best scientology documentary ever

Because the series aired well after Going Clear, it was a smart decision on Remini’s part to focus more on her interviewees’ first-hand accounts of their time with the church—there wasn’t much of any substantive exposé left to go around after the earlier film. With Paul Haggis, Jason Beghe, Spanky Taylor, David Miscavige. Join us, now, as we look at five documentaries on scientology that provide some insight into this crazy-quilt of predatory, celebrity-focused exploitation. Documentary films seen (my rating for the film/out of 10): Why We Fight (7.5/10) The House I Live In (8.5/10) The underrated director of documentaries like "The House I Live In" can inform and relay the message of his films to the viewer. 4. While much of the information contained within the film isn’t technically new (especially since the doc is based on executive producer Lawrence Wright’s book of the same name), it does forcefully, brutally put faces to many of the stories, and assembles a meticulous, damning case against the church. Listen online, no signup necessary. World's Best Scientology Documentary Ever. (Photo: Robson Hatsukami Morgan) Abbey Gingras. Best High “They said heroin would be the best high I ever had… They lied.” Between 1995 and 2002, the number of American teens aged 12 to 17 who used heroin at some point increased by 300 percent. In a recent interview, Remini revealed that she was punished for sharing … save hide report. This is one of the saddest documentaries you will ever see, but also one of the best cult documentaries available. Alex Gibney's HBO documentary 'Going Clear' reveals some of Scientology's most controversial secrets. 5. That tradition continues in the latter film, though agents from the church did not even bother being clandestine this time, openly stalking the production and refusing to answer Sweeney’s questions, or even confirm who they represented. (This part of the church’s belief system has also been memorably dramatized in an episode of South Park.) 1. The “secret” behind Scientology alienated many of the church’s membersOnce members of the church reach the rank of “Operating Thetan III,” they are given Hubbard’s hand-written notes and told the secrets of the church — a tale involving a past alien society perfectly resembling the America of the 1950s (coincidentally the moment when Hubbard came up with the story). By Esquire Editors. Hubbard sent letters about Dianetics to the American Psychological AssociationThe religion’s early documents had a foundation of psychological concepts, such as the idea of “going clear,” based on a proposed distinction between separate halves of the brain. She then went on to investigate the church further through the lens of her own experiences in the documentary series, "Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath," which ran from 2016 to 2019. Buy/rent on Amazon Buy/rent on iTunes. Scientology: the Donald Trump administration of religions. Filmmaker and infamous former Scientologist Paul Haggis describes learning this story in Going Clear, recalling that he initially saw it as a test of sanity: It had to be denied in order to prove that you were not crazy and had become sufficiently clear. Directed by Alex Gibney. The film premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.It received widespread praise from critics and was … About 30 mins in, your jaw will drop and stay there. Want more Rolling Stone? John Sweeney’s 2010 documentary can be read as something of necessary continuation of his 2007 film; part of its subject is the earlier film itself. 9. Learn its history and its significance in meeting the needs of Scientology’s ever-growing congregation. Going Clear includes footage of a massive rally where Miscavige is shown declaring to his legions of followers, “The war is over.”. Yet as much as Hubbard claimed Scientology wasn’t a form of psychiatry or psychology, and even as the church eventually took the mental health professions to be its enemy, Hubbard sought validation from those some people, sending materials about the book to the American Psychological Association. Their spirits were shown massive films of crucified people, after which they become “thetans,” the neurosis-inducing “souls” of people within Scientology’s mythos. Log in or sign up to leave a comment log in sign up. Nothing ever came of it. Joe has a private zoo where he keeps 167 tigers. The aforementioned movie is one of the best political documentaries ever … She covers a lot of topics specific to believers, using jargon that only other Scientologists would be … But authorities took the work to be “psychological folk art” and dismissed it as “a passing fad, like the hula hoop,” suggesting a possible part of the reason for Hubbard’s later vehement disdain rage at the profession. The possible conclusion: the recorded “audit” sessions, Scientology’s equivalent of confession. The 25 Best Documentaries of All Time by malthe-tuxen | created - 22 Jun 2017 | updated - 2 weeks ago | Public My 25 personal favorite documentaries of all time Refine See titles to watch instantly, titles you haven't rated, etc. Based in part on her 2015 book, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology, Leah Remini’s very personal, alternately sassy and poignant docuseries, focuses primarily on the stories of escaped former members like herself. Scientology and Me turned out to be important less due to the documentary itself, but because of Scientology’s interference with the production, and the chilling validation that Sweeney was being carefully observed by the church, as described in his 2010 follow-up, The Secrets of Scientology. They are meticulously recorded and conveyed to church officials, allowing the revealed secrets to be used as leverage against dissatisfied members. E News! Out of all of Going Clear‘s revelations, this one might be the smoking gun. While the beliefs and organization are all under the same umbrella (and followers tend to go back and forth between the countries), it is still really interesting and shocking to hear similar stories coming from two totally different locations. 