© 2001 Brandon Weatherby

The Church of Scientology has gained widespread notoriety in recent years because its 8 million adherents worldwide include celebrities like Tom Cruise and John Travolta (Watson 41). However, Scientology’s high-profile status has raised the question of whether Scientology is truly a religion. Many don’t think so and would classify Scientology as a seditious, profit-making venture cloaked in religious terminology. This has led to conflict between the church and several governments, most notably in Germany.

To understand the controversy surrounding Scientologists, it is critical to know something about their beliefs. Scientology is based on the theories of science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. In his book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health published in 1950, Hubbard declared that each human being is a "thetan," or spiritual being, which inhabits a physical communication mechanism, the body, and has a repository of life experience images, the mind (Robinson). The church recognizes Eight Dynamics, survival drives that help a person gain insight into him- or herself. Four of these were taken from Dianetics, while the other four do not stem from Hubbard’s writings (Robinson).

According to Hubbard, the human mind records traumatic events as "engrams," or psychic scars. Hubbard believed that engrams were the sole cause of all mental illness (Robinson). By removing all engrams, a person becomes "clear" and eventually an “Operating Thetan” with the ability to leave the mind and body (Robinson). The Church of Scientology rejects modern psychology and its practices as barbaric and dangerous because it considers the idea of the human soul unscientific (LRH 4). Scientologists believe in reincarnation. They also believe in the existence of, though they have no specifics beliefs about, God (Robinson).

Upon joining the Church of Scientology, an initiate goes through a process of counseling called "auditing." This involves identifying spiritual distresses through the use of an electro-psychometer, a device the church claims can measure mental states. While auditing, an initiate is also trained in the principles of Scientology (Robinson).

According to What Is Scientology?, a book published by the church detailing its beliefs, practices, and organization, Scientology is a "religious philosophy," studying the spirit, its relationship to the body, and the “rehabilitation of the abilities in a spirit” (LRH 3). Scientologists attempt to use the scientific principles in Dianetics to improve people’s lives, preventing them from “succumbing” because their survival dynamics have not been activated (LRH 4). The Church of Scientology believes that “the applied religious philosophy of Scientology [is] fully capable of restoring Man’s immortality to him” (LRH 4).

A number of breakthroughs are attributed to the church in What Is Scientology?. According to the book, Scientology is “the first body of knowledge in which the precision of science is applied to the humanities,” “the first to isolate the life unit that perceives and generates energy” (LRH 6), and the first to prove through “the most rigorous scientific basis that the soul or spirit does exist” (LRH 3). The church claims to have discovered the cause of conflict and how to stop it through effective communication techniques, as well as improving art and appreciation of art (LRH 6). It also claims to have practical goals, such as fighting drug addiction and crime through its Narconon and Criminon programs (Robinson).

One definition of religion is “any specific system of belief about deity, often involving rituals, a code of ethics, and a philosophy of life" (Robinson). Under this definition, Scientology does qualify as a religion. It holds a belief in deities such as God and the thetan (arguably a deified being as envisioned by Scientology), rituals such as auditing, a system of ethics including the rejection of crime and drug use, and a philosophy based upon the improvement of the human condition. Nonetheless, calling Scientology a religion simply because it meets the criteria of a dictionary definition does not satisfy some people. They would argue that Scientology is actually a subversive, money-hungry cult.

In the 1990s the anti-Scientology sentiment in Germany has received much international attention. The German government views the Church of Scientology as "a ruthless profit-making organization and a potential danger to society" (Fennell 36). The self-improvement courses offered by the church, as well as numerous books, videos, lectures, and training classes for “auditors” can cost new members thousands of dollars (Watson 41). In fact, one lecture offered as an audio collection at the Scientology publisher’s website normally costs $975 (“Responsibility”). Other critics have charged the Church of Scientology with brainwashing its members, splitting up families, and intimidating opponents with threats and lawsuits (Watson 41). German Labor Minister Norbert Blüm called Scientology a "machine for manipulating human beings," and many in Germany suspect that the church's true purpose is to penetrate governments and form a "Scientology superstate" (Fennell 37). The German government has taken steps to inhibit what it sees as extremist activities by barring Scientologists from joining major political parties, denying them government employment, and expelling their children from schools (Nelan 42).

Some accuse Germany of ignoring its own constitution, which guarantees religious freedom. But because Germany refuses to acknowledge Scientology as a legitimate religion, it is not protected under the constitution (Nelan 43). The United States, which legally recognizes the church, has said that Germany is conducting a "witch hunt" and is "violating the spirit, if not the letter, of its own constitution" (Nelan 46). Both the U.S. State Department and the House of Representatives have spoken out against Germany’s treatment of Scientologists (Nelan 42, Fennell 37). Other organizations, including the United Nations and the human rights group Helsinki Watch, have joined in a chorus of voices condemning Germany for "discriminating against Scientologists and punishing them solely for their beliefs" (Fennell 37, Nelan 42). In spite of this, anti-Scientology practices are not isolated to Germany; Scientologists say they have experienced discrimination in France, Greece, and Italy, among others (Robinson).

A group of 34 Hollywood actors, directors, and executives, none of them Scientologists, placed an ad in the International Herald Tribune in January 1997 comparing Germany's actions against Scientologists to those of the Nazis against Jews in the 1930s (Watson 41, Nelan 42). This outraged both the citizens and the government of Germany. Chancellor Helmut Kohl called the statement "rubbish" (Watson 41). In fact, Irving Hexham, a professor of religious studies at the University of Calgary, says that "from the German point of view, a lot of Scientology's ideas look remarkably similar to those that brought Adolf Hitler to power" (Fennell 37). German officials insist they are applying a costly lesson learned from the Nazis: "power-hungry extremist groups must not be allowed to undermine society" (Watson 41). The German government believes it has a "duty to publicize Scientology's practices and protect citizens from them" (Nelan 42).

