روشن شدن: ساینتولوژی، هالیوود و زندان باور

«روشن شدن: ساینتولوژی، هالیوود و زندان باور» (Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief) نوشته‌ی لارنس رایت، یکی از تأثیرگذارترین و جنجالی‌ترین کتاب‌های غیرداستانی قرن بیست‌ویکم است که پرده از اسرار یکی از مرموزترین سازمان‌های جهان برمی‌دارد. این کتاب که در سال ۲۰۱۳ منتشر شده، با تکیه بر بیش از دویست مصاحبه با اعضای فعلی و پیشین ساینتولوژی و سال‌ها تحقیق آرشیوی، روایتی شگفت‌انگیز و هشداردهنده از فراز و فرود این کلیسا ارائه می‌دهد و پرسش‌های بنیادینی را درباره‌ی ماهیت دین و باور مطرح می‌کند.

دربارهٔ کتاب روشن شدن: ساینتولوژی، هالیوود و زندان باور

کتاب «روشن شدن» در سه بخش اصلی، تاریخچه‌ی ساینتولوژی را از تولد آن در ذهن خلاق اما آشفته‌ی ال. ران هوبارد، نویسنده‌ی داستان‌های علمی‑تخیلی، تا دوران رهبری دیوید میسکاویج، جانشین سرسخت و بی‌امان او، روایت می‌کند. رایت با نگاهی موشکافانه، کیهان‌شناسی پیچیده و زبان تخصصی این سازمان را تشریح می‌کند و نشان می‌دهد که چگونه ساینتولوژی با جذب ستارگان هالیوود مانند تام کروز و جان تراولتا، نفوذ و ثروت عظیمی به دست آورده است. در مقابل، او تصویری تأسف‌بار از اعضای عادی «سازمان دریا» (Sea Org) ترسیم می‌کند که با قراردادهایی به طول یک میلیارد سال، در شرایط سخت و با دستمزدی ناچیز به خدمت گرفته می‌شوند و گاه با خشونت و آزار مواجه می‌شوند. با وجود ماهیت هشداردهنده‌ی محتوا، لحن رایت در سراسر کتاب، متعادل و مبتنی بر گزارش‌گری دقیق باقی می‌ماند. مایکل کینزلی در نقد خود برای نیویورک تایمز نوشته است که رایت تا سرحد امکان برای منصف بودن با ساینتولوژی تلاش کرده و این رویکرد، قدرت نهایی کتاب را در نقد آن دوچندان ساخته است. رایت در «روشن شدن» صرفاً به افشاگری نمی‌پردازد، بلکه این پرسش اساسی را مطرح می‌کند که چه چیزی یک دین را به دین تبدیل می‌کند و آیا ساینتولوژی واقعاً شایسته‌ی حمایت‌های قانونی است که به دست آورده است.

دربارهٔ نویسنده

لارنس رایت (Lawrence Wright) که در سال ۱۹۴۷ متولد شده، یکی از برجسته‌ترین روزنامه‌نگاران تحقیقی معاصر و نویسنده‌ی ارشد مجله‌ی نیویورکر است. او در سال ۲۰۰۷ برای کتاب «برج دیده‌بانی» (The Looming Tower) که به بررسی زمینه‌های حمله‌ی ۱۱ سپتامبر و القاعده می‌پرداخت، موفق به دریافت جایزه‌ی پولیتزر شد. رایت که تحصیلات خود را در دانشگاه تولین و دانشگاه آمریکایی قاهره به پایان رسانده، علاوه بر روزنامه‌نگاری، نمایشنامه‌نویس و فیلمنامه‌نویس نیز هست و آثار متعددی در زمینه‌های مختلف از جمله تاریخ، سیاست و جامعه‌شناسی به نگارش درآورده است. او در «روشن شدن» با بهره‌گیری از همه‌ی توانایی‌های استثنایی خود در مشاهده، تحلیل و روایت، کتابی را خلق کرده که فراتر از یک گزارش خبری صرف، به بررسی عمیق ذات یک نهاد شگفت‌انگیز و بحث‌برانگیز می‌پردازد.

