The church of Scientology has been the subject of controversy since its inception. Its methods and beliefs have attracted the attention of scholars from around the world. The church has been under government investigation and has endured a countless amount of lawsuits (Reitman 14). It is also a hot topic by the media with several endorsements by some of the most recognized Hollywood celebrities. However, the main topic of debate regarding the Church of Scientology is its status as a religion. Some members claim that the church has helped them overcome their struggles and that they are happier people, while others condemn it as a dangerous cult (Sweeney). The church of Scientology is a religious group whose purpose is to retain their
Lafayette Ronald Hubbard, better known as L. Ron Hubbard, author and founder of the Church of Scientology. Scientology a religion based off of a fiction piece of work, Dianetics. Dianetics describes a program of self improvement and spiritual awakening and continues to be the Scientology bible. The church currently has over seven hundred churches, missions and groups, and Dianetics still sells over four hundred thousand copies a year. The religion Scientology has millions of members world wide, even though controversial, the movement continues to influence people around the world even after Hubbard's death. At one time Hubbard was one of the most influential people in the world.
Scientology is a religious system based on the seeking of self-knowledge and spiritual fulfillment through graded courses of study and training. (Google) Scientology was founded in 1954, by Lafayette Ronald Hubbard. A man who wrote and published Dianetics, aka the bible of Scientology.The church’s beliefs and practices are based off of Dianetics, and the teachings of Rodn L. Hubbard. Scientologists say they believe that through religious training such as auditing and spending time at the church they will reach a state of clear, as well as recall past lives. (Wright “Going”) Auditing is when church members specifically know as auditors, to first listen and give counsel to members of the church, second help the members be rid of body thetans
Hubbard's science-fiction writings, described as "bold and highly imaginative"(Malko 34) are particularly interesting because "they offer insights into Hubbard's sense of fantasy and imagination" (Malko 34). His science-fiction writings also expose certain parallels to particular Scientology principles and beliefs (Hubbard. Fundamentals. 35). According to Church of Scientology documents, "humans first came to earth from outer space 75 million years ago, sent into exile here by an evil warlord named Xenu" (Mallia. "Sacred." 1).
Within any culture lies an array of definitive demeanors and actions that are deemed socially adequate and inadequate. Depending on the distinguishing behavior of a given individual and the society that they live in, there are invisible “laws” that prevent people from acting a certain way. If the individual’s behavior is adverse to the superior, predominant norms of their society, the actions of that individual are considered to be deviant. Social deviance in shown in a variety of dissimilar faces: within physical appearance, actions done to oneself and others, and religious groups.
David Miscavige is the leader of a newer religion called Scientology. L. Ron Hubbard is the founder of Scientology and had personally mentored Miscavige during his youth. In 1986, Hubbard passed away and Miscavige became his successor. There are many claims of abuse, especially in more recent times, from ex-members of this religion. The allegations can be tied, either directly or indirectly, to Miscavige and his regulations for the church of Scientology. Probably the most harmful aspect of his leadership is an aspect of this religion that was not necessarily created by Miscavige, but is strongly enforced by him. Disconnection is described as an individual decision to cease communication with someone who is perceived as a threat to one’s
After spending a quarter of a million dollars on books and spending many hours of her day at auditing sessions, Mrs.Richardson was put into a re-indoctrination camp in order to reintegrate her into the religion. This whole process began when a higher ranking Scientologist found an issue with her paperwork from a few years ago. Mrs.Richardson must now pay even more of her hard earned money to get more books and audio tapes to listen to. She now starts to contemplate whether this is really for the better of her religious experience or if it is just another way to make a profit off unsuspecting people. This is the problem with Scientology; deep down underneath the church facade, it is a business. The Church of Scientology is a disastrous, malevolent,
Followers of some religious practice have gone into the new ages of self-awareness. God and the Bible have become a scientific isolated fundamental development. Individuals are searching, and anything new come along they jump because it is saying what they want to hear. In my research, it was hard for me to see God in Scientology. It spoke about man life force and man's environment and men healing themselves. It does speak of the spiritual being but nothing pertaining to Man or God indwelling spirit. L Ron Hubbard founded Scientology because of monetary reason not because he was inspired by God according to his profile. General Booth was overcome by the poverty and the depraves and wanted to do something to help. Then he was inspired by
The documentary ‘Going Clear’ is focused on the Church of Scientology. Some of the important figures in the documentary included Paul Haggis, Lawrence Wright, Sara Goldberg, Spanky Taylor, and Marthy Rathbun (Going Clear). In this documentary, these former scientologists were interviewed about their personal experiences, where they revealed information about what actually happened behind the doors of the Church. The documentary was based on Lawrence Wright’s book, ‘Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief’ and was a compilation of the opinions of several former scientologists about the true colors of Scientology and Hubbard’s history (Going Clear).
