The church of science-fiction

A protester at the 'Anonymous' protest against the Church of Scientology in Dublin on February 10. (Photo: CG/tBP)

There has been much controversy surrounding the religion of Scientology. Many have dismissed it, calling it nothing more than a money-making cult. Lauren Halligan investigates the faith whose founder was widely rumoured to have said “The way to make a million dollars is to start a religion."

We all had a hearty chuckle at the expense of Tom Cruise a few weeks ago… yet again. A promotional tape of him talking at length about Scientology and how it changed his life was leaked online and within hours nerds all around the globe we’re blogging about the actor’s perplexing behaviour.

“It’s like, we're here to help. If you're a Scientologist, you see life, things, the way they are, in all its glory, in all of its perplexity, and the more you know as a Scientologist, the more you become overwhelmed by it,” he ranted, like a man possessed.

The press has gone to town on Cruise’s erratic behaviour, but not much has been said about the “new religious movement” that has more or less dominated his life for over a decade. Scientology was founded by science-fiction author L Ron Hubbard in 1952, after he published a book about Dianetics, a form of self-help (this is still the set of ideas and beliefs that Scientologists still follow).

Their core belief is that everybody has what are known as “engrams” ingrained on their psyche-basically scars left by any traumatic events that they have experienced.  They also believe that all mental and emotional conditions are caused by engrams. The engrams appear on what Hubbard called the “reactive mind”, which according to him is com­­­­pletely separate to the “analytical mind”. Still with me? Good.

In developing Scientology, Hubbard decided that our souls or “thetans” were reincarnated beings and therefore carried over engrams from many former lives. To ascend to the topmost levels of Scientology you must eliminate all engrams and become “clear”.

What’s all this about a giant lizard? Ok, so if your “crazy” alarm hasn’t already begun to sound, this may do it. Hubbard believed that 75million years ago, a giant lizard-like alien named Xenu (pronounced zen-ooh) ruled the galaxy.

Due to overpopulation, Xenu decided to ship millions of humans off to Earth. He then dropped them into volcanoes around the world and blew them up. After doing this, their souls (or Thetans) tried to escape, but mean old Xenu had them boxed up and brought to cinemas.

It was here that the Thetans were shown movies that implanted a “false reality” in their minds. Ideas of all major world religions, such as Christianity, Judaism and Islam were shown to the Thetans in order to confuse them. After all this they begun to attach themselves to the left over humans and to this day continue to sully us with their
presence.

Many negative stories have been emerging regarding Scientology over the years. One of the most prominent cases is the “disconnection”. If a person is believed to fraternizing with suppressive individuals (that would be people who disagree with Scientology), they are encouraged to limit, if not eliminate contact with them.

If the Scientologist is ill, unlucky or just plain moody, the suppressive individual is responsible and therefore need to be excluded from the Scientologist’s life. This applies to their parents, spouse, kids, friends and families.

There are two ways that this disconnection works – firstly, as described, disconnection of asuppressive individual from a Scientologist and secondly the disconnection of an individual that is perceived as detrimental to Scientology itself (this could be a former member). There are countless stories regarding this practice; the hurt, broken families and hearts it has caused.

One of the most talked-about and potentially most dangerous aspects of Scientology is its relationship with psychiatry and other medical professions. According to Hubbard, “Psychiatry is not a science and has no proven methods to justify the billions of dollars of government funds that are poured into it”.
Tom Cruise has also gone on record as saying that psychiatry should be outlawed as it is harmful to people.

Scientology’s avocation that they “do not need medicine” had gotten them into hot water from time to time though. Most famously, and tragically, was the case of Lisa McPherson. Lisa died aged 36 in 1995, after being discharged from hospital into the care of her church.

She had suffered a psychotic breakdown after a minor car accident and was in the process of being psychologically evaluated when members of the Scientology Church arrived and discharged her, claiming that she did not believe in medical science. Lisa was dead on arrival when she was rushed to hospital weeks later, and was found to be malnourished, underweight, dehydrated and covered in bruises.

Lisa’s family sued the church for wrongful death, as she was in their care at the time of her death. The case continued until the coroner, Dr Joan Wood, suddenly and unexpectedly changed her verdict of death to “accidental”. Lisa’s family still have to live with the possibility that her death could have been prevented if she had been left in hospital.

Founder, L Ron Hubbard, on the ‘aims of Scientology’...
A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology.

