The Franchised Faith Summary and Analysis

Within a month, Hubbard had begun his comeback after introducing the E-Meter that could read galvanic skin responses, which he claimed would be used in his new practice called Scientology. Hubbard introduced the human soul as the thetan, which was separate from the human mind, body, or physical world. Thetans had lived for eons but had become trapped in the bodies they inhabited. After a while, they lost their powers and simply became theta beings. Scientology, through auditing, could restore those powers.

Hubbard, now remarried to Mary Sue Whipp, began traveling again. Helen O'Brian and her husband continued to follow Hubbard, opening their own Scientology center. Hubbard admitted in a letter to O'Brian that in order to succeed this time, they needed to convert the concepts of Scientology into religious practice. This would gain them respect, avoid...