The Curious case of Scientology
An Introduction to Scientology
Scientology, can be defined as a body of beliefs and practises which was developed in the form of a religion. It was launched in the mid 1952 in USA. Lafayette Ronald Hubbard, popularly known as L. Ron Hubbard is considered as the father of Scientology. The bitter experiences he faced in his life inspired him to develop the program which was known as ‘Dianetics’ and led to formation of Dianetics foundation.
Unfortunately, in 1952, Dianetics foundation went bankrupt and Hubbard lost the possession over his works on dianetics. Dianetics had a lot of oppressors who argued it initiated teaching of medicines without an official licence. Hubbard didn’t gave up and one year later he claimed his rights over his works and modified dianetics into a religious body that he called ‘Scientology’. He claimed everything back including the lost doctrines and terminology and made them house under the ‘Church Of Scientology’.
Scientology, as a term where, ‘Scio’ which means knowing of science and ‘Logos’ a Greek word for expressing the inward thoughts. Since then, Scientology succeeded in inspiring a number of organisations and at the same time was a hot topic of debate and controversy. Still now, Scientology is not constitutional in some European countries and is considered dangerous.
Dianetics
Scientology is considered to be the study which evolved out of Dianetics or in other words, Scientology consisted of the principles and practises prescribed in Dianetics modified into a religion. Dianetics was bound by principles of Psychology, Hypnosis and Science Fiction while Dianetics was more Religion oriented. In 1950, Hubbard, with the help of John H Campbell who was an editor in ‘Astounding Science Fiction’ magazine published his feature on Dianetics: evolution of science.
Later he published a book under the name ‘Dianetics: Modern Science of Mental health’. The book was a bestseller according to New York Times for six straight months that inspired and motivated some of the reputed practitioners to adopt practises of Dianetics and many enthusiasts wrote about the possibilities of Dianetics.
The medical practises prescribed under Dianetics resembled a counselling type of technique which was called as ‘Auditing’. The process was about recalling the traumatic and fearful events of one’s past and removing the painful memories and emotions once and for all. According to Hubbard this process was a spiritual healing technology with organised science of thoughts. The process used Electropsychometer designed by Volney Mathison for detecting the changes in a person’s mind. He even trained the first practitioners who was also known as ‘Auditors’.
With the help of his brother-in-law Joseph A Winter, a physician, Hubbard submitted the Papers to American Medical Association. But unfortunately these were rejected as they found them unworthy while Hubbard insisted that they were built through natural laws on order of physical sciences.
Hubbard was not ready to give his work. He launched a Dianetics movement and established Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation.
L Ron Hubbard: Father of Scientology
Lafayette Ronald Hubbard, was an American author and the man behind the concepts of Dianetics and Scientology. Starting his career as a writer of pulp fiction, Hubbard followed his father’s path and joined Marine Corps during the World War II. As his family was forced to travel a lot during the 1930’s Hubbard was able to write a lot of short stories mostly on science fiction. ‘Buckskin Brigades’ was his first novel published in 1937 and this made him popular against his colleague freelancers. John W Campbell, who was the editor of two popular magazines, ‘Unknown’ and ‘Astounding Science Fiction’ published most of his short stories including Fear, Final Blackout etc.
Warren G Magnuson, a congressman recommended Hubbard for a major posting in US Navy considering his marine expeditions and his knowledge about vessels. Thus Hubbard became a Lieutenant in the US Naval reserve. In 1943, Hubbard ordered his men to release fire on a Japanese submarine but the superior officials rejected the claim as they couldn’t find any trace of existence of a Japanese submarine in the area. Later he practised firing in an island under the limits of Mexican government and he was relieved of his rank. He faced fitness and health issues, took a medical leave and continued his experiments tracing back to mid-1930.
He has conducted a research on a drug used in dental proceedings and wrote a manuscript on it. This was considered as the early version of Dianetics. After relieving from the command, he even tried to perform a ritual to summon the reincarnation of goddess ‘Babalon’ along with John Whiteside Parsons.
L Ron Hubbard holds the world record of most number of published works (1,084 works) most number of translations (70 translations for ‘The Way to Happiness’).
Scientology: Beliefs, Principles and Practises
The beliefs, principles and practises of Scientologists are completely based on the researches and teachings left by L Ron Hubbard. The teachings on Scientology according to Hubbard were meant for enlightening human lives. He wanted his teachings to make an impact so that his methods will assist the mankind to realise its full potential and enhance their lives.
Scientology strongly believed that human is immortal as the spiritual being will leave only the physical body and it attains another. They believed unlike other religions, the spirit takes possession of a number of physical bodies even more than thousand and a spirit is an independent entity.
Moreover, Scientology doesn’t believe in suppressing the believers of other religions up to an extent and thus, they allow the believers of other religions to practise methods insisted in scientology. Scientology, been viewed as a religion doesn’t encourage worship of any god or such entity. They believe to attain strength and welfare by travelling through the trail laid out by Hubbard.
Some of the major concepts/beliefs or practises of Scientology are;
Purification Rundown: It refers to a type of detoxification program performed by the practitioners or Auditors. The purpose of this process is to detoxify the body and soul from all sorts of negative aspects.
Narconon: Narconon is a type of rehabilitation program. This process aims at liberating the ones from the grip of drugs. The Auditors are given proper drug education and the subjects are liberated through exercise, diet and study.
Introspection Rundown: The practise of Introspection Rundown deals with the subjects having traumatic disorders or mental breakdowns. The Auditors, by adopting suitable methods will make the subjects emotionally strong and free from mental disorders.
Silent Birth: L Ron Hubbard always insisted that a pregnant woman must be taken good care and treated with respect. According to him, the birth of a child must be on a quiet and pleasant environment which he believed will have a positive impact on baby.
