Archive-name: scientology/users/faq
Last-modified: 1995/2/7 Version: 1.41 See reader questions & answers on this topic! - Help others by sharing your knowledge ------------------< FAQ: Dianetics and Scientology >---------------------- FOREWORD The first question most people ask when they run across the term "Scientology," is: What is it? And frankly, it's a difficult question to answer in one sentence. This FAQ will help to answer it (hopefully), but for the FOREWORD, why don't we begin with: "How did it start?" Scientology started with the book by L. Ron Hubbard, _Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health_ [DMSMH], first published in May 1950. It became one of the best selling self-help books in history, selling over 16 million copies in numerous languages, according to the 1993 edition. The glossary in the hardcover edition of the recently published _What is Scientology?_ (1992, Church of Scientology International) defines the word "Dianetics" as follows: Dianetics: comes from the Greek words "dia," meaning "through," and "nous," meaning "soul." Dianetics is a methodology developed by L. Ron Hubbard which can help alleviate such ailments as unwanted sensations and emotions, irrational fears and psycho- somatic illnesses. It is most accurately described as "what the soul is doing to the body." And according to the same book, the term "Scientology" is defined as: Scientology: comes from the Latin "scio," which means "know," and the Greek word "logos," meaning "the word or outward form by which the inward thought is expressed and made known." Thus Scientology means knowing about knowing. Scientology is an applied religious philosophy developed by L. Ron Hubbard. It is the study and handling of the spirit in relationship to itself, universes, and other life. (The book _What is Scientology?_ is available in ASCII via anonymous FTP at FTP.PCNET.COM out of the directory /users/brianw/wis.) But without further ado, let's begin the FAQ. [NOTE: The following numbered questions were generated by readers of the newsgroup alt.religion.scientology. At this writing, the answers have been developed by two Scientologists, Chip Gallo (chipg@access.digex.net) and Brian Wenger (wengerb@pcnet.com) both with many years of experience in the Church, both as "public" and as "staff." Additional FAQs such as a complete Scientology Catechism, a Scientology Book list, a list of Scientology organizations around the world, and the Codes and Creeds of Scien- tology, are also available via anonymous FTP from the MIT archive site: RTFM.MIT.EDU out of the directory /pub/usenet/alt.answers/scientology/users. There is also an anonymous FTP site at FTP.PCNET.COM /users/brianw which contains a large collection of information on Scientology, including the book _Scientology: A New Slant on Life_, by L. Ron Hubbard, (located in the ../lrh_essays directory).] 0 Introduction: Should I Try Scientology? 1 Scientology and Science 1.1 Is Scientology a science? 1.2 Has the validity of Scientology been tested? 1.3 What does Scientology have to say about the physical sciences? 1.4 How do scientifically-oriented Scientologists deal with what seem to be contradictions between the physical sciences and Scientology? 1.5 Do Scientologists have paranormal powers? 1.6 I'm interested in Scientology, but first I'd like to see some proof... 2 Scientology and Religion 2.1 Is Scientology a religion? 2.2 How do Scientologists view other religions? 2.3 Do Scientologists view science as a religion? 2.4 What's an E-Meter? Is it a religious device or a scientific device? 2.5 Is LRH a god? 3 Scientology and the Law 3.1 Who has Scientology ever sued? What suits were won/lost/still pending? 3.2 Who has ever sued Scientology? What suits were won/lost/still pending? 3.3 What's a "squirrel" group? 3.4 Did "est" squirrel from Scientology? 3.5 Is it ok if I post my favorite LRH bulletins and policy letters to alt.religion.scientology? 3.6 Is the Church of Scientology recognized as a non-profit charitable organization by the IRS? 4 The Effectiveness of Scientology 4.1 Is Scientology successful? 4.2 Is Narconon successful? 4.3 What countries officially sponsor Narconon? 4.4 What is the essence of Scientology's workability? 4.5 What do non-Scientologists think of this FAQ? 5 Conclusion: Well?? Should I Try Scientology? 0 Introduction: Should I Try Scientology? Maybe. Read this FAQ first. Also, read the numerous other FAQs available, such as the Scientology Catechism FAQ and the Codes and Creeds FAQ. In addition, you may want to get the book _What is Scientology?_ (available in most public libraries and bookstores in the USA and Canada, as well as at FTP.PCNET.COM /users/brianw/wis) in order to understand the subjects of Dianetics and Scientology and its organizations in more detail. It is also recommended that you pick up a book either by or based on the works of L. Ron Hubbard. One such book, _Scientology: A New Slant on Life_ is now available in ASCII form via anonymous FTP from the address above, in the dreictory .../lrh_essays. 1 Scientology and Science 1.1 Is Scientology a science? The answer to this question depends on the answer to another question: Does the human soul exist? If one can scientifically recognize that an individual is a spiritual being, or might be a spiritual being, then Scientology can be approached and understood as a science, or at least as a philosophy with scientific promise. If one doesn't or can't, then Scientology can only be seen as a religion. 