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SCIENTOLOGY
Jason Loutensock
Natalie Parisi
Eric Larsen
HUMA 2400Summer 2012
L. RON HUBBARDChildhoodMilitaryBookDianatics
HISTORY OF THE RELIGION
DAVID MISCAVIGECurrent Leader
TERMINOLOGYThetans – Immortal souls
Engrams – obstructions to the soul imprisoned by physical reality
MEST - physical reality or Matter Energy Space Time
Bridge to Total Freedom –a thetans move toward full liberation from engrams
Preclear – prior to pursuit of Bridge
Operating Theatan (Clear) – completed bridge
Scientology – The knowledge of you (the outward form by which the inward thought is expressed) and a study of the spirit
Auditor – A Scientology Practitioner who listens and uses a set of processes to bring about changes in an individuals intelligence, behavior and general competence. Helps to become a clear (OT)
Processes – Drills and excercises
Employed – Used by/for
Education – Teaching by form of audits and drills
E-meter –electric machine used to locate engrams and help remove them from preclear’s thetan
MISSIONThe mission of Scientology is
civilization.
Scientology is defined as the study and handling of the spirit in
relationship to itself, universes, and other life.
Scientology is a new but very basic psychology, a study of the spirit.
It is an exact science, through exact methods and exact
application. (no system of belief or faith)
BASIC PRINCIPLES
• Humans are spiritual souls trapped within their material bodies
•Thetans are immortal souls that continue from one material life to another collecting engrams
• Engrams are obstructions to the soul imprisoned by MEST, manifested in a persons life as sadness, doubt, anger, or negative thoughts.
•Scientology objective – to confront the engrams and release them, allowing the soul to be free
BELIEFS: It is Possible to know about the
mind, the spirit and life.
• The Cycle-of-Action = Create, Survive, Destroy (an apparency)
vs. Create, Create-Create-Create, Create-Counter-Create,
No-Creation, Nothingness (an actual))
BELIEFS: 1. Self Dynamic
2. Sex Dynamic3. Group Dynamic4. Mankind Dynamic5. Animal Dynamic6. Universe Dynamic7. Spiritual Dynamic8. Infinity of God
Dynamic
Eight urges (drives, Impulses, motives,motivations) in life.
THE EIGHT DYNAMICS
BELIEFS:
BELIEFS:
PHASES: Phase 1: Introduction
Phase 2: Recognition – ScientologyBased on their financial resources they are no longer
have to try to isolate themselves. Isolation is a characteristic of religions in the introduction phase.
We chose Phase 2 because they are asserting themselves more.
Phase 3: Negotiation
Phase 4: Establishment
SCIENTOLOGY CROSS
The Scientology cross has eight corners representing the eight dynamics of
existence.
ARC TRIANGLERepresents:
KRC TRIANGLERepresents:
SCIENTOLOGY SYMBOLISM
Represents:
INTERFACING:
Has Scientology won a place in the mainstream?
Has Scientology flourished in Secular America?
Has Scientology faced forms of persecution, oppression and discrimination over the years?
INTERFACING:
What is Mainstream anyways?
Mainstream is:
The dominant course, tendency, or trend.
Something that is purchased, used or accepted broadly rather than by a tiny fraction of populationor market; it’s common, usual or conventional.
-(combination of two sources, dictionary.com & wiktionary.com)
Has Scientology won a place in the mainstream?
MAINSTREAM?
- The Launch of Project Celebrity (1955)
Gloria Swanson
Dave Bruebeck
Has Scientology won a place in the mainstream?
“Celebrities are very Special people and have a very distinct line of dissemination. They have communication lines that others do not have and many medias to get their dissemination through.”
-L.Ron Hubbard
Has Scientology won a place in the mainstream?
Celebrity Centres:
-Main purpose is to expand the number of celebrities in Scientology-Bring “broad public into Scientology from celebrityDissemination.”
MAINSTREAM?
INTERFACING: Has Scientology won a place in the mainstream?
