William S. Burroughs
Ali's Smile
Naked Scientology
Expanded Media Editions
Copyright 1972, 1973 und 1978 by William S. Burroughs
Translation and edition: Carl Weissner
Coverdesign: Walter Hartmann
Printed by MaroCruck, Augsburg
2. Auflage 1985
Expanded Media Editions
Postfach 190 136
5300 Bonn 1
ISBN 3-88030-011-9
Scanning and proofreading: Martin Hunt
Proofreading and HTMLization: Cornelius Krasel
CONTENTS
Burroughs on Scientology
(L.A. FREE PRESS, 6.3.1970)
William Burroughs:
Open Letter to Mr. Garden Mustain
(EAST VILLAGE OTHER, 7.7.1970)
William Burroughs on
'Inside Scientology' by Robert Kaufman
(ROLLING STONE, 9.11.1972)
R. Sorrell (Church of Scientology):
Letter to ROLLING STONE, 5.12.1972
William Burroughs:
Answer to R. Sorrell's Letter
William Burroughs:
Ali's Smile
Naked Scientology
BURROUGHS ON SCIENTOLOGY
Los Angeles Free Press March 6, 1970
In view of the fact that my articles and statements on Scientology may have influenced young people to associate themselves with the so called Church of Scientology, I feel an obligation to make my present views on the subject quite clear.
Some of the techniques are highly valuable and warrant further study and experimentation. The E
Meter is a useful device... (many variations of this instrument are possible). On the other hand I am in flat disagreement with the organizational policy. No body of knowledge needs an organizational policy. Organizational policy can only impede the advancement of knowledge. There is a basic incompatibility between any organization and freedom of thought. Suppose Newton had founded a Church of Newtonian Physics and refused to show his formula to anyone who doubted the tenets of Newtonian Physics? All organizations create organizational necessities. It is precisely organizational necessities that have prevented Scientology from obtaining the serious consideration merited by the importance of Mr. Hubbard's discoveries. Scientologists are not prepared to accept intelligent and sometimes critical evaluation. They demand unquestioning acceptance.
Mr. Hubbard's overtly fascist utterances (China is the real threat to world peace, Scientology is protecting the home, the church, the family, decent morals...positively no wife swapping. It's a dirty Communist trick...national boundaries, the concepts of RIGHT and WRONG against evil free thinking psychiatrist) can hardly recommend him to the militant students. Certainly it is time for the Scientologists to come out in plain English on one side or the other, if they expect the trust and support of young people. Which side are you on Hubbard, which side are you on?
This statement which appears in my forthcoming book
Psychiatry: n. a medical specialty dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care of mental Illness and defect and, by extension, of many personal problems of personal adjustment.
Historically, psychiatry grew up within the framework of medicine and dealt with the medical care of the mentally ill. As the Science and art developed, much of its treatment was not specifically medical, and many of those treated were not (in, any ordinary sense of the word) ill, either somatically or mentally. The practice of psychiatry is thus often indistinguishable from that of other specialties that deal with problems of psychological adjustment. The term medical psychology Is fairly descriptive of the practice of psychiatry but not of the curriculum for training in that field, which seldom includes any background in psychology of normal people - adj. psychiatric.
