“Going Clear” by Lawrence Wright – Scientology: Religion or Profitable Institution?

Those of us who know about Scientology content ourselves by referring to it as that crazy religious sect with beliefs so out-of-this-world that it’s not even funny.

More prominently, there are a few celebrities, such as Isaac Hayes and Tom Cruise, who have openly embraced the Church of Scientology, which did make a few of us raise our brows in disbelief.

It seems that everything done in that religion is subject to criticism, but due to their reclusiveness very few have bothered to actually examine the subject in-depth, and that’s precisely what Lawrence Wright does in Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief.

First, it has to be mentioned that Lawrence Wright won a Pulizter price for his study of Al-Qaeda’s 9/11 Attack, meaning this is one journalist who knows what he is talking about, seeking to bring the unaltered truth above all else.

This book, Going Clear, is based on hundreds of interviews from current and ex-Scientologists, years of archival research and field investigations. Mr. Wright doesn't spare words in the exploration of the religion itself, going as far as looking at the life and biography of its founder, science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, who basically invented a new religion amongst his thousands of other works.

Apart from that though, Lawrence explores the reason as to why Scientology pursues celebrities so actively in order to advance their own goals. We get to hear what those who have just signed a billion-year contract with the Scientology clergy have to say about the whole thing, as well as former members who have had enough of it and long-time members who will probably never leave.

More fascinatingly, we get a very interesting look at the inner workings of the Church of Scientology, and how it very closely resembles a money-making industry, which actually isn’t that surprising considering it is very possible L. Ron Hubbard started the religion as a money-making adventure.

To be honest, the few of you who favor the Church of Scientology probably won’t take too kindly to this book, as the sect is indeed depicted in a negative light, despite the fact that its origins and the way it works are very deeply-explored.

All in all, it seems that Lawrence believes that the entire religion of Scientology really is nothing more than an expression of L. Ron Hubbard’s wild imagination, taken far too seriously by some people, while seen as an exceptional money-making opportunity by others.

The author pulls no punches when discussing things that seem borderline ridiculous, such as the famed "ohm-meter", without forgetting the fact that those in the Church end up paying absolutely ridiculous amounts of money to it, and that’s not even counting the admission fee.

At the end, he spends a good amount of time arguing as to whether Scientology actually deserves to be protected by the constitution and recognized as an actual religion.

All in all, those who are looking for a no-nonsense look at the world of one of America’s most secretive and talked-about religions should definitely read this book, as it provides you with the actual truth stemming from personal experience, which is always a welcome breath of fresh air in a world where lies and fiction sell better than anything.

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Lawrence Wright Personal site Lawrence Wright is an American screenwriter, staff writer for The New Yorker, and an author who has the distinction of having won the Pulitzer Prize. His best-known work of writing remains to this day his 2006 book, The Looming Tower, which delved into the events that led up to 9/11.