SCIENTOTLGY  
                          CRITIQUE SHEET

A Publication of Apologetic Research Coalition



         INCORPORATED NAME: Church of Scientology
        COMMON DESCRIPTORS: Scientology, Dianetics, International 
                            Association of Scientologists 
                            Founding Church of Scientology (prior 
                            to 1966) Church of the New Faith, 
                            Inc.  (Australia prior to 1973)
      
                   FOUNDER: Lafayette Ronald Hubbard (born,13 
                            March, 1911)
               
         CURRENT PRESIDENT: Herber Jentzsch
               
        CLAIMED MEMBERSHIP: 6 million world-wide, 3 million USA
         
              DISTRIBUTION: USA, UK, Australia, Western Europe 
              
              HEADQUARTERS: International - Sussex, England USA - 
                            Los Angeles, CA, Clearwater, FL 
                            ('Flag Land Base') 

               PERIODICALS: Freedom, The Auditor, RonNews Bulletin,
                            Gold Info Letter, Theta Line, New Era 
                            Flag, News and Events (Flag Land 
                            Base). New Life 

                TV & RADIO: None 
                  
                 PUBLISHER: New Era Publications International 
          
     EDUCATION INSTITUTION: Applied Scholastics International, 
                            Los Angeles, CA USA 

                         
                             HISTORY             

Lafayette Ronald Hubbard, referred to as L. Ron Hubbard or simply 
'Elron,' was born 13 March, 1911. As the son of U.S. Naval 
Commander Harry Ross Hubbard, he spent much of his early life 
traveling, especially in the Orient. It was probably during this 
period that Hubbard picked up much of his world view, like an 
impersonal Supreme Being and reincarnation.  Hubbard claimed to 
have earned a B.S. in Engineering and a Ph.D. In reality, 
however, he never earned a single degree.  He dropped out of 
George Washington University after his first year.  His 'Ph.D' 
was issued by Sequoia University, which is a mail-order degree 
mill. 

During World War ll Hubbard served in the U.S. Navy, like his 
father before him.  Although Hubbard claims that he died twice 
during the war (once for eight minutes), he never served in 
combat. In fact, he received 40% disability payments from the 
Navy not for any combat injury, but for arthritis, bursitis and 
conjunctivitis.  And further, he collected payments for years 
after claiming to have discovered a cure for these diseases. 
After the war Hubbard became a successful science fiction author. 
In 1950 he switched from sci-fi to self -help with his book,  
Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. Originally, he 
attempted to pass his counselling technique off as a new 
therapeutic science. Needless to say, it was rejected entirely by 
thel scientific community. 

Evidently, not satisfied as an author with "a penny a word," 
Hubbard said "lf a man really wanted to make a million dollars, 
the best way would be to start his own religion." Within five 
years, that is precisely what Hubbard did.  After his 'Dianetics' 
technique failed as science, he repackaged it as a religion.  And 
a very profitable religion it is. 

To begin with, membership in the International Association of 
Scientologists will set you back $300.00 per year. A single book, 
What is Scientology ranges from a low of $50.00 (paper back) to 
$10,000.00 (leather cover) to $12,500.00 (leather cover & signed 
by Ron L Hubbard). The hundreds of cassette tapes average about 
$40.00 each (the decimal is in the right place).  A single 52 
hour course, the Philadelphia Coures is $2,600.00. And the E-
meters, the required machines with which you 'audit' yourself or 
someone else, averages over $3,000.00 each, with the high-end 
model, the Mark VI, going for $4,100.00. With this price 
structure, it is easy to see how some people have spent 
$30,000.00 getting 'Clear.' But at these prices, getting 
'Cleared' takes on a whole new meaning. 
                         

                          BELIEF SYSTFM

GODHEAD: The Scientologist view of God is rather vague and 
inconsistent.  When speaking of God they will use ambigious terms 
like "infinity" or "Supreme Being." Scientology maintains the 
highest drive man has is "the urge toward existence as...the 
Supreme Being." Yet, this drive or impulse is virtually ignored 
since only the first # drives are "known territory." 

