Atheist U Library : Browse Religions

Lesson Overview

Scientology is a modern religious movement founded in the 20th century by L. Ron Hubbard. It developed from Hubbard’s earlier system called Dianetics and later became organized as a religion through the Church of Scientology. Scientology teaches that human beings are spiritual beings and that people can improve themselves through specific practices, counseling methods, study, and ethical discipline.

Scientology is both influential and controversial. Supporters describe it as a practical path for personal improvement and spiritual freedom. Critics have raised concerns about secrecy, finances, legal disputes, treatment of former members, and institutional control. A neutral academic approach studies Scientology as a modern religious movement by examining its history, teachings, practices, organization, public presence, and controversies without assuming either devotion or rejection.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Describe the historical origins of Scientology.
• Explain the relationship between Dianetics and Scientology.
• Define key terms such as thetan, auditing, engram, Clear, and E-meter.
• Identify major beliefs and practices associated with Scientology.
• Recognize why Scientology is considered both a religion and a controversial modern movement.
• Understand how scholars may study Scientology from a neutral academic perspective.

1. Historical Background

Scientology began in the United States in the mid-20th century. Its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, was an author who wrote fiction, essays, and self-improvement materials before developing Dianetics and Scientology.

In 1950, Hubbard published Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. Dianetics presented a system for addressing mental and emotional difficulties through a method of guided questioning. This method later became closely connected to Scientology practice.

The Church of Scientology was later organized as a religious institution. Over time, Scientology developed churches, missions, training centers, publications, outreach programs, and international administrative structures.

2. Dianetics and the Development of Scientology

Dianetics is the earlier system developed by Hubbard that focuses on the mind, memory, emotional distress, and personal improvement. Dianetics teaches that painful or traumatic experiences can affect a person’s behavior and well-being.

Scientology expanded beyond Dianetics by adding a broader religious framework. It introduced teachings about spiritual identity, past existence, spiritual freedom, ethics, training, and the nature of the self.

In academic study, Dianetics is often treated as an important foundation for Scientology. Dianetics provided the methods and vocabulary that later became part of Scientology’s religious system.

3. The Thetan

One of Scientology’s central concepts is the thetan. In Scientology teaching, a thetan is the spiritual being or true self of a person. This term is different from the physical body or the mind.

Scientology teaches that human beings are not merely bodies or brains. Instead, the person is understood as a spiritual being who has a body and uses a mind. This idea shapes Scientology’s approach to personal improvement and spiritual progress.

From a neutral academic perspective, the thetan can be compared to concepts of soul, spirit, or inner self in other religious traditions, though Scientology uses its own distinctive vocabulary and framework.

4. Engrams and the Reactive Mind

An engram is a key term in Dianetics and Scientology. It refers to a painful or traumatic memory impression that is believed within Scientology teaching to affect behavior, emotions, and mental clarity.

Scientology also uses the term reactive mind. This refers to a part of the mind that is understood to store painful experiences and respond automatically in ways that may interfere with rational thought or well-being.

These ideas are central to Dianetics and early Scientology practice. They provide the background for auditing, which is one of Scientology’s most important practices.

5. Auditing

Auditing is a central Scientology practice involving guided questioning between an auditor and a participant. An auditor is a trained person who leads the session. The participant is often called a preclear, meaning someone who has not yet reached the state called Clear.

During auditing, the participant is asked questions intended to help examine memories, experiences, reactions, and spiritual barriers. Scientology teaches that auditing can help a person become more aware and spiritually free.

Scholars may study auditing as a form of religious counseling, ritual practice, structured self-examination, or institutional training. Critics often question its claims, costs, methods, and psychological effects.

6. The E-meter

The E-meter, short for electropsychometer, is a device used in some Scientology auditing sessions. It measures changes in electrical resistance through the body while a participant holds metal cylinders connected to the device.

Scientology uses the E-meter as part of its auditing process. Within Scientology practice, readings from the device are interpreted by trained auditors in relation to the participant’s responses and experiences.

