Closing Minds: How Scientology's "Ethics Technology" is Used to Control Their Members

by Jefferson Hawkins

How does Scientology control its members? How does it convince them to avoid any negative information about Scientology? How does it persuade them not to look at critical information on the internet, on TV or in the press? How does it convince them to avoid or entirely disconnect from people who are critical of Scientology - even their close friends, their family members, or their own parents or children? All while loftily talking about “improving communication” and “searching for truth”?
In Closing Minds, former Scientology insider Jefferson Hawkins explores a body of information that Scientology calls “ethics technology.” However it has little to do with the subject of ethics as most people understand it. Instead, it forms a very sophisticated system of mental control. For anyone who has been a Scientologist, this book will reveal the subtle manipulations that you were subjected to. And for those who have never been in Scientology, it provides an informative peek behind the curtain and some understanding of how they command the unquestioning allegiance of their membership.

92 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 17, 2015

About the author

Jefferson Hawkins spent 36 years inside the Church of Scientology, becoming one of its top marketing executives. He helped craft Scientology's polished public façade, which he now reveals as hiding a merciless world of physical and mental abuse, harassment, sleep deprivation, labor camps, family disconnection, and human rights violations.

Now an outspoken critic and whistleblower, Hawkins exposed the shocking abuses that go on at Scientology's highest levels in his 2010 memoir, Counterfeit Dreams: One Man's Journey Into and Out of the World of Scientology.

He has written two additional nonfiction books exposing Scientology's system of mind control: Leaving Scientology: A Practical Guide to Escape and Recovery, and Closing Minds: How Scientology's "Ethics Technology" is Used to Control Their Members.

Hawkins has appeared on the Emmy-winning A&E series, Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, and was featured in Louis Theroux's My Scientology Movie. He was interviewed by the St. Petersburg Times for their groundbreaking series unveiling Scientology's abuses, and appeared on Anderson Cooper 360 for CNN's three-part exposé, "Scientology: A History of Violence."

Today, Hawkins works as a graphic designer in Portland, Oregon. He continues to assist individuals and families who have been victims of Scientology abuse.

Reviews

[Anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a Christian and not related to the Scientology, but I found this book very interesting. The first time I heard of Scientology from a person I know who was saying that Scientology is a "new" religion and that celebrities such as Tom Cruise praise it. Then, my pastor said a few words of Scientology to be a cult. Being a curious person I had to learn more. I've seen Going Clear movie and read Beyond Belief memoir of Jenna Miscavige (current Scientology leader's niece) revealing the truth about totalitarian Scientology practices, people abuse, violation of human rights, pressing Scientologists to "disconnect" from their families and more. This is a horrible cult. However, what I couldn't get is how on the earth intelligent and SANE people let themselves be trapped in Scientology. This book explains a lot about mind control techniques used by Scientology and about their "ethics" that a normal person would think of as absurd. I appreciate Hawkins research and sharing his personal experience. He talks about "Ethics technology" that is to be learned and applied by all Scientologist. I won't go to much into details but I'll say that the book is an easy read (especially if you know a few Scientology terms already), not lengthy and generally very educational. I will be taking Psychology class next semester in college and I feel like I got some inside into psychology already.

[J Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth it!

A good read for anyone who wants to know how manipulative the scientology ethics and justice system is to its parishioners, those who wish to leave, and the billion year contract staff members. Jefferson Hawkins succinctly educates the reader in a well-written and easy to understand explanation how it works and why they put up with it. He also explains that this is not a one-off way of manipulation, thought , emotion, and societal control. The ways of cults are all the same where are they make you believe it's one way in the beginning and as you get hooked, and the Frog slowly boils and it becomes another entirely different belief system.