چرا باید روشن شدن: ساینتولوژی، هالیوود و زندان باور را بخوانید؟

دسترسی به اطلاعاتی که پیش از این پنهان بود: این کتاب با تکیه بر تحقیقی گسترده و مصاحبه با منابع آگاه، نگاهی بی‌نظیر به درون سازمانی ارائه می‌دهد که همواره در هاله‌ای از ابهام و رازداری باقی مانده است. درک سازوکارهای قدرت، نفوذ و ثروت: خواننده با روش‌های پیچیده‌ی این سازمان برای نفوذ در دولت آمریکا، جذب ثروت‌آفرین، برخورد انتقام‌جویانه با منتقدان و بهره‌گیری از چهره‌های مشهور آشنا می‌شود. آشنایی با زندگی و ذهنیت بنیانگذاران: کتاب با روایت زندگی پر فراز و نشیب ال. ران هوبارد و دیوید میسکاویج، به درک انگیزه‌ها و روش‌های رهبری آن‌ها کمک می‌کند. کاوشی در مفهوم «دین» و «باور»: این کتاب فرصتی برای تأمل در این پرسش فراهم می‌آورد که مرز میان یک دین مشروع و یک سازمان کیش‌گونه چیست و قدرت باور چگونه می‌تواند افراد را به زندانی از عقاید تبدیل کند. لحظه‌ای تماشایی در تاریخ معاصر: «روشن شدن» به عنوان یک اثر تاریخی، مستندی خواندنی از تقاطع دین، سیاست، تجارت و فرهنگ عامه در آمریکای قرن بیست و یکم است.

این کتاب برای چه کسانی مناسب است؟

«روشن شدن» برای مخاطبانی نوشته شده است که به روزنامه‌نگاری تحقیقی، تاریخ‌های فرهنگی و اجتماعی، روانشناسی فرقه‌ها، و پدیده‌های بحث‌برانگیز مذهبی علاقه‌مند هستند. این کتاب برای هر کسی که کنجکاو است تا بداند چگونه یک داستان علمی‑تخیلی می‌تواند به یک جنبش جهانی با میلیون‌ها پیرو تبدیل شود، جذاب و روشنگر خواهد بود. همچنین برای علاقه‌مندان به تاریخ هالیوود و نحوه‌ی تعامل چهره‌های مشهور با نهادهای قدرتمند، مطالب خواندنی و شگفت‌آوری دارد. با وجود حجم بالای اطلاعات و جزئیات دقیق، روایت روان و داستان‌گونه‌ی رایت، کتاب را برای طیف وسیعی از خوانندگان، از جمله مخاطبان غیرمتخصص، قابل استفاده کرده است.

سوالات متداول

آیا «روشن شدن» یک کتاب ضد دین است؟

خیر، هدف کتاب بررسی سیر تحول، عملکرد و تأثیرات سازمان ساینتولوژی است، نه نقد دین به طور کلی. رایت تلاش کرده است تا با حفظ انصاف، به تحلیل دقیق این نهاد خاص بپردازد و پرسش‌هایی را درباره‌ی ماهیت دین مطرح کند.

آیا ادعاهای مطرح‌شده در کتاب تأیید شده‌اند؟

نویسنده ادعاهای خود را بر اساس مصاحبه با بیش از دویست نفر از اعضای فعلی و پیشین ساینتولوژی و همچنین اسناد آرشیوی مستند کرده است. با این حال، کلیسای ساینتولوژی بسیاری از این ادعاها را قاطعانه رد کرده و در برخی موارد تهدید به اقدام قانونی کرده است.

عنوان کتاب («روشن شدن») به چه معناست؟

«روشن شدن» یا «کلیر شدن» (Going Clear) در اصطلاح ساینتولوژی، به مرحله‌ای از رشد معنوی اشاره دارد که در آن فرد با پشت سر گذاشتن جلسات «سنجش» (Auditing)، خود را از تأثیرات خاطرات ناخودآگاه دردناک گذشته رها می‌کند.

