Lawrence Wright is a writer for "The New Yorker," and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for his book"The Looming Tower" on the history of Al-Qaeda. His most recent book "Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood ad the Prison of Belief" has upset a lot of people in controversial religion. He sat down with Madeleine to talk about some of what he discovered.
You can follow Lawrence on Twitter at @lawrence_wright.
'Going Clear' Author Lawrence Wright Calls on Celebrity Members to Reform Scientology
The writer also draws comparisons to Mormonism during a candid conversation with THR's Kim Masters at an event in Santa Monica.
Lawrence Wright, the bestselling author of Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief, called on the religion's "celebrity pitchmen" to use their "moral authority" to bring about reform in the Church.
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Wright sat down for a conversation about the book with The Hollywood Reporter'sKim Masters at a sold-out event in Santa Monica sponsored by KCRW, Writers Bloc and THR.
Responding to a question about whether the religion had the capacity to reform itself after more than three decades of leadership under David Miscavige -- leadership that Wright argues in in his book is abusive and detrimental to the overall health of the Church -- the author said a "reckoning" in Scientology is coming.
He went on to argue that the only people with the pull and "moral authority" to bring about reform are the Church's celebrity adherents, including Tom Cruise and John Travolta.
Wright said they have a "moral responsibility" to educate themselves about Scientology's practices and to confront any abuses within the religion.
Wright went on to draw an interesting analogy to Mormonism.
He noted that in the late 19th century, Mormonism was considered an outsider religion with a theology that many considered odd at best. But after Mormon leaders had a re-evaluation around 1900 and decided that they wanted to be part of the "American community" by dropping some of its most controversial practices, the religion thrived to the point where the 2012 Republican presidential nominee was a Mormon.
Wright argued that over the next century Scientology could follow the same arc to acceptance as Mormonism if it opens up to reform.
Earlier conversation covered what Masters called "Scientology 101" -- the basic concepts of the religion from the idea of "clear" to the use of the religion's technology like the e-meter to its antipathy toward psychiatry.
Wright also talked about Hubbard's background and how his bestselling book Dianetics fit into the wave of post-World War II self-help books, and detailed the Church's relationship with Travolta and Cruise.
Masters kicked off the night by thanking several well-known former Scientologists in the audience, including Spanky Taylor who helped recruit Travolta into the religion, for their willingness to share their stories with Wright and other journalists.
Going Clear, published on Jan. 17, has spent five weeks on the The New York Times bestseller list, reaching as high as the no. 3 spot on the non-fiction list.
'He talks to her every day': Tom Cruise's attorney says star is devoted father to Suri as defamation case heats up
By MIKE LARKIN
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They have not been seen together in public since last year.
But Tom Cruise's attorney has spoken out to say his client is a dedicated father who makes a point of speaking to daughter Suri every day.
Bert Fields made the comments after a trial conference regarding the actor's $50 million defamation suit against publisher Bauer Media, which was launched following claims made in Life & Style and In Touch Weekly he had 'abandoned' the six-year-old.
Off to see daddy! Katie Holmes arrives with her daughter Suri at a helipad in New York on February 17, from where the youngster flew off to catch a private jet to London to visit her father
He told E!: 'He talks to her every day, sometimes many times a day. 'It's just the opposite of what they said in the magazine.
'They are together all the time. He is a very caring father and that is at the heart of this lawsuit.'
It emerged this week the Mission Impossible star had flown out Suri to spend a week with him in London.
And Mr Fields added the Cocktail actor 'just adores his child, but he adores all his children,' referring to the two adopted children he shares with former wife Nicole Kidman.
Mr Fields spoke out in reference to reports suggesting the 50-year-old had 'abandoned' his youngest daughter following his divorce from Katie Holmes last summer.
The Legend star was so enraged by the claims made in the magazines he instructed his attorney to launch the legal action.
'Doting father': Tom Cruise and his daughter Suri are pictured together in 2011
The opposing sides filed discovery motions a fortnight ago in which they demanded lengthy dossiers of information from each other.
Mr Cruise's team have asked for a detailed history of reporting on their client and Scientology by the publishing giant's publications over the years.
They also want details of their information-gathering process.
In their filing Bauer asked for a detailed accounting of the Far and Away favourite's contact with Suri since the split.
According to attorneys for both sides, a court appearance made on Wednesday was a meet-and-greet with the judge in chambers.
A further status hearing is scheduled for April 29, though Bauer attorney Elizabeth McNamara said that as far as she is concerned this case will not be going to trial.
Bauer Media has stood by its reporting to date.
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Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2286362/He-talks-day-Tom-Cruises-attorney-says-star-devoted-father-Suri-defamation-case-heats-up.html#ixzz2MKuwSAAJ
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