Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 8, No. 2, 2009, Page 48
Hope
How do you build a bridge from a troubled past to a productive future? Noble proposes
hope, plus the God of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Various specific suggestions for self-improvement conclude the final quarter of this book. In
addition, 12 cheerful and optimistic ―Noble Strategies‖ are scattered throughout, from
―Write Your Dream‖ to ―Have Fun ...Every Day.‖
Those who like a good yarn will enjoy Tabernacle of Hope, as will those interested in
understanding violent political groups. However, those who believe that humankind is
complicated, and who stress nuance over platitude and gray over black vs. white, may be
turned off. Finally, I recommend this self-published book to the deeply religious, particularly
to troubled seekers of personal improvement and to victims of extreme political cults.
Arthur A. Dole, Ph. D., ABPP
The Complex: An Insider Exposes the Covert World of the Church of
Scientology
By John Duignan with Nicola Tallant, Merlin: Dublin, Ireland. 2008. ISBN-10:
1903582849 ISBN-13: 978-1-903582-84-8 (paperback). Amazon.com price:
$16.00 Eason (Dublin, Ireland) price Euro: 12.99. 318 pages.
The Complex is the successful work of a former 22-year Scientology member working with a
journalist, and the result is a striking autobiography. The story is often gripping and always
interesting. John Duignan‘s initial recruitment into Dianetics processing in the first chapter
was especially eye-opening for me because that was the same path that my son Noah took.
John‘s induction led to 22 years of largely undercompensated servitude in the Sea Org,
during which he exercised skills on behalf of Scientology. The time not entirely a loss, John
emerged from the experience older and wiser. My son was recruited into Scientology, but
his story lacks a happy ending. I am happy for John that things finally went right and he
ultimately emerged much wiser. Noah‘s experience in Scientology went shockingly wrong,
but that is another story.
John‘s boyhood was sad. He lost both parents and had trouble with recurring bad feelings.
Dianetics Center operatives who he happened upon were warm, supportive, and directive,
and his induction into Scientology was fairly positive. He was recruited further into the Sea
Org and traveled from Ireland to Los Angeles to the Complex, the former Cedars of Lebanon
Hospital building. At a Cult Awareness Network meeting in the early 1990s, a former
resident colorfully described the Complex sotto voce as ―the powder-blue flop house.‖
John Duignan lost contact with his large family back in Ireland and entered upon a
consuming career as a Scientology middle manager. He endured Scientology‘s recurring
cycles of being built up and then being torn down. There is apparently never much security
and resting-upon-laurels in Scientology. It does not appear to be much of a career option.
Auditing (trance-induced reveries into one‘s past) was ongoing. I am greatly indebted to
John Duignan for clarifying that Dianetics auditing is not like hypnosis, it is hypnosis. If I
understand correctly, every time there is an auditing session, a hypnotic trance state
ensues. The subject is probed into self-revelation, and suggestions are often implanted by
the auditor. False memories that emerge from the trance state are often reinforced.
Understanding that this process goes on all the time makes it easier to understand why
inductees become so compelled, partisan, and dedicated, and why it is so impossible for
outsiders such as former family and friends to sway, direct, or liberate them or often even
converse productively with them.
Hope
How do you build a bridge from a troubled past to a productive future? Noble proposes
hope, plus the God of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Various specific suggestions for self-improvement conclude the final quarter of this book. In
addition, 12 cheerful and optimistic ―Noble Strategies‖ are scattered throughout, from
―Write Your Dream‖ to ―Have Fun ...Every Day.‖
Those who like a good yarn will enjoy Tabernacle of Hope, as will those interested in
understanding violent political groups. However, those who believe that humankind is
complicated, and who stress nuance over platitude and gray over black vs. white, may be
turned off. Finally, I recommend this self-published book to the deeply religious, particularly
to troubled seekers of personal improvement and to victims of extreme political cults.
Arthur A. Dole, Ph. D., ABPP
The Complex: An Insider Exposes the Covert World of the Church of
Scientology
By John Duignan with Nicola Tallant, Merlin: Dublin, Ireland. 2008. ISBN-10:
1903582849 ISBN-13: 978-1-903582-84-8 (paperback). Amazon.com price:
$16.00 Eason (Dublin, Ireland) price Euro: 12.99. 318 pages.
The Complex is the successful work of a former 22-year Scientology member working with a
journalist, and the result is a striking autobiography. The story is often gripping and always
interesting. John Duignan‘s initial recruitment into Dianetics processing in the first chapter
was especially eye-opening for me because that was the same path that my son Noah took.
John‘s induction led to 22 years of largely undercompensated servitude in the Sea Org,
during which he exercised skills on behalf of Scientology. The time not entirely a loss, John
emerged from the experience older and wiser. My son was recruited into Scientology, but
his story lacks a happy ending. I am happy for John that things finally went right and he
ultimately emerged much wiser. Noah‘s experience in Scientology went shockingly wrong,
but that is another story.
John‘s boyhood was sad. He lost both parents and had trouble with recurring bad feelings.
Dianetics Center operatives who he happened upon were warm, supportive, and directive,
and his induction into Scientology was fairly positive. He was recruited further into the Sea
Org and traveled from Ireland to Los Angeles to the Complex, the former Cedars of Lebanon
Hospital building. At a Cult Awareness Network meeting in the early 1990s, a former
resident colorfully described the Complex sotto voce as ―the powder-blue flop house.‖
John Duignan lost contact with his large family back in Ireland and entered upon a
consuming career as a Scientology middle manager. He endured Scientology‘s recurring
cycles of being built up and then being torn down. There is apparently never much security
and resting-upon-laurels in Scientology. It does not appear to be much of a career option.
Auditing (trance-induced reveries into one‘s past) was ongoing. I am greatly indebted to
John Duignan for clarifying that Dianetics auditing is not like hypnosis, it is hypnosis. If I
understand correctly, every time there is an auditing session, a hypnotic trance state
ensues. The subject is probed into self-revelation, and suggestions are often implanted by
the auditor. False memories that emerge from the trance state are often reinforced.
Understanding that this process goes on all the time makes it easier to understand why
inductees become so compelled, partisan, and dedicated, and why it is so impossible for
outsiders such as former family and friends to sway, direct, or liberate them or often even
converse productively with them.
