March 16, 2010
Interview: Rick Wall
Scenario: Mr. Rick Wall, who is the head of Visitor Operations at the Church of Scientology of Stevens Creek, was kind enough to give us a comprehensive tour of the San Jose church. As far as interview purposes are concerned, we asked him basic questions about his choice to become such a committed member and volunteer at the church. While giving us a tour of the church, he answered various questions concerning his involvement in the church as well as provided us with a plethora of helpful knowledge about the practices and beliefs of Scientologists.
Responses: Mr. Wall told us that he was raised Catholic, but grew up very discouraged about religion, especially since his mother was somewhat shunned from the church for getting a divorce from her husband. Now 50 years of age, Mr. Wall said he has been an active member of the church for 10 years, and a volunteer in charge of visitor operations for almost 5 years. He claimed that Scientology has really turned his life around and led him to become a much happier and ethically inclined person today. He also claimed that through Dianetics and auditing sessions, his IQ has significantly increased, and his body has been rid of many impurities that were holding him back from being a spiritually free person. Furthermore, Mr. Wall admitted to have been a prior drug-user when he was young, and that Dianetics helped “cleanse” his system completely. Mr. Wall even had the rare opportunity to study with the Scientology’s Sea Organization on a large vessel in international waters, where he said he learned about various books that were essential to Scientology’s history and belief system. This interview and tour was a very helpful experience for our project.
Notes on the interview:
Brian DeVoto:
I enjoyed the time we spent talking with Rick Wall. He was a nice, interesting man that was more than happy to share his experience with the religion and tour us around the Church of Scientology of Stevens Creek. Wall was the “head of visitor’s operations” and worked seven days a week. He was a volunteer! This amazed me. Clearly, the man was more than dedicated to spreading the message of his faith. He spoke with sincerity and a true understanding of the religion’s meanings.
His tour around the church was interesting as well. The building was new, clean, and very modern. I noticed that around every corner there were books and videos about dianetics and Scientology that could be purchased. This was very different to my experiences growing up as a Roman Catholic. There are no bookstores or memorabilia shops in the church I attend in New York. The actual chapel at the Church of Scientology was smaller than the bookstore. I didn’t like this. How can a ‘church’ have less room for ceremonies at its most holy center than it has for selling books and movies?
Another part of the interview that stuck out in my mind was when Wall talked about drugs. He said that since being in Scientology, he has stopped taking any mind altering substances, including alcohol. This is in accordance to the rules of the religion. Nicotine is an addictive, mind altering drug. Wall smelt strongly of cigarettes the entire time. I found this a little ironic but didn’t say anything about it.
Overall I was pretty happy with the interview and tour of the church. To be honest, I was a little intimidated going to the church because of all the crazy stories about scientologists. After walking freely in and out (without being brainwashed) and getting a chance to talk face-to-face with a real scientologist, my initial anxieties dissipated. I’m sure if many more people visit a Scientology Church or ask questions to scientologist, they wouldn’t say all of the negative things about it that the media does now.
Catherine Nally:
My experience interviewing Rick Wall was very interesting. I was initially rather hesitant about going to the Church of Scientology in San Jose. The media and rumors about this particular religion portray it as a cult and as something that should be “feared” and avoided. My partners and I all giggled nervously as we were pulling into the parking lot; we joked about our fear that we might never be able to leave. Immediately upon walking through the doors, however, we were greeted by a friendly man who promptly introduced himself as the secretary of visitor operations.
We explained to Mr. Wall that we were students from Santa Clara University and were taking a religious course that encouraged us to research and explore new and unfamiliar religions. He seemed very excited to have us and offered to take us on a tour of the building.
While walking around the building, Mr. Wall told us a lot about the history and the science behind Scientology. He explained the church in a way that made its teachings a lot clearer for me. All throughout the church were informational posters and books that both described L. Ron Hubbard’s life and career, his interests in the body and the mind, and also his findings on how one’s spirit is affected by pain and hardships in life. Mr. Wall explained these posters in depth.
Throughout the interview, he made it very clear that the Church is there merely to help you achieve happiness and spiritual freedom through training, auditing (another concept he went in depth about) and knowledge. He spoke about his Catholic upbringing and his lack of enthusiasm for the religion. He was discontented as a child and thus found himself searching for something different as an adult. Scientology became the answer he was looking for.
Mr. Wall said that he, like many others who have since joined the church, came to it with great skepticism at first. The media, he said, had influenced his thoughts on what the church was doing and what it valued. As he spent time studying its teachings and ideals, however, he found it to be a place that he could call home. He then said something that I found really fascinating; none of the negativity in the media bothered him. He told us that spirituality and knowledge are things that are always questioned, so just because he KNOWS something to be true doesn’t mean everyone else will be able to do so.
Paul Sanchez:
When I first entered the Church of Scientology of Stevens Creek, I admit I was a little intimidated walking through the front door. This nervousness stemmed from what I heard about Scientologists through word of mouth. I feared I might be pressured to join the tradition or verbally harassed. These pre-conceived notions were silly and impractical though, for a very personable and nice receptionist greeted us when we entered the church. Soon after entering the beautiful and grand church we were greeted by a man by the name of Rick Wall whose title was head of Visitor Operations. He, like all the employees of the church, are purely volunteers who devote time nearly everyday to keep the church running. He informed us about the basic beliefs and practices of Scientology as well as informed us about his personal experience with the religious tradition.
My experience with Mr. Wall really changed my view on Scientologists, for he was an extremely down-to-earth individual who explained how Scientology has had a great impact on his life. Previous to joining the church, Mr. Wall briefly mentioned that he was a somewhat regular drug user, and really didn’t enjoy his life. Scientology helped him to become a drug-free person, and really set him on a quest for higher knowledge and ethical practices. When asked about what he thinks about the negative press and criticisms of Scientology, Mr. Wall assured us that he wasn’t concerned with it whatsoever. Moreover, he made it apparent that his main focus was striving to become a better citizen and worshiper of Scientology. When asked about auditing sessions and Dianetics, Mr. Wall told us he attends auditing sessions every month on a varying schedule. He informed us that the church recommends 12.5 hours of auditing per month, which cost money each time, but he wasn’t concerned with the cost, for he claims the effects of clearing one’s mind is very beneficial to him.
