religious improvisation - scientology, Hugh urban Flashcards
1
Q
what could it also be used to answer a question on
A
- also could be used to answer a question on healing: with the development of the thetan
2
Q
scandal in scientology
A
- ‘Surely few new religious movements have been the subject of more scandal, controversy, media attention, or misunderstanding that the Church of Scientology.’
3
Q
urban motive
A
- It is a movement shrouded in mystery and controversy, yet Urban does not seek to ‘write a new exposé of Scientology;’ and reveal its deepest secrets, rather he only seeks to ‘untangle’ its history and show it to be perfect and critically important example or test case in thinking about much greater and ‘theoretical’ issues in the study of religion, including how one should define religion and equally whom should be granted the authority to do so
- He summarises it as a trace of the ‘complex’ historical process where a ‘penny-a-word’ science fiction writer… went on to found one of the world’s most powerful and wealthiest but also controversial new religions.’
4
Q
founder/head
A
- Founder = L.Ron Hubbard (1911-1986) and Current Head= David Miscavige who is shrouded in controversy of ‘alleged abuse, violence, and humiliation.’
5
Q
originally scientific
A
- Originally unveiled as ‘Dianetics’ + initially made no claim to a religious nature - was a new science of the human mind, promising to turn the reader’s normal brain into an ‘optimum brain.’
- Ultimately Hubbard began to pursue a more religious angle, for various and speculated reasons. In his efforts to redefine Scientology away from a ‘psychotherapeutic technique,’ he began to revise his understanding of the human person as ‘spiritual’ rather than merely physical or psychological. (Urban, 68). He does this by introducing the idea of the Thetan, described as our ‘true identity’ that has ‘potentially unlimited capabilities (Urban, 69). So, Dianetics addressed the mind and body, scientology addresses the Thetan. Ultimately then, the goal of Scientology is to realize and unleash this unlimited power of the Thetan, it should be ‘liberated’ and free ‘to travel any corner of the universe.’
6
Q
Hubbard history
A
- Hubbard, before his shot to fame as the leader of scientology, was a popular science fiction author. - he is best known not as a saint, philosopher or madman but rather within the context of other science fiction writers of the 50s and 60s Urban notes that possibly the most ‘striking’ element of this early fiction that leaks into and reappears in his later Scientology writings is this emphasis on this unlimited, even ‘godlike power’ of the writer or individual himself, projected into the theta (Urban, 35). As the science fiction writer creates, populates and destroys his own imaginary universes - the ultimate goal in releasing the Thetan is to ‘create its own new universe.’ - the goal of scientology itself is the state of Operating Thetan in which the spiritual self or theta is liberated from the bonds of the physical universe and is free to travel to any corner of the universe
7
Q
thetan and god
A
- ‘The thetan who truly realize his power to create and destroy universes would in effect be ‘beyond God” – that is, he would be beyond whichever so-called god happened to create this particular MEST universe. In fact, the thetan has been deceived into worshipping such a God by mainstream religion as so forgotten its own godlike power to create and destroy universes.’
8
Q
electropsychometers
A
- the use of electropsychometers - to reach this state of ‘Clear’ promised by Dianetics + then followed by the introduction of the E-meter = ‘a more scientific, precise, and accurate means to access the unconscious mind that was far superior to Freud’s relatively clumsy psychoanalytic techniques.’
eventually he offers a ‘special series of training sessions known as the “Super Power Rundown”
9
Q
bricoleur tradition
A
- Urban suggests that scientology is perhaps best understood as ‘bricoleur’ tradition (Urbam, 29), as it brings together a range of ideas from across fiction, mysticism and other religions. It is a controversially popular movement but it is not ‘a strange aberration’ amidst the changing spiritual marketplace of 1940s and 50s America. Hubbard was perhaps the very ‘epitome’ of this: an ‘enthusiastic, resourceful, and ever optimistic American entrepreneur,’
10
Q
religious status?
A
- RELIGIOUS STATUS? - amongst all its controversies, this is perhaps the biggest -those within scientology argue it to be a genuine religious movement but it has not received serious attention by scholars as such - perhaps because it is shrouded in secrecy but perhaps also because it has tended to respond negatively to its critics - many reporting harassment
11
Q
impact of religious debate
A
- the debate raises the “ethical and epistemological double bind” - how can one say anything meaningful about something that regards portions of its teachings as off limits to outsiders + is it ethical to try and penetrate this? - especially as scientology says it should be given the same respect as indigenous traditions with esoteric knowledge reserved only for initiates - both sides wish to use the 1st amendment to their advantage
- ^ an idea of ‘hermeneutics of respect and a hermeneutics of suspicion’
12
Q
how do they hide controversy
A
- to cover up medical controversies, the Church (in 2000) hired their own forensic pathologists
13
Q
buddhism
A
- argued that it has most in common with Buddhism: Whereas Buddhism… aimed to extinguish the individual in the nothingness of nirvana, Scientology has the technology that can liberate the thetan into a state of individual freedom, autonomy, and unlimited power to do anything he chooses.’
- Some scholars have answered this question by understanding Scientology as a ‘simulacrum of a religion,’ - in other words, as ‘mimicry’ of a religion in order to gain the benefits and privileges, which come with a religious status - Urban asks if this is a conclusion that we
14
Q
how should we understand hub bard’s life
A
- His life is better understood as ‘a kind of “hagiographic mythology” = ‘an idealized narrative composed quite self–consciously of mythic themes.’ – no more true or fictitious than biographies of other religious leaders eg. Muhammed + like later science fiction writers… Hubbard claimed to have had an intense mystical experience, in which all the world’s religious and philosophical mysteries were revealed to him.’ - if we look at his (potentially fabricated life) as” ‘the young boy departs from his mundane life, travels widely to encounter strange new worlds and confront danger, then returns home with profound wisdom and a new hope for humankind.’ – puts it on more of the same level as other recognised religions and stories of their founders - media saw him as the greatest con artist of the century
15
Q
urban conclusions re. validity of scientology and controversy that surrounds it
A
- ‘I will suggest that the case of Scientology raises the profound questions about religious freedom, secrecy, privacy, and the flow of information in a post 9/11 context.’
- ‘even if Scientology’s leadership has engaged in extremely problematic and at times illegal activities, that still does not mean that thousands of ordinary practitioners do not find the church to be meaningfully religious in their own lives.’
- ‘the fact that catholic bishops have covered up child sexual abuse does not prevent millions of ordinary believers worldwide from continuing to find Catholicism meaningful in their daily lives.’
