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Archive-name: scientology/users/catechism/part1 Last-modified: 1995/2/7 Version: 1.21 ---------------< FAQ: Scientology Catechism [1 of 3] >---------------------- Taken from the recently published book _What is Scientology?_, the following file answers a wide variety of questions on Scientology, from the philosophy itself, to it's founder, to the Church and its organizations around the world. (The book _What is Scientology?_ is available in ASCII form via anonymous FTP from FTP.PCNET.COM out of the directory /users/brianw/wis. It is also available in paperback in many bookstores and in hardback in many public libraries around the world.) (Note: In the orginal text, italics were used to show emphasis or to indicate that a word is being defined. Italics denoting emphasis are shown here with *asterisks* surrounding the word, and italicized words that were being defined, are shown here with 'single quotes'. My comments are in [square brackets].) ========================================================================== "A SCIENTOLOGY CATECHISM" [File 1 of 3] Part Nine of _What is Scientology?_ Copyright (c) 1992, Church of Scientology International -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS [Located in file 1 of 3] 1.1 What does the word 'Scientology' mean? 1.2 What is Scientology about? 1.3 How did Scientology start? 1.4 How come it's all based on one man's work? 1.5 Why is Scientology called a religion? 1.6 Why is Scientology a church? 2. WHAT SCIENTOLOGY DOES FOR THE INDIVIDUAL [Located in file 1 of 3] 2.1 How does Scientology work? 2.2 What does Scientology accomplish? 2.3 What claims are made for Scientology? 2.4 How do people get into Scientology? 3. SCIENTOLOGY AND OTHER PRACTICES [Located in file 1 of 3] 3.1 Is Scientology like hypnotism, meditation, psychotherapy or other mental therapies? 3.2 Is Scientology a secret society? 3.3 In what way does Scientology differ from other religions and religious philosophies? 3.4 Does Scientology interfere with other religions? 3.5 What does Scientology think of other religions? 3.6 What does Scientology have to say about Christianity? 4. SCIENTOLOGY BELIEFS [Located in file 1 of 3] 4.1 Is man a spirit? 4.2 How does one know man is a spirit? 4.3 What is the Scientology concept of God? 4.4 Can't God be the only one to help man? 4.5 Does Scientology believe in brotherly love? 4.6 Why do Scientologists want to help people? 4.7 Does Scientology recognize good and evil? 4.8 Does Scientology believe man is sinful? 4.9 Will Scientology put man in control of his mind? 4.10 Is Scientology about the mind? 4.11 Does Scientology believe in mind over matter? 4.12 Does Scientology believe one can exist outside of the body? 4.13 Does Scientology believe in reincarnation or past lives? 4.14 Does Scientology believe in charity and welfare? 4.15 Does Scientology hold any political views? 4.16 Can children participate in Scientology? How? 4.17 What does Scientology say about the raising of children? 4.18 Can one make up his own mind about Scientology? 4.19 What is the Scientology cross? 4.20 What religious holidays do Scientologists celebrate? 5. SCIENTOLOGY'S FOUNDER [Located in file 1 of 3] 5.1 Is L. Ron Hubbard still alive? 5.2 Who was L. Ron Hubbard? 5.3 What was L. Ron Hubbard's role in the Church? 5.4 Has L. Ron Hubbard's death affected the Church? 5.5 How did L. Ron Hubbard rise above the reactive mind when others didn't? 5.6 Did L. Ron Hubbard make a lot of money out of Scientology? 5.7 Was L. Ron Hubbard a millionaire? 5.8 How is it that one man could discover so much information? 5.9 Do Scientologists believe that L. Ron Hubbard was Jesus Christ? 5.10 Did L. Ron Hubbard go Clear? 6. SCIENTOLOGY ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES [Located in file 2 of 3] 6.1 How do Scientologists view life? 6.2 What moral codes do Scientologists live by? 6.3 What is Scientology's view on drugs? 6.4 Why are there so many young people on staff in Scientology? 6.5 Do you have any special dietary laws or rules against smoking or drinking in Scientology? 6.6 Do Scientologists use medical doctors? 6.7 In Scientology does one have to sacrifice one's individuality? 6.8 What benefits can one get from Scientology? 6.9 What is Scientology's system of ethics? 6.10 What does 'clear the planet' mean? 6.11 What does 'suppressive person' mean? 6.12 What is disconnection? 6.13 Is Scientology a cult? 6.14 Does Scientology engage in brainwashing or mind control? 6.15 Does Scientology actively promote for new members? 6.16 Does one really need Scientology to do well in life? 6.17 Does one have to believe in Scientology? 6.18 Why do Scientologists sometimes seem so intent on what they are doing? 6.19 What do the terms 'preclear', 'student' and 'auditor' mean? 6.20 What is the E-Meter(R) and how does it work? 7. THE ORGANIZATIONS OF SCIENTOLOGY [Located in file 2 of 3] 7.1 Scientology is a philosophy. Why does it need to be organized? 7.2 How many people work in a Scientology church? 7.3 How is Scientology organized? 7.4 Where are Scientology churches located? 7.5 What does a Scientology church or mission actually do? 7.6 What is the Office of Special Affairs? 7.7 What is the Flag Service Organization? 7.8 What is the Flag Ship Service Organization? 7.9 What is the Sea Organization? 7.10 Is it true that people in the Sea Org sign a billion-year contract? 7.11 Why does Scientology have ministers? Are all Scientologists ministers? 7.12 What are field staff members? 7.13 Why is everything copyrighted and trademarked in Scientology? [7.14 Does the IRS recognize Church organizations as non-profit charitable organizations?] 8. CHURCH FUNDING [Located in file 2 of 3] 8.1 Why do Scientologists make donations? 8.2 Why does one have to make donations to separate organizations for their services? 8.3 What about those who cannot afford to make donations for services? 8.4 Is the Church profit-making? 8.5 How much does it cost to go Clear? 8.6 How well paid are Scientology staff? [8.6 Are donations made to the Church of Scientology tax deductible in the United States?] 9. SCIENTOLOGY BOOKS [Located in file 2 of 3] 9.1 What is the best book for a beginning Scientologist to read? 9.2 Are the books difficult to understand? 9.3 Where can L. Ron Hubbard's books be purchased? 9.4 What books should one read to get information about: 9.4.1 Dianetics? 9.4.2 Basic Scientology principles? 9.4.3 Self-help, tests, and processes? 9.4.4 Handling the residual effects of drugs and toxins? 9.4.5 Basic principles of communication? 9.4.6 Predicting human behavior and understanding people? 9.4.7 How to increase success on the job? 9.4.8 Basic principles of organization? 9.4.9 Basic principles of management? 9.4.10 The principles of ethics and how to use them to live a more productive life? 9.4.11 Study methods? 9.4.12 Procedures to increase one's spiritual awareness and abilities? 9.4.13 Past lives and how they relate to this life? 9.4.14 The application of basic Scientology technology to help others improve their lives? 9.5 How can one get happiness out of a book? 10. DIANETICS [Located in file 2 of 3] 10.1 What is Dianetics? 10.2 What is the mind? Where is the mind? 10.3 What is the difference between the analytical mind and the reactive mind? 10.4 What is the difference between Scientology and Dianetics? 11. SCIENTOLOGY AND DIANETICS COURSES [Located in file 3 of 3] 11.1 What training should a person take first? 11.2 What does one get out of Scientology and Dianetics courses? 11.3 How are Scientology and Dianetics training different from studying philosophy or other religions? 11.4 Should I get my auditing before I get trained? 11.5 When can I take Scientology courses? 11.6 How are Scientology courses run? 11.7 When do I actually gain experience in auditing others? 11.8 When can I take the Minister's Course? 11.9 How long do courses take? 11.10 Are Scientology Course Supervisors university trained? 12. SCIENTOLOGY AND DIANETICS AUDITING [Located in file 3 of 3] 12.1 What is the difference between the auditing and training routes in Scientology? 12.2 Do all the people on staff in Scientology receive auditing as well as training? 12.3 Why does one have to wait six weeks for auditing if one has been habitually using drugs? 12.4 Will antibiotics prevent me from getting auditing? 12.5 Is it okay to take any sort of drugs when you are in Scientology? 12.6 How many hours of auditing a day to people receive? 12.7 Has the technology of auditing changed since the early days of Scientology? 12.8 What will I get out of auditing? 12.9 Does auditing really work in all cases? 12.10 What auditing handles physical pains or discomforts? 12.11 What can auditing cure? 12.12 Can one go exterior (be separate from the body) in auditing? 13. THE STATE OF CLEAR [Located in file 3 of 3] 13.1 What is Clear? 13.2 How does one go Clear? 13.3 How long does it take to go Clear? 13.4 If one goes Clear, will he lose his emotions? 13.5 What can you do when you are Clear? 13.6 Are Clears perfect? 13.7 Do Clears eat food and sleep? 13.8 Do Clears get colds and get sick? 13.9 If Clears no longer have a reactive mind, why do they still need to get auditing? 14. THE STATE OF OPERATING THETAN [Located in file 3 of 3] 14.1 What is meant by Operating Thetan (OT)? 14.2 How would you describe the state of Operating Thetan? 14.3 Why are the OT materials confidential? 15. A SCIENTOLOGY CAREER [Located in file 3 of 3] 15.1 Can one audit as a career? 15.2 Of what value would it be to have my child trained as an auditor? 15.3 Can one make Scientology a career in some other way than by being a minister? 16. SCIENTOLOGY IN SOCIETY [Located in file 3 of 3] 16.1 I've heard that Scientologists are doing good things for society. What are some specific examples? 16.2 Is Scientology active in Black communities and countries? 16.3 Do doctors, schools, social workers, businessmen and other professional people use Scientology? 16.4 Why has Scientology sometimes been considered controversial? 16.5 Why has Scientology been to court a lot of times? 16.6 Are there any laws against the practice of Scientology? Has it been banned? 16.7 How does Scientology view deprogrammers and groups that attempt to force people to denounce their chosen religion? 16.8 Why is Scientology opposed to psychiatry? 16.9 Why do some people oppose Scientology? 16.10 Is Scientology trying to rule the world? 16.11 Can Scientology do anything to improve the world situation? --------- 1. ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS 1.1 What does the word 'Scientology' mean? The word 'Scientology' means "the study of knowledge" or "knowing about knowing" from the Latin word 'scio' which means "know" or "distinguish," and from the Greek word 'logos' which means "study of," "reason itself" or "inward thought." So it means the study of wisdom or knowledge, or "knowing how to know." 'Scientology' is further defined as the study and handling of the spirit in relationship to itself, universes and other life. The word was coined by L. Ron Hubbard. 1.2 What is Scientology about? Developed by L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology provides *exact* principles and practical technology for improving self- confidence, intelligence and ability. Scientology does not require faith or belief -- one can apply the principles and see for oneself if they work and are true. Scientology addresses the spirit -- not simply the body or mind -- and is therefore completely apart from materialistic philosophies which hold that man is a product of his environment, or his genes. Scientology is a religion by its basic tenets, practice, historical background and by the definition of the word 'religion' itself. It is recognized as such by courts in country after country around the world, including the highest courts in the United States, Australia, Germany, Sweden, Italy and many others. All denominations are welcome in Scientology. Scientology is a *route*, a way, rather than a dissertation or an assertive body of knowledge. Through its drills and studies one may find the truth for oneself. It is the only thing that can show you who *you* really are. The technology is therefore not expounded as something to believe but something to *do*. 1.3 How did Scientology start? L. Ron Hubbard began his studies of the mind in 1923. In 1947 he wrote a manuscript detailing some of his discoveries. It was not published at that time, but circulated among friends, who copied it and passed it on to others. (This manuscript was formally published in 1951 as _Dianetics: The Original Thesis_ and later republished as _The Dynamics of Life_.) As copies of the manuscript circulated, Mr. Hubbard began to receive an increasing flow of letters requesting further information and more applications of his new subject. He soon found himself spending all his time answering letters and decided to write a comprehensive text on the subject. His first published article on the subject, "Terra Incog- nita: The Mind," appeared in the Winter/Spring 1950 issue of "The Explorers Club Journal", followed by the book _Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health_, which was published May 1950. It became a nationwide best-seller almost overnight. By late summer, people across the country were not only reading the book, but were also organizing their own groups for the purpose of applying Dianetics techniques. The book has remained a best-seller ever since, again becoming number one on the "New York Times" best- seller list, almost four decades after its initial publi- cation. It continues to appear on best-seller lists around the world. During the course of thousands of hours of Dianetics counseling on thousands of individuals all over the country, incontrovertible evidence was amassed about the fundamentally spiritual nature of man. L. Ron Hubbard himself had discovered early in his research that man was a spiritual being, inhabiting a body and using a mind. These discoveries led him to realize that he had entered the realm of religion. In 1954, the first Church of Scientology was formed in Los Angeles by a group of Scientologists. Within a few years churches had been formed across the country and around the world. In the years that followed, L. Ron Hubbard completed his research into the spiritual nature of man. Today, all of his writings on the subject are available to anyone who wishes to study Scientology. Although Mr. Hubbard departed his body in 1986, he is still with us in spirit and the legacy of his work continues to help people around the world. 1.4 How come it's all based on one man's work? In the early 195Os, L. Ron Hubbard wrote: "Acknowledgment is made to fifty thousand years of thinking men without whose speculations and observations the creation and construction of Dianetics would not have been possible. Credit in particular is due to: "Anaxagoras, Thomas Paine, Aristotle, Thomas Jefferson, Socrates, Rene' Descartes, Plato, James Clerk Maxwell, Euclid, Charcot, Lucretius, Herbert Spencer, Roger Bacon, William James, Francis Bacon, Sigmund Freud, Isaac Newton, van Leeuwenhoek, Cmdr. Joseph Thompson (MC) USN, William A. White, Voltaire, Will Durant, Count Alfred Korzybski, and my instructors in atomic and molecular phenomena, mathe- matics and the humanities at George Washington University and at Princeton." 1.5 Why is Scientology called a religion? 'Religion' is defined as "Any specific system of belief and worship, often involving a code of ethics and a philosophy...." (_Webster's New World Dictionary, Third College Edition_). Religious philosophy implies study of spiritual manifes- tations, research on the nature of the spirit and study of the relationship of the spirit to the body; exercises devoted to the rehabilitation of abilities in a spirit. Scientology is a religion in the most traditional sense. It deals with man as a spirit and is distinguishable from material and nonreligious philosophies which hold man to be a product of material circumstances. Scientology does not demand blind faith, but endeavors to help the individual discover past experiences and shed the trauma and guilt (sin) which encumber him. The Church of Scientology also conducts basic services such as sermons at church meetings, christenings, weddings and funerals. 