What is Scientology? An Exploration into the Buzz of a 50 Year-old Religion

Shadows faded on a bustling street in NYC. A suburban mother and son traveled along the beaten path of West 46th Street, at that time packed with bars, shoppers, and theater goers. Excitement filled the air as throngs of people lined up for the MTV Music Awards. Among this chaos stood a stoic building on one side of the street, emblazed with fancy golden letters that read "Church of Scientology". It piqued the curiosity of the traveling duo. The plan had been to grab a quick bite to eat at McDonalds before heading over to see the play "Pig Farm". The mother looked at her watch and noted that there was ample time to go inside and look around.

With one push on a swiveling door, the pair had entered the confines of the Church of Scientology. The complex was orderly and neat, containing only the necessary items for a religious mission. Plasma screens brilliantly displayed comforting words of wisdom. Soothing pictures were placed alongside posters that read "Take a free personality test today". Clean-cut employees populated the area, and a young gentleman came out to greet the newcomers. The mother simply stated to the representative, "What is Scientology?". With some contemplation the man pulled out a book called "Dianetics" and told the family to read it. It was puzzling to the son that the employee could not personally define what Scientology was. So the son decided to do a bit of research.

The boom of interest in Scientology started when Tom Cruise, a known celebrity Scientologist, jumped up and down on Oprah's couch and scolded Matt Lauer about the use of prescription medication by Brooke Shields. A media bonanza soon followed when wife Katie Holmes gave a "silent birth" and father Cruise was likewise severed from his relationship with Paramount Pictures. At the end of the entire uproar, only one thing was certain-a celebrity fiasco has given Scientology a boost to the forefront of the public mind.

The Church of Scientology was founded by a science fiction writer named L. Ron Hubbard. In the early 1950s he wrote a book called "Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health". It quickly became a hit, selling more than 150,000 copies in its first year alone. This book became the cornerstone of the religion and dictates most of its practices. At the fundamental level is the belief that one can better himself through a process called auditing. This consists of a personal session in which bad memories are released by a trained auditor and thus the believer's inner being is slowly cleansed. Recognition of one's true spiritual existence spanning many lifetimes will come as a result.

Similarities between Scientology's basic principles and those of other world religions are striking. The belief that the "thetan" (like a soul) has undergone past lives is reminiscent of the teachings of reincarnation in Hinduism. The Church of Scientology also asserts the concept of the "Bridge to Total Freedom" which harks back to Buddhism's Noble Eight Fold Path. The higher one climbs on the "Bridge", the more freedom one can attain in life. In Buddhism, one must follow the Eight Fold Path to achieve the end of suffering, also known as Nirvana. A majority of scientologists believe that L. Ron Hubbard was a prophet for the human soul, and that one must read his book "Dianetics" to gain a better understanding of life.

Its web site and supporters claim that it has a solid missionary effort worldwide. Anti-drug campaigns and volunteer missionaries have been sent out to spread the message of Scientology. Scientology.org touts that its Youth for Human Rights campaign has reached numerous countries including England, Korea, Italy, the Philippines, and the Middle East. Pictures show Scientology volunteers working to bring aid to victims in India following the catastrophic tsunami. These efforts appear noble and paint Scientology in a positive light. Any organization that works for good in the world deserves respect and credibility.

The problem facing Scientology at the moment is its well-rooted opposition. Critics have identified Scientology instead as a bona fide cult. Its leaders have been imprisoned and the church has been denied charity and religious status in multiple European countries. It also requires large sums of money to participate in auditing sessions. Most horrifying of all are the harsh actions that it has taken upon its own members and those who criticize it. The case of female Scientologist Lisa McPherson is particularly harrowing. In 1995, McPherson was involved in a minor car accident that left her mentally unstable. Doctors at the hospital attempted to give her psychiatric attention, but Scientologist friends refused and departed with her. The church stands solidly against psychiatry as a means of rehabilitation.

All seemed satisfactory until the local Scientologist doctor in the area was called upon to help McPherson, who was still in a psychotic state of mind. The doctor told the group to take her to the nearest hospital, which was five minutes away. The Scientologist friends refused once again, citing possible psychiatric evaluation. When the Scientologist group had reached the closest "Scientology approved" hospital, they had passed five others and McPherson was dead on arrival. Coroners found her severely underweight, dehydrated, bruised, and harboring several hundred insect bites. A civil suit by the family was settled in 2004. Such acts of brutality now scar the church's public image.

The claim that Scientology is a legitimate religion is hotly contested. Few mainstream religions have former pulp fiction writers as their idyllic figure. Jesus and Muhammad's followers certainly preferred a different style of scripture writing than that of L. Ron Hubbard. In defense of Scientology, the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution grants all citizens the right to freedom of religion. It is an ingrained ideal in the American conscience. Therefore, Scientologists have the same legal jurisdiction to practice their own faith in America as do Catholics, Jews, Protestants, and Muslims. Even bizarre sects such as Voodoo, Jedi, and Mickey Mouse worshipers have equal protection under the law.

Yet peculiarities about the Church of Scientology remain. Hubbard in the 1940s said, "Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion." Fascinating, as that was exactly what happened. For the common man the original question still remains: what is Scientology? Is it a new self-help religion that seeks positive reform in the world or is it a dangerous cult that extorts millions of dollars from its members? Time Magazine portrayed it as a volcanic octopus and Rolling Stone recently lambasted in it in the article "Inside Scientology". Perhaps our question could best be answered by the leader of Scientology himself. When asked the question "What is scientology?" L. Ron Hubbard responded that it was "a religion by its basic tenets, practice, historical background and by the definition of the word "religion" itself." Right….and there's the answer, straight from the horse's mouth.