Question for Scientologists

[motoeric]

Hi,

I’m hoping that there is a scientologist out there that might be able to answer a question that’s been bugging me for a while.

How did L. Ron Hubbard learn about Thetans and previous lives, Xenu and the Galactic Confederacy?

Was this revealed to him in a fashion similar to Joseph Smith? Was he visited by a being that imparted this knowledge? Did he have some sort of ecstatic gnosis?

Just curious.

Thanks!

Eric

 

[ChadS]

I am not a scientologist nor do I play one on TV, but from the few things I’ve read they tend to play down the existence of Xenu or the role it plays in their theology. According to the Wikipedia article that knowledge is only imparted to people sufficiently advanced enough.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenu

As far as Hubbard’s revelations he claims he received training from Buddhist and Hindu monks while traveling in India and Asia. I don’t think there are any claims a la Joseph Smith for Scientology.

Of course this whole narrative is complicated by the fact that more than one person claims that Hubbard said he would invent a religion to get rich off of.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._Ron_Hubbard

ChadS

 

[Javl]

I am not a scientologist nor do I play one on TV, but from the few things I’ve read they tend to play down the existence of Xenu or the role it plays in their theology. According to the Wikipedia article that knowledge is only imparted to people sufficiently advanced enough.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenu

As far as Hubbard’s revelations he claims he received training from Buddhist and Hindu monks while traveling in India and Asia. I don’t think there are any claims a la Joseph Smith for Scientology.

Of course this whole narrative is complicated by the fact that more than one person claims that Hubbard said he would invent a religion to get rich off of.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._Ron_Hubbard

ChadS

The rumor is that Hubbard made them up. The story also goes that Hubbard, who was/is supposedly a sci-fi writer/novelist, was bet by another sci-fi writer that he could not produce a complete futuristic sci-fi religion for his novel’s characters. He did and the result was/is scientology. How it joined the public religious ranks is common knowledge. Also, according to rumor, Hubbard profited handsomely from this pseudo-religion.

PAX DOMINI

Shalom Aleichem

 

[ChadS]

The rumor is that Hubbard made them up. The story also goes that Hubbard, who was/is supposedly a sci-fi writer/novelist, was bet by another sci-fi writer that he could not produce a complete futuristic sci-fi religion for his novel’s characters. He did and the result was/is scientology. How it joined the public religious ranks is common knowledge. Also, according to rumor, Hubbard profited handsomely from this pseudo-religion.

PAX DOMINI

Shalom Aleichem

I agree with you 100%, Scientology is the product of one man’s imagination. According to the Wikipedia article Hubbard was a rather prolific fiction writer, the article claims he wrote something like a 138 novels in a 5 year timespan, however it says nothing about the quality, but prior to his Scientology days he was published frequently in pulp magazines.

He wouldn’t be the first writer to invent whole belief systems for his characters to inhabit, but he may be the first to get fabulously wealthy off of it.

ChadS

 

[motoeric]

I agree wholeheartedly that Scientology is the most elaborate bit of fiction that Hubbard developed.

I was just curious as to what he said after explaining the galactic history of his religion when adherents would say ‘Wow, that’s cool. How did you come by that information?’.

It seems like a very basic and critical question. Did he claim that he gained this knowledge through osmosis when he became ‘clear’? He found some ancient technology that imparted this knowledge?

How does he explain how a mildly successful pulp science fiction writer come by the most important knowledge in the galaxy?

Eric

 

[Nine_Two]

I agree wholeheartedly that Scientology is the most elaborate bit of fiction that Hubbard developed.

I was just curious as to what he said after explaining the galactic history of his religion when adherents would say ‘Wow, that’s cool. How did you come by that information?’.

It seems like a very basic and critical question. Did he claim that he gained this knowledge through osmosis when he became ‘clear’? He found some ancient technology that imparted this knowledge?

How does he explain how a mildly successful pulp science fiction writer come by the most important knowledge in the galaxy?

Eric

The way Scientology is set up you don’t receive certain information until you are cleared for it. It would be like the Catholic Church only allowing certain people to know about the doctrine of the Trinity.
Further, when people do reach those levels they don’t question these basics because they’ve put a lot of money into advancing to that stage of the religion. People will convince themselves of anything to justify spending lots of money. No one wants to admit to being had.

 

[Sufjon]

I

As far as Hubbard’s revelations he claims he received training from Buddhist and Hindu monks while traveling in India and Asia. I don’t think there are any claims a la Joseph Smith for Scientology.
ChadS

He may have said that, but he didn’t get those ideas from us. There is nothing like that in our religion.

Your friend
Sufjon

 

[Bluegoat]

I agree with you 100%, Scientology is the product of one man’s imagination. According to the Wikipedia article Hubbard was a rather prolific fiction writer, the article claims he wrote something like a 138 novels in a 5 year timespan, however it says nothing about the quality, but prior to his Scientology days he was published frequently in pulp magazines.

He wouldn’t be the first writer to invent whole belief systems for his characters to inhabit, but he may be the first to get fabulously wealthy off of it.

ChadS

I read one of his novels, I really like science fiction. It really stunk, I found it almost unreadable.

 

[Nine_Two]

He may have said that, but he didn’t get those ideas from us. There is nothing like that in our religion.