1.6 Why is Scientology a church? The word 'church' comes from the Greek word 'kurios' meaning 'lord' and the Indo-European base 'kewe', "to be strong." Current meanings of the word include "a congregation," "ecclesiastical power as distinguished from the secular" and "the clerical profession; clergy." The word 'church' is not only used by Christian organizations. There were churches ten thousand years before there were Christians, and Christianity itself was a revolt against the established church. In modern usage, people speak of the Buddhist or Moslem church, referring in general to the whole body of believers in a particular religious teaching. A church is simply a congregation of people who participate in common religious activities; 'church' is also used to refer to the building where members of a religious group gather to practice their religion and attain greater spiritual awareness and well-being. Scientology helps man become more aware of God, more aware of his own spiritual nature and that of those around him. Scientology scriptures recognize that there is an entire dynamic (urge or motivation in life) devoted to the Supreme Being (the eighth dynamic), and another dynamic that deals solely with one's urge toward existence as a spirit (the seventh dynamic). Acknowledgment of these aspects of life is a typical characteristic of religions. Thus, Scientology is a religion and the use of the word 'church' when referring to Scientology is correct. In the 1950s, Scientologists recognized that L. Ron Hubbard's technology and its results dealt directly with the freeing of the human spirit, and that greater spiritual awareness was routinely being achieved. There was no question in their minds that what they were dealing with was a religious practice; thus, in the early 1950s, they voted that a church be formed to better serve the needs of Scientologists. The first church of Scientology was incorporated in 1954. Since that time, dozens of court rulings in many different countries have upheld the fact that Scientology is a religion. 2. WHAT SCIENTOLOGY DOES FOR THE INDIVIDUAL 2.1 How does Scientology work? Scientology philosophy provides answers to many questions about life and death; it encompasses an exact, precisely mapped-out path. Through application of Scientology technology in an auditing session, a person is able to remove barriers and unwanted conditions and so become more himself. As a person progresses, he often reaches out to help others in the ways he has been helped. In developing Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard found the means to develop a technology to free the human spirit and thereby allow man to really know himself. He thoroughly tested all of his procedures and recorded for future use those that proved most workable in bringing about uniformly predictable results. These comprise standard Scientology technology. That which is real to the person himself is all one is asked to accept of Scientology. No beliefs are forced upon him. By training and processing, he finds out for himself the answers he is looking for in life. 2.2 What does Scientology accomplish? Since Scientology is an 'applied religious philosophy', the stress is on application and workability. It addresses the individual and brings about self-improve- ment by increasing a person's awareness and ability to handle life. It differs from other religious philosophies in that it supplies the means through which a person can increase his ability to effectively handle the problems and situations he and others face in life. 2.3 What claims are made for Scientology? Scientology can increase a person's awareness and its application can help one to achieve greater happiness, self-confidence and ability. Man has often been attracted to philosophies that sound plausible but which have no technology that can be applied to bring about desirable changes in one's life. Scientology and Dianetics, on the other hand, supply the tools with which an individual can improve his own life and the lives of those around him. Scientology philosophy is based on the premise that man is basically good and that man can improve conditions in his life. However, Scientology cannot promise to do anything by itself. Only the individual can bring about his own improvement by applying Scientology tenets to himself, his life and others in his environment. 2.4 How do people get into Scientology? Usually by word of mouth, often by reading a book or seeing promotional materials or taking a personality test at a church of Scientology. Sometimes by meeting a Scientologist and seeing that he has "something" -- a positive attitude toward life, certainty, self-confidence and happiness -- which they too would like. Fundamentally, people get into Scientology because they want to improve something in their lives or because they wish to help others improve themselves and thus make a better civilization. 3. SCIENTOLOGY AND OTHER PRACTICES 3.1 Is Scientology like hypnotism, meditation, psychotherapy or other mental therapies? There is no resemblance. In fact, it was as a result of L. Ron Hubbard's investigation of hypnotism and many other mental practices that he saw the need for practical answers to man's problems. In his book, _Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health_, he wrote that he had found hypnotism and psychotherapy to be dangerous and impractical. Nearly all other methods of alleged menta] science are based on principles that are quite the opposite of those used in Scientology. They treat man as a "thing" to be conditioned, not as a spiritual being who can find answers to life's problems and who can improve enormously. 3.2 Is Scientology a secret society? Not at all. Scientology churches are open -- you can go in at any time. Scientology literature is freely available to anyone. There is no demand for the individual to withdraw from society; on the contrary, Scientologists become *more* involved in life around them, as they want to take responsibility for improving conditions. 3.3 In what way does Scientology differ from other religions and religious philosophies? Nearly all religious philosophies share a belief in helping man live a better life. In Scientology, this concept is expressed as one of the aims of the Church, which is to achieve a world without insanity, war and crime. While Scientology religious philosophy has much in common with other religions in this regard and in terms of its basic religious concepts and its outreach into the community with social reform programs, the most valuable asset that Scientology has to offer is a wealth of technology which brings about greater spiritual awareness. In Scientology there is no attempt to change a person's beliefs or to persuade him away from any religion to which he already belongs. Scientology helps people to achieve their goals: (1) through reading the materials contained in the books and publications; (2) through the unique counseling technology called auditing; (3) through training courses which utilize L. Ron Hubbard's discoveries in the field of education. Scientology makes it possible for *any* religion to attain its goals and is therefore a religion of religions. 3.4 Does Scientology interfere with other religions? Scientology is all-denominational in that it opens its membership to people of all faiths. Part of the Church's Creed states that "all men have inalienable rights to their own religious practices and their performance." Membership in Scientology does not mean that there is any necessity to leave your current church, synagogue, temple or mosque. 3.5 What does Scientology think of other religions? Scientology respects all religions. Scientology does not conflict with other religions or other religious practices. Quite often Scientology church members rekindle a greater interest than ever in the subject of religions -- including the one of their birth. 3.6 What does Scientology have to say about Christianity? Scientologists hold the Bible as a holy work and have no argument with the Christian belief that Jesus Christ was the Savior of Mankind and the Son of God. We share Christ's goals for man's achievement of wisdom, good health and immortality. Christianity is among the faiths studied by Scientology ministerial students. There are probably many types of redemption. That of Christ was to heaven. 4. SCIENTOLOGY BELIEFS 4.1 Is man a spirit? Yes. Here's a short exercise you can do to find out for yourself. Close your eyes and get a picture of a cat. Done? That which is looking at that cat is you, a spirit. 4.2 How does one know man is a spirit? It is a matter that each individual must examine for himself. Scientologists believe man is more than a mind and body and that it is he, himself, the spirit, who can control his mind and body. Do you think your body would *do* anything by itself if it were not guided by you, the being? 4.3 What is the Scientology concept of God? The Church has no dogma concerning God, and each person's concept is probably different. As a person becomes more aware of himself, others, the environment and God, each person attains his own certainty as to who God is and exactly what God means to him. The author of the universe exists. How God is symbolized or manifested is up to each individual to find for himself. In his book _Science of Survival_, L. Ron Hubbard writes: "No culture in the history of the world, save the thoroughly depraved and expiring ones, has failed to affirm the existence of a Supreme Being. It is an empirical observation that men without a strong and lasting faith in a Supreme Being are less capable, less ethical and less valuable to themselves and society. . . A man without an abiding faith is, by observation alone, more of a thing than a man." 4.4 Can't God be the only one to help man? Scientologists take the maxim quite to heart that God helps those who help themselves. They believe that each person has the answers to the mysteries of life; all he requires is awareness of these answers, and this is what Scientology helps a person achieve. Man is accustomed to asking for pat answers. Scientology requires that the person think for himself and thus help himself become more intelligent, happy and healthy. 4.5 Does Scientology believe in brotherly love? Yes, and perhaps goes a step further. L. Ron Hubbard wrote that "To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe." 4.6 Why do Scientologists want to help people? For several reasons. First, because Scientologists themselves have been helped enormously -- and they want others to share the same successes. Second, Scientologists understand that life is not lived alone. An individual has more than just one dynamic (the urge to survive as self). He wants to help his family, his groups, mankind itself and living things survive better. 4.7 Does Scientology recognize good and evil? Yes, in Scientology, a very clear distinction is made between good and evil. Those actions which enhance survival on the majority of the eight aspects or dynamics of life are good, and those which destroy or deny these aspects of life are evil. Decisions are then based on enhancing the majority of these dynamics of life. 'Good' may be defined as constructive. 'Evil' may be defined as destructive. 4.8 Does Scientology believe man is sinful? It is a basic tenet of Scientology that man is basically good, but that he is aberrated (capable of erring or departing from rational thought or behavior) and therefore commits harmful acts or sins, thus reducing his awareness and potential power. Through Scientology he can confront his actions, erase the ignorance and aberration which surrounds them and know and experience truth again. All religions seek truth. Freedom of the spirit is only to be found on the road to truth. Sin is composed, according to Scientology, of lies and hidden actions and is therefore untruth. 4.9 Will Scientology put one in control of his mind? Yes. As you are a spiritual being, quite separate from your mind and your body, Scientology will help *you* achieve a far better command over your mind, just as it helps you to intelligently control all aspects of your life. 4.10 Is Scientology about the mind? No. Scientology is about the individual himself as separate and distinct from the mind. Dianetics concerns the mind and contains the most advanced technology of the mind man has. 4.11 Does Scientology believe in mind over matter? Scientology addresses you -- not your mind, not your body, but you. Scientologists have found that the spirit is *potentially* superior to material things, and that the spirit, i.e. you, if cleansed of past traumas, transgressions and aberrations, can make miraculous changes in the physical universe that would not otherwise be possible. 4.12 Does Scientology believe one can exist outside of the body? Before entering Scientology many people experience the feeling of looking down on one's body, and by achieving greater spiritual awareness through Scientology, this experience becomes nothing out of the ordinary. Scientology believes that man is not his body, his mind or his brain. He, a spiritual force, energizes the physical body and his life. Scientology proved, for the first time, that man was a spiritual being, not an animal. 4.13 Does Scientology believe in reincarnation or past lives? Reincarnation is a definite system and is not part of Scientology. It is a fact that unless one begins to handle aberrations built up in past lives, he doesn't progress. The definition of the term 'reincarnation' has been altered from its original meaning. The word has come to mean "to be born again in different life forms," whereas its actual definition is "to be born again into the flesh or into another body." Today in Scientology, many people have certainty that they have lived lives prior to their current one. These are referred to as past lives, not as reincarnation. Individuals are free to believe this or not; past lives are not a dogma in Scientology, but generally Scientolo- gists, during their auditing, experience a past life and then *know* for themselves that they have lived before. To believe one had a physical or other existence prior to the identity of the current body is not a new concept -- but it is an exciting one. In Scientology, you are given the tools to handle upsets and aberrations from past lives that adversely affect you in present time, thus freeing you to live a much happier life. 4.14 Does Scientology believe in charity and welfare? It does. However, Scientologists also believe in the principle that exchange is necessary. If a person only receives and never gives, he will not be a happy person and will lose his own self-respect. Therefore, any Scientology-sponsored charity programs also encourage those receiving the charity to make some form of contribution by helping others so that self-respect can be maintained. 4.15 Does Scientology hold any political views? Scientology is nonpolitical. By its Creed, "All men have inalienable rights to conceive, choose, assist or support their own organizations, churches and governments." Scientologists are free to hold their own political views, vote for the candidates of their choice, etc., and are not given direction from the Church as to what position to take on political issues or candidates. The Church believes there should be separation of church and state. 4.16 Can children participate in Scientology? How? Yes, there are many children who participate in Scientology. There are no age restrictions as to who can take Scientology courses or receive auditing. Some churches also deliver special courses and study programs specifically designed for young people. If the person is below the legal age, he must first get written consent from his parents or guardian to take Scientology services. Scientologists generally want their children to have Scientology available to them so are quite agreeable to have their children take Scientology services. 4.17 What does Scientology say about the raising of children? L. Ron Hubbard has written a great deal about raising children. In Scientology, children are recognized as people who should be given all the respect and love granted adults. Scientologists believe children should be encouraged to contribute to family life, not just be "seen and not heard" as the old saying goes. Children are spiritual beings, and as such they need to exchange with those around them in order to thrive and live productive, happy lives. For more information on handling children, the book _Child Dianetics_ and the course "How to Be a Successful Parent" are recommended. Most children raised in good Scientology homes are above average in ability and quickly begin to understand how and why people act as they do. Life thus becomes a lot safer and happier for them. 4.18 Can one make up his own mind about Scientology? One can and indeed one should. Scientology enables you to think for yourself. There is no purpose served in studying Scientology because someone else wants you to. But if you've taken a good look at your life and have decided that you want to make it better, the best thing is to start and find out for yourself what Scientology can do for you. One should read one of the basic books by L. Ron Hubbard, such as _Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health_ or _Scientology: The Fundamentals of Thought_. What is real in Scientology for you is what you find in it that is real for you. 4.19 What is the Scientology cross? It is an eight-pointed cross representing the eight parts or dynamics of life through which each individual is striving to survive. These parts are: the urge toward existence as self, as an individual; the urge to survive through creativity, including the family unit and the rearing of children; the urge to survive through a group of individuals or as a group; the urge toward survival through all mankind and as all mankind; the urge to survive as life forms and with the help of life forms such as animals, birds, insects, fish and vegetation; the urge to survive of the physical universe, by the physical universe itself and with the help of the physical universe and each one of its component parts; the urge to survive as spiritual beings or the urge for life itself to survive; the urge toward existence as infinity. To be able to live happily with respect to each of these spheres of existence is symbolized by the Scientology cross. As a matter of interest, the cross as a symbol predates Christianity. 