"Cigarettes don't cause cancer. It's not smoking enough cigarettes that causes cancer." - L. Ron Hubbard ?

Question

Did L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, really make that incredibly stupid remark?

When and where did he say it? Was he drunk or high on something?

No use asking me for context or source - I'm posting the question here on YA because I want to track the quotation down and find the context and source.

Answer 1

Here's the complete statement by L. Ron Hubbard in regard to cancer sufferers:

"Well, there are societies in England that are having an awfully good time fighting the cigarette. They can't do anything else, so they fight cigarettes. And they say that the cigarette causes lung cancer. And they've - you've been hearing something of this, I'm sure. Yeah. Not smoking enough will cause lung cancer. Not smoking enough will cause lung cancer! If anybody is getting a cancerous activity in the
lung, the probabilities are that it's radiation dosage coupled with the fact that he smokes. And what it does is start to run out the radiation dosage, don't you see.. But I'd say that would be better than not running out any of the radiation dosage at all and the number of lung cancer cases which exist, of course, that don't smoke are just forgotten by these societies, but they are very numerous."

Answer 2

Yes cigarette smoking is still the most common cause of some cancers particularly in the lung and in the oral cavity. Each cigarette can contain around 50 carcinogenic agents. There are varied reasons for smoking like peer pressure or it was seen in the family. But the underlying reason for smoking is due to the natural "high" or satisfaction that the cigarette provides the person.

Answer 3

If you wanted to track it down or verify it why not do this with your own source , instead of posting it on here and pretending to be asking a question when you are really just trying to make a critical statement about L.Ron Hubbard.

No one on this forum has read any basic material written by Hubbard except for a handful of Scientologists like myself. And I'm not going to help you with your religion bashing. Except to confirm that "quoting" some one out of context is one of the oldest tricks to make someone look "incredibly stupid" .The media do it all the time too.

Answer 4

I don't know why your question ended up on the R&S website or exactly what research referance to, but here goes. Please don't get mad but this info is posted in many different clinics and / or doctor's offices. Cigarrette smoking is not the cause of cancer, we are all born with cancer cells in our bodies and something / carcinogens make the cancer cells grow. A person's susceptibility to cancer is determined by his or her genetic make-up, which is inherited. The triggers that may provoke cancerous changes in susceptible individuals range from sunlight and viruses to alcohol, chemicals in enviromental pollutants, tar in tobacco smoke, and dietary factors such as fat. Two, three or more such triggers may interact to cause cancers in the skin or internal organs. Apart from childhood cancers, which may be associated with events during pregnancy, such as exposure to radiation, most cancers are a feature of aging. I don't know anything about your beef with Doctor L. Ron Hubbard, but he is a highly respected doctor in the medical field. Doctors don't have all the answers but, you have to admit it , they are very smart and learned people. I respect their ability of knowledge, it is a gift from God to have knowledge and wisdom. May God Bless You. It was a good question.

Answer 5

cigarettes cancer smoking cigarettes cancer ron hubbard

Answer 6

I dont remember anything like that. But then again, when he was saying his stuff was in the 1950's. He was a researcher, and Dianetics was published in 1949. It would have been hard to research any other answer than that.

On the other hand, he was very much against drugs and anything that was at all addictive so if he had bothered to consider it at all I figure he would have come out against it (an extremely unpopular view back then)

Answer 7

Actually, this is a phrase taken out of context. He was speaking about radiation causing lung cancer. I don't completely understand the reference, but he wasn't saying that people should smoke.

Answer 8

How about leaving your soul behind for the Jinn to take over, isn't that even worse. They are made from smoke and fire, wonder what smoking is? Is it not fire to light and smoke the effect of your result to yourself.
Wonder why so many choose this path, when the path to purity was leaned out long ago?

Answer 9

I don't know much about him except he is a sci-fi writer...and a cult was started by him based on one of his strange books. Kind of similar to the long lasting cult started by another book writer a little over a hundred years ago...I think his last name was Smith or something....

Answer 10

Hubbard was often high. That's documented.

It sounds like something he would say. But then what would one expect from a pulp fiction SciFi author who created a religion to make money for himself?