From: jerry@lds-az.loral.com (J Barbera)
Subject: Scientology FAQ.
Organization: Loral Defense Systems Arizona
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 09:18:42 GMT

 
Scientology FAQ
 
-----
 
All text quoted from the following books by L. Ron Hubbard:
 
Scientology: The Fundamentals of Thought (1-6)
Scientology 8-8008 (7-25)
 
-----
 
The following questions are answered:
 
 1. What is Scientology?
 2. How is Scientolgy used?
 3. Is Scientology valid?
 4. Where is there more information about Scientology?
 5. Can a person without much study use Scientology?
 6. What special use does Scientology have?
 7. Why do Scientologists make donations?
 8. Why does one have to make donations to separate organizations for their
    services?
 9. What about those who cannot afford to make donations for service?
10. Is the Church profit-making?
11. How much does it cost to go Clear?
12. How well paid are Scientology staff?
13. What does the word Scientology mean?
14. What is Scientology about?
15. How did Scientology start?
16. What does Scientology accomplish?
17. What claims are made for Scientology?
18. How do people get into Scientology?
19. How do Scientologists view life?
20. What moral codes do Scientologists live by?
21. What is Scientology's view on drugs?
22. Do you have any special dietary laws or rules against smoking or
    drinking in Scientology?
23. In Scientology does one have to sacrifice one's individuality?
24. What benefits can one get from Scientology?
25. What is Scientology's system of ethics?
 
-----
 
The answers:
 
1. What is Scientology?
 
   Scientology is an applied religious philosophy.
 
   The term Scientology is taken from the Latin word scio (knowing in the
fullest meaning of the word) and the Greek word logos (study of).  In itself
the word means literally "knowing how to know."
 
   Scientology is further defined as the study and handling of the spirit in
relationship to itself, universes and other life.
 
   Any comparison between Scientology and the subject known as psychology is
nonsense.  Early psychology such as that begun by St. Thomas Aquinas and
extended by many later authors was, in 1879, interrupted severely by on
Professor Wundt, a Marxist as Lepzig University in Germany.  This man
conceived that man was an animal without soul and based all of his work on
the principle that there was no psyche (a Greek word meaning "spirit").
Psychology, the study of the spirit (or mind) then came into the peculiar
position of being "a study of the spirit which denied the spirit."  For the
subsequent decades, Wundtian "psychology" was taught broadly throughout the
world.  It taught that man was an animal.  It taught that man could not be
bettered.  It taught that intelligence never changed.  This subject, Wundtian
psychology, became standard, mainly because of the indifference or lack of
knowledge of people in charge of universities.
 
   Scientology can and does change behavior and intelligence, and it does
assist people to study life.  Unlike Wundtian pseudo-psychology, it has no
political aspiration.  Scientology is not teaching dialectical materialism
under the heading of "psychology".
 
   Scientology is a route, a way, rather than a dissertation or an assertive
body of knowledge.
 
   Through its drills and studies one may find the truth for onself.  It is
the only thing that can show you who you really are.
 
   The technology is therefore not expounded as something to believe but
something to do.
 
   The end result of Scientology studies and drills is a renewed awareness of
self as a spiritual and immortal being.
 
   Only those who believe, as do psychiatrists and psychologists, that man is
a soulless animal or who wish for their own reasons to keep man unhappy and
oppressed are in any conflict with Scientology.
 
   Scientology, used by the trained and untrained person, improves the health,
ability, intelligence, behavior, skill and appearance of people.
 
   It is a precise and exact science, designed for an age of exact sciences.
 
   It is employed by an auditor upon individuals or small or large groups of
people in their presence.  The auditor makes these people, at their choice,
do various exercises, and these exercises bring about changes for the better
in intelligence, behavior and general competence.
 
   Scientology is employed as well by business and government persons to solve
problems and to establish better organization.
 
   It is also employed by the average person to bring better order into life.
 
2. How is Scientolgy used?
 
   Scientology is employed by an auditor as a set of drills upon the
individual, and small or large groups.  It is also employed as an
educational subject.  It has been found that persons can be freed from their
major anxieties and can become brighter, more alert and more competent.  But
if they are only processed they have a tendency to be overwhelmed or startled,
and although they may be brighter and more competent they are still held down
by an ignorance of life.  Therefore it is far better to teach and process a
person than only to process him.  In other words, the best use of Scientology
is through processing and education in Scientology.  In this way there is no
imbalance.  It is interesting that people only need to study Scientology to
have some small rise in their own intelligence, behavior and competence.  The
study itself is therapeutic by actual testing.
 
   It is also used by business and government leaders to establish or improve
organization.
 
   It is used as well by the individual at home or at his work to make a
better life.
 
3. Is Scientology valid?
 
   Tens of thousands of case histories, all sworn to, are in the possession
of the organizations of Scientology.  No other subjects on Earth except
physics and chemistry have had such grueling testing.  Scientology in the
hands of an expert can restore man's ability to handle any and all of his
problems.  Scientology is used by some of the largest companies on Earth.  It
is valid.  It has been tested.  It is the only thoroughly tested system of
improving human relations, intelligence and character, and is the only one
which does.
 
