Info needed on Scientology?

Question

I have see an old show (I am sad to say) of South Park and it was about Scientology. This was my only exposure to "what they believe."
Could someone give me a good web site that has a brief overview (not a nine year reading session) on this?
I just want to educate myself a little.
Thanks.

Answer 1

Here's a comprehensive overview (in my own words). I'm sure it's a bit longer than what you're looking for, but half of it is cited sources (you don't have to click on every link, it's just to make sure that people realize that I can substantiate everything I'm posting). I hope it helps you to better understand Scientology's origins, history, beliefs, practices, intentions, etc.

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 would say to start with Dianetics.

Know that the ONLY thing Scientology is, is the study of the words written by L. Ron Hubbard, and the lectures he gave. So go straight to the source to find out the truth about the subject, rather than someone's interpretation.

That said - I'll tell you that Scientology is an applied religious philosophy, rather than a belief system. No Scientologist is ever told what to BELIEVE - rather, we learn tools that we can apply to ourselves and others whom we are helping, and our lives.

We apply the tools, and we see that the situation improves. We learn more. Apply those tools, and see that situation improve. And so on.

When I got into Scientology, I had a terrible relationship with my parents. I no longer spoke with my mom, I resented my dad. I had a very difficult time dealing with my life and relationships after I survived being raped. I went to psychologists, a psychiatrist, I became a rape crisis counselor myself. I did everything I could to truly put this experience behind me.

I hated men. The whole lot of them. I wanted a family, but did not see how that would ever happen for me. My relationships were a mess.

After about 30 minutes - 30 MINUTES - of a Scientology spiritual counseling session, it was OVER. The past trauma - which I had been taught as a rape crisis counselor, and could see through my work in this area, would NEVER be gone - was totally - completely - gone.

It's been almost two decades since then. I can tell you - that trauma is Gone, Gone, Gone, and never returned.

I have a wonderful husband who is my best friend, and lovely - Lovely! - children.

This was miraculous to me, as I was certain that the lingering troubles from that rape experience would never leave me.

But it was easy! It just - vanished! And with it, my resentments, my fears, my anger about the whole situation.

Since then, Scientology has helped me in more ways than I could count. I can understand things more easily, my ability to study and retain what I learn has improved drastically, my willingness to go after my own goals has increased tenfold. I am more patient, more understanding, and more loving towards other people.

I could go on and on. But you asked for something short, and I've already said way more than that!

Try this: http://www.dianetics.org - it's a very good website with a lot of info.

Answer 3

Here is a very good non-sided answer
http://www.religioustolerance.org/scientol1.htm

also Wikipedia is always a good place to do research
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology

According to anti-scientology sites, most people just take the cheaper first two courses (communication and how to study better) then leave it. Thats what I did. Great courses. Better (and cheaper) than most of the college courses I took.

Answer 4

Unofficial collaborative websites are not going to give you factual data. Official websites will direct you to Scientology materials, basic books and lectures which explain what Scientology is.
Here is a factual description based on my own knowledge
as a Scientologist. (for the past 36 years)

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.

I hope this gives you the "info" you asked for.

Answer 5

Read one of L Ron Hubbards Science Fiction books and then part of one of his Scientology books. BTW, he made a bet after drinking at a SciFi Con that he could start a religion.

Answer 6

An evil cult, just better off to stay away..

Answer 7

just one comment about it from my part, if you are going to join, take money... lots of money