As I have mentioned in the past, the youth at Fellowship Bible Church in Fort Smith are learning about the cults. Last night we talked about the influence of Hollywood and the beliefs of Scientology. I shared with the students an interview with Will Smith posted online by Access Hollywood through MSNBC.com. When asked about Scientology, Smith said, "I'm a student of world religion...(and) the ideas of the Bible are 98% the same (as) Scientology." I put that claim to the test by examining the core teachings of Scientology in contrast to Christianity. Below is the information I shared with the students. ORIGINS OF MAN ACCORDING TO THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY
Trillions of years ago, long before anything as we know it existed, there were countless immortal beings know as 'thetans,' who found themselves bored with eternal life. In an effort to rid themselves of the doldrums, they decided to collectively create the universe and everything in it. Their hope was to have a realm in which to play the 'Game of Life' and pass the time. But the thetans soon faced a problem on which they had not planned. As spiritual beings, they could not function with their physical creation. The thetans solved this dilemma by building bodies for themselves, the human form being only one of many different appearances. The problem that developed for these thetans is that they eventually became entranced with their creations so that they lost awareness of their true identity as thetans (immortal spirits.) (79).
TWO MAJOR DOCTRINES OF THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY
Problem: Engrams (Learned behavior and conflicts from the past, including previous lifetimes and prenatal experiences), prevent individuals from realizing divinity.
Life After Death: Reincarnation of soul (thetan) until it attains a state of spiritual awareness and liberation from matter, energy, space and time (M.E.S.T).
KEY TERMS FOR SCIENTOLOGISTS
Clear
- A person free of engrams. All Scientologists aspire to become Clear. Until that point, they are know as pre-Clear.
E-Meter
- A device used in auditing sessions (similar to counseling) to help identify engrams, often compared to a type of lie detector.
Engram
- Mental-image pictures of past events which contain pain and unconsciousness, considered the reason for failures and unhappiness in life. The goal of Scientology is to erase engrams.
M.E.S.T
- The Scientologist expression for matter, energy, space and time. Operating Thetans are not restricted by these components of the universe.
Thetan
- The spirit or soul: who the person really is. A person is a thetan with a body and a mind. An Operating Thetan is a Clear person who has fully realized his or her divinity.
- A person free of engrams. All Scientologists aspire to become Clear. Until that point, they are know as pre-Clear.
E-Meter
- A device used in auditing sessions (similar to counseling) to help identify engrams, often compared to a type of lie detector.
Engram
- Mental-image pictures of past events which contain pain and unconsciousness, considered the reason for failures and unhappiness in life. The goal of Scientology is to erase engrams.
M.E.S.T
- The Scientologist expression for matter, energy, space and time. Operating Thetans are not restricted by these components of the universe.
Thetan
- The spirit or soul: who the person really is. A person is a thetan with a body and a mind. An Operating Thetan is a Clear person who has fully realized his or her divinity.
Will Smith Defends Tom Cruise. Access Hollywood-msnbc.com. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22088489/
Abanes, Richard. Cults, New Religious Movements, and Your Family. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 1998. 79.