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Looming Tower comes “an utterly necessary story” (The Wall Street Journal) that pulls back the curtain on the Church of Scientology: one of the most secretive organizations at work today. Based on more than two hundred personal interviews with current and former Scientologists — both famous and less well known — and years of archival research, Lawrence Wright uses his extraordinary investigative ability to uncover for us the inner workings of the Church of Scientology. At the book’s centre, two men whom Wright brings vividly to life, showing how they have made Scientology what it is today: The darkly brilliant science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, whose restless, expansive mind invented a new religion. And his successor, David Miscavige — tough and driven, with the unenviable task of preserving the church after the death of Hubbard. "That crunching sound you hear is Lawrence Wright bending over backward to be fair to Scientology. Every deceptive comparison with Mormonism and other religions is given a respectful hearing. Every ludicrous bit of church dogma is served up deadpan. This makes the book’s indictment that much more powerful ... Going Clear is essential reading for thetans of all ­lifetimes." - Michael Kinsley, The New York Times Book ReviewIn Going Clear, Wright examines what fundamentally makes a religion a religion, and whether Scientology is, in fact, deserving of the constitutional protections achieved in its victory over the IRS. Employing all his exceptional journalistic skills of observations, understanding, and synthesis, and his ability to shape a story into a compelling narrative, Lawrence Wright has given us an evenhanded yet keenly incisive book that goes far beyond an immediate exposé and uncovers the very essence of what makes Scientology the institution it is ""A clear-sighted revelation, a deep penetration into the world of Scientology by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the now-classic study of al-Qaeda's 9/11 attack, The Looming Tower. Based on more than two hundred personal interviews with both current and former Scientologists--both famous and less well known--and years of archival research, Lawrence Wright uses his extraordinary investigative skills to uncover for us the inner workings of the Church of Scientology: its origins in the imagination of science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard; its struggles to find acceptance as a legitimate (and legally acknowledged) religion; its vast, secret campaign to infiltrate the U.S. government; its vindictive treatment of critics; its phenomenal wealth; and its dramatic efforts to grow and prevail after the death of Hubbard. At the book's center, two men whom Wright brings vividly to life, showing how they have made Scientology what it is today: The darkly brilliant L. Ron Hubbard--whose restless, expansive mind invented a new religion tailor-made to prosper in the spiritually troubled post-World War II era. And his successor, David Miscavige--tough and driven, with the inenviable task of preserving the church in the face of ongoing scandals and continual legal assaults. We learn about Scientology's esoteric cosmology; about the auditing process that determines an inductee's state of being, about the Bridge to Total Freedom, through which members gain eternal life. We see the ways in which the church pursues celebrities, such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta, and how such stars are exploited to advance the church's goals. We meet young idealists who joined the Sea Org, the church's clergy, whose members often enter as children, signing up with a billion-year contract and working with little pay in poor conditions. We meet men and women ""disconnected"" from friends and a family by the church's policy of shunning critical voices. And we discover, through many firsthand stories, the violence that has long permeated the inner sanctum of the church. In Going Clear, Wright examines what fundamentally makes a religion a religion, and whether Scientology is, in fact, deserving of the constitutional protections achieved in its victory over the IRS. Employing all his exceptional journalistic skills of observation, understanding and synthesis, and his ability to shape a story into a compelling narrative, Lawrence Wright has given us an evenhanded yet keenly incisive book that goes far beyond an immediate exposé and uncovers the very essence of what makes Scientology the institution it is.""