Reference: Scientology
The following critique is based on the materials from the book Scientology 8-8008 by L. Ron Hubbard.
The American religion of Scientology claims to take a scientific approach to the understanding of human “self” and the realization of its potential. The following essays examines this claim.
Scientology seems to have been effective in helping many thousands of people get rid of their psychosomatic ills and personal problems through its auditing procedures, but it has also fallen far short of fulfilling its promise of producing Operating Thetans (humans of much higher intelligence and super abilities).
Whether the approach in Scientology is completely scientific or not, it does provide a workable model for improving human conditions. This following essays closely examines the fascinating model of “human spirit and the material universe”, as presented in the book Scientology 8-8008.
The purpose of this section is to conduct a careful, systematic study of the theory of Scientology philosophy as presented in Scientology 8-8008, and use it to arrive at a model for metaphysical reality that is scientifically consistent.
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Comments
Minor revision on 7/21/2016.
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Hubbard says,
“In studying Dianetics and Scientology be very, very certain you never go past a word you do not fully understand.
“The only reason a person gives up a study or becomes confused or unable to learn is that he or she has gone past a word or phrase that was not understood.
“Trying to read past a misunderstood word results in mental “fogginess” and difficulty in comprehending the passages which follow. If you find yourself experiencing this, return to the last portion you understood easily, locate the misunderstood word and get it defined correctly—and then go on.”
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Here is the other side of the coin.
It is not only the words that are not fully understood; it could also be wrong definitions and inconsistencies among the ideas presented. The phrases, such as, “uncaused cause”, “unmoved mover”, and “before time” are self-contradictory, but are pushed on the unsuspecting student.
The student should never assume that what is presented to him in a textbook by some authority must always be true. He must always test every definition and every idea against his own experience, and work to resolve all inconsistencies, doubts and perplexities.
See: https://vinaire.me/2016/06/02/mindfulness-app-4-subject-clearing/
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Here are my comments on the FOREWORD of Scientology 8-8008:
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There were some electronic circuits presented at the back of DMSMH to explain the functioning of the mind. The useful idea was that the reactive mind short-circuited the analytical circuits.
So Hubbard applied western engineering approach to eastern philosophy to come with Scientology principles. Yes, this is a novel approach. Though Hubbard’s approach is interesting, it is yet to be seen how consistent and free of personal bias it is.
Hubbard claimed himself to be the total source of the philosophy of Scientology, of which he was very proud. He prohibited his followers to carry forward his research, or to improve on his work on their own.
There seem to be details missing on the claims made in favor of Scientology; but I do feel that Hubbard’s work deserves to be closely studied, examined and verified. It is high time that somebody from the East should examine his work and bring it to the level of complete objectivity.
There is controversy about Hubbard’s work because convincing objectivity is missing. Hubbard’s accomplishments are laudable even when he used ethical means. Actual success of Scientology needs to be measured by its positive impact on the society.
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