SCIENTOLOGY

[CALIgula]

i know some hubbards...

scientology from the outside looks pretty bizarre...i prefer straight catholicism which says the homosexuals are mentally ill and that masturbating will amke you go crazy, cause your cock to fall off and send you to hell...

i was actually lying about the craziness and cock losage but apparently you will go to hell for masturbating...

at least its nice and warm down there

 

hell's gonna be crackin....everyone i know is going there....its gonna be like one big party!

[Milk Grenades]

Here it is.....don't get bored by the nerd talk. I'm actually very intelligent hahha

 

 

 

Like many new religious movements, Scientology has evolved tremendously from its initial creation. Although there are varying stories about L. Ron Hubbard’s life and how the Church came to be, the concept was first adapted, in 1950, by Hubbard in his published book titled, Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. The book offered by the Church of Scientology states, “In 1954 the first Church of Scientology was formed in Los Angeles by a group of Scientologists,” however, there are disputed claims that argue that the first Church of Scientology was founded in Camden, New Jersey by Hubbard in 1953 after declaring Scientology a religion. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L_Ron_Hubbard)

 

There are also conflicting descriptions regarding Hubbard, his mental state and where his metaphysical ideas stemmed from. The Church of Scientology, its members, and other advocates of Scientology would lead one to believe that Hubbard was a pioneering intellectual that discovered the “secrets” of life.

 

The book of Scientology offered by the Church says, “L. Ron Hubbard began his studies of the mind and spirit in the 1923, resulting in a manuscript entitled “Excalibur” in 1938. It was in this unpublished work that the word “Scientology” first appeared to describe what Mr. Hubbard termed ‘the study of knowing how to know.’” The book also offers a biography of Hubbard, his life, and the practices of Scientology.

 

These claims have been disputed by some scholars, ex-Sociologists, and even by his son L. Ron Hubbard, Jr. and ex-member Bent Corydon in a book titled L. Ron Hubbard: Messiah or Madman?. They dismiss and argue with the view the Church of Scientology depicts of Hubbard, and even go in detail about the Church’s operation and the financial abuse towards its members.

 

Many of the claims about Hubbard’s life and practices by the Church have also been disputed. To some, his life is and was a farce. The dramatic claims of heroism, personal/military accomplishments, family life and influence are all opposed by believable evidence of a man with an active imagination. “Hubbard is gone, but his church -- Scientology -- lives on as the externalization of Hubbard's paranoia. We have only too recently seen the effect that one madman can have on history and the lives of millions.”

(From Dianetics to Scientology – The Evolution of a Cult. Wakefield, Margaret. Ch. 2)

Some have even argued that Hubbard’s Scientology beliefs were actually influenced by occultist and practitioner of black magic Aleister Crowley, while living with Jack Parsons (scientists and protégé of Crowley) in Pasadena, California. (Hubbard’s Magic. Branch, Craig. Vol. 13 No. 5, 1996)

 

These opposing arguments describe a much different view of Hubbard, who instead of being a well-rounded enlightened individual, is viewed more as a person with mental disorders, paranoia, and hedonistic tendencies. Qualities which are contradictory and are in direct opposition to the obtainable qualities expressed and written about by Hubbard.

Regardless of how it began, Scientology was a set of ideas believed by a very charismatic science fiction author, and has now become a Church that can be found throughout the world.

 

Today, to many of the Churches’ members, “Scientology is a religion that offers a precise path leading to complete and certain understanding of one’s true spiritual nature and of one’s relationship with self, family, groups, mankind, all life forms, the material universe, the spiritual universe and the Supreme Being, or infinity.” (What Is Scientology?)

Scientologist also believe that many of life’s unfortunate events, illness and/or physical and emotional pain are affects of a painful, traumatic, or emotional experience in a past life. They believe that you can be relieved of the pain through a process Hubbard invented called Dianetics.

 

Dianetics is an auditing session between two people, which can release these one of these negative feelings and experiences and help them to improve their inner “Thetan” (soul). This would be possible, because to Hubbard, the body was a mechanical device operating in the physical world and that the true self was a soul or “Thetan” operating a body in that world. Improving the “Thetan” is the primary goal of Scientology, and is believed that once the needs of Thetan are fulfilled the person will improve his existence in the material world.

There are different levels that everyone begins on. The majority of participants and non-participants are said to be operating on an “unclear” level. But, through the process of Dianetic counseling and purification process, one may advance to different levels with the hope of reaching the “clear” level, and ultimately become an “Operating Thetan.” Once a person achieves that level, they have overcome all negative past experiences and their lives are promised to vastly improve.

