Scientology has a concept of God, but more so they believe in a Supreme Being. They don't want their members to rely on faith alone, but rather on the training one does through the “Eight Dynamics” to eventually understand their relationship with the Supreme Being once they reach the eighth dynamic. Another aspect of the religion is the concept of “clear”. The term is described as a state of mind in which a person has no worries, erratic behavior, or insecurities. When what they refer to a being no longer having a “reactive mind” that person can become much more than themselves. This state of being “clear” they say is achievable, and many around the world have done so and it is the goal of man for more than 2500 years. Another concept that
It’s not unknown that The Church of Scientology has been a contentious subject of conversation for decades. The controversial religion was originally discovered by a gentleman named L. Ron Hubbard in 1954 through the establishment of ideas in which he believed would act as an antidote to mental health concerns called Dianetics. After an unsuccessful attempt resulting in bankruptcy, Hubbard branched his ideas into the basis of a new found religion called Scientology ("The Beliefs and Teachings of Scientology”). To Hubbard’s advantage, Scientology expeditiously accelerated in growth, becoming one of the fastest expanding religions in the 20th century. Scientology pledged a “light at the end of the tunnel” to those wandering through dark times, and created a pathway to a faultless understanding of one’s true spiritual fulfillment through a system of self-knowledge in relation to one’s own life, community, and mankind. Due to the Scientology’s controversial beliefs, abnormal practices, and aberrant church-member relationships, the religion poses as a superlative model of church rebelling against society’s social norms.
John E. Stapleford, Professor of Economic Development at Eastern College in St. David’s, Pennsylvania, expresses that morals and financial aspects are the ground-level points of this book. Stapleford likewise makes the substantial point that both financial matters and morals created as branches of philosophy. He further watches that throughout the years, barriers between the two disciplines have created with most financial experts maintaining a strategic distance from any express specify of the moral ramifications of the monetary speculations and ideas tended to in mainstream financial writings. Stapleford tries to address this situation
There are many groups that hide behind religion in order to get these benefits. Scientology is one group that refers to themselves as a “New Religion.” They protect themselves with this right in order to get away with their actions. There have been many reports accusing Scientology of exploiting members physically and financially. They get away with these illegal activities by lying. Lying is something that the founder of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard, has presented as acceptable in the religion, which isn’t tolerated in many real religions. However, if the Charter was to address groups like Scientology with more severity, they would not be able to hide anymore. No longer would they get away with their crimes, but these groups, and so-called religions, will actually face the consequences. In addition, freedom of religion is misused when these groups go against their religion. This refers to religious movements that state they are preaching a religion. In reality, they are going against the basic principles of that religion to do what they feel is right. For instance, many cults like the KKK are based off Christianity, but they don’t follow Christian principles. They do this so that they can have the benefits of being a non-profit religious group, like tax exemptions, but then take advantage of this label to perform hate crimes and get away with them. For this reason, it is
According to Remini, people want to join the Church of Scientology because they think that they are “helping mankind.” However, she said
Scientology teaches that psychiatry is "evil", and spurns the use of drugs to treat mental illness. Tossing modern medicine aside, serious psychiatric disorders are treated using vitamin supplements.
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
The case that seem interesting to me would be Adolfo Constanzo also known as the “Witch Doctor”, he was a serial killer in the 1980’s. He had religious history background since he was young. He eventually created his own religious cult as he chose his patron saint, pledging himself to Kadiempembre, his religion’s version of Satan. Throughout his life Constanzo perform ritual murders. In 1983, Constanzo traveled to Mexico City, were he recruited his first disciples. After multiple killings, he managed to evade police by hiding out in his Mexico City ranch until a 1989 raid, during which he asked his fellow cult members to kill him.
Scientology is different from the normal view of a religion. As with most churches, money will be collected or donated by the parishioners. To illustrate the illusion Scientology possesses, Margery Wakefield states, “Scientology is an unusual and dangerous kind of money-making machine. That is why this money-making enterprise was setup as a “religion”.” The Catholic church collects donations from parishioners, but the religion has existed for far longer than Scientology. Scientology charges their members for audits to be considered “clear”, but once complete the person must work their way up the pyramid in
Religions can be labeled in by three basic aspects, creed, conduct, and community. Scientology is not an exception. Creed is the “written body of teachings of a religious group that are generally accepted by that group.” Conduct is “(behavioral attributes) the way a person behaves toward other people.” As a final point community is “a number of people consider themselves one group based on location, work, religion, nationality, or activity.” Scientology is a picture painted by these three
One of the most prominent figures in this documentary was Paul Haggis. Paul is a writer and filmmaker whose former membership with the Church gives him distinct credibility (Science of Persuasion YouTube Video). His experiences grab the audience’s attention, seeing as he was a scientologist for three years. Paul spoke out about his experiences with Scientology, calling it a “cult” and mentioning many disturbing aspects about the church
Many people have heard of the revolutionary new religious practice called Scientology. However, the majority of people who have heard of it, have little knowledge of the principles and practices behind the religion. In fact, there is a dark side behind Scientology, and much speculation that the religion is a brainwashing cult. Many people are opposed to the religion because of its secretiveness, its extreme methods of teaching and its alleged use of mind control.
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.
Scientology is the study of knowledge, it is about knowing yourself, family, life, god and what the understanding of wisdom. It is a new kind of religion and something we believe in its something that is done. Lafayette Ronald Hubbard was born March 13, 1911, in Nebraska. He attended George Washington University where he studied engineering for the first two years college and the dropped out in 1932. It is said that Hubbard studied nuclear physics at George Washington University, but that wasn’t what he liked to do was concentrate on extracurricular activities, particularly writing and flying. Hubbard earned his wings a pioneering barnstormer. Hubbard then organizes and helms the Caribbean Motion Picture Expedition. It is a 5,000-mile voyage
While individual cultic groups may vary in discipline (political, religious, social/philosophical), they often operate with a similar premise: the world is bad, we are good, become a part of us (Salande & Perkins, 2011). Viewing the world in this way is not, in and of itself, destructive; and many mainstream religious and political movements embrace similar philosophies (2011). However, cult leaders often reinforce these ideas in frightening ways. By making their members use hallucinogens, sleep deprivation, group sex, strict prayer rituals, and deprogramming. Deprogrammers usually used “facts” about their religious group to shake up the person’s faith, this confrontation would often transpire in intense, emotionally charged situations (Donald & Robbins, 1982). The point of this was to rid the cult member of their ego, and past beliefs. The goal was for the member to have a blank slate, they could then me made to believe whatever the cult leader wanted them to.
When searching the word leadership one of the immediate synonyms to appear is control. To me, leadership is nothing about control. Leadership is accepting your role in any situation and still going above and beyond. Being someone who orders others around is not leading, it is dictating. Those getting out in front of others and working just as hard--if not harder--to set an example are true leaders. Leadership plays your strengths while still addressing your weaknesses. Acknowledging both sets up for success. In my life, I definitely have roles with set leadership titles. Although I have these titles, I try to act in ways that do not place me on a higher pedestal than the people I am surrounded by. I act as a humble leader because I know that I have not always been at the leadership level that I currently am. From dance, to student council, to link crew, my age does not give me automatic power. I am looked up to for my experience, but I am a leader for my ability to make connections with those around me. If I lead in ways that just push people around, it won’t be very effective; at a certain point people get fed up with a condescending boss and orders are no longer effective. I do not set out to be a leader only to receive credit, I am a leader to create a lasting impact.