--Publisher's description A clear-sighted revelation, a deep penetration into the world of Scientology by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the now-classic study of al-Qaeda's 9/11 attack, the Looming Tower . Based on more than two hundred personal interviews with both current and former Scientologists--both famous and less well known--and years of archival research, Lawrence Wright uses his extraordinary investigative skills to uncover for us the inner workings of the Church of Scientology: its origins in the imagination of science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard; its struggles to find acceptance as a legitimate (and legally acknowledged) religion; its vast, secret campaign to infiltrate the U.S. government; and its dramatic efforts to grow and prevail after the death of Hubbard. At the book's center, two men whom Wright brings vividly to life, showing how they have made Scientology what it is today: The darkly brilliant L. Ron Hubbard--whose restless, expansive mind invented a new religion tailor-made to prosper in the spiritually troubled post-World War II era. And his successor, David Miscavige--tough and driven, with the unenviable task of preserving the church in the face of ongoing scandals and continual legal assaults. We learn about Scientology's esoteric cosmology; about the auditing process that determines an inductee's state of being; about the Bridge to Total Freedom, through which members gain eternal life. We see the ways in which the church pursues celebrities, such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta, and how young idealists who joined the Sea Org, the church's clergy, whose members often enter as children, signing up with a billion-year contract and working with little pay in poor conditions. We meet men and women "disconnected" from friends and family by the church's policy of shunning critical voices. And we discover, through many firsthand stories, the violence that has long permeated the inner sanctum of the church. In Going Clear , Wright examines what fundamentally makes a religion a religion, and whether Scientology is, in fact, deserving of the constitutional protections achieved in its victory over the IRS. Employing all his exceptional journalistic skills of observations, understanding, and synthesis, and his ability to shape a story into a compelling narrative, Lawrence Wright has given us an evenhanded yet keenly incisive book that goes far beyond an immediate expos and uncovers the very essence of what makes Scientology the institution it is. National Book Award Finalist A clear-sighted revelation, a deep penetration into the world of Scientology by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Looming Tower, the now-classic study of al-Qaeda's 9/11 attack. Based on more than two hundred personal interviews with current and former Scientologists'both famous and less well known'and years of archival research, Lawrence Wright uses his extraordinary investigative ability to uncover for us the inner workings of the Church of Scientology. At the book's center, two men whom Wright brings vividly to life, showing how they have made Scientology what it is today: The darkly brilliant science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, whose restless, expansive mind invented a new religion. And his successor, David Miscavige'tough and driven, with the unenviable task of preserving the church after the death of Hubbard. We learn about Scientology's complicated cosmology and special language. We see the ways in which the church pursues celebrities, such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta, and how such stars are used to advance the church's goals. And we meet the young idealists who have joined the Sea Org, the church's clergy, signing up with a billion-year contract. In Going Clear, Wright examines what fundamentally makes a religion a religion, and whether Scientology is, in fact, deserving of this constitutional protection. Employing all his exceptional journalistic skills of observation, understanding, and shaping a story into a compelling narrative, Lawrence Wright has given us an evenhanded yet keenly incisive book that reveals the very essence of what makes Scientology the institution it is. From the Hardcover edition A clear-sighted revelation, a deep penetration into the world of Scientology by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of __The Looming Tower,__ the now-classic study of al-Qaeda’s 9/11 attack. Based on more than two hundred personal interviews with current and former Scientologists—both famous and less well known—and years of archival research, Lawrence Wright uses his extraordinary investigative ability to uncover for us the inner workings of the Church of Scientology.At the book’s center, two men whom Wright brings vividly to life, showing how they have made Scientology what it is today: The darkly brilliant science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, whose restless, expansive mind invented a new religion. And his successor, David Miscavige—tough and driven, with the unenviable task of preserving the church after the death of Hubbard.We learn about Scientology’s complicated cosmology and special language. We see the ways in which the church pursues celebrities, such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta, and how such stars are used to advance the church’s goals. And we meet the young idealists who have joined the Sea Org, the church’s clergy, signing up with a billion-year contract.In __Going Clear,__ Wright examines what fundamentally makes a religion a religion, and whether Scientology is, in fact, deserving of this constitutional protection. Employing all his exceptional journalistic skills of observation, understanding, and shaping a story into a compelling narrative, Lawrence