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Scientology is a system of beliefs and practices created by American pulp fiction author L. Ron Hubbard in 1952 as a self-help philosophy. By 1960 Hubbard had redefined it as a "religion by its basic tenets". The Church of Scientology, by far the largest organization promoting the belief system of Scientology, is sometimes referred to simply as "Scientology".

The Church of Scientology presents itself as a religious non-profit organization dedicated to the rehabilitation of the human spirit and providing counseling and rehabilitation programs. Church spokespeople claim that Hubbard's teachings (called "Technology" or "tech" in Scientology terminology) have saved them from addictions, arthritis, depression, learning disabilities, mental illness, cancer, homosexuality and other perceived problems.

The controversial organization has attracted much criticism and distrust throughout the world because of its closed nature and strong-arm tactics in handling critics. Lawmakers, including national governing bodies of several countries, have characterized the Church as an unscrupulous commercial organization, citing harassment of critics and exploitation of its members. Scientology's principles have been characterized as pseudoscientific by scientists, medical doctors and psychotherapeutic practitioners. Although some religious scholars consider Scientology a religion it has frequently been perceived as a cult and a pseudoreligion.

Reasoning of Scientology alleged cult status can be attributed to its unconventional creation by a single authoritative and charismatic leader. Within the church members are arranged in a hierarchically pyramid ranked structure , with higher level members holding authority over lower ranked subordinates, especially as evidenced by the Sea Org. The church indoctrinates its members providing very little initial knowledge of the inner secrets of the organization. In order to reach this knowledge parishioners are required to advance forward in rank through study and payments to the church, the incentive of which is the stepped acquisition of promised powerful secrets and gaining of supernatural abilities.

There are approximately 55,000 Scientology adherents in the United States according to a survey published by the City University of New York The worldwide number of adherents is disputed: the Church of Scientology claims around 10 million members as of 2006, but national membership figures it has released when totalled indicate a claimed figure of around 500,000. Adherents.com suggests there may be 500,000 Scientology adherents worldwide whilst critics say Church membership (as opposed to adherents) is likely to be less than 100,000.

Beliefs and practices

Scientology's doctrines were established by Hubbard over a period of about 34 years, beginning in 1952 and continuing until his death in January 1986. Most of the basic principles of the Church were set out during the 1950s and 1960s. Scientology followed on the heels of Dianetics, an earlier system of self-improvement techniques laid out by Hubbard in his 1950 book, Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. By the mid-1950s, Hubbard had relegated Dianetics to a subfield of Scientology. The Church says that Scientology is concerned with "the study and handling of the spirit in relationship to itself, others and all of life," but they say that Dianetics is only concerned about getting rid of the reactive mind. Scientology also covers topics such as ethics and morality (The Way to Happiness), drug and chemical residues as they relate to spiritual wellbeing (the Purification Rundown), communication, marriage, raising children, dealing with work-related problems, educational matters (study technology), and the very nature of life (The Dynamics).

Scientology practices are structured in a certain form of series or levels, because Hubbard believed that rehabilitation takes place on a step-by-step basis; for example, that the negative effects of drugs should be addressed before other issues can be addressed. According to Hubbard, these steps lead to the more advanced strata of Scientology's more esoteric knowledge. This is described as a passage along "the Bridge to Total Freedom", or simply "the Bridge," in which each step of the Bridge promises a little more personal freedom in the area specified by the Bridge's definition.

Some central beliefs of Scientology:

• A person is an immortal spiritual being (termed a thetan) who possesses a mind and a body.
• Through the Scientology process of "auditing", one can free oneself of "engrams" and "implants" to reach the state of "Clear", and after that, the state of "Operating Thetan". Each state is said to represent recovering the native spiritual abilities of the individual, and to confer dramatic mental and physical benefits.
• The thetan has lived through many past lives and will continue to live beyond the death of the body.
• A person is basically good, but becomes "aberrated" by moments of pain and unconsciousness in his or her life.
• What is true for you is what you have observed yourself. No beliefs should be forced as "true" on anyone. Thus, the tenets of Scientology are expected to be tested and seen to either be true or not by Scientology practitioners.
• Psychiatry and psychology are evil and abusive.
• Humans retain many emotional problems caused by early stages of evolution (see Scientology History of Man).

