ment by increasing a person's awareness and ability to
handle life. It differs from other religious philosophies
in that it supplies the means through which a person can
increase his ability to effectively handle the problems
and situations he and others face in life.
2.3 What claims are made for Scientology?
Scientology can increase a person's awareness and its
application can help one to achieve greater happiness,
self-confidence and ability.
Man has often been attracted to philosophies that sound
plausible but which have no technology that can be
applied to bring about desirable changes in one's life.
Scientology and Dianetics, on the other hand, supply the
tools with which an individual can improve his own life
and the lives of those around him.
Scientology philosophy is based on the premise that man
is basically good and that man can improve conditions in
his life. However, Scientology cannot promise to do
anything by itself. Only the individual can bring about
his own improvement by applying Scientology tenets to
himself, his life and others in his environment.
2.4 How do people get into Scientology?
Usually by word of mouth, often by reading a book or
seeing promotional materials or taking a personality test
at a church of Scientology. Sometimes by meeting a
Scientologist and seeing that he has "something" -- a
positive attitude toward life, certainty, self-confidence
and happiness -- which they too would like.
Fundamentally, people get into Scientology because they
want to improve something in their lives or because they
wish to help others improve themselves and thus make a
better civilization.
3. SCIENTOLOGY AND OTHER PRACTICES
3.1 Is Scientology like hypnotism, meditation, psychotherapy or
other mental therapies?
There is no resemblance. In fact, it was as a result of
L. Ron Hubbard's investigation of hypnotism and many
other mental practices that he saw the need for practical
answers to man's problems. In his book, _Dianetics: The
Modern Science of Mental Health_, he wrote that he had
found hypnotism and psychotherapy to be dangerous and
impractical. Nearly all other methods of alleged menta]
science are based on principles that are quite the
opposite of those used in Scientology. They treat man as
a "thing" to be conditioned, not as a spiritual being who
can find answers to life's problems and who can improve
enormously.
3.2 Is Scientology a secret society?
Not at all. Scientology churches are open -- you can go
in at any time. Scientology literature is freely
available to anyone. There is no demand for the
individual to withdraw from society; on the contrary,
Scientologists become *more* involved in life around
them, as they want to take responsibility for improving
conditions.
3.3 In what way does Scientology differ from other religions
and religious philosophies?
Nearly all religious philosophies share a belief in
helping man live a better life. In Scientology, this
concept is expressed as one of the aims of the Church,
which is to achieve a world without insanity, war and
crime. While Scientology religious philosophy has much in
common with other religions in this regard and in terms
of its basic religious concepts and its outreach into the
community with social reform programs, the most valuable
asset that Scientology has to offer is a wealth of
technology which brings about greater spiritual
awareness.
In Scientology there is no attempt to change a person's
beliefs or to persuade him away from any religion to
which he already belongs. Scientology helps people to
achieve their goals: (1) through reading the materials
contained in the books and publications; (2) through the
unique counseling technology called auditing; (3) through
training courses which utilize L. Ron Hubbard's
discoveries in the field of education. Scientology makes
it possible for *any* religion to attain its goals and is
therefore a religion of religions.
3.4 Does Scientology interfere with other religions?
Scientology is all-denominational in that it opens its
membership to people of all faiths. Part of the Church's
Creed states that "all men have inalienable rights to
their own religious practices and their performance."
Membership in Scientology does not mean that there is any
necessity to leave your current church, synagogue, temple
or mosque.
3.5 What does Scientology think of other religions?
Scientology respects all religions. Scientology does not
conflict with other religions or other religious
practices. Quite often Scientology church members
rekindle a greater interest than ever in the subject of
religions -- including the one of their birth.
3.6 What does Scientology have to say about Christianity?
Scientologists hold the Bible as a holy work and have no
argument with the Christian belief that Jesus Christ was
the Savior of Mankind and the Son of God. We share
Christ's goals for man's achievement of wisdom, good
health and immortality. Christianity is among the faiths
studied by Scientology ministerial students. There are
probably many types of redemption. That of Christ was to
heaven.
