Scientology
An Overview
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What do you
know about
Scientology?
 Do you know any
Scientologists?
 What terms do
you associate
with Scientology?
 What constitutes
a religion to you?
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http://www.scientology.org
What is Scientology?
Guess the Scientologist(s)
The Founder
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March 13, 1911- January 24, 1986
Born in Montana
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Grew up in Montana but was
attracted to the sea because of his
father’s position as an officer.
Dropped out of George Washington
University
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Joined the U.S. Navy
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1930’s - Became a pulp science fiction
writer
Developed Dianetics
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L. Ron Hubbard
Served during WWII
Spin on psychology that would
develop into Scientology
Church
An individual
who worked
for him
The
Public
A man of mythic
proportions
Charismatic
He developed a
cult
A larger than life
adventurer
Unpredictable –
his expectations of
others regarding
work
Mentally Unstable
Explorer and
researcher who is
responsible for one
of the greatest
scientific
discoveries
Raconteur, A
recluse, and a man
generous with
phrase
Psychopathy
Know as the
“source” – even
new information
derives from him
A tyrant
A subpar scientific
writer
Opposing views of L. Ron Hubbard
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Self
Creativity
Group Survival
Species
Life Forms
Physical Universe
Spiritual Dynamic
Infinity
"When the Seventh Dynamic is
reached in its entirety, one will only
then discover the true Eighth
Dynamic" - L. Ron Hubbard
The 8 Dynamics
Dianetics
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Hubbard developed a self-help system with the
book Dianetics in 1950.
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E-Meter
The book featured Hubbard's claims about his
new discoveries about the human mind.
Dianetics described Hubbard's new
psychological process that “enabled” full
human potential:
 Engrams = the scars on one's psyche from
harmful memories
 To get rid of engrams, one must go through
“auditing” with the assistance of an auditor
and an e-meter.
 Practitioners talks through their past
memories with counselors, who read an emeter that counselors believe reflects
engrams in the patient's mind.
 Scientologists call the e-meter process the
“tech”
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The E-meter measures
skin galvanizations but
Scientologists
Believe that it reflects
one’s inner thoughts
The tech enables individuals to maximize
their potential and become “clear” of
engrams while also curing illnesses and
developing special powers.
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After introducing Dianetics, the
FDA began disputing many of
Hubbard's claims about his
practices' effectiveness.
Hubbard wrote Science of Survival
about a year later
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A book that expanded on
Dianetics in a more explicitly
spiritual way based on his latest
discoveries.
Critics say that introducing
Scientology as a religion was
simply to help Hubbard escape
scrutiny and prosecution
From Dianetics to Scientology
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The basics of
Scientology
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What Scientology is and how it is
practiced largely depends on how long
one has been practicing the religion.
Retaining the self-help nature of
Dianetics, Scientology postulates that
people are inherently spiritual beings
with a thetan (an eternal soul) that limits
their potential due to past traumas
(engrams).
Thetans are considered ancient
 Hubbard endorsed reincarnation,
and many auditing sessions delve
into past life traumas as one advances
through Scientology.
Instead of worship sessions like other
religions, Scientology's practice is largely
constrained to auditing sessions and
studying the works of L. Ron Hubbard.
One begins entering Scientology through
Dianetics courses.
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•
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The O.T. levels were developed by
Hubbard while at sea with elite
scientologists with his own personal
navy during the late '60s and '70s.
The Church considers the material
highly classified and has sued many that
have leaked the materials.
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Auditing sessions are more or less
counseling appointments.
One studies their “reactive mind”
where past traumas are stored
subconsciously.
As one takes classes (which steadily
increase in price) and continues
auditing, one can be confirmed as a
“clear” free of engrams.
One then changes their focus to their
Operating Thetan level, a series of
advanced Scientology courses that
focus on the deeper intricacies of
reactive mind and the origins of
humanity.
There are at least 8 confirmed levels.
The Bridge to
Total Freedom
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http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/10
4274/what-scientologist-actually-believe
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Many of the descriptions of the O.T. levels
began leaking during the '80s with O.T. 3
garnering the most attention.
