Scientology?

Question

Anyone know why L Ron Hubbard started the religion? Whether or not he meant it to be a joke but it caught on or did he lose the plot after writing so many sci-fi books? For those that dont know, scientology was created by this famous scifi writer and believes the human race was an exiled force from another planet 75 million years ago!!! LOL

Answer 1

L. Ron Hubbard has been quoted as saying: "Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion" http://lisatrust.freewinds.cx/scientology/hubbard.htm

The cult is mostly a high powered scam. It pays members 10% commissions, called FSM (Field Staff Member) commissions, on new recruits they bring in who take a course or get counseling, so Scientology members routinely try to "sell" Scientology to others.

The new members then, in turn, donate vast amounts of money to the "church". Here is a run-down of all the costs involved with Scientology: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_as_a_business#Costs

Here is testimony from a woman who had been involved in exposing Scientology and other cults for most of her adult life: http://www.clambake.org/archive/books/tsos/sos-19.html

Even more proof that Scientology is out for your money... here is Hubbard discussing turning Scientology into a "religion" for profit:

"I am not quite sure what we would call the place - probably not a clinic - but I am sure that it ought to be a company, independent of the HAS but fed by the HAS. We don't want a clinic. We want one in operation but not in name. Perhaps we could call it a Spiritual Guidance Center. Think up its name, will you. And we could put in nice desks and our boys in neat blue with diplomas on the walls and 1. knock psychotherapy into history and 2. make enough money to shine up my operating scope and 3. keep the HAS solvent. It is a problem of practical business. I await your reaction on the religion angle. In my opinion, we couldn't get worse public opinion than we have had or have less customers with what we've got to sell. A religious charter would be necessary in Pennsylvania or NJ to make it stick. But I sure could make it stick." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_controversy#L._Ron_Hubbard_and_starting_a_religion_for_money

Answer 2

Some documents written by Hubbard himself suggest he regarded Scientology as a business, not a religion. In one letter dated April 10, 1953, he says calling Scientology a religion solves "a problem of practical business", and status as a religion achieves something "more equitable...with what we've got to sell". In a 1962 official policy letter, he said "Scientology 1970 is being planned on a religious organization basis throughout the world. This will not upset in any way the usual activities of any organization. It is entirely a matter for accountants and solicitors."[32] A Reader's Digest article of May 1980 quoted Hubbard as saying in the 1940s "Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion."

Answer 3

Well I'm not sure if you are actually asking a question here or just gleefully filling us all in on your opinions about Scientology.LOL

Scientology deals with the spiritual nature of man and exact workable practical knowledge and technologies to attain spiritual freedom understanding and awareness.

That makes it a religion by definition. Religion is the only catagory on this planet that acknowldges the existence of something more than the Material Universe.

So when he came across the fact of the human spirit in his research he arrived in the domain of religion. That's the reason why Scientology is a religion.

The fact that he was a successful fiction writer and author (not just science fiction) enabled him to finance his own independant research so he could make his discoveries and developments
available to anyone who was interested.
L. Ron Hubbard explained fully the theology and technologies of Scientology in more than 500,000 pages of writings, including dozens of books and over 2,000 tape-recorded public lectures
Currently there are over 10 million Scientologists in more than 163 countries world wide. However we are a new religion, only 53 years old.
The true story of Scientology as a religion goes like this:
1. A philosopher developes a philosophy about life and death.
2. People find it interesting.
3. People find it works.
4. People pass it along to others.
5. It grows.

These are just a few facts, for those that don't know............

Answer 4

My best guess is that his life was taken over by the sci-fi, he got so wrapped in his little world that to him it became a reality of some kind. I think that's why it's mostly the fictious related movie stars that have taken up this religion coz they live in dream land

Answer 5

I don't know, but he wasn't a very successful sci-fi writer. Anybody watch that farce that John Travolta was in? I can't even remember what it was called.....

Answer 6

It could have been a bet. However it's alot like the masons it is great on the lower levels .

Answer 7

That sounds about as logical as believing in some omnipotent invisible being that has never shown himself to his followers but they talk yo him anyway.

We don't KNOW which is right or which is wrong.

Answer 8

Its for the sci-fi fanatics.

Answer 9

I think that scientology is one of the least credible beliefs anyone can have, it's crap.

Answer 10

Good way to get money though! Don't they have to give up a hell of a lot of their earnings?