Beyond Belief

My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape

By: Jenna Miscavige Hill

Narrated by: Sandy Rustin

Length: 11 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Finalist, Non-Fiction, 2014

Jenna Miscavige Hill, niece of Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige, was raised as a Scientologist but left the controversial religion in 2005. In Beyond Belief, she shares her true story of life inside the upper ranks of the sect, details her experiences as a member Sea Org - the church's highest ministry - speaks of her "disconnection" from family outside of the organization, and tells the story of her ultimate escape.

In this tell-all memoir, Jenna Miscavige Hill, a prominent critic of Scientology who now helps others leave the organization, offers an insider's profile of the beliefs, rituals, and secrets of the religion that has captured the fascination of millions, including some of Hollywood's brightest stars such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta.

©2013 Jenna Miscavige Hill (P)2013 HarperCollinsPublishers

Beyond Belief Indeed

What did you love best about Beyond Belief?

The depth of information.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Beyond Belief?

When she finally got out.

Which character – as performed by Sandy Rustin – was your favorite?

Jenna Miscavige Hill.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book left me emotionally exhausted and wondering how in the world this so called church still exists.

The beatings will continue until moral improves

I have more than a passing familiarity with the work of L. Ron Hubbard and the methods of Scientology so I was intrigued to read Jenna Miscavige Hill's book. After a tumultuous two days of listening, I'm amazed she made it out alive.

If you want to understand how false confessions are coerced, or how someone can become completely wrapped up in an improbable belief system I have never read a more explicit description of these processes or a better step-by-step analysis of an experience starting in early childhood than Ms. Hill's.

The amazing thing is she was able to think her way out of it really putting the old adage, "Think for yourself and question authority" to the task. The authorities in her case were impressive: her parents, grandparents, siblings, aunt, and Uncle David Miscavige the undisputed heir to L. Ron Hubbard's legacy.

Removed from her biological family at the age of seven and trained to work at manual labor, medical assistant, animal trainer, and Sea Org auditor while maintaining her Scientology OT levels, foregoing all but the most rudimentary conventional education, Jenna Miscavige was fully indoctrinated into the Church of Scientology by adolescents. Adolescents, though, is where the adventure begins.

The Church enumerates the first four "dynamics:" Self, family, group, and species. Within the Church, however, members are expected to forgo the second family dynamic for "the greater good." Husbands and wives are frequently quite young and even more frequently separated. When they have sexual relations outside of their committed relationships, however, they are considered "Out 2D" and severely punished. For all of Hubbard's wisdom about human nature, his organization has gotten completely lost regarding human biology. The stories Jenna Miscavige Hill tells here would be very funny if they were not deeply tragic. She describes an organization out of touch with reality and hanging on to its focus by a thread. These "leaders" should be encouraged to read Dianetics 55. CONTROL = the ability to start, change and stop. This goes for your thoughts as well as your selves.

Congratulations on your escape, Jenna, but don't you believe for an instant that they are no longer watching you. They contacted me for a $3,000.00 donation after 35 years. I had to change my phone number to stop the calls and the mail keeps right on coming. Stay strong!

Ms. Rustin, by the way, offers an excellent reading. I give her high marks as well.

Amazing...

I have listened to 100 audible books. I haven’t written any reviews before. But I had to submit my review for this book. Huge credit to the author, Jenna, for painting such a realistic portraits of what it was like inside the crazy world of Scientology. So happy that she was able to get out and see it for what it is. Highly recommended listen.

unbelievable that this exists

very interesting. lustened to a few sections again to confirm i heard correctly some of their ploys.

love it

love this book. great things come to those who believe. listen to this and you will rethink what the truth truly is

A love story

Jenna Miscavige was a real horn dog. She was clearly not interested in saving mankind, but was more interested in love. I know that the church of scientology does not like their members having children or getting married because it costs the church money. They prefer sterile members who wok for free so that they can become the single biggest property holders in the world. Bigger then the Catholic church and richer then the Jews. Well done Jenna.

brainwashing religion

Remarkable story of a young woman who freed herself from an almost impossible spiderweb of indoctrination.
The reader was flat in first half, trying to use a child-like voice. But when free to sound like a young woman she pulled it off quite well.

Unbelievable

This is a must read for anyone with children, anyone courtedbya Scientologist,and anyone who “thinks”they know what The Greater Good is.

Everyone Needs to Read this Book!

Wow! What an eye opener this true story was! Beyond Belief is a perfect title for the book. It makes me sick that other human beings get away with controlling so many people, but more appalling is how many people allow it! This organization should be outlawed!

Very eye-opening

I came to this book without knowing anything about Scientology. I am amazed that people will give up all their personal freedom to such a cult. The way the members were questioned reminded me of descriptions of interrogations in the The Gulag Archipelago. The head of the "church" was like a Stalin who has minions to carry out his wishes.
I do question the writer's ability to remember so many details going back to when she was seven years old.
I guess the narrator was appropriate as the book was the story of a young girl, but her voice was grating.