“A civilization without insanity, without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology.” –L. Ron Hubbard
The Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief documentary is based on a book written by Lawrence Wright, titled Going Clear: “Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief.” Scientology objects to the book and the documentary. As recently reported (8.5.2015) by the Guardian: the church, from its Los Angeles HQ, has denounced the film as a “one-sided, bigoted propaganda built on falsehoods” and informed by former members – whom it calls “misfits”.
In April, the church said in a statement: “The Church of Scientology will be entitled to seek the protection of both UK and Irish libel laws in the event that any false or defamatory content in this film is broadcast within these jurisdictions.”
Going Clear is a well-made film. Good editing and use of archival material and interviews. There is a lot of footage of Scientology events and places. Scientology officially calls it “propaganda.” But that label is not appropriate unless it can be shown that the filmmakers are misrepresenting the truth and hiding their true point-of-view (POV). A documentary film is not propaganda simply because you don’t agree with it’s premise or reality. One definition of a propaganda film is that is was made by a government, with a political philosophy or by an institution with a mission. Going Clear does not meet these criteria.
See the full Review and Trailer for this HBO documentary film at: JRMartinMedia.com