Chris Shelton has a nice treat for us today. He took a very detailed look at the history and use of Scientology’s “Oxford Capacity Analysis,” the fancy (and fraudulent) name for its famous personality test.
For most people, Scientology’s personality test is the first encounter they have with the organization, as they’re pulled in off the street with the prospect of learning more about themselves. But what is the test based on? And what does it measure?
Chris goes back to Scientology’s early years to explain the development of the test and how it became such a prominent part of Scientology’s come-on. And his debunking of its value is really quite entertaining.
So give it a look and then please give us your thoughts…
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Humfrey Hunter, on publishing ‘Going Clear’ in the UK
Humfrey Hunter, proprietor of Silvertail Books (and publisher of our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely), has posted an interesting short essay today as he begins publishing Lawrence Wright’s book Going Clear in the UK and Australia today.
A taste of it…
It’s all John Sweeney’s fault. Really, it is. He was the one who, back in 2012, when I was his agent and Silvertail Books was just an idea, told me in his typically bullish way that I should publish his book about Scientology because no matter what the church’s lawyers said, they would not sue either of us. The prospect was more than a little worrying, but Silvertail was new and I needed good books to publish. So, after even more bullishness from John, we published The Church of Fear and John was right; they didn’t sue. Fast forward three years, and now Going Clear by Lawrence Wright is being published by Silvertail in the UK and Australia. It is a fact that if I hadn’t published The Church of Fear, Going Clear wouldn’t be coming out now.
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Film times for Louis Theroux’s ‘My Scientology Movie’
Screening times are now out for Louis Theroux’s movie at the Tribeca Film Festival. Tickets go on sale March 29…
— 6:45 PM – Sunday, April 17, Regal Cinemas Battery Park 11
— 9:45 PM – Monday, April 18, Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea 5
— 3:30 PM – Wednesday, April 20, Regal Cinemas Battery Park 11
— 6:30 PM – Friday, April 22, Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea 6
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 17, 2016 at 07:00
E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information about the book, and our 2015 book tour, can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…
BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts
Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | Scientology’s Private Dancer | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | Scientology boasts about assistance from Google | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Our Guide to Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear,’ and our pages about its principal figures…
Jason Beghe | Tom DeVocht | Sara Goldberg | Paul Haggis | Mark “Marty” Rathbun | Mike Rinder | Spanky Taylor | Hana Whitfield