''Believe What You Like: What happened between the Scientologists and the National Association for Mental Health'' (Andre Deutsch Limited, 1973, ), written by the ''

New Statesman The ''New Statesman'' is a British political and cultural magazine published in London. Founded as a weekly review of politics and literature on 12 April 1913, it was at first connected with Sidney and Beatrice Webb and other leading members ...

'' director

C. R. Hewitt Cecil Rolph ("Bill") Hewitt (1901–1994) was a police officer, journalist, editor, and writer. He served with the City of London Police from 1921 to 1946, rising to the level of Chief Inspector. He then left the force and became a journalist, writ ...

under the pen name C. H. Rolph, details a public dispute between the

Church of Scientology The Church of Scientology is a group of interconnected corporate entities and other organizations devoted to the practice, administration and dissemination of Scientology, which is variously defined as a cult, a scientology as a business, bu ...

and the National Association for Mental Health (now known as

Mind The mind is the set of faculties responsible for all mental phenomena. Often the term is also identified with the phenomena themselves. These faculties include thought, imagination, memory, will, and sensation. They are responsible for various m ...

) in Britain.

Main points

The book covers the controversy of how, starting in 1969, members of the Church joined the NAMH in large numbers with the intent to change the organization from the inside. The Scientologists attempted to ratify as official policy a number of points concerning the treatment of

psychiatric Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental disorders. These include various maladaptations related to mood, behaviour, cognition, and perceptions. See glossary of psychiatry. Initial psychi ...

patients, and in so doing, secretly promoted

Scientology Scientology is a set of beliefs and practices invented by American author L. Ron Hubbard, and an associated movement. It has been variously defined as a cult, a business, or a new religious movement. The most recent published census data indi ...

's anti-psychiatry agenda. When their identity was realized, the Scientologists were expelled from the organization ''en masse'', but later sued the NAMH over the matter in the High Court in 1971 and lost. The case was important in UK

charity Charity may refer to: Giving * Charitable organization or charity, a non-profit organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being of persons * Charity (practice), the practice of being benevolent, giving and sharing * Ch ...

law. The book also covers the origins and activities of the Church of Scientology in the UK and some of their other legal actions in the UK around that time, including: * The libel case against

Geoffrey Johnson Smith Sir Geoffrey Johnson-Smith, (16 April 1924 – 11 August 2010) was a British Conservative politician. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1959 to 2001, with only a brief interruption in the 1960s. He was also a television presenter. Earl ...

. *

Hubbard Hubbard may refer to: Places Canada *Hubbard, Saskatchewan *Hubbards, Nova Scotia Canada/United States * Mount Hubbard, a mountain on the Alaska/Yukon border *Hubbard Glacier, a large freshwater glacier in Alaska and Yukon Greenland *Hubbard Gla ...

's legal difficulties getting

Saint Hill Manor Saint Hill Manor is a Grade II listed country manor house at Saint Hill Green, near East Grinstead in West Sussex, England. It was constructed in 1792 and had several notable owners before being purchased by L. Ron Hubbard and becoming the Briti ...

registered as a place of religious worship. * The Church's libel suit against two Melbourne judges, Justice Kevin Anderson and Judge Gordon Just. * Scientology front organizations called the Campaign Against Psychiatric Atrocities and AHDA (Association For Health Development And Aid).

External links

Believe What You Like: What happened between the Scientologists and the National Association for Mental Health
(complete text)
Cecil Hewitt Rolph
''British Library of Political and Economic Science'' Books critical of Scientology Books about Scientology 1973 non-fiction books Works published under a pseudonym Scientology and psychiatry 1973 in religion {{scientology-stub

Main points

See also

External links