 

Of course, there is a fee for these services, which is why “44.6% of members are between 31-40, 36% had some college experience, 18.2% had graduated college...27.3% were previously Protestant, 26% Catholic, and 23.8% had no religious affiliation before committing to Scientology. 48.5% rented an apartment, while 30.5% owned their own home.” (What Is Scientology) Many of its members are also middle to upper class. In relation to other religions, “Scientology allowed people to return to conventional careers, families, and activities. They conformed the utilitarian theory of right behaviour, with its emphasis on doing that which yields the most good consequences for oneself.” (Dawson)

Recently, celebrity Scientology members such as; Tom Cruise, John Travolta, and Isaac Hayes have brought media attention to the Church and its beliefs. This has peaked interest into the Church, increased membership, and also boosted sales of Hubbard’s works. Whether the recent attention will continue to be beneficial is yet to be seen, however, like many other new religions movements the Church of Scientology will be forced to adapt and find its place within society in order to survive.

 

While some NRMs reject changes in society and modernization, “Others , like Scientology, fashion new ways of adapting to modernity while reconfiguring the very nature of the religious marketplace (e.g. by openly turning religion into a business). (Comprehending Cults, Peter Berger, p.20) So far, the organization has been successful. While many new religious movements have refused to adapt to a changing society and decreased in size and/or influence, Scientology has yet to succumb to the pressures of modernity.

 

“There is a great deal of concern in our society about the rapid growth of new religious movements. Some even claim that a major crisis exists because of the development of new religions.” (The “Deformation” of New Religions: Impacts of Societal and Organization Factors. Richardson, James T., p.174) Most of the concern occurs when middle to upper class participants involve themselves in these organizations. Since, many of their parents and family members cannot understand why their children would break away from their lives, often times it is those parents who have heavy influence on the way these organizations are viewed. This is why “brainwashing” and “mind control” myths have evolved since many people aren’t able to understand why people would join these organizations, and in this case, a “cult”.

 

The “deformation” of new religious groups is prevalent in every NRM in the United States. Scientology, as well, shares many external factors that affect most NRMs or RMOs. These factors include, the media, social and economical pressures, parents and governmental agencies, namely the IRS, since they have the ability to rule on which groups can and cannot be tax exempt. The internal factors are the members, their own personal ideals, bureaucracy of the organization itself, and financial and personal needs of the members and Scientology as a whole.

 

All of these factors effect the way the organization operates, and continue to “deform” and change the organization. Scientology is forced to mold itself according to the internal and external factors against them. Not only does Scientology have to compete with the external factors above, but also had to compete with such organizations as the Anti-Cult Movement (ACM), the Fight Against Coercive Tactics Network (FACTnet), and the Cult Awareness Network (CAN).

 

Today, the Church boasts “eight million to fifteen million members world-wide, and has stated that Scientology is "the fastest growing religion in the world." Critics, however, state evidence suggests otherwise. The International Association of Scientologists (IAS) maintains a list of Scientologists world-wide. However, not every active Scientologist is a member of the International Association of Scientologists.”

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Scientology#_note-18)

 

These figures, like many other Church membership figures, are not reliable.

In, Religious Movement Organizations: Elemental Forms And Dynamics, John Lofland and Richardson classify basic types of religious movement organizations (RMOs). They believe that by doing so, it would vastly improve the analysis and study of RMOs. They examined, “elemental forms of them in terms of the degree of their “corporateness,” the degree to which a set of person actively promotes and participates in a shared and collective life.” (Lofland/Richardson, p.29)

 

The five basic forms that are discussed in this article are; the clinic, congregation, collective, corps, and colony. They say that it is “logically possible for RMOs to transform themselves through four, five, or more major periods in which the primary or lead organization form is changed. A few have displayed such long and transforming “chains of change,” but most do not. Or, some few RMOs elaborate all the forms; others a few; and some only one. And, taken over time, some RMOs create and disband many kinds of elemental forms.” (Lofland/Richardson, p. 43)

 

To understand the changes of Scientology, it is important to first understand the basic forms. First, “Corporateness” refers to variations in the provisions made for maintenance of the full-round of activities necessary to participant well-being.” (P.32) These are: income or other sustenance producing work, shelter or residence, food provision and eating organizations, family or other emotional support circles, collective promulgation of cognitive orientation, and a belief that the organization itself is ideal.

 

These types of classifications help the analysis of these religious movement organizations. There are varying degrees in which these groups operate, and are not as concrete or specific in nature. Different types are more conservative than others, while their ideas may be radical, and others ideas are more conservative but operate in a more radical manner. Some groups can change over time, and an example is the Christian Communal Organization which began as a “clinic,” but over time changed into a congregation, a collective, a corps, and even operated as a colony. These changes occurs because of the needs of the organization to flourish and function in society.

