Free zone scientology : contesting the boundaries of a new religion / Aled Thomas.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Thomas, Aled, author.

Series:

Bloomsbury advances in religious studies.

Bloomsbury advances in religious studies

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Religion and sociology.

Scientology.

Theory and Method (Rel Studies), Religious Studies, Sociology of Religion (Rel Studies), New Religious Movements (Rel Studies).

Local Subjects:

Theory and Method (Rel Studies), Religious Studies, Sociology of Religion (Rel Studies), New Religious Movements (Rel Studies).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (201 pages)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

London. England : Bloomsbury Publishing, 2021.

System Details:

text file

HTML

Summary:

"In the first major academic study of Free Zone Scientology, Aled Thomas analyses modern issues surrounding boundaries and fluidity in contemporary Scientology. By using the Scientologist practice of 'auditing' as a case study, this book explores the ways in which new types of 'Scientologies' can emerge. The notion of Free Zone Scientology is characterised by its horizontal structure, in contrast to the vertical-hierarchy of the institutional Church of Scientology. With this in mind, Thomas explores the Free Zone as an example of a developing and fluid religion, directly addressing questions concerning authority, leadership, and material objects. This book, by maintaining a double-focus on the top-down hierarchy of the Church of Scientology and the horizontal-fluid nature of the Free Zone, breaks away from previous research on new religions, with have tended to focus either on new religions as indices of broad social processes, such as secularization or globalization, or as exemplars of exotic processes, such as charismatic authority and brainwashing. Instead, Thomas adopts auditing as a method of providing an in-depth case study of a new religion in transition and transformation in the 21st century. This opens the study of contemporary and new religions to a series of new questions around hybrid religions (sacred and secular), and acts as a framework for the study of similar movements formed in recent decades"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Preface1. Introduction: Researching 'Scientologies'Part 1: From Scientology to Scientologies2. The Church of Scientology and the 'Free Zone': A Complex Relationship3. Auditing and the 'Tech': The Basics4. 'You are YOU in a body': Negotiating the Self in ScientologyPart 2: Fluidity and Boundaries5. Authenticity and Innovation: The 'True Tech' and 'Mistakes by Hubbard'6. 'Doing Scientology': E-Meters, Objects, and Material Culture7. Moving Forward: Reflections on Free Zone Scientology and the Wider Study of Religions8. Conclusion Appendix A Appendix B Notes References Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 176-186) and index.

ISBN:

9781350182578

1350182575

9781350182554

1350182559

OCLC:

1248760227