Another interesting aspect of Scientology that Mr. Wall relayed to us was the lack of significance placed upon Sunday chapel services. He told us that services are usually only about 20 minutes long, and only a small number of followers attend these services. Scientologists instead focus more upon the Dianetics aspect of the religion as well as the pursuit of true spiritual freedom. Finally, Mr. Wall explained the role L. Ron Hubbard plays within Scientology. Instead of some messiah-like individual that Hubbard sometimes is portrayed as, Mr. Wall described him simply as an ordinary man who discovered Dianetics and Scientology. Mr. Wall was very helpful in learning about the more personal side of Scientology, which was a nice change of pace.
Responses: Mr. Wall told us that he was raised Catholic, but grew up very discouraged about religion, especially since his mother was somewhat shunned from the church for getting a divorce from her husband. Now 50 years of age, Mr. Wall said he has been an active member of the church for 10 years, and a volunteer in charge of visitor operations for almost 5 years. He claimed that Scientology has really turned his life around and led him to become a much happier and ethically inclined person today. He also claimed that through Dianetics and auditing sessions, his IQ has significantly increased, and his body has been rid of many impurities that were holding him back from being a spiritually free person. Furthermore, Mr. Wall admitted to have been a prior drug-user when he was young, and that Dianetics helped “cleanse” his system completely. Mr. Wall even had the rare opportunity to study with the Scientology’s Sea Organization on a large vessel in international waters, where he said he learned about various books that were essential to Scientology’s history and belief system. This interview and tour was a very helpful experience for our project.
Notes on the interview:
Brian DeVoto:
I enjoyed the time we spent talking with Rick Wall. He was a nice, interesting man that was more than happy to share his experience with the religion and tour us around the Church of Scientology of Stevens Creek. Wall was the “head of visitor’s operations” and worked seven days a week. He was a volunteer! This amazed me. Clearly, the man was more than dedicated to spreading the message of his faith. He spoke with sincerity and a true understanding of the religion’s meanings.
His tour around the church was interesting as well. The building was new, clean, and very modern. I noticed that around every corner there were books and videos about dianetics and Scientology that could be purchased. This was very different to my experiences growing up as a Roman Catholic. There are no bookstores or memorabilia shops in the church I attend in New York. The actual chapel at the Church of Scientology was smaller than the bookstore. I didn’t like this. How can a ‘church’ have less room for ceremonies at its most holy center than it has for selling books and movies?
Another part of the interview that stuck out in my mind was when Wall talked about drugs. He said that since being in Scientology, he has stopped taking any mind altering substances, including alcohol. This is in accordance to the rules of the religion. Nicotine is an addictive, mind altering drug. Wall smelt strongly of cigarettes the entire time. I found this a little ironic but didn’t say anything about it.
Overall I was pretty happy with the interview and tour of the church. To be honest, I was a little intimidated going to the church because of all the crazy stories about scientologists. After walking freely in and out (without being brainwashed) and getting a chance to talk face-to-face with a real scientologist, my initial anxieties dissipated. I’m sure if many more people visit a Scientology Church or ask questions to scientologist, they wouldn’t say all of the negative things about it that the media does now.
Catherine Nally:
My experience interviewing Rick Wall was very interesting. I was initially rather hesitant about going to the Church of Scientology in San Jose. The media and rumors about this particular religion portray it as a cult and as something that should be “feared” and avoided. My partners and I all giggled nervously as we were pulling into the parking lot; we joked about our fear that we might never be able to leave. Immediately upon walking through the doors, however, we were greeted by a friendly man who promptly introduced himself as the secretary of visitor operations.
We explained to Mr. Wall that we were students from Santa Clara University and were taking a religious course that encouraged us to research and explore new and unfamiliar religions. He seemed very excited to have us and offered to take us on a tour of the building.
While walking around the building, Mr. Wall told us a lot about the history and the science behind Scientology. He explained the church in a way that made its teachings a lot clearer for me. All throughout the church were informational posters and books that both described L. Ron Hubbard’s life and career, his interests in the body and the mind, and also his findings on how one’s spirit is affected by pain and hardships in life. Mr. Wall explained these posters in depth.
Throughout the interview, he made it very clear that the Church is there merely to help you achieve happiness and spiritual freedom through training, auditing (another concept he went in depth about) and knowledge. He spoke about his Catholic upbringing and his lack of enthusiasm for the religion. He was discontented as a child and thus found himself searching for something different as an adult. Scientology became the answer he was looking for.
Mr. Wall said that he, like many others who have since joined the church, came to it with great skepticism at first. The media, he said, had influenced his thoughts on what the church was doing and what it valued. As he spent time studying its teachings and ideals, however, he found it to be a place that he could call home. He then said something that I found really fascinating; none of the negativity in the media bothered him. He told us that spirituality and knowledge are things that are always questioned, so just because he KNOWS something to be true doesn’t mean everyone else will be able to do so.
Paul Sanchez:
When I first entered the Church of Scientology of Stevens Creek, I admit I was a little intimidated walking through the front door. This nervousness stemmed from what I heard about Scientologists through word of mouth. I feared I might be pressured to join the tradition or verbally harassed. These pre-conceived notions were silly and impractical though, for a very personable and nice receptionist greeted us when we entered the church. Soon after entering the beautiful and grand church we were greeted by a man by the name of Rick Wall whose title was head of Visitor Operations. He, like all the employees of the church, are purely volunteers who devote time nearly everyday to keep the church running. He informed us about the basic beliefs and practices of Scientology as well as informed us about his personal experience with the religious tradition.
