Beyond Belief

Author: Jenna Miscavige Hill

One-sentence summary: Jenna, the niece of Scientology leader, David Miscavige, details her childhood as part of the Sea Org and how she escaped with her husband.

B.A.D. Girls Book Rating: 7

Our favorite thing about it: SO interesting to learn more about Scientology from the inside. What really goes on, what they believe and practice and why.

Our least favorite thing about it: Too many details.

Main Topics of Discussion: Cults, Religion, Family, Child Labor, Power/Money

Our favorite quote: “The problem is that Scientology is a system that makes it nearly impossible for you to think for yourself.”

Notes: A good summary of our thoughts about this book: really, really interesting/eye-opening, but should have been streamlined better. We felt that the editor left in far too many details and stories that were the same as ones already detailed and could have been left out without harming the information presented or the story as a whole. As interesting as this tory was (and it really was), we still got bogged down in the repetition and minutiae. Some other thoughts:

1. We all noticed (and laughed about) all the acronyms in Scientology. They seem to literally have one for everything. It’s humorous and annoying at the same time.
2. There is no other way to describe Scientology other than as a cult.
3. We talked about the parallels of Scientology with Christianity and some of the pitfalls religion can easily fall into.
4. We all agreed that any religion/organization that actively and openly tries to separate you from your family (especially spouse and children) even while you are both/all still part of the religion/organization, is definitely no good.
5. Public Scientologists and especially celebrity Scientologists only get the glossy cover view of Scientology. They do not really see or hear about all of the terrible exploitation, cruelty, and sometimes imprisonment that happens in the Sea Org.
6. We found it really amazing that Jenna’s parents didn’t try to convince her to leave after they did. They wisely let her come to that conclusion on her own since she was already a teenager.
7. It was so much harder for Jenna and her husband to both get out than it would have been for just one of them to leave. Bravo to them for both managing to do it, stay together, and reconnect with their families.
8. As appalled as we were by the inner workings of the Sea Org and Scientology, we are relieved that the veil is being lifted by brave authors like Jenna and other influencers like Leah Remini. This stuff needs to be known.
9. We wonder how people do not see that all the money they pay to Scientology to get clear or cross the bridge goes directly to David Miscavige. They are paying to be part of a cult.
10. It’s amazing and horrifying how far the henchmen and women of the Sea Org would go to prevent someone leaving. That is another red flag to us.
11. The things that cause Jenna to leave are the same things we kept thinking over and over as we read. But we tried to put ourselves in her shoes…she was raised from birth with this mindset, and that must have been so hard to overcome. And so hard to leave everything she’s ever known.

Memorable Meeting Moments: Eating dinner out at a fun new restaurant with fun cocktails!

What We Ate: Christina treated us to dinner at The Heritage Table for our Friendsgiving meal this year. We all shared Butternut Squash Fritters and the Cheddar Fries for appetizers. We each ordered different things: Grilled Salmon, Chicken Pot Pie, Fish Tacos, Mac n’ Cheese, and Chicken Noodle Soup. We finished our meal off at Christina’s house with Rachel’s Pecan Cheesecake Pie and ice cream.