This section examines the beliefs and practices of Scientology. For a further examination of Scientology, see the main Wikipedia article on Scientology.
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2 Auditing 3 Scientology and God 4 The Tech 5 The Bridge 6 Secret writings 7 Similarity to Gnosticism 8 Scientology and Psychiatry 9 Related topics |
The central tenets of Scientology are based on the belief that a person is an immortal spiritual being (referred to as a thetan) who has a mind and a body, but is neither of these, that he is basically good, and that he is seeking to survive.
Scientology holds that man's survival depends upon himself, and upon his fellows, and his attainment of brotherhood with the universe. Hubbard defined the state of "survival" as a series of eight categories, which he referred to as the eight dynamics: 1. the individual, 2. the family and through sex, 3. groups, 4. mankind, 5. the animal kingdom, 6.the physical universe, 7. a spiritual being, and 8. as part of infinite reality (God). Because Scientology teaches that furthering "existence" is the preferred spiritual path, a common phrase used within the organization is: "The greatest good for the greatest number of dynamics." Critics of Scientology state that this goal is designed to ensure that all actions made by Scientologists benefit the organization of Scientology, first and foremost, before any other accomplishments are taken into consideration.
Dianetics taught that a person's upsets, limitations and harmful acts can be attributed in part to a portion of his mind of which he is normally unaware, called the reactive mind (the bank in Scientology.) This portion of the mind is believed to store exact impressions (engrams) of past events which occurred while the person was unconscious or otherwise not completely aware. These engrams can be restimulated when the current situation closely matches the contents of the engram, causing irrational emotional responses or psychosomatic illnesses. The aware portion of a person's mind is referred to as the analytical mind.
Scientology takes a much broader view, and considers engrams (incidents involving physical trauma) to be one of the less important forms of entheta (enturbulated spirit) that make up the reactive bank. Others include Goal-Problem Masses (GPMs), Entities (disembodied spirits that are trying to get one's attention) and implants (mental pictures that have been forcibly planted in one's mind as a means of mind control).
The central practice of Scientology, and Dianetics before it, is an activity known as auditing (listening) which Scientologists claim seeks to elevate an adherent to a State of Clear, that being one of freedom from the influences of the reactive mind. The practice is one wherein a counselor called an auditor addresses a series of questions to a preclear, observes and records his responses, and acknowledges them.
In Dianetics, Hubbard laid out the process of Dianetic reverie as a way of "clearing" the mind of harmful engrams. The earliest forms of Dianetics processing, still practiced today, involved a process reminiscent of Freudian psychoanalysis, with the preclear reclining on a couch in a reflective state called Dianetic reverie while the auditor guided the focus of the reverie from a chair nearby and took notes, predicating his questions and responses on utterances by the preclear and a number of physiological indications. This process was meant to find engrams, and once found, to repeat them over and over in the preclear's mind, thus getting it out of his system. Original Dianetics auditing techniques dealt exclusively with the preclear's current life and focused mainly on physical injuries sustained by him.
Scientology takes the auditing process further, focusing more on mental trauma than on physical injuries and routinely dealing with the preclear's past lives, some "hundreds of millions of years" in the past. (In such Scientology publications as Have You Lived Before This Life, Hubbard himself wrote about past life experiences dating back billions and even trillions of years--even though the estimated age of the universe is believed to be about 13.5 billion years. This is only an apparent contradiction, as Scientology--like many other faiths which accept reincarnation--teaches that most Thetans have existed in previous universes before the current one.)
Most later forms of auditing employ a device called the Hubbard Electropsychometer (or E-Meter). This is a device which measures changes in the electrical resistance of the preclear's skin by passing approximately 1/2 volt through a pair of tin-plated tubes much like empty soup cans, attached to the meter by wires and held by the preclear during auditing.
These low-potential changes in electrical resistance, known as the galvanic skin response, caused by additional moisture, are similar to those measured by polygraphs and related machines, and are believed by Scientologists to be a reliable and precise indication of mental tension in the preclear.
Critics of Scientology point to a lack of scientific basis for the E-meter and other practices. In an interesting, if somewhat contradictory response, the church has claimed on the one hand that Scientology is a religion and not science and therefore does not seek scientific support -- and on the other, that just as a polygraph may use electrical conductivity of the skin to indicate whether one is comfortable with questions and answers, so may any instrument which measures galvanic response. E-Meters cost over $4000, even though they only take 80 minutes to assemble and contain no particularly expensive components. [1]
The aim of auditing, according to the Church of Scientology, is to enable the preclear to recover awareness and volitional control of the material previously stored in his reactive mind. Critics of Scientology have claimed that an audit is, among other things, a gathering of material for blackmail in the case that a Clear should leave the religion. The Church of Scientology publicly denies this theory. However, it acknowledges that it keeps extensive archives of auditing records for every auditing session managed by the Church. These personal records of all Scientologists are called PC folders ("Preclear folders"), and the Church of Scientology states that these records are kept absolutely confidential. Critics and former members contest this claim. Numerous accounts are given by former members of Scientology, who claim that information from their PC folders are routinely used for purposes of blackmail and personal ruin.
