What is Scientology?

Question

I'ver heard a lot of crazy things. I'd like to know their real beliefs.

Answer 1

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). Their “treatment” of substance abuse includes little more than massive doses of vitamins and extended sessions in a sauna.
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
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Narconon/detox.htm

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 $200-$750 for introductory sessions to between $8,000 & $9,000 for advanced sessions. Basically, Scientology claims to possess exclusive knowledge of the path to religious redemption & then charges obscene amounts of money for every little baby step towards this end. 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, epilepsy, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or ANY neurological disorder / chemical imbalance at all, & the “church” has been known to withhold prescription pharmaceuticals from members (often with harmful & deadly results). The “Church” blames psychiatry for the Holocaust, as well as school shootings & 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 said 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 & lists of personal accomplishments differ greatly between Scientology & non-Scientology publications as the “church” tends to exaggerate & outright lie about his early life, his education, his travels, his achievements etc, preferring to paint a distorted, flattering picture. Several books & articles present facts which flatly contradict these church-published accounts (links to free online copies of these books & articles 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 bullies all known critics, opponents, “enemies”, etc, often through malicious litigation & character assassination. It’s a particularly greedy as well as manipulative & dangerous cult that takes its anti-psychiatry fanaticism to deadly limits.
http://www.solitarytrees.net/racism/harass.htm#start
http://www.factnet.org/Books/SocialControl/scs.html#toc
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/06/24/Tampabay/The_unperson.shtml
http://www.xenu.net/archive/personal_story/funkydonny.html

Answer 2

I actually stumbled on a site about Scientology and then went looking for more. Don't remember all the details, but the gist of it seems to be - An evil dictator named Xenu tricked his enemys (this was all on another planet) into "space planes" that just happened to look like DC10s, then crashed the planes into volcanoes on the planet Earth, then blew the volcanoes up, and all the spirits of these angry (you think?) aliens came up out of the volcanoes and are still wandering around. They take up residence in human beings and their anger is the cause of all our problems. Seriously. But you don't learn this until you get to a very high level in Scientology, at which point you have spent thousands of dollars paying for each preceeding level. By then, I guess you're so hooked on this stuff that you'll believe anything they feed you. Oh, and one way you move from level to level is sitting and holding metal cans connected by a string (remember making a "telephone" when you were a kid?) while you tell all your secrets to the "official" in order to "get clear".

As Dave Barry says, I am not making this up.

Answer 3

The word Scientology literally means "the study of truth." It comes from the Latin word "scio" meaning "knowing in the fullest sense of the word" and the Greek word "logos" meaning "study of."
Scientology is the study and handling of the spirit in relationship to itself, others and all of life. The religion comprises a body of knowledge extending from certain fundamental truths. Prime among these: Man is an immortal, spiritual being. His experience extends well beyond a single lifetime. His capabilities are unlimited, even if not presently realized — and those capabilities can be realized. He is able to not only solve his own problems, accomplish his goals and gain lasting happiness, but also achieve new, higher states of awareness and ability. In Scientology no one is asked to accept anything as belief or on faith. That which is true for you is what you have observed to be true. An individual discovers for himself that Scientology works by personally applying its principles and observing or experiencing results. Through Scientology, people all over the world are achieving the long-sought goal of true spiritual release and freedom.

Love & Blessings
Milly

Answer 4

I've been a Scientologist for over 16 years. I've been on staff in the past. I am pretty much an expert on Scientology. :)

First, you should understand that Scientology isn't about "beliefs" - L. Ron Hubbard repeatedly stated that what is true for you is what you have observed for yourself. There is no need to believe something that you're told to believe.

This is what Hubbard refers to in an essay entitled Personal Integrity.

http://www.scientologytoday.org/LRH/Founder/pg0138.htm

This is a primary consideration in Scientology. NO ONE is told to BELIEVE anything.

Because Scientology is an applied religious philosophy, one learns tools one can use in life to improve his life, or the lives of others.

You learn the techniques, you apply them. That's the basic idea, really.

The only thing that I will say most Scientologists believe is this - we are spiritual beings.

That isn't a requirement to begin using Scientology - but it pretty much becomes real to the person eventually.

Other than that, Hubbard shared his viewpoints on life and the spirit, but there is no requirement to believe anything.

I recommend you pick up a copy of Dianetics, actually, if you're really curious. You can find it at a bookstore like Waldenbooks or Barnes & Noble.

Answer 5

From what little I've heard of it I suppose it's a man-made religon developed by a science fiction writer, which teaches the belief that you are god. I never was curious enough to want to learn more, but I will look at some of the other answers to your question.

Answer 6

Scientology is "An organized body of scientific research knowledge concerning life, life sources and the mind, and includes practices that improve the intelligence, state and conduct of persons."

The practices that imporve the intelligence, state and conduct of persons are auditing (individual counselling) and training.

Scientology holds to be true that man is a composite being, that is, he is not just a body, but a combination body, mind, and spirit. The spirit part they call a "thetan" from the Greek word "theta" meaning thought. A thetan is capable of considerations, postulates and opinions, and survives body death.

Answer 7

Scientology is the study of consciousness - life energy - the soul - call it what you like. It is the study of you. The so called "Church of Scientology" that Tom cruise promotes is a cult designed to separate you from your money, but the subject itself is pretty cool. Check out the Freezone sites.

Answer 8

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 3,000 tape-recorded public lectures. So it's not possible to fully answer your question on this forum, but I hope this helps.

Answer 9

The crazy stories you hear are only available at very high levels of progress up the cult's ladder (they call it 'The Bridge'.) You'd have to spend about $70,000 to get that far. What is means for most of them is going over traumatic events in their lives while hooked up to a meter to register response. Once they've done all the traumatic events of their own lives, they start on pre-birth traumatic events, like being squashed in the womb while their mother was straining to take a dump. (I'm not making this up, it's in their basic book 'Dianetics'.) After they've done all the pre-birth events, it's time to go over the traumatic events in all their previous lives... if you believe in that.

Oh and they've been linked to a whole host of mysterious deaths and their administrative wing the 'Sea Org' is alleged to practice slavery. But don't take my word for it. I'm sure a helpful person's going to turn up here with some Internet links. If they don't, have a look yourself.

Scientology's most vocal critics are ex-Scientologists, which should tell you something.

If any Scientologists answer your question, ignore them.

Answer 10

The beliefs of the group are contained in the Creed of a Scientologist.

http://www.scientologytoday.org/Common/question/pg33.htm

Personally as a Scientologist I believe that all people have the ability to improve themselves in their own estimation. An able person is someone who can control their environment for the benefit of self and others.

Is Scientology open to anyone?

http://www.scientologytoday.org/Common/question/pg30.htm

Answer 11

Typical man made religion, like Christianity, Judaism, and Mormonism. All nonsense.