Essay - Scientology an Online Debunking Site Calls the Church of Scientology...

Scientology

An online debunking site calls the Church of Scientology "a vicious and dangerous cult that masquerades as a religion." Started by fiction author L. Ron Hubbard, the Church of Scientology is officially cl*****sified as a religion in most but not all countries. Scientology remains one of the most controversial religions because of its cult-like means of ra*****ing m*****y, its popularity among celebrities, and ***** dismissal of modern psychiatry. Scientology means "***** study of truth," according to the official Web site of the religion. Unlike many other world *****s, scientology beliefs ***** practices focus on the individual. Self-development, as opposed to an external deity, is the core ***** ***** religion. Scientology in fact denounces bl*****d faith, does not describe ********** *****, and urges a pr*****ctice-based approach to attaining spiritual enlightenment. Integral to the religion is the belief that most drugs are harmful ***** just ***** the body but also to the mind ***** spirit. The Church of Scien*****logy has been an active in "more than a thousand social betterment groups," including those ***** address substance abuse (Robinson & Buttnor).

***** Scientology is a "real" ***** clearly depends on the definition of religion. What matters most to the Church of Scientology is that the United States and many other national governments recognize the organization as a ***** for tax purposes. However, ***** Church of ***** and its satellite organizations have fought costly legal battles in many different countries over ***** ***** status. Lawsuits against Scientology abound and far ***** Web sites criticize ***** than praise the religion. Accusations of brainwashing, extortion, and fraud abound ("What's Wrong with Scientology").

Scientologists believe that the human being consists of three parts: a mind, a body, and a spirit, c*****ed thetan. Human beings are driven ***** eight main "dynamics," or urges: the self, the family, group survival, mankind as a species, plant ***** animal life forms, the physical universe including space and time, spirituality, and infinity ("The Dynamics of Existence"). ***** closest thing to God in the Scientology doctrine is ***** dynamic of infinity.

Scientology proposes a range of unique therapeutic interventions. One is the tone scale, which posits a tonal correspondence to human emotional states. Auditing is also a central Scien*****logy practice. An auditor is an advanced Scientology practitioner who monitors another. Devices like the "eMeter" are used during the auditing process. No scientific validity whatsoever lends credibility to ***** eMeter or to any of the therapeutic interventions and the ***** Web site does not claim o*****rwise.

***** of the main goals of Scientology is for ***** individual to attain a mental and spiritual state called "Clear." Once the Clear state is achieved, the ***** supposedly receives the true version of ***** story of creation. That creation story sounds more ***** science fiction than religion, involving alien *****. ***** ********** to encourage moral and ethical living, and undoubtedly m***** ***** its members benefit from the Church. *****, ********** and its services ***** expensive. The individual is welcomed into the ***** first ***** a free