What is the Church of Scientology?

The official name is “Church of Scientology International” and it was founded by L. Ron Hubbard. Hubbard was a 20th century science fiction author. He is now dead but his movement is still alive. The headquarters of the church is LA, CA and Clearwater, Florida. They are very wealthy and have many famous members (Tom Cruise, John Travolta). The movement’s key book is Hubbard’s “Dianetics” published in 1950.

Hubbard was influenced by eastern philosophies and religions. He became a science fiction writer and then created and incorporated the Church of Scientology to spread his views. He was a recluse and spent his later years isolated on a private yacht and died in 1986.

This movement uses a process called “auditing” which is a technique using a device they created called an E-meter to read personal engrams (this device is not approved by any scientific community). The counselor leads the sessions. At the end of a session a person is “clear” when his/her state reaches this after being audited. They claim this frees them from all engrams and negative affects on their mind and body. The whole religion involves this costly session process (as much as 1000 dollars a session) and is not a cheap movement to be involved! There are many strange terms used. Terms like “theatan” which is the immortal human soul or spiritual being. The influence of eastern thinking is obvious in the movement but Hubbard obviously created the teachings from his own creativity. Not hard to do if you are a science fiction writer.

Hubbard writes about past lives (reincarnation) and other heretical ideas. They talk about learning from our past lives as well. They had no clear definition of God and do not even address that issue. They might talk about a Supreme Being but it is a non issue. They focus more on humanity than God.
Therefore Jesus is also a non-issue for them. The whole focus is to deal with the past lives issues and to become liberated and spiritually aware.

It does get stranger. There are secret levels that followers can reach and details have been published by those who have left the group. The ‘highest’ level is OT VIII and reports are that it can only be taught while at sea on a Scientology cruise ship (Hubbard had a thing for boats-he was raised as a son of a Navy family). Reports of this final stage leaked in the 1980s. The story has to do with the Xenu alien story and the church claims is pulled out of context. Xenu was a dictator of a Galtic Confederacy who lived 75 millino years ago who brought billions of his people in a space craft to earth. He stacked them in volcanoes and killed them using hydrogen bombs. Their essences remained and they form around modern people and cause us harm. There are more details and parts of the story dealing with aliens and science fiction (he was a sci fi writer). The church downplays and denies parts of the stories but is not clear on their teachings so accusations continue. They will not mention Xenu and ignore those issues. The information continues to leak through the internet. You can read about it in many magazines, articles, and journals. Some of these stories were used in court cases for other reasons. The movement has been in court many times and not everyone wants to view them as a religion with the tax benefits religious groups get. Much controversy has followed the group through the years. I have read about other strange Hubbard ideas. Some involve robots in love with people, Martian bishops, and other crazy stuff but who knows what is taught and what is not due to the secrecy that the groups maintains.

What we can know is that as a Christian the teachings of past lives, focus on spiritual awareness and not salvation, the absence of a focus on God or Christ, and other major Christian teachings this movement is false. The group itself wants to be seen as a church and a religion. It is not a Christian religion. It teaches many false things and perhaps if the alien charges are true it teaches very very strange things.

In the next clip you can see the love the movement still has for Hubbard as Tom Cruise gives strange tribute to the man. Hubbard made a lot of money from this movement and near the end of his life was worth 200 million dollars. He continued to write science fiction as his church grew (remember the one movie based on his book “Battlefield Earth”? Terrible move starring John Travolta). He wrote an screenplay (not made into a movie yet) that dramatizes some of his teachings (“Revolt in the Stars”).

To show you how strange Hubbard is reports about his death are very odd. He died from a stroke and attorneys tried to claim his body but the medical examiner did a drug test and found medicine that is often used for anxiety and neurosis in his body. It has medical purposes too (nausea, etc). Regardless the body was cremated. The Church of Scientology announced that he had left his body to do “higher level research” and living on a planet far away! I’ve heard they keep an office for him.

Watch the video with Cruise and see what you think!

Blessings,

Derik

Will Smith Denies Scientology Charges

First let me say it clear— “I like Will Smith!” I really do! I didn’t like “Wild Wild West” (nothing to do with religion just bad movie making). I loved most of his movies (Independence Day, Bad Boys, and the list goes on). I’ve seen everything he has done except “Hancock.” I even loved his “Fresh Prince” days. Even if the rumors were true I’d still watch his movies. But I’m glad he is denying the rumors. I figure if it were true he’d admit it. After all the other famous faces who join are proud of their involvement.

Still the news was interesting that folks still think Smith is in the C of S. Let’s pray he doesn’t join and if he is in the Christian church let’s pray he remains so.

Still the question remains, “What is this Church of Scientology?”

I’ll deal with that next.
Derik

Is Will Smith a Scientologist?

Reports and rumors vary on the subject but people are asking about Will Smith and the Church of Scientology. Smith is friends with Tom Cruise who is a huge leader in the movement/religion/cult. Smith says he is not one but other reports give evidence he may be flirting with the movement. I’ve read quotes that he said he was a Christian (raised Baptist) and not Cruise’s church. Other reports say he gave away Scientology gifts. Reports have varied regarding a school for kids he has supported.

What’s the big deal?

I personally hope Smith is not in the movement. Many big names join and it seems to be the ‘in’ thing for famous folks. The voice of Bart Simpson, John Travolta, and others give big bucks and big support to the movement.

I like Smith and love his movies. I hope he hasn’t joined and will stick with Christ.

So  who are those Scientology guys?

Next article I will give you some info on who they are and what is so dangerous about their beliefs.
Derik