Briscoe 1

Mikayla Briscoe

Dr. Wynne

ENG 102-16

3/11/17

Literature Review: Scientology

The religion of Scientology is one that has been around for decades, whether people have

known it or not. It previously was in the shadows compared to other religions like Catholicism

and Islam, but it has now come out of the darkness and into the spotlight. Due to recent

celebrities coming out about their experiences in Scientology and the recent documentary and

letters that have surfaced, Scientology is no longer a hidden religion. To learn more about

Scientology and the abuses, a few questions have been asked:

1. What are the core values of Scientology?

2. How is Scientology related to the study of the mind?
3. Should Scientology be stopped?
4. Does Scientology do anything to help the universe?

This literature review will answer and discuss the following questions and discuss the

abuses and the accusations made on the Church itself.

What are the core values of Scientology?

Scientology is a religion that was created by a man by the name of Lafayette Ronald

Hubbard in 1954. The literal definition of Scientology means knowing how to know. The

word Scientology comes from scio, meaning knowing, and logos, meaning study of. (W.V

McCall 411) It began in California, where its major headquarters are located. Prior to writing his

most famous work Dianetics and founding Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard was in the US Navy

and was an officer during World War II. He was an author and published science fiction novels.

He attended George Washington University in 1930 and was very interested in flying and was a
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pilot at the university, however, writing was his primary focus. He eventually left the university

and began his career as a writer until he was called to war. During his time in the war, Hubbard

began to write pieces that would lead to the creation of Dianetics. Favorable response to The

Original Thesis led to his expanding it into a more substantial volume, Dianetics: The Modern

Science of Mental Health, whose publication on May 9, 1950 is considered by Scientologists a

seminal event of the century. (Lewis 21) Dianetics was the beginning of the religion of

Scientology and the Church of Scientology.

The religion is relatively new and their beliefs are far different that those of other

religions. They are mainly based on the power and use of knowledge, rather than having faith in

a higher being or spiritual world. Their main belief is that man is a spiritual being endowed with

abilities well beyond those which he normally envisions. (Church of Scientology International)

Scientologists believe that man can solve his own problems, achieve his goals and reach a new

level of knowledge and self-awareness that is not obtainable by an average person. Their use of

knowledge and self-awareness allows them to be able to help their society and achieve spiritual

freedom in the future.

To achieve this new knowledge, Scientologists must study relentlessly for years all the

writing and teachings of L. Ron Hubbard, be a part of the Church of Scientology or a mission

group, and apply their knowledge in society. They must also go through the process of auditing

which is a major component of the religion of Scientology. The goal of auditing is to restore

beingness and ability. (Church of Scientology International) Auditing uses a series of questions,

and a machine called an E-meter to rid man of any inhibitions and handicaps and enhancing their

abilities. Auditing allows man to identify their best qualities to be able to handle and situation

and make their environment around them a better place. The practice of auditing and the belief in
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mans knowledge and knowing how to know are the two major values in the religion of

Scientology.

How is Scientology related to the study of the mind?

Due to the literal definition, Scientology is very much related to the study of the mind

otherwise known as psychology. L. Ron Hubbard believed that the mind functions as a tripartite

technology, consisting of the reactive mind, the somatic mind, and the analytic mind. The

somatic mind is mainly reflexive and goes without thinking. The reactive mind is the

impressionable and literal. The analytic mind is logical. Hubbards book Dianetics had a specific

intent to it that was stated by Hubbard. He said, it contains a therapeutic with which can be

treated all organic mental ills, with assurance of a complete cure in unselected cases. (W. Vaugh

McCall 14) Hubbard had major plans for Dianetics to cure many mental illnesses and even other

types of illnesses like asthma and arthritis. It was intended to have one clean their mind and

purify it of all toxins and the extension of Scientology was to cleanse the environment of all

things impure.

Should Scientology be stopped?

When one talks about Scientology, not only their Church of Scientology and talk of the

organization arise, but also the abuses and accusations made by former Scientologist arise too.

Recently, there has been a lot of speculation about the abuses of the Church of Scientology that

has come out in the documentary Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, created by Leah

Remini who is a famous former Scientologists. The accusations range from people being

physically abused by the current leader David Miscavige, being emotional abused, having money

stolen from them, being threatened, and many other things. A woman by the name of Mary Kahn

described one of her experiences with David Miscavige saying that When I came into his office
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the next morning he told me that he took $1,000 out of my bank account because he needed it.

(Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath) This is not only morally wrong, but it is in fact

illegal and could have been reported, but in Scientology, bad things like this are reasoned and

therefore go unreported.