1.2 Has the validity of Scientology been tested? Yes, it has been tested by Scientologists within their own organizations. Scientology's goal is to free the individual spiritually. In the course of this goal, Scientologists have stated that their enjoyment of life has increased, their ability to communicate with friends and family has improved, and often their intelligence and physical well-being have improved. 1.3 What does Scientology have to say about the physical sciences? Scientology recognizes the validity of the physical sciences, in as much as they explain the physical universe. However, as mentioned above, it would be necessary to understand Scientology's views on the human spirit before one understood the relationship of Scientology to the physical sciences. Contradictions between science and Scientology can sometimes seem to appear when one is not familiar with the theory behind Scientology. See the answer to the next question for an example. 1.4 How do scientifically-oriented Scientologists deal with what seem to be contradictions between the physical sciences and Scientology? When one takes the time to understand the ideas and terms in Scientology, the apparent contradictions disappear. For example, a non-Scientologist on this newsgroup once said that since Scientologists believe that the "whole track" or "time track" has been said to be trillions of years long, and scientists recognize the universe as only being a few billion years old, then that is a contradiction. But this is a misunderstanding of the term "whole track." It does not refer to the "age of the physical universe," but the "age of a spiritual being." And the physical universe, per the Big Bang Theory, could be in a cycle of expanding-contracting universes. So who's to say how long this has been going on (if indeed the Big Bang Theory is even correct)? So the question again falls back to: Does the human soul exist? 1.5 Do Scientologists have paranormal powers? There is a very good answer to a similar question in the book _What is Scientology?_ The question in the book is "Does Scientology believe in mind over matter?" The answer is: Scientology addresses you -- not your mind, not your body, but you [the spirit]. Scientologists have found that the spirit is *potentially* superior to material things, and that the spirit, i.e. you, if cleansed of past traumas, transgressions and aberrations, can make miraculous changes in the physical universe that would not otherwise be possible. Do Scientologists have paranormal powers? Potentially, per Scientology theory, everyone does. Scientology's O.T. levels are the way one reha- bilitates them. ("O.T." is Operating Thetan ["thetan" is Scientology's word for the human spirit], and describes an individual who could operate totally independently of his body whether he had one or didn't have one. He's now himself, he's not dependent on the universe around him. [-Basic Dictionary of Dianetics and Scientology.]) 1.6 I'm interested in Scientology, but first I'd like to see some proof... Scientology is a personal journey....trying to see "objective proof" of spiritual awareness and abilities, is not always easy. As it says at the beginning of most Scientology books: "The attainment of the benefits and goals of Scien- tology philosophy requires each individual's dedi- cated participation, as only through his own efforts can he achieve these." But the journey begins with the questions: Am I spirit or matter? In the stages of research that followed the publication of _Dianetics_ after 1950, L. Ron Hubbard found that, while auditing individuals, their former lives were contacted, very often to the individual's benefit. Ron's ensuing research led him to attempt a description and codification of the human spirit and life, in terms of the physical universe of matter, energy, space and time. (See the "Axioms of Scientology" in the Appendix of _What is Scientology?_, as well as in a number of Scientology books listed in the Scientology Books FAQ.) Additionally, scientific research over the last two decades (outside of Scientology) has been done on the subject of past lives, which helps bring scientific rigor to the question of whether there is a "human soul" or not. (See the research of Dr. Ian Stevenson.) 2 Scientology and Religion 2.1 Is Scientology a religion? Yes, Scientology is a religion in the deepest sense of the word, in that it addresses some of the most fundamental religious questions: Am I a spirit? Is there life after death? Can I achieve a higher spiritual state? But Scientology is actually more than that. Scientology is often aptly called "an applied religious philosophy." Scientology not only contains a philosophy (or theory) about life and the spirit, but it also contains an exact technology for addres- sing, handling and rehabilitating the spirit, a.k.a. auditing. 2.2 How do Scientologists view other religions? Scientologists respect and, in fact, admire other religions. Scien- tologists feel that they are brothers of the Hindu and Buddhist, and distant relatives of the Judeo-Christian and Muslim. It is felt that all religions have had the goal of freeing man spiritually, but that Scientology stands apart, in that it has a technology to bring this about. This technology we call "auditing." 2.3 Do Scientologists view science as a religion? No, in as much as science ignores the possible existence of the human soul, there will always be a clear distinction between science and religion. 