First announced to an enturbulated world in 1950, these aims are well within the grasp of our technology.

Nonpolitical in nature, Scientology welcomes any individual of any creed, race or nation.
We seek no revolution. We seek only evolution to higher states of being for the individual and for society. We are achieving our aims.

After endless millennia of ignorance about himself, his mind and the universe, a breakthrough has been made for man.

Other efforts man has made have been surpassed. The combined truths of fifty thousand years of thinking men, distilled and amplified by new discoveries about man, have made for this success.
We welcome you to Scientology. We only expect of you your help in achieving our aims and helping others. We expect you to be helped.

Scientology is the most vital movement on Earth today.

In a turbulent world, the job is not easy. But then, if it were, we wouldn't have to be doing it.
We respect man and believe he is worthy of help. We respect you and believe you, too, can help.
Scientology does not owe its help. We have done nothing to cause us to propitiate. Had we done so, we would not now be bright enough to do what we are doing.

Man suspects all offers of help. He has often been betrayed, his confidence shattered. Too frequently he has given his trust and been betrayed. We may err, for we build a world with broken straws. But we will never betray your faith in us so long as you are one of us.

The sun never sets on Scientology. And may a new day dawn for you, for those you love and for man.
Our aims are simple, if great. And we will succeed, and are succeeding at each new revolution of the Earth.

Your help is acceptable to us.
Our help is yours.
- L Ron Hubbard

MORE: Photographs of the 'Anonymous' anti-Scientology protest in Dublin on February 10

Comments

[mark]

Looks like the person who put this together doesn't understand the word investigate. What she has done is piece together complete lies and repackaged this as research.

Seems like Aldi wasn't employing the day you went for career advice.

Pity you didn't mention the case of the local kid who is drug rehabed now because of the programs run by some of the Scientologists.

Here is how some one can do some investigation. It's called reading a book.

If you want to learn about Judaism, you'd look at their texts in a holistic sense and speak with actual Jewish people. I wouldn't put much belief in some one who just read Mein Kampt and The Protocols of Zion and spoke with Anti-Semites.

[STOP Scientology Slave Camps!]

www.scientology-victims-testimonies.com

[anoynymause]

in b4 terryeo, bgodley, etc.
Thanks for the accurate and informative article c: Posting some links if people want more information might be helpful, though
www.xenu.net
www.whyaretheydead.com
www.exscientologykids.com
www.xenutv.com
www.torymagoo.org

[Southbend]

Other than the direct quote form Hubbard, this is a very poor description of the theology of Scientology, of which I've been a member for over 3 decades. The actual description is in the book "What is Scientology" or easily found at the website, www.scientology.org. You didn't even get the "creation myth" right, which is actually something called the "Factors". The entire "disconnection" thing is a tiny point in over 30 million words and was cancelled long ago. If you did a theology study of Judaism you'd go to their source materials, not the newspapers and blogs.

[Terryeo-LIghtfield-Arkaitz-Churilov-Grnapl-luana-cuirioser-chewyandbert]

I'm not a Scientologist but to me it sounds like the critics just plug their ears and chant "nah,nah,nah" like brainwashed cult members when confronted with the facts about all the great things Scientology is doing for the world.

[Claire]

I'M BROKE and I'VE BEEN DISCONNECTED FROM MY FAMILY.

I'VE GIVEN UP ALL AUTHORITY OF MY LIFE AND MY MIND.

I NEED AUDITING LIKE A JUNKIE NEEDS HEROIN.

THANK YOU, SCIENTOLOGY.

[Anonymous]

Psychiatry is an evil cult and should be eliminated.

[MrChillyAnon]

http://whyaretheydead.net is a good spot to read up on some of these cases. Google is your friend. Try www.xenu.net , www.exscientologykids.com/ are good spots too. Just to be fair, feel free to compare these sites with the Sci sites.

[AnonymousAleph]

Scientology is cult of greed and lies. Thankfully the media is beginning to take a stand and bravely confront this litageous beast.

03.15.08
Expect Us

[bgodley]

There is much false information in this piece that is obviously defamatory.

One. The quote about "making a million dollars" was written by a Readers Digest journalist in an article published in the 70s. That quote was proven to be false by the testimony of other individuals including non-scienotlogists.

Two. The video piece is highly edited to make Cruise's statements seem incongrous. It is a bash job at best. Yet it is touted as truth and gospel to how Tom Cruise acts.