My experience with Mr. Wall really changed my view on Scientologists, for he was an extremely down-to-earth individual who explained how Scientology has had a great impact on his life. Previous to joining the church, Mr. Wall briefly mentioned that he was a somewhat regular drug user, and really didn’t enjoy his life. Scientology helped him to become a drug-free person, and really set him on a quest for higher knowledge and ethical practices. When asked about what he thinks about the negative press and criticisms of Scientology, Mr. Wall assured us that he wasn’t concerned with it whatsoever. Moreover, he made it apparent that his main focus was striving to become a better citizen and worshiper of Scientology. When asked about auditing sessions and Dianetics, Mr. Wall told us he attends auditing sessions every month on a varying schedule. He informed us that the church recommends 12.5 hours of auditing per month, which cost money each time, but he wasn’t concerned with the cost, for he claims the effects of clearing one’s mind is very beneficial to him.
Another interesting aspect of Scientology that Mr. Wall relayed to us was the lack of significance placed upon Sunday chapel services. He told us that services are usually only about 20 minutes long, and only a small number of followers attend these services. Scientologists instead focus more upon the Dianetics aspect of the religion as well as the pursuit of true spiritual freedom. Finally, Mr. Wall explained the role L. Ron Hubbard plays within Scientology. Instead of some messiah-like individual that Hubbard sometimes is portrayed as, Mr. Wall described him simply as an ordinary man who discovered Dianetics and Scientology. Mr. Wall was very helpful in learning about the more personal side of Scientology, which was a nice change of pace.
Interview: Survey of General Public
Scenario: We were interested in the general public’s opinions, remarks, and knowledge of Scientology, so we went to Santana Row during a Saturday afternoon and asked random people what they knew, if anything, about Scientology. 20 people were interviewed at random, all over the age of 18.
Questions:
1. Have you ever heard about Scientology?
2. Have you ever heard about Dianetics?
3. Who is L. Ron Hubbard?
4. When you think of a famous Scientologist who comes to mind?
5. Would you label Scientology as a cult or a religion?
6. Do Scientologists believe in God?
7. What is a Thetan?
8. What is the most important holiday for Scientologists?
Responses:
1. Yes—20
No—0
Unsure—0
2. Yes—6
No—11
Unsure—3
3. Creator of Scientology—11
Unsure—7
Other—2
4. Tom Cruise—15
John Travolta—3
Will Smith—1
Katie Holmes—1
5. Cult—13
Religion—7
6. Yes—10
No—2
Unsure—8
7. The spirit of a person—0
Unsure—18
Other—2
8. L. Ron Hubbard’s birthday—0
Unsure—17
Other—3
Notes on the Interviews:
Brian DeVoto:
I was unsure what to expect for the survey. I wasn’t familiar with any of the details of Scientology before starting this project and it was interesting to see what random people knew. The fact that all twenty of the random participants answered yes to question # 1 shows that Scientology is well-known. However, only thirty percent of the people questioned knew what dianetics were. Dianetics is one of Scientology’s most core beliefs.
I wasn’t too surprised that Tom Cruise was the most famous scientologist that the majority thought of. He advocates publicly for the religion and is one of their largest spokesmen. However, I was a little disappointed to hear that Will Smith was a scientologist. I wasn’t even aware of this before we started the survey (Smith’s roles in “Men in Black” and “Independence Day” are much more relevant to me now, perhaps Tommy Lee Jones is also a scientologist).
The questions about their most important holiday, a definition of a ‘thetan’, and belief in God didn’t have surprising results. Only about half answered that they do believe in God while no one knew the answer to the other two. It’s also important to note that while ten people said scientologists believed in God, only seven people labeled Scientology as a religion. This means that while some people acknowledged scientologists believe in God, they deferred from labeling it as an actual religion. This seems to indicate that the general public view scientology in a negative light. News and media representations of Scientology be a cult influence the public into thinking that also.
The survey interview was helpful because it provided us with information about Scientology indirectly. These answers were able to give us some real-life insight into what the ‘every day’ person thinks and knows about Scientology.
Catherine Nally:
The street survey proved to be a great way to figure out how much or how little people actually know about Scientology. The internet is plastered with information about all types of religions, but for some reason Scientology seems to be the only one that is really scrutinized and seen as a “fake religion”.
I myself originally thought of Scientology as somewhat of a “fake” or a cult, however, this project changed some of these notions for me. I came to appreciate the religion for its scientific background. Before interviewing people I was rather certain that most people would be familiar with Scientology, but unfamiliar with what its beliefs were. My thoughts were correct. People seemed to respond to our questions with a laugh or a snide remark. A lot of people didn’t consider Scientology to be an actual religion, but as the media represents it to be, a cult.
Paul Sanchez:
When we went to Santana Row on a sunny Saturday afternoon to ask people what they knew or thought they knew about Scientology, we were greeted with mixed responses, as well as plenty of people wanting to ignore us. This neglect was somewhat expected though, for I know when I walk down the street and am asked to participate in an interview or survey I typically decline. Nevertheless, we found 20 people who were willing to respond to our basic questions about Scientology.
Everyone who participated had heard about the religion, which was not a surprise, but interestingly enough very few people had heard about Dianetics or knew what it was. When prompted about famous Scientologists, almost all participants thought of Tom Cruise, which can be attributed to how outspoken he is about the religion. An interesting connection Brian made after we pooled the results of these questions was that while only 7 participants thought Scientology to be a religion instead of a cult, 10 participants knew Scientologists officially believe in God. I think these results can be attributed to the multitude of bad press that Scientology receives in the public forum and media. Finally, no one knew what a “Thetan” was or what the most important holiday of Scientology was, which shows that the religious beliefs of this tradition are fairly unknown to outsiders. In conclusion, this experience was very helpful in understanding the public’s opinion and knowledge about the church.
Resources for Further Inquiry- Websites
Official website:
http://www.scientology.org/
Popular anti-scientology claim site:
http://www.xenu.net/
Effective solutions and activities:
http://www.scientologyreligion.org/
Unbiased overview of church:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/scientol
http://www.scientology.org/
Popular anti-scientology claim site:
http://www.xenu.net/
Effective solutions and activities:
http://www.scientologyreligion.org/
Unbiased overview of church:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/scientol
Birth of the Dianetic Movement
During the late 1940s, Hubbard began to synthesize concepts from Eastern religions and modern psychology into a new system for mental health.