4.20 What religious holidays do Scientologists celebrate? Scientologists celebrate several major holidays annually. These include the birthday of L. Ron Hubbard (March 13); the date marking the initial publication of _Dianetics_ (May 9); Auditor's Day, in honor of all auditors (second Sunday in September); and the International Association of Scientologists Anniversary, to mark the founding of this organization which unites, supports and protects the Scientology religion and Scientologists in all parts of the world (October 7). Additionally, each local country or area may observe its own significant dates, such as the founding of the church in its area or the opening of the first Dianetics or Scientology organization in that country. Members of the Church also observe traditional religious holidays such as Christmas. 5. SCIENTOLOGY'S FOUNDER 5.1 Is L. Ron Hubbard still alive? No. L. Ron Hubbard passed away on January 24, 1986, but he remains with us in spirit and through the legacy of his technology and its continual application around the globe. 5.2 Who was L. Ron Hubbard? L. Ron Hubbard is the Founder of Dianetics and Scientology and the author of its scriptures. His research on the mind and life is recorded in the tens of millions of words on the subject of the human spirit which comprise Dianetics and Scientology philosophy. His works cover subjects as diverse as drug rehabilitation, education, marriage and family, success at work, administration, art and many other aspects of life. His best-selling self-help book _Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health_ alone has sold millions and millions of copies and has continued to appear on the New York Times and other best-seller lists around the world over four decades after its original publication. Testimony to the applicability and workability of his discoveries are the millions of happy and successful people and the hundreds of Dianetics and Scientology churches, missions and groups internationally. L. Ron Hubbard dedicated his life to helping others. He saw that times needed to change, and he created a workable technology so that needed changes could occur for millions of people. He departed his body on January 24, 1986 leaving with us his life's work which is continued today through the application of his discoveries which help millions around the world. 5.3 What was L. Ron Hubbard's role in the Church? L. Ron Hubbard founded the Scientology philosophy. A group of Scientologists then formed the first Church of Scientology in Los Angeles in 1954. Mr. Hubbard ran the early Dianetics and Scientology organizations until 1966, when he retired from running them on a day-to-day basis and turned this function over to Scientology Church executives. He continued to take an interest in the Church's expansion and advised on administrative matters when specifically asked for advice, but he mainly spent his time researching the upper levels of Scientology and codifying the technology. 5.4 Has L. Ron Hubbard's death affected the Church? L. Ron Hubbard recorded the results of all his research in writing, on film or in taped lectures so that the technology would be preserved. As a result, Scientology has continued to expand, and its future survival is assured. All great religious leaders of the past have died. Their work flourishes. Men die. Wisdom and ideas do not. 5.5 How did L. Ron Hubbard rise above the reactive mind when others didn't? He applied to himself the principles he had found. 5.6 Did L. Ron Hubbard make a lot of money out of Scientology? No. He received no royalties from the fees paid to Scientology organizations for training and processing. In fact, L. Ron Hubbard forgave Scientology churches a thirteen-million-dollar debt in 1966 when he retired as Executive Director. He made his money from the royalties on his books. One book alone, _Dianetics_, has sold *millions* of copies, and his total book sales of both fiction and nonfiction are in excess of one hundred million copies around the world, including more than twenty national best-sellers in the 1980s. In fact, Mr. Hubbard's books still sell by the millions each year and the royalties from the sale of these books and his life's fortune were willed to the Church to help ensure the future application of his technology to the betterment of mankind. 5.7 Was L. Ron Hubbard a millionaire? L. Ron Hubbard was one of those fortunate people who never made problems over money. He inherited some wealth at an early age, but in the early 193Os became one of the highest paid writers in America long before _Dianetics_. He was a millionaire several times over from his book royalties. His public book sales continue to be astronomical. 5.8 How is it that one man could discover so much information? He simply cared enough to want it and had the intelligence and persistence to research and find it. Few men have been trained in all the Eastern philosophies and in the highest levels of Western science as well. Knowing that his research was only as valuable as it provided workable solutions to man's problems, he tested all of his discoveries and found the most effective methods for applying the results of his research. His workable methods enabled him to continue research into higher and higher realms of spiritual awareness. 5.9 Do Scientologists believe that L. Ron Hubbard was Jesus Christ? No. L. Ron Hubbard personally stated he was a man as others are men. He was a much-loved friend and teacher and continues to be respected and loved. 5.10 Did L. Ron Hubbard go Clear? Yes. In order to map the route for others he had to make it himself. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of "A SCIENTOLOGY CATECHISM" [File 1 of 3] Part Nine of _What is Scientology?_ Copyright (c) 1992 Church of Scientology International, All Rights Reserved. Used with permission. Grateful acknowledgement is made to the L. Ron Hubbard Library for permission to reproduce selections from the copyrighted works of L. Ron Hubbard. "Dianetics," "E-Meter," "Flag," "Freewinds," "Hubbard," "OEC," "OT," "Purification Rundown," "Scientology," and "The Bridge" are trademarks and service marks owned by the Religious Technology Center and are used with its permission. "Scientologist" is a collective membership mark designating members of the affiliated churches and missions of Scientology. ============================================================================ For more information on Scientology, FTP to FTP.PCNET.COM /users/brianw or write to: scninfo@pcnet.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive-name: scientology/users/catechism/part2 Last-modified: 1995/2/7 Version: 1.31 --------------< FAQ: Scientology Catechism [2 of 3] >---------------------- (Note: In the orginal text, italics were used to show emphasis or to indicate that a word is being defined. Italics denoting emphasis are shown here with *asterisks* surrounding the word, and italicized words that were being defined, are shown here with 'single quotes'. My comments are in [square brackets]. The book _What is Scientology?_, from which this file was taken, is available in ASCII form via anonymous FTP from FTP.PCNET.COM out of the directory /users/brianw/wis). ========================================================================== "A SCIENTOLOGY CATECHISM" [File 2 of 3] Part Nine of _What is Scientology?_ Copyright (c) 1992, Church of Scientology International, All Rights Reserved. Used with permission. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS [Located in file 1 of 3] 1.1 What does the word 'Scientology' mean? 1.2 What is Scientology about? 1.3 How did Scientology start? 1.4 How come it's all based on one man's work? 1.5 Why is Scientology called a religion? 1.6 Why is Scientology a church? 2. WHAT SCIENTOLOGY DOES FOR THE INDIVIDUAL [Located in file 1 of 3] 2.1 How does Scientology work? 2.2 What does Scientology accomplish? 2.3 What claims are made for Scientology? 2.4 How do people get into Scientology? 3. SCIENTOLOGY AND OTHER PRACTICES [Located in file 1 of 3] 3.1 Is Scientology like hypnotism, meditation, psychotherapy or other mental therapies? 3.2 Is Scientology a secret society? 3.3 In what way does Scientology differ from other religions and religious philosophies? 3.4 Does Scientology interfere with other religions? 3.5 What does Scientology think of other religions? 3.6 What does Scientology have to say about Christianity? 4. SCIENTOLOGY BELIEFS [Located in file 1 of 3] 4.1 Is man a spirit? 4.2 How does one know man is a spirit? 4.3 What is the Scientology concept of God? 4.4 Can't God be the only one to help man? 4.5 Does Scientology believe in brotherly love? 4.6 Why do Scientologists want to help people? 4.7 Does Scientology recognize good and evil? 4.8 Does Scientology believe man is sinful? 4.9 Will Scientology put man in control of his mind? 4.10 Is Scientology about the mind? 4.11 Does Scientology believe in mind over matter? 4.12 Does Scientology believe one can exist outside of the body? 4.13 Does Scientology believe in reincarnation or past lives? 4.14 Does Scientology believe in charity and welfare? 4.15 Does Scientology hold any political views? 4.16 Can children participate in Scientology? How? 4.17 What does Scientology say about the raising of children? 4.18 Can one make up his own mind about Scientology? 4.19 What is the Scientology cross? 4.20 What religious holidays do Scientologists celebrate? 5. SCIENTOLOGY'S FOUNDER [Located in file 1 of 3] 5.1 Is L. Ron Hubbard still alive? 5.2 Who was L. Ron Hubbard? 5.3 What was L. Ron Hubbard's role in the Church? 5.4 Has L. Ron Hubbard's death affected the Church? 5.5 How did L. Ron Hubbard rise above the reactive mind when others didn't? 5.6 Did L. Ron Hubbard make a lot of money out of Scientology? 5.7 Was L. Ron Hubbard a millionaire? 5.8 How is it that one man could discover so much information? 5.9 Do Scientologists believe that L. Ron Hubbard was Jesus Christ? 5.10 Did L. Ron Hubbard go Clear? 6. SCIENTOLOGY ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES [Located in file 2 of 3] 6.1 How do Scientologists view life? 6.2 What moral codes do Scientologists live by? 6.3 What is Scientology's view on drugs? 6.4 Why are there so many young people on staff in Scientology? 6.5 Do you have any special dietary laws or rules against smoking or drinking in Scientology? 6.6 Do Scientologists use medical doctors? 6.7 In Scientology does one have to sacrifice one's individuality? 6.8 What benefits can one get from Scientology? 6.9 What is Scientology's system of ethics? 6.10 What does 'clear the planet' mean? 6.11 What does 'suppressive person' mean? 6.12 What is disconnection? 6.13 Is Scientology a cult? 6.14 Does Scientology engage in brainwashing or mind control? 6.15 Does Scientology actively promote for new members? 6.16 Does one really need Scientology to do well in life? 6.17 Does one have to believe in Scientology? 6.18 Why do Scientologists sometimes seem so intent on what they are doing? 6.19 What do the terms 'preclear', 'student' and 'auditor' mean? 6.20 What is the E-Meter(R) and how does it work? 7. THE ORGANIZATIONS OF SCIENTOLOGY [Located in file 2 of 3] 7.1 Scientology is a philosophy. Why does it need to be organized? 7.2 How many people work in a Scientology church? 7.3 How is Scientology organized? 7.4 Where are Scientology churches located? 7.5 What does a Scientology church or mission actually do? 7.6 What is the Office of Special Affairs? 7.7 What is the Flag Service Organization? 7.8 What is the Flag Ship Service Organization? 7.9 What is the Sea Organization? 7.10 Is it true that people in the Sea Org sign a billion-year contract? 7.11 Why does Scientology have ministers? Are all Scientologists ministers? 7.12 What are field staff members? 7.13 Why is everything copyrighted and trademarked in Scientology? [7.14 Does the IRS recognize Church organizations as non-profit charitable organizations?] 8. CHURCH FUNDING [Located in file 2 of 3] 8.1 Why do Scientologists make donations? 8.2 Why does one have to make donations to separate organizations for their services? 8.3 What about those who cannot afford to make donations for services? 8.4 Is the Church profit-making? 8.5 How much does it cost to go Clear? 8.6 How well paid are Scientology staff? [8.6 Are donations made to the Church of Scientology tax deductible in the United States?] 9. SCIENTOLOGY BOOKS [Located in file 2 of 3] 9.1 What is the best book for a beginning Scientologist to read? 9.2 Are the books difficult to understand? 9.3 Where can L. Ron Hubbard's books be purchased? 9.4 What books should one read to get information about: 9.4.1 Dianetics? 9.4.2 Basic Scientology principles? 9.4.3 Self-help, tests, and processes? 9.4.4 Handling the residual effects of drugs and toxins? 9.4.5 Basic principles of communication? 9.4.6 Predicting human behavior and understanding people? 9.4.7 How to increase success on the job? 9.4.8 Basic principles of organization? 9.4.9 Basic principles of management? 9.4.10 The principles of ethics and how to use them to live a more productive life? 9.4.11 Study methods? 9.4.12 Procedures to increase one's spiritual awareness and abilities? 9.4.13 Past lives and how they relate to this life? 9.4.14 The application of basic Scientology technology to help others improve their lives? 9.5 How can one get happiness out of a book? 10. DIANETICS [Located in file 2 of 3] 10.1 What is Dianetics? 10.2 What is the mind? Where is the mind? 10.3 What is the difference between the analytical mind and the reactive mind? 10.4 What is the difference between Scientology and Dianetics? 11. SCIENTOLOGY AND DIANETICS COURSES [Located in file 3 of 3] 11.1 What training should a person take first? 11.2 What does one get out of Scientology and Dianetics courses? 11.3 How are Scientology and Dianetics training different from studying philosophy or other religions? 11.4 Should I get my auditing before I get trained? 11.5 When can I take Scientology courses? 11.6 How are Scientology courses run? 11.7 When do I actually gain experience in auditing others? 11.8 When can I take the Minister's Course? 11.9 How long do courses take? 11.10 Are Scientology Course Supervisors university trained? 12. SCIENTOLOGY AND DIANETICS AUDITING [Located in file 3 of 3] 12.1 What is the difference between the auditing and training routes in Scientology? 12.2 Do all the people on staff in Scientology receive auditing as well as training? 12.3 Why does one have to wait six weeks for auditing if one has been habitually using drugs? 12.4 Will antibiotics prevent me from getting auditing? 12.5 Is it okay to take any sort of drugs when you are in Scientology? 12.6 How many hours of auditing a day to people receive? 12.7 Has the technology of auditing changed since the early days of Scientology? 12.8 What will I get out of auditing? 12.9 Does auditing really work in all cases? 12.10 What auditing handles physical pains or discomforts? 12.11 What can auditing cure? 12.12 Can one go exterior (be separate from the body) in auditing? 13. THE STATE OF CLEAR [Located in file 3 of 3] 13.1 What is Clear? 13.2 How does one go Clear? 13.3 How long does it take to go Clear? 13.4 If one goes Clear, will he lose his emotions? 13.5 What can you do when you are Clear? 13.6 Are Clears perfect? 13.7 Do Clears eat food and sleep? 13.8 Do Clears get colds and get sick? 13.9 If Clears no longer have a reactive mind, why do they still need to get auditing? 14. THE STATE OF OPERATING THETAN [Located in file 3 of 3] 14.1 What is meant by Operating Thetan (OT)? 14.2 How would you describe the state of Operating Thetan? 14.3 Why are the OT materials confidential? 15. A SCIENTOLOGY CAREER [Located in file 3 of 3] 15.1 Can one audit as a career? 15.2 Of what value would it be to have my child trained as an auditor? 15.3 Can one make Scientology a career in some other way than by being a minister? 16. SCIENTOLOGY IN SOCIETY [Located in file 3 of 3] 16.1 I've heard that Scientologists are doing good things for society. What are some specific examples? 16.2 Is Scientology active in Black communities and countries? 16.3 Do doctors, schools, social workers, businessmen and other professional people use Scientology? 