What Is Scientology?
Evelyn Kalman/ June 17, 2013

Scientology was developed by L. Ron Hubbard in the early 1950s as a religion which claims to offer a precise path which will reveal one’s true spiritual nature and provide complete understanding of self, Mankind, and all life forms in general as well as the material and spiritual universe, and the Supreme Being. Scientology claims to be spiritual, not of the flesh. It addresses one’s spirit rather than body or mind and believes that Man has a purpose in life. The religion of Scientology is based upon fundamental truths which include theses such as: man is an immortal spiritual being; his experience extends well beyond a single lifetime; and his capabilities are unlimited, even if not presently realized. Scientology declares man to be good and proposes that his spiritual salvation is based upon himself, his fellowship with others, and his brotherhood with the universe. In Scientology, one is not asked to accept any concept on faith alone; the ultimate goal of the belief is true spiritual enlightenment and freedom for all and to enable man to improve his lot through comprehension (Official Church). Scientology is founded upon a long tradition of religious practice. It is said to draw on the wisdom of some 50 000 years from various religions; however it is considered to be a new belief. It bridges Easter philosophy with Western thought, constituting man’s first real application of scientific methodology to spiritual questions (Official Church). L. Ron Hubbard devoted his life to finding answers to questions such as who man is and where he comes from – questions which have been in existence since the beginning of time. Hubbard’s research lead to the creation of Dianetics, which represents what the mind, or soul, is doing to the body. Dianetics is considered to be Hubbard’s breakthrough and the foundation of Scientology. It claims that man is without a spirit for he himself is a spirit. He has a mind and a body, and Dianetics addresses the effects the mind has on the body thus providing relief from unwanted sensations and relations. The word Scientology originates from the Latin word scio – knowing, in the fullest sense of the word – and the Greek word logos – study of – consequently creating the equation: knowing how to know. And so, Scientology is defined as the study and handling of the spirit in relationship to itself, the universe, and other life and due to this is able to defeat the negative factors which impair man (Official Church). When Hubbard published the findings of his research in the format of a book entitled Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health on May 9th, 1950, a national movement started to form. People wanted to know more. An attorney, a publisher, a doctor, and an engineer approached Hubbard in order to form a Hubbard Dianetics Research Foundation, and so it was done. His book appeared on the New York Times bestseller list for 26 consecutive weeks causing people to want to be trained in Dianetics. Mr. Hubbard continued his research on the mind to answer who exactly was controlling the human soul. Further research and acknowledgement of the human spirit lead to the establishment of Scientology. As a result, the knowledge of this new religion began to spread all over America, England, Australia, France, Germany, New Zealand, and South Africa. And so, the first Church of Scientology was formed by a group of Scientologists in Los Angeles in February 1954. Halfway through the next decade several Scientology churches existed throughout five different countries supported by many Scientology groups in dozens of nations. In less than two generations, the concept of Scientology now flourishes on every continent. Thousands of churches exist for the religion impacting the lives of more than a million people on a daily basis (Official Church). Scientologists are convinced that the defining part of every human is the soul and the physical body is but a limiting part of existence. And so the belief includes many practices to follow through with its principal concepts. Auditing is a central practice in Scientology through which one is cleared of negative influences known as engrams –a mental image picture of a traumatic event. The purpose of auditing is to heighten spiritual awareness and to access untapped potential. The Church of Scientology beliefs the procedure to be 100% effective as long as it is properly administered by the auditor and the rules are followed with sincerity by the recipient. Not only is auditing claimed to be completely effective but is also extremely expensive which might make people question the true motives behind the practice. Auditing sessions involve two people, the person being audited and the auditor. The person being audited is referred to as a pre-Clear in modern Scientology literature. During the ritual, the auditor monitors a device known as the electro-psychometer (E-metre), which supposedly measures mental mass and energy, while the pre-Clear holds a metal cylinder in each hand which is attached to the E-metre through wires. The auditor asks the recipient a number of questions which indicate what issues might be connected to harmful engrams. Once the problem is identified, the auditor aids the pre-Clear to work through his issues while the E-metre measures his progress (Beyer).