Scientology claims to offer an exact methodology to help a person achieve awareness of his or her spiritual existence and better effectiveness in the physical world. "Exact" methods of spiritual counseling are taught and practiced which are claimed to enable this change. According to the Church, the ultimate goal is to get the soul (thetan) back to its native state of total freedom, thus gaining control over matter, energy, space, time, thoughts, form, and life. This freed state is called Operating Thetan, or OT for short.

Auditing

The central practice of Scientology is "auditing" (from the Latin word audire, "to listen"), which is one-on-one communication with a trained Scientology counselor or "auditor". The auditor follows an exact procedure toward rehabilitating the human spirit. Most auditing uses an E-meter, a device that measures very small changes in electrical resistance through the human body when a person is holding onto tin cans and a small current is passed through them.

The auditing process is intended to help the practitioner (referred to as a preclear or PC) to unburden himself or herself of specific traumatic incidents, prior ethical transgressions and bad decisions, which are said to collectively restrict the preclear from achieving his or her goals and lead to the development of a "reactive mind". The auditor asks the preclear to respond to a list of questions which are designed for specific purposes and given to the preclear in a strictly regulated way. Auditing requires that the preclear be a willing and interested participant who understands the questions, and the process goes more smoothly when he or she understands what is going on. Per Church policy, auditors are trained not to "evaluate for" their preclears; i.e., they are forbidden from suggesting, interpreting, degrading or invalidating the preclear's answers. The E-meter is used to help locate an area of concern.

Scientologists have claimed benefits from auditing including improved IQ, improved ability to communicate, enhanced memory, alleviated dyslexia and attention deficit problems, and improved relaxation; however, no scientific studies have verified these claims.

The Anderson Report, an official inquiry conducted for the state of Victoria, Australia, found that auditing involved a form of "authoritative" or "command" hypnosis, in which the hypnotist assumes "positive authoritative control" over the patient. "It is the firm conclusion of this Board that most scientology and dianetic techniques are those of authoritative hypnosis and as such are dangerous. ... the scientific evidence which the Board heard from several expert witnesses of the highest repute ... which was virtually unchallenged - leads to the inescapable conclusion that it is only in name that there is any difference between authoritative hypnosis and most of the techniques of scientology. Many scientology techniques are in fact hypnotic techniques, and Hubbard has not changed their nature by changing their names." (See Scientology and hypnosis). Licensed psychotherapists have alleged that the Church's auditing sessions amount to mental health treatment without a license , but the Church disputes these allegations, and claims to have established in courts of law that its practice leads to spiritual relief. So, according to the Church, the psychotherapist treats mental health and the Church treats the spiritual being. A 1971 ruling of the United States District Court, District of Columbia (333 F. Supp. 357), specifically stated, "the E-meter has no proven usefulness in the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of any disease, nor is it medically or scientifically capable of improving any bodily function." As a result of this ruling, Scientology now publishes disclaimers in its books and publications declaring that "By itself, the E-meter does nothing" and that it is used specifically for spiritual purposes.

During the auditing process, the auditor may collect personal information from the person being audited in a manner similar to a psychotherapy session or confessional. The Church maintains that its auditing records are kept confidential, after the manner of confession in Catholic churches; however, at least one organizational directive (GO 121669) specifically authorized the use of these auditing records for purposes of "internal security". Auditing records are referred to within Scientology as "PC (preclear) folders" and are said to be stored under lock and key when not being added to during auditing sessions. In some instances, former members have claimed the Church used information obtained in auditing sessions against them. While such a claim would be actionable as extortion, blackmail or harassment within most legal jurisdictions, no such claim has to date been legally confirmed against Scientology based upon use or revelation of auditing records.

