Several years ago I went through a period of depression in my life. It is a perennial problem for me, so I have found ways to deal with it. But, on this one occasion as I was reading a local entertainment paper, I found a ‘psychological questionnaire’ posted in one of the sections of the publication. Curious of the possibilities that an ‘expert’ could offer me, I filled it out and sent it in to the address posted on the sheet. To my surprise, I received a phone call from one of these ‘professionals’ in response to the personality profile I requested. The clinician followed up some of the questions with strange commands for me to follow. For instance, he told me to close my eyes and picture something in my mind. Then, he instructed me to focus on the image more intensely, instructing me to ‘let go’ of any inhibitions and free up my mind. All of this immediately gave me cause to question the validity of the ‘psychological’ nature of the interview. I proceeded to stop the man and ask him what his affiliation was. Reluctant to give me an answer, I hounded him until he told me he was some sort of ‘therapist’ for the Church of Scientology. With this, I thanked the gentleman for his time and hung up the phone. After explaining the phone conversation with my family and friends, they sought an opportunity to laugh at me and make jokes about my gullibility. Looking back now, I realize that it was a bit foolish of me to have filled out the questionnaire without knowing the sponsor of the test. And even though it is humorous that I had made the mistake of seeking help from what I considered a cult, the Church of Scientology itself is no laughing matter.

The Background
Going back to the early 1950s, Scientology finds its roots. First conceived as an answer to what Scientology’s founder L. Ron Hubbard found to be the crippling state of modern psycho-analysis, Hubbard thought he could do better. Consequently, he concluded that deep psychological problems were not the result of some inner conflict that an individual suffered from in their present life, but rather, the troubling issues arose out of a series of conflicts an individual acquired over a period of many lives. Hubbard felt that the inner struggles we faced were far too complex and intricate to be explained by the emotional trauma one faced in just a lifetime. No, the deep-seated psychological blemishes must have been sitting in the subconscious for some time; much longer than the typical lifetime. With this in mind, Hubbard set out to write a book of what he thought to be a solution to the contemporary dilemma of psycho-analysis. The book was called Dianetics. And this is the principle text from which the Church of Scientology was birthed in 1953.

In a Nutshell
Wikepedia, the online encyclopedia, summed up their belief system in five central beliefs. 1.) A person is an immortal spiritual being, called a thetan, who possesses a mind and a body. 2.) The thetan has lived through many past lives and will continue to live beyond the death of the body. 3.) A person is basically good, but becomes “aberrated� by moments of pain and unconsciousness in life. 4.) What is true is what is true for you. A sort of relativism concerning belief systems. And, 5.) Scientology can help the world on a large scale with such problems as drug abuse, crime, illiteracy, human rights and so forth.

Church?
Clearly, these beliefs are in direct contrast to the beliefs of our Christian faith. Scientology claims to be in line with many of the major religions including Christianity, but obviously one can not accept all of its tenets and at the same time accept the belief that God has revealed himself. Particularly through the Bible, which is instituted by a belief in Jesus alone as Lord of one’s life, and is directed by God’s Holy Spirit. Nowhere in the Bible is there evidence to support the thesis that we have always existed and we are continually reincarnated. The Bible teaches that we are born into sin and the only way to bring peace into our hearts is through the cleansing blood of Christ. However, Scientology teaches that this “peace� comes from addressing “aberrations� in past lives, not giving up one’s will to God. Furthermore, the Bible is clear that there is one Truth for all, not all truths for one. What is true is so all of the time and under all circumstances. And lastly, assuming Scientology can fix all of the problems we face in our world is not only naïve; it is in conflict with what we believe. Only God can fix this world.

There are countless other examples that could be cited that reflect the belief system of the Church of Scientology. There are many reports of individuals bringing to light past lives’ events, such as, speeding through the galaxy in some interstellar ship and various other stories that fit better in science fiction than in science fact. It is strange that this ‘religion’, or as we may call it ‘cult’, uses the word science in its name. But even if it were scientific, it would lack the necessary components to mend a broken heart, relieve a sinner’s mind of guilt or bring peace into the soul of a lost child of God. So, if anyone presumes that this ‘church’ is but just another denomination, I do hope I have set the record straight. Just because the word church is in the title, does not mean that it is a church; and especially a part of the church of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Send This To A Friend