SCIENTOTLGY CRITIQUE SHEET A Publication of Apologetic Research Coalition INCORPORATED NAM

                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                       
                                                     SCIENTOTLGY  
                                                  CRITIQUE SHEET

A Publication of Apologetic Research Coalition



               INCORPORATED NAME - Church of Scientology
               COMMON DESCRIPTORS - Scientology, Dianetics,
               International Association of Scientologists Founding
               Church of Scientology (prior to 1966)
               Church of the New Faith, Inc.  (Australia prior to
               1973)
      
               FOUNDER - Lafayette Ronald Hubbard (born,13 March,
               1911)
               
               CURRENT PRESIDENT - Herber Jentzsch
               
               CLAIMED MEMBERSHIP - 6 million world-wide,3 million
               USA
          
               DISTRIBUTION - USA, UK, Australia, Western
               Europe
              
               HEADQUARTERS - International - Sussex, England     
               USA - Los Angeles, CA
                     Clearwater, FL ('Flag Land Base')

               PERIODICALS - Freedom The Auditor RonNews Bulletin,
               Gold Info Letter, Theta Line, New Era Flag,
               News and Events (Flag Land Base). New Life 

              TV & RADIO - None
                  
              PUBLISHER - New Era Publications International
          
              EDUCATION INSTITUTION - Applied Scholastics
              International, Los Angeles, CA USA

                         
                    HISTORY             

Lafayette Ronald Hubbard, referred to as L. Ron Hubbard or simply
'Elron,' was born 13 March, 1911. As the son of U.S. Naval
Commander Harry Ross Hubbard, he spent much of his early life
traveling, especially in the Orient. It was probably during this
period that Hubbard picked up much of his world view, like an
impersonal Supreme Being and reincarnation.  Hubbard claimed to
have earned a B.S. in Engineering and a Ph.D. In reality, however,
he never earned a single degree.  He dropped out of George 

Washington University after his first year.  His 'Ph.D' was issued
by Sequoia University, which is a mail-order degree mill.

During World War ll Hubbard served in the U.S. Navy, like his
father before him.  Although Hubbard claims that he died twice
during the war (once for eight minutes), he never served in combat. 
In fact, he received 40% disability payments from the Navy not
for any combat injury, but for arthritis, bursitis
and conjunctivitis.  And further, he collected payments for years
after claiming to have discovered a cure for these diseases.
After the war Hubbard became a successful science fiction author. 
In 1950 he switched from sci-fi to self -help with his book,  
Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health.
Originally, he attempted to pass his counselling technique off as
a new therapeutic science. Needless to say, it was rejected
entirely by thel scientific community.

Evidently, not satisfied as an author with "a penny a word,"
Hubbard said "lf a man really wanted to make a million dollars, the
best way would be to start his own religion." Within five years,
that is precisely what Hubbard did.  After his 'Dianetics'
technique failed as science, he repackaged it as a religion.  And
a very profitable religion it is.

To begin with, membership in the International Association of
Scientologists will set you back $300.00 per year. A single book,
What is Scientology ranges from a low of $50.00 (paper back) to
$10,000.00 (leather cover) to $12,500.00 (leather cover & signed by
Ron L Hubbard). The hundreds of cassette tapes average about $40.00
each (the decimal is in the right place).  A single 52 hour course,
the Philadelphia Coures is $2,600.00. And the E-meters, the
required machines with which you 'audit' yourself or someone else,
averages over $3,000.00 each, with the high-end model, the Mark VI,
going for $4,100.00. With this price structure, it is easy to see
how some people have spent $30,000.00 getting 'Clear.' But at these
prices, getting 'Cleared'takes on a whole new meaning.
                         

                     BELIEF SYSTFM

GODHEAD: The Scientologist view of God is rather vague and
inconsistent.  When speaking of God they will use ambigious terms
like "infinity" or "Supreme Being." Scientology maintains the
highest drive man has is "the urge toward existence as...the
Supreme Being." Yet, this drive or impulse is virtually ignored
since only the first # drives are "known territory."