16.4 Why has Scientology sometimes been considered controversial? 16.5 Why has Scientology been to court a lot of times? 16.6 Are there any laws against the practice of Scientology? Has it been banned? 16.7 How does Scientology view deprogrammers and groups that attempt to force people to denounce their chosen religion? 16.8 Why is Scientology opposed to psychiatry? 16.9 Why do some people oppose Scientology? 16.10 Is Scientology trying to rule the world? 16.11 Can Scientology do anything to improve the world situation? --------- 6. SCIENTOLOGY ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES 6.1 How do Scientologists view life? As a game -- a game in which everyone can win. Scientologists are optimistic about life and believe there is hope for a saner world and better civilization and are actively doing all they can to achieve this. 6.2 What moral codes do Scientologists live by? There are four main codes that Scientologists apply in life. One is the Auditor's Code which gives the basic rules an auditor must abide by to ensure excellent auditing results. Another is the Code of a Scientologist, guidelines which Scientologists agree to follow in order to achieve the aims of Scientology. There is an ethical code, called the Code of Honor, that Scientologists use in dealing with their fellow men. L. Ron Hubbard has also written a nonreligious moral code called "The Way to Happiness" which gives basic precepts for a happy life. This moral code is used by Scientologists and non-Scientologists alike, with tens of millions of copies distributed in communities all around the world. 6.3 What is Scientology's view on drugs? Scientologists consider that drugs cause damaging effects on a person -- physically, mentally and spiritually. They decrease awareness and hinder abilities. They are a "solution" to some other problem, which themselves become a problem. Scientologists do not take street drugs or mind-altering psychiatric drugs. Scientologists do use prescribed drugs as part of medical programs from competent physicians, but have found that as a result of auditing, they need to take medical drugs much less frequently and also that medications such as antibiotics seem to work more rapidly when being audited. For more information about drugs and what can be done about them, the book _Clear Body, Clear Mind: The Effective Purification Program_ is recommended. 6.4 Why are there so many young people on staff in Scientology? Many Scientologists are under thirty-five. We find that young Scientologists enjoy the lifestyle working in the Church. It may be that due to the expansion of Scientology they find that there are many opportunities to achieve responsible positions quite rapidly. Many families have three generations working in Scientology. There are also a great many older people in Scientology. 6.5 Do you have any special dietary laws or rules against smoking or drinking in Scientology? No. There are no dietary laws whatsoever and no general prohibitions against smoking or drinking. The only guidelines in Scientology are that no alcohol is allowed twenty-four hours prior to or during auditing sessions, and that no drinking is allowed twenty-four hours prior to or during study. The effects of the alcohol would make it impossible to get the gains one can get from auditing and training. Smoking is forbidden in course rooms or during auditing sessions, as such would distract oneself and others. Rules for student behavior are laid out in a Church policy called the "Student's Guide to Acceptable Behavior." 6.6 Do Scientologists use medical doctors? Yes. The Church of Scientology has always had the firm policy of sending sick parishioners to medical doctors to handle the physical aspect of any illness or injury. A Scientologist with a physical condition is instructed to get the needed medical examination and treatment. He then resumes his auditing so as to handle any spiritual trauma connected with the physical condition. There are also many medical doctors who are Scientologists. 6.7 In Scientology does one have to sacrifice one's individuality? No. People are unique, even though they have in common certain problems and aberrations. As they become disentangled from the stimulus-response part of their mind, they become more them- selves, more unique, more individual and learn to believe in themselves. In fact, becoming more aware of and able to express one's own unique beingness is encouraged in Scientology. Scientology teaches one to maintain his personal integrity and to develop fully as an individual. 6.8 What benefits can one get from Scientology? In reviewing success stories written by Scientologists, there are a few common themes that stand out. One is that many people have attained the ability to communicate in relationships, whether with family members and spouses, friends, or even mere acquaintances; another is that they are freed from stress at work and in other areas of their lives; another common one is that they can expand their potential and do things they never thought possible. 6.9 What is Scientology's system of ethics? L. Ron Hubbard has defined 'ethics' as "reason and the contemplation of optimum survival." In Scientology, ethics is a rational system based on a number of codes of practice. L. Ron Hubbard has pointed out: "Dishonest conduct is nonsurvival. Anything is unreasonable or evil which brings about the destruction of individuals, groups, or inhibits the future of the race." Man has long postulated a means by which he could put himself on the right path. As long ago as 500 B.C., religions recognized that confession frees a person spiritually from the burden of sin. In Scientology, it has been found that a Confessional (a type of auditing) assists the person who has transgressed against his own and his group's moral code to unburden himself and again feel good about himself and be a contributing member of the group. L. Ron Hubbard has written: "No man who is not himself honest can be free -- he is his own trap. When his own deeds cannot be disclosed, then he is a prisoner; he must withhold himself from his fellows and is a slave to his own conscience." In addition to the Confessional, Scientology's ethics system includes a body of technology called conditions formulas. Mr. Hubbard discovered that there are various states of existence in which an individual operates (called "conditions") and that there are exact formulas connected with these operating states. Each formula has a number of exact steps. A person can determine what condition or operating state any area of his life is in and apply the conditions formulas to move it into a higher condition. While very simple, such actions are quite powerful and have enabled millions of individuals to improve conditions in their lives in ways they never thought possible. These are just two of the tools from the wealth of ethics technology that exists in Scientology. Complete information on this subject is contained in the book _Introduction to Scientology Ethics_ by L. Ron Hubbard. 6.10 What does "clear the planet" mean? It means that Scientologists want to clear the planet of insanity, war and crime, and in its place create a civilization in which sanity and peace exist. In order to do this, they must help individuals become clear of their own individual insanities and regain awareness that they are basically good. 6.11 What does "suppressive person" mean? According to L. Ron Hubbard, a suppressive person is "a person who seeks to 'suppress', or squash, any betterment activity or group. A suppressive person suppresses other people in his vicinity. This is the person whose behavior is calculated to be disastrous." Well-known examples of such a personality are Napoleon and Hitler. Mr. Hubbard found that a suppressive person, also called an antisocial personality, has definite antisocial attributes. The basic reason the antisocial personality behaves as he or she does lies in a hidden terror of others. To such a person every other being is an enemy, an enemy to be covertly or overtly destroyed. The fixation is that survival itself depends on "keeping others down" or "keeping people ignorant." If anyone were to promise to make others stronger or brighter, the antisocial personality suffers the utmost agony of personal danger. Because of this, the suppressive person seeks to upset, continuously undermine, spread bad news about and denigrate Scientology and Scientologists. The antisocial personality is against what Scientology is about -- helping people become more able and improving conditions in society. For the good of the Church and the individuals in it, such a person is officially labeled a suppressive person so that others will know not to associate with him. For more understanding of suppressive persons and how to handle them, the book _Introduction to Scientology Ethics_ is recommended. 6.12 What is disconnection? A Scientologist can have trouble making spiritual progress in his auditing or training if he is connected to someone who is suppressive or who is antagonistic to Scientology or its tenets. He will get better from Scientology, but then may lose his gains because he is being invalidated by the antagonistic person. In order to resolve this, he either handles the other person's antagonism with true data about the Church, or as a last resort when all attempts to handle have failed, he disconnects from the person. In 1983, L. Ron Hubbard clearly defined the two terms, "disconnect" and "handle," as related to this subject: "The term 'handle' most commonly means to smooth out a situation with another person by applying the technology of communication. "The term 'disconnection' is defined as a self-determined decision made by an individual that he is not going to be connected to another. It is a severing of a communication line. "The basic principle of handle or disconnect exists in any group and ours is no different. "It is much like trying to deal with a criminal. If he will not handle, the society resorts to the only other solution: It `disconnects' the criminal from the society. In other words, they remove the guy from society and put him in a prison because he won't 'handle' his problem or otherwise cease to commit criminal acts against others." A person who disconnects is simply exercising his right to communicate or not to communicate with a particular person. This is one of the most fundamental rights of man. "Communication, however, is a two-way flow," Mr. Hubbard pointed out. "If one has the right to communicate, then one must also have the right to not receive communication from another. It is this latter corollary of the right to communicate that gives us our right to privacy." Another example is marriage. In a monogamous society, the agreement is that one will be married to only one person at a time. If one partner, say the husband, starts to have second dynamic relations with a person other than his partner, the wife has the right to insist either that this communication cease or that the marriage itself ends. In this example, the optimum solution would be for the wife to resolve the situation through communication so that her husband, who is violating the agreements, is handled. But if this is not possible, then the wife has no choice other than to disconnect (sever the marriage communication lines if only by separation). To do otherwise will only bring disaster, as the wife is connected to someone antagonistic to the original agreements on which the marriage is based. With the technology of handle or disconnect, Scientologists are, in actual fact, doing nothing different than any society, group or marriage down through thousands of years. 6.13 Is Scientology a cult? Assuming that modern usage of the word 'cult' implies an elite secrecy and unthinking zealotry, then consider this: Scientology is the fastest growing religion in the world today. The materials that comprise Scientology scriptures are fully codified, broadly published and available to anyone. Churches and missions are open to the public seven days a week. Anyone can come in for a tour and see for himself what the Church is all about. Scientology is unique in that it contains no dogma and its adherents are not told or forced to "believe" anything. In Scientology, what is true for the individual is only what he has observed and knows is true for him. Scientology is a technology one can use and through its use discover its workability for oneself. Scientologists come from all walks of life, ranging from teachers to businessmen, physicians, housewives, artists, engineers, nurses, construction workers, celebrities, marketing and administrative personnel, secretaries, athletes, civil servants and many others. The Church and its actions are far from secretive; there is nothing mystical about Scientology or its members or practices. The Church's leaders are in close touch with the membership; they hold a number of briefing events each year which are attended by tens of thousands. Scientologists actively improve their communities; they are out there, involved, visible and effective. The fact of the matter is there isn't a religion today that hasn't been called a cult at some point in its history by antagonistic interests. Nazis thought Jews and Eastern European religious sects to be cults. In the sixteenth century Catholics considered reform churches cults. Earlier than that Roman rulers considered the Christian community a cult. History has taught us to beware of those who would label *any* religious group a cult. It is traditionally the first step before wholesale persecution, and is always the statement of an unenlightened and uninformed individual, usually with ill motives as the Nazi history makes so clear. 6.14 Does Scientology engage in brainwashing or mind control? No. In fact, what we do is exactly the opposite. We free people and enable them to think for themselves. Millions of Church members from literally all walks of life have attested to the positive benefits received from Scientology. A common theme to their personal success stories is that they are now more in control of their lives than they ever have been. In fact, Mr. Hubbard was one of the first to discover and expose *actual* mind control and brainwashing experimentation conducted by United States military and intelligence agencies during and after World War II. He called these techniques "pain-drug-hypnosis" or PDH. In his 1951 book, _Science of Survival_, Mr. Hubbard wrote: "There is another form of hypnotism . . . This form of hypnotism has been a carefully guarded secret of certain military and intelligence organizations. It is a vicious war weapon and may be of considerably more use in conquering a society than the atomic bomb. This is no exaggeration. The extensiveness of the use of this form of hypnotism in espionage work is so wide today that it is long past the time when people should have become alarmed about it. It required Dianetic processing to uncover pain-drug-hypnosis. Otherwise, pain-drug-hypnosis was out of sight, unsuspected and unknown." Not only did he uncover such blatantly destructive experimentation, but the technology he developed, Dianetics, could *undo* the effects of PDH and free a person from the grip of mind control. Years after Mr. Hubbard learned about these government- sponsored psychiatric mind control experiments, documents released under the Freedom of Information Act detailed the extent to which these techniques were being used. Over the years, the Church of Scientology has exposed numerous instances of brain-washing or mind control practices, such as those involved in so-called "deprogramming." In this case, individuals are taken captive and forced to renounce their chosen religious or political group, generally using some form of coercion, food or sleep deprivation and sometimes drugs. Such practices are diametrically opposed to the aims of Scientology, which are to free man and return to him his ability to control his own life. 6.15 Does Scientology actively promote for new members? Yes. Scientologists make the technology broadly available to others because they want others to receive the same gains they have experienced. The Church wants more people to know and apply the works of L. Ron Hubbard and actively and vigorously promotes this. 6.16 Does one really need Scientology to do well in life? That is a question you will have to answer for yourself. A Scientologist's viewpoint is that while some people might be surviving quite well without Scientology, they can always do better and expand their potentials even further. In fact, Scientology was developed to help the able become more able and one usually finds the people doing best in life are the first ones to embrace Scientology. If you are interested in self-improvement, Scientology provides a tested route by which you can obtain tremendous benefits and learn to use your mind, talents and abilities to the fullest. If you know people who are doing well but have never heard of Scientology, the question is: "Could they be doing better?" 