Scientology Compared With Christianity (Part 1)
To your right is the Wittenberg Door, where Martin Luther nailed his famous 95 theses. This series of blogs is written in the same spirit, and to promote the scholarly study of the beliefs and practices of Dianetics and Scientology. The “Church” of Scientology is less than forthcoming in revealing its entire belief structure to the general public. Scientology publicly claims to be an “applied religious philosophy”, as well as being compatible with other religious belief systems. However, the private upper levels of Scientology introduce many concepts that stretch the definition of “compatible”, and L. Ron Hubbard says many uncomplimentary things about religion in general and Christianity in particular. This blog series explores the beliefs and practices of Scientology, then compares those beliefs and practices to those of Christianity.
Firstly, Scientology believes that God exists, but goes on to say “As to the form in which He exists, we do not know,”1.
Although Scientology does not know the exact form of God (i.e., the Supreme Being), it does teach that there are “gods above other gods, and gods beyond the gods of the universes”2. Scientology also states that each thetan (person) “has as far as we can see in the manufacture of energy, about the same capabilities as those which have been assigned to the Supreme being in the universe”3. All of these views should be problematic for Christians, especially when Scientology claims to be compatible with all religions. These views are certainly not compatible with Christianity.
Scientology teaches that humanity is basically good, albeit confused about our godhood. Through knowledge (gnosticism) and training, humanity can once again be perfect and powerful. Christianity teaches that humanity cannot free itself from sin, and salvation can only come through the grace of God in Jesus Christ. Do you see the immediate incompatibility? It is the essence of false religion and idolatry; Scientology on the one hand saying that we are basically good, and all we really need to do is get some training in and we’ll be fine, while Christianity says that we aren’t basically good. Instead, we are corrupt, depraved, and without hope.
Furthermore, the claim that there are “gods above other gods, and gods beyond the gods of the universes”, stands diametrically opposed to Christian monotheism.
From the Christian viewpoint, Scientology is a modern Pelagian heresy, mixed with gnosticism, spiritism, and legalism, with no grace, no mercy, and 100% works. Scientology teaches that each man is as god, already possessing eternal existence, capable (through Hubbard’s technology) of becoming totally free.