Three. The term Science Fiction writer is often used to try and malign Scientology philosophy. Hubbard did write Science Fiction but it was about 2% of all the things he wrote and lectured about. He used funds from his Science Fiction novels to fund his research into the human mind which is all well documented and written.

Four. This Xenu, space alien thing is some level of highly twisted material to make Scientology and Scientologists look bad.

Five. The author's description of disconnection to people who disagree with Scientology is fantasy. This idea of deeming people suppressive because you are moody is an ultimate in hogwash. I got a good laugh from this.

Scientology not only addresses problems of life, communication it deals with ethics. This is to aid individuals to be more ethical and thus live a happier existence. As a part of of the suggested policy, which is not enforced(everyone has a right to ultimatley do as they desire), when someone is severely upsetting you and causing much trouble in life than you can disconnect. This is a last ditch suggestion after all other attempts are made to handle a situation. Again, though this is in extreme cases of turmoil. But it is common sense. Similarly if you had someone beating you up every week and nothing helped, you would need to get out of there. Critics use this little utilized handling as a way to incite some level of malcontent.

Six. Their is one very true statement made by the author and that is Scientology's exception to Psychiatry as being a legitimate science. Per interviews at the American Pyschiatric Association in 2005 and 2006, psychiatrists admit a) they do not know what causes mental illness b) the chemical imbalance theory of the brain is just that, at theory. c) none of them have ever cured a mental illness. Thus the fond use of the term "treatment". d) all mental illness is voted upon. There is not one scientific test to prove a mental illness of any kind. You can only observe reactions within individuals, but no test.
Yet despite this we see HUGE increases in labeling and drugging. All the recent shootings in American schools have been linked to psychotropic drugs yet there is no outcry. The industry has billions at stake and has a vested interest in seeing Scientology get pummeled.

Lisa Mcpherson was a tragic death. But it had nothing to do with Scientologists treating her badly as critics like to point out. She died from a blood clot from the accident (this is on the official death certificate). She was a Scientologist for years and was in an organization near the time of her death. This tragic event is used as some type of example of what Scientology is or how Scientologists act. It is offensive in the extreme. The aunt in her family used this death as means to try and sue the church for millions. She admitted to not really ever having a relationship with Lisa. The coroner reversed her initial decision about the cause of death as verified by three seperate medical experts.

What is obviously missing in this "look" at Scientology is any level of professionalism and unbiased treatment. The author is parroting criticism and outright nonsense. He does not include any other content relating to the million or so people who get benefit from the religion. He does not include any of the accolades or recognitions the church has garnered for it's social betterment activities, from school districts, to the NYC fire dept., to the United Nations. Thousands of them.

He doesn't describe people who lived with depression or upset in for years and tell how the Church saved their lives.

He doesn't describe other powerful activities like getting 6000 inmates off of drugs in the hard core prison of Tijuana Mexico or helping the South African govt. crack down on mental slave camps that killed many people.

He doesn't describe the Volunteer Ministers who have aided in New York City - 9/11, the Tsunami crisis, London bombings, Peruvian earthquakes, New Orleans floods, Greek Fires, Uganda floods, Pakastani bombings, on and on.

My story is that when I became a Scientologist I did not have a job and had much trouble in life. Through Scientology I grew more ethical and able. I am a business owner, active in my community including boy scout programs, a father and more. I guarantee if I had not found Scientology I would have been one of those trouble citizens that cause so much difficulty for others, yet I am not.

The author knows little of my religion and I guess in a most forgiving manner I could chalk this down to - he knows not what he speaks of.

[ANONYMOUS]

*BOYCOTT CELEBRITY SCIENTOLOGISTS*

TOM CRUISE
KATIE HOLMES
LISA MARIE PRESSLEY
JENNA & BODHI ELFMAN
JASON LEE
BECK
GIOVANNI RIBISI & FAMILY
JULIETTE LEWIS
ETHAN SUPLEE
KIRSTY ALLEY
JOHN TRAVOLTA
JENNIFER ASPEN
MARISOL NICHOLS
CATHERINE BELL
NANCY CARTWRIGHT
DANNY & CHRIS MASTERSON
LAURA PREPON
ERIKA CHRISTENSEN
SKY DAYTON/EARTHLINK.COM
ISAAC HAYES
LEAH REMINI

www.exscientologykids.com

[Tony Meman]

A good summary. Cases such as Lisa's, or the French woman who was kidnapped and held captive in Sardinia, are why we continue this struggle.