6.17 Does one have to believe in Scientology? No. One is not expected to believe in Scientology. One is only expected to study and apply the data and see for himself if it works for him. To quote L. Ron Hubbard, "Anything that isn't true for you when you study it carefully isn't true." 6.18 Why do Scientologists sometimes seem so intent on what they are doing? If you had a chance to change yourself and civilization so greatly, you would be interested as well. 6.19 What do the terms 'preclear', 'student' and 'auditor' mean? A 'preclear' is someone who is receiving Scientology or Dianetics auditing on his way to becoming Clear. Through auditing he is finding out more about himself and life. A 'student' is one who reads in detail in order to learn and then apply the materials he has studied. One studies Scientology for itself and uses it exactly as stated, then forms his own conclusions as to whether or not the tenets he has assimilated are correct and workable. An 'auditor' is a Dianetics or Scientology practitioner trained in the technology of auditing. 'Auditor' means "one who listens" (from the Latin word 'audire'). An auditor listens and computes, applying standard technology to preclears to help them achieve the abilities as stated on the Classification, Gradation and Awareness Chart. An auditor's job is to ask the preclear to look, and get him to do so. 6.20 What is the E-Meter and how does it work? E-Meter is a shortened term for 'electropsychometer'. It is a religious artifact used as a spiritual guide in auditing. It is for use only by a Scientology minister or a Scientology minister-in-training to help the preclear locate and confront areas of spiritual upset. In itself, the E-Meter does nothing. It is an electronic instrument that measures mental state and change of state in individuals and assists the precision and speed of auditing. The E-Meter is not intended or effective for the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of any disease. The book _Understanding the E-Meter_ offers a simple explanation of how the E-Meter works and what it actually measures. In order to understand what the E-Meter does, it is necessary to understand some basic Scientology concepts. There are three basic parts of man -- mind, body and thetan. The thetan is an immortal spiritual being -- the individual himself. He (the thetan) inhabits a body, which is a carbon-oxygen machine. He has a mind, which is a collection of mental image pictures he has created. These pictures have weight and mass and can impinge on the person when he is emotionally upset. This is what makes the E-Meter read -- the impingement of such pictures against the body. The E-Meter puts a very small electrical current (approximately one and a half volts) through the body. This is about the same amount of current as in the average battery-powered wristwatch. When a person thinks a thought, looks at a picture, re- experiences an incident or when he shifts some part of the pictures in his mind, he is moving and changing actual mental mass and energy. These changes in the person's mind affect the tiny flow of electrical energy generated by the E-Meter, which causes the needle on its dial to move. The E-Meter thus measures changes that are caused by the spiritual being in his own mind (i.e., the movement of mental masses around him) and in this capacity, it is a religious artifact. The E-Meter is used to help the individual who is being audited uncover truth. By locating areas of mental or spiritual trauma, the E-Meter helps both the auditor and the preclear locate exactly what to address in auditing. 7. THE ORGANIZATIONS OF SCIENTOLOGY 7.1 Scientology is a philosophy. Why does it need to be organized? Scientology is an *applied* religious philosophy. Therefore organization is needed to make the technology available and teach people to apply it. 7.2 How many people work in a Scientology church? The number of staff varies from church to church. Small churches may have 20 and large ones over 500. 7.3 How is Scientology organized? There is a "mother church" which is the Church of Scientology International. It is headquartered in Los Angeles. It is responsible for the ecclesiastical supervision of the rest of the Scientology churches around the world, which are organized in a hierarchical structure not dissimilar to that of the Catholic Church. (For more information about the structure of the Church, see Part 5 [of _What is Scientology?_].) 7.4 Where are Scientology churches located? Scientology churches and missions exist all over the world. There are a great many churches and far more missions in various countries. 7.5 What does a Scientology church or mission actually do? The main activities of Scientology churches and missions are training Scientology ministers and providing auditing. The church also conducts Sunday services, weddings, funerals and christenings and delivers other chaplain services. The church helps the individual become more able to help himself and to help others.This is done by training and auditing. 7.6 What is the Office of Special Affairs? The Office of Special Affairs (OSA) deals with legal affairs for the Church. It also publishes the facts about the social betterment works of Scientology, informing the government, the media, other religions and other groups with interests similar to those of the Church. OSA also oversees the social reform programs of the Church, among which are those that expose and effectively handle violations of individual and human rights. 7.7 What is the Flag Service Organization? The Flag Service Organization (FSO), often referred to as "Flag," is located in Clearwater, Florida [USA]. It delivers advanced spiritual training and auditing. It retains its name from the days when it used to operate from the flagship 'Apollo', ("Flag" in nautical terms means "the flagship" or the vessel which gives orders to others.) 7.8 What is the Flag Ship Service Organization? The Flag Ship Service Organization is located aboard the 450-foot ship called the 'Freewinds', and is an advanced religious retreat that delivers the level of auditing called New OT VIII and specialized training to Scientologists. 7.9 What is the Sea Organization? The Sea Organization (commonly referred to as the Sea Org) is a confraternal organization existing within the formalized structure of the Church. It is composed of the most dedicated Scientology staff who have decided to devote their lives to the delivery and expansion of Scientology. The Sea Organization has no separate corporate structure or identity and its members work for various different churches of Scientology and are subject, as are all other employees of that church, to the orders and directions of the board of directors. The Sea Org was established in 1967 and once operated from a number of ships. It was set up to help L. Ron Hubbard with research of earlier civilizations and to carry out supervision of Church organizations around the world to keep Scientology expanding. It is also entrusted to deliver the advanced services of Scientology. The Sea Organization retains its name in celebration of the fact that the Founder's life was majorly connected with the sea. It exists to help keep Scientology working. 7.10 Is it true that people in the Sea Org sign a billion-year contract? Yes, they do. It is a symbolic document which, similar to vows of dedication in other faiths and orders, serves to signify an individual's eternal commitment to the goals, purposes and principles of the Scientology religion. Sea Org members have dedicated their lives to working toward these ends and toward a world without war, drugs, crime and illiteracy. 7.11 Why does Scientology have ministers? Are all Scientologists ministers? The Church of Scientology has ministers to deliver Scientology religious services to church parishioners. Only those who specifically enroll in and graduate from the Scientology Minister's Course and its prerequisites, and fulfill the requirements for ordination are Scientology ministers. All Scientology auditors are required to become ordained ministers; however, they are allowed to audit as ministerial students while fulfilling their ordination requirements. 7.12 What are field staff members? Field staff members are individual Scientologists who disseminate Scientology, provide books to interested friends, family members and associates and introduce (or select) people to the Church. They are appointed by their nearest Scientology organization. Because they have had gains from Dianetics and Scientology themselves, they naturally want to share it with others. 7.13 Why is everything copyrighted and trademarked in Scientology? Scientology and Dianetics are technologies that work if applied exactly. If they are altered, the results will not be uniform. For this reason, the technology is copyrighted and the words and symbols which represent the technology are trademarked. This way, nobody can misrepresent something as standard Scientology or Dianetics that really isn't. In fact many persons have tried to rip off and profit from the technologies of Dianetics and Scientology. The subjects were developed for spiritual salvation, not for anyone's personal enrichment. Through ownership of the trademarks and copyrights, such ill-intentioned actions are prevented by the Church. [7.14 Does the IRS recognize Church organizations as non-profit charitable organizations?] [Yes, in the Fall of 1993, upon finishing an extensive in- vestigation of the Church's organizations and their fi- nances, the IRS ruled that the Church of Scientology and its organizations were non-profit charitable organizations and therefore eligible for tax exempt status in the United States.] 8. CHURCH FUNDING 8.1 Why do Scientologists make donations? Some churches have a system of tithes, others require their members to pay for pew rentals, religious ceremonies and services. In the Church of Scientology, parishioners make donations for auditing or training they wish to take. These contributions by Scientologists are the primary source of financial support for the Church and fund all the community programs and social betterment activities of Scientology. Scientologists are not required to tithe or make other donations. Ideally, Dianetics and Scientology services would be free, and all Scientologists wish they were. But those are not the realities of life. When one considers the cost of delivering even one hour of auditing, requiring extensively trained specialists, and the overhead costs of maintaining church premises, the necessity of donations becomes clear. The donation system in Scientology is the most equitable as those who use the facilities of the Church are the ones who most directly contribute to its upkeep and continued existence. Naturally, no donation is expected from those not receiving auditing or training. And church doors are always open to those who wish to learn more about the philosophy of Scientology, be they parishioners or not. There are tape plays of L. Ron Hubbard's lectures, introductory lectures, books available, people to discuss questions with, and of course the more traditional church activities -- Sunday service, sermons, weddings, christenings, funerals -- all of which are provided without any donation necessary. Scientology does not have hundreds of years of accumulated wealth and property like other religions -- it must make its way in the world according to the economics of today's society. Scientologists' donations keep the Church alive and functioning, fund its widespread social reform programs, make Scientology known to people who may otherwise never have the opportunity to avail themselves of it, and help create a safe and pleasant environment for everyone. 8.2 Why does one have to make donations to separate organizations for their services? Scientology churches and missions are separate corporations and have separate financial records. The donations that go to each church for services delivered by that church must be separately banked and accurate records kept in alignment with the accounting procedures and laws in each country. 8.3 What about those who cannot afford to make donations for services? There is a Free Scientology Center in churches of Scientology where those who cannot afford the donations can receive free auditing from ministerial students. Many Scientology services are free and the knowledge is free to all men. There are also books, books, books and free public lectures, Sunday services and other religious services for which there is no cost. Books can be obtained in the local area either by going to a church of Scientology, a public bookstore or local library. But it's interesting that once a person becomes more causative through the application of Scientology technology in his life, he does not usually need or want free services for very long. He becomes capable of holding a good job and thereby able to exchange for the services he wants. Ministers-in-training can receive free auditing from other students while they are doing their training. 8.4 Is the Church profit-making? No. Scientology churches are nonprofit organizations, as the donations all go back into the support and expansion of the Church. 8.5 How much does it cost to go Clear? The cost varies from individual to individual depending on which route to Clear one takes. One route is to pay for professional auditing and get audited all the way up to Clear. The preferred route, however, is to get trained as an auditor and co-audit with another Scientology student. The co-auditing route to Clear requires far less donations than professional auditing plus one helps another to progress. As professional auditing is much more expensive for the organization to deliver (requiring several staff to service one parishioner) the donations are necessarily higher. Training donation rates are much more economical and an incentive for persons to train while they co-audit without cost to the state of Clear. No matter which route one chooses to achieve the state of Clear, all who have attained it express the pricelessness of the increased spiritual freedom they have achieved. 8.6 How well paid are Scientology staff? The pay varies from church to church and from time to time. Staff are paid in proportion to the amount of donations received by their individual organizations. Thus, staff members are in control of how much they make by virtue of how well they perform individually on their own jobs. In any event, Scientology staff aren't motivated by money and in no instance anywhere in the church structure is pay exorbitant. Scientology staff are motivated by a desire to help, not get rich. [8.6 Are donations made to the Church of Scientology tax deductible in the United States?] [Yes, according to a 1993 decision by the IRS, donations of any kind made to the Church of Scientology (including auditing and training donations), are tax deductible in the United States.] 9. SCIENTOLOGY BOOKS 9.1 What is the best book for a beginning Scientologist to read? _Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health_ which is the best-selling self-help book of all time, is the book recommended for beginners who are interested in the mind and how it works. This book has been a best-seller for over forty years. In 1977, 'Publishers Weekly' called _Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health_ "perhaps the best-selling non-Christian book of all time in the West." In 1988, 'Publishers Weekly' awarded _Dianetics_ its prestigious "Century Award" for more than 100 weeks on its best-seller list, officially designating it the No. 1 best-selling self-help book of all time. If a person is more interested in starting with a broad summary of L. Ron Hubbard's research and findings about man as a spiritual being and basic principles of life, the first recommended book is _Scientology: The Fundamentals of Thought_. (Chapter 41 [of _What is Scientology?_] gives a more detailed explanation of the books available and suggested course of reading.) 9.2 Are the books difficult to understand? Not at all. The books are quite easy to understand. Depending on what aspect of Scientology and Dianetics you are most interested in, any church Bookstore Officer can recommend the best sequence in which the books should be read. 9.3 Where can L. Ron Hubbard's books be purchased? All of his books are available at missions and churches of Scientology. Many of his books are also available in popular bookstores and in libraries in cities all over the world. 