For an outstanding list of books about Scientology and where to download them, please check Cornelius Crasel's bibliography.

Comments on (N)OT levels:

Peter Forde: Scientific Scrutiny of OT 3 (65k)

The geology described in OT 3 - vulcanos on Hawaii and Las Palmas - critically reviewed, and discarded.

Jon Atack: OT 3 - Scientology's "secret" course rewritten for beginners(16k)

Just what the title says. As an appendix, a short dictionary is supplied.

Michael Robinson: Operating Thetan Summary and Analysis (31k)

A most readable version of the OT levels.

September: Book of Xenu / Anti-Dianetics (22k)

A fine example of how to twist a person's mind until he can't think straight, using Scientology methods and Hubbard's stories.

Jeff Jacobsen: Medical claims within Scientology's secret teachings (27k)

Jacobsen lists all medical claims made in Scientology's so-called secret teachings, focussing on the NOTS (New OT's for New Era Dianetics), and quite convincingly argues that these are fraudulent medical claims.

Official comments on Dianetics / Scientology

Report of the Cult Study Group of the Department of Health (151k)

In 1984, a Dutch government committee published a report on cults. The pages 120 -160 deal with Scientology. The committee thrashed them for their use of pc-folders and E-meters, saying that these were violations of privacy, and said that they should better themselves. (Only in Dutch, alas.)

An Experimental Investigation of Hubbard's Engram Hypothesis (Dianetics) (15k)

Jack Fox, Alvin E. Davis, and B Lebovits. From Psychological Newsletter, 1959. An experiment was conducted to test Hubbard's theories, following dianetics procedures and in the presence of & co-operation with Scientologists. The experiment failed miserably.

Anderson Report: Scientology and Hypnosis (24k)

An Australian government committee researched Scientology in the sixties. Their report was published in 1965, and its findings were not repudiated by Scientology. "[T]he scientific evidence which the Board heard from several expert witnesses of the highest repute and possessed of the highest qualifications in their professions of medicine, psychology, and other sciences - and which was virtually unchallenged - leads to the inescapable conclusion that it is only in name that there is any difference between authoritative hypnosis and most of the techniques of scientology."

Anderson Report: Scientology's Healing Claims (21k)

An Australian government committee researched Scientology in sixties. Their report was published in 1965, and its findings were not repudiated by Scientology. "The official attitude advanced at the Inquiry that scientology did not claim to heal was, and is, only a camouflage. The real intention of scientology is to inculcate in the minds of anyone who becomes interested in it the impression or belief that, as well as being a panacea for all problems, worries and aberrations, it is a gateway to sure cures for a great variety of mental and physical ills. And it is at the vary basis of scientology teaching that mental and physical well-being is assured to those who have sufficient scientology processing."

General comments by various critics:

Jon Atack: The Total Freedom Trap (73k)

Jon Atack, a former Scientology member and the applauded writer of A Piece of Blue Sky, wrote a very instructive general introduction about the pitfalls of Scientology.

Jon Atack: General report on CoS (104k)

Atack has assembled a general, but massive and devastating report on Scientology's deeds and policies. Very useful in many respects: history, suppressive persons, fair game, Guardian Office etc etc.

Jon Atack: On the supposed cancellation of Fair Game (24k)

An article summing up the history and current state of Scientology's "Fair Game" policy.

Jon Atack: Fanatics (8k)

A quick 'n dirty comparison between Scientology and Soviet Communism.

Jon Atack: The Hubbard Intelligence Agency (24k)

A draft version of Jon Atack's forthcoming book Scientology: The Hubbard Intelligence Agency. Atack researches the Guardian Office and what has become of it.

Jon Atack: Hubbard and the Occult (64k)

Scientology and Dianetics are both a blend of Freudian theory, psychiatry, social engineering and science fiction. What few people know, is that Hubbard was very much influenced by Aleister Crowley's ideas.

Jon Atack: Possible origins for Dianetics and Scientology (85k)

Title speaks for itself.

Jon Atack: Religion or Intelligence Agency? (73k)

A paper delivered at the Dialog Centre International conference in Berlin, October 1995, that explores the intelligence services of Scientology.

Jon Atack: Hubbard on hypnosis (91k)

"Never believe a hypnotist"; an investigation of Hubbard's statements about hypnosis and its relationship to his Dianetics. Paper delivered at the Dialog Centre International conference in Berlin, October 1995.

Jon Atack: Scientology is an implant (7k)

An implant is, according to Scientology, a false memory that has been put into our minds and memories. Scientology considers Christ to be such an implant. Atack argues that CoS itself is one. (revised version)

David J. Carter: Essay on Scientology (53k)

Former Sea Org member David Carter dissects Scientology and gives an overview of the ideology.

Jeff Jacobsen: Dianetics, from out of the blue? (25k)

Jacobsen argues convincingly that Hubbard got at least some of his ideas from psychoanalysists; apart from that, the idea of 'engrams' was invented way before Hubbard described them in Dianetics. What other sources did Hubbard draw from?

Jeff Jacobsen: The Hubbard is bare (10k)

The Hubbard is Bare, chapter 1. Jeff Jacobsen stumbles upon a book that bears a striking resemblance to Hubbard's Dianetics. And it's older, too.

Jeff Jacobsen: Review of Hubbard's theories (13k)

The Hubbard is Bare, chapter 2. A concise description of the ideas - or: to put it more precisely: beliefs - that Hubbard has put forward: engrams, the use of the E-meter etc.

Jeff Jacobsen: The murky state of Clear (18k)

The Hubbard is Bare, chapter 3. What exactly is a 'clear', and which people have attained this allegedly desired state of being? Who was the first clear? There seem to be a lot of them.

