All photos courtesy of Google Images and the Church of Scientology International.
BELIEFS.
"If our goals are not being achieved, or we find ourselves in a situation that keeps getting worse, there is a real, identifiable reason for this. Without the know-how needed to conduct an accurate investigation, all we're really left with are guesses." -L. Ron Hubbard
L. Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology.
David Miscavige, current leader of the Church of Scientology.
The basic principles of Scientology offer an overview of the entire religion. At the most basic level, Scientologists believe that humans are more than bodies and minds. They describe the body and the mind as instruments that humans "use" to accomplish their goals. Scientologists believe that humans are "thetans", a term meaning "a thought or a spirit". Also, Scientologists utilize a concept called "dianetics". Dianetics is "a methodology which can help alleviate unwanted sensations and emotions, irrational fears and psychosomatic illnesses," ("What is Scientology?"). In simpler terms, Scientologists describe dianetics as "what the soul is doing to the body through the mind" ("What is Scientology?"). Additionally, Scientologists offer a distinction between two parts of the mind. They describe the analytical mind as the part of the mind that analyzes and records everything that has ever happened to an individual. On the other hand, they describe the reactive mind as the part of the mind that protects the mind and body from previously harmful experiences. The reactive mind helps to avoid previously encountered negative experiences by making the body experience the same sensations felt during that negative experience. Scientologists believe that the reactive mind is the cause of all negative thoughts, insecurities, and impulsiveness. The ultimate goal of Scientology is to reach a clear mind, free from the feelings associated with the reactive mind.
ARCHITECTURE.
Church of Scientology in Atlanta, GA.
Inside Atlanta's Church of Scientology.
The Church of Scientology was beautifully made. Walking into the building, there was a small information desk and a hallway leading to the information center. There were white, marble floors and the décor was very modern. Entering the information center, the guest is greeted with several displays individually sectioned off. Each display was made up of a television screen displaying a video, a wall with either quotes from founder L. Ron Hubbard or explanations of concepts written on both sides, and a control station for the user to play the videos and adjust the volume. Every video in each display explained a concept within Scientology, giving the viewer a brief overview of each topic. To the left of the displays was an area that contained a coffee shop, where an individual could purchase food amongst other items. To the right of the coffee shop was a sectioned off display detailing the life of L. Ron Hubbard. This section too, included a television screen; it played a video that gave the viewer a visual biography of L. Ron Hubbard. To the right of this display was an office, explained to be L. Ron Hubbard's office. There was a podium in the center of the doorway, preventing entry. Since the general public could not enter the office display, this area seemed to be the only sacred space on the first level of the church. The writing on the podium explained that out of respect to L. Ron Hubbard, every church of Scientology contained this exact replica of his office.
Inside Atlanta's Church of Scientology.
"Affinity, Reality, and Communication are the components of understanding. These form the ARC triangle. Every point is interdependent- when you increase one, you also increase the other two." -The Components of Understanding
As for symbols displayed within the church, the logo for Scientology was displayed in several areas of the church. It is composed of an S and two triangles. The S comes from the Latin word SCIO, meaning "I know". The other two triangles represent the ARC (affinity, reality, and communication) triangle and the KRC (knowledge, responsibility, and control) triangle.
Symbol for Scientology.
RITUAL.
I was unable to observe a ritual within the church, but using information from the official website for the Church of Scientology, I obtained a small amount of information. The website explains that Scientologists frequently conduct sermons on Sundays and sometimes other days of the week. During these sermons, a recitation of the Creed of Scientology may take place. Also, congregational auditing, defined as getting rid of unwanted feelings and finding the root of what a person is experiencing, may take place as well. To help with the process of auditing, an individual may use an E-meter, which is an instrument that identifies areas of pain that the individual may be unaware of. After these areas are identified, the individual may go through the auditing process, better explained as Scientological counseling. Scientologists also pray during these sermons. Other ceremonies held by the church include wedding celebrations, namings, and funeral rites. There is an interesting ritual explained on the website called the "Purification Rundown" which is done in an area that Scientologists refer to as the "Purification Center". The purpose of this ritual is to free the body of pesticides, drugs, and any other toxins that may be in the body. This is done by running on the treadmill followed by sitting in a sauna so as to sweat out these toxins, thereby eliminating them from the body.
THEORIST INTEGRATION.
Bruce Lincoln, a religious scholar and professor at the University of Chicago, outlined four important components that a religion must have in order to be considered a religion. The first component was that the religion must have discourse. Discourse was defined by Lincoln as communicating with a transcendent authority through spoken or written appeals. The second component, practices, were defined by Lincoln as ritual or ethic behaviors that established a proper world or way to become a proper human. The third component was community, the religion's identity had to have been constructed by a community that had both discourse and practices. The last component that Lincoln believed a religion needed was institution; the institution served to regulate the discourse, practices, and the community.
Taking a critical look at Scientology, Bruce Lincoln would say that it does have discourse. Scientologists do pray and communicate to a higher power. Lincoln would consider this communication an appeal to a transcendent authority. Lincoln would also say that Scientology has specific practices. Scientologists participate in rituals such as purification rundowns and auditing, both of which serve to aid Scientologists in becoming proper humans. Scientology also has the community aspect: the Scientology community has defined Scientology as separate and distinct from the other major world religions. Lastly, Scientology meets the institutional requirement. Lincoln would say that the Churches of Scientology around the world are institutions of Scientology. Overall, Bruce Lincoln would declare Scientology a religion because it contains all four components he considered essential to every religious body.