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 Scientology...worth Studying? |
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| Imperial Arts |
 Jul 3 2010, 12:59 PM
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Zelator
Posts: 307
Age: N/A
Gender: Male
From: Las Vegas
Reputation: 18 pts
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I own and have read the "Basic Books" selection (18 hardcovers and 14 lectures), along with many other titles from Scientology, including Hubbard's Art and The Scientology Handbook. I also have a mountain of other information from them, have attended numerous events at the local chapter, and (along with my wife) receive privileged invitations to Celebrity Center events.
The Basic Books are very much worth reading. Fundamentals of Thought, The Problems of Work, and Dianetics are a good start.The Basic Books set can be purchased brand-new for $50 on Ebay occasionally, in the exact same condition you would receive it from Bridge for $500. The Way to Happiness was written for children, and is usually given away for free in pocket-sized paperback editions.
An occultist will recognize many of the techniques of Scientology, which are otherwise known as meditation, etheric projection, and the quest for the Holy Guardian Angel. These are presented in Scientology without reference to cultural and sectarian terminology, but the effects are identical and the approach is similar.
There is little of what may be called formal ritualism in Scientology, and most of the actual work takes place in the presence of an "auditor." According to Dianetics, when a person experiences emotional or physical pain, the experience is registered in the sub-conscious mind and exerts a negative influence on thoughts and actions as a result. The auditing process aims to bring the sub-conscious experiences under the scrutiny of the conscious or analytical mind, so that the problems they had once caused become resolved.
The aim for the Scientologist is to break free from the obsessive tendencies of the "reactive mind," and to awaken the individual spirit, called a Thetan after the Greek letter theta. A person who has become free of the obsessions of his or her past is called a "clear." The Scientology equivalent of an "adept" is called an Operating Thetan or OT, and in the OT levels one is expected to act through the agency of the spirit to perform what Hubbard calls "magic."
Scientology is heavily-laden with ideas taken from Thelema. Adherents of "chaos magic" and yoga enthusiasts will notice marked similarities in many of the methods and practices. Since the techniques are made accessible to the public without reference to foreign deities and dead languages, they have the potential to reach a wider audience than that which is attracted to standard occultism.
Accusations against Scientology tend to fall under one or more of the following headings:
1. That they teach fiction: space aliens, mystic attainments, and bad nutrition.
2. That they are managed by a corrupt bureaucracy, demanding huge sums of money.
3. That they intrude upon personal and family matters.
To the first accusation, it is true that Scientology maintains that the universe is populated by diverse beings on numerous other planets, and that all share in a common spiritual heritage. Consider that billions of people actually believe that all the evil in the world comes from a woman accepting a snack from a talking snake, and the idea of space aliens seems less bizarre.
It is also true that Scientology aims to generate mystical attainments and magical powers, but these are not so far from the mark for an occultist. It appears that every religion has some form of dietary control, and Scientology is no exception, with a prescription for a brief "purification" period of extreme exercise and vitamin supplements.
The second accusation is also true, and shared by nearly every organized religion on the planet. I have never given Scientology a single dime, and have been denied nothing from them. I think it's amusing to get a letter in the mail asking for $100,000 to save starving kids in Africa, but I get those from other organizations too.
Following the "turn and strike!" philosophy, Scientology will relentlessly battle against their enemies. The current big enemies of Scientology are major pharmaceutical companies. Scientology is vehemently opposed to drug abuse, and consider that mood-altering drugs and antidepressants are exerting a negative influence on society. Narconon and several other anti-drug programs are Scientology projects. The local anti-Scientology protest effort is funded by an online pharmacy company.
It is also true that Scientology pries into your personal history. Knowing what you have willfully done against others, or what you've lied about, is a big part of auditing. Maybe it's better to just not do this sort of thing, but apparently that doesn't occur to people. Scientology attempts to focus on bringing everything into the open and communicating effectively, rather than allowing trouble to brew in secret. If you decide that your relatives are a major problem, Scientology will assist you to "disconnect" with them entirely, so that they cannot find or contact you.
There is a lot said about Scientology in ignorance of the facts. Be aware that this is a controversial subject, and that it is difficult to find a reliable answer. The books and materials are available for public inspection. My first contact with Scientology was an attempt to get in on any potential real estate scams, and I was never turned away from any investigation of their practices. My wife was allowed to view the records, finances, and the medical histories of the local members. There was nothing worth hiding!
I hope this gives you some idea of what to expect from Scientology, and moreover to realize that it is no more or less relevant to occult ideas than the various New Age and neo-pagan organizations.
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| Imperial Arts |
Jul 4 2010, 12:12 PM
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Zelator
Posts: 307
Age: N/A
Gender: Male
From: Las Vegas
Reputation: 18 pts
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You asked for opinions about Hubbard's books, indicating that you have not read them.
If you have not read the basic books, your knowledge of Scientology is limited.
Maybe you've read something defamatory online?
I've been investigating Scientology for a little more than five years now, and can confidently say that I know their system and their people pretty well.
In all that time, I haven't seen anything to justify the sort of slander Scientology regularly receives, and I have certainly looked for it. I have never been told any subject was taboo, and even the higher-level OT members have been perfectly candid about every aspect of their work and progress.
They do ask for money: lots of it. That's the very worst thing I've seen from them. Recently I got a polite form-letter request for twelve million dollars! Let me just go clean out the sofa... But when I say, "No you are not going to get any cash from me," they have never pressed the issue or closed a door as a result. I will repeat that I have never paid them anything.
In dealing with a controversial subject, I believe it is important to have a first-hand knowledge before passing along vague notions of unscrupulous behavior. At any rate, the books are available without association with Scientology organizations, and are worth reading.
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