Scientology in religious studies Scientology

1 scientology in religious studies

1.1 hubbard s motives
1.2 scientology ufo religion
1.3 influences
1.4 scientology , hypnosis
1.5 etymology of scientology , earlier usage
1.6 arc , krc triangles
1.7 bridge total freedom

scientology in religious studies

describing available scholarship on scientology, david g. bromley , douglas e. cowan stated in 2006 scholars have concluded scientology falls within category of religion purposes of academic study, , number have defended church in judicial , political proceedings on basis. hugh b. urban writes scientology s efforts defined religion make ideal case study thinking how understand , define religion. urban presented “balanced description” of church utilizing interviews current satisfied practitioners , interviews former members critical of establishment in work. toward second decade of 2000s, new interest scientology emerged among scholars, bringing subject obscurity.

according encyclopedia of religious controversies in united states, scientology raises questions how , gets define religion, scholars recognize religion, 1 emerges , builds on american individualism , spiritual marketplace dominated 1950s america. david g. bromley comments scientology “could gain strength adding new perspective on existence, hope , human meaning transcendent creed can give.”

bromley , cowan noted in 2008 scientology s attempts gain favor new religion scholars had been problematic. according religious studies professor mary farrell benarowski, scientology describes drawing on science, religion, psychology , philosophy had been claimed none of them , repudiated, part, all.

regis dericquesbourg writes efficacy of scientology in imparting knowledge: “scientology indeed not brings knowledge, brings personal introspection through auditing, , transmission in upper levels not merely reading texts: transmitted experienced through solo or duo auditing experience.” compared psychoanalysis.

frank k. flinn, adjunct professor of religious studies @ washington university in st. louis wrote, abundantly clear scientology has both typical forms of ceremonial , celebratory worship , own unique form of spiritual life. flinn further states religion requires beliefs in transcendental or ultimate, practices (rites , codes of behavior) re-inforce beliefs and, community sustained both beliefs , practices , of present within scientology. similarly, world religions in america states scientology contains same elements of other religions, including myths, scriptures, doctrines, worship, sacred practices , rituals, moral , ethical expectations, community of believers, clergy, , ecclesiastic organizations.

while acknowledging number of colleagues accept scientology religion, sociologist stephen a. kent writes: rather struggling on whether or not label scientology religion, find far more helpful view multifaceted transnational corporation, 1 element of religious [emphasis in original].

donna batten in gale encyclopedia of american law writes, belief not need stated in traditional terms fall within first amendment protection. example, scientology—a system of beliefs human being free , immortal spirit merely inhabits body—does not propound existence of supreme being, qualifies religion under broad definition propounded supreme court.

j. gordon melton asserts while debate on definitions of religion continue, “scholars continue in future adopt broad definition, including scientology in wider religious field.”

the material contained in ot levels has been characterized bad science fiction critics, while others claim bears structural similarities gnostic thought , ancient hindu beliefs of creation , cosmic struggle. melton suggests these elements of ot levels may never have been intended descriptions of historical events , that, other religious mythology, may have truth in realities of body , mind symbolize. adds on whatever level scientologists might have received mythology, seem have found useful in spiritual quest.

hubbard s motives

during lifetime, hubbard accused of using religion façade scientology maintain tax-exempt status , avoid prosecution false medical claims. irs cited statement attributed hubbard way rich found religion. according melton, statement unsubstantiated, although several of hubbard s science fiction colleagues recall hubbard raising topic in conversation.

hubbard grew in climate critical of organized religion, , quoted anti-religious sentiments in lectures. scholar marco frenschkowski (university of mainz) has stated not easy hubbard come terms spiritual side of own movement. hubbard did not want found religion: discovered talking in fact religion. happened when had deal apparent memories former lives. had defend himself friends. frenschkowski allows there practical concerns in question of how present scientology outside world , dismisses notion religious format expedient pretense; frenschkowski points many passages in hubbard s works document struggle question. frenschkowski suggests biographical mistake suggest hubbard became interested in scientology religion in 1954. notes hubbard discussed religion , concept of god in years leading emergence of scientology, , did not “rush religion” rather, “discovered through development of work pre-clears.”