CHRISTOLOGY: Since Jesus Christ is essentially shelved in
Scientology thought, it can be presumed that He is little different
than anyone else.  Certainly that Jesus is the "Supreme Being" in
human form is foreign to their world view.



MAN: Scientology believes that man is a spirit ("Thetan"-usually
residing in the skulls linked to a Body which he controls through
his Mind. Although this "Spirit/Mind/Body" model bears some resem-
blance to a Biblical model, it is in fact quite different. Each
Thetan (spirit), according to Scientology, has existed for
approximately 75 trillion years.  Later, these Thetans decided to
inhabit the physical universe.  They began as single-cell
creatures.  But with each succeeding reincamation they worked their
way up to man.  It is the goal of the Thetan to eventually break
out of the cycle of reincarnation.  The billions of years between
the moment the Thetan decides "to be" in the universe until the
time he finally stops reincarnating is called his "time track."

ATONEMENT: The official Creed of the Church of Scientology
proclaims "that man is basically good." However, through the
thousands of incamations that each person (read Thetan) has lived
he/she has had an untold number of bad experiences.  Each of these
negative experiences has left it's impact on the brain, called
"engrams". These engrams cause all the problems in the world today,
from fibbing to nuclear wars. Therefore, Scientology has allegedly
developed a method whereby these engrams can be dissolved and the
person becomes "Clear" (no engrams).  The process is called
"auditing" and consists of a question & answer session while hooked
up to an E-meter by two soup cans.  An E-meter is a primitive
lie-detector machine, which measures galvanic resistance of the
skin.  Auditing is also referred to as being "on the cans". 
Another goal of the Scientologist is to "exteriorize," that is,
leave his body, since that's when a Thetan is "happier."

                       CHRISTlAN RESDONSE

GODHEAD: One of the ultimate goals of Scientology, to "discover
the true 8th dynamic.' (the true desire to become God). is what
brought about man's fall in the first place (Gen.3). The Bible
clearly teaches that the idea that man can become a God originated
with Satan himself.  In stark contrast to Scientology, the Bible
proclaims that there is only one God (Is.44:6).

CHRISTOLOGY: The Jesus of the Bible is not just another Thetan, but
true God (John 1:1) who has also become true man (John 1 :141. He
lived a perfect life without ever being "audited" and died on the
cross for our sins - not "engrams." Three days later He arose from
the dead (John 201, making certain our resurrection (Romans 8:11)
not reincarnation.

MAN: God's word, in diametric opposition to Scientology, declares
that we are created by God (Gen.1: 1, Heb. 1 :2). We are not 75
trillion-year-old Thetans. In absolutely denying reincarnation
Hebrews 9:27 categorically says "it is appointed unto men to once
die, but after this the judgment."

ATONEMENT: God's word points up Scientology's fundamental error,
"that man is basically good," by repeatedly underscoring man's


fallen nature.  All men have sinned (Rom.3:23) and are in rebellion
against God (Rom.8:7). Likewise, the Biblical message of hope is
far different from that of Scientology. While Scientology merely
claims to erase negative memories ("engrams''), God's word
proclaims new life (ll Cor.5:17), eternal life (John 3:15) and a
peace that this world (read E-meters) cannot deliver (John 14:27).
Even though Scientology claims to be the only "road to Freedom,"
God's word declares that "the Truth shall set you free" (John 8:32)
and that Jesus is that Truth (John 14:6). Again, "lf the Son...
shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" (John 8:36). It
should also be noted that the new life that comes through Jesus
Christ is given freely to all who would come and drink (John 7:37-
38). To be "Cleared" by Scientology will cost between $10,000.00
and $30,000.00.  Finally, there is absolutely no Biblical support
for Scientology's "exteriorization." In fact, it may very well fall
into the category of sorcery (Gal. 5:20).