4. SCIENTOLOGY BELIEFS
4.1 Is man a spirit?
Yes. Here's a short exercise you can do to find out for
yourself.
Close your eyes and get a picture of a cat.
Done?
That which is looking at that cat is you, a spirit.
4.2 How does one know man is a spirit?
It is a matter that each individual must examine for
himself. Scientologists believe man is more than a mind
and body and that it is he, himself, the spirit, who can
control his mind and body.
Do you think your body would *do* anything by itself if
it were not guided by you, the being?
4.3 What is the Scientology concept of God?
The Church has no dogma concerning God, and each person's
concept is probably different. As a person becomes more
aware of himself, others, the environment and God, each
person attains his own certainty as to who God is and
exactly what God means to him. The author of the universe
exists. How God is symbolized or manifested is up to each
individual to find for himself.
In his book _Science of Survival_, L. Ron Hubbard writes:
"No culture in the history of the world, save the
thoroughly depraved and expiring ones, has failed to
affirm the existence of a Supreme Being. It is an
empirical observation that men without a strong and
lasting faith in a Supreme Being are less capable, less
ethical and less valuable to themselves and society. . .
A man without an abiding faith is, by observation
alone, more of a thing than a man."
4.4 Can't God be the only one to help man?
Scientologists take the maxim quite to heart that God
helps those who help themselves. They believe that each
person has the answers to the mysteries of life; all he
requires is awareness of these answers, and this is what
Scientology helps a person achieve. Man is accustomed to
asking for pat answers. Scientology requires that the
person think for himself and thus help himself become
more intelligent, happy and healthy.
4.5 Does Scientology believe in brotherly love?
Yes, and perhaps goes a step further. L. Ron Hubbard
wrote that "To love is the road to strength. To love in
spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very
well be the greatest secret in this universe."
4.6 Why do Scientologists want to help people?
For several reasons. First, because Scientologists
themselves have been helped enormously -- and they want
others to share the same successes. Second,
Scientologists understand that life is not lived alone.
An individual has more than just one dynamic (the urge to
survive as self). He wants to help his family, his
groups, mankind itself and living things survive better.
4.7 Does Scientology recognize good and evil?
Yes, in Scientology, a very clear distinction is made
between good and evil. Those actions which enhance
survival on the majority of the eight aspects or dynamics
of life are good, and those which destroy or deny these
aspects of life are evil. Decisions are then based on
enhancing the majority of these dynamics of life.
'Good' may be defined as constructive. 'Evil' may be
defined as destructive.
4.8 Does Scientology believe man is sinful?
It is a basic tenet of Scientology that man is basically
good, but that he is aberrated (capable of erring or
departing from rational thought or behavior) and
therefore commits harmful acts or sins, thus reducing his
awareness and potential power.
Through Scientology he can confront his actions, erase
the ignorance and aberration which surrounds them and
know and experience truth again.
All religions seek truth. Freedom of the spirit is only
to be found on the road to truth.
Sin is composed, according to Scientology, of lies and
hidden actions and is therefore untruth.
4.9 Will Scientology put one in control of his mind?
Yes. As you are a spiritual being, quite separate from
your mind and your body, Scientology will help *you*
achieve a far better command over your mind, just as it
helps you to intelligently control all aspects of your
life.
4.10 Is Scientology about the mind?
No. Scientology is about the individual himself as
separate and distinct from the mind. Dianetics concerns
the mind and contains the most advanced technology of the
mind man has.
4.11 Does Scientology believe in mind over matter?
Scientology addresses you -- not your mind, not your
body, but you.
Scientologists have found that the spirit is
*potentially* superior to material things, and that the
spirit, i.e. you, if cleansed of past traumas,
transgressions and aberrations, can make miraculous
changes in the physical universe that would not otherwise
be possible.
4.12 Does Scientology believe one can exist outside of the
body?
Before entering Scientology many people experience the
feeling of looking down on one's body, and by achieving
greater spiritual awareness through Scientology, this