Called Dianetics, after the Greek word for thought, this system promised to cure all mental disorders and psycho-somatic physical ailments.
Dianetics sees the human mind as "blocked" by traumatic emotional memories called engrams.
By talking over these emotional memories in a process similar to conventional psychoanalysis, a patient can remove the engrams and "clear" his or her mind.
This Dianetics process of removing engrams is called “auditing”
Auditing is a process whereby a series of questions are asked by the Scientology auditor, in an attempt to rid the auditee of the painful experiences of the past which scientologists believe to be the cause of the "reactive mind.”
Hubbard claimed that Dianetics can increase intelligence, eliminate unwanted emotions and alleviate a wide range of illnesses he believed to be psychosomatic. Among the conditions reportedly treated against are arthritis, allergies, asthma, some coronary difficulties, eye trouble, ulcers, migraine headaches, and sex deviations.
Called Dianetics, after the Greek word for thought, this system promised to cure all mental disorders and psycho-somatic physical ailments.
Dianetics sees the human mind as "blocked" by traumatic emotional memories called engrams.
By talking over these emotional memories in a process similar to conventional psychoanalysis, a patient can remove the engrams and "clear" his or her mind.
This Dianetics process of removing engrams is called “auditing”
Auditing is a process whereby a series of questions are asked by the Scientology auditor, in an attempt to rid the auditee of the painful experiences of the past which scientologists believe to be the cause of the "reactive mind.”
Hubbard claimed that Dianetics can increase intelligence, eliminate unwanted emotions and alleviate a wide range of illnesses he believed to be psychosomatic. Among the conditions reportedly treated against are arthritis, allergies, asthma, some coronary difficulties, eye trouble, ulcers, migraine headaches, and sex deviations.
Scientology Beliefs 101
One purpose of Scientology is to become certain of one's spiritual existence and one's relationship to God, or the "Supreme Being.”
A human is an immortal alien spiritual being, known as a thetan, that is trapped on planet Earth in a physical body.
The thetan has had innumerable past lives and it is accepted in Scientology that lives preceding the thetan's arrival on Earth lived in extraterrestrial cultures. Descriptions of space opera incidents are seen as true events by Scientologists.
Scientology has a defined creed, which was composed in 1954, the year Scientology was established as a religion.
This creed states that all church members believe that people "of whatever race, color, or creed were created with equal rights.”
The creed states that the Church of Scientology believes people are "basically good", seek "to survive", and that this survival depends on the self and upon one's fellows, as well as the attainment of "brotherhood with the universe.”
A human is an immortal alien spiritual being, known as a thetan, that is trapped on planet Earth in a physical body.
The thetan has had innumerable past lives and it is accepted in Scientology that lives preceding the thetan's arrival on Earth lived in extraterrestrial cultures. Descriptions of space opera incidents are seen as true events by Scientologists.
Scientology has a defined creed, which was composed in 1954, the year Scientology was established as a religion.
This creed states that all church members believe that people "of whatever race, color, or creed were created with equal rights.”
The creed states that the Church of Scientology believes people are "basically good", seek "to survive", and that this survival depends on the self and upon one's fellows, as well as the attainment of "brotherhood with the universe.”
Controversy in Scientology
TIME Magazine— “the church is a hugely profitable global racket that survives by intimidating members and critics in a Mafia-like manner.”
Eleven top Scientologists, including Hubbard's wife, were sent to prison in the early 1980s for infiltrating, burglarizing and wiretapping more than 100 private and government agencies in attempts to block their investigations.
In recent years hundreds of longtime Scientology adherents—many charging that they were mentally/physically abused—have quit the church and criticized it at their own risk.
Some have sued the church and won; others have settled for amounts in excess of $500,000. In various cases judges have labeled the church "schizophrenic and paranoid" and "corrupt, sinister and dangerous.”
According to the Cult Awareness Network, whose 23 chapters monitor more than 200 "mind control" cults, no group prompts more telephone pleas for help than does Scientology.
The church claims to have an estimated 8 million members worldwide, but more realistic estimations are around 50,000 members.
During the early 1970s, the IRS conducted its own auditing sessions and proved that Hubbard was skimming millions of dollars from the church, laundering the money through dummy corporations in Panama and stashing it in Swiss bank accounts.
Pyramid scheme in nature—auditing sessions can cost as much as $1000 an hour, and newcomers can earn commissions by recruiting new members, become auditors themselves, or join the church staff and receive free counseling in exchange for what their written contracts describe as a "billion years" of labor.
Eleven top Scientologists, including Hubbard's wife, were sent to prison in the early 1980s for infiltrating, burglarizing and wiretapping more than 100 private and government agencies in attempts to block their investigations.
In recent years hundreds of longtime Scientology adherents—many charging that they were mentally/physically abused—have quit the church and criticized it at their own risk.
Some have sued the church and won; others have settled for amounts in excess of $500,000. In various cases judges have labeled the church "schizophrenic and paranoid" and "corrupt, sinister and dangerous.”
According to the Cult Awareness Network, whose 23 chapters monitor more than 200 "mind control" cults, no group prompts more telephone pleas for help than does Scientology.
The church claims to have an estimated 8 million members worldwide, but more realistic estimations are around 50,000 members.
During the early 1970s, the IRS conducted its own auditing sessions and proved that Hubbard was skimming millions of dollars from the church, laundering the money through dummy corporations in Panama and stashing it in Swiss bank accounts.
Pyramid scheme in nature—auditing sessions can cost as much as $1000 an hour, and newcomers can earn commissions by recruiting new members, become auditors themselves, or join the church staff and receive free counseling in exchange for what their written contracts describe as a "billion years" of labor.
Opening Statement on the Website of The Church of Scientology in San Jose
“The importance of San Jose and Silicon Valley in terms of technology, communications and the energy this gives to the world give the citizens of this area far-reaching effects on our planet. It is our intention to bring these individuals up to new states of ability through the application of the breakthrough discoveries on the spirit and life made by L. Ron Hubbard. To that end, we have constructed and renovated an entirely new building for our San Jose church, which now stands as one of the largest Churches of Scientology in the world.”
