Q:I am currently volunteering as an interfaith ambassador. And am trying to learn as much about others beliefs as I can. So I have a question for you. What is the Scripture of Scientology?
The Scientology scriptures consist of the writings and lectures of L. Ron Hubbard on his discoveries on the subject. They range from the philosophical foundations of Scientology and research results on the mind and spirit, to techniques for applying Scientology to individuals and groups, and even the fundamentals of organization and how to run successful organizations.
The most basic, core scriptures consist of 18 books and a few hundred lectures. These cover the most basic philosophical foundations of the subject, as well as basic techniques of application. However, the full range of scriptures consists of several thousand lectures and thousands of articles filling dozens of volumes. These cover the full philosophy and technology of Scientology, on organization, on the use of Scientology in society and on many other related topics. You can find a listing of most of the scriptures at Bridge Publications.
Sandy Sucks: Scientology and Staten Island and John Travolta and Kirstie Alley
Wednesday afternoon, fellow volunteer Geovanni and I ended a day in Staten Island at Goodfellas. Our mission was to be debriefed by organizers from Staten Island Recovers/Operation Sandy and to eat an eggplant parm sandwich with an extra side of sauce.
The tractor trailer truck parked out back…
Our Volunteer Ministers doing good work in New York.
Ideal Center of Scientology opens for the Middle East
This is one of the most momentous openings of a Scientology organization in history. This means we now have a center from which we can provide the solutions and social betterment programs so desperately needed in the hotbed that is the Middle East.
On August 21, national and city dignitaries as well as religious leaders joined Scientologists from Israel and 27 nations to celebrate the opening of the new Center of Scientology in Tel Aviv. The Center is the first Ideal Scientology Organization (Ideal Org) in the Middle East and designed to both serve the growing membership and provide Scientology-sponsored humanitarian programs throughout the region.
Located on Jerusalem Boulevard in Tel Aviv’s ancient port city of Jaffa, the Center’s new home is the historic Alhambra Theater. Originally constructed in 1937, the landmark is remembered by generations as the premier venue for the greatest names in Arab and Israeli music and theater. In the 1980s, the building was converted into a commercial center and by the first decade of the 21st century, its glory had faded.
The Center of Scientology acquired the Alhambra and meticulously restored the landmark, to both preserve a site of cultural significance for Israel and provide a center for the entire community. In addition to presenting all Scientology services, it serves as a meeting place for members of all faiths to unite on humanitarian initiatives. To that end, the famed Alhambra auditorium once again stands as a centerpiece for this city.
The watershed grand opening was distinguished by the presence of Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board Religious Technology Center and ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion, who personally dedicated the new Center. Addressing the Scientologists in attendance, Mr. Miscavige said: “This center is a gift from the International Association of Scientologists to Israel. As such, it represents our recognition that all religions hold central truths in common and thus may work together to achieve the common dream of universal brotherhood. So from this day hence, it becomes your mission and destiny to extend our help across this legendary land. Let it be done in the spirit of Scientology so that your help is freely given, because it is all about freedom. And let it be done with supreme dedication, because only in that way we will realize the Aims of Scientology and thus a world without insanity, without criminality, without war—a world where the able can prosper, where honest beings have rights and all are free to rise to greater heights.”
Welcoming Scientologists to their new home were civic and religious leaders from across Tel Aviv-Jaffa, including Tel Aviv City Council Member Meital Lehavi; Office of the Prime Minister Director for the Bedouin Sector Mohammad Kaabia; Office of The Prime Minister Senior Coordinator on the Status of Minority Women Rania Pharyra; Biblical scholar and author Dr. Rimon Kasher; Jaffa Arab Christian Community Chairman Peter Habash; and historical preservation architect Eyal Ziv.
In her salutatory address, Tel Aviv City Council Member Meital Lehavi welcomed the Scientology Center to Jaffa: “The story of this house of yours suits the story of Jaffa. It is a house for everyone, accepting everyone. And it is my great hope this house connects, integrates, welcomes and advances the hopes that exist in Jaffa. I am confident that by sitting together, thinking together and working together we keep Jaffa the home for everyone. Your new Center will have an important part in leading the way.”
Office of the Prime Minister Director for the Bedouin Sector Mohammad Kaabia spoke of Scientology’s many humanitarian programs: “When it comes to all we strive for—for freedom, to be included and embraced by one’s fellow man—there is no group that better bears these marks than Scientology. You teach man his rights, you prevent drugs in schools, you take care to build up the individual and you inspire kindness toward one another. I believe we must introduce these programs into all Arab and Bedouin sectors across Israel.”
Rania Pharyra, Senior Coordinator on the Status of Minority Women, Office of The Prime Minister, spoke of the need for the Center’s outreach with The Way to Happiness, a non-religious guide to living: “The Way to Happiness is a new way to understand the purpose of humanity—my purpose, your purpose. We have this tool to spread to the minds and hearts of people not politics, but something that touches the heart of children, youth, adults, all genders, all religions, all races. We can defeat racism, hatred and fear. We can bring a change. We will build the bridge to our greatest dreams.”
Biblical scholar and author Dr. Rimon Kasher spoke of the Center’s vital importance to the region: “I believe Scientology is the only religion that can create a connection or even affinity between the different faiths and the only one that can relieve the tension between religions. It is my hope that with your Ideal Org, you will accomplish your aims. In so doing you will mark a turning point for not just the entire Israeli society, but for all of the Middle East.”
