References: Affinity / Reality / The Theistic Viewpoint of God
ARC stands for affinity, reality and communication. ARC forms the core concepts in Scientology. These concepts sound so very simple, deep and meaningful that they attract a lot of people. However, there are hidden curves thrown into these concepts that trap people in the nightmare called the Church of Scientology.
People who believe in the pseudo-scientific definitions of affinity, reality and communication provided by Hubbard continue to be trapped in a mental quagmire even after leaving the Church of Scientology. It is not easy to get back to normal while still believing in Scientology concepts. One must thoroughly examine the concepts learned in Scientology to be free of the “Scientology trap.”
Hubbard defines affinity in terms of reaching. One reaches for something in order to have it close to one. Lack of affinity would be expressed in withdrawal. “Affinity is a phenomenon of space in that it expresses the willingness to occupy the same place as the thing which is loved or liked. The reverse of it would be antipathy (. . .) which would be the unwillingness to occupy the same space as or the unwillingness to approach something or someone.”
Reality is not looked at as “objective” by Hubbard. It is certainly observable, yet not necessarily objective. Each observer takes his own viewpoint… In any case, when we talk about reality, we talk about agreement. “Reality is the agreement upon perceptions and data in the physical universe. All we can be sure is real is that on which we have agreed is real. Agreement is the essence of reality.”
The definition of Communication that is hammered by Hubbard is as follows. “Communication is the consideration and action of impelling an impulse or particle from source-point across a distance to receipt-point, with the intention of bringing into being at the receipt-point a duplication and understanding of that which emanated from the source point”
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There are human beings, but a being is not a point like “energy production source” as defined in Scientology, and which is the theistic viewpoint of God. There is beingness, and that beingness consists of the desire to know, awareness and filters.
The filters are composed of agreements that take the form of beliefs, biases, prejudices, fixed ideas, speculations, etc. They filter the reality the same way that colored glass filters light.
At the core of beingness is the desire to know. This desire triggers awareness. This awareness seems to flow like a current through the circuits of the mind. These circuits are composed of filters. The filters may be compared to the components in an electrical circuit that provide resistance to the flow of current.
Perception changes as awareness passes through the filters in the circuits of the mind. This perception may be tapped like “voltage” at any point in the circuit, and it would provide the “reality” at that point.
As “resistance” offered by filters in the circuit decreases, the “current” in terms of the flow of awareness increases. This increase in “current” may be viewed as increase in the capability to communicate.
The decrease in filters also reduces the alteration induced in perception. As a result the reality also improves.
The decrease in filters also removes the restrictions placed on awareness. The awareness becomes more inclusive and it encompasses a lot more. This may be looked upon as improvement in affinity.
It is only when the filters are reduced that affinity, reality and communication improve.
The ARC does not increase simply by increasing the “flow of communication,” as believed in Scientology. Increase in the flow of communication just gives you more of the same.
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