This is the opening statement on the church’s website. This research center is local and an official Scientology Church. This would be a great link for our website. The site provides you with information about scientology, how you become a member, background info on L. Ron Hubbard, contact information/address, and an interactive web tour of the facility. The church provides free tours and displays open to the public. There are also free scientology ceremonies at noon on Sundays in the chapel. Courses in dianetics and auditing are also available at this research center.
Resources for further inquiry-Research Articles
Campbell, Bruce. "A Typology of Cults." Sociological Analysis 39.3 (1978): 228-40. JSTOR. Web. 4 Mar. 2010.
Kent, Stephen. "The Creation of "Religious" Scientology." Religious Studies and Theology 18.2 (1999): 97-126. Print.
McCall, W. Vaughn, "Psychiatry and Psychology in the Writings of L. Ron Hubbard." Journal of Religion and Health 46(3) (2007): 437-47. Print.
Robbins, Thomas. "Combating "Cults" and "Brainwashing" in the United States and
Western Europe: A Comment on Richardson and Introvigne's Report." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion: 169-75. JSTOR. Web. 6 Mar. 2010.
Ross, Michael W. "Effects of Membership in Scientology on Personality: An Exploratory
Study." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 27.4 (1988): 630-36. JSTOR.Web. 7 Mar. 2010.
Schmaltz, Matthew N. "Scientology and Catholicism Do Mix: A Note on Teaching New Religions in a Catholic Classroom." Teaching Theology & Religion 9 (2006): 29-36. Print.
The article defines “cults as non-traditional religious groups that are based on a belief in a diving element within the individual.” Three ideal types of cults are: a mystically-oriented illumination type; an instrumental type, in which inner experience is sought for its effects; and a service type, “which is focused on aiding others.” The article mentions Scientology and places it in the category of the illumination type. It is placed in the sub-group of “New Thought,” which emphasizes health, happiness, and prosperity. It also holds the belief that illnesses can be cured from change of belief or thought –mental healing. This parallels the ideas of dianetics and the theory that the mind is split into an analytical part and a reactive part.
The articles goes onto say that “Hubbard broke away to proclaim Scientology a religion which showed elements of the instrumental and illumination types as well as sectarian characteristics.” The progression from dianetics to Scientology shows a transition of a quasi-cult to a religious group. “Scientology is presented as helping the individual to improve communication and understanding of others, and as aiding his ability to control himself and interact effectively with others.”
However, because of its semi-cult appearance, Scientology has faced opposition from state agencies in Australia, Britain, and the United States. There have been controversies over certain practices and the steep costs of their programs. Still, Scientology is endorsed by many celebrities and they claim to have millions of members worldwide. Scientology has become more than merely a cult and will be around in the years to come.
Kent, Stephen. "The Creation of "Religious" Scientology." Religious Studies and Theology 18.2 (1999): 97-126. Print.
This article talks about the many areas of Scientology. It documents Scientology as a science, a mental health therapy, and a religion. The work examines the birth of the controversial faith and the practices of Scientology, such as Dianetics.
This article is important because it gave us a lot of detailed information on the many aspects of Scientology. A lot of information on the internet is very biased and negative in tone so it is hard to find valid historical explanations on why and how this religion came about. This journal article was very helpful in giving concrete answers to our questions.
McCall, W. Vaughn, "Psychiatry and Psychology in the Writings of L. Ron Hubbard." Journal of Religion and Health 46(3) (2007): 437-47. Print.
This paper gives an overview of scientology and reviews four of the major religious books written by L. Ron Hubbard. McCall concludes that Hubbard borrowed many of Freud’s ideas about the mind. A difference however is that Hubbard extended his theory to include “a spiritual existence that goes beyond the material world.” His goal was to optimize the mind’s potential, giving the individual total freedom. Hubbard viewed psychology as an enemy to this enlightenment that opposed self-realization and personal freedom. “Ultimately Hubbard presents a world view of potential nuclear world cataclysm, fueled by the geopolitical climate and mental health theories that dominated the mid 20th century.”
McCall’s conclusion on Hubbard is that he is a product of his environment. Hubbard’s writings and beliefs were influenced by the times in which he lived. Modern-day views of mental health practices do not consider them to be freedom-inhibiting or brain damaging. Hubbard’s stance in opposition to these practices remained consistent throughout the course of his life.
This article is very interesting because it conducts psychoanalysis on L. Ron. Hubbard (he would be opposed to this). It breaks down his religious texts and makes connections with theories other philosophers have said before him. It shows how Hubbard shares many beliefs with Freud, even though he disliked psychology and how his distrust in mental health was just one of many in the early 20th century. This article may give the most insight into the true origin of Scientology.
Robbins, Thomas. "Combating "Cults" and "Brainwashing" in the United States and
Western Europe: A Comment on Richardson and Introvigne's Report." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion: 169-75. JSTOR. Web. 6 Mar. 2010.
This article talks about the surge of “anti-cultism” in parts of Europe and in the United States. It addresses the idea that many are fearful of the notion of “brainwashing” and of being forced into cults. In general, however, “the ‘brainwashing’ controversy has been characterized by pervasive confusions of fact and interpretation and of process and outcome.” The author concludes by saying that he feels it is important that “some reference should be made to the American constitutional tradition and legal support for the free exercise of religion.”
This article is relevant to our topic, because Scientology is often looked at as a cult. Many people are fearful of its teachings and are skeptical about the testing that is done on the minds of its followers. Although the article does not talk specifically about Scientology, it does relate to our topic.
Ross, Michael W. "Effects of Membership in Scientology on Personality: An Exploratory
Study." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 27.4 (1988): 630-36. JSTOR.Web. 7 Mar. 2010.
