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The mind benders
(from the 1971 Neville Spearman edition, SBN 85435 061 6)
The author's experience of Scientology stretches over a period of 14 years from when it was a little known and interesting form of psychotherapy, to September 1968 when he was declared an S.P. (Suppressive Person). This meant that he was considered 'Fair Game'. As Sir Elwyn Jones Q.C. said in the recent Scientology libel case, S.Ps. 'could be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist. He could be tricked, sued or lied to, or destroyed.' The direct cause of this action was the breakdown of the author's marriage and separation of his children.
Mr. Vosper, who was a senior official at the Scientology H.Q. at Saint Hill, East Grinstead, Sussex, believes that it is time for a close and accurate inspection of Scientology so that people know the full facts before they consider joining it.
This is less a book than a stick of dynamite. Never before has there been an inside report on Scientology. The public have, so far, only vague newspaper reports and rumours to put against the sophisticated propaganda of the Scientologists.
In Scientology, sometimes conveniently referred to as the Church of Scientology, the former science-fiction writer, L. Ron Hubbard has constructed a world-wide network of organisations in such a manner as '... to pull the society under us'. Meaning that his long-term goal is for the entirety of the human race to be controlled, albeit benevolently, by him and his followers.
Unlike other fads and eccentricities of the past, Scientology is not a purely comic subject that appeals to those who need some sort of belief. It is far more comprehensive and frequently harmful.
The author's experience of Scientology stretches over a period of 14 years from when it was a little known and interesting form of psychotherapy, to September 1968 when he was declared an S.P. (Suppressive Person). This meant that he was considered 'Fair Game'. As Sir Elwyn Jones Q.C. said in the recent Scientology libel case, S.Ps. 'could be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist. He could be tricked, sued or lied to, or destroyed.' The direct cause of this action was the breakdown of the author's marriage and separation of his children.
Mr. Vosper, who was a senior official at the Scientology H.Q. at Saint Hill, East Grinstead, Sussex, believes that it is time for a close and accurate inspection of Scientology so that people know the full facts before they consider joining it.
This is less a book than a stick of dynamite. Never before has there been an inside report on Scientology. The public have, so far, only vague newspaper reports and rumours to put against the sophisticated propaganda of the Scientologists.
In Scientology, sometimes conveniently referred to as the Church of Scientology, the former science-fiction writer, L. Ron Hubbard has constructed a world-wide network of organisations in such a manner as '... to pull the society under us'. Meaning that his long-term goal is for the entirety of the human race to be controlled, albeit benevolently, by him and his followers.
Unlike other fads and eccentricities of the past, Scientology is not a purely comic subject that appeals to those who need some sort of belief. It is far more comprehensive and frequently harmful.
- GenresNonfiction
188 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1971
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About the author
Cyril Vosper
1 bookCyril Ronald Vosper was an anti-cult leader, Scientologist and later a critic of Scientology, a deprogrammer, and a spokesperson on men's health. He wrote The Mind Benders, which was the first book on Scientology to be written by an ex-member and the first critical book on Scientology to be published (narrowly beating Inside Scientology by Robert Kaufman).
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December 31, 2013Online at http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Library/Sh... or http://www.suburbia.com.au/~fun/scn/b... ... Cyril Vosper at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyril_Vo...
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