Your friend
Sufjon

Every religion needs and Evil Galactic Emperor named Xenu.

 

[Nine_Two]

I’ve never read his novels, but what I have read of his religion sounds like bad sci-fi.

 

[Jehoshua]

If i was supreme overlord of my country scientology is the one group i would consider banning since to my mind its more of an abusive corporate scam that masquerades under a facade of religion to acquire money.

That and the abusive behavior towards members of this group violate the standards of ethical behaviour that is required by religions if they are to be permitted free practice, compared to say cults. (just like religious polygamy and animal sacrifice are forbidden in my country) ,

in fact a senator called for an inquiry into scientology here, havent seen much from the current government though.

 

[Sufjon]

Every religion needs and Evil Galactic Emperor named Xenu.

Or at least a sea-farin’, salty dog with a naval uniform to head up your Sea Org. Okay, maybe they got that part from us - you never know. Sadhus have been known to say strange things to visitors and tourists to get them to leave them alone. Just a little harmless fun I suppose.

Your friend
Sufjon

 

[kenofken]

Hi,

I’m hoping that there is a scientologist out there that might be able to answer a question that’s been bugging me for a while.

How did L. Ron Hubbard learn about Thetans and previous lives, Xenu and the Galactic Confederacy?

Was this revealed to him in a fashion similar to Joseph Smith? Was he visited by a being that imparted this knowledge? Did he have some sort of ecstatic gnosis?

Just curious.

Thanks!

Eric

Yes, his “ecstatic gnosis” was that you could make a LOT more money selling salvation than you can writing science fiction novels on a piecework basis.

 

[Javl]

By the way, you have to have a lot of money and be stupid ( not dumb or ignorant, but stupid ) to join the church of Scientology. I’ve also read some of Hubbards “sci-fi” articles and they are really awful.

PAX DOMINI

Shalom Aleichem

 

[LemonAndLime]

Hi,

I’m hoping that there is a scientologist out there that might be able to answer a question that’s been bugging me for a while.

How did L. Ron Hubbard learn about Thetans and previous lives, Xenu and the Galactic Confederacy?

Was this revealed to him in a fashion similar to Joseph Smith? Was he visited by a being that imparted this knowledge? Did he have some sort of ecstatic gnosis?

Just curious.

Thanks!

Eric

Perhaps it is useful at this point to just say that the founder of Scientology was banned from entering the UK before his death for trying to start numerous cults without success. It seems he found a following in America, and I am so glad you have to live with Scientology while we deny them the right to call themselves a religion. Last time I checked, they’re legally considered a cult and are denied charitable status in the UK.

Therefore, my guess is he got his knowledge from those science fiction novels he apparently wrote as well.

 

[kenofken]

It’s important to realize that Scientology, to the extent it’s been denied charity or other official status or otherwise “banned”, it is not because its mythology seems improbable or doesn’t measure up as a “real” religion. It’s because Scientology has been very focused on revenue generating enterprises, to the point that it stretches the definition of religious not-for-profit status, and in some jurisdictions, apparently stretches it too far. If religions were only granted official acceptance based on the believability of its texts or myths, arguably none would qualify.

 

[kenofken]

By the way, you have to have a lot of money and be stupid ( not dumb or ignorant, but stupid ) to join the church of Scientology. I’ve also read some of Hubbards “sci-fi” articles and they are really awful.

PAX DOMINI

Shalom Aleichem

I would argue that you only have to have an average measure of human gullibility. Any person who is hungry for meaning and belonging that they’re not finding in other venues of their life is vulnerable to recruitment by ANY religion, for good and ill. It’s not by chance that all proseletyzing faiths focus most of their missionary activities on the young, the poor, the socially isolated and disaffected, convicts etc.

You do have one point: you don’t need money to join Scientology, but it helps a great deal if you want to be ranked among its “elite” membership.

 

[vera_dicere]

I often wonder about the likes of Tom Cruise and Trevota. Do they go back to their homes after a scientology meeting and think “Wow, this realy is a load of rubbish, but man it gets me publicity!”

But it boggles the mind, all religion has its aspects of “odd”, but we all know this “religion” is a pile of soggy.

 

[Nine_Two]

I often wonder about the likes of Tom Cruise and Trevota. Do they go back to their homes after a scientology meeting and think “Wow, this realy is a load of rubbish, but man it gets me publicity!”

But it boggles the mind, all religion has its aspects of “odd”, but we all know this “religion” is a pile of soggy.

I’ve actually heard rumours that Travolta has fallen away, but he won’t do anything officially for fear of losing his family.

 

[kenofken]

I often wonder about the likes of Tom Cruise and Trevota. Do they go back to their homes after a scientology meeting and think “Wow, this realy is a load of rubbish, but man it gets me publicity!”

But it boggles the mind, all religion has its aspects of “odd”, but we all know this “religion” is a pile of soggy.

I suspect it’s very attractive to big-name celebrities because it treats them like royalty and attributes their success to their status as spiritually advanced beings who have a mission to help humanity. At some level, plain old peer pressure or friendships probably play a role in recruitment. If you’re a friend of a friend of a Travolta who thinks he’s a great guy in real life and/or a link to possibly big time roles, you’ll probably be open to at least checking the whole thing out.