Catholic Church vs. Modern Religion Scientology
Filed under: News | By: Peter Chubb
Posted on: April 2, 2008 | 203 Comments
I am not a religious man; however I do not go a day without someone talking about The Church of Scientology or the Catholic Church. The funny thing is most people also dismiss something or criticize something before they have learned anything about it, and I am guilty of that like a number of you are.
I have always made fun of the Church of Scientology assuming it to be some sort of cult, but naive people do that. Trust me I am never going to become religious, but when you look deeper into the workings of this new modern religion it gets you thinking that it is not that bad after all.
The thing is when you join the Catholic Church you are joining a huge organization, one of the richest in fast. But are you just a number to them, I don’t know, however when you want to join the Church of Scientology you work with people one-on-one to help to give you a better life. Well that is what is says in L. Ron Hubbard’s book Dianetics.
As with any religion there are always good and bad points, if you was going to choose a new faith would it be the old Catholic Church or the new modern religion The Church of Scientology.
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Actually, scientology is a bait and switch outfit. It starts as a self-help theory (what other religion tries to hook people in with personality/IQ tests?), then it moves into amateur unlicensed psychotherapy (for above-professional prices), then you find out about the whole dead-alien-soul bit and how all other religions are mental “implants” created to control/suppress humanity.
Google “R6 Implant” and “Hubbard “everyman”" for some interesting info.
As far as christianity goes, my various pastor/father/ministers have always told me that the only way to grow in the faith is to do good works, follow Christ, and read the bible. Clearing myself of engrams or body thetans never really came up…and they’d definitely object to the notion that Jesus was just a mass-hallucination.
Scientology may be “compatible” (as in, not attempting to override beliefs) with other religions at the lowest levels of its MLM structure, but once it moves past the “if you can think it, you can do it” self-help phase, it becomes decidedly antithetical to them.
Fortunately, one doesn’t have to rely on conspiracy theory websites to learn about Scientology - one can read L. Ron Hubbard’s books for themselves and leave both the proseltyzing of the Church and the lies and attacks of bigots out of the equation entirely.
I have read most of the Scientology books, and I like what I’ve read. No amount of exagerrated bad-news stories and sociopathic internet-hackers can change that.
I was a Scientology staff training supervisor, and other positions, on staff myself, in the Scienotlogy movement, from 1975 until 2003, when I quit. I think the people who are on staff in Scientology trying to make the Scientology/Hubbard system work, provide the main goodness that one gets from Scientology. I found, after years of working and contemplating all the “results” (which frankly are NOT forthcoming, in the end) disappointing. Scientology/Hubbard profess to make super-people out of people, releasing people of all the mental and spiritual restraints allowing one to suppsosedly rise to pure spirit status, so one as a pure spirit can operate free of one’s body, etc. It doesn’t happen. People do NOT become pure spirits able to operate freely, move about, “soul travel” (Scientology/Hubbard call it “exteriorization”). Instead one finds layers and layers of built up rules and penalties, quite cult like, in the final analysis, in my opinion.
There is much leading through the nose with the high sounding platitudes and “wisdom” of Hubbard/Scientology, but there is NO spiritual pot of gold for MOST Scientologists, but a rather disappointing mindset, top members are heavily penalized for speaking freely publicly even about Scientology’s “body thetans” (detached souls of dead humanoids/aliens, the “body thetans” attach to every one of us on earth today, to the tune of tens of thousands of “body thetans” affixed unknowingly to ALL of us until we complete Scientology/s/Hubbard’s highest spiritual procedures called “OT 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7″ which are detailed spiritual procedures that take years to rise to qualify to engage in, and thousands of dollars of “fixed donations” in the church’s remunerative donation system, known commonly as “pay as you go” donation system). No, in my opinion follow Hubbard’s advice, and if you plan to quit, to “….quit fast….”, this is what Hubbard said as a challenge to people who might not be really serious about getting on board and sticking with Scientology. Get into Scientology and you will see for yourself, probably too late, that Scientology does NOT deliver the goods. It delivers on a sociological/psychological level some satisfaction, based on whichever good group of people you encounter in whichever Scientology church you flounder about in for a while. Good people stuck in L. Ron Hubbard’s galactic level science fictionesque megalomaniac quasi-therapeutic new religious movement cult, selling the similar spiritual pure spirit “soul travel” stuff that other spiritual/mystical/religious groups have sold all throughout human history. Quit fast, is one Hubbard statement I agree with! - Chuck Beatty
ex Scientology staffer (1975-2003)
412-260-1170 Pittsburgh, USA (anyone call me anytime!)
http://www.freewebs.com/chuckbeatty77/
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The difference is that I can disagree with my church. $cientologists can’t.