Silent birth and infant care

Hubbard stated that the delivery room should be as silent as possible during birth. This stems from his belief that birth is a trauma that may induce engrams into the baby. Hubbard asserted that words in particular should be avoided because he stated that any words used during birth might be reassociated by an adult later on in life with their earlier traumatic birth experience. Hubbard also wrote that the mother should use "as little anaesthetic as possible". According to Hubbard, babies should not be bathed after birth, but should be wrapped up tightly and left alone for a day or so. Hubbard also wrote that breastfeeding should be avoided (in contravention of common medical advice, which stresses its importance for the health of both the mother and the child<ref>http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pe

External Links

The Truth

1. Atack, Jon (1990). A Piece of Blue Sky. New York, NY: Carol Publishing Group. ISBN 081840499X.
2. Hubbard, L. Ron. "Pulpateer". Church of Scientology International. Retrieved 2006-06-07.
3. HCOB 18 Apr 67 (HCOB of 21 June 1960 Revised) "Religious Philosophy and Religious Practice"
4. STUDENT HAT AND COMMUNICATIONS COURSE "Auditing cures neuroses, criminality, insanity, psychosomatic ills, homosexuality and drug dependence"
5. Julie CHRISTOFFERSON v. CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY OF PORTLAND
6. Goodin, Dan (1999-06-03). "Scientology subpoenas Worldnet". CNET News.com. Retrieved 2006-05-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
7. Leiby, Richard (Dec 25, 1994) The Church's War Against Its Critics----and Truth Washington Post (courtesy link by whyaretheydead.net)
8. Hexham, Irving (1978, rev. 1997). "The Religious Status of Scientology: Is Scientology a Religion?". University of Calgary. Retrieved 2006-06-13. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
9. Scientology: Cult of Greed and power
10. Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi (September 2003). "Scientology: Religion or racket?" (PDF). Marburg Journal of Religion. Retrieved 2006-06-14. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
11. Douglas E. Cowan, University of Missouri-Kansas City (July 2004). "Researching Scientology: Academic Premises, Promises, and Problematic". CESNUR 2004 International Conference. Retrieved 2006-06-23. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
12. American Heritage Dictionary cult defenition (accessed 6/23/06)
13. L. J. West, M.D. (July 1990). "Psychiatry and Scientology". The Southern California Psychiatrist. Retrieved 2006-06-23. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
14. Church of Scientology Public Affairs Department (1005, rev. 2004). "Copyright and Trade Secret Issues". Church of Scientology International. Retrieved 2006-06-60. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
15. Kosmin, Barry A. American Religious Identification Survey.
16. Breakdown of Worldwide Religions By Adherents
17. Millions of Members?
18. "Introduction to Scientology". Church of Scientology. Retrieved 2006-05-04.
19. "What is Dianetics?". Church of Scientology International. Retrieved 2006-05-03.
20. "psychiatrists and psychologists ... can cure nothing and cannot change anyone for better or worse and as a result have to kill 'difficult patients' ... Anyone who disagrees with their planned totalitarian rule is pronounced 'insane.' He is seized quietly, conveyed to a prison, tortured and usually permanently injured or killed." Hubbard, L. Ron (1969). "How To Win An Argument". Retrieved May 8, 2006.
21. US Patent and Trademark Office Device for Measuring and Indicating Changes in the Resistance of a Human Body Inventor: Lafayette R. Hubbard issued Dec. 6th, 1966
22. Report of the Board of Enquiry into Scientology (PDF format) by Kevin Victor Anderson, Q.C. Published 1965 by the State of Victoria, Australia.
23. Scientology's official description of the E-meter
24. Memorandum of Intended Decision in Church of Scientology of California vs. Gerald Armstrong (PDF format)
25. Atack, Jon (1990). "Chapter Four - The Clearwater Hearings". A Piece of Blue Sky. Lyle Stuart. p. 448. ISBN 081840499X. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); External link in |chapterurl= and |title= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
26. Steven Girardi (9 May 1982). "Witnesses Tell of Break-ins, Conspiracy". Clearwater Sun: p. 1A. {{cite journal}}: |pages= has extra text (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
27. Prince, Jesse (1999). "Affidavit of Jesse Prince". Estate of Lisa McPherson v. Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization, Inc., case no. 97-01235. Retrieved 2006-06-13.