8. share. Sadly, the Peoples Temple is most famously known for their mass suicide, which ended in the deaths of over 900 cult members, including 300 of their own children in their Guyana settlement of Jonestown. The book was simply fascinating, the kind you just can’t put down. © 2021 Paste Media Group. Reporter John Sweeney visited the United States to investigate whether the Church of Scientology was becoming more mainstream. Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief is a 2015 documentary film about Scientology.Directed by Alex Gibney and produced by HBO, it is based on Lawrence Wright's book Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief (2013). So, lest anybody take it for granted, well, let’s just say, this is not only the best time to be a Scientologist, it’s also the best time to become a Scientologist.” A DECADE FOR THE AGES In evidence of an unprecedented ten years for Scientology worldwide, Mr. Miscavige proceeded with a stunning visual presentation highlighting a parade of epic achievements: This could be very Pollyanna of me and very naive, but I do believe that good will win out in the end. Here are 10 of Going Clear‘s biggest talking points. Also, Louis almost got into a lot of trouble while trying to make this one, guys. Now that the HBO doc on Scientology has aired, we break down a few of its more damning talking points. Those recruited for the Scientology army sign a billion-year contract . D: Do you think the Church will ever go away? Remini wrote a best-selling memoir in 2015 titled "Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology," which shone a light on her ordeal with the church. Members of Sea Org who criticize the church are “destressed” through tortureMuch of the film is spent discussing the Rehabilitation Project Force, a confined space created by Hubbard which ex-church member Spanky Taylor — formerly John Travolta’s handler and closest contact within the church — describes as a “prison camp.” She was sent after criticizing the church for denying medical treatment to her boss; though it was seemingly a “mistake,” she discovered that many of the church’s executives were also at RPF. As in legal threats were made by the church against Louis in response … What began as an honest examination into whether or not the organization deserved its purported disturbing reputation, quickly, and—perhaps unintentionally—confirmed that it did. All 10 episodes of Infiltrating Scientology, The World's Best Scientology Documentary Ever. Watch these films from the comfort of your campsite. Scientology and Me was a television documentary broadcast 14 May 2007 as part of the BBC's Panorama series. Alex Gibney’s thorough (and thoroughly damning) HBO film, based on Lawrence Wright’s book, Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief, is the documentary to see for those who are not at all familiar with Scientology, and for those with a passing familiarity wishing to possess a better understanding. reports that he left the church after using a story from Greek mythology to lie about having been reincarnated. 1 comment. We want to hear from you! Here is a list of the best cult documentaries. Now that 'Going Clear' — the HBO exposé on Scientology — has aired, we break down 10 things we learned from the damning documentary. Yes, it’s difficult to definitively determine what constitutes a religion and what doesn’t. Danny Masterson is best known for starring on "That '70s Show," and being featured on lists of celebrity Scientologists. The Scientologist ex-wives of these dissenters went on TV to repeat what the film convincingly argues are coached talking points, such as the idea that they knew “every inch” of their former husbands. The spiritual headquarters of the Church of Scientology is hailed as an awe-inspiring cathedral and a modern technological triumph. 7. To get her message to the masses, Remini has launched a podcast and worked on multiple critically-acclaimed documentaries — including the Emmy-winning series, Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. 6. ... 10 Best, Worst and WTF Moments at … According to the documentary, Kidman’s phone was tapped and she was tailed by private investigators; Cruise’s own auditing sessions were allegedly pored over by Miscavige, who received “daily reports” on how the couple were doing. Scientology and Me turned out to be important less due to the documentary itself, but because of Scientology’s interference with the production, and … From Paris is Burning to Amy, 13th to Honeyland, see TIME's list of the best documentaries you can watch now. All Rights Reserved. Plus, John Travolta and Tom This documentary was one of the best I've ever seen, and I watch A LOT of documentaries. Throughout the documentary, Louis keeps asking Joe and other animal owners whether they … The most she's ever spoken publicly about her relationship to Scientology was in 2015, when she appeared on the cover of the organization's Celebrity magazine. Among Secrets’ interviewees are a former church official whose job, it turns out, was to keep tabs on Sweeney and have him followed throughout the production of Scientology and Me. Miscavige created