Scientology History

Scientology: A Brief History and Examination Modern day religions have a very difficult time of attaining relevancy and legitimacy. They are often maligned and ignored by many people who are searching for spiritual comfort or enlightenment. Eastern religions or those with a monotheistic/Abrahamic background are favored while religions like the Church of Euthanasia, Epicureanism, and the Heaven’s Gate organization are dismissed and often labeled as cults. Possibly the most famous of these new followings is Scientology which, despite its massive following, is still maligned by much of the world. In order to completely understand this religion, however, we must examine its beliefs, practices, and its colorful history. The Church was
Derived for the Greek word theta (think), it is the mystical force that exists within all living beings. Scientologists believe that one’s thetans exists with them throughout their entire life and past lives as well. In this respect, Scientology is able to closely resemble reincarnation. Thetans are the main cause of all pain, hardship, and negative emotions that one experiences throughout their life. In order to gauge the someone’s thetan levels, an E-meter (electropsychometer) measures certain electrical charges in the brain which correspond to someone’s thetan levels.(Church of Scientology International: What is Scientology?) E-meter readings are given at scientology centers across the country, with the entire course costing over
In order to stop their souls from rebelling in the future, he subjected them to a series of atrocities. Xenu also showed them horrific images to traumatize them further. His final act to stop them from rising up against him was instilling them with a false concept of the divine. (In this case Jesus, God, Vishnu, etc.) This, in his view, would make them complacent in their fate and would inhibit them from organizing against him. They were then taken to volcanos and annihilated with H-bombs. Fortunately, Xenu was overthrown and locked away in a galactic prison after his crimes were discovered by the rest of the galaxy. (Story of Xenu,