This research article examines the effects of long-term membership in scientology. The researches gave 48 members a series of personality measures, “including the Adjective Check List, the Purpose in Life Test, and the Barron Ego-Strength scale of the MMPI.” The goal of the study was to find differences in the respondent’s situation before and after joining Scientology. The results of the study were that there was a “significant increase in social ease and in effectiveness of goal-directed behavior” after joining Scientology. The findings suggest that there may in fact be “some benefits accrued to long-term members”
This source seems rather credible and relevant to our topic. It addresses issues we ourselves had with Scientology. The media often portrays Scientology as “cult-like” and untrustworthy, however, this article seems to show that those who are members of the religion feel quite content and happy.
Schmaltz, Matthew N. "Scientology and Catholicism Do Mix: A Note on Teaching New Religions in a Catholic Classroom." Teaching Theology & Religion 9 (2006): 29-36. Print.
This article explores teaching new or alternative religions within the context of a Roman Catholic Liberal Arts College. It focuses on a section of a course entitled “Modern Religious Movements” in which students were asked to consider different methodological approaches to the teaching and study of Scientology and the Catholic cult of the Virgin Mary. The article “details how this surprising comparison prompted students to reconsider the category cult which is often given to Scientology and argues that encouraging self-reflexivity in a largely Catholic classroom can become a crucial means for engaging a broader discussion of new religions, cult discourse, and the academic study of religion itself.”
This is an interesting article because Santa Clara University, or at least this “Ways of Understanding Religion” class seems to be doing the same thing that this article demonstrated. By forcing students to explore different faiths and ideas, schools are allowing for a more accepting and enlightened student populace.
Resources for Further Inquiry- Recommended Books:
1. Title: What is Scientology?
Author: Church of Scientology
Brief: This book is based on the religious literature and works of the Founder of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard. It gives insight into Hubbard’s life and his discovery of dianetics. Also, it provides the reader varying statistics about scientology’s world growth and locations of scientology churches and practice centers. The book has very interesting information about the practices of the religion and their core beliefs. It is ‘pro-scientology’ and would provide a general reader with a detailed history of the religion.
2. Title: Blown for Good: Behind the Iron Curtain of Scientology
Author: Marc Headley
Brief: This story provides an eye-witness account of the inner workings of scientology. The author was a member of the church for 15 years before ‘escaping’ and writing his tell all book. It has gotten many supportive reviews from book critics and others who were deep into the religion of scientology as well. One review from Ortega says, “Headley's story provides a damning account of life working for Scientology leader David Miscavige at the secretive desert base. Perhaps the best service that Headley provides with Blown for Good is giving non-Scientologists the sense of what it's really like to work, day in and day out, in such a strange organization, from the lowliest laborer mucking out excrement in a Gold Base pond (Headley says shit was coming out of his ears and pores for days) to what kind of luxuries the celebrities and high-ranking members enjoy." The book is extremely controversial and would be a very interesting read for someone unfamiliar in scientology.
3. Title: My Billion Year Contract: Memoir of a Former Scientologist
Author: Nancy Many
Brief: The book’s title is a based on an actual Billion Year Contract for people working for Scientology’s elite para military force. This was a real contract and the book is based on Nancy Many’s commitment to the force while she was a member of the church. It is said to be a ‘shocking story of abuse, imprisonment, espionage, lies, mental torture and suicide.’ Nancy was also once President of Scientology’s Celebrity Center in Los Angeles and her high ranking position has left her with many ‘dark secrets’ behind the doors of the church. Her story appears to be interesting as well as very controversial.
4. Title: The Church of Scientology Handbook
Author: Church of Scientology, Editor: L. Ron Hubbard
Brief: The title of the book does a good job of summarizing its content. It is broken down into 19 chapters (“bodies of technology”) that address uses of education, marital success, basic problem solving, keeping children happy, assists for illness and injuries, etc. Along with this, the book provides over 700 illustrations to go along with its teachings. After reading the book, a unanimous reviewer said, "I spent a few hours and read the entire Scientology Handbook. It gave me a sense of knowingness I’ve never had before. I knew that I was prepared for any situation in life and I’d know what to do. I now perform assists at work and apply the technology from the book. Now I’m considered a miracle worker and someone who knows what she’s doing. All my life I’ve tried to help people, but now with The Scientology Handbook, I can really help them!" The book most definitely has insight and a positive perspective on scientology.
5. Title: Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health
Author: L. Ron Hubbard
Brief: Dianetics is one of the core beliefs of scientology. It is a set of ideas and practices regarding the metaphysical relationship between the body and the mind. It was created by scientology’s founder L. Ron Hubbard. This book has been on bestseller lists for many years and millions of copies have been sold worldwide. Learning about dianetics gives you a much greater understanding of what scientology’s goal’s are for the body and mind. It would most definitely be a quality book for a general reader learning about scientology.
6. Title: Toward Benevolent Neutrality: Church, State, and the Supreme Court, Fifth Edition
Author: Robert T Flowers
Brief: This book discusses religious tolerance and religion’s role in the public square in the United States and Europe. It talks about all of the world’s religions (including scientology) and how they are embraced by the public. Flowers says that a “relevant comparison between scientology and other religions must be between the Scientologist undergoing auditing or training and a priest/rabbi/Buddhist devoting time to interpret the core beliefs of their faith.” This is an interesting read because it neither praises nor sheds a negative light on scientology, rather it makes connections between its core beliefs and practices to older, more established faiths around the world.
Author: Church of Scientology
Brief: This book is based on the religious literature and works of the Founder of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard. It gives insight into Hubbard’s life and his discovery of dianetics. Also, it provides the reader varying statistics about scientology’s world growth and locations of scientology churches and practice centers. The book has very interesting information about the practices of the religion and their core beliefs. It is ‘pro-scientology’ and would provide a general reader with a detailed history of the religion.
2. Title: Blown for Good: Behind the Iron Curtain of Scientology
Author: Marc Headley
Brief: This story provides an eye-witness account of the inner workings of scientology. The author was a member of the church for 15 years before ‘escaping’ and writing his tell all book. It has gotten many supportive reviews from book critics and others who were deep into the religion of scientology as well. One review from Ortega says, “Headley's story provides a damning account of life working for Scientology leader David Miscavige at the secretive desert base. Perhaps the best service that Headley provides with Blown for Good is giving non-Scientologists the sense of what it's really like to work, day in and day out, in such a strange organization, from the lowliest laborer mucking out excrement in a Gold Base pond (Headley says shit was coming out of his ears and pores for days) to what kind of luxuries the celebrities and high-ranking members enjoy." The book is extremely controversial and would be a very interesting read for someone unfamiliar in scientology.