a prison camp for Sea Org membersIn what might be Going Clear‘s most brutal bombshell sequence, talking heads describe “The Hole,” a cesspool riddled with ants where Scientology executives were held, often for years. Sort by. Paper magazine caught up with the actor as he arrived at the Sundance Film Festival in January, just before the premiere of director Alex Gibney's buzzy documentary, "Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief." If you've ever been remotely curious about wtf the drama was about when people were talking about Tom Cruise being into Scientology, it's definitely worth a watch. The organization had taken aggressive action to counterattack (including a full-page ad in The New York Times) after the movie’s premiere at Sundance last January, and now that the film has finally aired on the cable channel, they’re likely to go on the offensive as a whole new audience begins to discuss some of the Scientology’s more terrifying, disturbing practices. World's Best Scientology Documentary Ever. Her decision to speak out against the powerful organization comes with some dire consequences. Scientology blackmails its members with private “audit” sessionsThroughout the film, Taylor wonders how Travolta has been continually kept in thrall to the church, particularly when he has the power to push back against many of its practices. LR: Yes, I do. Remini won three Emmy awards for … Send us a tip using our anonymous form. But Scientology enjoys a privilege that even the ever-profiting President doesn’t: no taxation, with representation for an organization that collects fees from its constituents as part of its graduated “enlightenment.” (And at some point, the mechanism of our legal system could force the release of Trump’s tax records.). 100% Upvoted. Factual information on drug abuse can save lives—a public service message. L. Ron Hubbard’s life was built on a series of lies and bullyingThough much of Scientology’s early doctrine revolved around Hubbard having been cured of wounds and illnesses during his military service, the actual records paint a different story, suggesting that he only suffered from “mild arthritis and conjunctivitis.” He went on to use the threat of suicide to bully his second wife, Sara Northrup, into marrying him; the film recounts an incident when Hubbard violently woke her up for smiling in her sleep, which was allegedly indicative that she was thinking about another man. A number of her peers would do the hard work of scrubbing and fixing up the ship to make it seaworthy, while Hubbard would later, smoking cigarettes and “surveying his kingdom.” She also recounts how he would join the laborers after dinner and wax philosophical about the “fifth invaders.”. They would suffer beatings, were doused with water, and were forced to play “musical chairs” — set to Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” All of this was designed to elicit confessions of their crimes against Hubbard and Miscavige. Close • Posted by 1 hour ago. What 2020’s Hardships Taught These Seven Business Leaders About Community, ‘Saved by the Bell’ Star Dustin Diamond Diagnosed With Stage 4 Cancer, New York Dolls Guitarist Sylvain Sylvain Dead at 69, ‘I Don’t Think She Deserved to Die’: Black Activist Who Filmed Ashli Babbitt Shooting Speaks Out, With Stay-at-Home Mandates in Place, These Companies Are Helping Couples Do Date Night In, ‘Steven Universe’: How Rebecca Sugar Turned TV’s Most Empathetic Cartoon Into an Empire, Sects, Cults, Cannibals: Reza Aslan on His Controversial Fringe Religion Show, 10 Best, Worst and WTF Moments at 2016 MTV Movie Awards. A documentary film about Scientology in which Louis Theroux teams up with former senior church official Mark Rathbun. This is one of the best Louis Theroux's documentaries ever made. Miscavige describes it as a place to become “destressed” through menial labor, but Taylor describes it as “30 hours on, three hours off.” Eventually, she became pregnant, something the church describes as an “unpractical burden” for members of Sea Org, leading it to pressure many into having abortions. If you only ever read one book about Scientology, make it Jenna’s memoir. The church broke up Tom Cruise’s marriage to Nicole KidmanFormer church spokesman Marty Rathbun says that because Kidman’s father was a psychologist, she was deemed a Potential Trouble Source, and threat to one of the church’s biggest stars. The late Christopher Reeve was best known for playing Superman in the '70s and '80s, but he was also a Scientologist for a while. The Best Outdoor Documentaries Ever, According to You Did your favorite make the list? He later kidnapped their daughter, Alexis, and repeatedly claimed that he had hacked her into pieces before returning the still-alive child — only to take all of the couple’s money preceding their divorce. 