Scientology and the Bible
History
L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, was a science fiction writer in the 1930’s and 1940’s. He was alleged to have said at a science fiction convention in the 40’s:
“Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wanted to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion.”
In 1950, Hubbard wrote Dianetics: A Modern Science of Mental Health, which became the foundation for Scientology. The book met with incredible success, and Hubbard wrote his first book on Scientology the following year, 1951. Hubbard claimed the following resources for Dianetics:
“the medicine of the Goldi people of Manchuria, the shamans of North Borneo, Sioux medicine men, the cults of Los Angeles, and modern psychology. Among the people questioned about its existence were a magician whose ancestors served in the court of Kublai Khan and a Hindu who could hypnotize cats. Dabbles had been made in mysticism, data had been studied from mythology to spirituality.”
Hubbard had previously been involved in an occult group led by Jack Parsons, who had been discipled by Alistor Crowley, a well-known Satanist and black magician. Hubbard married Parsons’ girlfriend, Sarah Northrup, before Parsons could. However, Hubbard was still legally married to his first wife at the time (married in 1946), and was divorced by Sarah in 1951. His first marriage was dissolved the following year.
Because most of the scientific community were opposed to the “science” in Dianetics and Scientology, Hubbard claimed it was actually religious and incorporated the Church of Scientology of California on February 18, 1954. Its headquarters are now in Clearwater, Florida. Estimates of participants is around 500,000, though the church claims to minister to over 8 million (though that would include anyone who has made contact with the church)
Beliefs/Practices
Summary Statement: “Scientology is a twentieth-century religion. It comprises a vast body of knowledge extending from certain fundamental truths, and prime among those truths: Man is a spiritual being endowed with abilities well beyond those which he normally envisages. He is not only able to solve his own problems, accomplish his goals and gain lasting happiness, but also to achieve new states of awareness he may never have dreamed possible.” (www.whatisscientology.org)
Man’s Purpose
“The goal of life can be considered to be infinite survival. That man seeks to survive has long been known, but that it is his primary motivation is new. Man, as a life form, can be demonstrated to obey in all his actions and purposes the one command: ‘SURVIVE!’” (www.whatisscientology.org)
Dianetics
Dianetics is centered around the belief that the mind has two parts: the analytical mind and the reactive mind. The analytical mind is more or less like a perfect computer, which stores mental images of everything done and uses this information to promote survival. The analytical mind is the only part operating when a person is conscious
The reactive mind begins operating, in part or in full, when a person is “unconscious.” Whenever a person is unconscious, the reactive mind records all the emotional and physical pain, but these images are not available when a person is conscious. These mental images of pain are called “engrams.”
Example: “A woman is knocked down by a blow to the face. She is rendered “unconscious.” She is kicked in the side and told she is a faker, that she is no good, that she is always changing her mind. A chair is overturned in the process. A faucet is running in the kitchen. A car is passing in the street outside. The engram contains a running record of all these perceptions.” (www.whatisscientology.org)
However, the reactive mind equates all of these images as equal, so when this woman sees a chair turned over and hears a faucet running, she may begin to feel a pain in her side and “hear” her husband saying she is a faker who always changes her mind.
Auditing
In order for a person to be happy, he must find a way to remove these engrams and stop the reactive mind from functioning. This is begun through “auditing,” which determines what engrams a person has in order to find out how to remove them. Once a person has removed all engrams and the influence of the reactive mind, he is then “clear.”
Scientology
Scientology began when Hubbard “discovered” an important part of the person: the soul, which he named a “thetan”
“A thetan is the person himself, not his body or his name or the physical universe, his mind or anything else. It is that which is aware of being aware; the identity which IS the individual. One does not have a thetan, something one keeps somewhere apart from oneself; he is a thetan.” (www.whatisscientology.org)
An important part of Scientology is the belief in out of body experiences
“Very pertinent to Mr. Hubbard’s research at this juncture was his examination into the phenomena known as exteriorization. Although various religious texts make mention of it, no one had ever considered the matter with such careful scrutiny. From this research, Mr. Hubbard concluded that the thetan is able to leave the body and exist independent of the flesh. Exteriorized, the person can see without the body’s eyes, hear without the body’s ears and feel without the body’s hands. Man previously had very little understanding of this detachment from his mind and body. With the act of exteriorization attainable in Scientology a person gains the certainty he is himself and not his body.” (www.whatisscientology.org)
Cycle of Birth and Rebirth
This “thetan” was originally an immortal alien life form. When a person dies, the thetan goes to an implant station, where he is given a “forgetter” implant and shot back down to earth.
The goal of the thetan is to be freed from this cycle of birth and rebirth. This can only be obtained through the auditing process, which includes a “fixed donation” or fee. The cost of becoming “clear” is around $120,000 for around 200 hours of sessions.
Eight Dynamics
Once a person is an operating thetan, he can progress along the eight dynamics
- Self
- Creativity
- Group Survival
- Species
- Life Forms
- Physical Universe (Matter, Energy, Space, and Time. MEST)
- Spiritual
- Infinity
View of Man
“Scientology believes man to be basically good, not evil. It is man’s experiences that have led him to commit evil deeds, not his nature. Often, he mistakenly seeks to solve his problems by considering only his own interests, which then causes trouble for both himself and others. Scientology believes that man advances to the degree he preserves his spiritual integrity and values, and remains honest and decent. Indeed, he deteriorates to the degree he abandons these qualities.” (www.whatisscientology.org)
Problems
Purpose of Life
Scientology states that man’s purpose is to survive. But the Bible teaches that man’s purpose is to honor God and enjoy Him forever
“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” (Ro 11:36)
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Re 4:11).
View of God
Scientology has no real belief concerning God. They at times promote a polytheistic view, while at other times promoting a practical atheism.
The Bible teaches that God exists, that He is one, and that He is the Lord and Creator
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.”(Dt 6:4).
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Gen 1:1).
View of Jesus Christ
Scientology teaches that Jesus was a teacher, but was ultimately only a level above “clear.”
Jesus taught that He was God and the only way of salvation
“Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.’” (Jn 8:58)
“For unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” (Jn 8:24).
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” (Jn 14:6)
View of Man
Scientology teaches that man is basically good, and thus can save himself.
The Bible teaches that man is basically evil, and needs Jesus Christ to save him
“The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Ge 6:5).
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Je 17:9).
“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved” (Eph 2:1-5).
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” (Jn 3:36)
Conclusion
Scientology recognizes that man has needs and problems, but does not recognize why he has problems.: Man is not bound by bad memories, but by sin.
Scientology misses the answer to man’s problems: Man does not need auditing, but forgiveness of sins and salvation through Jesus Christ
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