Writing a book about Scientology's conflicts
Donation protected
Many thanks to everyone who's donated so far – your help is very much appreciated! I have two major research trips upcoming, so any assistance with the costs will be invaluable.
Since the early 1950s, the Church of Scientology has been waging a relentless war against those it considers enemies – critics, journalists, government agencies, ex-members and especially psychiatrists. It has created a worldwide intelligence apparatus and propaganda machine, notorious for its "always attack, never defend" policy. Along the way, it carried out the largest domestic espionage campaign in US history (Operation Snow White). Scientology has nonetheless managed to survive decades of scandals, exposés, lawsuits, raids and defections.
I'm writing a book which takes an inside look at Scientology's campaigns against its foes, reveals the secrets of its intelligence operations and tells the story of how it has managed to weather its opposition. I've carried out research on three continents so far, reviewing thousands of documents. The book will tell many previously unreported stories from Scientology's secret history and help to explain why the organisation has been so resilient in the face of opposition. It'll also explain the ideology behind its activities and assess whether it is as big a threat to society as many have alleged. It'll shed a new and at times startling light on Scientology's often contentious history.
Over the past year, some of the research that will appear in the book has appeared on Tony Ortega's blog, The Underground Bunker, and I've previously documented some of Scientology's intelligence activities at Scientology's Secret Service . My research on Scientology has featured in other authors' books and I contributed to both the book and film versions of Lawrence Wright's "Going Clear".
The book is at an advanced stage of writing. My intention is to have it published some time in 2020. However, the research isn't cheap, and support would be very much appreciated to help with this project. Donations will be used to support travel to a number of key archives and the cost of making physical and electronic copies of documents.
Since the early 1950s, the Church of Scientology has been waging a relentless war against those it considers enemies – critics, journalists, government agencies, ex-members and especially psychiatrists. It has created a worldwide intelligence apparatus and propaganda machine, notorious for its "always attack, never defend" policy. Along the way, it carried out the largest domestic espionage campaign in US history (Operation Snow White). Scientology has nonetheless managed to survive decades of scandals, exposés, lawsuits, raids and defections.
I'm writing a book which takes an inside look at Scientology's campaigns against its foes, reveals the secrets of its intelligence operations and tells the story of how it has managed to weather its opposition. I've carried out research on three continents so far, reviewing thousands of documents. The book will tell many previously unreported stories from Scientology's secret history and help to explain why the organisation has been so resilient in the face of opposition. It'll also explain the ideology behind its activities and assess whether it is as big a threat to society as many have alleged. It'll shed a new and at times startling light on Scientology's often contentious history.
Over the past year, some of the research that will appear in the book has appeared on Tony Ortega's blog, The Underground Bunker, and I've previously documented some of Scientology's intelligence activities at Scientology's Secret Service . My research on Scientology has featured in other authors' books and I contributed to both the book and film versions of Lawrence Wright's "Going Clear".
The book is at an advanced stage of writing. My intention is to have it published some time in 2020. However, the research isn't cheap, and support would be very much appreciated to help with this project. Donations will be used to support travel to a number of key archives and the cost of making physical and electronic copies of documents.
Organizer
Chris Owen
Organizer
England