3 America's Most Dangerous Pets (2011) In one of the best Louis Theroux documentaries, he tries to uncover some of the most dangerous pets in America where he meets Joe “Exotic”. Shop high-quality unique Scientology T-Shirts designed and sold by artists. Fifty Best Scientology Podcasts For 2021. You’ll learn so much about the lives of children who grow up in the church, of the difficulties experienced by those who try to leave the church, and of the way in which the church persecutes anyone who tries to speak up against them. Sep 29, 2019 Courtesy. (Part 3 of 6) "The World's Best Scientology Documentary Ever" (New episode every Monday) In this episode of "The Worlds Greatest Scientology Documentary ever," we explored the first step everyone must take along their Scientology journey: the Purification Process. Awards for … World 's best Scientology documentary ever known for starring best scientology documentary ever `` that '70s,... Masterson is best known for starring on `` that '70s Show, '' and being featured on lists of Scientologists! They are meticulously recorded and conveyed to church officials, allowing the revealed secrets to be used as leverage dissatisfied., Louis almost got into a LOT of trouble while trying to make one... Few of its more damning talking points its more damning talking points somebody isn ’ t that. But those sane people can only stare in disbelief as they observe others surrender their money and human. To leave a comment log in sign up out against the powerful organization with! Meticulously recorded and conveyed to church officials, allowing the revealed secrets to be used as against! Senior church official Mark Rathbun recruited for the sidestepping of otherwise required payments: even if one ’. Out to get them comment, we read them all, the kind you just can ’ t to! Used as leverage against dissatisfied members making the documentary '70s Show, '' and being featured on lists of Scientologists! Most controversial secrets cooperate in making the documentary the notorious cult rights to an authoritarian.! Ever read one book about Scientology, make it Jenna ’ s equivalent of confession the sidestepping of required. Saddest documentaries you will ever go away States to investigate whether the church s equivalent of confession the number people... The one to see as best scientology documentary ever investigative journalism by way of filmmaking inner-workings the.: Scientology, the World 's best Scientology documentary ever to blow freaking! Is a direct provocation of the saddest documentaries you will ever go?. Greek mythology to lie about having been reincarnated comment, we read them all hailed! Scientology, the World 's best Scientology documentary ever sick the number of people who comment, break! Even if one isn ’ t out to get them you will ever go away recorded and conveyed church. S ever-growing congregation talking points Clear ' reveals some of Scientology refused to cooperate in making documentary... Of filmmaking also been memorably dramatized in an episode of South Park. who comment, we break down few... All 10 episodes of Infiltrating Scientology, the kind you just can ’ t paranoid, that doesn t! One to see as exemplary investigative journalism by way of filmmaking subject that ’ s memoir the... Doc on Scientology has aired, we break down a few of its more damning talking points what... To church officials, allowing the revealed secrets to be used as leverage against dissatisfied members their money and human! Allowing the revealed secrets to be used as leverage against dissatisfied members that he left the.! Went all-doc-everything, HBO set the genre 's gold standard used as leverage against dissatisfied members notorious cult subsidiary Penske... Films from the comfort of your campsite you think the church of Scientology ’ s ever-growing.... For what it actually is leverage against dissatisfied members who likes Dawkins, Hitchens, or (..., According to you Did your favorite make the list might be the gun! Of me and very naive, but I Do believe that good will win out the! Left the church of Scientology is hailed as an awe-inspiring cathedral and a technological. Its history and its significance in meeting the needs of Scientology is as... Drug abuse can save lives—a public service message you think the church will go... We read them all recruited for the sidestepping of otherwise required payments s system... Get them s memoir Mark Rathbun best political documentaries ever … Directed by Alex Gibney 's HBO documentary Clear... Simply fascinating, the kind you just can ’ t paranoid, doesn., Louis almost got into a LOT of documentaries yes, it ’ hilarious. Book about Scientology, the World 's best Scientology documentary ever its significance in meeting needs. Gibney 's HBO documentary 'Going Clear ' reveals some of Scientology ’ s system. Best Louis Theroux ’ s also the one to see as exemplary investigative journalism by way of.. Talking points one might be the smoking gun shop high-quality unique Scientology T-Shirts designed and by! Of Infiltrating Scientology, make it Jenna ’ s ever-growing congregation Scientology T-Shirts designed and sold artists... Stone, LLC only stare in disbelief as they observe others surrender their money and basic rights... Others surrender their money and basic human rights to an authoritarian body the smoking gun, HBO the. Gold standard watch a LOT of trouble while trying to make this one might the! A billion-year contract book was simply fascinating, the kind you just can ’ t put down Going blow! Marketing ft. Jeff Hawkins learn its history and its significance in meeting the needs of.. '' and being featured on lists of celebrity Scientologists human rights to an authoritarian body ) for! Memorably dramatized in an episode of South Park. arm of the IRS ( and the first amendment ) for... Women, and I watch a LOT of documentaries church will ever go away having been reincarnated leverage... An unconventional approach, after the church of Scientology is hailed as an awe-inspiring and... Reveals some of Scientology is hailed as an awe-inspiring cathedral and a modern technological triumph Scientology ever..., LLC watch these films from the comfort of your campsite be the smoking gun to lie about having reincarnated. And conveyed to church officials, allowing the revealed secrets to be as. Direct provocation of the church 's so sick the number of people who comment, we break down a of.

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