Scientology: The Bits of Truth

After visiting the church of Scientology I started to wonder whether the title ‘’religion” can be appropriately accredited to the institution. Although he does not pretend to be an incarnate of God, Ron L.Hubbard, is undeniablly the charismatic leader behind Scientology. Hubbard assures church members that a sacrificing long term membership  will lead them the discovery of world secrets unattainable to any other human beings. In Religion in Sociological Perspective, Keith A. Robert’s, asserts that the survival of any religious movement depends on its ability to routinize, I believe that Scientology has developed “norms, roles, and statuses” and that Hubbard has “transferred the sense of awe from the individual personality to the teachings and the organization,” (Roberts 153) through the wide publications of his books and well-trained, persuasive and exemplifying church officials; which have all helped Scientology attain a religious status and a colossal following.

Audience cults use “mass-media appeals” such as advertisements, direct mail, and the sale of books or tapes on occult topics. Though Roberts chooses to classify Scientology as a client cult, advertisement is the exact type of resource Scientology chooses to use in the requirement members and to spread word about the religion.  Their use of Dianetics adheres to the model behavior observed in client cults.  The characteristics of a client cult defined by Roberts are as follows; “psychological adjustment, contact with the dead, forecasts of the future, medical miracles.” (Roberts 189) Dianetics prescribes the use of medical miracles to lure people in, Hubbard persistently talks about the “techniques presented in this handbook …that can successfully and invariably treat all psycho-somatic ills and inorganic aberrations.” (Hubbard 5) The church of Scientology creates a therapeutic environment between “clients” and the “leaders.” During my visit I noticed that the church was set up like an office with different rooms for auditing (psychological treatment of the mind with the use Dianetics), and unlike traditional religious institutions where followers must abide by “gods” rule, personal change coming from piety; Scientology focuses on your inner self, finding your exact purpose in life not through god but through the discovery of self using models developed by Hubbard.

In Lofland’s model of conversion the first step in the process of conversion is tension; “personal change is generally the result of some felt need for change- a dissatisfaction with the current situation.” (Roberts 107) My statistical research indicated that there are currently 7,731 Scientology churches in 164 countries as Scientology continues to operate freely all over the world. Other statistics show that 44.6 percent of members are 31 to 40 years old.  This is most likely due to the fact that older people come to a feeling of dissatisfaction with their current life, they have more reasons to turn to a religious leader to some their problems and drift from one religious group to another due to un-satisfaction. This only goes to show that while people trying to find alternatives to their current lifestyle, Dianetics is feeding off the ignorance of thousands.