Is Scientology a religion?

There is an abundance of similarities between Scientology and major world religions, but is Scientology a religion?

“ONLY Clears and OTs will survive this planet!” – L. Ron Hubbard (HCO Policy Letter of 15 April, 1982)

Most religious groups believe that there is only one path to God, and that their path is the correct one. Whilst the Church of Scientology claims that Scientology is compatible with other religions, especially Christianity, Scientologists believe that they are the only ones with the capability of saving the world through ‘planetary clearing’.

“Scientology 1970 is being planned on a religious organization basis throughout the world. This will not upset in any way the usual activities of any organization. It is entirely a matter for accountants and solicitors.” – L. Ron Hubbard (HCO Policy Letter of 29 October, 1962)

The Church of Scientology was so eager to be considered a religion that it took the ATO to court in Australia, and the IRS in America, in order to obtain tax exemption. The Church of Scientology is a profitable organisation which reaps the benefits of being considered a religion.

The typical Scientologist, however, is clearly not involved as a means of making money. They either work for the organisation below minimum wage, or they fork out thousands of dollars for Scientology courses as a means of achieving ‘enlightenment’.

There are numerous groups of Scientologists who operate outside the Church of Scientology, and whilst I realise that these groups often like to distance themselves from one another, purporting that they follow the ’standard tech’ more accurately, I will refer to the collective of these groups as the ‘freezone’.

Christian fundamentalists believe in the infallibility of the Bible, much the same as freezone Scientologists believe in the infallibility of L. Ron Hubbard’s source technology. Whilst the Church of Scientology also states that L. Ron Hubbard’s tech is flawless, it is persistent in continually releasing altered and rehashed works of L. Ron Hubbard (considered ’squirrel’ tech).

The head of the Church of Scientology and COB of the Religious Technology Centre (RTC), David Miscavige, is largely considered by former Scientologists and freezone Scientologists to be an excellent example of a squirrel.

L. Ron Hubbard wrote the core doctrine of Scientology, he also founded the Church of Scientology. Before doing either of these things, Hubbard was a science fiction writer who stated that;

“Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion.” – L. Ron Hubbard

This may sound contemptuous, but Scientology was created as a means of making money, and so the concept of a freezone which supports the technology of Scientology without supporting the organisation seems rather absurd to me.

“There are some stupid people out there, and they should be pitied not exploited” – Richard Dawkins

A typical Scientologist, whether they are operating from within the Church of Scientology or the freezone, would see Scientology as being, for want of a better word, their religion. The Church of Scientology is, no doubt, a malicious and power-hungry organisation and as such is rather compatible with my definition of an organised religion.

The concept of religious tolerance often stands in the way of critics of the Church of Scientology, and these critics are forced to assert that Scientology is not a religion or else they are labelled religious bigots.

If the Church of Scientology wants to operate under the guise of religion, I will give it the same exemption from criticism that I give to any organised religion. Admittedly, that’s not much of a concession.