Peter Habash, chairman of the Arab Christian Community of Jaffa, welcomed the volunteer work of the Center: “You have built this amazing Scientology Center to help the Arab Community and all communities of Jaffa. And we believe your Center serves the same goals as we do. When I see your active volunteers, youth and adults, their work makes me feel that you can make a difference here. I see that you are a part of us and a part of Jaffa.”
Historic preservation architect for Jaffa, Eyal Ziv, who directed the restoration of the Alhambra Theater, proclaimed: “Your respect and care for this building is astounding. You created a perfect example of preserving the past for all of Tel Aviv-Jaffa. And so I want to thank you and all associated with the Center of Scientology for bringing new life to this Jaffa jewel.”
Q:Do you believe that someone who intentionally criticizes Scientology and its practices could be an ethical and righteous person, or anyone who does so has ethical down stats?
Scientology produces beneficial effects throughout the society, via its organizations and many social programs addressing the most desperate needs of today’s world. That said, Scientologists are not perfect. We make mistakes, and even occasionally admit an ill-intentioned person into our ranks, whether unintentionally or under the belief that the person truly intends to reform. And so sometimes things go wrong, with negative results. We are human, after all.
However, given that the beneficial effects of Scientology the world over far outweigh any unfortunate incidents, anyone who would publicly criticize the religion or its organizations or founder in an effort to sully their name or “reform” them is clearly operating on the basis of a covert intention to destroy. Such individuals never cite the good works of the Church or make plain the true proportion of beneficial effects to unfortunate mishaps, and this is the clue to their true intention.
We work hard to ensure our ranks are clean and ethical, and that any errors are corrected rapidly. It is built into the very organization structure of Scientology, which includes a section devoted to maintaining ethics and another section devoted to correcting the incorrect practice of Scientology. These can be undermined by evil-intentioned individuals, which occasionally happens and makes cleaning up and righting any wrongs that much harder. But we always make things right eventually. And that is the only reason we have survived over 60 years of attacks from governments, special interest groups and malicious individuals who see in Scientology something to be destroyed simply because it flies in the teeth of their evil designs.
(I should probably describe what I presume “ethical down stats” to mean, for those readers who don’t understand: “Stat” is short for “statistic,” meaning an amount of something compared to an earlier amount of something. A stat could be “widgets produced” for a widget manufacturing unit, for example, and would be compared day to day and week to week using a graph. This is used very heavily in Scientology management technology to determine how an area is doing—if its “stats” are up, it is doing well, and if its stats are down, it is doing poorly and needs correction. As applied to ethics, I would assume this refers to someone who is not ethical, and thus would have “ethical down stats.”)
Q:Why has Scientology gotten a lot of negative feedback on the religion and the founder itself?
If you look into history, you will find that every single religion, at its inception, was fought and denigrated and ostracized. New ideas and practices are often misunderstood. Further, vested interests, seeing a threat in such new ideas, use their influence to slander the ideas and their originators—the press or media being a prime channel for this.
The bottom line is that there is some small segment of individuals who react violently to what Scientology and Mr. Hubbard stand for, and who have spread endless lies in a desperate attempt to destroy the movement. So much so that some of the lies appear to be truth—if you don’t look hard.
Q:Can one view or take part in a Sunday Service without being obligated to become a Scientologist? I would like to see things for myself before I make any spiritual decisions. Also, I'm in the process of reading Dianetics and after, I'm going to read A New Slant on Life before progressing any farther. Are there any accompanying materials that should be read/viewed/listened to alongside those two books?
You can absolutely attend a Scientology Sunday Service without becoming a Scientologist. We are very happy to have people come into find out what Scientology is all about. But your personal path is your own decision. I would recommend attending a service at an Ideal Org (“org” is short for “organization” and is what we often call a Church of Scientology) if you can—it should be a very nice experience.
As for materials, those two books are a pretty good start. There’s tons of material on Scientology, including thousands of lectures delivered by L. Ron Hubbard. You might also want to read The Problems of Work and Scientology: The Fundamentals of Thought as a start. You can find out more about the full scope of the materials of Scientology from the Bridge Publications website.
Q:How important is prayer in Scientology ?
Prayer is not, per se, a part of Scientology practice. That said, many Scientologists do pray, especially Scientologists who also practice another religion, such as Judaism or Christianity. I personally do not pray.
I look at prayer as a simple attempt to communicate with a higher agency. This, of course, is my own view and has no part of Scientology doctrine, but it is based on my understanding of Scientology. Communication is an extremely important fundamental in Scientology, and thus prayer would be completely acceptable to any informed Scientologist.
A Scientologist tells the LA Times what Scientology is all about
This is an excellent Q&A with an individual Scientologist. It gives Scientology in a nutshell and debunks some of the stranger rumors surrounding it.
You make New Year’s resolutions. And you make them into the teeth of old resolutions which were different. Then you don’t keep your new resolutions and you tell yourself you are weak-willed. You aren’t weak-willed. You are simply obeying yourself as of yesterday.” — L. Ron Hubbard (via Un-Making Old Decisions | Scientology Parent)