Fair Game: This is a concept adopted by Hubbard and he believed that every single policy or practise done in against the church of scientology should be suppressed. He always insisted that they should eliminate their opponents and those who criticise their beliefs and practises. In the 1950’s Hubbard faced a lot of threats and criticism for backing scientology. There were many private organisations and government agencies who possessed a threat to their religion and its practises. They believed Psychology is a meaningless and corrupt act as it denied existence of spirituality in its teachings and practise.
Free Zone: Scientology also encouraged practise of their methods in an independent way, thus they were a lot of independent scientologists. The church of scientology strictly insisted that the teachings of Hubbard will be practised in the way it is and no changes or alterations will be made. There were 5,00,000 pages of writings, 6,500 reels of tape and 42 films. Moreover, it discouraged all types of unethical and immoral practises in scientology.
Bridge to Total Freedom: The bridge to total freedom referred to the life of a Scientologist, how he is learning the principles and methods so that he could apply on his subjects ensuring a cure for their problems. It even teaches them how to improve their spirit using scientology.
KRC and ARC Triangles: The KRC triangle which stands for Knowledge, Responsibility and Control refers to the basic qualities of a Scientologist. It insists that a Scientologist should gain knowledge, take responsibilities and exert control over others.
Purification Rundown: It refers to a type of detoxification program performed by the practitioners or Auditors. The purpose of this process is to detoxify the body and soul from all sorts of negative aspects.
Narconon: Narconon is a type of rehabilitation program. This process aims at liberating the ones from the grip of drugs. The Auditors are given proper drug education and the subjects are liberated through exercise, diet and study.
Introspection Rundown: The practise of Introspection Rundown deals with the subjects having traumatic disorders or mental breakdowns. The Auditors, by adopting suitable methods will make the subjects emotionally strong and free from mental disorders.
Silent Birth: L Ron Hubbard always insisted that a pregnant woman must be taken good care and treated with respect. According to him, the birth of a child must be on a quiet and pleasant environment which he believed will have a positive impact on baby.
Fair Game: This is a concept adopted by Hubbard and he believed that every single policy or practise done in against the church of scientology should be suppressed. He always insisted that they should eliminate their opponents and those who criticise their beliefs and practises. In the 1950’s Hubbard faced a lot of threats and criticism for backing scientology. There were many private organisations and government agencies who possessed a threat to their religion and its practises. They believed Psychology is a meaningless and corrupt act as it denied existence of spirituality in its teachings and practise.
Free Zone: Scientology also encouraged practise of their methods in an independent way, thus they were a lot of independent scientologists. The church of scientology strictly insisted that the teachings of Hubbard will be practised in the way it is and no changes or alterations will be made. There were 5,00,000 pages of writings, 6,500 reels of tape and 42 films. Moreover, it discouraged all types of unethical and immoral practises in scientology.
Bridge to Total Freedom: The bridge to total freedom referred to the life of a Scientologist, how he is learning the principles and methods so that he could apply on his subjects ensuring a cure for their problems. It even teaches them how to improve their spirit using scientology.
KRC and ARC Triangles: The KRC triangle which stands for Knowledge, Responsibility and Control refers to the basic qualities of a Scientologist. It insists that a Scientologist should gain knowledge, take responsibilities and exert control over others.
While the ARC triangle stands for Affection, Reality and Communication which he insists the followers and believers of the religion to follow.
Apart from these Concepts and Practises, Hubbard believed there are eight major dynamics which played an important role in understanding one’s complete potential and to know what he is capable of. He believed by following these eight dynamics, it enhance spirituality within the soul that doesn’t decay along with the physical body. These eight dimensions were,
Urge towards survival of self
Urge towards survival of sex and children
Urge towards survival of group of individuals
Urge towards survival of all mankind
Urge towards survival of animals, birds, fishes, insects and vegetation
Urge towards survival of everything in physical universe; matter, energy, time, space
Urge towards survival of spirits
Urge towards survival of supreme being or infinity
Urge towards survival of self
Urge towards survival of sex and children
Urge towards survival of group of individuals
Urge towards survival of all mankind
Urge towards survival of animals, birds, fishes, insects and vegetation
Urge towards survival of everything in physical universe; matter, energy, time, space
Urge towards survival of spirits
Urge towards survival of supreme being or infinity
Controversies related to Scientology
Scientology, due to its nature of practises and beliefs was never able to free itself from controversies. From psychiatry to internal management of the religion, they faced a lot of controversies just after its commencement. As they openly attack the beliefs of other religions they had to face questions on legitimacy of Scientology itself. The psychiatric treatment methods used in scientology was unusual to the other practitioners that broke almost every conventional law of psychiatry. ‘Attack the Attacker’ was the method used by scientologists against critics. Back in 1978, many scientologists were convicted for stealing government documents. Even Hubbard was convicted for fraud in the same year. Scientology and its practises were found fraud and convicted by the court in a number of European countries. The usage of E-meters were banned in certain countries. Many accusations were made on them as a religion practised with the motive of money. The church of scientology defended the accusations as they termed it as a pre-planned conspiracy to trap them.
Scientology Today
Scientology as a religion gained popularity over decades. Even though some considered Scientology as dangerous and a vicious cult some of the practises and principles of the religion influenced a lot of people to follow Scientology. According to the Church of Scientology, the religion has more than ten million followers all over the world. The known fact that a person belonging to another religion can practise the methods specified in Scientology encouraged many number of people to exercise the practises specified by Scientology. Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Kirstie Alley are some of the renowned celebrities who follow Scientology as a religion.
Scientology witnessed a significant growth in the number of followers in recent years. It is launching its own Television Network.
Ajay Sreeram
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