4. Where is there more information about Scientology?
 
   There are Scientology organizations located throughout the world.
Scientology practitioners are validated by these organizations.  Diplomas are
given only after very exact training.  A person who is skilled in Scientology
procedures has a diploma from one of these organizations.  A list of these
organizations is provided at the back of this book.  [The Fundamentals of
Thought and most other Scientology books has this list.]
 
   These offices and these people can give you more information about
Scientology.
 
   There have also been many books published on the subjects of Dianetics and
Scientology.  A full list of these books is given in the bibliography at the
back of this volume.  [The Fundamentals of Thought and most other Scientology
books has this bibliography.]
 
5. Can a person without much study use Scientology?
 
   Scientology is practiced in daily life by enormous numbers of people who
have no formal training in the humanities beyond a study of textbooks.
Scientology was developed to be used by such people as well as by the
trained practitioner.  A person studying by himself from textbooks can use
Scientology to help his fellow human beings.
 
6. What special use does Scientology have?
 
   Scientology does things for people where nothing has been done before.  It
restores people's ability to handle conditions which were once considered
hopeless.  It increases their intelligence.  It changes their competence and
betters their behavior.  In addition to these it brings them a better
understanding of life.
 
7. Why do Scientologists make donations?
 
   Some churches have a system of tithes, other require their
members to pat for pew rentals, religious ceremonies and services.
In the Church of Scientology, parishioners make donations for
auditing or training they wish to take.  These contributions by
Scientologists are the primary source of financial support for the
programs and social betterment activities of Scientology.
Scientologists are not required to tithe or make other donations.
 
   Ideally, Dianetics and Scientology services would be free, and
all Scientologists wish they were.  But those are not the realities of
life.  When one considers the cost of delivering even one hour of
auditing, requiring extensively trained specialists, and the overhead
costs of maintaining church premises, the necessity of donations
becomes clear.
 
   The donation system in Scientology is the most equitable as
those who use the facilities of the Church are the ones who most
directly contribute to its upkeep and continued existence.  Naturally,
no donation is expected from those not receiving auditing or training.
And church doors are always open to those who wish to learn more
about the philosophy of Scientology, be the parishioners or not.
There are tape plays of L. Ron Hubbard's lectures, introductory
lectures, books available, people to discuss questions with, and of
course the more traditional church activites - Sunday service,
sermons, weddings, christenings, funerals - all of which are provided
without any donation necessary.
 
   Scientology does not have hundreds of years of accumulated
wealth and property like other religions - it must make its way in
the world according to the economics of today's society.
 
8. Why does one have to make donations to separate organizations for their
   services?
 
   Scientology churches and missions are separate corporations
and have separate financial records.  The donations that go to each
church for services delivered by that church are banked and
accurate records kept in alignment with the accounting procedures
and laws in each country.
 
9. What about those who cannot afford to make donations for service?
 
   There is a Free Scientology Center in churches of Scientology
where those who cannot afford the donations can receive free
auditing from ministerial students.
 
   Many Scientology services are free and the knowledge is free
to all men.  There are also books, books, books and free public
lectures, Sunday services and other religious services for which there
is no cost.  Books can be obtained in the local area either by going to
a church of Scientology, a public bookstore or local library.
 
   But it's interesting that once a person becomes more causative
through the application of Scientology technology in his life, he does
not usually need or want free services for very long.  He becomes
capable of holding a good job and thereby able to exchange for the
services he wants.
 
   Ministers-in-training can receive free auditing from other students while
they are doing their training.
 
10. Is the Church profit-making?
 
   No.  Scientology churches are nonprofit organizations, as the
donations all go back into the support and expansion of the Church.
 
11. How much does it cost to go Clear?
 
   The cost varies from individual to individual depending on
which route to Clear one takes.
 
   One route is to pay for professional auditing and get audited all
the way up to Clear.  The preferred route, however, is to get trained
as an auditor and co-audit with another Scientology student.  The
co-auditing route to Clear requires far less donations than professional
auditing plus one helps another to progress.  As professional auditing
is much more expensive for the organization to deliver (requiring
several staff to service one parishioner) the donations are necessarily
higher.  Training donation rates are much more economical and an
incentive for persons to train while they co-audit without cost to the
state of Clear.
 
   No matter which route one chooses to achieve the state of Clear,
all who have attained it express the pricelessness of the increased
spiritual freedom they have achieved.
 
12. How well paid are Scientology staff?
 
   The pay varies form church to church and from time to time.
Staff are paid in proportion to the amount of donations received by
their individual organizations.  Thus, staff members are in control of
how much they make by virtue of how well they perform
individually on their own jobs.
 
   In any event, Scientology staff aren't motivated by money and
in no instance anywhere in the church structure is pay exorbitant.
Scientology staff are motivated by a desire to help, not get rich.
 
