A naive liberal

A review of "De Fördömda Scientologerna" 

Svante Nycander is a liberal (in the European sense) and a former editor of Dagens Nyheter, one of Sweden's largest daily papers. This peculiar and slightly bizarre book was penned by Nycander in 1977. It's a defense, or perhaps semi-defense, of the “Church” of Scientology, L Ron Hubbard's pseudo-religion. While Nycander isn't entirely uncritical of Hubbard, and even includes some pretty damning information about the man's antics, he somehow naïvely believes that one can discuss with Scientologists on some kind of rational level, as if we were dealing with a misguided organization, rather than a sinister brain-washing cult (which Scientology is according to virtually all defectors). Nycander even expresses support for Narconon, a Scientology front which attempts to cure substance abusers of their addictions using pretty unorthodox methods. Somehow, I doubt that the old lib feels very good about this book today! Only two stars.