The Religions Book

317

See also: The ultimate reality 102–105 ■ Escape from the eternal cycle 136–43

■ Purging sin in the Unification Church 318

S

cientology as a religious

philosophy evolved from the

work done by science-fiction

author L. Ron Hubbard in the 1930s

and 1940s on Dianetics. This was a

self-help system based on elements

of psychotherapy with an emphasis

on dealing with past traumatic

experiences to achieve spiritual

rehabilitation. This process of

counseling, known as auditing,

is at the heart of Scientology.

Followers of Scientology believe

that man’s true spiritual nature

is embodied in an eternal spirit

known as the Thetan, which has

been reborn continually in human

form, and has consequently lost

its true nature of spiritual purity.

By undergoing one-to-one auditing,

using an E-meter (an instrument

for detecting electric current,

designed by Hubbard), practitioners

can free their unconscious minds

of images of trauma, known as

engrams, and return to the state

of Clear—their true spiritual

identity. Progressing through

various levels of auditing, they

eventually reach the level of

Operating Thetan, and rediscover

their original potential. Hubbard

was keen to secure celebrity

endorsement for Scientology, and

this, along with the high cost of

one-to-one auditing sessions and

study materials, led to accusations

that it was a moneymaking cult.

After protracted court cases in the

US and elsewhere, Scientology now

has tax-exempt status as a religion

in some parts of the world, but

is still not recognized in

many countries. ■

MODERN RELIGIONS

WE HAVE FORGOTTEN

OUR TRUE NATURE

CLEARING THE MIND WITH SCIENTOLOGY

Scientology headquarters in Berlin,

Germany, displays the eight-pointed

cross, representing the eight dynamics

of existence that are defined in the

movement’s theology.

IN CONTEXT

KEY FIGURE
L. Ron Hubbard

WHEN AND WHERE
From 1952, US

BEFORE
1950 L. Ron Hubbard sets up
the Hubbard Dianetic Research
Foundation and publishes an
article on Dianetics in the sci-fi
magazine Astounding Science
Fiction, followed by his book
Dianetics: The Modern Science
of Mental Health.

AFTER
1982 A Religious Technology
Center is established to oversee
Scientology technology; some
members see this as against
original Scientology principles
and form a breakaway group,
which they call the Free Zone.

1993 Scientology is formally
recognized as a religion
in the US.