2.4 What's an E-Meter? Is it a religious device or a scientific device? The E-Meter is a device that measures fluctuations in electrical resis- tance, when a tiny current is passed through the body. The fluctuations show up in needle movements. The definition that is found in the booklet "The Basic Dictionary of Dianetics and Scientology" is: E-Meter: [short for "electropsychometer"]...An electronic instrument for measuring mental state and change of state in individuals, as an aid to precision and speed in auditing. The E-Meter is not intended or effective for the diagnosis, treatment or preven- tion of any disease. The argument comes in, when the question is posed: Is the body the only thing influencing the resistance? Scientologists believe that the mind is an energy mechanism, indepen- dent of the brain, and is capable of influencing the E-Meter. Those who don't believe that the mind is anything more than the brain, feel that the body is the only thing influencing the E-Meter. 2.5 Is LRH a god? No. It is felt in Scientology that LRH had just as much potential of "godliness" as anyone else. But LRH stated numerous times that he was just a man. 3 Scientology and the Law 3.1 Who has Scientology ever sued? What suits were won/lost/still pending? In the book _What is Scientology?_, there is a section called "The Victories of Scientology." It lists almost 150 legal victories from 1956 to present. 3.2 Who has ever sued Scientology? What suits were won/lost/still pending? [A comprehensive answer to this question and the second parts of 3.1 were not available at the time we posted this edition.] 3.3 What's a "squirrel" group? According to "The Basic Dictionary of Dianetics and Scientology," the term "squirrel" is defined as follows: SQUIRREL. 1. a squirrel is doing something entirely different. He doesn't understand any of the principles so he makes up a bunch of them to fulfill his ignorance and voices them off on a pc (pc = pre-Clear, an individual on the road to going Clear; see the book _Dianetics_ or the Scientology Catechism for a description of "Clear") and gets no place. 2. Those who engage in actions altering Scientology, and offbeat practices. -v. to change and invent processes. Thus a squirrel group would be a group of people doing the above. Once a person has received auditing from such a person, it can be difficult to get standard auditing in a Scientology organization. For instance, there is now a special auditing action which people who have been in "est" may receive (at the direction of the Case Supervisor, the person who prepares the auditing programs), to resolve any incomplete actions or case difficulties brought about by participation in this group. 3.4 Did "est" squirrel from Scientology? Yes, Werner Erhard, just prior to creating est, had taken Scientology courses and received auditing. A number of concepts and procedures in est are very similar to Scientology; at one time, much of the terminology was the same. In Scientology, there is an auditing procedure designed to address difficulties a person may have had by participation in est. 3.5 Is it ok if I post my favorite LRH bulletins and policy letters to alt.religion.scientology? L. Ron Hubbard's Scientology and Dianetics material is now owned by the LRH Library. To *legally* post this material, you should get Issue Authority (I/A) from the Church. Some licensees of the Church (i.e., International Hubbard Ecclesiastical League of Pastors or IHELP) may have a blanket form of I/A via their contract with the Church. Your local Church of Scientology can put you in touch with the correct person. And "fair use" generally covers quotations from copyrighted material for the purpose of review, etc. 3.6 Is the Church of Scientology recognized as a non-profit charitable organization by the IRS? Yes, after an exhaustive study by the IRS into the Church of Scientology, in an October 1993 decision by the IRS, the Church of Scientology and its many social reform and improvement programs were recognized as non-profit charitable organizations, with full tax exempt status in the United States. Any donations (excluding books and materials) made to the Church of Scientology or its social reform and improvement organizations, are tax deductible in the USA. 4 The Effectiveness of Scientology 4.1 Is Scientology successful? This is understood to ask, "Is Scientology workable? Can it help a person?" The active Scientologists in this newsgroup believe that it does work and has certainly helped them. 4.2 Is Narconon successful? (Note: Narconon is a non-profit organization that uses the drug-rehabili- tation technology developed by L. Ron Hubbard.) Again the above question is understood to mean, "Does Narconon get people off drugs? Do they stay off of drugs after completing the program?" Statis- tics reported by Narconon indicate that it has a high rate of effectiveness. (For more information on Narconon, send e-mail to wengerb@pcnet.com). Regarding Narconon's relationship to Scientology - there are a number of organizations that operate as entities separate from the Church of Scientology "mother church." These include Applied Scholastics, Narconon, Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), World Institute of Scientology Enterprises (WISE) and others. Many of these were initiated by people who were themselves helped by the works of L. Ron Hubbard. These are listed in full in the "Scientology Organizations FAQ." Additionally, information on each of these is available in the book _What is Scientology?