Name And Shame

Pulp fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard is quoted as saying in the late 1940s, "writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion."

In 1949, he published his concept of dianetics in the pages of Astounding Science Fiction, which suggested cognitive powers and mental health could be improved through discussion exercises - hardly a great leap forward from Freud. However, Hubbard wrote "the creation of dianetics is a milestone for man comparable to his discovery of fire and superior to his inventions of the wheel and arch." Dianetics was expanded into Scientology in 1952 and you know the rest. (If not, check out Hubbard's Wikipedia entry and critical website Operation Clambake for details of the criminal activity and the punishment zones.)



There are lists of celebrity involvement all over the net, but here are some people I hoped would know better:

Beck Hansen*
Charles Manson†
Giovanni Ribisi*
Geoffrey Lewis
Isaac Hayes
J. D. Salinger†
Jason Lee
Jerry Seinfeld
John Travolta
Juliette Lewis*
Karen Black†
Laura Prepon
Leonard Cohen
Michael Roberts
Nancy Cartwright
Neil Gaiman*
Placido Domingo
William S. Burroughs†

* born to Scientologist parents.
† out of Scientology now (or before time of death).