Scientology

Mark Dunagan
10/01/00 - Sunday Evening

 

Scientology

 

Info At A Glance

 

 

Scientology was founded by L. Ron Hubbard (1911-1986). The sources of authority in this religion are his writings, which have officially been termed "Scripture" by this group. It is claimed that these writings are the only source of solving mankind’s problems. Key literature associated with this movement would include: Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health; Dianetics Today; Dianetics and Scientology Technical Dictionary; Science and Survival; and The Church of Scientology, all written by L. Ron Hubbard. Periodicals include: Advance!; Source; The Auditor; Celebrity; and International Scientology News.

Theology

 

The overall story that is offered by Scientology is the following. Trillions of years ago thetans (each person is a thetan, that is an immortal spirit), became bored, so they emanated mental universes to play in. Soon they became so entranced by their own creation and they were so conditioned by the manifestations of their own thought processes that they lost all awareness of their true identity and spiritual nature. In other words, thetans (we) became hypnotized and trapped by MEST (that is, matter, energy, space and time).

• Scientology, like many Eastern religions, believes that the material universe is an illusion. In addition, we created this universe, hence Scientology contradicts the very first statement in the Bible, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1).

• Scientology appears to teach that each individual is divine. If thetans (each person), is an eternal spirit, with divine attributes, or at least "infinite creative potential", then that is very close to proclaiming that each one of us is divine. Scientology is not unique in this claim, for many other religions, including Mormonism teach the same concept, that is, we are all gods. At this point Scientology doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me. If "thetans" were so smart that they could create such a vast illusion (the entire physical universe), and such a realistic illusion, then why did they end up getting trapped by it? In contrast, the Bible always claims that the physical universe, including such things as suffering is not an illusion (Romans 5:3-5). In fact, the human body is not an illusion, for one of the teachings in the Bible is the resurrection of the human body (1 Corinthians 15).

• The idea that we are all "gods" is not enlightenment, rather, this is the same old lie that the devil presented to Adam and Eve in the garden: "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:5). Scientology says that our biggest handicap is the failure to appreciate the fact that we are divine. In contrast, the Bible would argue that man’s biggest problem is thinking that he is God (Proverbs 16:18).

• "God" is purposely left undefined in the teachings of Scientology, however the idea of God appears to be panentheistic (that is, everything is God) or polytheistic, we are all gods. A person God, who created the universe and mankind, and Who gave His Son to die for our sins, is foreign to Scientology.

Scientology and Jesus

 

According the Scientology, Jesus was a man who was not particularly enlightened, who the church invented as the savior of the world. Some Scientologists may classify Him as an "Operating Thetan" (OT): that is, a person aware of his true nature and abilities. Of course the major problem with all of this is that the Bible proclaims Jesus as God (John 1:1), the creator of everything that exists(John 1:3; Colossians 1:16), and the only Savior of the entire world (John 3:16; 14:6; Acts 4:12; Hebrews 5:9). Every religion that proclaims that this world is an illusion will have major problems with Jesus, for Jesus died on a cross. For many such religions, death is nothing more than a lack of "faith" or yielding to the illusion. For such religions, "salvation" isn’t deliverance from moral evil, but rather, it is the realization that one is a god and that is universe isn’t real. This is one reason that the founders of such religions as Scientology often disappear before they die, for one’s death infers that one was never really that enlightened!

Sin

 

Is defined as falsehood or ignorance and especially that which opposes Scientology. Compare with 1 John 3:4 "Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness and sin is lawlessness". That is, sin is a violation of God’s law. But if "sin" is defined as ignorance, which would include thinking that this world is real, then wouldn’t eating, drinking, walking, or driving a car be considered a sin. That is, any acceptance or concession to this physical universe, such as thinking that this handout is real, or attempting to prove the assertions in this handout as being wrong, would also be a sin.

