On 2005-06-28 11:45:00, Antigen wrote:
"Here's the clam thing.
http://www.xenu.net/clam_faq.html
Wow:
Bare-faced messiah: The true story of L. Ron Hubbard
by Russell Miller
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
Miller presents the life story of L. Ron Hubbard, from his early days as a pulp science fiction writer, through his years as the head of the Church of Scientology, to his death in 1986. Miller, who was actively opposed by Scientologists, contrasts the official church biographies with his own well-documented accounts of Hubbard's incredible life. Hubbard invented the Dianetics and Scientology movements and acquired millions through them; as their autocratic leader, he was obeyed unquestioningly. Miller makes no bones about considering Hubbard a fraud, but his book betrays a reluctant admiration for the man he sees as "one of the most successful and colourful confidence tricksters of the 20th century." A well-researched investigation that makes fascinating reading. C. Robert Nixon, M.L.S., Lafayette, Ind.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Product Details
* Unknown Binding: 390 pages
* Publisher: M. Joseph (1987)
* Language: English
* ISBN: 0718127641
* Average Customer Review: based on 16 reviews. (Write a review)
* Amazon.com Sales Rank: #265,198 in Books
(Publishers and authors: improve your sales)
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Reviewer: Nigel Parry (St. Paul, MN USA)
It gives you chills to consider that present Scientologists might believe even one-tenth of the lunacy of the L. Ron Hubbard that this book reveals as a paranoid, authoritarian, self-aggrandising, destructive, and pathalogical ( ).
Hubbard was clearly a severly disturbed individual, and his motivation for founding Scientology was also clearly a direct result of his delusions and desire for attention, and, later, for cash.
Scientology itself is revealled as a mixture of pop psychology, new age healing techniques, and belief in our heritage as space aliens - all three spiced-up by the illicit thrill that only secret knowledge (priced in US$ of course) can bring.
In other words, welcome to 20th Century free market Gnosticism, with a bit of everything tossed in, for good measure, by a deranged cook that seems to have no taste buds at all.
Even assuming (following the death of Hubbard) there has been a corporate sanitising of the whackier aspects of his philosophy (and trust me here, the book is overflowing with examples of these), the fact that anyone would choose such an obviously broken foundation stone to build anything on, is enough cause for the alarm bells to start ringing.
The book is exhaustively researched and is a completely mind-blowing read, as the reader gets to walk a path from a creative childhood in which we learn about Hubbard's natural talent for story-telling that later developed into his relatively successful science-fiction career, to a progressively-stunted adulthood where lies becomes the main creative media he works with.
It would be good to see a follow up that deals less with Hubbard and more with how the Scientologists absorbed his legacy into their current practice (quite well, it would seem, from the myriad of media reports of destructive cultic behaviour).
Now that would take some explaining.
But this is outside the scope of this biography.
The book has a ring of authenticity thanks to the well-established credentials of the journalist who wrote it, and thus stands as a credible portrait of a destructive cartoon character that - unfortunately - more than a few people saw as their messiah.
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So, who's surprised???, June 14, 2005
Reviewer: Martin D. Turner "Marty" (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
Scientology is about POWER and NOT about spirituality. The reason why Tom Cruise, John Travolta and their ilk tout it is because they're (bored) rich folks who need to have some sort of "tiller" in life and Scientology delivers that (note that many of the power players in Hollywood and Capitol Hill belong to this "religion"; if you're not a Scientologist, then you don't "play" with the big boys (or make the really big money) ...).
Read Jon Atack's "Piece of Blue Sky"; nothing like hearing about a religion from one who used to practice it.
And yes, I agree with other sentiments expressed here: it's scary to think that well-educated (mostly) intelligent people believe the chronic lies of Hubbard.
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Attack of the Clones..., May 23, 2005
Reviewer: Steven Cain (Temporal Quantum Pocket) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)
Well that's how the die-hard, cyborg-like Sea Org people tend to come across, in my experience.
If I had thought this book was nothing more than an ill-informed cheap shot at Hubbard, I would not have read it, but it is not. My greatest problems with Scientology were never about the Technology, but with the over-zealousness (to put it very politely) of the Sea Org staff above all, and the absolutely unforgivable price of Services.
