Among the Scientologists: History, Theology, and Praxis

Oxford Studies in Western Esotericism

by Donald Westbrook

The Church of Scientology is one of the most recognizable American-born new religions, but perhaps the least understood. With academic and popular interest on the rise, many books have been written about Scientology and surely more will follow. Although academics have begun to pay more attention to Scientology, the subject has received remarkably little qualitative attention. Indeed, no work has systematically addressed such questions what do Scientologists themselves have to say about their religion's history, theology, and practices? How does Scientology act as a religion for them? What does "lived religion" look like for a Scientologist? This is not so much a book about the Church of Scientology, its leaders, or its controversies, as it is a compilation of narratives and histories based on the largely unheard or ignored perspectives of Scientologists themselves. Drawing on six years of interviews, fieldwork, and research conducted among members of the Church of
Scientology, this groundbreaking work examines features of the new religion's history, theology, and praxis in ways that move discussion beyond apostate-driven and exposé accounts.

352 pages, Hardcover

Published December 3, 2018

About the author

Donald A. Westbrook has mostly published academic works in the area of religious history. He and his wife publish the children's book series Mr. Mazoo and Mr. Tyler.

Reviews

[Jamie Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most books and articles on the subject of Scientology tend to be so involved with controversies and sensational exposes that you hardly get a chance to understand the subject or its members. Through dozens of interviews (and findings from years of fieldwork), this book fills the gap and gives a realistic sense of what it's like to be an ordinary Scientologist. I enjoyed Westbrook's approach to the subject, as well as his very clear and articulate writing style. Highly recommended.

[Laura R · Rating 1 out of 5]

Propaganda for the church of Scientology. Westbrook relied on the notorious OSA (the Office of Special Affairs) to provide all his information. There's zero effort to get the perspective of ex-Scientologists and other academics or journalists critical of the church.