-Pew Forum Religious Affiliation Survey-
Evangelical Protestant Churches = 26.3%Catholic = 23.9%Mainline Protestant Churches = 18.1%Unaffiliated = 16.1%Historically Black Churches = 6.9%
Other Metaphysical (Scientology) = 0.3%
MAINSTREAM
SCIENTOLOGY
Has Scientology won a place in the mainstream?
Not quite yet
My Conclusion:
Has Scientology flourished in America due to its secular nature?
FLOURISHED?
Flourishing Religion- A religious group that shows strong , verifiable membership growth and presence.
City of University of New York Study, 2001 -55,000 practicing members in America
Religious Identification Survey, 2008 -25,000 practicing members in America
Has been successful in America because:
WE ARE SECULAR in many ways!
Secular -
denoting attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis.
FLOURISHED?
America is secular
Nationally - We have no official state religion - We are granted freedom of religion
Individually - People are increasingly being drawn to things that are scientific in nature - We like to feel like there is evidences for our beliefs (religions, health issues, scientific breakthroughs).
FLOURISHED?
FLOURISHED?What does that mean for Scientology?
Individually – We’re Attracted- People are attracted to apparent logic and science- People are self-focused and scientology teaches that it’s important for you to make personal gains in this current life.
Nationally – We’re Permissive-There are no governmental restrictions on religion. No restrictions allows for greater social acceptability or anything.- Groups outside the norm are recognized as churches
FLOURISHED?
“Scientology is a religion that says it's OK to be wealthy, it's OK to be famous, in fact, that's a sign of your spiritual development.”
-Hugh B. Urban, Professor of religious studies at Ohio State University
According to Scientology, its beliefs and practices are based on rigorous research, and its doctrines are accorded a significance equivalent to that of scientific laws.
PERSECUTION?
“In his first book, [L. Ron Hubbard] offended psychiatrists; in his second, the intelligence community…the two…[drew] even closer in the common effort to stop him…What was surprising was the velocity and frequency of subsequent attacks” -Church of Scientology International
Has Scientology faced forms of persecution, oppression and discrimination over the years?
PERSECUTION?
Dianetics (1950) Opposition
Morris Fishbein – Editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association and Know for debunking quack medicine dismisses Hubbards book.
Newsweek (1950) – “The dianetics concept is unscientific and unworthy of discussion or review.”
(1951) - Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation is forced Bankrupt after legal proceedings for practicing medicinewithout a license by the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners.
-Early Days-
PERSECUTION? -Early Days
Continued-
FDA Raid(1963) – Seizure of hundreds of E-meters as illegal medical devices.
Mid nineteen-sixties – banned in several Australian states for claims of auditing being nothing more than “command hypnosis.”
IRS (1967) – Removal of Tax exemption status in the U.S. Tax exemption status is returned in 1993.
PERSECUTION? -Recent Struggles-
(1991) – 50 persons in connection with scientology file lawsuits against the Cult Awareness Network (CAN). For material posted online and their efforts advocating against so-called cults.
(1993) – The church files a lawsuit against Steven Fishman for posting sacred text and beliefs online regarding Scientology’s Cosmology.
Nov. 16, 2005 – Airing of South Park episode “Trapped in the Closet.”
(2008) – Launch of www.scientology-cult.com
PERSECUTION?
In November 2009, Australian Senator Nick Xenophon used a speech in Federal Parliament to allege that the Church of Scientology is a criminal organization. Based on letters from former followers of the religion, he said that there were "allegations of forced imprisonment, coerced abortions, and embezzlement of church funds, of physical violence and intimidation, blackmail and the widespread and deliberate abuse of information obtained by the organization”Due to these allegations, a considerable amount of investigation has been aimed at the Church, by groups ranging from the media to governmental agencies.”
PERSECUTION?
“It has been one of the most litigious religious movements in history, filing countless lawsuits against governments, organizations and individuals.” - James T. Richardson (2009), Scientology in court..
Today: It has been a struggle
Public Eye: Most of us are skeptical
PERSECUTION?
Has Scientology faced forms of persecution, oppression and discrimination over the years?
My Answer: YES, battle on all fronts.
SOURCES:
