What are the Beliefs of Scientology?

Scientology is a self-help “philosophy” founded by L. Ron Hubbard (1911-1986).  Scientology makes promises of hope and happiness to those who have been brought low in life.  Time writer, Richard Behar comments:  “In reality the church is a hugely profitable global racket that survives by intimidating members and critics in a mafia-like manner.”1

On 9 May 1950, Hubbard published the book Dianetics:  The Modern Science of Mental Health.  The book sold millions of copies and is still a best seller.  Dianetics contained his psychotherapeutic and religious ideas.  From Dianetics grew Scientology, which claims to be a “church” and an “applied religious philosophy.”  Dianetics is said to open the door to sanity for individuals, families, groups, and cultures thorough its positive outlook and technologies.

The quasi-psychotherapeutic technology of measuring engrams is called auditing.  By using an E-meter electrical changes in the skin could be measured while patients discussed their past with a counselor.  Hubbard argued that engrams (mental aberrations) were responsible for unhappiness and counseling sessions with the E-meter (electronic galvanometer) could knock out these engrams.

Hubbard also developed the idea of thetans, which is likened to man’s soul or spirit.  In Scientology, the thetan is a timeless entity banished to earth almost 75 million years ago by Xenu, a galactic ruler.  The thetan reincarnates himself in interplanetary life forms.  The goal now of thetan is to stop the cycle of birth and rebirth.  Scientology promises to “clear” people of this cyclical process.

Many people who read Dianetics hope to obtain “clear” in one lifetime.  In order to be clear one must pursue the bridge to enlightenment.  The pre-clear person starts with a personality test to determine the need for Scientology.  Next follows communication courses and regular auditing.  At this point, the patient should be able to communicate effectively and be free from many psychosomatic problems.

Further auditing continues called “new era dianetics” in order to become clear.  However, to be certain one is clear a “clear certainty rundown” is given.  If the person is truly clear then he gets the “sunshine rundown” by which the cleared thetan becomes familiar again with the world.  An operating thetan (OT) seeks mastery over his environment by proceeding through eight levels (O.T. 1-8), but the highest level of O.T. 9 is only made possible to a few members.

Not only is Scientology polytheistic, but also it denies the person and work of Jesus Christ.  For a scientologist, salvation is freedom from the cycle of birth and rebirth and hell is nothing more than a myth, which cause people to be unhappy.2  It has occultic practices, one of that is called “exteriorization.”3  Exteriorization is similar to astral projection, where the OT is believed to leave his body and is able to control MEST (matter, energy, space, and time).  In the end, money and “doctrines of demons” are what Scientology is all about.

1 Richard Behar, “The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power,” Time magazine, 6 May 1991, p. 32.

2 Walter Martin, The Kingdom of the Cults (Minneapolis:  Bethany House, 1965), pp. 348-350.

3 L. Ron Hubbard, Dianetics:  The Modern Science of Mental Health (Los Angeles:  The Church of Scientology of California, 1950), p. 256.