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A review by mcle1990
A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology by Mike Rinder
5.0
This was my first read on Scientology and what a great one to pick. If you want to learn more about Scientology and can only pick one book, this is hard to put down.
Mr. Rinder was raised in Scientology and left after decades of service in some of the highest roles of the organization. This book was so unique and special as it is told from the perspective of someone who is on the leadership and management side of the Church vesrus a parishoner. It's easy to see how so much abuse and malfeasance can go undetected by the average Scientologist, as Mr. Rinder details that these elite ranks are populated largely by those who are lifetime Scientologists. In an organization where individuals are constantly asked to consider what "overts" and "withholds" THEY have that may have caused issues, it quickly becomes apparent how easy it is to manipulate individuals into seeing themselves versus their church as the problem.
The multitude of ways that Scientology has built an organization on foundational practices that force individuals to look at themselves when things seem wrong or unjust is incredible. It's built on removing those in your life who leave the Church (disconnecting), not ingesting media that talks about Scientology in a poor light, and millions of dollars funnelled into PI's and other means of threatening and terrifying those who speak against it.
As an aside, Mike narrates his audiobook and does a fantastic job. It was easy to listen to and went by quickly.
Mr. Rinder was raised in Scientology and left after decades of service in some of the highest roles of the organization. This book was so unique and special as it is told from the perspective of someone who is on the leadership and management side of the Church vesrus a parishoner. It's easy to see how so much abuse and malfeasance can go undetected by the average Scientologist, as Mr. Rinder details that these elite ranks are populated largely by those who are lifetime Scientologists. In an organization where individuals are constantly asked to consider what "overts" and "withholds" THEY have that may have caused issues, it quickly becomes apparent how easy it is to manipulate individuals into seeing themselves versus their church as the problem.
The multitude of ways that Scientology has built an organization on foundational practices that force individuals to look at themselves when things seem wrong or unjust is incredible. It's built on removing those in your life who leave the Church (disconnecting), not ingesting media that talks about Scientology in a poor light, and millions of dollars funnelled into PI's and other means of threatening and terrifying those who speak against it.
As an aside, Mike narrates his audiobook and does a fantastic job. It was easy to listen to and went by quickly.