Once the procedure of auditing, which on average takes about two years to be complete, is finished, the individual is declared clear and his next task is to become an Operating Thetan – one whose soul is at cause over matter, energy, space, time, form, and life and can operate without a physical body – because clears no longer have domain over a reactive mind as a result of the source of engrams which audit focuses on other negative influences known as body thetans. OTs acquire the knowledge of using greater portions of their untapped abilities as they become more accustomed with their true nature, thus eliminating the influence of body thetans. All auditors are ministers or ones in training and the sessions which they lead are highly confidential. They are specifically trained in the auditing process because auditing is viewed as a science and a procedure in which there are specific steps that must be followed in order for the ritual to be deemed successful (Beyer). Scientologists strive to become Operating Thetans so they understand their soul enough to be able to function without a physical body. Each thetan is believed to be billions of years old, passing from one human life to the next through reincarnation. No judgement of the soul is involved seeing as the process is automatic without any need for a certain ritual or prayer. Therefore, when a Scientologist passes, the funerals are largely for the benefit of the attendees rather than the deceased. The doctrine does not require or forbid any treatment of the body after death. The corpse may be buried or cremated, ceremonies may or may not involve a viewing of the body, and grave markers may or may not be used. Hubbard himself was cremated, requesting for no memorial to be created in remembrance and for no ceremony to follow his death; his ashes were deposited at sea (Beyer). Another well known practice of Scientology is Silent Birth in which sounds, especially talking, are kept to a minimum during childbirth. The goal is to bring the newborn into the calmest and quietest environment possible because trauma – inherent in the birthing process – imprints engrams that must later be removed through auditing. Additionally, Scientologists often avoid drugs such as epidurals during labour in order to avoid exposing the newborn to chemicals with damaging side effects. The Church of Scientology fully recognizes that childbirth is a painful process and so the mother is not restricted from cries of pain, though she is encouraged to remain as calm as possible. The process is also not required. All decisions of how their child will be born is ultimately the choice of the parents and their health professionals (Beyer). Scientology claims to be compatible with all religions. However, in his essay Scientology – An Analysis and Comparison of its Religious Systems and Doctrines Bryon R. Wilson declares that Scientology differs radically from traditional Christian churches in matters of ideology, practice, and organisation (Woodward). Christians tend to look to the Bible for the Word of God, answer to their troubles, and calmness in their storm. Within the Bible they find God`s revelation to His people. Scientologists are told that they can practice their religion of choice as long as they practice Scientology at the same time. The handbook “What is Scientology?” claims that the religion does not attempt to alter one’s beliefs or to persuade him away from any faith in which he already believes; Scientology is all denominational since it opens its membership to all faiths because it respects every religion and does not conflict with others. However, Scientologists are expected to and do become fully devoted to Scientology, thus excluding other beliefs. As Scientologists, they are required to seek answers from the research obtained by other Scientologists, searching for enlightenment only from the religion of Scientology. And so, while Christians turn to the Word of God and prayer in order to resolve their problems, Scientologists are to seek enlightenment through Scientology alone. The very basis of Christian faith is the passion of Jesus Christ meanwhile Hubbard states that all man is basically good but cannot attain expression of this until now since nobody but the individual alone can die for his sins. Hubbard claims that to have arranged things otherwise was simply to keep man in chains, which is in direct opposition to the Bible which clearly declares that Jesus Christ died for the sins of all men (Woodward). When it comes to enemies, Luke 6:27-28 and Matthew 5:38-39 advise mankind to love his adversaries, do good to those who hate him, bless those who curse him, pray for those who treat him wrong, and if someone strikes one cheek, he is to turn the other. Scientology, on the other hand, declares that an enemy may be injured by any means, tricked, sued or lied to, or destroyed