If you ever complained about the totally unrealistic cost of Services - relative to average earnings, for example, you were met with facile, brainwashed responses about 'what is Freedom worth?' and 'No Clear thinks it's expensive...' all of which totally ignore the fact that the organization is 99% money driven, whether it started that way or not; and that most of The Bridge (the structured path to spiritual freedom) is way beyond the price range of the average individual - unless they become Staff members, of course...
While Hubbard is seen to be a questionable character in terms of false claims about a number of issues, including aspects of his military service, as Miller reveals, he may well have developed some important technology at the heart of the Beast that Scientology eventually became.
It does not have some of the more immediately threatening aspects of a Cult that many true Cults possess, but it is hard to see it as anything else when you add up the lists of experiences that Miller and others have recorded and analyzed.
Don't be fooled by reviewers who hide behind 'attacks on their religion'. If Scientology operated more like a real religion (which it could do), it would not charge so much for its Services. It's pricing structure is simply a control weapon and nothing more.
Read the book and make up your own mind.
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A Cult., January 17, 2005
Reviewer: Philly Geraldo (USA) - See all my reviews
I read the book. Christians would just hate to hear someone talk bad about their religion. I'm sure the scientologists are upset at those who published the book. So to the author of the book, what wrong have you done and/or kept in secret away from Ron Hubbard and Scientology? Since you claim that this book is "the truth" and the "fact" of, "I'm right and L.Ron Hubbard is wrong." He's not telling the truth because the basis of criticism againist anyone or thing is from the wrong doings and the secrecy of those wrong doings from ever reaching the surface. That's his concern. Like a child, Russell forgot all about his honesty and respondsibility for his actions. He's hasn't even the slightest clue of how L. Ron Hubbard has helped millions. Even the one writting this article, who should've by medical standards been a vegtable since birth due to brain damage. And even if Russell is telling the truth, then perhaps he should say the samething about all the other religions out there. Of course that would really upset and irk alot of people which is never an option.
The fact is this. No one likes discrimination of their religion and no could say the samething about all the other religions out there. It would cause an uproar!
The Scientologists were allowed to stay and help out those in danger when 9-11 happened. They were even allowed to stay alot longer when the others had to leave.
To the future readers. Ask yourself this question, "Would I like it if someone were talking bad about my religion, GOD or Jesus the Lord in Heaven?" "Would I read some nutcase's BS about my religion, when I know that it isn't true and agree to it?" No. You wouldn't. This book is simply about telling others that the author is the trickster and is scared of being found out. Visit the nearest Church of Scientology for the correct anwsers.
Quite frankly and honestly. If you really need alot of toliet paper when you go to the bathroom, then that's all this book (Bare-Faced messiah: The True story of L.Ron Hubbard) is really good is wiping your (you know what I mean)with.
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A fascinating story of an astonishing life, April 26, 2004
Reviewer: Alex Frantz (San Leandro, ca USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
Miller is the first writer to conduct real research into the life story of L. Ron Hubbard. Earlier writers, even those highly critical of Scientology such as Paulette Cooper, had tended to tkae Hubbard's official biography at face value.
In fact, Hubbard was a man of immense ability, energy, ambibition, and ego. He regularly undertook difficult projects, and, when describing the results, regularly transformed failure or marginal success into dazzling triumph. Miller's work in separating fact from fiction in Hubbard's early exploits is valuable, as is his recounting of the early years and growth of Scientology and Dianetics.
Miller has, though, probably underestimated his subject. He ends with the prediction that Scientology is not likely to long outlive its founder. Although Scientology is struggling - propaganda describing it as the world's fastest growing religion is as fictional as Hubbard's career as a war hero - it remains very much alive. It also has had a vast influence on many similar movements (quite a few started by ex-Scientologists), an intriguing story that Miller passes by entirely. However, Miller is centering on Hubbard's life, he wasn't attempting to write the definitive study on the subjects of Scientology and Dianetics.
Aside from its value, this is just an interesting story, one so strange that if you read it as fiction, you would question the plausibility.
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Fantastic book and a warning to the weak minded, June 25, 2002
Reviewer: R. Smith "smarterthanthis" (Dublin, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This cult is absolutely the most bizzare thing I've ever heard of. Read this book and delve into the most incredible story you can imagine. And it's non-fiction! This cult is so creepy you will not sleep at night. Hard to believe this nonsense is actually considered a religion. Kudos to Mr. Miller for delivering a great read and revaling the inner workings of a true madman and a conman to rival any in history. The only sad part are the victims who have fallen for this science fiction mumbo jumbo and believe in such foolishness.
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