The introductory part begins with a few members (presumably ex-members) introducing themselves to Scientology and their motivation or purpose, followed by an informational video of the church celebration, where Tom Cruise, the only person I know, introduces one of the core characters. A sect leader, and then the author appeared, expressing his concern for religion and the events it caused, and the starting point of researching Scientology: what did the believers get from it and why they joined Scientology.
These two questions are also the whole documentary wants to answer.
Why believe?
Any action of a person requires an intention and an additional meaning, but this meaning cannot stand scrutiny. We are always eagerly looking forward to something that we haven't got our hands on, but after we get it, that thing quickly loses its former appeal. All religions are a compromise in human pursuit of ultimate meaning. "The void of the void, everything is void." However, at the end of the end, there will always be an ultimate goal, right? Many people think so vaguely out of a simple observation of cause and effect in life.
For Scientology believers, it is visualized as a bridge, a tracked mode of killing monsters. Paying, listening, leveling up, purifying...how can the overwhelmed people thrown into this complex world contain their excitement when they see such a clear path to follow.
And Scientology is also persuading believers with its own logic. The establishment of the entire church is like the setting of the worldview of a parallel novel. There are new terms and new rules, giving people a sense of novelty, ritual and belonging. The reasons for unbelief are different. To a certain extent, it is the conflict in the setting of the world view.
In fact, if you think about it carefully, everyone, whether believers or the second generation of the leader, are very weak. The weaknesses of the believers were grasped, and Miscavige was unable to accept media interviews and did not dare to speak. Only when Scientology exists as a religious group can it be so powerful that it even hangs the IRS. Ultimately, those who have left the church also need to get together before they dare to speak up.
People are weak. The power of the people is powerful.
View more about Going Clear: Scientology & the Prison of Belief reviews
