Can someone explain Scientology to me?

Question

I know they believe in evolution, but what do they exactly believe in and what do they practice? Do they believe in God?

Answer 1

It's a cult. This should answer your question about Scientology in relation to God:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070324130735AAGhdiD

Here's an overview of Scientology that I hope you find helpful (it's in my own words):

Scientology, which questionably calls itself a new "religion", is the brainchild of science fiction writer & occult enthusiast L. Ron Hubbard. The organization, by means of Hubbard’s self created psychotherapy technique called “Dianetics”, claims to be able to help rid members of any & all mental constraints including but not limited to emotional scarring (from this & "past" lives) due to "engrams" (past negative experiences stored in our unconscious mind), psychological disorders & chemical imbalances (the solution is to convince members that these things don't actually exist) & drug dependence (including legally prescribed psychopharmaceuticals which counteract the effects of psychological disorders Scientologists believe to be nonexistent).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dianetics#Scientific_evaluation_and_criticisms
Dianetics review: http://dir.salon.com/story/books/review/2005/06/28/dianetics/index.html
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,812852,00.html

The official Scientology organization is composed of a number of “levels”. One begins as a “preclear” & works their way up. One must purchase virtually every service crucial to advancement directly from the "church" & at staggering prices. "Auditing", for example, is purchased in 12½ hour blocks, costing anywhere from $750 for introductory sessions to between $8,000 & $9,000 for advanced sessions. Visit this link to see how $380,000 is a conservative estimate for the total cost of moving all the way up the Scientology hierarchal ladder: http://www.xenu.net/archive/prices.html
These are the total costs for auditing alone: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_as_a_business#Costs
Here’s an explanation of what “auditing” is: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061224182319AA2nnd6

At level OT III (Operating Thetan 3), some very strange & fiercely guarded secrets are imparted upon worthy members who have paid enough money to advance to such a level (and no, this isn't a joke): The evil alien ruler Xenu killed millions of aliens (Thetans) from around the universe by kidnapping them, bringing them to earth in golden DC-8 “space-planes”, stacking them around volcanoes & blowing them up by dropping “h-bombs” into the volcanoes. Scientologists believe the souls of these aliens (these souls are "Body Thetans") were captured, brainwashed & released; they then attached themselves to our ancestors (and according to Scientology’s belief in Thetan immortality, they also attached to us during “past lives”) & cause many of our mental & physical ills to this day. Auditing is said to “clear” us of these Body Thetans as well as the “mental implants” they supposedly impose on our minds.
http://sf.irk.ru/www/ot3/spaink-ot3.html
http://www.spaink.net/cos/essays/atack_ot3.html
http://xenu.net/archive/leaflet/Xenu-Letter.pdf

Scientology has taken a very hostile stance towards psychiatry & psychiatric drugs irrespective of the fact that some people require medication to remain adequately functional during everyday life. It doesn’t recognize legitimate conditions like autism, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or ANY neurological disorder / chemical imbalance at all, and the “church” has been known to withhold prescription pharmaceuticals from members (often with harmful & deadly results). The “Church” blames the psychiatry for the Holocaust, as well as school shootings and even September 11th. It’s been suggested that Hubbard’s vehement opposition was born of the psychiatric community’s rejection of his “tech” as a valid treatment method, but it’s also possible that Hubbard chose psychiatry as a scapegoat. Organizations like Scientology are notorious for villainizing a specific out-group as it fosters cohesion within the organization.
http://www.anti-scientologie.ch/usa-scientology.htm
http://www.lacitybeat.com/article.php?id=3137&IssueNum=136
http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2005/07/01/sci_psy/index_np.html?pn=1
http://perkinstragedy.org

L. Ron Hubbard, the man behind the creation of Scientology, was & still is a controversial figure. Biographies and lists of personal accomplishments differ greatly between Scientology and non-Scientology publications as the “church” tends to exaggerate and outright lie about his early life, his education, his travels, his achievements etc, preferring to paint a distorted, flattering picture. Several books and articles present facts which flatly contradict these church-published accounts (links to free online copies of these books are provided below), showing conclusively that he was NOT the brilliant, accomplished figure revered by Scientologists. During his autopsy, the sedative Vistaril™ was present in his body, which several of his assistants would later attest was only one of many psychiatric & pain medications Hubbard ingested over the years. It had also been said by many who knew Hubbard personally that at the end of his life he was “a psychopathic insane person screaming about BT's [Body Thetans]….”
http://www.apologeticsindex.org/Bare%20Faced%20Messiah.pdf
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Library/Shelf/atack/contents.htm
http://www.clambake.org/archive/books/mom/Messiah_or_Madman.txt
http://skull.piratehaven.org/~atman/factnet/lrhbare.txt

To be blunt, Scientology is a cult. It employs semi-legitimate psychotherapy & self-help methods to keep people loyal & convinced of its merit while it simultaneously sucks them dry financially & attempts to keep them far away from ANYONE, even friends & family, who would dissuade them from remaining in such a harmful situation. It’s a particularly greedy as well as manipulative & dangerous cult that takes its anti-psychiatry fanaticism to deadly limits. See these links for more information: http://www.lisamcpherson.org/
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/06/24/Tampabay/The_unperson.shtml
http://www.factnet.org/Books/SocialControl/scs.html#toc http://www.xenu.net/archive/personal_story/funkydonny.html

Answer 2

I've been a Scientologist for over 30 years, so I have somewhat better credentials than most here. Except those who answered after me, apparently :-) it's 35 years for me too.