From an academic perspective, the E-meter is important because it combines religious practice, technology, ritual authority, and institutional training. Outside Scientology, the device and its interpretation have been widely debated.

7. Clear and Spiritual Progress

Clear is a state described in Scientology teaching as freedom from the harmful effects of the reactive mind. A person working toward this state is called a preclear.

Reaching Clear is an important stage within Scientology’s system of spiritual progress. Scientology also includes further advanced levels beyond Clear. These levels are often associated with the term Operating Thetan, or OT.

Operating Thetan refers to advanced spiritual levels in Scientology teaching. These levels are presented within the tradition as stages of increased spiritual awareness and ability.

8. The Bridge to Total Freedom

The Bridge to Total Freedom is Scientology’s structured path of spiritual advancement. It includes auditing, training, courses, ethical requirements, and levels of progress.

The word bridge is used as a metaphor for movement from one condition to another. In Scientology, it refers to a path from spiritual limitation toward greater freedom and awareness as defined by the tradition.

The Bridge is important because it organizes Scientology practice into a sequence. It provides members with a clear system of goals, courses, levels, and institutional participation.

9. Ethics and Personal Responsibility

Scientology places emphasis on ethics, responsibility, communication, productivity, and personal improvement. Ethics refers to principles of right conduct and responsible behavior.

Scientology ethics includes ideas about improving one’s condition, taking responsibility for actions, resolving problems, and contributing to group survival. The movement often presents itself as practical and goal-oriented, with methods intended to improve personal ability and social functioning.

Critics have argued that Scientology’s ethical system can also function as a tool of institutional discipline and control. Academic study may examine both how members experience ethics as personal guidance and how critics interpret it as organizational authority.

10. Church Organization

The Church of Scientology is the main institution associated with Scientology. It operates churches, missions, training centers, publishing programs, and outreach initiatives in multiple countries.

Scientology has a highly organized structure. It includes local churches, advanced organizations, service organizations, management bodies, and affiliated programs. Some organizations connected to Scientology focus on drug rehabilitation, literacy, human rights, criminal justice reform, or moral education.

Scholars may study Scientology’s organization as an example of a modern religious institution with strong branding, centralized authority, legal activity, media strategy, and global outreach.

11. Scientology as a Religion

Scientology identifies itself as a religion. It includes beliefs about spiritual identity, practices of counseling and training, ethical teachings, sacred writings, religious institutions, clergy-like roles, rituals, and a path of spiritual advancement.

Some governments and scholars recognize Scientology as a religion. Others have questioned its religious status, often because of its financial structure, secrecy around advanced teachings, legal conflicts, or the way it presents some practices as practical technology.

A neutral academic approach does not require agreement with Scientology’s truth claims. Instead, it asks how Scientology functions as a religious movement, how it defines spiritual progress, and how it organizes members, practices, texts, and institutions.

12. Public Controversy

Scientology has been one of the most controversial modern religious movements. Controversies have involved legal disputes, criticism from former members, questions about financial expectations, treatment of critics, secrecy surrounding advanced teachings, and conflicts with journalists, governments, and courts.

Supporters often describe Scientology as misunderstood, unfairly attacked, and beneficial to those who practice it. Critics often describe it as controlling, expensive, secretive, or harmful. Scholars study these disputes as part of the movement’s public history and social identity.

Because Scientology is both a religion and a controversial organization, it is important to distinguish between official teachings, member experiences, former-member accounts, legal records, journalistic investigations, and academic analysis.

13. Studying Scientology Academically

To study Scientology academically means examining it using historical, sociological, legal, textual, and comparative methods. Sociology is the study of human societies, institutions, groups, and social behavior.

Academic study may ask questions such as: How did Scientology develop? What does it teach? How do members experience its practices? How is authority organized? Why has it generated controversy? How does it compare with other new religious movements?

A neutral approach avoids both promotional language and dismissive language. It treats Scientology as a subject for careful study, including its beliefs, practices, institutions, and criticisms.