3. Title: My Billion Year Contract: Memoir of a Former Scientologist
Author: Nancy Many
Brief: The book’s title is a based on an actual Billion Year Contract for people working for Scientology’s elite para military force. This was a real contract and the book is based on Nancy Many’s commitment to the force while she was a member of the church. It is said to be a ‘shocking story of abuse, imprisonment, espionage, lies, mental torture and suicide.’ Nancy was also once President of Scientology’s Celebrity Center in Los Angeles and her high ranking position has left her with many ‘dark secrets’ behind the doors of the church. Her story appears to be interesting as well as very controversial.
4. Title: The Church of Scientology Handbook
Author: Church of Scientology, Editor: L. Ron Hubbard
Brief: The title of the book does a good job of summarizing its content. It is broken down into 19 chapters (“bodies of technology”) that address uses of education, marital success, basic problem solving, keeping children happy, assists for illness and injuries, etc. Along with this, the book provides over 700 illustrations to go along with its teachings. After reading the book, a unanimous reviewer said, "I spent a few hours and read the entire Scientology Handbook. It gave me a sense of knowingness I’ve never had before. I knew that I was prepared for any situation in life and I’d know what to do. I now perform assists at work and apply the technology from the book. Now I’m considered a miracle worker and someone who knows what she’s doing. All my life I’ve tried to help people, but now with The Scientology Handbook, I can really help them!" The book most definitely has insight and a positive perspective on scientology.
5. Title: Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health
Author: L. Ron Hubbard
Brief: Dianetics is one of the core beliefs of scientology. It is a set of ideas and practices regarding the metaphysical relationship between the body and the mind. It was created by scientology’s founder L. Ron Hubbard. This book has been on bestseller lists for many years and millions of copies have been sold worldwide. Learning about dianetics gives you a much greater understanding of what scientology’s goal’s are for the body and mind. It would most definitely be a quality book for a general reader learning about scientology.
6. Title: Toward Benevolent Neutrality: Church, State, and the Supreme Court, Fifth Edition
Author: Robert T Flowers
Brief: This book discusses religious tolerance and religion’s role in the public square in the United States and Europe. It talks about all of the world’s religions (including scientology) and how they are embraced by the public. Flowers says that a “relevant comparison between scientology and other religions must be between the Scientologist undergoing auditing or training and a priest/rabbi/Buddhist devoting time to interpret the core beliefs of their faith.” This is an interesting read because it neither praises nor sheds a negative light on scientology, rather it makes connections between its core beliefs and practices to older, more established faiths around the world.
March 15, 2010
Expert Interviews
L. Ron Hubbard
“You don't get rich writing science fiction. If you want to get rich, you start a religion.”
“The history of organizations in Dianetics and Scientology is a history of people. It is the history of a number of people finding their feet, finding their initiative and finding their way of life.”
Brief Bio:
L. Ron Hubbard is credited as the founder of Scientology and the Dianetics movement. Born on March 13, 1911 in Tilden, Nebraska, Hubbard was the son of naval officer, Harry Ross and Dora May Hubbard. Between the 1930s and 1945, Hubbard attended Georgetown University and Princeton University, but it is widely disputed if he ever graduated from either institution. During World War II he served as a Naval lieutenant, but was not as decorated of a soldier as church brochures would later claim. Hubbard had two unsuccessful marriages before finally settling down and having four children with wife, Marie Sue Whipp in 1952. An avid writer throughout his lifetime, Hubbard was well known for his rapid speed at producing various novels, stories, and articles. Publishing nearly 600 books, articles, and stories during his lifetime, Hubbard sold over 23 million copies of fiction writing, as well as over 27 million copies of non-fiction writing.
During the late 1940s, Hubbard developed the Dianetics movement, formed from concepts of Eastern religions and modern psychology. When the Dianetics movement started to gain public attention in the early 1950s, Hubbard formed the Church of Scientology (1954). The church became popular and grew rapidly throughout the 60s and 70s, and Hubbard experienced the fruits of success. However, Hubbard went into seclusion in the early 1980s due to legal problems, living on his yacht in international waters, his house in England, and his rural property in California. Hubbard died from a stroke on January 24, 1986, before he could be prosecuted for his legal troubles. Despite the controversy surrounding Hubbard’s life, church officials claimed that Hubbard had reached a state of mental clarity so pure that he did not require his human body anymore. Hubbard remains a very important if not the most important figure of Scientology, for his birthday is the highest regarded holiday among Scientologists. Without Hubbard, Scientology would most likely not exist, as well as the development of Dianetics.
David Miscavige:
"While one can complain about the conditions we live in and it all can seem overwhelming, we take a different view that the most important commodity on Earth are people …So, yes: We believe in human rights and are doing something to make them an everyday fact.”
Brief Bio:
• Born April 30th, 1960 in Suburban Philadelphia
• Joined the Church of Scientology at age 16 and has been its leader since 1987.
• Career Highlights: Ecclesiastical leader of Scientology since 1987, when he became chairman of the board of the Religious Technology Center. The RTC is responsible for preserving, maintaining and protecting Scientology and ensuring that its practices hold true to the original "technology"
• Numerous allegations have been made against him in court documents and media reports surrounding his treatment of staff, including physical assault, coerced abortions, human trafficking and child labor.
• David Miscavige is an important to interview because he is the current leader of the Church of Scientology and its many affiliated organizations. Miscavige is an interesting man due to the fact that he was originally an assistant to the late L. Ron Hubbard; He was able to prove himself within the community of Scientologists, however, and rose to a leadership position by the early 1980s.