9.4 What books should one read to get information about: 9.4.1 Dianetics: 'The Basic Dianetics Picture Book' _Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health_ _The Dynamics of Life_ _Dianetics: The Evolution of a Science_ _Child Dianetics_ 9.4.2 Basic Scientology principles: 'The Basic Scientology Picture Book' _Scientology: The Fundamentals of Thought_ _A New Slant on Life_ [Note: Most of the chapters in this book are available via anonymous FTP from: ftp.pcnet.com /users/brianw/lrh_essays ] _Scientology 0-8: The Book of Basics_ 9.4.3 Self-help, tests and processes: _Self Analysis_ 9.4.4 Handling the residual effects of drugs and toxins: 'Purification: An Illustrated Answer to Drugs' _Clear Body, Clear Mind: The Effective Purification Program_ 9.4.5 Basic principles of communication: _Dianetics 55!_ 9.4.6 Predicting human behavior and understanding people: _Science of Survival_ 9.4.7 How to increase success on the job: _The Problems of Work_ _How to Live Though an Executive_ 9.4.8 Basic principles of organization: _The Organization Executive Course_ volumes 0-7 9.4.9 Basic principles of management: _Management Series_ volumes 1, 2 and 3 9.4.10 The principles of ethics and how to use them to live a more productive life: _Introduction to Scientology Ethics_ 9.4.11 Study methods: _Basic Study Manual_ _Learning How to Learn_ _Study Skills for Life_ _How to Use a Dictionary Picture Book for Children_ 9.4.12 Procedures to increase one's spiritual awareness and abilities: _The Creation of Human Ability_ _Advanced Procedure and Axioms_ _Scientology 8-8008_ _Scientology 8-80_ 9.4.13 Past lives and how they relate to this life: _Have You Lived Before This Life?_ _A History of Man_ 9.4.14 The application of basic Scientology technology to help others improve their lives: _The Volunteer Minister's Handbook_ These books were all written by L. Ron Hubbard or compiled from his works, and are just a few of the dozens and dozens of Scientology and Dianetics books available at churches of Scientology. 9.5 How can one get happiness out of a book? The key to happiness is knowledge. Scientology and Dianetics books contain knowledge one can actually apply in life. Being able to accomplish these improvements definitely makes people happier. [Note: Most of the chapters of _What is Scientology?_ are available via anonymous FTP from FTP.PCNET.COM /users/brianw/wis ] 10. DIANETICS 10.1 What is Dianetics? L. Ron Hubbard discovered the single source of stress, worry, self-doubt and psychosomatic illness -- the reactive mind. In his book _Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health_ he described the reactive mind in detail and laid out a simple, practical, easily taught technology to overcome it and reach the state of Clear. Dianetics (which means "through soul") is that technology. 10.2 What is the mind? Where is the mind? The mind is basically a communication and control system between the thetan -- the spiritual being that is the person himself -- and his environment. It is composed of mental image pictures which are recordings of past experiences. The individual uses his mind to pose and resolve problems related to survival and to direct his efforts according to these solutions. 10.3 What is the difference between the analytical mind and the reactive mind? The analytical mind is the conscious, aware mind which thinks, observes data, remembers it and resolves problems. The reactive mind is the portion of a person's mind which works on a totally stimulus-response basis, which is not under his volitional control, and which exerts force and the power of command over his awareness, purposes, thoughts, body and actions. 10.4 What is the difference between Scientology and Dianetics? Dianetics is a technology which uncovers the source of unwanted sensations and emotions, accidents, injuries and psychosomatic illnesses, and which sets forth effective handlings for these conditions. 'Dianetics' comes from the Greek 'dia' meaning "through" and 'nous', "soul." It is further defined as "what the soul is doing to the body." 'Scientology' is the study and handling of the spirit in relationship to itself, universes and other life. It is used to increase spiritual freedom, intelligence and ability and to enable a person to realize his own immortality. Dianetics and Scientology are *separate* subjects, but the delivery of each has in common certain tools like the E-Meter and the basic rules of auditing. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of "A SCIENTOLOGY CATECHISM" [Part 2 of 3] Part Nine of _What is Scientology?_ Copyright (c) 1992 Church of Scientology International, All Rights Reserved Grateful acknowledgement is made to the L. Ron Hubbard Library for permission to reproduce selections from the copyrighted works of L. Ron Hubbard. "Dianetics," "E-Meter," "Flag," "Freewinds," "Hubbard," "OEC," "OT," "Purification Rundown," "Scientology," and "The Bridge" are trademarks and service marks owned by the Religious Technology Center and are used with its permission. "Scientologist" is a collective membership mark designating members of the affiliated churches and missions of Scientology. ============================================================================ For more information on Scientology, FTP to FTP.PCNET.COM /users/brianw or write to: scninfo@pcnet.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive-name: scientology/users/catechism/part3 Last-modified: 1995/2/7 Version: 1.31 -----------------< FAQ: Scientology Catechism [3 of 3] >---------------------- (Note: In the orginal text, italics were used to show emphasis or to indicate that a word is being defined. Italics denoting emphasis are shown here with *asterisks* surrounding the word, and italicized words that were being defined, are shown here with 'single quotes'. My comments are in [square brackets]. The book _What is Scientology?_, from which this file is taken, is available in ASCII form via anonymous FTP from FTP.PCNET.COM out of the directory /users/brianw/wis). ========================================================================== "A SCIENTOLOGY CATECHISM" [File 3 of 3] Part Nine of _What is Scientology?_ Copyright (c) 1992, Church of Scientology International, All Rights Reserved. Used with permission. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS [Located in file 1 of 3] 1.1 What does the word 'Scientology' mean? 1.2 What is Scientology about? 1.3 How did Scientology start? 1.4 How come it's all based on one man's work? 1.5 Why is Scientology called a religion? 1.6 Why is Scientology a church? 2. WHAT SCIENTOLOGY DOES FOR THE INDIVIDUAL [Located in file 1 of 3] 2.1 How does Scientology work? 2.2 What does Scientology accomplish? 2.3 What claims are made for Scientology? 2.4 How do people get into Scientology? 3. SCIENTOLOGY AND OTHER PRACTICES [Located in file 1 of 3] 3.1 Is Scientology like hypnotism, meditation, psychotherapy or other mental therapies? 3.2 Is Scientology a secret society? 3.3 In what way does Scientology differ from other religions and religious philosophies? 3.4 Does Scientology interfere with other religions? 3.5 What does Scientology think of other religions? 3.6 What does Scientology have to say about Christianity? 4. SCIENTOLOGY BELIEFS [Located in file 1 of 3] 4.1 Is man a spirit? 4.2 How does one know man is a spirit? 4.3 What is the Scientology concept of God? 4.4 Can't God be the only one to help man? 4.5 Does Scientology believe in brotherly love? 4.6 Why do Scientologists want to help people? 4.7 Does Scientology recognize good and evil? 4.8 Does Scientology believe man is sinful? 4.9 Will Scientology put man in control of his mind? 4.10 Is Scientology about the mind? 4.11 Does Scientology believe in mind over matter? 4.12 Does Scientology believe one can exist outside of the body? 4.13 Does Scientology believe in reincarnation or past lives? 4.14 Does Scientology believe in charity and welfare? 4.15 Does Scientology hold any political views? 4.16 Can children participate in Scientology? How? 4.17 What does Scientology say about the raising of children? 4.18 Can one make up his own mind about Scientology? 4.19 What is the Scientology cross? 4.20 What religious holidays do Scientologists celebrate? 5. SCIENTOLOGY'S FOUNDER [Located in file 1 of 3] 5.1 Is L. Ron Hubbard still alive? 5.2 Who was L. Ron Hubbard? 5.3 What was L. Ron Hubbard's role in the Church? 5.4 Has L. Ron Hubbard's death affected the Church? 5.5 How did L. Ron Hubbard rise above the reactive mind when others didn't? 5.6 Did L. Ron Hubbard make a lot of money out of Scientology? 5.7 Was L. Ron Hubbard a millionaire? 5.8 How is it that one man could discover so much information? 5.9 Do Scientologists believe that L. Ron Hubbard was Jesus Christ? 5.10 Did L. Ron Hubbard go Clear? 6. SCIENTOLOGY ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES [Located in file 2 of 3] 6.1 How do Scientologists view life? 6.2 What moral codes do Scientologists live by? 6.3 What is Scientology's view on drugs? 6.4 Why are there so many young people on staff in Scientology? 6.5 Do you have any special dietary laws or rules against smoking or drinking in Scientology? 6.6 Do Scientologists use medical doctors? 6.7 In Scientology does one have to sacrifice one's individuality? 6.8 What benefits can one get from Scientology? 6.9 What is Scientology's system of ethics? 6.10 What does 'clear the planet' mean? 6.11 What does 'suppressive person' mean? 6.12 What is disconnection? 6.13 Is Scientology a cult? 6.14 Does Scientology engage in brainwashing or mind control? 6.15 Does Scientology actively promote for new members? 6.16 Does one really need Scientology to do well in life? 6.17 Does one have to believe in Scientology? 6.18 Why do Scientologists sometimes seem so intent on what they are doing? 6.19 What do the terms 'preclear', 'student' and 'auditor' mean? 6.20 What is the E-Meter(R) and how does it work? 7. THE ORGANIZATIONS OF SCIENTOLOGY [Located in file 2 of 3] 7.1 Scientology is a philosophy. Why does it need to be organized? 7.2 How many people work in a Scientology church? 7.3 How is Scientology organized? 7.4 Where are Scientology churches located? 7.5 What does a Scientology church or mission actually do? 7.6 What is the Office of Special Affairs? 7.7 What is the Flag Service Organization? 7.8 What is the Flag Ship Service Organization? 7.9 What is the Sea Organization? 7.10 Is it true that people in the Sea Org sign a billion-year contract? 7.11 Why does Scientology have ministers? Are all Scientologists ministers? 7.12 What are field staff members? 7.13 Why is everything copyrighted and trademarked in Scientology? [7.14 Does the IRS recognize Church organizations as non-profit charitable organizations?] 8. CHURCH FUNDING [Located in file 2 of 3] 8.1 Why do Scientologists make donations? 8.2 Why does one have to make donations to separate organizations for their services? 8.3 What about those who cannot afford to make donations for services? 8.4 Is the Church profit-making? 8.5 How much does it cost to go Clear? 8.6 How well paid are Scientology staff? [8.6 Are donations made to the Church of Scientology tax deductible in the United States?] 9. SCIENTOLOGY BOOKS [Located in file 2 of 3] 9.1 What is the best book for a beginning Scientologist to read? 9.2 Are the books difficult to understand? 9.3 Where can L. Ron Hubbard's books be purchased? 9.4 What books should one read to get information about: 9.4.1 Dianetics? 9.4.2 Basic Scientology principles? 9.4.3 Self-help, tests, and processes? 9.4.4 Handling the residual effects of drugs and toxins? 9.4.5 Basic principles of communication? 9.4.6 Predicting human behavior and understanding people? 9.4.7 How to increase success on the job? 9.4.8 Basic principles of organization? 9.4.9 Basic principles of management? 9.4.10 The principles of ethics and how to use them to live a more productive life? 9.4.11 Study methods? 9.4.12 Procedures to increase one's spiritual awareness and abilities? 9.4.13 Past lives and how they relate to this life? 9.4.14 The application of basic Scientology technology to help others improve their lives? 9.5 How can one get happiness out of a book? 10. DIANETICS [Located in file 2 of 3] 10.1 What is Dianetics? 10.2 What is the mind? Where is the mind? 10.3 What is the difference between the analytical mind and the reactive mind? 10.4 What is the difference between Scientology and Dianetics? 11. SCIENTOLOGY AND DIANETICS COURSES [Located in file 3 of 3] 11.1 What training should a person take first? 11.2 What does one get out of Scientology and Dianetics courses? 11.3 How are Scientology and Dianetics training different from studying philosophy or other religions? 11.4 Should I get my auditing before I get trained? 11.5 When can I take Scientology courses? 11.6 How are Scientology courses run? 11.7 When do I actually gain experience in auditing others? 11.8 When can I take the Minister's Course? 11.9 How long do courses take? 11.10 Are Scientology Course Supervisors university trained? 12. SCIENTOLOGY AND DIANETICS AUDITING [Located in file 3 of 3] 12.1 What is the difference between the auditing and training routes in Scientology? 12.2 Do all the people on staff in Scientology receive auditing as well as training? 12.3 Why does one have to wait six weeks for auditing if one has been habitually using drugs? 12.4 Will antibiotics prevent me from getting auditing? 12.5 Is it okay to take any sort of drugs when you are in Scientology? 12.6 How many hours of auditing a day to people receive? 12.7 Has the technology of auditing changed since the early days of Scientology? 12.8 What will I get out of auditing? 12.9 Does auditing really work in all cases? 12.10 What auditing handles physical pains or discomforts? 12.11 What can auditing cure? 12.12 Can one go exterior (be separate from the body) in auditing? 13. THE STATE OF CLEAR [Located in file 3 of 3] 13.1 What is Clear? 13.2 How does one go Clear? 13.3 How long does it take to go Clear? 13.4 If one goes Clear, will he lose his emotions? 13.5 What can you do when you are Clear? 13.6 Are Clears perfect? 13.7 Do Clears eat food and sleep? 13.8 Do Clears get colds and get sick? 13.9 If Clears no longer have a reactive mind, why do they still need to get auditing? 14. THE STATE OF OPERATING THETAN [Located in file 3 of 3] 14.1 What is meant by Operating Thetan (OT)? 14.2 How would you describe the state of Operating Thetan? 14.3 Why are the OT materials confidential? 15. A SCIENTOLOGY CAREER [Located in file 3 of 3] 15.1 Can one audit as a career? 15.2 Of what value would it be to have my child trained as an auditor? 15.3 Can one make Scientology a career in some other way than by being a minister? 16. SCIENTOLOGY IN SOCIETY [Located in file 3 of 3] 16.1 I've heard that Scientologists are doing good things for society. What are some specific examples? 16.2 Is Scientology active in Black communities and countries? 16.3 Do doctors, schools, social workers, businessmen and other professional people use Scientology? 16.4 Why has Scientology sometimes been considered controversial? 16.5 Why has Scientology been to court a lot of times? 16.6 Are there any laws against the practice of Scientology? Has it been banned? 16.7 How does Scientology view deprogrammers and groups that attempt to force people to denounce their chosen religion? 16.8 Why is Scientology opposed to psychiatry? 16.9 Why do some people oppose Scientology? 16.10 Is Scientology trying to rule the world? 16.11 Can Scientology do anything to improve the world situation? --------- 11. SCIENTOLOGY AND DIANETICS COURSES 11.1 What training should a person take first? The first action a person should take in his Scientology training is to read a book, such as _Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health_ or _Scientology: The Fundamentals of Thought_. He can study these on an extension course which is designed to help people understand the basic fundamentals of L. Ron Hubbard's books and find out about Scientology for themselves. The lessons in the course are completed and mailed in to the Extension Course Supervisor who grades them and informs the student by return mail what his grade is and any parts of the book he may have misunderstood. After completing a book or extension course, he should go into a church and see one of the Public Division Registrars who can help him decide which course he should do next. There are many different services available. For instance, many Life Improvement Courses exist, on such subjects as marriage, children, work, relationships with others and personal integrity. These help a person move from effect to cause in a specific area of life. Or there is the Hubbard Dianetics Seminar which utilizes Dianetics auditing techniques based on _Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health_, providing as much Dianetics auditing to a person as he wants and giving him experience applying Dianetics to another. There is also the Success Through Communication Course which teaches the basic communication skills one needs to succeed in social or other situations. Factually, it is best to talk to someone to find out which of the many courses available is addressed most directly to what one wants to handle or improve in life. 11.2 What does one get out of Scientology and Dianetics courses? Training gives a person the knowledge and tools to handle life. A basic datum in Scientology is that what one learns is only as valuable as it can be applied, and as it helps one do better in life. This is why Scientology is correctly called an *applied* religious philosophy. The information and technology a person learns is not just to increase his understanding (although it will definitely do that as well), but it is for USE. Although many Scientologists become practicing Scientology ministers, many others simply use the data in their everyday lives, on the job, and with their friends and family members. They report that life becomes more confrontable, their abilities increase and they are happier because they are winning in the game of life. 11.3 How are Scientology and Dianetics training different from studying philosophy or other religions? The major difference is that Scientology and Dianetics training give one *tools* to use in life. Whereas studying other philosophies or religions may provide information that is interesting, only in Scientology does the individual get the exact tools he needs to change and improve conditions in his life. 11.4 Should I get my auditing before I get trained? L. Ron Hubbard has written many times about the fact that 50 percent of one's gains are from training and 50 percent are from auditing. It is actually impossible to successfully make it through the upper processing levels of Scientology without also being trained. Therefore, to get the most from Scientology, one progresses in his training simultaneously with or at a comparable rate to his progress in auditing. 