The Church of Scientology (Studies in Contemporary Religions, series volume 1)

If you are looking for a book about Scientology that offers an objective understanding of the origins of the church, how the church is structured, and what the faithful believe, then this book might be a good place to start. Melton's book comes close on all three counts, but due to it's abbreviated length, doesn't quite satisfy the need.There are all manner of information about Scientology found in traditional publications and on the internet. Unfortunately most of the information is decidely pro or anti church. The bulk of the anti information comes from individuals who have had a negative experience with the church and much of the pro information comes from church or the writings of it's founder L. Ron Hubbard. So unless you wade through the agendas found in either sides publications your unlikely to get a solid understanding of what makes this church and it's membership tick.The one publication that seems to take an objective look at the church and it's surrounding controversy is this book. Regarding most issues addressed, Melton is careful to provide the opinion of the church's opponents as well as the church's take on the issue. It's as balanced as it can get.Unfortunately the sheer size of the book prevents it from becoming anything but a rudimentary primer on the very basics of the church. 16 of it's 80 paperback size pages are support notes for the author's discussion. And 64 pages is about 300 pages short of a comprehensive study of one aspect of the church let alone it's entire history.The book takes the reader from the early life of founder L. Ron Hubbard, his writings and the development of Dianetics, through the Dianetics to Scientology evolution, and ends with information about how the church is structured. What it doesn't provide is any kind of understanding about the foundations of the religion, it's dogma or tenets - you will find no mention of Xenu here.The value of this book is that it's a short, easy to read primer that those interested in exploring Scientology (in a scholarly or spriritual context) will find to be a great, objective place to start.

This review board has some reviews from people who are just filled with hate which is unfortunate.This book is something I gave to my Professor Father to read, as he was not a Scientologist & had heard some of the bad press out there so he had some concerns. After this he didn't and he understood what I was doing and what I was interested in.It is written by someone with credentials & hasn't had any personal experience with the church's technology. He can see the church for the facts not the hateful twisted distortions one gets from former disgruntled members, (most of whom have public criminal records).Some people on these reviews make comments regarding Scientology & money. It has nothing to do with this book, however, I think that anyone who has been in a Christian Church will remember that at the end of a service, the collection plate is passed around.Plus Pastors very often solicit parishioners for further donations. Just watch the TV any Sunday morning! So don't try & deride Scientology because people donate money to it & somehow infer that that is some sort of crime.Also if you go to Asia, Buddhist monks are required to go ask for alms, i.e. they sit and beg in the streets. In eastern cultures, the members of that society understand that the monks are mediating to obtain a spiritual enlightenment & thusly help all of mankind. People freely donate there as well.It is the material world and all religions still need money to survive. There is absolutely a rightness in that as they help people.Meantime Medical Doctors take money from Pharma reps to prescribe drugs that have often powerful side effects. The news is filled every year with the damage done by people on these medications. All of the school shootings & the people left dead are because the Pharma companies & the doctors who prescribe them favor profits over real help. This is the greatest tragedy of our time.Obviously some people have done enough bad things with money that when others do something good with it, it drives them mad.

Si bien el autor es excelente y el libro llegó en buenas condiciones, en la descripción aparece que tiene 804 páginas, cuando en realidad tiene 80. Supongo que fue un error de dedo pero es importante corregirlo para que quien se interese en su compra sepa si el precio vale la pena o no.

The book itself was okay, maybe a little one sided. The quiz I had to do in connection with it was difficult, and I really had to search for the answers. Full price the book was is pretty pricey considering the size of it.