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Scientology is a religion known for its self-help system of Dianetics created by L. Ron Hubbard in 1953. Dianetics was not originally intended to become the foundation for a new religion; rather it was developed as a counseling technique now known as auditing. Dianetics was supposed to help with recalling traumatic events to the patients' mind in order to lessen the impact of these past traumas.i
The various beliefs of Scientology are very opposite those of Christianity and do bear a striking similarity to New Age teachings. For example, during the spiritual rehabilitation process of auditing, individuals are encouraged to believe that people on earth are actually immortal beings who have forgotten their original nature.ii Scientologists believe that humans are basically good, and spiritual salvation is dependent on strength from within and attainment of brotherhood with the universe.iii It also teaches that one cannot have a relationship with God, or the Supreme Being, until they have gone through seven levels of auditing or training.iv
It would seem that Scientology also has a link with the occult because the uses of certain symbols to represent the Church have been previously associated with witchcraft and satanic religion. Hubbard introduced the "scientology cross" in the 1950s as a key symbol for the church. Hugh Urban, in his book The Church of Scientology: A History of a New Religion, points out that this eight-pointed cross "bears a striking resemblance to the eight pointed cross used by the occult-magic group called the Hermetic Order for the Golden Dawn – of which Aleister Crowley had been a member and which also adorns the back of Crowley's influential and widely used tarot deck, the Thoth deck."v
Although Scientology is classified as a legally recognized and tax-exempt religion in the United States and several other countries, it is basically duplicitous to call it such because of the fee-for-service system that the Church of Scientology calls a "fixed donation." In other words, the church is getting paid thousands of dollars by auditors who are searching for truth. Switzerland has classified Scientology as a commercial enterprise, France calls it a secte, and Chile views it as a cult.
Richard Behar says of Scientology, "The Church of Scientology has consistently used litigation against its critics, and its aggressiveness in pursuing its foes has been condemned as harassment."vi Scientology is also excessively expensive. An individual can spend up to $100,000 in auditing and still have not completed the final levels.vii This fact explains why these Scientology courses are more accessible to the wealthy. Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Catherine Bell, Nancy Cartwright, Elisabeth Moss, Jason Lee, and many other celebrities have chosen to accept and practice Scientology. This attraction of celebrities is however no coincidence. Recruiting celebrities and getting them to endorse Scientology has been outlined in a written program developed by Ron Hubbard around the year 1955 in order to help enable the rapid dissemination of Scientology.viii
It is clear that the agenda of Scientology is corrupted by anti-Christian New Age theologies, and we need to guard our hearts against this kind of belief system.
i. “Psychiatry and Psychology in the Writings of L. Ron Hubbard," .Journal of Religion and Health 46: 3 (July 2013): 437–447.
ii. Jacob Neusner, World Religions in America (Westminster John Knox Press: (2003). ISBN 0-664-22475-X
iv. “What is the Concept of God in Scientology?”
v. Hugh Urban, The Church of Scientology: A History of a New Religion (Princeton University Press: 2011): 67.
vi. Richard Behar, "Scientology: The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power" "TIME Magazine"(May 6, 1991). Retrieved 2013-07-16.
vii. Tony Ortega, "Scientology's Crushing Defeat" Village Voice (June 30, 2008). Retrieved 2013-07-16. "Former members say that today the typical Scientologist must spend several years and about $100,000 in auditing before they find out on OT III that they are filled with alien souls that must be removed by further, even more expensive auditing."
viii. Joel Sappell and Robert Welkos, "The Courting of Celebrities," Los Angeles Times (June 25, 1990): A18:5. Retrieved 2013-07-16.
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