Comments on: “Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief” by Lawrence Wright http://www.girldetective.net/?p=5808 Reading, Writing, Movies and Mothering in Minneapolis, Mostly Sun, 17 May 2026 01:30:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: girldetective http://www.girldetective.net/?p=5808&cpage=1#comment-41404 girldetective Sat, 20 Sep 2014 14:32:40 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=5808#comment-41404 Sherry, thanks for the reminder about women religious leaders. Was it Anne Bradstreet in Puritan America? Great point and I'll adjust the text to reflect that. You use interesting words about religions: measure, evaluate and standard, which aren't ones normally used when talking about religion which is about belief and faith. Who am I to determine another's truth? One of the things L Ron Hubbard said (but wasn't always reflected in his religion) was that a person should not accept something that didn't feel true to them. I was reminded of the line from The Horse and His Boy by CS Lewis about how good done in the name of whomever is done in the name of Aslan/Jesus, and bad done in the name of Aslan isn't done for Aslan. There are those who do good as Scientologists, and those who do evil in its name too. Who gets to judge what is a truly good act, to even decide what is good, and what is not? I'm looking forward to the group discussion of this. As I noted in the entry, it would be easy to dismiss as crazy. Harder to practice tolerance, empathy, lack of judgement, and an open mind. Sherry, thanks for the reminder about women religious leaders. Was it Anne Bradstreet in Puritan America? Great point and I’ll adjust the text to reflect that. You use interesting words about religions: measure, evaluate and standard, which aren’t ones normally used when talking about religion which is about belief and faith. Who am I to determine another’s truth? One of the things L Ron Hubbard said (but wasn’t always reflected in his religion) was that a person should not accept something that didn’t feel true to them.

I was reminded of the line from The Horse and His Boy by CS Lewis about how good done in the name of whomever is done in the name of Aslan/Jesus, and bad done in the name of Aslan isn’t done for Aslan. There are those who do good as Scientologists, and those who do evil in its name too. Who gets to judge what is a truly good act, to even decide what is good, and what is not?

I’m looking forward to the group discussion of this. As I noted in the entry, it would be easy to dismiss as crazy. Harder to practice tolerance, empathy, lack of judgement, and an open mind.

]]> By: Sherry http://www.girldetective.net/?p=5808&cpage=1#comment-41388 Sherry Fri, 19 Sep 2014 14:37:45 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=5808#comment-41388 I would dispute your "mostly men" who start religious movements. Mary Baker Eddy. Ellen G. White. Mother Ann Lee. That's off the top of my head. I did find the book fascinating and disturbing. I think it's difficult to measure or evaluate new religious movements unless you have some standard against which to measure. Otherwise, why not Scientology? Why not psychiatry? Why not Moon worship? I would dispute your “mostly men” who start religious movements. Mary Baker Eddy. Ellen G. White. Mother Ann Lee. That’s off the top of my head.

I did find the book fascinating and disturbing. I think it’s difficult to measure or evaluate new religious movements unless you have some standard against which to measure. Otherwise, why not Scientology? Why not psychiatry? Why not Moon worship?

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