Hello everyone! I'm Sophie, a new addition to your newsletter team.
If you're anything like me, you spend way too much time on your phone. And if you're even more like me, most of that time is spent scrolling short-form videos on TikTok or Instagram while your brain slowly liquefies and dribbles out of your ears.
Lately, I've noticed that a lot of the videos coming up on my feed have a surprising source: the Church of Scientology. They're weirdly compelling to watch. Who wouldn't want to see neatly dressed twentysomethings with shiny smiles talk about the works of L. Ron Hubbard?
Luckily, my colleague Anna Merlan is here to tell us all why Scientology is pivoting to video: After years of bad press (not to mention the more recent "Scientology speedrunning" trend), it's getting hard for the church to recruit. Consider that when young people Google "Scientology," they might run across accusations of isolation, physical abuse, and unpaid labor. So, by presenting a "more approachable, amiable, and youthful face," some Scientologists hope they can change that. Here's a glimpse of what you might encounter:
“Stop stressing, you silly little goose,” one Los Feliz post declares, over a video of three female Scientologists jumping up and down in a kitchen. “You have a good heart, you’re not your intrusive thoughts, and Scientology exists. The universe is on your side...You’re going to be just fine.”
Read Anna's piece, silly geese, and decide for yourselves.
—Sophie Hurwitz
