Mormonism and Scientology
Belief=Non-rational Faith
Joseph Smith Jr.
•
President and first prophet of LDS
•
Spoke for God, revelations
•
Second Great Awakening...religious
change/confusion
•
Wrote Book of Mormon at age 24 over the
course of 7 years or so: theology and history
–
An American story
–
The Doctrine & Covenants (revelations)
•
Convicted money digger/ “glass looker”
•
Ran for US president
LDS Church
•
Tied to Christian beliefs, but not considered
Christian by Christians
–
People can communicate with god, can be or
become god
–
Baptized in
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141 temples or holy buildings of worship;
Wards/Branches; non-profit organization
•
15 million adherents globally
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US (6.1M), Mexico (1.2M), Brazil (1.1M)
–
Missionaries, proselytizing?
“All About Mormons” (2000)
•
Explored Mormonism in Orgazmo (1997)
•
Semi-accurate story behind Smith and Book of
Mormon with embellishment/omission
•
Parker's Family Home Evening (FHE)
experience
•
Seer stones
•
Stan represents cultural skepticism
–
Faith v. empirical evidence...religion requires
faith
–
“Dum dum dum dum dum”
The Book of Mormon
Under the Banner of Heaven
•
Ideas by Joseph Smith Jr. in 1820s,
incorporated in 1830 in Palymra, NY
•
Mainstream LDS v. Fundamentalist LDS
•
Nephites in United States=caucasians;
Lamanites=Indigenous
•
Pioneer Brigham Young, first governor of Utah
•
Settled Utah in 1847, after Missouri War,
Illinois War, and Utah War
•
Schism in LDS and most violence over
polygamy or “plural marriage” (“celestial
“Tithing” and Finances
•
By commandment of God, pay a “tithe” (1838)
–
10% of income, not “required” by LDS but God
–
Temple Building Fund
–
Fast Offering: fast for a day and donate money
to church
–
Similar commandments in other religions, but
this is often criticized by Gentiles
•
Brigham Young University; 34K students (98%
LDS)
•
Desert Management Corporation (LDS forprofit)
Church of Scientology
•
Based in LA and Riverside; Clearwater, Florida
•
Incorporated in 1953/54; non-profit status in
1993
•
25K-8million adherents;
Churches/Missions=franchises
•
CSI: Church of Scientology International
(Mother Church)
•
RTC: Religious Technology Center
–
•
Controls trademarks, copyrights and licenses
Sea Org: monastic group; naval force
L. Ron Hubbard
•
Prophet of church and science fiction writer
•
Dianetics...mind and body...releasing engrams
•
Discrepancies over life story
•
The way to get rich is to found a religion?
x
•
1955 Project Celebrity
•
Audit...pre-clear/clear...Operating Thetans
–
Self help, getting rid of negative emotions
–
“Alternative psychology”
Issues w/ Scientology
•
Anti-psychiatry
•
Pay for auditing counseling; place in hierarchy
(OT levels) commensurate with wealth
•
Large number of Hollywood and entertainment
industry adherents
•
Known for using IP law, defamation law to
protect religious freedom
–
Often use lawsuits to harass critics
–
Fair Game; Ethics Technology; Knowledge
Reports
“Trapped in the Closet” (2005)
•
Previous parodies “The Gauntlet” (2000) and
“Blaintology” cult
•
Religious satire/Parody of Scientology(ists)
•
Tom Cruise joke...John Travolta
•
Semi-accurate depiction of beliefs
•
Pay for faith?
•
–
"to really be a church, they can't charge money
to help"~Stan
–
Money v. message/faith
Satire on litigious nature of church: “We'll sue
“Closetgate”
Chef Leaves
•
"There is a place in this world for satire, but
there is a time when satire ends and
intolerance and bigotry towards religious
beliefs of others begins. Religious beliefs are
sacred to people, and at all times should be
respected and honored.” ~ Isaac Hayes
•
Never had an issue with other religious satires
•
“The Return of Chef” (2006)
Cults
•
Groups with new or deviant beliefs from
traditional beliefs
–
Manipulate, exploit, and control its members
–
Often use brainwashing
•
Has taken on pejorative meaning
•
Christian “cults”: LDS, Jehova's Witnesses
•
Scientology often labeled a cult
•
What differentiates a cult from a religion?
•
Joseph Smith? Xenu? Jesus? Non-rational
faith
9, Blasphemy and Morality
•
Blasphemy for comic effect
•
Utilitarianism: potential positive and negative
consequences of acting in a situation (John
Stuart Mill)
•
–
Morally right decision promotes balance
between +/- consequences
–
The greatest happiness of the people
From this perspective is blasphemy morally
acceptable?
Blasphemous Humor
•
Blasphemous Humor: to be funny something
sacred portrayed in a disrespectful manner
Applying Utilitarianism
•
Looking at everyone affected equally
–
Happiness v. unhappiness
–
South Park w/ and w/out blasphemy
–
Direct consequences (offending believers;
making people laugh)
–
Indirect consequences (intolerance,
desensitization; make people think)
•
Blasphemous humor means more discourse,
exchange of ideas, and a happier more
balanced society
•
Remember, must be + consequences to offset
10, Naive/Arrogant Fundamentalism
•
“Fixation of belief”: inability to change beliefs.
The “only” logical answer
•
South Park exposes believing as
naive/arrogant approach to God, the world,
and being human
•
Fundamentalists see world via unquestionable
beliefs (i.e. dogma)
•
Interpretation of text as true meaning (naive);
arrogance is wrapped up in this naivety
•
The issue is not the beliefs, but the way of
holding them...confusing YOUR will as God's