Hubbard claimed that anyone exposed to
O.T. levels 3 or higher would develop
chronic insomnia and go insane, among
other ailments, if they were exposed to the
teachings without being prepared.
The following South Park clip does a
comical but accurate take on it.
O.T. 3 reveals that engrams are actually
caused by the invasive “body thetans” of
dead aliens.
The Church has alternated between
denying the story outright and claiming
that it has been taken out of context.
Scientologists believe that they can develop
special powers by climbing up the “Bridge
to Total Freedom,” a process that costs
thousands and thousands of dollars.
The Xenu story has led many to label
Scientology a “UFO Cult.”
Xenu & O.T. III
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The Church has sought celebrity
members for years as a way to
increase its prestige and recruit
new members, creating special
luxurious services and buildings
for them.
Celebrity members are treated
very differently than rank-andfile Scientologists with more
access to auditing and the
Church's hierarchy.
The Church strongly encourages
donations, making its celebrity
members valuable sources of
income.
Scientology and Celebrities
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•
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A screenshot from a 2006
documentary by the BBC.
Host John Sweeney was stalked by
cameramen seeking to interfere
with the filming of his
investigative piece.
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Fiercely protective of the Church's public
image, Scientologists have spent many years
trying to dissuade its critics from attacking
them.
In 1968 Hubbard enacted a “Fair Game” policy
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Critics of the church (known as
suppressive persons) “may be tricked,
sued, or lied about or destroyed.”
Disconnection:
 Many Scientologists have been
encouraged to cut ties with friends and
family members the Church perceives as
not being supportive
The Church officially denies this, but many
former members like Paul Haggis have talked
about their experiences with it.
The Church continues to harass its critics
today.
The Church claims that the “fair game” policy
was dropped in 1968 and that those
responsible were removed from power.
Public Relations
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Protestors wearing Guy Fawkes masks, a
symbol of Anonymous.
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Many classified documents about
the church began leaking to online
forums during the 1990s where
critics gathered to discuss
Scientology.
An extremely litigious
organization, the Church began
fighting to remove the documents
from the Internet via copyright law.
The Church took over the websites
of various critical organizations
and have sought to hide negative
press online.
These actions have angered online
groups like Anonymous, which
began Operation Chanology in
2008.
This led to public protests as well
as attempts to propagate negative
information about Scientology and
take down their websites, a battle
that is still raging today.
Scientology and the Internet
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During the Dianetics era, the FDA
contested many of Hubbard's claims.
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They also forced E-meters to carry a
disclaimer that they were religious
objects and not scientific.
Allegations of underage labor and
other work abuses like forced abortions
have followed the Church for decades.
The IRS refused to recognize
Scientology for many years.
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The Church began decades of
harassment, including Operation
Snow White, the largest known
infiltration of the U.S. government.
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This was revealed in 1976 and resulted
in many high-ranking Scientologists
going to prison.
The Church and IRS reached a multimillion dollar settlement in 1993,
making Scientology an officially
recognized religion.
Scientology and the
Government
Social
Programs
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Scientologists operate many
outreach organizations that
claim to improve society as a
whole, from Narconon (a drug
abuse rehab center),
educational aids, prisoner
counseling, and disaster relief.
Scientologists also have a
fascination with psychiatry,
with Hubbard calling it a great
evil and its practitioners
“terrorists.”
Many of these organizations
have encountered scrutiny
related to their effectiveness
and funding.
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Many Scientologists recruit people
through outwardly secular methods
like stress or personality tests that end
with information about Dianetics
classes.
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Scientology claims upwards of 10
million members around the world but
independent evidence shows that the
Church is dwindling with probably
only 100,000 active members.
The current leader of the Church,
David Miscavige, was a protégé of L.
Ron Hubbard and has been running
things since Hubbard's death.
The Church is still struggling to gain
recognition across much of Europe,
including Germany, which
characterizes the Church as a cultish
scam.
Recent years have led to independent
Scientologist movements that seek to
restore Hubbard's vision and move
away from the supposed corruption of
the Church. They are known as “FreeZone Scientologists.”