Wright has given us an evenhanded yet keenly incisive book that reveals the very essence of what makes Scientology the institution it is. A clear-sighted revelation, a deep penetration into the world of Scientology by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Looming Tower, the now-classic study of al-Qaeda's 9/11 attack. Based on more than two hundred personal interviews with current and former Scientologists - both famous and less well known - and years of archival research, Lawrence Wright uses his extraordinary investigative ability to uncover for us the inner workings of the Church of Scientology. At the book's center, two men whom Wright brings vividly to life, showing how they have made Scientology what it is today: The darkly brilliant science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, whose restless, expansive mind invented a new religion. And his successor, David Miscavige - tough and driven, with the unenviable task of preserving the church after the death of Hubbard. We learn about Scientology's complicated cosmology and special language. We see the ways in which the church pursues celebrities, such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta, and how such stars are used to advance the church's goals. And we meet the young idealists who have joined the Sea Org, the church's clergy, signing up with a billion-year contract. In Going Clear, Wright examines what fundamentally makes a religion a religion, and whether Scientology is, in fact, deserving of this constitutional protection. Employing all his exceptional journalistic skills of observation, understanding, and shaping a story into a compelling narrative, Lawrence Wright has given us an evenhanded yet keenly incisive book that reveals the very essence of what makes Scientology the institution it is NATIONAL BESTSELLER • NATIONAL BOOK AWARD AND NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD FINALIST • From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Looming Tower comes “an utterly necessary story” ( The Wall Street Journal ) that pulls back the curtain on the church of Scientology: one of the most secretive organizations at work today. • The Basis for the HBO Documentary. Scientology presents itself as a scientific approach to spiritual enlightenment, but its practices have long been shrouded in mystery. Now Lawrence Wright—armed with his investigative talents, years of archival research, and more than two hundred personal interviews with current and former Scientologists—uncovers the inner workings of the church. We meet founder L. Ron Hubbard, the highly imaginative but mentally troubled science-fiction writer, and his tough, driven successor, David Miscavige. We go inside their specialized cosmology and language. We learn about the church’s legal attacks on the IRS, its vindictive treatment of critics, and its phenomenal wealth. We see the church court celebrities such as Tom Cruise while consigning its clergy to hard labor under billion-year contracts. Through it all, Wright asks what fundamentally comprises a religion, and if Scientology in fact merits this Constitutionally-protected label. Based On More Than Two Hundred Personal Interviews With Both Current And Former Scientologists--both Famous And Less Well Known--and Years Of Archival Research, Lawrence Wright Uses His Extraordinary Investigative Skills To Uncover For Us The Inner Workings Of The Church Of Scientology: Its Origins In The Imagination Of Science-fiction Writer L. Ron Hubbard; Its Struggles To Find Acceptance As A Legitimate (and Legally Acknowledged) Religion; Its Vast, Secret Campaign To Infiltrate The U.s. Government; Its Vindictive Treatment Of Critics; Its Phenomenal Wealth; And Its Dramatic Efforts To Grow And Prevail After The Death Of Hubbard--from Publisher Description. Pt. I. Scientology. The Convert -- Source -- Going Overboard -- Pt. Ii. Hollywood. The Faith Factory -- Dropping The Body -- In Service To The Stars -- The Future Is Ours -- Bohemian Rhapsody -- Tc And Cob -- Pt. Iii. The Prison Of Belief. The Investigation -- Tommy -- Epilogue. Lawrence Wright. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [373]-418) And Index. A clear-sighted revelation, a deep penetration into the world of Scientology by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the The Looming Tower, the now-classic study of al-Qaeda's 9/11 attack. Based on more than two hundred personal interviews with both current and former Scientologists--both famous and less well known--and years of archival research, Lawrence Wright uses his extraordinary investigative ability to uncover for us the inner workings of the Church of Scientology. At the book's center, two men whom Wright brings vividly to life, showing how they have made Scientology what it is today: The darkly brilliant science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, whose restless, expansive mind invented a new religion. And his successor, David Miscavige--tough and driven, with the unenviable task of preserving the church after the death of Hubbard. We learn about Scientology's complicated cosmology and special language. We see the ways in which the church pursues...