11.5 When can I take Scientology courses? Most churches of Scientology are open from 9:00 in the morning until 10:30 at night weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekends. Several different course schedules are offered within these hours. 11.6 How are Scientology courses run? Scientology training is unique. Each course is done by following a checksheet. A checksheet is a list of materials, divided into sections, that lay out the theory and practical steps which, when completed, lead one to a study completion. The items contained on the checksheet, such as books, recorded lectures and other written materials, add up to the required knowledge of the subject. Each student moves through his checksheet at his own rate. This ensures nobody is ever held back by slower students, and no one is under pressure from faster students. A trained Course Supervisor is always available to help the student, to refer him to the exact mate- rials, to answer his questions and to ensure he is applying standard study technology to gain the full benefits from his studies. 11.7 When do I actually gain experience in auditing others? Every major training course in Scientology is followed by an internship. This is a period of auditing others under the supervision of technical experts. In this way, an auditor's skills are honed and polished to a very high level of proficiency. 11.8 When can I take the Minister's Course? This course can be studied by any Scientologist who is training in Scientology or Dianetics. The course provides an appreciation of the world's great religions, the religious background and philosophy of Scientology, the ethical codes of Scientology and the ceremonies of the Church. One also learns to deliver services and carry out basic ministerial duties. 11.9 How long do courses take? Each course takes as long as it takes -- since the student goes through each course at his own pace, he regulates his own progress. How long it takes depends on how diligently he applies study technology and how honestly he completes each item on his checksheet before proceeding to the next. The length of each course will also depend on how many hours he studies per week. On the average, Scientology courses take anywhere from a few days (for most introductory courses) to several months (for more advanced training). Introductory services are designed to take one week at 2.5 hours a day. Academy training to become an auditor is generally two weeks, at forty hours a week, for each individual level. The required time to complete the more advanced courses is quite extensive. The Saint Hill Special Briefing Course, which is a chronological study of Scientology and Dianetics from 1948 to the present, takes approximately one year, at forty hours a week. This course gives the Scientologist the entire philosophic and technical development of the subject, and is the most extensive training course in Scientology. Church staff ensure that auditors are professionally and thoroughly trained so that they can achieve the best results with their preclears. 11.10 Are Scientology Course Supervisors university trained? According to demographic studies, a high proportion of Scientologists have graduated from college or university studies. However, this is not a prerequisite for becoming a Scientology Course Supervisor. In Scientology there is a very precise technology of how to supervise and successfully help students through their courses. All Scientology Course Supervisors are trained in this technology to ensure that students get the most from their training. 12. SCIENTOLOGY AND DIANETICS AUDITING 12.1 What is the difference between the auditing and training routes in Scientology? The reference that best explains the difference between these two routes is the Classification, Gradation and Awareness Chart. On the right side of the chart there are various steps a person moves through as he receives auditing. Each grade listed has a column for "Ability Gained" that describes the increasing levels of awareness and ability achieved at each stage. In auditing, one is working toward improving himself and regaining recognition of and rehabilitating his spiritual nature and abilities. This is done on a gradient (a gradual approach to something, taken step by step), so those states of being which are seemingly "too high above one" can be achieved with relative ease. The left-hand side of the chart describes the gradient steps of training on which one gains the knowledge and abilities necessary to audit another on each level. Each course listed includes a description of the subject matter that is taught at that level. In training, one is learning about the various facets of life with a view to helping others. These two different paths parallel each other. Optimally, a person follows both paths. The chart is a guide for the individual from the point he first enters Scientology, and shows him the basic sequence in which he will receive his auditing and training. 12.2 Do all the people on staff in Scientology receive auditing as well as training? Yes, auditing and training of staff members is part of the exchange for their work in Scientology organizations. 12.3 Why does one have to wait six weeks for auditing if one has been habitually using drugs? Research has shown that it takes at least that long for the effect of drugs to wear off. Quite simply, auditing is not as effective while drugs are in the system because a person on drugs is less alert and may even be rendered stupid, blank, forgetful, delusive or irresponsible. 12.4 Will antibiotics prevent me from getting auditing? No. Antibiotics work differently than drugs. If the preclear has a doctor's prescription for antibiotics and is taking these to handle an infection, he should be sure to let his Director of Processing know, but this will not prevent him from receiving auditing. Many people claim that antibiotics work more rapidly and effectively if one is receiving auditing at the same time. 12.5 Is it okay to take any sort of drugs when you are in Scientology? Except for antibiotics or prescribed medical drugs by a medical doctor, no. If one has a medical or dental condition requiring treatment and wishes to take some medical drug other than antibiotics, he should inform his Director of Processing. A medical or dental consultation will be advised and a handling worked out in liaison with the Director of Processing to best accommodate one's progress in Scientology. Any other drug use, such as the use of street drugs or psychiatric mind-altering drugs, is forbidden. Drugs are usually taken to escape from unwanted emotions, pains or sensations. In Scientology, the real reasons for these unwanted conditions get handled and people have no need or desire for drugs. Drugs dull people and make them less aware. Scientology's aim is to make people brighter and more aware. Drugs are essentially poisons. Small amounts may act as a stimulant or as a sedative, but larger amounts act as poisons and can kill one. Drugs dull one's senses and affect the reactive mind so that the person becomes less in control and more the effect of his reactive mind, a very undesirable state. Despite the claims of psychiatrists that drugs are a "cure-all," at best they cover up what is really wrong, and at worst, actually harm one. The real answer is to handle the source of one's troubles -- and that is done with Scientology. 12.6 How many hours of auditing a day do people receive? This depends upon one's particular auditing program. Some receive longer or shorter hours of auditing than others, but an average would be 2.5 hours a day. Auditing is best done intensively, at least 12.5 hours a week. The more intensively one is audited, the more rapid progress he makes as he is not bogged down by current life upsets. Therefore it is best to arrange for many hours of consecutive auditing, i.e. 50 to 100 hours at 12.5 hours a week minimum. Of course, one is not always receiving auditing so when one is, his best chance of making rapid progress is intensively. 12.7 Has the technology of auditing changed since the early days of Scientology? The basics of auditing have not changed, but there have been considerable advances and refinements in auditing processes over the years. L. Ron Hubbard continued his research and development of Scientology auditing technology throughout his life, and completed it before he passed away. All of his technology is now available and laid out in an exact sequence of gradient steps in which it should be used. 12.8 What will I get out of auditing? Scientology auditing is delivered in a specific sequence which handles the major barriers people encounter when trying to achieve their goals. After receiving auditing, you will start to recognize for yourself that you are changing, that your outlook on life is improving and that you are becoming more able. In Scientology, you will not be told when you have completed an auditing level -- you will know for yourself, as only you can know exactly what you are experiencing. This gives you the certainty that you have attained what you want to attain from each level. There will also no doubt be some outwardly demonstrable or visible changes that occur: Your IQ may increase, you might look healthier and happier, and may well have people comment on how calm or cheerful you look or, for instance, how you are doing better on your job. Results like these are the products of auditing. Each person knows when he has achieved them. 12.9 Does auditing really work in all cases? Dianetics and Scientology technologies are very exact and well-tested procedures that work in 100 percent of the cases in which they are applied standardly. The only proviso is that the preclear must be there on his own determinism and must abide by the rules for preclears during his auditing to ensure optimum results. The Church makes no guarantee of results as auditing is something which requires the active participation of the individual. Auditing is not something done *to* an individual -- it is something done in which he is the active participant. 12.10 What auditing handles physical pain or discomfort? Dianetics auditing is used to help handle physical pains or discomfort stemming from the reactive mind. 12.11 What can auditing cure? Scientology is not in the business of curing things in the traditional sense of the word. Auditing is not done to fix the body or to heal anything physical, and the E-Meter cures nothing. However, in the process of becoming happier, more able and more aware as a spiritual being through auditing, illnesses that are psychosomatic in origin (meaning the mind making the body ill) often disappear. 12.12 Can one go exterior (be separate from the body) in auditing? Exteriorization is the state of the thetan, the individual himself, being outside his body with or without full perception, but still able to control and handle the body. Exteriorization is a personal matter for each individual. Many Scientologists have been known to go exterior, so it would not be at all surprising if you do too at some point during your auditing. This can happen at any time in auditing. When a person goes exterior, he achieves a certainty that he is himself and not his body. 13. THE STATE OF CLEAR 13.1 What is Clear? 'Clear' is the name of a specific state achieved through auditing, or a person who has achieved this state. A Clear is a being who no longer has his own reactive mind, and therefore suffers none of the ill effects the reactive mind can cause. 13.2 How does one go Clear? Simply by taking one's first step in Scientology, or by taking the next step as shown on the Classification, Gradation and Awareness Chart and then continuing up the levels as laid out on this chart. 13.3 How long does it take to go Clear? It varies from person to person, but it takes an average of anywhere from one year to two years to go from the bottom of the Grade Chart through Clear, depending on how much time one spends each week on his auditing. Those who get intensive auditing and do not stop along the way progress the fastest. 13.4 If one goes Clear, will he lose his emotions? No, on the contrary, a Clear is able to use and experience any emotion. Only the painful, reactive, uncontrolled emotions are gone from his life. Clears are very responsive beings. When one is Clear, he is more himself. The only loss is a negative -- the reactive mind -- which was preventing the individual from being himself. 13.5 What can you do when you are Clear? A Clear is able to deal causatively with life rather than react to it. A Clear is rational in that he forms the best possible solutions he can with the data he has and from his own viewpoint. A Clear gets things done and accomplishes more than he could before he became Clear. Whatever your level of ability before you go Clear, it will be greatly increased after you go Clear. 13.6 Are Clears perfect? No, they are not perfect. Being a Clear does not mean a person who has had no education, for example, suddenly becomes educated. It does mean that all the abilities of the individual can be brought to bear on the problems he encounters and that all the data in his analytical memory banks is available for solution to those problems. A Clear has become the basic individual through auditing. The basic individual is not a buried, unknown or a different person, but an intensity of all that is best and most able in the person. 13.7 Do Clears eat food and sleep? Most definitely. 13.8 Do Clears get colds and get sick? A Clear can still get sick, but this occurs much less often than before he became Clear. In other words, a Clear still has a body and bodies are susceptible at times to various illnesses. However, no longer having his reactive mind, he is much more at cause and is not adversely affected by, many of the things that would have caused psychosomatic illness before he went Clear. To measure a Clear only by his health, however, would be a mistake because this state has to do with the individual himself, not his body. 13.9 If Clears no longer have a reactive mind, why do they still need to get auditing? There are many more states of awareness and ability that can be achieved above the state of Clear as he is only Clear on the first dynamic. Once Clear, an individual wants to continue his auditing to achieve these higher states. 14. THE STATE OF OPERATING THETAN 14.1 What is meant by Operating Thetan (OT)? Operating Thetan is a state of beingness above Clear. 'Thetan' refers to the spiritual being, and 'operating' means here "able to operate without dependency on things." An Operating Thetan (OT) is able to control matter, energy, space and time rather than being controlled by these things. As a result, an OT is able to be at cause over life. There are numerous auditing steps on the Bridge called OT levels. People on these levels are progressing to the state of full OT and becoming more and more OT along the way. 14.2 How would you describe the state of Operating Thetan? OT (Operating Thetan) is a state of spiritual awareness in which an individual is able to control himself and his environment. An OT is someone who knows that he knows and can create positive and prosurvival effects on all of his dynamics. He has been fully refamiliarized with his capabilities as a thetan and can willingly and knowingly be at cause over life, thought, matter, energy, space and time. As a being becomes more and more OT, he becomes more powerful, stable and responsible. 