_ 4.3 What countries officially sponsor Narconon? According to John Duff, the President of Narconon International: In Sweden, the government donated the Narconon building, and local social boards have funded people through the program. In Switzerland, the program is usually 100% funded by social programs. In Holland, Denmark, Italy and Germany, some of the Narconon participants have been funded by the government. 4.4 What is the essence of Scientology's workability? The essence of Scientology's workability is something that each individual must decide for him or herself. The subject is so large and could be approached in so many ways (e.g. as an administrator, as an artist, as an teacher, etc.) that there are literally as many answers to that question as there are individuals in Scientology. For Chip: "It is the fact that Scientology offers the only game where everybody wins. The auditor wins when she or he applies the technology correctly and sees the preclear get gains. The preclear gets those gains and comes back for more. The staff see this happening every day and know that they are helping it happen. The course supervisors know that their students will be going out and auditing others. You could say that Scientology's workability lies in the truth of its teachings and the basic honesty of man. For if man were not innately good, he would never desire to help his fellow man by committing the time and resources to train and audit others." For Brian: "The principles and concepts in Scientology can sometimes appear foreign at first glance, but once they are understood in their simplicity (just as one has to understand the simplicity of geometry before the complexity of algebra, trigonometry and calculus can be mastered) their breadth of clarification and application becomes visible. I use Scientology every day, in almost every situation in life. I use it to help others, often by helping them recognize and clarify situations which are confusing to them. I use it when I try to explain myself in ordinary conversation, or when I try to teach or learn a new subject. Scientology's 'workability', to me, is dependent on how comfortable and natural one feels with the subject." 4.5 What do non-Scientologists think of this FAQ? In general, non-Scientologists can be broken down into three categories: 4.5.1. Those who have never heard of, or only heard of Scientology in passing -- neutral opinion about the subject. They might find this FAQ incomplete, and would probably want to take a look at our other more comprehensive FAQs, most notably the Scientology Catechism FAQ. [FTP.PCNET.COM /users/brianw ] 4.5.2. Those who have heard/experienced a variety of positive and negative things about Scientology, sway toward the positive, but still want to see more comprehensive questions and answers. Again, the Scientology Catechism FAQ is recommended. 4.5.3. Those who have heard/experienced a variety of positive and negative things about Scientology, but sway toward the nega- tive. This being merely an overview FAQ, it is recommended that they also look into our other FAQs, as well as the recently published _What is Scientology?_ book available as ASCII via anonymous FTP at FTP.PCNET.COM out of the directory /users/brianw/wis. Also, there are a number of Church re- sponses to negative media, etc. at the same FTP site out of directory /users/brianw/misc. Additionally, this Users' FAQ will be updated and augmented as time permits. 5 Conclusion: Well?? Should I Try Scientology? You're cheating yourself if you don't. In Scientology, we feel that our technology is a completion of the work begun by Siddhartha Gautama Buddha, 2,500 years ago. With the exactness of understanding and application that L. Ron Hubbard has brought to the subject of the human mind, spirit and life, we believe that, with Scien- tology, there is finally a chance to break out of the endless cycle of birth, death and birth again. Many others have tried, but none have deve- loped a workable technology as exact as Scientology. Our first recommendation is to read the additional FAQs and then get a copy of the book _What is Scientology?_, available in most public lib- raries, many bookstores and even via anonymous FTP as mentioned above. Chip Gallo <cgallo@capcon.net> Brian Wenger <wengerb@pcnet.com> -------------------------------------------------------------------- Grateful acknowledgement is made to the L. Ron Hubbard Library for permission to reproduce selections from the copyrighted works of L. Ron Hubbard. "Dianetics," "E-Meter," "Hubbard," "OT," "Purification Rundown," and "Scientology," are trademarks and service marks owned by the Religious Technology Center and are used with its permission. "Narconon" is a service mark owned by the Association of Better Living and Education (ABLE) and used with its permission. "Scientologist" is a collective membership mark designating members of the affiliated churches and missions of Scientology. -----------------------< End of FAQ >-------------------------------------- For more information on Scientology, FTP to FTP.PCNET.COM /users/brianw or write to: scninfo@pcnet.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- User Contributions:
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