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Scientology has been dragged into the highlight from time to time since its inception; nonetheless, final yr, it discovered itself within the headlines of main information retailers for lengthy stretches of time. This yr is shaping as much as be about the identical, with defendants from the Danny Masterson rape case of 2023 alleging the group makes use of mob-style techniques to silence its members and even revenue off of criminal activity.
Scientology has been shrouded in thriller from the start, so attending to the underside of what precisely Scientology is and what it means to be a Scientologist is tough to decipher. Relying on the supply, Scientology is a faith, a path to psychological well being, a solution to treatment bodily illnesses, a cult, or a highly-sophisticated up to date model of the mob.
To know Scientology, it’s important to begin with its inception after which maintain on tight as the trail towards understanding winds and weaves into every situation. So buckle up, and let’s begin at the start.
The creator
Scientology was based in 1954 by author L. Ron Hubbard. Mr. Hubbard wasn’t a theologian or author of nice biblical or spiritual works.
Mr. Hubbard primarily wrote westerns, horror, and science fiction. Born from his book titled Dianetics: The Trendy Science of Psychological Well being, Scientology was based mostly on the idea that every particular person has two elements of their thoughts – one that’s rational and one that isn’t.
Dianetics particularly describes the human thoughts as having a aware “analytical thoughts” and a unconscious “reactive thoughts.” The reactive thoughts, in line with Dianetics, homes our traumatic and painful pasts, which, if left unchecked, results in ache that may manifest in both psychological well being points and even bodily illnesses.
Scientology affords a treatment to this “reactive thoughts” via a course of known as “auditing.” Auditing consists of being requested questions meant to find your inner ache and erase it out of your thoughts with the objective of changing into “clear.”
They also have a device for measuring your readability. Whereas present process auditing, people maintain onto an electropsychometer or “E-meter” that measures the power of {an electrical} present of their physique.
It’s this auditing that began placing Scientology entrance and heart within the information and with the regulation, on condition that it prices a payment to obtain auditing companies.
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Cash cash cash
In 1958, the Inside Income Service (IRS) revoked Scientology’s tax-exempt standing as a result of their auditing processes appeared extra like “psychological remedy,” as they put it on the time, than a faith. The IRS’ choice was celebrated by many, together with physicians and psychiatrists, who felt the group was utilizing untested and unscientific strategies not based mostly in medication to deal with psychological sickness and bodily illnesses.
This elimination of their tax-exempt standing prompted Scientology to arrange a whole group throughout the group to struggle any assaults made in opposition to the faith. The consequence was an extended battle with the IRS, culminating in getting their tax-exempt standing again in 1993, making it the longest investigation within the IRS historical past.
The interior group and mechanisms of Scientology are sufficient to boost eyebrows. Regardless of the shroud of secrecy, what is thought is fairly spectacular.
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There are a number of layers of Scientology hierarchy with extremely organized methods explicitly constructed to counter any adverse press or assaults. Many would possibly consider Scientology’s headquarters reside in Hollywood, given the group’s clear attraction for celebrities.
Nevertheless, the headquarters is in Clearwater, Florida, with the leaders residing totally on ships dubbed Sea Organizations. The chief of Scientology, David Miscavige, even has the title of Captain.
Getting a bit bizarre
The Scientology website describes the group as a faith, stating:
“…Scientology is a faith that gives a exact path main to a whole and sure understanding of 1’s true religious nature and one’s relationship to self, household, teams, Mankind, all life kinds, the fabric universe, the religious universe and the Supreme Being.”
That sounds good and effectively, however when you take a second, it turns into obvious that none of meaning or explains something. At its floor, Scientology appears akin to meditation or yoga, a observe meant to focus the thoughts and management our emotional reactions to the surface world in an try to achieve inside peace and maybe obtain added advantages of bodily and psychological ache reduction.
However due to some leaks on the interior doctrine of Scientology, we all know that there’s far more to this faith. Like Buddhism, Scientologists consider people have lived a number of lifetimes however are trapped in several our bodies.
It’s not till one attains a “clear state” that one is launched from one’s trapped bodily physique. The thought is that every of us is an immortal being often known as a “Thetan.”
Professor of non secular research on the Virginia Commonwealth College David Bromley explains:
“You progress up the bridge to freedom by working towards being an ‘Working Thetan,’ which on the highest degree transcends materials regulation. You sometimes come throughout folks in Scientology who say they will change the fabric world with their thoughts.”
And that is when it will get a little bit bit stranger.
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Aren’t all of us simply aliens?
Thetans, in line with Scientology, are the souls of an historical intergalactic civilization that was destroyed right here on Earth and have latched themselves onto people. This latching is what causes our inside turmoil and the supply of our bodily ache.
Allegedly, when you attain the clear state of OT or Operational Thetan, you turn out to be aware about the superior secret texts of Scientology. These texts allegedly clarify that an alien named Xenu, who was an intergalactic ruler 70 million years in the past, took billions of aliens from different planets right here and murdered them with thermonuclear weapons.
This excessive galactic violence created the Thetans, who torment people till they’re audited out of our our bodies, making us, you guessed it, clear.
The key texts learn like an episode from an Historical Aliens combined with a little bit little bit of the plot from The Matrix. When requested by Playboy journal what Scientology was, distinguished celeb Scientologist Tom Cruise mentioned:
“What I consider in my very own life is that it’s a seek for how I can do issues higher, whether or not it’s being a greater man or a greater father or discovering methods for myself to enhance.”
When put into that perspective, it’s arduous to seek out fault with Scientology. Aren’t all religions, at their core, about discovering methods to be higher folks to ourselves and the world round us?
Aren’t all of us, no matter spiritual backgrounds, aiming to do issues higher and be higher? The query is, does Scientology have a way more sinister basis and operation – or is it only a faith that is a bit more open to the fantasy elements of perception than the remaining?
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