Is Scientology a religion?

Well, first let’s define religion. Religion is defined as, “Any specific system of belief and worship, often involving a code of ethics and a philosphy” (Webster’s New World Dictionary, Third College Edition) Religious philosphy implies study of spiritual manifestations, research on the nature of the spirit and study of the relationship of the spirit to the body; exercises devoted to the rehabilitiation of abilities in a spirit.

Scientology deals with man as a spirit and believes that he is an immortal spiritual being. It’s prime fundamental truth is that Man is a spiritual being with abilities far beyond those which he normally believes possible. The courses and spiritual counseling in Scientology (the counseling is called auditing, coming from the word Audit, which means to listen–an auditor never evaluates or invalidates) assist with difficulties in communicaiton, interpersonal relationsips, nagging insecurities, self doubt and depression, etc. They assist a person with these things by addressing him as a spirit, not a body. The goal of auditing is to restore beingness and ability. This is accomplished by 1. helping the individual rid himself of any disabilities and 2. increasing individual abilities. Auditing is a unique form of spiritual counseling that helps an individual look at his own existence and improves his abilitiy to confront what he is and where he is.

In the 50s Scientologists recognized that L Ron Hubbard’s technology and it’s results dealt directly with helping a person on a spiritual level and that greater spiritual awareness was routinely being achieved. There was no question in their minds that what they were dealing with was a religious practice, thus in the early 50s, they voted that a church be formed to better serve the needs of Scientologists. The first church of Scientology was incorporated in 1954 and since that time, dozens of court rulings in many different countries have upheld the fact that Scientology is a religion.

More information on how Scientology addresses one as a spiritual being can be seen here and the best way to understand Scientology is to read a book written by L Ron Hubbard. There’s a newly restored DVD which is a filmed interview with L Ron Hubbard. This is an awesome DVD–you get to hear directly from L Ron Hubbard what Scientology is, how he came to develop Scientology, etc. If you don’t have money for a book every Scientology church has a full library of books, DVDs and lectures which you are welcome to use and read anytime. Many of his books, DVDs and lectures are also available in local libraries.