To further answer this question, an interview was done on a licensed professional

counselor and marriage and family therapist. Her name is Renee D. Frierson-Briscoe and she has

a Masters degree in Psychology from LaSalle University in Philadelphia, PA. When this

question was posed, she was very adamant that Scientology should be stopped because of its

negative impact on families. She said, Scientology basically separates families and interferes

with the natural growth of the family foundation. She continued to emphasize the fact that

family is a very important foundation that when shaken up can have harmful effects on not just

adults, but children as well. Ms. Frierson-Briscoe said in relation to children that, You rob

children of their identity when you take them out of the context of their family; they need to

know who they are and it cannot be based on an artificial or religious calling of a person. Ms.

Frierson-Briscoe comes from a very large family and is very much a family person. She often

shares stories with her daughter and some clients to relate to them and show them the importance

of family and what one can learn from their family and how it helps shape them as a person.

From her responses and explanations, it can be concluded that Scientology has nothing but a

negative impact on families and should be stopped at once.

There have also been petitions to stop the Church of Scientology from building in

Detroit, Michigan due to them being a cult. The petition states We must work to stop the

development of a new location in Detroit for the sake of the people who have been abused and

are currently still abused and brainwashed within the program of Scientology. (Ericksen
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change.org) This petition also feels that the Church of Scientology needs to cease due to its

abusiveness and their ability to brainwash its members. Along with petitions that United States

took away their tax-exempt status in 2016 because the Internal Revenue Service Criminal

Investigation2 Division found the Church of Scientology to be a criminal operation with a sole

purpose of making money and the Supreme Court said that Scientology was neither a religion

or fell under the guidelines of a non-profit charitable organization. (Rustling ABC News) Both

offer valid reason as to why the Church of Scientology is harmful and is something that needs to

be stopped.

Does Scientology do anything to benefit their environment?

One thing that is instilled in Scientologist from the beginning is that they have a mission

to go out into society and make it a better place. They also have the mission to instill in those a

moral compass to help guide them in the right direction and help them do something positive in

the community. The Church of Scientology International says, All Scientology services are

aimed at improving the ability to help. They Church of Scientology not only tells their members

to help improve the world, but the Church also supports many organizations that improve life

conditions.

The Way to Happiness Foundation

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One program that the Church of Scientology has is The Way to Happiness Foundation

which is currently in 135 nations helping to uplift mans brotherhood and uplift the nation.

Another positive thing that the Church does is they have the largest nongovernmental anti-drug

campaign. It reaches millions of teens who are at risk every year. Their other programs focus on

things like drug rehabilitation, youth literacy, disaster help, and human rights. The Church of

Scientology, despite criticism, has many programs that aid in helping their environment and

instilling that in its members and those around them as well.

Conclusion

Scientologys recent exposure has led to increased attention in the media and from those

who are curious about it. Many questions have now arisen and there is now more talk about it

and more light shed on it. There have been several documentaries created and many writings on

the topic that offer exceptional information on the topic. Scientology is a new religion that has

seemed to take over and make its mark on the world.

Works Cited

Ericksen, Daniel . "The Church of Scientology in Downtown Detroit: Stop the Church of
Scientology from forming in Downtown Detroit." Change.org. N.p., 2015. Web. 11 Mar.
2017. <https://www.change.org/p/the-church-of-scientology-in-downtown-detroit-stop-
the-church-of-scientology-from-forming-in-downtown-detroit>.
Lewis, James R. Scientology. New York: Oxford U Press, 2009. Print.
McCall, W. Vaughn. "Psychiatry and Psychology in the Writings of L. Ron Hubbard." Journal of
Religion and Health 46.3 (2007): 437-47. Academic Search Complete. Web. 11 Mar. 2017.
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<http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=a9h&AN=26284422&site=ehost-live>.
News, Jimmy Rustling ABC. "The United States Revokes Scientology's Tax-Exempt Status."
ABC News. N.p., 04 July 2016. Web. 11 Mar. 2017. <http://abcnews.com.co/united-states-
revokes-scientologys-tax-exempt-status/>.
"Scientology Definition ." Official Church of Scientology: What is Scientology? Church of
Scientology International , 2017. Web. 11 Mar. 2017. <http://www.scientology.org/what-is-
scientology/basic-principles-of-scientology.html>.
"Scientology in Society." Official Church of Scientology: What is Scientology? Church of
Scientology International , 2017. Web. 11 Mar. 2017. <http://www.scientology.org/what-is-
scientology/church-of-scientology-in-society.html#slide3>.
Smith, Erin A. . "The Church Of Scientology: A History Of A New Religion." The Journal of
American History (2015): 608-09. Academic Search Complete. Web. 11 Mar. 2017.
<http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=a9h&AN=95657408&site=ehost-live>.
Urban, Hugh B. Fair Game:Secrecy, Security, and the Church of Scientology in Cold War
America. 2nd ed. Vol. 74. New York: Oxford U Press, 2006. Print.
Zucca, Lorenzo . "A New Legal Definition of Religion?" King's Law Journal (2014): 5-7.
Academic Search Complete. Web. 11 Mar. 2017. <http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=a9h&AN=95657408&site=ehost-live>.