Review of Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief (2015) by Alejandro R — 14 Mar 2016

A very disturbing portrait about a belief system created in the 1950s by a science fiction writer who uses an odd personal assessment tool in over-pathologizing people to get them to believe they have an issue that his personal development system can solve. As people continue to rise up the chart of supposed personal growth, they're spending more money, giving more time, receiving very little money if they work for the "church", alienate their friends and family to keep their circle made up of fellow followers, and delve deeper into paranoia about the rest of the non-believing world to such an extent that they will engage in threatening behavior to defend their beliefs.

But it really gets weird when they reach a "higher" level on the chart and are then finally given access to the cosmology and creation story of this belief that reads like a poorly written science fiction piece that would be regarded as laughable by sci-fi fans of any time. None of this crazy creation story would be believable from the start, so how people are lured into it during initial exposure and through continued practice is part of the extremely manipulative side of the entire system.

Fascinating on a curious psychological level, but the film then shows the power hunger and greed of its current leader, as well as the violent practices within the organization. At that point, it became worrisome that such a cult can exist causing harm today.

The 8 former followers who came out to share their stories tell a sad tale laden with regret and shame. They share the things they witness and blindly participated in with a more conscientious heart today and some of them were very high ranking members. Their departure was not without consequences though.

It's a film worth watching, for it shows the power of belief---for better or for worse, but in this case definitely for much worse.