drawing parallels similar struggles identity in other religious movements such theosophy , transcendental meditation, frenschkowski sees in hubbard s lectures case of man background non-religious , nevertheless discovers ideas somehow oscillate between science (in popular sense), religion , philosophy , , these ideas somehow fascinate many people start form separate movement. hubbard experiments traditional religious language in short piece written in 1953 called factors , basic expression of scientologist cosmology , metaphysics , reprinted in current scientology literature. frenschkowski observes text partly biblical in structure , development component of scientology’s metamorphosis religion, written @ point when nature of new movement unclear.

the church of scientology denounces idea of hubbard starting religion personal gain unfounded rumor. church suggests origin of rumor remark george orwell had been misattributed hubbard. robert vaughn young, left church in 1989 after being spokesman twenty years, suggested reports of hubbard making such statement explained misattribution, despite having encountered 3 of hubbard s associates science fiction days remembered hubbard making statements of sort in person. young stroke of luck came orwell quote : have thought there might lot of cash in starting new religion, , ll talk on time appears in letter eric blair (known world george orwell) friend, jack common, dated 16-february-38 (february 16, 1938), , published in collected essays, journalism , letters of george orwell, vol. 1. in 2006, rolling stone s janet reitman attributed statement hubbard, remark science fiction writer lloyd eshbach , recorded in eshbach s autobiography.

scientology ufo religion

scientology can seen ufo religion in existence of extraterrestrial entities operating unidentified flying objects (ufos) element of belief. in context, discussed in ufo religions christopher partridge, , encyclopedic sourcebook of ufo religions james r. lewis, while susan palmer draws several parallels raelianism. gregory reece, in book ufo religion: inside flying saucer cults , culture, writes:

scientology unique within ufo culture because of secretiveness, because of capitalist format under operate. scientology difficult categorize. while bears strong similarities ashtar command or aetherius society, emphasis upon xenu event central message of group seems place them within ancient astronaut tradition. either way, scientology perhaps different other ufo groups in attempt keep of space opera stuff under wraps. have preferred rest of not know xenu , galactic federation. alas, such secrets hard keep

regardless of such statements critics, hubbard wrote , lectured openly material himself called space opera. in 1952, hubbard published book (what audit / history of man) on space opera , other material may encountered when auditing preclears.

according david g. bromley, scientology “part therapy, part religion, part ufo group. it’s mix of things unlike other religious group out there.” scholar andreas grunschlo writes ufogical religion, scientology “conceives of earthly human beings extraterrestrial spirits (‘thetans ) have put on ‘bridge freedom’ again —a soul conception paralleled typical ufogical ‘star seeds’ or ‘walk-ins’ planted on earthly ‘garden’ spiritual growth.”  

influences

the general orientation of hubbard s philosophy owes durant, author of popular 1926 classic story of philosophy; dianetics dedicated durant. hubbard s view of mechanically functioning mind in particular finds close parallels in durant s work on spinoza. according hubbard himself, scientology western anglicized continuance of many forms of wisdom. ankerberg , weldon mention sources of scientology include vedas, buddhism, judaism, gnosticism, taoism, greek civilization , teachings of jesus, nietzsche , freud. hubbard asserted freudian thought “major precursor” scientology. w. vaughn mccall, professor , chairman of georgia regents university writes, “both freudian theory , hubbard assume there unconscious mental processes may shaped life experiences, , these influence later behavior , thought.” both schools of thought propose “tripartite structure of mind.” sigmund freud s psychology, popularized in 1930s , 1940s, key contributor dianetics therapy model, , acknowledged unreservedly such hubbard in works. hubbard never forgot, when 12 years old, meeting cmdr. joseph cheesman thompson, u.s. navy officer had studied freud , when writing american psychological association in 1949, stated conducting research based on work of freud .

in dianetics, hubbard cites hegel negative influence — object lesson in confusing writing. according mary a. mann, scientology considered nondenominational, accepting people regardless of religions background, ethnicity, or educational attainment. major influence alfred korzybski s general semantics. hubbard friends fellow science fiction writer a. e. van vogt, explored implications of korzybski s non-aristotelian logic in works such world of null-a, , hubbard s view of reactive mind has clear , acknowledged parallels korzybski s thought; in fact, korzybski s anthropometer may have been inspired hubbard s invention of e-meter.

beyond that, hubbard himself named great many other influences in own writing – in scientology 8-8008, example, these include philosophers anaxagoras , aristotle herbert spencer , voltaire, physicists , mathematicians euclid , isaac newton, founders of religions such buddha, confucius, jesus , mohammed – there little evidence in hubbard s writings studied these figures great depth.