in Penalties for Lover Conditions written by Hubbard. In The Missing Ingredient, the correct procedure according to Scientologists is for man to spot who is attacking him, start investigating the attacker for felonies promptly, and begin to blackmail him due to private investigation. Matthew 5:37 says to simply let yes be yes and no be no for anything beyond this comes from the evil one. Hubbard thinks that handling truth is a touchy business therefore an acceptable truth must be told at all times…even if it is not actually true. Matthew 7:17 warns Christians about false prophets, meanwhile Hubbard claims that churches are looked upon as a reform group therefore Scientologists must act like a reform group in order to be accepted. Luke 6:30 advises Christians to give to those who ask without expecting anything in return as Matthew 10:8 reminds believers that freely they have received therefore freely they must give. On the contrary, Scientology is about making money and nothing should be given away freely. Matthew 5:25 says to settle matters quickly with the adversary who is taking one to court but Scientology believes that the law can be easily used to harass, that its purpose is to harass and discourage rather than win (Stromsholm). In Galatians 2:20, Paul declares that he lives by faith through the Son of God meanwhile Hubbard stated in one of his Saint Hill tapes that Christ died for his own sins. In 1 Thessalonians 5:21 Paul says to test everything and hold onto the good, but in Keeping Scientology Working Hubbard advises Scientologists to never permit an open minded approach. In the Issue No. 5 of Ability Magazine, Hubbard declared that if mankind places the government on the chart of human evaluation, a craven psychotic will be the result for governments are insane. However, in Romans 13:1, Paul advises everyone to submit himself to the governing authorities for there is no authority except for that which God has established. In 1 Timothy 6:20-21, Christians are to turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have wondered from the faith. In his Scientology: A History of Man. Foreword Ron Hubbard claims that knowledge acquired from cults is useful because with it the blind can see, the lame can walk, the ill recover, the insane become sane, and the sane become saner. Hubbard believes that because of cults, the thousand abilities man has sought to recover become his once more. "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of Life (1 John 1:1).” Christians believe that Christianity originates because of the will of God, while in Class 8 Auditor’s Course (Confidential), Hubbard wonders how people have found Christianity, perhaps by watching madmen. Since they found it, they have used it and it became known as Christianity, the man on the cross, even if there was no Christ, Hubbard claims. Matthew 5:5 blesses the meek because they shall inherit the earth. On page 38 of Scientology: A History of Man, Hubbard states that the universe is a rough, terrible, and deadly place. Apparently only the strong survive it, and only the ruthless can own it. Finally, Luke 6:29 encourages people to forgive and forget. On MTV’s “New Religions: The Cult Question” cult spokesperson Lisa Goodman admitted Scientologists are not a turn-the-other-cheek religion in June 1955 (Stromsholm).
And so, it can be concluded that although Scientology claims to be an all-denominational religion, it is obvious that it has its beliefs set in stone and expects the members of its church to practice in its rituals. There are many differences between Scientologists and Christians. Both religions believe that man is eternal, but Scientology claims that the soul comes back to life in the form of a new body while Christianity states that the body will die but the spirit will live on forever either in heaven or in purgatory. Christians believe in forgiveness and that the transgressions of people can be washed away by the blood of Christ Jesus. Scientologists believe that the sins of people can be washed away through auditing. And so, it is fair to state that some concepts are similar but the way they are carried out is completely different. I personally would choose Christianity and faith in one God over Scientology any day. Nevertheless, the religion of Scientology is spreading around the world like wildfire. It is believed to bring knowledge, wisdom, and hope for a better life, and it is practiced by businessmen, housewives, students, artists, celebrities, laborers, scholars, soldiers, doctors, policemen and many others, much like Christianity. Sadly, Scientology is welcomed by the world today, whereas Christianity is degraded and disrespected.

Bibliography

Beyer, Catherine. "Silent Birth - Birthing Recommendations from the Church of Scientology." Alternative Religions. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 June 2013.