The Scandal of Scientology

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The Scandal of Scientology

Book cover
Author Paulette Cooper
Country United States
Language English
Subject(s) religion, psychology
Genre(s) non-fiction
Publisher Tower Publications
Publication date 1971
Media type paperback
Pages 220

The Scandal of Scientology is a critical exposé book about the Church of Scientology, written by Paulette Cooper and published by Tower Publications, in 1971.

In 2007, Cooper wrote about the events that occurred as a result of her original publication of an article called "The Scandal of Scientology" in Queen, in 1968.[1] In the article "The Scandal of the Scandal of Scientology," in Byline, Cooper commented on her motivation for writing the book: "I had a master's degree in psychology and had studied comparative religion at Harvard for a summer and what I learned during my research about the group founded by L. Ron Hubbard was both fascinating and frightening. The story cried out to be told."[2]

Contents

[edit] Operation Freakout

Main article: Operation Freakout

The book earned Cooper negative attention from members of the Church, and she was subsequently the target not only of litigation but a harassment campaign known as Operation Freakout,[3] the goal of which was to deter Cooper from criticism of Scientology by having her "incarcerated in a mental institution or jail or at least to hit her so hard that she drops her attacks".[4] Members of the church sent itself forged bomb threats, purportedly from Cooper,[5] using her typewriter and paper with her fingerprints on it; further plans included bomb threats to be sent to Henry Kissinger. The Church's campaign was discovered when the FBI raided Scientology offices in 1977 and recovered documents relating to the operation.[6][7]

In June 2007 Paulette Cooper wrote about her experience with the Church of Scientology and Operation Freakout from "beginning to end" for the first time.[8].

[edit] Attempt to remove book from libraries

The Church of Scientology of Canada attempted to suppress the book in libraries in Canada. In June 1974, libraries were advised that if they do not remove the books Scientology: The Now Religion, Inside Scientology, The Scandal of Scientology and The Mind Benders from their shelves, they would be named in a lawsuit[9]. Two different library boards in Ontario, Canada had been served with writs[9].

After obtaining out-of-court settlements of USD$7,500 and USD$500 and apologies from the publishers of two of the works (Dell Publishing and Tower Publications), Scientology further threatened to sue any library or bookstore that carried them[10]. After certain libraries in Canada refused to remove the books from their shelves, they were sued by Scientology[10]. One Canadian library reported the theft of a book critical of Scientology from its shelves[10].

These incidents were later reported in a chronological timeline of censorship in British Columbia[11].

[edit] Reception, use in other works

The Los Angeles Times described Cooper's work as a "scathing" look at Scientology.[12] The Charleston Gazette called the book: "a fascinating, 220-page paperback expose."[13]

The book was used as a reference in Jon Atack's later work, A Piece of Blue Sky[14]. Atack wrote: "I happened upon the hard-to-find Scandal of Scientology by Paulette Cooper. Now I was fascinated, and started collecting everything I could get my eager hands on - magazine articles, newspaper clippings, government files, anything."[14] Later, when A Piece of Blue Sky was dropped from Amazon.com listings in a controversial move, this was compared to court actions that initially limited distribution of The Scandal of Scientology.[15]

J. Gordon Melton cites the book for "insight" into the Scientology controversy, in his work, The Encyclopedia of American Religions[16].

[edit] References

  1. ^ Bercovici, Jeff. "Xenuphobia, Writer: I Was Stalked by Scientologists", Radar, Radar Magazine, June 22, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-10-22. 
  2. ^ Cooper, Paulette. "The Scandal of the Scandal of Scientology", Byline, June 2007. 
  3. ^ Golson, G. Barry (1983). The Playboy Interview II. Perigee Books, Page 297. ISBN ISBN 0399507698. 
  4. ^ Text of Operation Freakout document
  5. ^ Ortega, Tony. "Double Crossed: The Church of Scientology has a reputation for ruthlessly going after its enemies. Robert Cipriano claims Scientologists rewarded him for helping them do just that. Now he's turned on them.", Phoenix New Times, Village Voice Media, December 23, 1999. Retrieved on 2007-10-23. 
  6. ^ Marshall, John. "Hubbard still gave orders, records show", The Globe and Mail, 1980-01-24. Retrieved on 2006-09-14. 
  7. ^ Sepernik, Ed (2004). Is Organized Religion A Sham. Xlibris Corporation, Page 223. ISBN ISBN 1413444547. 
  8. ^ [http://xenu.net/archive/personal_story/paulette_cooper/ Looking over my shoulder, The Inside Account of the Story That Almost Killed Me ], Operation Clambake, June 23, 2007.
  9. ^ a b Libraries Face Libel Threat, Winnipeg Free Press, 27 June 1974
  10. ^ a b c Anti-Scientology Books Targets of Lawsuits, The Library Journal, November 1, 1974.
  11. ^ Censorship in British Columbia, BCLA Intellectual Freedom Committee, 1970-1979., retrieved 2/28/07.
  12. ^ Welkos, Robert W.; Joel Sappell. "Burglaries and Lies Paved a Path to Prison", Chicago Tribune (from the Los Angeles Times), June 24, 1990. 
  13. ^ Staff. "Paulette Cooper", Charleston Gazette, February 19, 1972, pp. Page 4A. 
  14. ^ a b A Piece of Blue Sky, Jon Atack, Bibliography, References Summary [1], Chapter One.
  15. ^ Sprenger, Polly. "Amazon Drops Controversial Book", Wired, CondéNet, Inc., May 20, 1999. Retrieved on 2007-10-23. 
  16. ^ Melton, J. Gordon (1978). The Encyclopedia of American Religions. McGrath Pub. Co, Page 511. 
    "For insight into the controversy, see Paulette Cooper, The Scandal of Scientology (New York: Tower Publications, Inc., 1971."

[edit] External links

Scientology Portal
Paulette Cooper
Full-text sites

[edit] See also