Lawrence Wright

And click, you know, that was the entire conversation. But the next day I got Paul's email address and I wrote him a letter and said, well, I spoke to your business manager and he said, this wasn't the best time. But if there's ever a time where you'd like to discuss your, as I said, intellectual and spiritual development, I'd be honored to do that.

And 20 minutes later, I get a call, a text, you know, very flattered. Let's have lunch on Tuesday. And he was in New York, so I flew up and we had lunch. And then he wanted to smoke a cigarette. And so we went out on the field. And I said, well, you know, this is going to be apropos of your decision to leave the church. And his eyes got wide, but he continued to talk.

And 20 minutes later, I get a call, a text, you know, very flattered. Let's have lunch on Tuesday. And he was in New York, so I flew up and we had lunch. And then he wanted to smoke a cigarette. And so we went out on the field. And I said, well, you know, this is going to be apropos of your decision to leave the church. And his eyes got wide, but he continued to talk.

And 20 minutes later, I get a call, a text, you know, very flattered. Let's have lunch on Tuesday. And he was in New York, so I flew up and we had lunch. And then he wanted to smoke a cigarette. And so we went out on the field. And I said, well, you know, this is going to be apropos of your decision to leave the church. And his eyes got wide, but he continued to talk.

And it was like nine months later, so deep into this story, he finally admitted it had never occurred to him. It'd be about Scientology. He was just so flattered the New Yorker was going to do a profile of him. So I felt... I totally understood and felt a little sad that that happened. But on the other hand, he was a very courageous source.

And it was like nine months later, so deep into this story, he finally admitted it had never occurred to him. It'd be about Scientology. He was just so flattered the New Yorker was going to do a profile of him. So I felt... I totally understood and felt a little sad that that happened. But on the other hand, he was a very courageous source.

And it was like nine months later, so deep into this story, he finally admitted it had never occurred to him. It'd be about Scientology. He was just so flattered the New Yorker was going to do a profile of him. So I felt... I totally understood and felt a little sad that that happened. But on the other hand, he was a very courageous source.

And he went through a lot of shit, as did many of the sources that I spoke to. And I spoke to hundreds. And it's a difficult decision. When, you know, you're facing an organization that's quite famous for its retribution. Yeah. To decide that it's so important to talk to a reporter that you'll feel, you know, you'll face that. And, of course, the more that you talk to, the more we'll talk to you.

And he went through a lot of shit, as did many of the sources that I spoke to. And I spoke to hundreds. And it's a difficult decision. When, you know, you're facing an organization that's quite famous for its retribution. Yeah. To decide that it's so important to talk to a reporter that you'll feel, you know, you'll face that. And, of course, the more that you talk to, the more we'll talk to you.

And he went through a lot of shit, as did many of the sources that I spoke to. And I spoke to hundreds. And it's a difficult decision. When, you know, you're facing an organization that's quite famous for its retribution. Yeah. To decide that it's so important to talk to a reporter that you'll feel, you know, you'll face that. And, of course, the more that you talk to, the more we'll talk to you.

Right. And there's strength in numbers. Yeah. I think that played a role in the access that I finally got.

Right. And there's strength in numbers. Yeah. I think that played a role in the access that I finally got.

Right. And there's strength in numbers. Yeah. I think that played a role in the access that I finally got.

Yeah. You know, it gave them enormous amount of leeway.

Yeah. You know, it gave them enormous amount of leeway.

Yeah. You know, it gave them enormous amount of leeway.

Yeah, it's the First Amendment, freedom of religion, along with press and speech. So it's a very powerful concession.

Yeah, it's the First Amendment, freedom of religion, along with press and speech. So it's a very powerful concession.

Yeah, it's the First Amendment, freedom of religion, along with press and speech. So it's a very powerful concession.

And, you know, if people say it's a religion, how do you contradict that? You know, it's odd because L. Ron Hubbard, the founder, would say it was not a religion. It was a scientific approach to spiritual enlightenment. But now it's a religion. And with all the protections that the Constitution awards for that.