The Bible

 

The Bible is accepted as one of the world’s religious searchings, but as far as Scientology practices are concerned, it is largely irrelevant. Compare with Matthew 4:4 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

Death

 

Death is explained as an inconsequential dropping of the body which all thetans have experienced trillions of times. That is, Scientology includes the false doctrine of reincarnation. In contrast the Bible says, "And insomuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). Jesus said that the devil is the father of lies (John 8:44). Reincarnation is something that the devil would invent. What could be a more convenient teaching and one that removes all urgency to do the right thing? It convinces mankind that judgment doesn’t follow this life, rather, this life is followed by another life. Don’t worry, if you mess up during this lifetime, you have countless others to get it right. In contrast, Jesus stressed the urgency of getting on the narrow way(Luke 13:24). If reincarnation is true, then the point in many of Jesus’ teachings and parables, are completely irrelevant (Luke 12:19-21; 16:19ff; Matthew 7:21-23).

 

"Engrams"

 

At the very heart of Scientology is the practice of "auditing". Auditing is simply their word for counseling. During this time an extensive examination of the present life and past lives of the new convert is performed. They believe that experiences such as extreme shock, pain, or unconsciousness cause "engrams", or sensory impressions. These negative mental pictures are the cause of our emotional and physical problems today, and they can only be dislodged through Scientology procedures. In this sense, Scientology teaches that we are all more or less conditioned machines that respond to such past images. Scientology believes that this restimulation is fairly automatic. In other words, we are not free beings; we are slaves of an aberrated mind. Scientology also teaches that through reincarnation people have been accumulating engrams for trillions of years. In order to resolve hidden engrams, new converts must be mentally whisked back to reexperience the damaging events of their past lives. As previously noted, this religion teaches that each person is an immortal spirit who has been so damaged by engrams that he or she has forgotten that they are gods. They have absolute control over bodies, but sadly, they think they are only bodies. Each time a body dies, the thetan must enter another body, but he brings with him all his trillions of year’s accumulation of engrams. Scientology claims it can free the thetan. Many people have spent thousands of dollars to experience freedom from engrams.

Observations

 

• With a little reflection, Scientology seems to present a hopeless situation. First, if each one of us has lived a trillion lifetimes, thenthere surely isn’t enough time in this life to relive all our past bad experiences. Talk about overwhelming problems!

• I was struck by this thought as I studied Scientology’s view of realty. If we invented this physical world, because we were bored with our previous existence, then being freed from this body and this illusion only means that we get to be bored again. If the state of perfection meant boredom, then why return?

• I’m not impressed by the theory that we created this stimulus-respond machine (our bodies and this universe), only to end up trapped in it. That’s like saying that a couple went to Disneyland and never found their way out.

• Money is always an interesting thing with groups that claim that this physical world is an illusion. Such people claim that this world isn’t real, but none of them are very happy if I hand them an imaginary check or pretend credit card to pay for my counseling. To me a good question to ask such "counselors" is why do I have to pay them? If they respond, we have to eat, provide for our families, pay rent and so on, then they obviously don’t believe that this world is an illusion. Shouldn’t the person who is claiming to counsel you have reached a pinnacle of enlightenment where they don’t have to eat? Such groups could easily prove that they have the truth, if they actually started living like this world was an illusion. Show me the man or woman who doesn’t need food, sleep, or drink, or money to survive. And especially, show me the person who never dies.

• Then there is the question of Scientology and morality. If this world is an illusion and the goal is the convince other thetans that this is merely a product of our imagination, then it would logically follow that "doing good" to others would be defined as refusing to help them. That is, don’t clothe, feed, or pay people. Force them to do without so they can realize that they don’t need such things to survive. It would appear to me that feeding people, paying people, hugging people, being affectionate with my wife and children, is only furthering the illusion. In contrast, Jesus noted that this world and its needs are very real (Matthew 25:35-40).

Mark Dunagan/Beaverton Church of Christ/503-644-9017

www.ch-of-christ.beaverton.or.us