult for Scientologists to avoid a most obvious question.
The question had became increasingly obvious with the recent publication of several major books about Scientology: Inside Scientology: The Story of America’s Most Secretive Religion by Janet Reitman and Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief by Lawrence Wright.
The release of the HBO documentary makes the question even more unavoidable.
The Church of Scientology claims that these books and now the film are filled with lies, libel and slander. In legal terms, these are all, according to the church, defamatory to the Church of Scientology.
Defamation is the communication of a false statement that harms the reputation of an individual person, business, product, group, government, religion, or nation.
Without a doubt, the reputation of the Church of Scientology has been harmed greatly in the last few years. These books and this film have just added to this problem.
The Church of Scientology has a large stable of aggressive attorneys paid quite well to attack all those who criticize and defame the church.
If these books and this film are, as the church claims, filled with lies, libel and slander – the law would be very much on the church’s side. The law allows the church to sue publishers, authors, filmmakers to completely shut down “lies, libel and slander”. Certainly, an injunction could have given the church almost immediate relief from such defamation.
So the obvious question that Scientologists must not even think is:
Why didn’t the Church of Scientology stop the books? Why doesn’t the church stop the film? The church makes lots of noise and accusations of their own but takes no action. Why?
The question is obvious but Scientologists must not even think this. They must not think the question because the only answer then becomes unavoidable.
The primary defence against a charge of defamation is truth. Generally speaking to prove defamation, the alleged victim must show that the “defamatory” statements are, in fact, false.
More than anyone, Scientologists know that the Church of Scientology would do anything to ban these books and this film if they could. The fact that the church does not means that they cannot.
Are all these “defamatory” facts in the documentary true?
By the Church of Scientology’s own actions – and inaction – it is obvious that the Church of Scientology believes the documentary to be totally true.
And that is a thought that Scientologists must never think.
Ask the Scientologist 
Why is that Scientology filled with such horrible people like Paul Haggis, Mike Rinder, Marty Rathbun, and Jason Beghe? Each of these individuals had undergone hundreds of hours of expensive Scientology counseling using an E-meter. They are all Scientology “Clears” which means they no longer have their own reactive mind. In fact, according to Hubbard, Clears have soaring IQs, never get colds and are entirely without psychoses, neuroses, compulsions repressions and psycho-somatic ills.
In addition, they have also all done the Purification Rundown and rid have themselves of the harmful effects of drugs, toxins and other chemicals that lodge in the body and create a biochemical barrier to spiritual well-being. Yet despite all this, according to Freedom Magazine each and every one of the main characters in “Going Clear: Scientology and The Prison Of Belief,” is a violent psychopath, a bigot, a liar and a cheat.
But this is where it gets confusing. Doesn’t Scientology claim they have the “technology” to erase all these human aberrations? Is Scientology admitting that their tech doesn’t work because there are so many people who make it to the top who are aberrated, criminals? This makes no sense. Bill, could you please explain.
LOL! Yes, those are the questions we all have. If Scientology’s “tech” is so amazingly wonderful, why … (and there we can list all their problems and excuses).
It becomes obvious that Scientology’s real “products” are excuses, justifications and blame. The endless failures of Scientology require some very convoluted and elaborate excuses.
“Scientology is extremely effective and powerful … except there is this vast Evil Galactic Conspiracy of Psyciatrists…” LOL!
I think HBO should write the “church” of Scientology a nice thank you note. The more David Miscavige throws his hissy-fit, the more people will put “Going Clear” on their must-see list.
Because of Scientology’s impotent ranting, millions more will watch the documentary. Well done Miscavige, you’ve made your problem much, much worse.
I was fortunate to attend a viewing of the film here in L.A. last Friday and it is, to say the least, very chilling. I could go over many things in the film, but I will just leave with the thought that you have got to see it. I knew it would be good… but not this good.
Yeah, it is kind of like Bill Cosby not suing any of those 30+ women who said he sexually assaulted or raped them.
Just check out the FB and twitter accounts for “Freedom Media Ethics” . The hourly smear attacks on cult critics is in this crazy hysterical mode. You must check this out. And this is a “church”. Mmmm, no.
Dear Bill:
The full HBO Documentary is already available, even in HD:
NOW, (almost) everyone can watch it!
Best
Thanks!
Hitler Reacts to “Going Clear.”
Just finished watching “Going Clear” and couldn’t help but notice that the last person interviewed, Sara Goldberg, is a top-of-the-line OTVIII. She had just been declared an SP, i.e. an evil person. Surely an OTVIII is beyond the gravitational field of evil, no? How could a mighty OTVIII powerhouse be an SP or even be affected by puny SPs? OTVIIIs are free from the MEST trap. They have no reactive mind of their own and have exorcised all their BTs and Clusters with their reactive minds. How could someone 100% “clean and pure” be evil? Surely OTVIIIs should be left alone and allowed to think for themselves. I can’t wait to hear your answer and what sort of convoluted logic Scientologists come up with.
As I’ve said before, one of the key skills a Scientologist must learn is to not think. Scientology really is easier if you master that skill.
George Orwell coined a term in “1984”, “doublethink”. Doublethink is the acceptance of or mental capacity to accept contrary opinions or beliefs at the same time, especially as a result of political indoctrination.
Scientologists have no problem with believing that OT VIIIs have reached the ultimate spiritual level in Scientology while also seeing OT VIIIs leaving, having trouble, being declared, etc.
You see, Hubbard built into Scientology the ultimate excuse for no results: “If you didn’t get the promised results or if you got into trouble after Scientology, well you didn’t do it correctly.”
Scientologists cannot make the logical step from observing OT VIIIs, and all the long-term Scientologists, leaving – and seeing that Scientology does not work.
“Going Clear” wins three Emmys.
http://tonyortega.org/2015/09/13/paul-haggis-lawrence-wright-react-to-alex-gibneys-emmys-sweep-for-going-clear/#more-25525
Good to see a new post from you. Love your work. Your point is an unassailable one. (I used to be “Lady Squash”. I’m growing bolder.)