Scientology Today
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Freezone Scientology. Paul Adams, 2010. Web. 4 Nov. 2013. <http://www.freezonescientology.com/>.
Beyer, Catherine. "Operation Snow White." About.com Alternative Religions. About.com, n.d. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.
<http://altreligion.about.com/od/scientology/a/Operation-Snow-White.htm>.
"What is Fair Game in Scientology?" About.com Alternative Religions. About.com, n.d. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.
<http://altreligion.about.com/od/controversymisconception/f/fairgame.htm>.
Church of Scientology International. "The Eight Dynamics." Scientology. Church of Scientology International, n.d. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.
<http://www.scientology.org/what-is-scientology/basic-principles-of-scientology/eight-dynamics.html>.
"What is Scientology?" Scientology. Church of Scientology International, n.d. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.
"Why is Scientology Opposed to Psychiatric Abuses?" Scientology. Church of Scientology International, n.d. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.
<http://www.scientology.org/faq/scientology-in-society/why-is-scientology-opposed-to-psychiatric-abuses.html>.
Heldal-Lund,, Andreas. "A Brief History of the Church of Scientology." Operation Clambake. Operation Clambake, n.d. Web. 4 Nov.
2013. <http://www.xenu.net/archive/infopack/8.htm>.
"CoS / IRS Closing Agreement." Operation Clambake. Operation Clambake, n.d. Web. 4 Nov. 2013. <http://www.xenu.net/archive/IRS/>.
"Operating Thetan." Operation Clambake. Operation Clambake, n.d. Web. 4 Nov. 2013. <http://www.xenu.net/archive/ot/>.
Hill, Jenna Miscavige. "How Scientology ensnares celebrities." Salon. Salon Media Group, 1 July 2005. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.
<http://www.salon.com/2013/02/07/how_scientology_ensnares_celebrities/>.
Hopkins, Curt. "Anonymous vs. Scientology." Salon. Salon Media Group, 2 Oct. 2013. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.
<http://www.salon.com/2013/02/07/how_scientology_ensnares_celebrities/>.
Miezkowski, Katharine. "Scientology’s war on psychiatry." Salon. Salon Media Group, 1 July 2005. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.
<http://www.salon.com/2005/07/01/sci_psy/>.
Miller, Laura. "Stranger than fiction." Salon. Salon Media Group, 1 July 2005. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.
<http://www.salon.com/2005/06/28/dianetics/>.
Ortega, Tony. "Scientology's Homophobia: Even the Church's Token Gay Guy Was Disgusted." The Village Voice Blogs. Village Voice,
LLC, 2 Sept. 2012. Web. 4 Nov. 2013. <http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/09/scientology_keith_relkin.php#more>.
"What is Scientology?" The Village Voice Blogs. Village Voice, LLC, 1 Jan. 2012. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.
<http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/01/what_is_scientology.php>.
"Why Do Scientologists Accept the Xenu Story?" The Village Voice Blogs. Village Voice, LLC, 21 July 2012. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.
<http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/07/scientology_xenu_whole_track.php>.
Perendergast, Alan. "Nightmare on the Net." Denver Westword News. Denver Westword, LLC, 6 May 1997. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.
<http://www.westword.com/1997-03-06/news/nightmare-on-the-net/>.
Religious Freedom Watch. "Religious Freedom Watch: Exposing Religious Intolerance." Religious Freedom Watch: Exposing Religious
Intolerance. Religious Freedom Watch, n.d. Web. 4 Nov. 2013. <http://www.religiousfreedomwatch.org/>.
Sweeney, John, perf. Scientology and Me. BBC One, 2007. Film.
The Wall Street Journal. "The Scientology Problem." The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company, Inc., n.d. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.
<http://online.wsj.com/article/SB859243880691531000.html>.
What Scientologists Actually Believe. Dir. Trey Parker. South Park Studios. Comedy Partners, 16 Nov. 2005. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.
<http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/104274/what-scientologist-actually-believe>.
Wright, Lawrence. "The Apostate." The New Yorker. Condé Nast., 14 Feb. 2011. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.
<http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/02/14/110214fa_fact_wright>.