The difference is that I can go to church and get spiritual freedom without being forced to pay. $cientologists can’t.
The difference is I can associate with people antagonistic towards my religion. $cientologists can’t.
The difference is that I can confess my sins without them being written in a file and possibly used against me. $cientologists can’t.
The difference is I can learn my religion without a dictionary. $cientologists can’t.
Scientology is not a religion. We need to stop calling it that. At best, it’s a corporation that sells self-help books and courses ( think Amyway for the mind ). At worst, it’s a well organized crime syndicate that uses lies and deceit to gain world domination.
A choice between the Catholic church & that of Scientology is very limited & narrow.
Taking though such limited view despite many bad things in the past of the Catholic church its deeds for the good have reached a greater volume of disadvantaged & underprivileged people than Scientology.
Scientology appeals to those who can afford how it sells its supposed spiritual freedom.
Most people cannot afford Scientology, a supposed religion that appeals to a few with money.
A few more:
The difference is that I can talk to my wife about my belief and what I have learned. $cientologists can’t.
The difference is that I can join my church with out having to sign a contract or legal papers saying I won’t sue the church. $cientologists can’t.
So many liars here, determined to try to smear Scientologists. I challenge anyone to actually visit a Church of Scientology and see for themselves.
Chuck Beatty,
I have often seen critics make claims about church management (highly dubious in their own right). However, I am afraid the flavor of your attack upon the philosophy itself tells me you completely “missed the boat” when your were a Sceintologist.
I too have been on staff and have been a paritioner for several years. Those Scientologists with good intentions have done very well with the philosophy and have found incalcuable benefit.
You say that Scientology does not deliver the goods. Maybe it didn’t for you. However for 98% of the people involved it has. I can personally attest to the fact that I am much more causitive, happy, ethical, self-assured and finanically successful because of it.
When I joined Scientology I didn’t have a job, I was disaffected to my own family and very withdrawn in many respects. I went on to run three successful businesses which have made more that a million dollars per year. I am an active volunteer in cub scouts working with Scientologists and Non Scientologists alike. I have a definte positive outlook on the future depsite the trouble our society is facing. I am one of those guys that gets the ball rolling when I see others around me doing nothing, or even worse sitting there whining and complaining about all the bad stuff and basically getting in the way of those who endeavor to improve things.
I have often mentioned the dubious nature of the testimony of apostates like yourself. I have seen several posts by you and it seems that you have some type of personal axe to grind. Well, I think it becomes evident to many others that we cannot considered your testimony unbiased as neither is mine. My suggestion for others would be to discount both and find out for themselves. Also when I mention finding out form themselves I am not talking about reasearching critic web sites which are full of mockery, opinion and testimony of those like yourself with personal agendas. I mean go to the source, Scientolgy itself. If one chooses to not do this that is fine. However he cannot offer comment on what it is because he knows not. This would be similar to my inability to offer to much comment on any other religion because I have not spent much time in any other.
Anonymause,
You ask how can Scientology be a religion without an icon. I would like to take this up with you.
First off everyone has a different concept of religion and it’s practice. There is the Judeo-Christian religions who believe in one god and the religion focuses on the teachings of the word of god. Then you have multiple god religions like Hinduism. Then you have pagan religions like those of the Amercian Indian. Then you have religions that do not discuss the factor of god but still work with the spiritual nature of man as in Buddhism.
Scientology works along the lines of Buddhism in that it deals with the spirtual nature of you vs the spirtual concept and impact of god. Scientology does not, not acknowledge the factor and implication of god. You can see Hubbards take on this by reading Science of Survival where he discusses the vital role of religion and man’s aspirations towards a supreme being. It is simply an areas that is left up to each individual according to his beliefs.
Their is a misconception about Scientology as a thing that interfers with or cuts across other religions because it is of itself a religion.
You can be both a Scientologist, which enters the realm of the mind and you as a spirit, and follow the doctrine of another religion as in Christianity. Christians believe that god does not want you to follow false gods, idols or prophets (1. a person who speaks for God or a deity, or by divine inspiration. dictionary.com)
Hubbard is not a prophet nor a god nor an idol. He is a man. Because their is truth in man being a spiritual entity allows man himself to find answers about this sometimes confusing area.
