The Logic Behind Critics of Scientology

Imagine for a moment that you are an up-and-coming science fiction writer in the 1950's with a boundless imagination and a true passion for fantasy. Intrigued by the unintentional psychosocial public reaction of "The War of the Worlds" radio broadcast in 1938, would you be tempted to manipulate the public in a similar manner? If a writer could use his or her words to sway real people into living life as if they were the main characters of a science fiction book, that would be a momentous accomplishment, and in the eyes of a science fiction writer and connoisseur, what would be more remarkable than successfully blurring the line between fantasy and real life?

The late science fiction author Lafayette Ron Hubbard not only blurred the line, he managed to erase it all together when he wrote "Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health" in 1950. That first year over 150,000 copies were sold and by 1952, Hubbard had officially turned the concepts within "Dianetics" in to the religion Scientology. The very fact that "Dianetics" and the religion Scientology were created by a science fiction author makes Scientology seem more like a cult than a religion, though its members would disagree, and probably sue you for your opposition in this day and age.

At first Scientology seems like a harmless self-improvement program devised by Hubbard, which is one reason people looking for something outside of traditional theism accept Scientology as a religious answer. Meanwhile, scientists continue to denounce the theories in "Dianetics," stating they are not scientifically proven to be effective and emotionally-safe methods of healing.

In "Dianetics," Hubbard introduced auditing; a one on one counseling session with a trained Scientologist auditor, which supposedly has the power to cure physical and emotional illnesses and make the member more intelligent and aware of their impact on their surroundings.

Scientology, in part, is quite helpful when it comes to learning more about why we are the way we are, which is why outspoken members condemn traditional psychiatry. Books like "The Emotional Tone Scale", "The Way to Happiness", and the children's book "Learning How to Learn" are just three of the many valuable self-help guides written by Hubbard. Hubbard was highly intuitive and these principles came naturally to him. While his views were never backed by scientific finding, they helped countless people find happiness and balance in their lives.

To Christians raised on the Bible, the words within it hold the truth about human existence, just as Scientologists believe not only in the practices of "Dianetics", but also Hubbard's story of the alien Xenu. This is where the line of fantasy and reality are blurred in Hubbard's writings about Scientology.

Most people are familiar with the concept of Scientology or are familiar with Hollywood celebrities such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta who believe in Scientology, but what many outsiders don't know is that Scientologists believe in Xenu, an alien created by Hubbard in his 1967 publication "Operating Thetan Level III" (OT III). According to a letter written to his wife, Hubbard wrote "OT III" while binging on stimulants and depressants, in order to get a clearer view of the truth of Xenu.

Modern-day Scientologists believe that Xenu, a multi-planetary ruler from seventy-five million years ago, came to Earth after paralyzing and kidnapping citizens from his over-crowded home planet. He brought these beings to Earth via an aircraft that looked just like a modern-day commercial airplane, but with fancier engines.

Upon reaching Earth, Xenu killed most of these beings by arranging them at the bottoms of different volcanoes and then dropping hydrogen bombs into each volcano making them erupt and sending their souls, now called thetans, up and out of the volcano. Xenu's men trapped these souls as they spewed out of the volcano and placed them in different areas around the Earth known as "projection areas".

In these areas they were forced to watch a movie for thirty-six days in order to learn a new reality and forget about their old lives and what had happened. When they were allowed to leave the area, they were confused and managed to find their way into the bodies of the survivors of the volcano blasts. This negative energy is thought to remain in our bodies today and is why the principles of auditing are used to remove negative thoughts and memories from Scientologists.

Scientology is considered to be a cult by logical thinkers who refuse to believe a religion created by a science fiction writer. Many critics believe that Hubbard's self-improvement techniques are superior to traditional psychology, but the science fiction aspect of Scientology keeps them away from the organization altogether. These critics find it impossible to separate L. Ron Hubbard the free thinker from L. Ron Hubbard the science fiction writer.

Others consider Scientology a cult because members aren't told the full story of Xenu until they have paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for classes to clear "levels" leading up to the secret level (and beyond) that teaches the revelation of Xenu, all while padding the pockets of Scientologists at the top of the pyramid.

Scientology wouldn't be considered a cult if Hubbard hadn't created the character Xenu and implemented him into Scientology beliefs and doctrines or charged members to learn about their very own "religion". Scientology, despite its few positive aspects, is a cult that has turned into the biggest pyramid scheme of modern time thanks to the active imagination of L. Ron Hubbard.