as noted, elements of eastern religions evident in scientology, in particular concept of karma found in hinduism , jainism. in addition links hindu texts, scientology draws taoism , buddhism. according encyclopedia of community, scientology shows affinities buddhism , remarkable similarity first-century gnosticism.

in 1940s, hubbard in contact jack parsons, rocket scientist , member of ordo templi orientis led aleister crowley, , there have been suggestions connection influenced of ideas , symbols of scientology. religious scholars gerald willms , j. gordon melton have stated crowley s teachings bear little if resemblance scientology doctrine.

j. gordon melton writes scientology has roots in esoteric thought. cited significance of understanding scientology’s appeal aligned esoteric tradition. church “significant revision” , “meaningful revitalization” within esoteric tradition. melton states scientology can traced gnosticism, manicheanism, freemasonry , theosophy.

according james r. lewis, scientology in same lineage of supernatural religious movements such new thought. scientology goes beyond , refers religio-therapeutic practices religious technology. lewis wrote, scientology sees psycho-spiritual technology supplying missing ingredient in existing technologies—namely, therapeutic engineering of human psyche.

scientology , hypnosis

hubbard said accomplished hypnotist, , close acquaintances such forrest ackerman (hubbard s literary agent) , a. e. van vogt (an supporter of dianetics) witnessed repeated demonstrations of hypnotic skills. scientology literature states l. ron hubbard expertise in hypnosis led discovery of dianetic engram. however, hubbard wrote hypnosis wild variable , , compared parlor hypnosis atom bomb. wrote:

hypnotism plants, positive suggestion, 1 or form of insanity. temporary planting, hypnotic suggestion not lift or remove in way desirable hypnotist.

etymology of scientology , earlier usage

the word scientology pairing of latin word scientia ( knowledge , skill ), comes verb scīre ( know ), , greek λόγος lógos ( word or account [of] ). scientology, coined l. ron hubbard, comes latin scio, means knowing, in fullest meaning of word , greek word logos, means study of . scientology further defined study , handling of spirit in relationship itself, universes, , other life.

the term scientology had been used in published works @ least twice before hubbard. in new word (1901) poet , lawyer allen upward first used scientology mean blind, unthinking acceptance of scientific doctrine. in 1934, philosopher anastasius nordenholz published scientology: science of constitution , usefulness of knowledge, used term mean science of science. unknown whether hubbard aware of either prior usage of word.

arc , krc triangles


the scientology symbol composed of letter s, stands scientology, , arc , krc triangles, 2 important concepts in scientology.

the arc , krc triangles concept maps show relationship between 3 concepts form concept. these 2 triangles present in scientology symbol. lower triangle, arc triangle, summary representation of knowledge scientologist strives for. encompasses affinity (affection, love or liking), reality (consensual reality) , communication (the exchange of ideas). scientology teaches improving 1 of 3 aspects of triangle increases level of other two, communication held important. upper triangle krc triangle, letters krc positing similar relationship between knowledge, responsibility , control.

among scientologists, letters arc used affectionate greeting in personal communication, example @ end of letter. social problems ascribed breakdowns in arc – in other words, lack of agreement on reality, failure communicate effectively, or failure develop affinity. these can take form of overts – harmful acts against another, either intentionally or omission – followed withholds – efforts conceal wrongdoing, further increase level of tension in relationship.

bridge total freedom

scientologists seek attain spiritual development through study of scientology materials , auditing. subject (called technology or tech in scientology jargon) structured in series of levels (or gradients) of gradually increasing complexity. sequence of study ( training ) , auditing ( processing ) levels termed bridge total freedom , or bridge . training concerns principles , techniques of auditing. processing personal development through participation in auditing sessions.

the church of scientology teaches principle of reciprocity, involving give-and-take in every human transaction. accordingly, members required make donations study courses , auditing move bridge, amounts increasing higher levels reached. participation in higher-level courses on bridge may cost several thousand dollars, , scientologists move bridge @ rate governed income.

according david g. bromley, religious studies professor, working toward being “operating thetan” means moving bridge total freedom, “which @ highest level transcends material law.” further emphasizes belief of scientologists: “you come across people in scientology can change material world mind.”