SCIENTOLOGY: THE CREATION OF THE CULT

 

The Dianetics Scam

SCIENTOLOGY:
THE CREATION OF THE CULT

With his book Dianetics, L. Ron Hubbard found himself on the best-selling list for his ridiculous "answers" about the human mind.  But he soon found new questions arising: why did his theories lack scientific evidence?  Was he practicing medicine without a license?  Why did his organization use aggressive sales techniques?  In this section, we briefly examine Hubbard’s retooling of his Dianetic theories into the religion known as Scientology, based upon his written works.

dianetics is scientology

The glitziest, most expensive "religion" around!
(Credit: Public domain photo)

Dianetics and Scientology are intimately connected.  They were both created by the same man, and by no coincidence, many "Dianetics centers" also share the same locations as Scientology buildings.  This is because the concepts in Dianetics form the base of Scientology’s teachings [1] and the expensive series of Scientology courses known as the "Bridge to Total Freedom."  In this way, Dianetics acts as a secular "feeder group" for the organization, often through the use of deceptive recruiting techniques.

the origins of the "church" of scientology

Scientology didn't always claim to be religion.
(Credit: Public domain image)

The history of the Scientology organization traces back to founder L. Ron Hubbard in the 1950’s.  After his Dianetics franchise had spiraled out of his control and become a serious financial strain [2], Hubbard sought to exploit the "religion angle" [3] and retain tighter, exclusive control over the teachings through the use of copyrights and aggressive litigation.  The religious cloaking was total; ministers’ collars and 8-pointed crosses were introduced, and payments for courses were redefined as "fixed religious donations."

SCIENTOLOGY TEACHINGS ARE CRAZY

Scientology's evil galactic overlord, Xenu!
(Credit: Public domain image)

Followers are started off on quack self-improvement courses that rapidly become expensive as a recruit moves through the successive steps.  Speculative concepts, such as past lives, are slowly introduced.  Eventually, full-blown science fiction ideology is taught, including ideas like civilized colonies on other planets and intergalactic tales known as "space opera." [4]

Near the highest levels of Scientology teachings, on the top-secret and very expensive "OT3" level, a member is taught the supposedly real reason for the problems on earth: 75 million years ago, a calamity took place in which the evil galactic overlord Xenu committed genocide in Earth’s volcanoes.  These obliterated souls are said to inhabit people’s bodies today. [5]

the criminal history of the scientology organization

Criminal conviction of founder L. Ron Hubbard.
(Credit: East Grinstead Courier, 1978)

The illegal activity of the Church of Scientology has been extensive.  Its 1970’s program "Operation Snow White," with 5,000 covert agents, remains the largest infiltration of the U.S. government in history.  Wiretapping, theft of government documents, obstruction of justice, and other crimes led to the convictions of eleven high-ranking Scientologists.  This included Hubbard’s third wife Mary Sue, the second-in-command of the organization. [6]  In France, Hubbard himself was convicted in absentia of fraud in 1978 [7], and the organization was again convicted of fraud in 2009. [8]  The Church of Scientology has also committed criminal offenses in many other countries.

Read Scientology Part 2:  Its Crazy Founder

Section References

[1] Hubbard, L. Ron. "To the Reader." Foreword. Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. Los Angeles, CA: Bridge Publications, 2007. Print.

[2] Reitman, Janet. Inside Scientology: The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2011. Page 34. Print.

[3] Urban, Hugh B. "Scientology, Inc.: Becoming a 'Religion' in the 1950s." The Church of Scientology: A History of a New Religion. Princeton: Princeton UP, 2011. Print.

[4] Urban, Hugh B. The Church of Scientology: A History of a New Religion. Princeton: Princeton UP, 2011. Page 73. Print.

[5] "Xenu." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Oct. 2012. Web. 19 Oct. 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenu

[6] "Operation Snow White." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Sept. 2012. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_snow_white

[7] "Scientology Chief Sentenced by Paris Court." Times of London 15 Feb. 1978. Web. http://www.nolanchart.com/article4776-scientologys-hubbard-convicted-of-fraud-in-france-1978.html

[8] "Scientologists Convicted of Fraud." BBC News. BBC, 27 Oct. 2009. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8327569.stm

Read Scientology Part 2:  Its Crazy Founder