So I try to be respectful of all beliefs – but I find it particularly difficult to take Scientology very seriously. Maybe it’s because it was developed by a sci-fi writer only 50 years ago – or maybe it’s all the talk of thetan and the whole idea of 
auditing on an e-meter. I dunno… it just seems like an elaborate prank. Like at any time Tom Cruise is going to jump out and say, “We gotcha! You all really thought we believed that stuff huh?”.
I went to a lecture last night where Huston Smith spoke about how the Enlightenment severed the relationship between the physical and the spiritual for many people. That often resulted in the decapitation of the spiritual self from the natural world in order to accommodate the new knowledge humanity gained through the scientific revolution.
He explained how today people have begun to realize the disconnect is unnecessary and in fact, that a reuniting of spiritualism and naturalism is occuring in the Western world. Some might think this is an example of post-modernism, but the crux of the matter is that people are realizing the emptiness that comes when a critical part of the self (the spiritual aspect) is left un-nurtured.
I’m beginning to think that Scientology having a following at all only further proves that people have a deep desire to connect with the Sacred – even it if it involves seemingly bizarre rituals or practices.
Now that I can respect.
10 Responses to “The Church of Scientology”
Leave a Reply
Twitter: EstherCrawford
- @jeffreine that bridge gives me chills
- @jeffreine yep! and watched tv ... I'm pretty sure every night should end like that
- @soccerhaus it was pretty hilarious... then another couple came in and started making out too.. it never ended
March 21st, 2006 at 12:39 am
scientology… yo umean it is not a hoax?
seriously visisted the web page. i got so dizzy from their doctrine i threw up in my mouth
March 20th, 2006 at 1:44 pm
I saw Isaac Hayes live if that means anything.
March 20th, 2006 at 11:54 am
I have often thought the same about Scientology. It all just seems like a big life-sized game show. “Move to the right – YOU’VE JUST ENTERED THE REALM OF THETAN – RECEIVE FOUR POINTS!” I know it’s probably more complicated than that, but I just don’t get it.
March 20th, 2006 at 9:57 am
Hi Esther! I just wanted to say, I sorta share your sentiments on Scientology, while just like you, I try to accept everyone’s different views on life. I dunno, maybe none of us have it right, maybe we all have it right…maybe there is no “right”. At any rate, it’s interesting to see how people can have so many different views of the same thing so to speak. You remind me of that fact all the time, and it’s awesome!
March 20th, 2006 at 2:09 am
Never regret your feelings. Be willing to change your judgments as more knowledge becomes available, but never be afraid of feelings. I know you wonder why on a lot of areas, but that is the process by which one comes to true understanding. Satanism does not have the truth. Scientology is a made-up religion; many manifestations of Christianity are heretical, but Jesus never fails, and His Word shows us His will and His righteous character. Believe it! You will find the truth growing. Stay engaged, friend. pb
March 19th, 2006 at 8:52 pm
Heh, I know what you mean. I find it hard to believe that people actually buy into that, considering there are so many more pausible spiritual theories or what not that people are preaching.
*shrugs* Just goes to show that anything is possible.
Oh, and thank YOU for looking at the link. =) Heh. I really like your site. [ And I know you took the entry off, but I'm sorry about your cousin. >.< That's gotta be a tough thing to watch so closely. I've only ever seen stuff like that on screen - Farenheit 911, for example - and I was upset and/or angry for days after. ]
March 19th, 2006 at 6:18 pm
BTW, that song on my xanga went over pretty well in my Irish Literature presentation. :)
March 19th, 2006 at 2:41 pm
I figure there must be SOMETHING to scientology for people (and Tom Cruise too)to be so into it.
I wonder though…as much as some people like scientology, how many people are getting turned off of vs. turned on to it because of Tom Cruise, cuz Tom has been a nasty guy on a few occasions in the name of scientology.
March 19th, 2006 at 2:32 pm
One of the great unfulfilled predictions of the Enlightenment was that rational, empirical knowledge would gradually replace religion and its mystical knowledge. We have discovered, instead, that religion and rational empiricism seek different kinds of knowledge, and that the latter is woefully inadequate as a means of providing meaning.
March 19th, 2006 at 12:53 pm
The South Park episode and the Rolling Stone article are interesting articles about Scientology. It’s funny with all the hoopla about the South Park episode, which I’d never even heard of till this week, has surfaced as the thing to see since TC made such a big deal of refusing to promote his new movie if Southpark didn’t pull the rerun of the Sc. episode. Any group that insists that you pay to gain the secret knowledge (and there are many of them) isn’t truly trying to help people. They’re trying to line their pockets.