Editor's Note: To submit a faith question to Catholic Exchange, email href=”mailto:faithquestions@catholicexchange.com”>faithquestions@catholicexchange.com. Please note that all email submitted to Catholic Exchange becomes the property of Catholic Exchange and may be published in this space. Published letters may be edited for length and clarity. Names and cities of letter writers may also be published. Email addresses of viewers will not normally be published.
Dear Catholic Exchange,
What is scientology? What does the Church say about scientology?
Peace,
Natasha
Dear Natasha,
Peace in Christ! We were pleased to receive your question through the Catholic Exchange. You inquired into the nature of “Scientology” and the Catholic Church’s position regarding this cult.
The following is an overview of the basic beliefs of Scientology. Founded by the late L. Ron Hubbard in the 1954, the Church of Scientology is by definition a cult, both regarding its religious beliefs and its behaviors and practices, especially those involving the coercion and isolation of members. Scientology is also anti-Christian in both its beliefs and its practices.
Scientology is based upon L. Ron Hubbard’s controversial book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. During his life, Hubbard led his “new religion” as its founder, prophet, and sole authority. Scientology basically promotes a form of Gnosticism that salvation comes not through the saving actions of Jesus Christ, but through the possession of special knowledge alone. Hubbard’s type of Gnosticism also includes reincarnation. Scientology claims that human beings are, in actuality, “thetans,” gods who have forgotten their god-like state. In the mind of each thetan are implanted “engrams,” which are negative thoughts from past lives that cause irrational or compulsive behavior. The explicit goal of Scientology is to “clear” these engrams from the body so that knowledge of this god-like state can be attained.
The Catholic Church has always taught that we are, by nature, God’s creation and not gods in our own right. The thetan idea has no basis in Scripture, Tradition, or other historical evidence. The First Commandment, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Ex 19:3), prohibits idolatry, including self-worship. Man, as a creation of God, is forbidden to worship himself as another god. Christianity also excludes past lives and reincarnation, as St. Paul writes: “It is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgment…” (10:27, cf. Mt 25:31-46).
Scientology, while maintaining a front of religious tolerance, disavows Christ and teaches its members that Christ is one of many engrams (negative thoughts) that must be dealt with in order to “clear our consciousness.” Former Scientologists have claimed that cult-like tactics such as isolation from loved ones were common practices. In its May 6, 1991, issue, Time magazine presented an extensive cover story on how Scientologists have exercised power over and extorted money from many of its members. Because the Church of Scientology remains closed to outsiders, all of the claims made against it cannot be proven “beyond a doubt.” Nevertheless, as noted, there is substantial evidence convicting the organization of moral wrongdoing. Programs promoted by Scientology which appear from the outside like some of the countless self-help, feel-good programs are misleading on the surface as they gradually incorporate belief in reincarnation and plant doubt regarding the credibility of the Bible and Christianity in general.
I hope this response adequately answers your question. Please feel free to call us at 1-800-MY FAITH or email us with any further questions on this or any other subject. If you have found this information to be helpful, please consider a donation to CUF to help sustain this service. You can call the toll-free line, visit us at www.cuf.org, or send your contribution to the address below. Thank you for your support as we endeavor to “support, defend, and advance the efforts of the teaching Church.”
United in the Faith,
Kathleen Rohan
Information Specialist
Catholics United for the Faith
827 North Fourth Street
Steubenville, OH 43952
800-MY-FAITH (800-693-2484)