The Germans acknowledge they have no concrete evidence of wrongdoing by Scientologists (Nelan 46), yet they may be justifiably concerned. Scientologists working in sensitive government jobs were arrested in Toronto, Canada in 1983 for allegedly compiling personal information on hundreds of Canadian citizens. The church blamed the incident on an internal group known as the Guardians Office that has since been disbanded (Fennel 37). Also, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration confiscated hundreds of E-Meters in 1963, calling them illegal medical devices. They are now required to carry a warning that they serve only religious purposes (Robinson).

The Church of Scientology, though its stated mission is a benevolent one, does have problems. The Church of Scientology may be suffering the fate of many emerging faiths, whose beliefs and ethics are often challenged by the establishment. Nonetheless, mixing religion and business in a world already suspicious of emerging faith groups, even if done with no ill intent, has colored the opinion even of those who acknowledge Scientology as a bona fide religion. Whatever the ultimate outcome of the debate in Germany and elsewhere, Scientology appears to have become a permanent fixture in the spiritual lives of many people.

© 1999 Brandon Weatherby

"Yeah!" the child squealed as he ran outside into the tall grass. The bright afternoon sun fell down on him and made his slightly red hair burn brilliantly. A young woman followed the little boy, laughing at his gleeful cries as he raced down the little hill into the field. The girl's hair swayed behind her and glittered like spun gold and fire. The little boy stopped, turned around, and beckoned her to hurry.

"Come on," he urged, pointing toward the fence at the end of the field. The girl bounded down the hill after him and he smiled with delight.

"Wait," she said, "I have to set out the blanket!"

"Oh, sure," the little boy responded. He stopped his exhausting run and walked over to the girl. She unfurled a large quilt with brightly colored patterns running through it. No two squares were the same. She loved the quilt. In fact, she had made it herself after months of collecting pieces from family and friends.

Once the blanket was laid flat against the soft grass, the girl sat down and glanced up at the sky.

"Isn't it beautiful?" she asked the little boy, ruffling his auburn hair.

"Yes, it's very beautiful," he repeated.

"I bet you just said that because I did," the girl laughed.

"No, I like it," said her companion. "It's blue!"

"And look at the clouds," the girl said, pointing to the fluffy white masses lazily crawling across the sky.

"It's a ship," the little boy said excitedly.

"Really?" the girl asked.

"No," the little boy said, giggling.

Off beyond the fence, the horses had wandered closer to the blanket. Curiously at first, and then with casual dismissal, they glanced at the prone figures.

"The horses!" the little boy cried, jumping up and scrambling off the blanket.

He ran toward the fence and looked up at the tall animals. They regarded him with little interest. They knew him and really weren't very concerned. He was always excitable, and they knew it.

"I wanna touch it!" the little boy squealed.

"Well, be careful," the girl cautioned. She got up and stood by the little boy. She took his small hand and slowly petted the horse's nose. The boy stared open-mouthed, in awe of the huge creature before him. The horse sputtered, unwilling to tolerate their presence any longer, and walked off to find quieter pasture. The little boy was soon distracted and didn't give the horse a second thought.

"Let's go down to the water," he pleaded.

The girl thought for a moment. "Well, ok, but take off your shoes. Your mom won't want you to get them wet."

Immediately, the boy sat down and proceeded to remove his shoes and socks. "Ok, finished," he said happily. He put his hands up, indicating that he wanted her to pick him up. She scooped him up in her arms and they raced over to the stream. She whizzed him through the air, and he laughed with delight. When they finally made their way to the water's edge. He shimmied out of her arms and slyly inched toward the bubbling brook. When his feet touched the cold water, he recoiled and gasped. But it didn't deter him. He tried it again, and this time his feet didn't move. His eyes grew wide as he felt the water rush through his toes and over his feet. He hopped happily up and down, splashing the young woman with tiny droplets of water. They laughed heartily and ran down the streambed, oblivious to the sun's hot eye poking through the trees at them.

When the boy was thoroughly soaked, the girl picked him up, lifted him over the bank, and climbed out herself. They walked back to the blanket. The girl sat down and commented on how very wet he looked.

"I don't care, " he said mischievously. "Let's play!"

He got down on his hands and knees and began crawling around the blanket. He roared and clawed, making a monstrous racket.

"You, too," he said blinking at her with his big blue eyes.

She jumped at him, growling. He screamed in fright and delight as she chased him through the field.

"Are we dinosaurs?" she shouted.

"No, lions!" he said. He looked at her as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Right, that would have been my next guess," she said.

He dove at her, roaring. She ran to the trees, hiding behind a particularly large trunk. The little buy slowly came into the grove, looking around him. Suddenly, the girl lunged at him, grabbed him up, and tickled his little tummy. He fought half-heartedly and laughed loudly. She lifted him up to the tree's leaves and he snatched one down.

"Wow, what's that?" he asked as he showed her a tiny bug running across the leaf's surface.

"It's an ant," she said. "They crawl all over the ground and live in little nests in the dirt.

"Oh," the boy said. He put the leaf and ant on the ground and watched as they blew away in the cool wind.

"Well, little one, I think it is probably time for lunch. We'd better go inside." The girl said.

"No, no, no, that's ok," the little boy said shaking his hands.

"Come on," the girl said smiling. "I'll race you!"

She picked up the blanket and set off running. The little boy laughed and followed her until they reached the front door. He opened it, and with a backward glance, waved goodbye to the clouds, the horses, the water, and the ant.