14.3 Why are the OT materials confidential? Because understanding of and ability to apply the OT materials are dependent upon having fully attained the earlier states of awareness and abilities per the Classification, Gradation and Awareness Chart. Thus, these materials are released on a gradient, only to those who have honestly attained all earlier states. 15. A SCIENTOLOGY CAREER 15.1 Can one audit as a career? Yes. There are many Scientology ministers who audit full time as their life's work. Auditing provides a rewarding career as it is one in which you are always helping people and constantly seeing miraculous results on your preclears. It is very satisfying to know that you are making people's lives happier and saner. Auditors are very valuable and in great demand. L. Ron Hubbard's opinion of auditors is well known: "I think of an auditor as a person with enough guts to *do something about it*. This quality is rare and this quality is courageous in the extreme. It is my opinion and knowledge that auditors are amongst the upper tenth of the upper twentieth of intelligent human beings. Their will to do, their motives, their ability to grasp and to use are superior to that of any other profession." 15.2 Of what value would it be to have my child trained as an auditor? First of all, it would provide a young person with certainty and knowledge in dealing with every possible type of human problem, be it interpersonal, familial, organizational, ethical, moral or religious. Secondly, it would provide a career of fulfillment in aiding people from all walks of life to gain greater awareness and respect for themselves and others. Auditors are in demand in every church of Scientology and mission throughout the world. Therefore, your child would be fulfilling a great demand and contributing greatly to making this world a saner place by getting trained as an auditor. 15.3 Can one make Scientology a career in some other way than by being a minister? Yes, there are thousands of professional Scientologists who work full time in churches and missions throughout the world as executives or administrative staff. There are also those who further the dissemination of Scientology on a one-to-one basis or through the dissemination of Scientology materials and books, those who hold jobs in the Church's social reform groups and those who work in the Office of Special Affairs involved in community betterment or legal work. All of these provide rewarding careers as each forwards the expansion of Scientology and thereby makes it possible for more and more people to benefit from its technology. 16. SCIENTOLOGY IN SOCIETY 16.1 I've heard that Scientologists are doing good things for society? What are some specific examples? These activities would fill a book in themselves, and are covered in more detail in Part 5 of [_What is Scientology?_], but here are just a few examples that are typical of the things that Scientologists are doing around the world. Scientologists regularly hold blood drives to get donations of blood for hospitals, the Red Cross and other similar organizations. As Scientologists do not use harmful drugs, these donations of drug-free blood are welcomed by those in charge of health care. Scientologists regularly hold drives to get donations of toys, food and clothing to make life happier for those in need. During the annual holiday season, Scientologists are particularly active in this sphere. In downtown Hollywood, California [USA], for example, Scientologists build a "Winter Wonderland" scene each Christmas, complete with a large Christmas tree, Santa Claus and even "snow," creating a traditional Christmas setting for children who otherwise might never see one. In Canada, a group of Scientologists spends many weeks each year raising funds to sponsor visits to summer camps by underprivileged children. Church members utilize their artistic talents to bring new experiences and joy to children by performing puppet shows in orphanages, schools and shopping malls, and magic shows for children in foster homes. Scientologists can also be found in many communities contributing to the care of the elderly. They visit old-age homes and provide entertainment, draw sketches or just drop by and talk with senior citizens. You will find Scientologists helping with "community cleanup" campaigns and assistance to the injured at Veteran's Administration hospitals. Scientologists have taken a leading role fighting drug abuse, actively educating community officials and groups on the dangers of drugs and solutions to the problems. There are many groups utilizing L. Ron Hubbard's technology and freeing people from the detrimental effects of drugs. L. Ron Hubbard's technology on how to study has been used by Scientologists around the world to help students and teachers alike. One place where this technology has made major inroads combating illiteracy is in South Africa, where well over a million native Africans have improved their ability to study. Another important area of activity for Scientologists is raising moral standards in society. Scientologists all around the world have distributed tens of millions of copies of the nonreligious moral code called "The Way to Happiness," now available in more than fifteen different languages. Its use has led to a revitalization of purpose for people of all ages who apply its simple truths to their lives and to the environment around them. The Church and many of its members are also engaged in interfaith activities, the main thrust of which has been to work with leaders of other faiths in the areas of interreligious dialogue, religious freedom, constitutional law and "religion in society" issues -- all aimed toward protecting and forwarding the freedom of religion for everyone. Another prevalent activity for Scientologists is to expose and eradicate the violations of human rights perpetrated by psychiatry. Many Scientologists do this as members of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), a reform group which was established by the Church in 1969. They actively investigate psychiatric abuses and bring these to the attention of the media, legislators and other groups concerned with protecting people from brutal psychiatric techniques. Such practices as psychosurgery, electroshock treatment and the administration of dangerous psychiatric drugs have destroyed the minds and lives of millions of individuals. Through the efforts of Scientologists working for CCHR, public awareness of the disastrous results of psychiatric methods has been raised and major steps taken to outlaw such practices. 16.2 Is Scientology active in Black communities and countries? Definitely. By the Creed of the Church, "All men of whatever race, color or creed were created with equal rights." Thus, there are no limitations placed on who can receive and benefit from Scientology services. There are Scientologists of all races, colors and religious backgrounds. For example, there are Dianetics and/or Scientology organizations in Ghana, Zaire, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and Sierra Leone, among other countries, and Black Scientologists are applying Scientology technology in their communities wherever possible. The Church maintains a Department of Ethnic Affairs specifically to interact and work with minorities. 16.3 Do doctors, schools, social workers, businessmen and other professional people use Scientology? Yes, they do. There are members of all of these professions who use Scientology technology to improve the results being obtained in their fields of endeavor. Schools and universities in many countries apply L. Ron Hubbard's study methods to improve literacy and teaching success, drug rehabilitation groups use his drug rehabilitation technology to successfully get people off drugs, doctors observe basic Dianetics principles to speed up the recovery of their patients, businessmen apply L. Ron Hubbard's administrative procedures to create thriving businesses. Scientology applies to all spheres of life and uniformly gets results when standardly used. Therefore, there is hardly an area of social or community concern where you will not find people using some aspect of L. Ron Hubbard's technology. 16.4 Why has Scientology sometimes been considered controversial? Like all new ideas, Scientology has come under attack by the uninformed and those who feel their vested interests are threatened. As Scientologists have openly and effectively advocated social reform causes, they have become the target of attacks. For those vested interests who cling to a status quo that is decimating society, Scientology's technology of making the able more able poses a serious threat. Attacks follow as an attempt to stop application of Scientology technology. When the Church steps in to handle the attack, the conflict grabs the attention of the press, which lives on controversy. Regardless of the unfounded nature of the attackers' claims, reporters freely promote the controversy. Those seeking to stop Scientology then join the media in regurgitating and regenerating the created controversy. Scientology has always flourished and prospered in the face of attacks. In every case where public disputes have been manufactured, intentional and blatant false reports about Scientology and its founder have been discovered to be the common denominator. As the falsehoods are proven lies, the controversy quickly fades, and the truth about Scientology, what the Church really is and what its members do replaces it. The source of these attacks and the controversy they have generated is detailed in Chapter 31 of [_What is Scientology?_; see FTP.PCNET.COM /users/brianw/wis]. 16.5 Why has Scientology been to court a lot of times? The Church has gone to court in many countries to uphold the right to freedom of religion. In Australia, as one example, legal actions by the Church brought about a landmark victory which greatly expanded religious freedom throughout that country. In the United States, the Church's use of the Freedom of Information Act, taking government agencies to court and holding them accountable to release vital documents to the public on a variety of subjects, has been heralded as a vital action to ensure honesty in government. In certain cases, the Church has used the courts to protect its copyrighted materials, or to ensure its rights and the rights of its members are safeguarded. During the history of the Church, a few unscrupulous individuals, lusting for money, have observed how Scientology is prospering and rapidly expanding, and have abused the legal system to try to line their own pockets. In the handful of cases where such attempts have occurred, they have uniformly failed. 16.6 Are there any laws against the practice of Scientology? Has it been banned? Of course not. In fact, the Church has received numerous recognitions, citations and validations from various governments for contributions to society in the fields of education, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, crime reduction, human rights, raising moral values and a host of other fields. 16.7 How does Scientology view deprogrammers and groups that attempt to force people to denounce their chosen religion? These so-called "deprogrammers," better described as psychiatric depersonalizers, are money-motivated individuals who kidnap others for profit. Their methods include brainwashing, imprisonment, food and sleep deprivation and various forms of torture. Such activities are clearly against the principles held by Scientologists -- and have been proven to be against the law as well. Psychiatric depersonalizers in many countries have gone to jail for their violent and illegal practices. Situations in which families have expressed concern over family members' involvement in various religions can generally be handled with communication. No one need resort to violence and mercenaries to resolve the upset. The Church does not condone the use of violence and advocates that each person has an inalienable right to their own beliefs. 16.8 Why is Scientology opposed to psychiatry? As the stepchildren of the German dictator Bismarck and later Hitler and the Nazis, psychiatry and psychology formed the philosophical basis for the wholesale slaughter of human beings in World Wars I and II. Psychiatry uses electric shock, brain-mutilating psychosurgery, and mind-damaging drugs to destroy a person and make him "docile and quiet" in the name of "treatment." Psychiatric methods involving the butchering of human beings and their sanity are condemned by the Church. Scientologists are trying to create a world without war, insanity and criminality. Psychiatry is seeking to create a world where man is reduced to a robotized or drugged, vegetable-like state so that he can be controlled. A primary difference between Scientology and psychiatry is that psychiatrists routinely tell their patients what they think is wrong with them. This interjects lies or ideas which are not true for the individual himself, and thus psychiatric "therapy" violates the basic integrity of the individual. On the other hand, Scientology technology enables a person to find out for himself the source of his troubles and gives him the ability to improve conditions in his own life and environment. The underlying difference is the fact that Scientology recognizes that man is a spiritual being, while psychiatrists view man as an animal. Scientology is a religion. Psychiatry is strongly opposed to all religions as it does not even recognize that man is a spiritual being. Scientologists strongly disagree with the enforced and harmful psychiatric methods of involuntary commitment, forced and heavy drugging, electroconvulsive shock treatment, lobotomy and other psychosurgical operations. By the Creed of the Church of Scientology, the healing of mentally caused ills should not be condoned in nonreligious fields.The reason for this is that violent psychiatric therapies cause spiritual traumas. At best, psychiatry suppresses life's problems; at worst, it causes severe damage, irreversible setbacks in a person's life and even death. 16.9 Why do some people oppose Scientology? There are certain characteristics and mental attitudes that cause a percentage of the population to oppose violently any betterment activity or group. This small percentage of society (roughly 2.5 percent) cannot stand the fact that Scientology is successful at improving conditions around the world. This same 2.5 percent is opposed to any self-betterment activity. The reason they so rabidly oppose Scientology is because it is doing more to help society than any other group. Those who are upset by seeing man get better are small in number compared to the millions who have embraced Scientology and its efforts to create a sane civilization and more freedom for the individual. 16.10 Is Scientology trying to rule the world? No. Scientology's aim, as expressed by L. Ron Hubbard, is that of creating "a civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights. . . ." "We seek no revolution. We seek only evolution to higher states of being for the individual and for society." Scientology does want to improve and reform societal ills, and Scientologists believe there can be a better world by doing so. It is not Scientology's mission to save the world. It is Scientology's mission to free *you*. 16.11 Can Scientology do anything to improve the world situation? Yes, and it does so every single day. By making the able individual in society more able and more certain of his abilities, and by continuing the Church's expansion and social reform programs throughout the world, the world can become a better place. It is possible to bring people to higher levels of communication with the environment and those around them. And as one raises the level of communication, one raises also the ability to observe and change conditions and thereby create a better world and a better civilization. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of "A SCIENTOLOGY CATECHISM" [Part 3 of 3] Part Nine of _What is Scientology?_ Copyright (c) 1992 Church of Scientology International, All Rights Reserve. Grateful acknowledgement is made to the L. Ron Hubbard Library for permission to reproduce selections from the copyrighted works of L. Ron Hubbard. "Dianetics," "E-Meter," "Flag," "Freewinds," "Hubbard," "OEC," "OT," "Purification Rundown," "Scientology," and "The Bridge" are trademarks and service marks owned by the Religious Technology Center and are used with its permission. "Scientologist" is a collective membership mark designating members of the affiliated churches and missions of Scientology. ============================================================================ For more information on Scientology, FTP to FTP.PCNET.COM /users/brianw or write to: scninfo@pcnet.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------