SCIENTOLOGY: A

CONTROVERSIAL NEW
RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT
JENNIFER PHAM
SO300Z
FORMATION OF
SCIENTOLOGY
1950: L. Ron Hubbard
publishes Dianetics: The
Modern Science of Mental
Health.
the mind is the sole source
of nightmares, fears,
upsets, insecurities, and
psychosomatic illnesses
these can be overcome by
a system called Dianetics
Dianetics: therapy
movement that birthed the
Church of Scientology
FORMATION OF
SCIENTOLOGY
1954: first church in Los
Angeles, California
1959: headquarters
relocated to Sussex,
England
1966: formation of the
Sea Organization
elite group of
Scientologists
1975: Sea Organization
moves to Clearwater,
Florida.
 WHAT IS SCIENTOLOGY?
Scientology means knowing how to know
Scientology is a religion that believes Man is a spiritual
being endowed with abilities well beyond those which he
normally envisions. He is not only able to solve his own
problems, accomplish his goals and gain lasting
happiness, but he can achieve new states of awareness
he may never dreamed possible.
Scientology technology provides principles and a
practical technology for improving spiritual awareness,
self-confidence, intelligence, and ability.
 SCIENTOLOGY BELIEFS,
GOALS, AND PURPOSES
Scientologists believe that man is more than a
mind and body and that it is he, himself, the spirit,
who can control the mind and the body.
The ultimate goal of Scientology is true spiritual
enlightenment and freedom for the individual.
Every individual has an urge and determination to
survive. Pursuit of survival is common in all life. For
an individual, the drive for survival embraces eight
distinct divisions known as the dynamics.
THE EIGHT DYNAMICS
First Dynamic SELF
effort to survive as an individual, be an individual, and fully express ones individuality
Second Dynamic CREATIVITY
creativity is making things for the future and the second dynamic includes any creativity
contains the family unit and raising children as well as anything categorized as family activity
also includes sex as a mechanism to compel future survival
Third Dynamic GROUP SURVIVAL
the urge to survive through a group of individuals or as a group
group can be community, friends, a company, a state, a nation, a race or any group
Fourth Dynamic SPECIES
the urge for survival of man as a species
all the nationalities of the world together are considered as Fourth Dynamic
Fifth Dynamic LIFE FORMS
the urge to survive for all life forms
animal or vegetable and anything directly and intimately motivated by life
THE EIGHT DYNAMICS
Sixth Dynamic PHYSICAL UNIVERSE
the urge for survival of the physical universe and the drive of the individual to
enhance the survival of all matter, energy, space and time
Seventh Dynamic SPIRITUAL DYNAMIC
the urge toward existence as a spiritual being
Eighth Dynamic INFINITY
the urge toward existence as infinity
also identified as the Supreme Being

An individuals ability increases by improving his survival across the

dynamics.
As he becomes more capable and aware, he becomes more able to
control and influence all of his dynamics
the goal of Scientology is to help an individual survive to the greatest
level across all of his dynamics from the first and ultimately the eighth.
 PRACTICE OF SCIENTOLOGY
The practice of Scientology is comprised of auditing and training.
Auditing counseling one individual by another
auditor guides the individual through mental processes to free
the effects of the reactive mind
once the individual is freed, he or she has reached the state of
clear
after reaching clear the person goes on to more counseling
dealing with their nature as a thetan
thetan: immortal spiritual being
Training consists of many levels of courses about improving daily
life and learning auditing techniques.
 RECRUITMENT PROCESS
According to Lawrence Wright, author of Going Clear,
Scientologists are carefully trained to recruit members
through a classic four-step dissemination drill
Step 1 make contact
Step 2 disarm any antagonism the individual may
display toward Scientology
Step 3 find the problem most on the mind of the
potential recruit
Step 4 convince the subject that Scientology has the
answer
CONTROVERSIES/CONFLICTS
Scientology has been involved in a number of
controversies.
Hubbard vs. AMA and APA
Cult Awareness Network
FDA raid
Time magazine in 1991
conflicts with foreign governments
former members speaking out, including high-profile
celebrities
WHY DO PEOPLE STAY IN
SCIENTOLOGY AND WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN

THEY LEAVE?
Stories of former members leaving the Church are quite rare, only recently has there been more
frequent accounts due to a few high-profile celebrities that have walked out and shed some light into the
secretive Church.
Happiness
Members reported euphoria after coming out of an auditing session
close relationships are created and feeling of belonging is established
Scientology is associated with famous people
Fear
Tampa Bay Times
Newspaper that held a lengthy investigation of Scientology in 2009
former Scientologists reported accounts of being chased, harassed, and spied on by the Church
Marty Rathbun and Mike Rinder
former confidantes to Miscavige
claimed to have hired private investigators to spy on enemies
WHY DO PEOPLE STAY IN
SCIENTOLOGY AND WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN THEY LEAVE?
Losing sense of identity
Director and screenwriter Paul Haggis in 2009
had been committed to the Church for 34 years
left after objecting to the Church defining marriage as a union between a man and
woman (his daughter is homosexual)
Losing relationships
Actress Leah Remini in 2013
One of the most famous departures
filed a missing person report on Miscaviges wife that hadnt been seen in public
since 2007.
lost friends and claims that members of the church are not allowed to
communicate with ex-members
 CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF GOING CLEAR:
SCIENTOLOGY AND THE PRISON OF
BELIEF
In this two hour documentary, Director/Writer Alex Gibney takes a look at the inner workings
and teachings of the Church of Scientology. To give a better understanding of Scientology,
Gibney first examines the life of founder L. Ron Hubbard, discussing his beliefs, mind, and how
the formation of the Church came about. Before founding Scientology, Hubbard was a science-
fiction writer. In the documentary Lawrence Wright, author of Going Clear: Scientology and the
Prison of Belief, states that most of what Scientology is was previously written by Hubbard in
the form of his science fiction. It is also revealed in the film that Hubbard had a history of deceit
and lies, whether it was about the war, fake injuries, or suicide. His wife claimed to have been
physically abused by him in her sleep and threatened to be murdered. Before Dianetics was
published, Hubbard frequently told his wife that having a religion is the only way to make real
money and that the government would not take it away through taxes.
Gibney then investigates the Church by interviewing former members that have been through
the void and scheme of Scientology, as well as current members such as John Travolta and Tom
Cruise. Going Clear gives an insight into the founding and dark practices that go on behind
the scenes of Scientology.
Overall, I enjoyed this documentary. It was very interesting and easy to understand. This
documentary exposes a lot of controversy dealing with Scientology. I was surprised about
Hubbards past and learning about make sense when it comes to the structure of this group.
 APPLICATION OF CLASS
MATERIAL
Utilizing class readings and materials, Ive defined cult as a group of followers who devote their lives to a belief system.
People in cults are controlled psychologically, isolate themselves from society, and generally follow a charismatic and
authoritarian leadership. Members usually have to obey rules such as where to live, who to talk to, and who to marry.
Individuals in cults are often not able to leave the cult and if an attempt is made, consequences can be negative. Cults are
generally frowned upon by societyand very exclusive.
In my opinion, Scientology meets many characteristics of my definition for a cult. The Church of Scientology was founded
by L. Ron Hubard and is now led by David Miscavige, both who have been described as charismatic and authoritarian
leaders. Though the Church of Scientology allows Scientologists to freely interact with non-Scientologists, they do not
encourage members to associate with people who have been disconnected from the Church. If they are found to have
been in contact with former members, they may be banned from the Church activities. This is a form of control with a
negative consequence. Scientology is frowned upon by many people in the population and you must go through a process
before becoming a member.
Earlier in the semester we learned about how cults recruit and retain new members. According to Alexandra Steins article
Comprehending the Incomprehensible, an example of how cults/sects/NRMs recruit new members is by targeting
vulnerable people. For example, some groups will recruit on college campuses because the age group is younger and more
easily to be persuaded. Potential recruits are also promised a better life or bribed into believing they can be happier if they
join the cult.
This occurs in Scientology. Scientologys ultimate goal is true spiritual enlightenment and freedom for the individual. Which
basically states that joining this group will make your life better. One of the steps in how scientologists recruit new
members is by finding a problem that the individual is facing. After identifying that issue, the recruit will then typically
explain how it can be solved through joining the group. Scientology generally targets people who are not fulfilled in their
lives and are looking for more.
In the same article mentioned above by Alexandra Stein, we learned about how cults retain their members. Based on the
reading, cults promise the member a better life, but prevent members from leaving typically through control. Control is
caused by instilling fear into the individual through threat and intimidation.
As mentioned above, Scientologists require their members to disconnect from former members of the group. The threat of
losing close relationships with friends and others could prevent people from wanting to leave the Church. Also, in the
documentary Going Clear, Gibney describes some members staying in the cult due to threats of blackmail. In the Church
of Scientology, your fears and secrets are exposed so members fear of that coming out in public.
WORKS CITED
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief. Alex Gibney. HBO, 2015. Film

Wright, Lawrence. Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of

Belief. New York: Vintage. 2013. Print.

"Inside Scientology." Inside the Church of Scientology: The Truth Rundown &
Follow-up Reports | Tampa Bay Times. Web. 20 Apr. 2017.

Lewis, James R. Scientology. New York: Oxford University Press, Inc. 2009. Print.

"Official Church of Scientology: What Is Scientology?" Scientology. Web. 20

Apr. 2017.