Scientology acknowledges the existence of a Supreme Being (referred to as "the 8th Dynamic",) but holds that there is nothing to be gained from worship.
Scientology bases its teachings on the writings of L. Ron Hubbard. over a period of over thirty years, Hubbard developed an enormous body of instructions, rules, and regulations for properly "applying" Scientology. These writings, which are looked upon as scripture in Scientology, are officially known as "Advanced Technology," though among Scientologists, Hubbard's teachings are referred to as Standard Tech or simply The Tech. As the developer of the Tech, Hubbard himself is referred to as Source, and his writings are considered the only true source of the Tech. Scientology teaches that Hubbard's instructions lay out an absolute, unchangeable course for all Scientologists to follow, without exception. The Tech is believed to have a "100% success rate," and it is often stated within Scientology that the Tech always works. If a Scientologist encounters problems, failures, or other obstacles when attempting to apply the Tech, then these problems are always the fault of the student or practicitioner; the Tech is always correct. Because the Tech never fails, according to Scientology, it must always be delivered to Scientologists in its purest form, as close to Hubbard's original intent and delivery as possible. To ensure that the Tech is delivered in this fashion, Hubbard incorporated a number of safeguards into the Tech that prevent the Tech from being "altered" or changed from its original form.
In the years of developing and promoting Scientology, Hubbard developed the Technical Dictionary (ISBN 0686308034, ISBN 0884040372), an immense lexicon of literally hundreds of words, terms, and definitions that are used by Scientologists on a regular basis. He redefined many terms of regular English to have entirely different meanings within Scientology. This is one reason why Scientology and Dianetics place a heavy emphasis on "understanding" words. Hubbard even wrote a book entitled How To Use A Dictionary, in which he defined the methods of correcting "misunderstoods" (a Scientology term referring to a "misunderstood word," or a word whose proper, Scientology-approved definition is required). The exclusivity of these terms can make it difficult for readers unfamiliar with Scientology to understand many of Hubbard's statements, such as: The ability of an individual to assume the beingness, doingness and havingness of each Dynamic is an index to his ability to live. (L. Ron Hubbard, The Conditions of Existence) Critics of Scientology have accused Hubbard of "loading the language" and using Scientology terms to keep Scientologists from interacting with information sources outside of Scientology (see cult for additional information). Hubbard explained his use of language as follows:
One of the more controversial aspects of Scientology is the tendency of its members to avoid answering direct questions about their faith with anything but a quote from L. Ron Hubbard. Observers have noted an ongoing policy in Scientology that forbids actual discussion of the processes of Scientology and how they work. In Scientology teachings, the Tech can only be delivered to Scientologists in its original written form. The act of discussing Scientology processes in a spoken manner is called "verbal tech," and this is believed to be a blemish upon the working of the Tech. Because the actual discussion of the Tech is not coming from Source (Hubbard himself), it is being diluted and it is no longer 100% pure. As a result, engaging in "verbal tech" is forbidden within Scientology. This disallowing of "verbal tech" prevents Scientologists from discussing or explaining the actual workings of what Scientology is and how "it works," in any form other than the actual study of Source (namely Hubbard's original writings).
Scientology contends that this policy of forbidding "verbal tech" is in order to keep the Tech pure and unadultered, and to prevent students from passing on their misunderstandings of Hubbard's instructions to others.
Critics claim that the safeguards built into the Tech are designed to secure Hubbard's absolute authority over Scientology, as they effectively prevent Scientologists from actually questioning the policies of Scientology. Hubbard's position as Source ensures that his writings are enforced as the final authority in Scientology, and they can never be questioned; even the act of merely talking about his writings without proper supervision is discouraged, lest the person questioning Hubbard's authorities be labeled P.T.S. (or worse, an S.P.), and required to undergo Scientology ethics.
The system of ethics within Scientology was developed by Hubbard as a way of ensuring "the greatest good for the greatest number of dynamics." However, critics and former members of Scientology describe the ethics system as a method of social control designed to enforce strict behavior and obedience among Scientologists. The ethics system definies a number of "conditions" that are considered undesirable; when a Scientologist is classified as having a "condition of liability," a "condition of doubt," or a "condition of treason" (among others), then ethics requires the person to resolve ("handle") this condition and move towards a more positive "condition of normal operation," "condition of affluence," and "condition of power." The system for moving to these higher conditions involves a complicated, detailed process of confession and penance involving the submission of written reports containing detailed descriptions of the thoughts and actions that placed the Scientologist into the "lower conditions." Ethics also involves the use of security checks, called "sec checks" within the organization, in which the Scientologist will work with an auditor to answer a long series of confessional questions. During these "sec checks" the E-meter is used to determine when a truthful answer is given, in a manner similar to the use of a lie detector.
Scientology also claims that unauthorized distribution of the Tech in any form other than Source will prevent it from being properly applied. This, the church contends, is the reason why it opposes distribution of Hubbard's writings by any party other than the actual Church of Scientology. In order to keep the Tech pure, the Church has fanatically pursued both its critics and individual breakway groups who have attempted to practice Scientology outside the official Church. The act of applying the Tech in a form outside Source is called "squirreling" within Scientology, and this is considered a high crime.