If man can find answers about the mind, why can he not also find answers about the human soul. The mystery and confusion that surrounds the concept of the human soul often makes people believe that it is some type of unknowable object, and nothing can be known about it simply from the concept that it can’t be seen.
If you only read two books, Dianetics and Science of Survival you can see Hubbards path. One that went from just researching the mind to entering into the area of the human soul. It was a natural progression because man is a spiritual being not just a body. A spiritual being is as real as the sun, a cup of Starbuck coffee, a mortgage or a Honda Civic.
Hubbard nor Scientologists believe him to be any type of god or prophet. He is an individual who carried out innumerous researches into previously unanswered areas. Very much a scientific approach as in finding out about electricity except in areas steeped with false ideas, preconceived unworkable notions, mysticism, heavy turmoil and more. Again, if your read and understand some basic books as the two I mentioned above and a couple others like Problems of Work and Scientology The Fundamentals of Thought, you will know exactly what it is I am talking about.
You can also go online to:
http://www.scientologyhandbook.org/
Here you will find some basic Scientology concepts that sprung from Hubbard’s research into the mind and soul.
It appears that my decision to re-evaluate my so-called “church” and its activities is now being surpressed. Despite the confusion, I will continue to speak out for the truth.
Recently I have made a serious, life changing decision. It all began when I visited some of the websites for ex-scientologists, with every intention to bring what I thought was the truth about Scientology to these “ignorant” critics. Then I read about a very specific incident of abuse by a high level staff member that I had actually witnessed myself. I am ashamed to admit that I had dismissed this abuse from my mind just as I had dismissed so much of the data the critic movement has been trying to publicize. However, after confronting story after story of violence, deceit, and humiliation, soon it became clear to me that what I thought were just isolated incidents were actually a pattern of abuse and corruption that lead all the way to the top (and you know who I mean.) The testimonies of many former staff and public members paint a clear and undeniable picture of a self-destructive organization feeding upon itself to survive.
Thus it is that I am no longer acting as a Scientology apologist. Obviously the OSA will attempt to dead agent me by making false posts in my name here and elsewhere. That is to be expected, as we all know there are a handful of OSA posting furiously all over the internet under many names, and apparently they’ve now added my moniker to their stable.
So be it, I will not be silenced by their mocking or ridicule. The crimes of the leadership of Scientology are far too serious and widespread to be covered up now, and in fact I am aware of ongoing investigations by federal entities. While it is not yet time for me to go public with all I know, that time is fast approaching.
Look for me at the ex scientologist message board: http://www.forum.exscn.net
bgodley, with eyes wide open, thanks to anonymous
Saying “Go to a Church of Scientology to find out about it.” is like saying “That man over there who has worked with lions for decades says that lions will rip your arm off if they get angry, but you can’t believe what he says. If you want to learn about lions for yourself, go visit a lion den.”
Nobody is attacking your religion and your philosophies. While the beliefs of Scientology may work in principle, they do not work under direction of the RTC, which is obsessed with furthering their own personal agendas of more power and more money.
I know that bgodley, James Lightfield, Terryeo, Curiouser, Noanon, and maybe this new Janelle girl are all Scientologists who are paid or given auditing credits for trying to protect the Church’s reputation online, but I’m trying to help you guys here. If you want to protect your religion, then address the grievances that people have aired against it. No changes for the better have ever occurred from people denying problems and focusing on other things.
I’m sure that even if you are a die-hard member of scientology, if you are a decent human being you will know that what the RTC is doing is wrong. You will know that they should not keep a detailed record of all your confessions to use against you if you speak out against the church. You should know that they should not make members pay fixed donations to proceed farther up the rungs of the church, only to tell them that they still have too many engrams to reach the next step, and to suddenly “realize that the texts have been miswritten” and make you take the same courses over again.
You should realize that having their own private labor camps, the Rehabilitation Project Force, is not right, and that members should be allowed to interpret the meaning of Hubbard’s work for themselves, not be hounded for thinking something different. You should know that a religious body should not FORCE members to drop contact with family members and friends not in the church.
I know that you are in scientology because you want to better yourself and you want to make the world a better place, but there are OTHER ways to do that, ways that are not run by a small group of individuals whose own greed comes before the helping of others.