Jeff Jacobsen: Problems with the Engram Theory (14k)

The Hubbard is Bare, chapter 4. Engrams get 'programmed' in a way. It sounds like conditioning, which Hubbard denies is a valuable concept. And what has language got to do with it? Too much...

Jeff Jacobsen: Science and Dianetics (18k)

The Hubbard is Bare, chapter 5. Hubbard constantly makes the claim that dianetics is a scientific fact In fact, he makes that claim 35 times in his book Dianetics. But is it true?

Jeff Jacobsen: Hubbard's sources (16k)

The Hubbard is Bare, chapter 6. Many of the ideas Hubbbard puts forward in Dianetics and Scientology have been developed elsewhere. In psycho-analysis, for instance. And in Thomas Hobbes' work.

Jeff Jacobsen: Aleister Crowley (22k)

The Hubbard is Bare, chapter 7. Hubbard had connections with the occult. He was, at one time, Aleister Crowley's pal. It shows in his work, too. Apart from that, the idea put forward in the OT's - to have control over matter, energy, space and time - is very much indebted to gnosticism.

Jeff Jacobsen: The ideal Dianetics society (14k)

The Hubbard is Bare, chapter 8. According to Hubbard, non-clears should perhaps not be allowed to marry, nor should they have children. Other rights of non-clears are held in the same low esteem. Hubbard is heading for 1984.

Chris Owen: L. Ron Hubbard on how to bait and switch (8k)

Hubbard's Guide to Ambulance Chasing, part 1. Traces traces the various methods Hubbard advocated to get people to join Scientology. According to Hubbard, there are basically three methods of dissemination: (1) "I will talk to anyone"; (2) Illness researches; (3) Casualty contact. This episode discusses the first method.

Chris Owen: The Personality Test (38k)

Hubbard's Guide to Ambulance Chasing, part 2. Discusses the Oxford Capacity Test that Scientology uses to gain members. The test is highly unscientific, produces the same results even when answered in systematically different ways and is not interpreted with any care or thought. The main point is selling.

Chris Owen: The Casualty Contact (16k)

Hubbard's Guide to Ambulance Chasing, part 3. Discusses Hubbard's views on illnesses and on how to use illness, accidents, pregnancies and whatever to get people to join Scientology. One of his directives is to scan the newspapers for accidents, and then visit the bereaved family.

Chris Owen: Illness Researches (13k)

Hubbard's Guide to Ambulance Chasing, part 4. In 'Dianetics', Hubbard stated that his tech could cure seventy percent of all illnesses. Luring the ill with claims of research and veiled promises of cure or alleviation, Hubbard ran various ads to get 'more bodies in the shop' as Scientology calls it.

Scientology's fight for Apartheid (61k)

Hubbard supported Verwoerd's Apartheid regime in South Africa. He also prepared a masterplan for Rhodesia. And in various policy letters he explained his evaluation of black people: "too stupid to register on an E-meter".

John Richardson: To Catch a Rising Star (53k)

Published in Premiere, September 1993. Traces the ways Scientology tries to get celebrities to disseminate their material, and explains how Scientology deals with critics in the film industry. The article focusses on CoS-members John Travolta and Tom Cruise.

Rob Ruggenberg: Narconon - Scientology mikt op verslaafden (19k)

(Nederlands) Het alcohol- en drugsafkickcentrum Narconon timmert stevig aan de weg. Het centrum verzwijgt daarbij dat Narconon deel uitmaakt van een internationale keten, opgezet door de omstreden Scientology Church. Een boekje open over Scientology, Narconon en de, zacht gezegd, opmerkelijke 'therapie' die hier wordt.

Karin Spaink - Technique 88, Het Parool, September 18 1995 (10k)

A description of Scientology's beliefs and practice as applied in real life and on the internet. In order to control people, you need to lie to them they proclaim. But lying and manipulating is less easy on the net. Scientology's victims and critics keep in touch via the net and share their information. That makes lying a difficult task. Dutch version.

Karin Spaink - Squeezed, Het Parool, October 9, 1995 (9k)

An explanation of the then current situation: Scientology wants to sue over the Fishman Affidavit, is afraid of losing such a lawsuit, but cannot permit itself to not sue either. So they are really caught in the Net. Dutch version.

Karin Spaink - Scientology gets caught in the Net, De Groene Amsterdammer, Oktober 4, 1995 (17k)

Explains the story behind the Fishman Affidavit, a document that is being hunted down bby Scientology. What is it, why is it so very important, who wants it and why. Plus an explanation about the Dutch protest following Scientology's raid on XS4ALL. (De Groene Amsterdammer is a weekly magazine, devoted to political and cultural items, and has a Fishman homepage too. Dutch version.

Karin Spaink - Religious practices, Het Parool, December 11, 1995 (9k)

Now that the day of the court session of Scientology vs The Dutch Protest in Holland is nearing, the fire heats up. In various newsgroups some of the people involved are slandered heavily. Felipe Rodriquez, the director of XS4ALL, is being accused of censoring Scientologists, I am being referred to as KKKSpaink. Dutch version.

Karin Spaink - Party coloured laundry, Het Parool, February 5, 1996 (10k)

When discussing Scientology with its members, there's no end to my amazement. Often one can catch them expressing outright lies, but apparently they believe those lies to be the truth. Is this what is usually referred to as brainwashing? Dutch version.

Robert Vaughn Young: Scientology from inside out. A former insider reveals strategies for managing the news media (28k)

Former member Robert Vaughn Young, who handled public relations and the media for Elron and his cult for twenty years, describes the strategies that CoS usually adopts towards journalist and the media, and how to thwart those. Very informative. With a recommendation of Jon Atack.