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Zusatztext "Urban's history is clear, concise, and evenhanded--no small achievement given the complexity of the story, the secrecy surrounding Scientology, and the wealth of sensational materials from apologists and opponents." ---Erin A. Smith, Journal of American History Informationen zum Autor Hugh B. Urban is professor of religious studies at Ohio State University. His books include Magia Sexualis: Sex, Magic, and Liberation in Modern Western Esotericism and Tantra: Sex, Secrecy, Politics, and Power in the Study of Religion . Klappentext "Hugh Urban has written an engaging book that tells the story of Scientology more thoroughly and in a more balanced way than any other treatment of the topic thus far. Were that not enough, this is also a book with much to say about the central question that has come to be debated among contemporary scholars of religion: What, after all, is this thing we call religion?" --Robert Wuthnow, Princeton University "Urban's compelling book provides a critical but balanced assessment of this very controversial new religion, highlighting the ways Hubbard and his church reflect the fear and suspicion, yet also the boundless national optimism, so characteristic of cold war America. This book will become the source for reliable information on Scientology." --Lorne L. Dawson, University of Waterloo, author of Comprehending Cults "Until now there was no extensive scholarship on the Church of Scientology in existence. With the appearance of Urban's powerful and provocative new book, we are without question on radically new historical and theoretical ground with respect to the study of Scientology and, I dare say, new American religious movements in general. In every way, this is a major achievement." --Jeffrey J. Kripal, Rice University, author of Mutants and Mystics: Science Fiction, Superhero Comics, and the Paranormal Zusammenfassung Scientology is one of the wealthiest and most powerful new religions to emerge in the past century. To its detractors, L. Ron Hubbard's space-age mysticism is a moneymaking scam and sinister brainwashing cult. But to its adherents, it is humanity's brightest hope. Few religious movements have been subject to public scrutiny like Scientology, yet mu Inhaltsverzeichnis List of Illustrations vii Acknowledgments ix Introduction: The World's Most Controversial New Religion and Why No One Writes About It 1 Chapter One: L. Ron Hubbard: American Entrepreneur! Spiritual Bricoleur 26 Chapter To: Scientology! Inc.: Becoming a "Religion" in the 1950s 57 Chapter Tree: Cold War Religion: Scientology! Secrecy! and Security n the 1950s and 60s 89 Chapter Four: Thee "Cult of All Cults"? Scientology and the Cult Wars of the 1970s and 80s 118 Chapter Five: "The War" and the Triumph of Scientology: Becoming a Tax-Exempt Religion in the 1990s 155 Chapter Six: Secrets! Security! and Cyberspace: Scientology's New Wars of Information on the Internet 178 Conclusion: New Religions! Freedom! and Privacy in the Post-9/11 World 201 Appendix: A Timeline of Major Events in Scientology's Complex Journey to Becoming a "Religion" 217 Notes 221 Selected Bibliography 257 Index 265 ...