It is estimated that there are between 2,000 to 5,000 cults in the United States. Many do not gain national attention until something implodes with violence, gets extremely costly or has a sensational side. For the purpose of this exploratory, cult will be defined as, “a system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object” (Merriam Webster). Cults are deemed as mind-control systems, and have religious practices typically known as sinister. Jim Jones of the Jonestown massacre and the Peoples Temple leader, Charles Manson leader of the Manson Family, and David Koresh of the Branch Davidians are just a few of the notorious cult leaders in history. These individuals have a common characteristic of pathological
Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Juliette Lewis, Jenna Elfman, and many more have one thing in common, these celebrities are all affiliated with the religion of Scientology. Scientology is a unique and controversial religion that offers a precise path leading to a complete and certain understanding of one's true spiritual nature and one's relationship to self, family, groups, mankind, all life forms, the material universe, the spiritual universe and the Supreme Being. The Church of Scientology is a non denominational religion that was established in 1954. The founder of Scientology Lafayette Ronald Hubbard did not intrude on anyone faiths or beliefs, but based his religion on his thoughts and teachings that all human beings are immortal spiritual
Scientology is the study and handling of the spirit in the relationship to itself, universes and other life. The Scientology religion was discovered by Lafayette Ronald Hubbard. Welcoming millions of new members each year, the Scientology religion is rather popular and can be found in 6 continents. There are more than 11,000 churches, missions, and groups over 184 nations.
The strangest “religion” we have covered so far is The Church of Scientology. There is a reason why I put the term “religion” in a quotation marks in relationship to Scientology. For me, L Ron Hubbard turned Scientology into a mixture of a cult-like following, and a Ponzi scheme on the similar levels of Bernie Madoff. For Scientologist, they believe that the Earth is 75 million years old, that volcanoes threw out spirit animals and that we came from an ancient alien war. While studying the beliefs system of Scientology and its history, you can get a clear understanding that L. Ron Hubbard was a science fiction writer. A lot of Hubbard teaching of what Scientology “stands for" came straight out an old science fiction book that he authored.
The fundamentals of Scientology creates a set of health care needs different from those necessary for Christian patients. Scientology is a religion where individuals form a sense of reality by thinking for themselves and developing their own understanding of life. In this religion, a Supreme Being, Xenu, is known; however, everyday life does not revolve around this being (Church of Scientology, 2017). Therefore, physical and spiritual health are determined by the individual’s knowledge of themselves and their world. When illness is bestowed upon an individual, their knowledge is meant to be their cure (Helping an Individual Heal Himself – Scientology Handbook, 2016). By accepting medical attention from a health care professional, the individual
Lawrence Wright also made it clear through many instances that Hubbard was a liar who clearly made statements that he just needed to make a religion to be set for life. It was said that he lied about his health in and out of military service, his time in the military, and, his age. It was apparent that early on in Hubbard’s life he so badly wanted to be a military hero and was sexually confused at home. In his private life lots went on including violence and cheating. Hubbard married three separate times and was deceitful to all three. He became most violent with his second wife Sara Northrup and their daughter when he kidnapped her taking her to Cuba and threatening that she was dead. After this marriage Hubbard became completely paranoid and there was a shift in the tone indicating a change in Hubbard’s mental health.