Like many non-Christian
religions, Scientology will acknowledge Jesus as an important player in the
history of faith. But to fully
comprehend the Jesus of Scientology, we need to briefly consider the broader
teachings of this group.
Scientology Belief
The founder of Scientology L. Ron Hubbard, a Science Fiction writer, is widely reported to have said the following:
“You don't get rich writing science fiction. If you want to get
rich, you start a religion.”[1]
An so he did. We might
imagine that a belief system founded by the author of science fiction, would
have a myth-like, imaginary feel to it, and so it does!
Reading like one of his
science-fiction books, Hubbard taught that people are immortal
alien beings (called thetans) who have forgotten their true nature
and are trapped on earth in a human body.
He went on to teach that
each thetan has lived numerous past lives, both on earth and on other planets.
During these past lives thetans have been infected by engrams (a mental image of a past experience that produces a negative emotional
effect in an individual’s life) and also by implants (similar to engrams but these
are planted deliberately and with evil intent).
As spirits
(thetans) who have lived many times, we do not realise that during our past
lives we have had implanted numerous false realities (implants) and become
infected by negative emotions (engrams). This is where Scientology can help.
Scientology to
the rescue.
According to
their website:
The word Scientology, conceived by
L. Ron Hubbard, comes from the Latin scio which
means “knowing, in the fullest meaning of the word” and the Greek word logos which
means “study of.” It means knowing how to know. Scientology is further defined
as “the study and handling of the spirit in relationship to itself, universes
and other life.”[2]
Scientology claims that it can help you know the truth of who you really are; and who you really are is a good person in need of some help. So, beginning with a free personality test, which helps you discover what is stopping you from reaching your full potential, Scientology then offers a package (called auditing) that will clear you of those pesky implants and engrams. Once signed up, you begin a rather lengthy and costly journey.
At commencement you are
classified as a pre-clear with the aim, through Scientology, to become ‘clear’.
This happens when you are free of implants and engrams, and are ‘clear’ to become
what they call an Operating Thetan (O.T.). It is then that you are free to
discover the real you.
With all this in mind
let us consider how Scientology views the person and work of Jesus.
Jesus the Implant
It appears that L. Ron
Hubbard said some conflicting things regarding the person of Jesus.
Somebody somewhere on this planet, back about 600 BC, found some pieces of R6, and I don't know how they found it, either by watching madmen or something, but since that time they have used it and it became what is known as Christianity. The man on the Cross. There was no Christ.[3]
Hubbard stated that Christ never really existed, but rather he was an implant (he called this R6). He wrote:
‘You will find… the
Christ legend as an implant in pre-clears a million years ago.’[4]
According to Hubbard, those
trusting in Christ are trusting in a false reality.
Later he claimed the historic Jesus did exist,
but Hubbard was clearly not a fan, as these irreverent words clearly show:
For
those of you whose Christian toes I may have stepped on, let me take the
opportunity to disabuse you of some lovely myths. For instance, the historic
Jesus was not nearly the sainted figure [he] has been made out to be. In
addition to being a lover of young boys and men, he was given to uncontrollable
bursts of temper and hatred.... You have only to look at the history his
teachings inspired to see where it all inevitably leads. It is historic fact
and yet man still clings to the ideal, so deep and insidious is the biologic
implanting.[5]
Elsewhere Hubbard claimed that Jesus was
below the level of Operating Thetan, being just a ‘shade above’ clear[6].
How does Hubbard’s Jesus compare to the
Biblical Jesus?
The Bible vs Scientology
Scientology teaches that
man is basically good and so is just in need of some repair. It claims to help people
discover the truth about themselves, so that they can become all that they are
meant to be.
The Bible teaches that
man is fallen and sinful, beyond repair.
Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and
in sin did my mother conceive me.
Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin came into the
world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men
because all sinned.
Romans 3:10-18 “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no
one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they
have become worthless; no one does good, not
even one.” “Their throat is an open grave they use their
tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their
lips.” “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
“Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths
are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have
not known.”
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
The Bible teaches the truth that man cannot save
himself. There are no number of courses he can take, no amount of money he can
spend, to make himself ‘clear’.
Knowing that we are fallen and incapable of saving
ourselves, the Bible points us to the solution, it points us to the person and
work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is where the ‘implant’ and impotent Jesus of
Scientology comes up way short. To Scientology Jesus is at best a footnote in
the history of mankind, whereas the Bible portrays him as the Son of God and
the Saviour of the world.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his
only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
1 John 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the Father
has sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world.
The purpose of the Father sending the Son is not to free people from engrams and implants, but rather to free mankind from the stain and power of sin. That which we cannot be done by self-improvement, by knowledge gained from increasingly expensive courses is achieved by the Lord Jesus:
1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the
tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you
have been healed.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew
no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE
Many attracted to Scientology’s stated aim of true
spiritual enlightenment and freedom for all, will ultimately find it to be
mission impossible.
If you long to be enlightened, you need to come
to the one who said: “I am the
light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have
the light of life.”[7]
If your desire is to be set free, you need to
come to the Son for ‘if the Son sets you free, you will be free
indeed.’[8]
Scientology, like all religions who deny the person and work of Jesus, cannot meet the
real need of humankind. Jesus said:
‘Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.’[9]
[1] Remark at a meeting of the Eastern Science Fiction
Association, November 07, 1948.
[2] https://www.scientology.org/faq/background-and-basic-principles/what-does-the-word-scientology-mean.html
[3] L.
Ron Hubbard "Class VIII Course, Lecture No. 10, Assists" October 3,
1968; taped lecture.
[4] L. Ron Hubbard, Professional Auditor’s
Bulletin 31, quoted by Anderson, Report 150. (Quoted in The Kingdom of the
Cults, Walter Martin p.364)
[5] L. Ron Hubbard, Student Briefing, OT VIII, Series
1 (https://azhlynnes.blog/2020/12/21/an-open-letter-to-kirstie-alley/)
[6] Wright, Lawrence (2013-01-17). Going
Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief. Knopf Doubleday
Publishing Group.
[7]
John 8:12
[8]
John 8:36
[9]
Matthew 11:28
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