The Mind Benders
Encyclopedia
The Mind Benders was written by Cyril Vosper
, a scientologist of 14 years who had become disillusioned, Published in 1971 (hardback, Neville Spearman, ISBN 0-85435-061-6) and reprinted in 1973 (softcover, Mayflower, ISBN 0-583-12249-3), it was the first book on Scientology to be written by an ex-member and the first critical book on Scientology to be published (narrowly beating Inside Scientology by Robert Kaufman). It describes the lower levels of Scientology and its philosophy in detail (it does not go into the Operating Thetan
levels) and also includes the story of Vosper's expulsion from the Church.
The book was released as an electronic edition on the internet with the approval of Vosper by the old Cult Awareness Network
, in April 1996 and then again in August 1997.
, Vosper had agreed not to divulge its content to anyone who wasn't "Clear
". Lord Denning dismissed the case, arguing that the material was sufficiently dangerous for the public interest
to override the confidentiality agreement.
The hardback edition was rushed to print owing to the legal action. Vosper regarded the paperback — which was properly proofread and had an extra chapter on the litigation — as the authoritative edition. (To this day, the case Hubbard v. Vosper is a staple in many classes studying copyright law).
Vosper referenced the legal troubles that the 1971 edition of the book encountered, by titling the 1973 edition: The Mind Benders: The Book They Tried to Ban.
. In June 1974, libraries were advised that if they do not remove the books: Scientology: The Now Religion
, Inside Scientology
, The Scandal of Scientology
and The Mind Benders from their shelves, they would be named in a lawsuit. Two different library boards in Ontario, Canada had been served with writs.
After obtaining out-of-court settlements of USD$7,500 and USD$500 and apologies from the publishers of two of the works (Dell Publishing and Tower Publications), Scientology further threatened to sue any library or bookstore that carried them. After certain libraries in Canada refused to remove the books from their shelves, they were sued by Scientology. One Canadian library reported the theft of a book critical of Scientology from its shelves.
These incidents were later reported in a chronological timeline of censorship
in British Columbia
.
Cyril Vosper
Cyril Ronald Vosper was a Scientologist and later a critic of Scientology. He wrote The Mind Benders, which was the first book on Scientology to be written by an ex-member and the first critical book on Scientology to be published .-Biography:Vosper was born in 1935, in Hounslow, Middlesex...
, a scientologist of 14 years who had become disillusioned, Published in 1971 (hardback, Neville Spearman, ISBN 0-85435-061-6) and reprinted in 1973 (softcover, Mayflower, ISBN 0-583-12249-3), it was the first book on Scientology to be written by an ex-member and the first critical book on Scientology to be published (narrowly beating Inside Scientology by Robert Kaufman). It describes the lower levels of Scientology and its philosophy in detail (it does not go into the Operating Thetan
Operating Thetan
In Scientology, the state of Operating Thetan is a spiritual state above Clear. L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, defined it as "knowing and willing cause over life, thought, matter, energy, space and time ". According to religious scholar J...
levels) and also includes the story of Vosper's expulsion from the Church.
The book was released as an electronic edition on the internet with the approval of Vosper by the old Cult Awareness Network
Cult Awareness Network
The Cult Awareness Network was founded in the wake of the November 18, 1978 deaths of members of the group Peoples Temple and assassination of Congressman Leo J. Ryan in Jonestown, Guyana. CAN is now owned and operated by associates of the Church of Scientology, an organization that the original...
, in April 1996 and then again in August 1997.
In the UK
In 1972, the Church of Scientology sued to prevent publication, claiming that as a condition of taking the Special Briefing Course at Saint HillSaint Hill Manor
Saint Hill Manor is a country house at Saint Hill Green, Mid Sussex, near East Grinstead, West Sussex, England that serves as the location of the head office for the Church of Scientology in the United Kingdom.-Early history:...
, Vosper had agreed not to divulge its content to anyone who wasn't "Clear
Clear (Scientology)
Clear in Dianetics and Scientology is one of two levels a practitioner can achieve on the way to personal salvation. A state of Clear is reached when a person becomes free of the influence of engrams, unwanted emotions or painful traumas not readily available to the conscious mind...
". Lord Denning dismissed the case, arguing that the material was sufficiently dangerous for the public interest
Public interest
The public interest refers to the "common well-being" or "general welfare." The public interest is central to policy debates, politics, democracy and the nature of government itself...
to override the confidentiality agreement.
The hardback edition was rushed to print owing to the legal action. Vosper regarded the paperback — which was properly proofread and had an extra chapter on the litigation — as the authoritative edition. (To this day, the case Hubbard v. Vosper is a staple in many classes studying copyright law).
Vosper referenced the legal troubles that the 1971 edition of the book encountered, by titling the 1973 edition: The Mind Benders: The Book They Tried to Ban.
In Canada
The Church of Scientology of Canada attempted to ban the book in libraries in CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. In June 1974, libraries were advised that if they do not remove the books: Scientology: The Now Religion
Scientology: The Now Religion
Scientology: The Now Religion is a non-fiction book on Scientology, written by George Malko. The book was the first full length analysis of the history surrounding the founding of the Church of Scientology, and L. Ron Hubbard. The author conducted interviews with members, and provides analysis...
, Inside Scientology
Inside Scientology
The book should not be confused with the February 2006 Rolling Stone article, .Inside Scientology: How I Joined Scientology and Became Superhuman is a non-fiction book that takes a critical look at the Church of Scientology. It was written by Robert Kaufman, and published in 1972 by Olympia Press....
, The Scandal of Scientology
The Scandal of Scientology
The Scandal of Scientology is a critical exposé book about the Church of Scientology, written by Paulette Cooper and published by Tower Publications, in 1971....
and The Mind Benders from their shelves, they would be named in a lawsuit. Two different library boards in Ontario, Canada had been served with writs.
After obtaining out-of-court settlements of USD$7,500 and USD$500 and apologies from the publishers of two of the works (Dell Publishing and Tower Publications), Scientology further threatened to sue any library or bookstore that carried them. After certain libraries in Canada refused to remove the books from their shelves, they were sued by Scientology. One Canadian library reported the theft of a book critical of Scientology from its shelves.
These incidents were later reported in a chronological timeline of censorship
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
.
External links
- The Mind Benders (complete book)
- Cyril Vosper interview, 3-RRR Liars' Club, 10am-11am Sun 03 Sep 1995 (transcript)
- Researching New Religious Movements: Responses and Redefinitions by Elisabeth Arweck, p. 114 (required Google login)
- Hubbard v. Vosper (1972) 2 QB 84 - seminal copyright case