Tony Ortega at the Village Voice recently posted an article on a new book, A History of a New Religion by Hugh B. Urban. I recommend the article, and when I receive and read the book I’ll probably recommend it too based on Tony’s review.
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/09/hugh_urban_an_i.php#more
I think it is significant that the two latest books on the subject of Scientology by outsiders, both journalistic and scholarly, fully acknowledge the Scientology Reformation.
I also think it is significant that Urban acknowledged what I have repeated from the beginning of the Reformation; that is, that the more Miscavige focuses on me and my friends the less heat will be dished to others. And the result here, and I believe with Reitman too, is that Scientology is receiving the most fair and mature treatment by outsiders it has received in its history. In no small measure due to Miscavige being too pre-occupied to turn everyone investigating the subject into an enemy of Scientology.
Very well done to everyone who has stood up and stepped up.
And a special thanks to Chuck Beatty who has spent considerable time educating scholars on the bigger picture over the past several years.
I reckon we ought to carry on.