 

According to the attached table (Figure 1. Elemental Forms of Religious Movement Organizations), the clinic focuses on the if the arrangement viewed as ideal. The congregation requires a collective dissemination of cognitive orientation. The collective (work) relies on work and income generated within the collective, where as, the collective (household) relies on organized residence, organized provision of food and eating, and the organization of the family/support circles. Corps, relies heavily on all five; work/income generated?, residence organized?, organized provision of food and eating?, family/support circles organized?, collective dissemination of cognitive orientation?, but not so with ideals. The colony work relies on all aspects.

 

Clinics are the “most “elemental” of elemental forms”. (P.32) And, “they define themselves to the systematic distribution of cognitive orientation.” Scientology, therefore, according to Stark and Bainbridge is viewed closely to that of an “audience cult” or “client cult.” (Dawson, p.34) They say the “Church of Scientology began as a series of spontaneously arising study groups applying the method of psychological therapy developed by L. Ron Hubbard in his best-selling book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health (1975; originally published in 1950).” (p.33) However, the argument can be made that Scientology has indeed changed from this original form.

 

Indeed the Church mostly resembles the therapist/patient aspect, but since its growth as grown and incorporated many of the other forms discussed by Lofland and Richardson. The Church has learned to adapt to maintain its financial needs. Not only does the therapist/patient aspect exist, but there is also a fee. The Dianetic counseling and clearing process within Scientology is offered to all members, but for a cost. The Church reaps the financial awards of its members and “Charges for auditing and other church-related courses run from hundreds to thousands of dollars.” Because of this not only has the Church’s forms changed from Clinic to Collective, but also to Corps and Colony forms.

 

The Church has also establish a “Volunteer Ministers” program, which “send teams of Volunteer Ministers to the scenes of major, headline-grabbing disasters in order to provide assistance with relief efforts. According to critics, these relief efforts consist of passing out copies of a pamphlet authored by L. Ron Hubbard entitled The Way To Happiness, and engaging in a method of calming panicked or injured individuals known in Scientology as a ‘touch assist’.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Scientology#_note-18)

 

The incorporation of the elite Sea-Org. vessel has even attracted a communal form, however some would argue that Scientology is non-communal. However, “the Sea Org. is a more dedicated, more elite group within Scientology which exclusively staffs the higher Orgs. Advanced Organization of Los Angeles, for example, is staffed by Sea Org members. While every Org enforces rules and administers disciplinary procedures within its own portion of the larger organization which is the CoS, Sea Org members hold the highest jobs. The Sea Org is frequently characterized as the "elite" of scientology, both in terms of power within the organization and dedication to the cause. Scientologists seeking to advance within the church are encouraged to join the Sea Org., which involves devoting their full time to Scientology projects in exchange for meals, berthing, and a nominal honorarium, amounting to a vow of poverty. Members sign a contract pledging their loyalty to Scientology for "the next billion years," committing their future lifetimes to the Sea Or.”

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Scientology#_note-18)

 

The purpose, alone, is similar to what Lofland and Richardson would describe as a communal living arrangement, at least for that elite group of members.

And as the group continues to grow and change, so will its forms. The recent publicity of its celebrity endorsers have certainly kept Scientology in the media. Whether this will negatively or positively impact the group is yet to be seen. Some would say that the recent publicity will negatively impact the group as more and more people view the organization as odd or research more information about Scientology, yet others believe that attention will attract more members and increase the popularity of Scientology.

 

The Church of Scientology has been very controversial, not only in its practices, its inventor, and its ideals. Even so, the Church of Scientology has yet to disseminate. If the Churches increasing member statistics are correct, the Church has to be one of the fasted growing religious organizations. This would debunk the earlier theories of secularisation, in that religion is not going away. Not only is religion not going away, but many have not realized the impact that many of these groups have in society.

 

Until recent years, most sociologists have dismissed religion and its importance, but it is clear that throughout history, dramatic events have occurred because of these organizations and their rising influence. From Ghandi to Martin Luther King, to the civil rights movement, it is clear, or should be now, that change can come about through religious movements. It is apparent that in the United States, religion has had a tremendous affect on society, both politically (i.e. presidential elections) and humans rights such as; abortion, the death penalty and homosexuality.

 

It isn’t certain that Scientology can or will ever have as much or as large of an impact on society in the way the Christianity has, but it’s possible. After all, the early rise of Christianity began in similar ways and had once been considered a cult. And as a move against traditional religions towards non-traditional or new religious movements increases, so will the beliefs of these new organizations.

 

Religion is in no way disappearing or becoming less active as it was predicted many years ago. Religious groups and organizations have continued to adapted, change and grow with the ever-changing demands of society. These groups will and have been able to mold, shape and merge in order to survive. After all, religious groups are a reflection of ourselves, our beliefs and ideals, and our roles that we play in society. Humans invented these because of certain needs, and we shouldn’t forget our creativity.