The ultimate goal of Scientology teaching is to reach the highest level of "awareness," or the state of Clear. Hubbard originally claimed that a person who obtained the "state of Clear" would find himself able to use "100%" of his mind, and engage in superhuman feats of mental skill; though these claims have been debunked over the years. Scientology still promotes the State of Clear as a goal to be reached, though in a spiritual sense rather than a physical or mental one. Scientology courses are intended to provide a path to the state of Clear. Scientology promotes this as the Bridge to Total Freedom, and it encourages all Scientologists to "move up the Bridge" towards this level of awareness. Moving to higher levels on the Bridge takes precedence over all other duties in Scientology, and all tasks performed by Scientologists are seen as a step towards "moving up the Bridge."
Critics of Scientology note that the cost of "moving up the Bridge" becomes increasingly greater as one proceeds further into Scientology initiation. This cost, which amounts to tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars by the time the upper levels are reached, is the source of enormous tension between Scientology, its critics, and Scientologists who eventually leave the organization before obtaining the state of Clear, or after it. (See Church of Scientology for additional details of its costs.)
Upon reaching the state of Clear, a Scientologist's goals are then set to the next level. After becoming Clear, Scientology encourages its adherents to move towards the level of Operating Thetan (OT). It is at this point that the controversy over the "secret" teachings of Scientology becomes prominent to anyone attempting to study its beliefs, whether inside or outside the organization.
The church acknowledges that at the higher levels of initiation (OT levels), teachings are imparted which may be considered "mystical", and potentially harmful to unprepared readers. These teachings are kept secret from members who have not reached these levels.
One of the premises of the church of Scientology is that the OT levels are meant to be an empirical subject, something one "discovers for oneself," through processing (auditing). If a person reads "distorted" versions of the higher level teachings, the church claims, one is likely to question one's own experience when "in session" -- thereby sabotaging the process. According to the church, it opposes the distribution of the "secret" levels in order to protect them (and Scientologists attaining them) from contamination by outside sources.
In the Church of Scientology vs. Fishman and Geertz case, former Scientologist Steven Fishman introduced as evidence what appeared to be Hubbard's OT I through OT VIII documents, of which a small portion known as the Xenu story has received much media attention. Xenu, according to the documents, was an evil galactic overlord who oppressed free spirits with science fiction-like tactics in the Earth's distant past (at which time planet Earth was known as Teegeeack.) The Fishman affidavit became public domain as a court document, and contains confidential course materials sold at a high cost. The church subsequently dropped the case against Fishman and petitioned the court to seal the documents, without formally acknowledging their authenticity.
The Church has also used copyright law to sue others who have published portions of these and other documents. Nevertheless, these documents are today widely available on the Net -- publicized by critics, scholars of religion, and interested observers.
There are similarities between Scientology and Gnosticism. The three-part mind partitioning (body, soul, spirit) is identical to that of some Gnostic teachings. The low regard for matter (by Hubbard called MEST, Matter-Energy-Space-Time, with reference to the modern physics concepts of matter) in contrast to spirit is also mirrored in Gnosticism. Some Gnostics believed that every human had a unique spiritual core, called pneuma (Greek for "spirit" or "ghost"). This is very similar to the thetan concept of Scientology. The esotericism of Scientology is also similar to such beliefs in Gnosticism.
Scientology rejects the claim that mental diseases can have biological bases and holds that such diseases are caused exclusively by disturbed thought processes which can be corrected by Scientology counseling. On the other hand, the Church of Scientology has policies which forbid the counseling of mentally ill people or those who have received psychiatric treatment.
Scientology regards psychiatry not only as largely ineffective at providing true improvements in mental health, disastrously misguided in its emphasis on the mind as a purely biological machine, and contributing to a heavy emphasis on drugs for treating an ever-increasing roster of mental health issues, but as the root of many political and social evils. Psychiatrists, non-Scientological psychologists and counselors, and supporters of psychiatry are derogatorily termed "psychs" in Scientology internal literature. Psychs are generally regarded as suppressive persons and have the same non-person status as critics of the Church.
A sister organization, the Citizen's Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) has been formed to promote this viewpoint. The CCHR's Web site lists various publications put out by the organization that attack the field of psychiatry, including Psychiatric Rape - Betraying Women, Psychiatry: Education's Ruin, Psychiatry: Victimizing the Elderly, and Psychiatry's Betrayal - Creating Racism. The CCHR does not publicize its connection to the Church of Scientology, leading both psychiatrists and critics of the Church to label it a front group.
Many Psychiatrists disagree with CCHR statements: Psychiatric Times: Psychiatric Profession Current Target of Citizens Commission on Human RightsBasic principles
Auditing
Scientology and God
The Tech
Scientology language and terms (Scientologese)
Common Scientology terms include:
See also: Sapir-Whorf HypothesisVerbal Tech
Ethics
Squirrels
The Bridge
Secret writings
Similarity to Gnosticism
Scientology and Psychiatry
