Scientology an Online Debunking Site

Scientology

An online debunking site calls the Church of Scientology "a vicious and dangerous cult that masquerades as a religion." Started by fiction author L. Ron Hubbard, the Church of Scientology is officially classified as a religion in most but not all countries. Scientology remains one of the most controversial religions because of its cult-like means of raising money, its popularity among celebrities, and its dismissal of modern psychiatry. Scientology means "the study of truth," according to the official Web site of the religion. Unlike many other world religions, scientology beliefs and practices focus on the individual. Self-development, as opposed to an external deity, is the core of the religion. Scientology in fact denounces blind faith, does not describe any deity, and urges a practice-based approach to attaining spiritual enlightenment. Integral to the religion is the belief that most drugs are harmful not just to the body but also to the mind and spirit. The Church of Scientology has been an active in "more than a thousand social betterment groups," including those that address substance abuse (Robinson & Buttnor).

Whether Scientology is a "real" religion clearly depends on the definition of religion. What matters most to the Church of Scientology is that the United States and many other national governments recognize the organization as a religion for tax purposes. However, the Church of Scientology and its satellite organizations have fought costly legal battles in many different countries over its legal status. Lawsuits against Scientology abound and far more Web sites criticize Scientology than praise the religion. Accusations of brainwashing, extortion, and fraud abound ("What's Wrong with Scientology").

Scientologists believe that the human being consists of three parts: a mind, a body, and a spirit, called thetan. Human beings are driven by eight main "dynamics," or urges: the self, the family, group survival, mankind as a species, plant and animal life forms, the physical universe including space and time, spirituality, and infinity ("The Dynamics of Existence"). The closest thing to God in the Scientology doctrine is the dynamic of infinity.

Scientology proposes a range of unique therapeutic interventions. One is the tone scale, which posits a tonal correspondence to human emotional states. Auditing is also a central Scientology practice. An auditor is an advanced Scientology practitioner who monitors another. Devices like the "eMeter" are used during the auditing process. No scientific validity whatsoever lends credibility to the eMeter or to any of the therapeutic interventions and the Scientology Web site does not claim otherwise.