Perhaps the most famous aspect of this belief system is it's acceptance by the who's who of Hollywood. John Travolta and Tom Cruise to name a couple. They are avid, faithful members to this cult and have no problem announcing their faith before the world. In fact it's hard to pass by the tabloids without mention of scientology or it's star studded members. It's funny to me that although the cult is widely publicized, there are very few people who actually know their specific doctrines. Well here's my attempt to boldly go were only a few have gone before.
Fiction Writings From the Storyteller
L. Ron Hubbard was a prominent fiction writer during the 1930's and 40's. He decided to make a shift to religious writings after realizing a greater profit could be had. Hubbard stated, "Writing for a penny is ridiculous. If a man really wanted to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion." The very next year he published his first work. It was called Dianetics: The Science of Mental Health. More writings would follow and soon the origins of the cult emerged.
L. Ron Hubbard: a Closer Look
There are several notable aspects of the Scientologist's' founder that need to surface. Members of this group defend the man and his credentials with utmost urgency. But just who was he? Well, for starters, he was a man who was married three times. The major problem with this is that his first two marriages were absolutely disastrous. His second wife, Sara Northup Hubbard, rattled off a list of complaints in the divorce hearings. Some of them were beatings, strangulation, sleep depravation, kidnapping and repeated counseling to commit suicide.
He was also a man who dabbled in the occult. No surprise here. He was involved with a certain Jack Parsley, the leader of a Pasadena satanic group. Members of Scientology defend this by saying that Hubbard was covert-op, and was trying to infiltrate the occult group for the United States government. Yeah Right!
Let's see. What else is there. Oh yeah, there are his self-stated credentials. He claimed he was a highly educated nuclear physicist and that he was mortally wounded during WWII and was raised from the dead not once but twice. This would of course give credit to his divine existence. The trouble with all this is that not only did he flunk out of college after 2 years but his diploma from Sequoia University was a complete fake. Also, there are no records from WWII that give evidence Hubbard was wounded at all, not to mention fatally wounded and coming back from the dead...twice! A Story teller indeed!
Hubbard died an isolated old man in Creation Calif. in 1986. His members refused to believe that he died from a stroke and stated that he cast off his earthy body to further his research.
Of a Clear Mind
The mind plays a massive role in the belief system of your everyday scientologist. There ultimate goal is become a 'clear' person. What does that mean?
In short the mind is divided into 3 categories: Analytical, reactive and somatic. The analytical mind works perfectly all the time. It never falters or makes a mistake. The reactive mind holds images and memories of our experiences (called engrams).The somatic mind is what keeps the automatic functions of the body working. Still with me?
The problem is that engrams will disrupt the perfect working analytical mind. Our past experiences and memories actually afflict our otherwise perfect mind. This causes all kinds of mental sickness. For someone to become a clear person, they have identify and eliminate their engrams. Thus, making their analytical mind work without faltering. To eliminate their engrams, the person must undergo intensive therapy using the electronic galvanometer (or E-meter). This device consists of 2 tin cans connected by wires to the meter itself. A therapist will monitor the meter to find any possible engrams. Once an engram has been located, a series of questions and probing will eliminate the mind affecting nuisance. A single person may have hundreds of engrams and will require many years of therapy. Once completed the clear person will have achieved the status as 'homo novus' which is the highest level in their belief systems.
This would seem as good a time as any to comment on the famous blunder of Miss Sonya Bianca; the very first 'clear' person. Hubbard rented out the shrine auditorium for an audience of 4,000 people. The stadium packed out as critics and devout members wanted to see Miss Bianca in action. See was a physics student from Boston who now had absolute perfect recollection and supreme knowledge. All of her engrams were done away with leaving no hindrance to her mind. A few questions into the interview and laughs could be heard throughout the auditorium. When questioned, she didn't know the color of L. Ron Hubbard's neck tie, or recollect some extremely basic physics formulas and failed to answer a variety of basic questions. Severe damage was done the credibility of Scientology and Hubbard that evening. The next day's newspaper's headlines decimated the whole debacle.
The Plot thickens
In explaining this next doctrine of scientology, I will attempt to conceal any sarcasm or maniacal rhetoric. Even though I'm laughing uncontrollably, I will compose myself. Ahem...here' goes nothing.
Hubbard relates to the spirit of man as a 'thetan.' It is a living organism approximately 80 trillion years old and dwells in our brains. Well, once we keel over and die, the Thetan is sent to one of the many reporting stations in the greater universe. (Most go yo Mars because it is the closest station). After reporting, the thetan then travels back to earth to inhabit another body. They enter the skull right before the baby is born. It is also noted, says Hubbard, that the Thetans will actually fight over a host body. In case you haven't noticed already, but that Hubbard guy was one brilliant science fiction writer.
The process of the life of the Thetan reflects the scientologist's' view of their re-incarnation, or re-birth. Life and death are only a constant cycle of the Thetans. The only way to rid yourself of this process and advance on the universe is to completely free yourself from engrams. By becoming a homo novus you essentially overcome the birth and re-birth of your Thetan and advance in rank.
The bottom line
IIt never ceases to amaze me how these guys get new converts. Their beliefs are so out there that it's hard to picture any reasonable person becoming a desciple. I mean, there could be some huge cash incentive that I don't know about, but I doubt it. Maybe once you join, you become a famous Hollywood movie star...nah I doubt that too. Whatever they do, it works. They repeatedly site larger memberships, year after year. And now with Katie Holmes as their new spokes person, I'm sure there numbers are just gonna get bigger.
If there's anything I could stress about the cult of scientology it would be that their core doctrines are pure science fiction. It is no coincidence that L. Ron Hubbard was a brilliant writer. Dianetics would come to be his best work not on his ingenious story telling and characters but of actually convincing readers to accept the writings as reality. Well done Hubbard, Well Done!
The Religion of the Stars
Scientology
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