Midterm: The Origins Of Scientology

RE-113 Assignment Fifteen

(1) What are the origins of Scientology? Scientology is a somewhat newer religion, founded by L. Ron Hubbard in 1954. L. Ron Hubbard was a science fiction writer who studied many different faiths and began to come to his own conclusion on the purpose of life, and the universe. Once Hubbard recorded his beliefs and published them, he amassed a large following that began spreading Scientology at an unprecedented pace which continues today. He was inspired by the numerous metaphysical belief systems that formed between the mid-nineteenth and the early twentieth century, whose beliefs were in turn influenced by various ancient faiths, such as Hinduism and Buddhism. The beliefs found within Scientology mirror those of

The beliefs that all of these faiths share, to an extent, are: the viewpoint on life and the underlying spiritual essence within all things, the belief that one’s spirit or soul reincarnates, the belief of truly understanding one’s mind, is the key to spiritual peace(freedom), and the idea of what spiritual peace(freedom) is. Scientology differs from these beliefs in many ways, the most obvious being terminology. For example, in Scientologist belief, attaining spiritual peace or freedom is deemed “clear”, while in Hinduism the notion of spiritual freedom is called “moksha”, and in Buddhism, “nirvana”. Another difference between Scientology and the aforementioned faiths, is the manner in which scientologist beliefs are transmitted. Scientology, like Hinduism, Buddhism, and the various religions with metaphysical beliefs (Theosophy, Anthroposophy, and to a lesser degree, the Church of Christian Science and Church of Unity), recommend a certain lifestyle and ideology that involves meditation, self-discovery, and positive affirmation, but Scientologist utilizes these

I believe this to be true because Scientology fulfills many of the human psychological and emotional needs that a religion is meant to do. For example, Scientology provides a sense of belonging, in society, and the universe, as well as provides an answer to the purpose of life and the way in which the universe behaves. This is important because it is a key characteristic that categorizes a system of beliefs as a religion. Another example of the characteristics that classify Scientology as a religion, in relation to the fulfillment of human needs, is the metaphysical practices which allows a person to “free” the Thetan that makes up that being, which can be seen as a form of mystical orientation. This shows that though scientology does not require spiritual faith, it does mean to better one’s spirituality through its psychology-based philosophy. Furthermore, Scientology holds many similarities with the various faiths of the world, and transmits the similar beliefs in a way that mixes the sciences of psychology and sociology, with those religious beliefs. This results in a religion that does not rely on spiritual faith because its beliefs are taught as truths that a person can choose to believe or not. This is extremely similar to how the Buddhist concepts of the Three Marks of Existence are taunt, in that they are truths or