4 ms·
The story of Jack Parsons is one of my favorites. He really contributed scientifically, was certainly in part responsible for L. Ron Hubbards rise to fame and a
by wuliwong 8y ago
The story of Jack Parsons is one of my favorites. He really contributed scientifically, was certainly in part responsible for L. Ron Hubbards rise to fame and also a protege` of Aleister Crowley.
- api 8y agoAccording to most of what I've read Parsons was kind of conned by Hubbard. They did have an association for a while but I don't get the sense that Parsons had any direct role in Scientology per se. Hubbard invented that later.
- jonathankoren 8y agoThe postwar Pasadena areospace scene was wild. Scientology is basically Crowley’s Thelema but in 1950’s space opera clothing. Parsons didn’t have any role in developing beyond introducing Hubbard to Crowely, and most notably Sara Northrup. Sara Northrup, later L Ron’s wife, helped develop Dianetics, and Scientology. I read J.W. Carter’s ”Sex and Rockets”, and Lawerence Wright’s “Going Clear” back to back, and together they paint a fascinating portrait of the time. If you want to round out the Pasadena OTO scene, Spencer Kansa’s “Wormwood Star” about Marjorie Cameron is supposed to be good, but I haven’t read it yet.
- wuliwong 8y agoNice, thanks. I just asked the previous commenter for book recs. I'll read at least one of these for sure. edit: I ordered "sex and rockets."
- selimthegrim 8y agoHubbard and Sara absconded with a bunch of money Crowley has entrusted Parsons with for OTO purposes and bought a yacht and partied in Florida. Crowley pretty much wrote off Parsons after that.
- wuliwong 8y agoI could see that. I guess I was just thinking that Parson's gave him his first big break in the occult. I've never delved much deeper than internet reading. Do you have a book recommendations?