Scientology: Factors Affecting Health Assessment

Scientology: Factors Affecting Health Assessment

Considered by some to be a cult and others to be a religion, albeit a controversial one, Scientology unquestionably establishes strong cultural and personal beliefs and attitudes in its members (Ogle 2010). These beliefs can lead to certain social and cultural practices that differ significantly from those of society at large, and as such could be prohibitive in the successful health assessment of individuals within Scientology, and the collection of personal data that could lead to an accurate profile. This paper will examine several facets of the unique qualities of most Scientologists that could have an impact in this area.

One of the essential cultural beliefs in the culture of Scientology is the belief that illness, of a physical and a psychological nature, is often (if not always) caused by disturbances in the emotional balance of the person brought on by a lack of self-understanding (Scientology.org 2010). This could lead to a marked reluctance, often likely brought on by a true self-denial, of existing health issues, as well as a resistance to traditional medical tests. This reluctance and resistance will inhibit, respectively, the collection of quantitative and qualitative data in an attempt to assess the health of Scientologists (Bainbridge & Stark 1980).

When performing a physical assessment, these cultural considerations must be taken into account. Refraining from the suggestion of illness and any other disagreement will be more conducive to the subject's compliance with the needs of the assessment. Political and cultural tensions concerning the group are high, and disagreements could lead in an outright dismissal of the assessment attempt and the medical practitioner (Kent 2002).

The staunch anti-drug policy of the Church of Scientology is indicative of their general health and dietary practices; Scientologists attempt to maintain a purity of their bodies as well as their minds and emotions (as defined and described in Dianetics and other Scientology texts) (Scientology.org 2010). In general, the dietary and health practices of Scientologists are in keeping with those recommended for all individuals, with normal deviations.

The religious and spiritual practices of Scientologists are not all known to those outside the Church, but are certainly highly influential in the shaping of the beliefs and attitudes that Scientologists exhibit (Peckham 1998; Bainbridge & Stark 1980). Essentially, Scientologists hold the belief that all human ills can be dealt with through the process of "auditing" and becoming "clear" -- removing all mental and emotional traumas from the mind and body and thus realizing their full operational potential as human beings (Bainbridge & Stark 1980). These beliefs are built on -- and/or lead to -- others that are not revealed to non-members of the Church, but that increase the influence of these beliefs.

The economic and social dynamic of the Church of Scientology is one of its most controversial aspects. Accusations of cult-like behavior center on the extreme social control and monetary necessities attendant on being a member of the Church of Scientology (Ogle 2010). The actual extent of these circumstances is a matter of great debate, but it is known that Scientologists originally come from all walks of life, including highly varied and disparate social, economic, national, and ethnic backgrounds (Peckham 1998).

All of the factors listed above have the potential for effecting the collection of data in a physical health assessment. The cultural and social controls practiced by the Church of Scientology make many Scientologists mistrustful of non-Church members, especially medical practitioners (Kent 2002). The specific religious and spiritual beliefs of Scientologists is also a major factor in this area. Again, the reluctance to submit to the assessment and a lack of honest introspection when delivering answers could very well lead to difficulties in performing reliable qualitative and quantitative assessments of Scientologists.