CHRISTOLOGY: Since Jesus Christ is essentially shelved in 
Scientology thought, it can be presumed that He is little 
different than anyone else.  Certainly that Jesus is the "Supreme 
Being" in human form is foreign to their world view. 

MAN: Scientology believes that man is a spirit ("Thetan"-usually 
residing in the skulls linked to a Body which he controls through 
his Mind. Although this "Spirit/Mind/Body" model bears some 
resem-blance to a Biblical model, it is in fact quite different. 
Each Thetan (spirit), according to Scientology, has existed for 
approximately 75 trillion years.  Later, these Thetans decided to 
inhabit the physical universe.  They began as single-cell 
creatures.  But with each succeeding reincamation they worked 
their way up to man.  It is the goal of the Thetan to eventually 
break out of the cycle of reincarnation.  The billions of years 
between the moment the Thetan decides "to be" in the universe 
until the time he finally stops reincarnating is called his "time 
track." 

ATONEMENT: The official Creed of the Church of Scientology 
proclaims "that man is basically good." However, through the 
thousands of incamations that each person (read Thetan) has lived 
he/she has had an untold number of bad experiences.  Each of 
these negative experiences has left it's impact on the brain, 
called "engrams". These engrams cause all the problems in the 
world today, from fibbing to nuclear wars. Therefore, Scientology 
has allegedly developed a method whereby these engrams can be 
dissolved and the person becomes "Clear" (no engrams).  The 
process is called "auditing" and consists of a question & answer 
session while hooked up to an E-meter by two soup cans.  An E-
meter is a primitive lie-detector machine, which measures 
galvanic resistance of the skin.  Auditing is also referred to as 
being "on the cans". Another goal of the Scientologist is to 
"exteriorize," that is, leave his body, since that's when a 
Thetan is "happier." 

                       CHRISTlAN RESDONSE

GODHEAD: One of the ultimate goals of Scientology, to "discover 
the true 8th dynamic.' (the true desire to become God). is what 
brought about man's fall in the first place (Gen.3). The Bible 
clearly teaches that the idea that man can become a God 
originated with Satan himself.  In stark contrast to Scientology, 
the Bible proclaims that there is only one God (Is.44:6). 

CHRISTOLOGY: The Jesus of the Bible is not just another Thetan, 
but true God (John 1:1) who has also become true man (John 1 
:141. He lived a perfect life without ever being "audited" and 
died on the cross for our sins - not "engrams." Three days later 
He arose from the dead (John 201, making certain our resurrection 
(Romans 8:11) not reincarnation. 

MAN: God's word, in diametric opposition to Scientology, declares 
that we are created by God (Gen.1: 1, Heb. 1 :2). We are not 75 
trillion-year-old Thetans. In absolutely denying reincarnation 
Hebrews 9:27 categorically says "it is appointed unto men to once 
die, but after this the judgment." 

ATONEMENT: God's word points up Scientology's fundamental error, 
"that man is basically good," by repeatedly underscoring man's 
fallen nature.  All men have sinned (Rom.3:23) and are in 
rebellion against God (Rom.8:7). Likewise, the Biblical message 
of hope is far different from that of Scientology. While 
Scientology merely claims to erase negative memories 
("engrams''), God's word proclaims new life (ll Cor.5:17), 
eternal life (John 3:15) and a peace that this world (read E-
meters) cannot deliver (John 14:27). Even though Scientology 
claims to be the only "road to Freedom," God's word declares that 
"the Truth shall set you free" (John 8:32) and that Jesus is that 
Truth (John 14:6). Again, "lf the Son... shall make you free, ye 
shall be free indeed" (John 8:36). It should also be noted that 
the new life that comes through Jesus Christ is given freely to 
all who would come and drink (John 7:37-38). To be "Cleared" by 
Scientology will cost between $10,000.00 and $30,000.00.  
Finally, there is absolutely no Biblical support for 
Scientology's "exteriorization." In fact, it may very well fall 
into the category of sorcery (Gal. 5:20). 

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