The Mind Benders

Scientology

by Cyril Vosper


THE BOOK THEY TRIED TO BAN
A fast, furious, funny, violent exposure of a major global cult

"Indicates quackery of a type
which might be dangerous behind
closed doors ..."
HIS LORDSHIP, THE MASTER OF THE ROLLS

"... capable of such danger that the
public interest demands that people
should know what is going on"
LORD DENNING


Frontispiece: Declaration of an Enemy

Prologue
1. Why Scientology?
2. Assumptions
3. The Thetan
4. The Mind
5. Past Lives
6. Auditing
7. Training
8. Clear
9. Operating Thetan
10. Ethics
11. Promotion
12. The Organisations of Scientology
Epilogue
Appendix
Acknowledgements

Plates


(from the 1971 Neville Spearman edition, SBN 85435 061 6)

The author's experience of Scientology stretches over a period of 14 years from when it was a little known and interesting form of psychotherapy, to September 1968 when he was declared an S.P. (Suppressive Person). This meant that he was considered 'Fair Game'. As Sir Elwyn Jones Q.C. said in the recent Scientology libel case, S.Ps. 'could be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist. He could be tricked, sued or lied to, or destroyed.' The direct cause of this action was the breakdown of the author's marriage and separation of his children.

Mr. Vosper, who was a senior official at the Scientology H.Q. at Saint Hill, East Grinstead, Sussex, believes that it is time for a close and accurate inspection of Scientology so that people know the full facts before they consider joining it.

This is less a book than a stick of dynamite. Never before has there been an inside report on Scientology. The public have, so far, only vague newspaper reports and rumours to put against the sophisticated propaganda of the Scientologists.

In Scientology, sometimes conveniently referred to as the Church of Scientology, the former science-fiction writer, L. Ron Hubbard has constructed a world-wide network of organisations in such a manner as '... to pull the society under us'. Meaning that his long-term goal is for the entirety of the human race to be controlled, albeit benevolently, by him and his followers.

Unlike other fads and eccentricities of the past, Scientology is not a purely comic subject that appeals to those who need some sort of belief. It is far more comprehensive and frequently harmful.


First published in Great Britain by
Neville Spearman Limited
112 Whitfield Street, London, W1P 6DP

© Cyril Vosper 1971

SBN 85435 061 6

Set in 11pt Pilgrim 2pt leaded and printed by the Northumberland Press Ltd., Gateshead, Durham. Bound by W & H Rawlinson, London.


(from the 1973 Mayflower edition, SBN 583 12249 3)

After 14 years and a senior officer posting in the Church of Scientology
Cyril Vosper investigates and condemns

SCIENTOLOGY was founded by former science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. It has grown into an international cult whose network of cells is devoted to 'pulling the society under us'.

At the end of the Sixties, Cyril Vosper was declared a SUPPRESSIVE PERSON to his fellow Scientologists, whereby he could be 'deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist - tricked, sued or lied to, or destroyed'. Finally he was declared in a condition of ENEMY. His marriage broke down and he was separated from his children.

Vosper has struck back with this book. It immediately became subject to a writ from the Scientologists seeking to restrain its publication. After a bitter court action, the Scientologists have lost their case.

ILLUSTRATED


Cyril Vosper joined the Church of Scientology when it was still an eccentric, little-known form of psychotherapy in the mid-1950's. In later years he became a senior official at Scientology's British H.Q. in Saint Hill, East Grinstead, Sussex. All other biographical details of interest are in the author's work itself; in part a confession, in the main an individual's self-affirming act of resistance.

Researched to the last chilling detail, clinically authentic yet often ablaze with riotous observations on a world gone mad, the book you have in your hands is now "clear". Following the unsuccessful litigation against it, The Mind Benders invites you to participate in a (legally) mind-bending paperback experience.


Granada Publishing Limited
Published in 1973 by Mayflower Books Ltd
Park Street, St Albans, Herts

First published in Great Britain by
Neville Spearman Limited 1971
Copyright © Cyril Vosper 1971
Made and printed in Great Britain by
C. Nicholls & Company Ltd
The Phillips Park Press, Manchester
Set in Intertype Times

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall
not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired
out or otherwise circulated without the publisher's prior
consent in any form of binding or cover other than that
in which it is published and without a similar condition
including this condition being imposed on the
subsequent purchaser.
This book is published at a net price and is supplied
subject to the Publishers Association Standard
Conditions of Sale registered under the Restrictive
Trade Practices Act, 1956.

Australia - recommended price only


Notes from August 1997 Electronic Edition

This edition has been reformatted and the text re-checked and re-proofread from the 1971 hardback edition by David Gerard.

Important: The Cult Awareness Network, listed below, has been taken over by Scientology.

In 1997, the Cult Awareness Network was bankrupted and all assets, including the name (but excluding the files with personal information), purchased by the Church of Scientology. It is presently run as a front group for Scientology.

If you contact this organisation at the present time, you will be dealing with the Church of Scientology. Beware.

Notes from April 1996 Electronic Edition

Cyril Vosper acknowledges the work of the Cult Awareness Network and CultAware in providing education and supporting ex-cultists and their families. Donations of any amount will be gratefully accepted by these organizations.

Cult Awareness Network
2421 W. Pratt Blvd., Suite 1173
Chicago, IL 60645
United States of America
Telephone: 312-267 7777

CultAware
Locked Bag 1000
Granville NSW 2142
Australia
Telephone: 02-9682 3888
Fax: 02-9682 3009

1996 HTML conversion and notes by andii and Marina Chong.

Original scan, proofreading and ASCII art by Martin G.V. Hunt, April 1996.


Acknowledgements

Quotations are used from the following books by L. Ron Hubbard:

Other quotations are taken from The Auditor magazine, pamphlets and Policy Letters.


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