The RPF is why:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ-3JQGwps4

Kendra, Jenna, and Astra are why:
www.exscientologykids.com

This is why we protest:
The Officers of Scientology encourage child abuse and neglect.
http://www.taxexemptchildabuse.net

And this is why:
The policies of the Church of Scientology destroys families:
http://www.scientologydisconnection.com/

This is why:
The Church of Scientology enjoys special treatment over all other religions by the IRS - Only Scientology can claim a tax deduction for their “religious training.”
http://www.lermanet.com/scientologynews/nytimes/nyt-irs-030997.htm

www.youfoundthecard.com

[Joxe Arkaitz]

Scientology helped me overcome a depression more than 20 years ago and since then, they have helped me improve my life in every aspect I wanted. Everytime I went to the Church I got help. They have also helped my mother and many of my friends. They have a technology that works, based in solid wise principles about life, the mind and the spirit. I find it very sad that some people attack a movement that makes so much good in the world instead of helping it expand and help more people. Really sad...

[NarcAnonymous]

Excellent article, to few are actually looking into this organization.

If scientology's beliefs about mental and physical illness were correct then would members such as Lisa McPherson have died in their care.

Join us on March 15th
youfoundthecard.com
or
xenu.net

[Anonymous]

Interesting article. Party Hard!

[roger gonnet]

Yes, scientology is crazy, dangerous, and its founder Hubbard got 4 years jail in France for fraud in 1978.

Here some parts of the ruling in english:
www.antisectes.net/jugt78eng.htm

[Sam]

Are all the poor Scientologists being told to find one anti scientology article each day and fill it with their propaganda? Did Xenu give you this assignment for today?

Who knows, maybe tomorrow you'll get to fly to the mooooooooon! :D

[Lucy]

"I find it very sad that some people attack a movement that makes so much good in the world instead of helping it expand and help more people. Really sad..."

I really want Scientologists to understand that we are only attacking the bad parts, the parts that are wrong. If Scientology has helped you to beat depression then I am very glad for you and I wouldn't take that from you - it is the bad things that I want to stop - and you should want them to stop too, they are giving your faith a bad name.

[IrishHaremOtaku]

So much good in the world?

Like what? Picketing hospitals against mental health?
Hijacking the holocaust?
Forcing abortions?
Disconnecting families?

Ignorance is bliss for some I see.
Shrinks aren't "evil Nazis" as you claim them to be, and to say so is contrary to the millions of people helped by them.

[Anousemoose]

Oh wow. Scientologists from the OSA trying to speak good things about their cult and hide the truth.

Well written and fantastic Article. Lets hope more people in the media speak out about this dangerous, killing, lying cult.

[bgodley]

As a Scientologist, I once considered these protests to be the hubris of youth, misdirected by the seedy side of an internet culture. But now I know better.

After reading the information gathered some anti-Scientology sites I now understand why they consider the Church to be an evil tyrannical organization that fleeces it's parishoners. If it weren't for what this little campaign has turned me onto, I would just be another sad commentator on the, I am sorry to say, gullibility of the people of my Church. However, this organization has taken on a much brighter side no matter what is professed by some of those in my Church. I was interested in finding out where some of these kids got their info so I visited the sites including the partyvan site where their "organization" started from.

I must say I was impressed at the profound and thoughtful overtones of the discussion boards. Most were actively calling for peaceful, law abiding behavior at the protests, and they swiftly rejected any ridiculous calls for burning things, overturning cars, etc. In this age where we as Americans are being constantly reminded of how insecure our way of life is in the world. Where we seem to have lost some of the sanctity of personal freedom and the joy of pursuit of our way of life as we see fit, this campaign seems to be exactly what Scientology and our country needs, right now!

These individuals know the Church is involved in some nefarious activity, and they have been very active in gathering any evidence of it, which they have promptly given to authorities.

I have seen proof that the Church is fleecing people for profit and run as a pyramid scheme type of business, and I encourage everyone to contact the IRS, your representatives in Congress, and all other authorities and bring them your claims.

Now I clearly understand that what the spokespeople of the Church of Scientology are doing is inciting malice and prejudice. Make no mistake not all in Scientology are the same and some probably just don't know what they are doing. However, they are some pretty nasty characters in there, I have seen it.

It is unfortunate that the leaders of Scientology feed off of our youth to pursue their personal agendas of acquiring wealth and power. Quite despicable really.