Tom Cruise:
"In Scientology, we have the only successful drug rehabilitation program in the world. It's called Narconon… It's a statistically proven fact that there is only one successful drug rehabilitation program in the world. Period."
• Narconon claims to have a success rate over 70 percent, however, the accuracy of this figure has been widely disputed.
Brief Bio:
• Born July 3rd, 1962 in Syracuse, New York
• Extraordinary successful actor, producer, and philanthropist
• Outspoken advocate for Scientology
• Promotes various programs that introduce people to Scientology, and has campaigned for Scientology to be fully recognized as a religion in Europe. For his involvement, David Miscavige awarded Scientology's Freedom Medal of Valor to Cruise in 2004.
• Tom Cruise is not only an important figure in Scientology, but he is also an important American icon. His star status has remained near the top of the Hollywood hierarchy for nearly two decades. Through a very public divorce and near-constant media attention, Cruise has remained calm and collected. He is a very spiritual person; a devout Scientologist. He takes his professional and personal life very seriously.
John Travolta
"In January of 1975 I was working on my first film in Durango, Mexico. There I met an actress who gave me the book Dianetics. During the five weeks we were filming she gave me some auditing sessions and applied some basic principles. That was when I became involved in Dianetics - because it worked. When I returned to the United States I began Scientology training and auditing. My career immediately took off and I landed a leading role on the TV show "Welcome Back Kotter" and had a string of successful films. I have been a successful actor for more than twenty years and Scientology has played a major role in that success. I have a wonderful child and a great marriage because I apply L. Ron Hubbard's technology to this area of my life. As a Scientologist, I have the technology to handle life's problems and I have used this to help others in life as well. I would say that Scientology put me into the big time."
Brief Bio:
• Born February 18, 1954.
• Famous American actor, dancer and singer.
• In 2000, he stared in “Battlefield Earth” where he played the leader of a group of “aliens that enslave humanity on a bleak future earth. The movie was actually based on a science fiction book written by L. Ron Hubbard.
• Along with being American icon, Travolta is also a devoted scientologist. He is one of the religion’s highest profile celebrities and always speaks highly of the religion.
• After the death of his son Jett, John said that faith and religion helped him heal. “We work hard every day with our church on healing,” said Travolta.
• Recently, Travolta flew a jetliner carrying medical supplies, doctors, and ministers from the Church of Scientology to aid survivors in Haiti.
Who wouldn’t want to have John Travolta on their broadcast? He’s a famous actor that carries a great deal of influence. It would be interesting to find out his current position within the church and relationship with fellow scientologist, Tom Cruise. Also, the audience would be interested to hear the reasons behind his convergence to the faith and how it has changed his life. I would also want to hear his opinion on the speculation that scientology is a large “pyramid scheme.” Travolta is a multimillionaire so the expensive ‘cleansing/ auditing’ sessions aren’t an issue for him. I want to know what he thinks about these costs and how people with low incomes could even take part in scientology.
Heber Jentzsch:
“There is only one security, and when you've lost that security, you've lost everything you've got. And that is the security of confidence in yourself; to be, to create, to make any position you want to make for yourself. And when you lose that confidence, you've lost the only security you can have. ... Self-confidence is self-determinism. One's belief in one's ability to determine his own course. As long as one has that, he's got the universe in his pocket. And when he hasn't got that, not all the pearls in China nor all the grain and corn in Iowa can give him security, because that's the only security there is.”
Brief Bio:
• Born in 1935. He identified himself as a “believing Mormon”. In 1959, he graduated with a degree in communications and Eastern religions.
• So what makes this man an ideal candidate for our program segment? Jentzsch has served as the president of the Church of Scientology International since 1982. He has been at the center of much controversy as well. In 1988, Jentzsch (along with 69 other Scientology members) was arrested in Spain and charged with “illegal association,” tax fraud, and endangering public health. However, due to a lack of evidence the charges were eventually dropped by the Madrid Provincial Court in April 2002.
• Heber Jentzsch has played a large role in scientology’s expansion and economic development during his reign. He was the one who informed the press of L. Ron Hubbard’s death (1986) and has often appeared in newspaper interviews defending the church on various controversial issues. He is passionate about scientology and claims he was “cured” in the Scientology Purification Rundown from “radiation burns” that had caused him pain since his adolescence.
• Jentzsch appears to be an excellent person to interview. It would be interesting to hear his account of how the practice cured his illness. Also, he would address the incident in Spain and other controversies that have caused him much public scrutiny. Heber is an outspoken person and would most likely enjoy the free publicity that Scientology would get.
Thomas W. Davis
“As one who would work to build a better world, the artist is deserving of that freedom. The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre International stands ready to deliver it.”
Brief Bio:
Thomas W. Davis, a.k.a. Tommy Davis, was born August 18, 1972 in Los Angeles, California. His mother is the famous actress and scientologist Anne Archer, and his father is real estate investor William Davis. Therefore, Davis is not ashamed to say that he grew up around quite a bit of wealth in the Los Angeles area, stating in an interview with Rolling Stone, “I have enough money to never work a day in my life.” Davis became an avid practicing member of Scientology due to his mother’s affiliation to the church, and was eventually appointed head of the Church of Scientology’s Celebrity Centre International in 2002. The Celebrity Centre embraces the arts movement, and attracts many celebrities and artists in the Los Angeles area. This move was a strategic placement by the church, for Davis runs in many prominent, wealthy, and celebrity circles in the Los Angeles area. Davis is a senior-level Scientologist, spokesman of the Church of Scientologist, and member of the church’s sea organization, “Sea Org.”
Davis has been interviewed many times on major television networks and documentaries about Scientology, often criticized publicly for losing his temper during interviews, and dodging specific questions about the beliefs and practices of Scientologists. Davis is currently a resident of Scientology’s campus in Gilman Hot Springs, California, and is close friends with many of celebrity Scientologists that one sees within the United States.
Davis is an integral member of the Church of Scientology’s hierarchy, for he is head of one of the most important Scientology centers in the world, as well as a public spokesman for the religion. Without Davis, the church would not have such a large base of celebrity patrons who are essential in spreading and promoting the growing religion.
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