Very briefly: It's not a matter of belief. There is an assumption that there is an "author of the universe" but how you express that belief and worship is a personal thing.

So there is no worship in Scientology, although there are non-denominational services. Plus we do a lot of work with other religions on religious tolerance.

Scientology is about improving your own abilities and spirituality in whatever direction is right for you. It's a practical subject not a theoretical one. No faith is required, just an honest look -- then if it's not for you, that's fine.

Anyway, the best way to learn what Scientology is is to read one of the books -- like "Dianetics: the Modern Science of Mental Health" (which was the first) or "Scientology: The Fundamentals of Thought". You can probably get them from a public library or you can buy them.




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Answer 3

Belief in God is not a part of Scientology, but the leader, Hubbard, said he believed in God so naturally like good sheep all the others did too.

They believe in reincarnation although they avoid use of that word. Their therapy practice (Dianetics) involves recollection of traumatic events through this life and previous ones.

The fun stuff about Xenu the destroyer is only at a very high level. By the time anyone gets that far they've already spent about $70,000 and are probably mad, so they'll accept absolutely anything they're told.

Answer 4

Here's a factual description for you:

Scientology is an applied religious philosophy. When I say "applied" I mean you actually use it in your life to change or improve existing conditions. It is a very practical religion.
All religions if you learn about them have a basic philosphy, but they also have certain dogma, rituals and observances, and a certain faith or belief is required. There is nothing wrong with this, but Scientology is not that kind of religion. It does not intrude on anyone’s faiths of beliefs in the area of God , the Supreme Being, or the Infinite. This area is left totally up to the indivdual as part of his life.
It is also not a messianic religion. This means there is no worship of prophets or messiahs in Scientology. It is not belief or faith based. A truth should be true according to ones own observation and experience.
The dictionary definition that applies:
Religion: The spiritual or emotional attitude of one who recognises the existence of superhuman power or powers.

The most basic principle of Scientology is that YOU are your own immortal soul, that this is not a "thing" you HAVE but what YOU actually are.
The whole purpose of Scientology is to increase an individual's understanding and awareness of himself. and life.And to rehabilitate his native goodness, abilities and potential.
When you do this the sphere and zone of his positive influence increases and moves outward into his life, his family ,his friends, his groups and mankind which he is part of.

How this result is achieved is the "technology" of Scientology, which was developed by L.Ron Hubbard after his extensive research and the discoveries he made, about the human spirit. The basic religious philosophy and knowledge of Scientology is very old, going back 10,000 years at least to the Veda or Vedic Hymns from the East. L. Ron Hubbard researched and made new discoveries about the human spirit. He developed technology from these discoveries to apply to increase spiritual awareness and ability.
He completed his research before his death in 1986 and left all of his results and copyrights
to the Church of Scientology along with most of his considerable personal estate, when he died.

He published a book in 1951 to communicate the basic principles he discovered called: " Scientology The Fundementals of Thought"
There are currently 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.

This is just an overview.
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. So it's not possible to fully answer your question on this forum, but I hope this helps.

Answer 5

Scientology is the study of knowledge. The study of each one of us as an individual Spiritual Being and how we can communicate, assist, improve, create and evolve into higher states of understanding.

I believe in evolution of the body occurring on earth, although I am also aware that something must have driven that evolution.

My belief consists of being able to: learn, improve, assist, discover, involve, teach, create, know, not know, decide, be cause.

Each persons belief in God is entirely personal: some believe there is no God, some believe there is alternate God/s, some believe we cannot see or experience God, some believe they can speak to God or that God speaks to them.

So who is it up to? Me, You, President Bush, our Spiritual leaders, God?

My reckoning is it comes back to what is actually true to you. I know what I know but am always willing to learn more.

My belief is: that there is an infinity of life source, we all create and perpetuate that, there are beings that are at differing levels of ability and responsibility and that there could be a Supreme Being, although I do not have specific experience or knowledge of that.

So in summary:

Scientology is something that helps.
My beliefs are basically we can all do well by learning more.
I practice techniques to improve my ability to live life.
As far as God, sure there must be something that is at the top of the Spiritual ladder.

Answer 6

I also have been a Scientology for many years now. (35)

I think that what Scientology is, is explained very well in the reference I've linked for you here.

http://www.bonafidescientology.org/Chapter/index.htm

Regards,

Pat

Answer 7

Here is a pretty accurate wikipedia site:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology

More links:

http://www.scientology.org/

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/80/story_8057_1.html

Answer 8

You had better use your search engines and check them out. I'm not going to diss them, but my personal opinion is they are a bunch of wackos.

Answer 9

This alone should tell you not to get involved: "Xenu the Alien Overlord". I'm not joking.

Answer 10

listen to Tory:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dMjwuAk7YQ