Is L Ron Hubbard considered to be God in Scientology, or more of a prophet?

Answer 1

Scientology does not consider Hubbard to be a God or a prophet, but as a man who used his life's experiences and his research into the mind and spirit, and managed to put together a technology which are helping people change their lives for the better, something which is desperately needed in society today.

He was a much loved friend and teacher and continues to be respected and admired, not worshipped.

Answer 2

I'd say he's just the leader. Originally, he invented a practice called Dianetics. This was published in Astounding/Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact. But it didn't sell. So he told Campbell, the editor (who had fallen for it, much to his later embarrassment) he was going to invent a religion. And he changed the name to Scientology, and built a simple gadget to measure, if I recall correctly, skin resistance (which is determined by how damp the skin is) and this is called an E meter and is used to determine the truthfulness of your answers to the therapist's questions. There are various levels of training, with the highest levels called pre-clear and clear. Supposedly if you go through this process, which costs a lot of money, you will be more sane in the end. Psychology is condemned; if the religion didn't condemn it, people would recognize that what he was doing was warmed-over psychology. Eventually he made enough money that he bought a small fleet of ships (I think there was more than one). These were called the Sea Org, and he liked to go sailing in these with his preferred followers. Eventually he became quite a cruel man and a book was written about this (which I have read). He also invented a planet (which I don't remember the name of), which supposedly was connected to this somehow. All of it was from his fertile imagination. Yes, he did write several science fiction books, as well as a number of books about Scientology. You have to be careful what you say about them because they are the most litigious religion on the planet. Hubbard is now deceased, but he would have been regarded as a prophet or messiah, not a god.

I don't know if you are aware of the Terri Schiavo case that happened in Florida, where a woman in her 40's was dehydrated to death because she couldn't talk and had quite a bit of paralysis of her limbs. I have seen some claims that this was connected to Scientology. Terri was always a Catholic, but the town where she lived has a lot of Scientologists living in it, and they don't have any patience with disabled people.

Answer 3

He's TREATED as a prophet. His word, both spoken and in print, is NEVER up for interpretation. They treat it as infallible.

He 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://lisatrust.bogie.nl/scientology/essays/jeff-hubbard.htm
http://www.clambake.org/archive/books/mom/Messiah_or_Madman.txt

Answer 4

I don't like to consider him either. He was a man. Pretty good SF writer.
A lot of glorification and damnation of him is done by both sides of the "fence".
If you read any of his non-SF books - especially the earliest ones- you may find them logical, practical and usable - as I, and countless others, did.
If you listen to the Church - he was A PERFECT man - far from the truth. If you listen to the critics, ...well you have and you know what they say.
Form your own opinion- not based on either bias.
Use what you can of what he wrote - with no influence from others- and you just might find it beneficial...and no it won't brainwash you any more than reading the Hardy Boys will make you a detective.
Relax.
Life is a learning experience. Don't make the mistake (because of the inflated claims or scathing criticisms) of becoming a blind follower or "throwing the baby out with the bath water".
One statement he made which I apply to my learning is: "What is true for you is what you have observed for yourself".

Answer 5

Im an ex-scientologist.
He is neither one. They believe in God and they know that Hubbard didnt research God for them. :)

He only researched the course material. Sponged up a ton of self-help stuff from a hundred sources and put it together into their course material. He is the founder of scientology only.

Answer 6

They make him out to be like a god for all his accomplishments and his kindness to humanity. They may see him as a prophet but I've never read anywhere where they use that term. Unfortunately alot of what they believe about him is completely false.

Answer 7

Prophet by day, science fiction author by night...he is Crazy Man (play Adam West era Batman theme)

Answer 8

I don't know what he is considered by the believers but he is the greatest crook that ever lived...he found a way to part people from their money and make them beg him and his appointed court to take it....you pay for each leap you make up the ladder,,,,much money to rise to the top,,,,and they don't even realize how much money it cost them to be a real good believer.....what a racket!

Answer 9

Put it this way: He's a Science Fiction author.....

Answer 10

In this case especially, the spelling of prophet is with "it" instead of "phet".......