Everything You Need to Know About the Church of Scientology

The Church of Scientology is a modern religious movement founded in 1953 by the American author L. Ron Hubbard to promote and practice his theories and techniques. Hubbard initially developed these ideas in 1950 as a form of talk therapy called Dianetics, which he later expanded and reframed as a religion.

Scientology is built upon several fundamental truths. The primary belief is that a human is an immortal spiritual being called a "thetan," which resides in a physical body. This thetan is distinct from the body and mind, has lived through many past lives, and does not cease to exist at death, typically being reincarnated into a new body. Scientology holds that thetans have forgotten their true nature through countless lifetimes and are trapped on Earth.

Other essential tenets include the belief that Man is basically good, that his experience extends well beyond a single lifetime, and that his capabilities are unlimited, even if not presently realized. The religion addresses the spirit—not the body or mind—and believes that Man is far more than a product of his environment or his genes.

Scientology is not presented as a dogmatic religion where one is asked to accept anything on faith alone; instead, followers are encouraged to discover the principles are true by applying them and observing the results. The ultimate goal of Scientology is true spiritual enlightenment and freedom for all. The name itself is derived from the Latin word scio ("knowing") and the Greek word logos ("study of"), meaning "knowing how to know".

Another vision of spiritual enlightenment

The Church of Scientology defines spiritual enlightenment as the ultimate goal of its religion, described as "true spiritual enlightenment and freedom for all". This state is achieved through a precise path that leads to a complete and certain understanding of one’s true spiritual nature and one’s relationship to self, family, groups, Mankind, all life forms, the material universe, the spiritual universe, and the Supreme Being.

At its core, Scientology teaches that humans are immortal spiritual beings called "thetans" who have forgotten their true nature through countless reincarnations. The goal of the religion is to rediscover this nature, achieve spiritual enlightenment, and realize one's potential as a thetan. This process of spiritual awakening is structured along a hierarchical path known as "The Bridge to Total Freedom".

Spiritual enlightenment in Scientology is conceived as a condition of spiritual freedom, free of material limitations and misery. It is described as a kind of god-like power, where the individual, as an immortal spiritual being, can achieve new states of awareness and capabilities well beyond those normally envisioned. At the highest level, known as Operating Thetan (OT), one deals with his own immortality as a spiritual being and is believed to be capable of accomplishing anything, including the creation of mass, energy, space, and time.

The path to this enlightenment is achieved through a series of practices, most notably "auditing," a one-on-one session where individuals recount experiences while connected to an E-meter. This process is intended to clear individuals of past traumas and accumulated spiritual burdens, known as "engrams," helping practitioners become "Clear"—a state where they are free of the negative effects of past traumas and capable of functioning at their highest potential. Ultimately, Scientology holds that Man is basically good and that his spiritual salvation depends upon himself, his fellows, and his attainment of brotherhood with the universe.

Conclusion

The Church of Scientology rejects faith in favor of personal discovery because it positions itself as a non-dogmatic religion that requires individuals to verify its principles through direct application and personal experience, rather than accepting them on belief alone. This approach is rooted in the religion's foundational claim that it offers a precise, practical methodology for spiritual advancement.

Scientology's official stance is that it is "not a dogmatic religion in which one is asked to accept anything on faith alone". Instead, the church teaches that "one discovers for oneself that the principles of Scientology are true by applying its principles and observing or experiencing the results". This emphasis on personal verification is central to its identity as a "scientifically-oriented path to spiritual enlightenment".