Scientology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Scientology - Essay Example Thus, it is through spiritual enlightenment that human beings are able to understand their creator, and enlightenment is only attainable through gaining infinite knowledge. However, the departure of the new religion from those of the past occurs in the belief that personal enlightenment, as opposed to enlightenment through religious doctrines, principles and beliefs, forms the basis of enlightenment, which then enables the individual to understand the creator (Davis, n.p.). Scientology is a religion that borrows from the ancient religions of the west, but applies none of the basic tenets of such religions, rather preferring to apply the technological language as the basis of developing and advancing spiritual concepts in daily life (Fox, 131). The faith of this new religion is in technology, and technology is the basis of running the new faith2; thus, the basis of Scientology is clouded by controversy, making it difficult to differentiate between the faith of Scientology and the way the Church of Scientology is run. The fundamental principle that qualifies scientology as a religion is that; the religion holds the belief that man is basically good, and that his fate regarding salvation ultimately depends on how man relates with the others and the universe at large (Urban, 22). This principle therefore postulates that man is the sole determinant of his own salvation fate, considering that it is based on how he develops relationships with humanity and the universe that determines his religious fate. Therefore, in a way, the religion of scientology advances morality as the basis of mans spiritual life, since it is through his awareness and capabilities to apply morality that determines his final religious fate (Davis, n.p.). Simply put, the basis of scientology as a religion is freedom; where man should live in a free world, where he is able to apply his capabilities to advance, prosper and rise to greater heights, without the limitation of social ills such as crim e, war and prohibitory laws. However, while advocating for a free world that transcends all limitations that can hinder man from rising to greater heights based on his capabilities and morality, the religion of scientology addresses the basic and fundamental principle of every other religion, whether modern or traditional; that of addressing the spiritual and natural concerns of man, in relation to eternity (Weldon, 20). This is the actual point where the confusion around scientology religion emanates, since it does not place its belief system on the religious doctrines that clearly demonstrates the relation between human life in the world and eternity, since most of the doctrines of the church of scientology are vague even to the adherents, and can only become apparent to them, after many years of followership (Fox, 133). The origin of the Scientology religion is traceable to the scientific experiment undertaken by Hubbard3, a scientist and the pioneer of the religion, who set to e xperiment on the state of mind of humans, eventually coming up with scientific findings that have been vaguely disclosed, but which forms the basis of the doctrine of the Scientology religion, referred to as the Dianetics Doctrine (Urban, 47). The field of psychology and psychosocial analysis is a field that has been widely researched, but the knowledge in this field is only held by a few. Similarly, while the issue of technology in the modern world is no longer new or associated with a