Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief * * *

As my partner and I were leaving the cinema we walked past a Salvation Army Citadel that had a sign outside - Personal Prophecy and Faith Healing Here.  Just something I have to bear in mind as I write this.
But even before this blunt reminder that all religions are dependent upon persuading their followers that they have a unique relationship with a supernatural force I’d already decided that Scientology didn’t come across as that bad. I mean compared to a religion that spawns something like ISIS or the Taliban, Scientology seems fairly benign. Let’s face it, they’re all crazy as loons, it’s just a matter of how much harm they do.
Alex Gibney is the same documentary maker that gave us We Steal Secrets, which was a not so flattering look at Julian Assange and Wikileaks.  In the last few years he’s also done documentaries on James Brown, Lance Armstrong and The Venus Sisters. He and his team are competent and busy documentary makers, so I do not think Scientology is a long standing obsession of his so much as another project.  
Aside from some extraordinary and rare footage of the early days of Scientology and its founder, science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, the film features six ex-Scientologists of very high standing who came to their senses and walked away. None of what they told us was greatly surprising.  They speak of the usual manipulative cult tactics - weakening, engendering dependence, humiliating, giving people a sense of unworthiness, and creating a suspicion that anything outside of Scientology is harmful, and any reward or achievement outside of the church is worthless.
In Going Clear it is explained to us that “Clear” is the highest level you can reach as a Scientologist.  It’s when you shake off the spirits of frozen bodies which were dropped out of bombers into volcanoes . The volcanoes were then artificially activated by more bombers dropping atom bombs into them.  This was millions of years ago, even before the dinosaurs,  when the world looked just like this world: we’ve come full circle apparently. The bombs went off, the spirits came out, they've been around ever since and now they can get stuck on you. (And you thought people rising from the dead or an archangel dictating a book in a cave was good!) These Scientologists really know how to come up with a cracker of a story. Actually I don’t even think it’s a good story.  It’s really dumb.  Like something cooked up by a third rate science fiction writer….hey wait a minute….
As the various individuals told of their involvement and escape it was interesting to find out what their “wake-up” call was.  It seemed to be family - real family. Two in particular were shocked out of the Church by the greater responsibility of parenthood. One who had her child taken from her whilst she was being “readjusted” only to find her child in state of serious neglect.  The other had children who had come out as gay.  He was told he’d better get them straight because homosexuality is something that Scientology greatly disapproves of.  Predictably, it seems Scientology is quite in step with the other religions on that score. Along with an aversion to paying their taxes.  
Yet these were all intelligent people from stable backgrounds. Some were openly embarrassed about their involvement.  As expected, world famous Scientologist Tom Cruise is given a serve, yet the film also appeals to him - literally -  to give it up and condemn it. But the church of Scientology and Tom are so in love I don’t think that’s going to happen.
I was entertained by Going Clear but except for one or two scenes I didn’t feel particularly emotional watching this film. Probably because I didn’t see too much exploitation of the innocent.  I couldn’t help but think most of us are highly suspicious of Scientology - or think it’s a joke - so why didn't these people?  It’s a bit like smoking. Don’t tell me you weren't warned!
I was glad to see the interviewees get out of their insidious "Prison of Belief" but in the end I felt about the “victims” of Scientology in much the same way I feel about devotees of other religions. One does have to take responsibility for their own choices.  (Gee, I hope that statement doesn’t come back to bite me on the arse on Judgement day).