Introduction Summary and Analysis

In the Introduction, author Janet Reitman discusses her own brief encounter with Scientology. She was shown an introductory video to Scientology and interviewed by a church member. Reitman agreed to attend the introductory auditing course and afterwards, she began her research into the church of Scientology.

L. Ron Hubbard created Scientology in 1954 and the church now claims millions of members in over 165 countries. It's real estate holdings alone are worth billions. Whereas some hail it as one of the most important religious movements of all time, others classify it as a cult and a danger to society. In the United States, where it was born, Scientology has protection as a religion, but is generally seen as a spiritual philosophy, whose primary tenant is that the human self can be perfect and that in finding this perfection, once can obtain immortality, supernatural...