Religion Inc. The Church of Scientology is a book about Scientology and L. Ron Hubbard, written by Stewart Lamont and published in 1986.
Synopsis
The work includes twenty-seven photographs, taken by the author in the course of research for the book.
Lamont describes the difficulty authors often encounter in writing and publishing critical books on the Church of Scientology: "Books about Scientology have a greater permanency than newspaper articles and therefore it should not come as a surprise that vigorous smear-campaigns have been conducted against the authors of such investigations." Lamont later goes on to chronicle some of the harassment suffered by author Paulette Cooper after the publication of The Scandal of Scientology, including recounting parts of Operation Freakout. Lamont also goes into the inherent motivation for profit within the organization.
The book also details L. Ron Hubbard's actions later in life: his retreat to sea, isolated lifestyle in California, and death.
Cited by other works
Religion Inc. is cited by other books and research reports on the subject matter, including: Journal of the American Academy of Religion,Fair Game: Secrecy, Security, and the Church of Scientology in Cold War America, Hugh B. Urban, Journal of the American Academy of Religion, 2006 74(2):356-389, April 26, 2006. The State of the Discipline,Gutjahr, Paul C., The State of the Discipline: Sacred Texts in the United States, Volume 4, 2001, pp. 335-370., Penn State University Press. Canadian Journal of Sociology,"New Dimensions of Social Movement/Countermovement Interaction: The Case of Scientology and Its Internet Critics", Michael Peckham, Canadian Journal of Sociology / Cahiers canadiens de sociologie, Vol. 23, No. 4 (Autumn, 1998), pp. 317-347 Marburg Journal of Religion,"L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology", Marco Frenschkowski, University of Mainz, Germany, Marburg Journal of Religion, Volume 4, No.1 (July 1999) Shaking the World for Jesus,Shaking the World for Jesus, Heather Hendershot, 2004, P.219., University of Chicago Press, Scientology is another belief system that clearly illustrates the profit motive at play in American religion. See Stewart Lamont. Religion Inc.: The Church of Scientology. The Social Dimensions of Sectarianism,The Social Dimensions of Sectarianism: sects and new religious movements in contemporary society, Bryan Ronald Wilson, 1990, P.233., Oxford University Press, An account of Hubbard's retreat to sea, his recluse-like existence in California, and his death is given in S. Lamont, Religion Inc.: The Church of Scientology. Alternative Religions: A Sociological Introduction,Alternative Religions: A Sociological Introduction, Stephen J. Hunt, Social Science, 2003, P.200., Ashgate Publishing, Ltd, La Secte,La Secte - Secte armée pour la guerre - Chroniques d'une « religion » commerciale à irresponsabilité illimitée, Roger Gonnet, 1998., P. 265-267., and The Alms Trade.The Alms Trade: Charities Past, Present and Future, Ian Williams, Unwin Hyman, 1989, , P.206.
See also Bibliography of books critical of Scientology Scientology controversies
References
External links Full text online via Open Library Full text, hosted by Dr. David Touretzky