Spring Break
Scientology Hot Among Oddball Celebs
Jerica Sandifer
Issue date: 12/3/08 Section: Entertainment
With a list of followers including Kirstie Allie, John Travolta, Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, and the recently departed Memphian, Isaac Hayes, the controversial religion of Scientology has become a fad of sorts over the last decade. Scientology, like any religion, has a complicated, in-depth doctrine. The overarching theme of their belief is that humans are immortal beings that have and will live several lifetimes. The goal of a scientologist is to survive as long as possible in each lifetime by catering to one's mind, body, and spirit.
Scientology also states that humans survive within a classification which it refers to as "the eight dynamics": Self, Family and Sex, Group, Humanity, Life, the Universe, Spirituality, and the Supreme Being or Infinity. In Scientology, there really is no good and evil. Actions are considered good if they help someone to survive across all eight "dynamics". They also believe in quiet births without drugs, as we learned during the Katie Holmes pregnancy.
Scientology was founded in 1952 by L. Ron Hubbard and had originally secular aims. In its first days, Scientology was supposed to be what Hubbard called "a study of knowledge." Now, however the United States recognizes it as a tax-exempt religion. This did not come without a long debate, however. The IRS did not grant the Church of Scientology tax-exempt status until 1993. Formerly, the government had concluded that the church was formed solely for the economic gain of L. Ron Hubbard, and it did not help that several of Hubbard's friends quoted him as saying the best way to get rich was to start a religion.
Further controversy has emerged as an effect of the Church's use of hypnosis. L. Ron Hubbard was, in fact, a skilled hypnotist; and hypnosis, Scientology claims, is what led Hubbard to discover the "dianetic engram", a mental image of a past moment of pain and unconsciousness. Yet, the controversy does not end there. Scientology has been accused of suppressing the free speech of its critics on the internet. Notable websites that criticize the religion are sued or petitioned to be deleted on the basis that they are stealing copyrighted church materials.
Scientology also states that humans survive within a classification which it refers to as "the eight dynamics": Self, Family and Sex, Group, Humanity, Life, the Universe, Spirituality, and the Supreme Being or Infinity. In Scientology, there really is no good and evil. Actions are considered good if they help someone to survive across all eight "dynamics". They also believe in quiet births without drugs, as we learned during the Katie Holmes pregnancy.
Scientology was founded in 1952 by L. Ron Hubbard and had originally secular aims. In its first days, Scientology was supposed to be what Hubbard called "a study of knowledge." Now, however the United States recognizes it as a tax-exempt religion. This did not come without a long debate, however. The IRS did not grant the Church of Scientology tax-exempt status until 1993. Formerly, the government had concluded that the church was formed solely for the economic gain of L. Ron Hubbard, and it did not help that several of Hubbard's friends quoted him as saying the best way to get rich was to start a religion.
Further controversy has emerged as an effect of the Church's use of hypnosis. L. Ron Hubbard was, in fact, a skilled hypnotist; and hypnosis, Scientology claims, is what led Hubbard to discover the "dianetic engram", a mental image of a past moment of pain and unconsciousness. Yet, the controversy does not end there. Scientology has been accused of suppressing the free speech of its critics on the internet. Notable websites that criticize the religion are sued or petitioned to be deleted on the basis that they are stealing copyrighted church materials.
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