Scientology 101

Yonge street in Toronto is home to a large Scientology building. I pass by regularly and am often offered information by members. On more than one occasion, I've been offered, and taken information being handed out by protestors. As an atheist, and someone with a bit of common sense, I feel that Scientology is really nothing more than a scheme to make money, by what amounts to nothing more than a cult. However, I shouldn't pass judgement so quickly since I don't know much about Scientology, which is what I aim to find out in a new series I am calling Scientology 101. 


More after the jump.

Today I read an article in the Toronto Star which questions whether or not Scientology is falling out of favour.  Earlier this week there was news in the French courts of the church being convicted of fraud and came very close to being dissolved in France, where it is consider a sect. 

So, in light of this new attention, I've decided it is time to find out about this organization once and for all.  Lets begin with trying to answer the question: What is Scientology?

According to the Church of Scientology website:

The word Scientology literally means "the study of truth." It comes from the Latin word "scio" meaning "knowing in the fullest sense of the word" and the Greek word "logos" meaning "study of."

Scientology is the study and handling of the spirit in relationship to itself, others and all of life. The religion comprises a body of knowledge extending from certain fundamental truths. Prime among these:

Man is an immortal, spiritual being. His experience extends well beyond a single lifetime. His capabilities are unlimited, even if not presently realized — and those capabilities can be realized. He is able to not only solve his own problems, accomplish his goals and gain lasting happiness, but also achieve new, higher states of awareness and ability.

In Scientology no one is asked to accept anything as belief or on faith. That which is true for you is what you have observed to be true. An individual discovers for himself that Scientology works by personally applying its principles and observing or experiencing results.

Through Scientology, people all over the world are achieving the long-sought goal of true spiritual release and freedom.

According to Wikipedia:

Scientology is a body of beliefs and related practices created by L. Ron Hubbard (1911–1986), starting in 1952, as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics. Hubbard characterized Scientology as a religion, and in 1953 incorporated the Church of Scientology in New Jersey.

Scientology teaches that people are immortal spiritual beings who have forgotten their true nature. Its method of spiritual rehabilitation is a type of counseling known as auditing, in which practitioners aim to consciously re-experience painful or traumatic events in their past, in order to free themselves of their limiting effects. Study materials and auditing courses are made available to members in return for specified donations. 

Scientology is legally recognized as a tax-exempt religion in the United States and some other countries, and the Church of Scientology emphasizes this as proof that it is a bona fide religion. 

In other countries such as Germany, France and the United Kingdom, Scientology does not have comparable religious status.

I think it is safe to say that Wikipedia and the Scientology website have pretty different descriptions of what Scientology actually is. Personally, I don't see the point in reliving bad memories of my life. I think we all do enough of that subconsiously as it is.  Next time I want to take a look more deeply at some of the basic beliefs that followers adhere to. Remember Tom Cruise making a statement about how Brooke Sheilds shouldn't be taking anti-depressants? That's the sort of thing I want to find out about. Stay tuned Scientology 101, Part II is next week.