13. What does the word Scientology mean?
 
   The word Scientology means "the study of knowledge" or
"knowing about knowing" from the Latin word scio which means
"know" or "distinguish," and from the Greek word logos which means
"reason itself" or "inward thought."  So it means the study of wisdom
or knowledge, or "knowing how to know."  Scientology is further defined
as the study and handling of the spirit in relationship to itself,
universes and other life.  The word was coined by L. Ron Hubbard.
 
14. What is Scientology about?
 
   Developed by L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology provides exact
principles and practical technology for improving self-confidence,
intelligence and ability.  Scientology addresses the spirit - not simply
the body or mind - and is therefore completely apart from
materialistic philosophies which hold that man is a product of his
environment - or his genes.
 
   Scientology is a religion by its basic tenets, practice, historical
background and by the definition of the word religion itself.  It is
recognized as such by courts in country after country around the
world, including the highest courts in the United States, Australia,
Germany, Sweden, Italy, Denmark and many others.
 
   All denominations are welcome in Scientology.
 
   Scientology is a route, a way, rather than a dissertation or an
assertive body of knowledge.
 
   Through its drills and studies one may find the truth for
oneself.  It is the only thing that can show  you who you really are.
 
   The technology is therefore not expounded as something to
believe but something to do.
 
15. How did Scientology start?
 
   L. Ron Hubbard began his studies of the mind in 1923.  In 1947
he wrote a manuscript detailing some of his discoveries.  It was not
published at that time, but circulated among friends who copied it
and passed it on to others.  (This manuscript was formally published
in 1951 as Dianetics: The Original Thesis and later republished as The
Dynamics of Life.)
 
   As copies of the manuscript circulated, Mr. Hubbard began to
receive an increasing flow of letters requesting further information
and more applications of his new subject.   He soon found himself
spending all his time answering letters and decided to write a
comprehensive text on the subject.
 
   His first published article on the subject, "Terra Incognita: The
Mind," appeared in the Winter/Spring 1950 issue of the Explorers
Club Journal, followed by the book Dianetics: The Modern Science of
Mental Health which was published in May 1950.  It became a
nationwide bestseller almost overnight.  By late summer, people
across the country were not only reading the book, but were also
organizing their own groups for the purpose of applying Dianetics
techniques.  The book has remained a bestseller ever since, again
becoming number one on the New York Times bestseller list, almost
four decades after its initial publication.  It continues to appear on
bestseller lists around the world.
 
   During the course of thousands of hours of Dianetics Counseling
on thousands of individuals all over the country, incontrovertible
evidence was amassed about the fundamentally spiritual nature of
man.  L. Ron Hubbard was the had himself discovered early in his
research that man was a spiritual being, inhabiting a body and using
a mind.  These discoveries led him to realize that he had entered the
relm of religion.
 
   In 1954, the first Church of Scientology was formed in Los
Angeles by a group of Scientologists.  Within a few years churches
had been formed across the country and around the world.
 
   In the years that followed, L. Ron Hubbard completed his
research into the spiritual mature of man.  Today, all his writings on
the subject are available to anyone who wishes to study Scientology.
Although Mr. Hubbard departed his body in 1986, he is still with us
in spirit and the legacy of his work continues to help people around
the world.
 
16. What does Scientology accomplish?
 
   Since Scientology is an applied religious philosophy, the stress
is on application and workability.  It addresses the individual and
brings about a self-improvement by increasing a persons awareness
and ability to handle life.  It differs from other religious philosophies
in that it supplies the means through which a person can increase his
ability to effectively handle the problems and situations he and
others face in life.
 
17. What claims are made for Scientology?
 
   Scientology can increase a person's awareness and its application
can help one to achieve greater happiness, self-confidence and ability.
 
   Man has often been attracted to philosophies that sound
plausible but which have no technology that can be applied to bring
about desirable changes in one's life.  Scientology and Dianetics, on
the other hand, supply the tools with which an individual can
improve his own life and the lives of those around him.
 
   Scientology philosophy is based on the premise that man is
basically good and that man can improve conditions in life.  However,
Scientology cannot promise to do anything by itself.  Only the
individual can bring about his own improvements by applying
Scientology tenets to himself, his life and others in his environment.
 
18. How do people get into Scientology?
 
   Usually by word of mouth, often by reading a book or seeing
promotional materials or taking a personality test at a church of
Scientology.  Sometimes by meeting a Scientologist and seeing that he
has "something" - a positive attitude toward life, certainty, self-
confidence and happiness - which they too would like.
Fundamentally, people get into Scientology because they want to
improve something in their lives or because they wish to help others
improve themselves and thus make a better civilization.
 
19. How do Scientologists view life?
 
   As a game - a game in which everyone can win.  Scientologists
are optimistic about life and believe there is hope for a saner world
and better civilization and are actively doing all they can do to
achieve this.
 
20. What moral codes do Scientologists live by?
 
   There are four main codes that Scientologists apply to life.  One is
the Auditor's Code which gives the basic rules an auditor must abide by
to ensure excellent auditing results.
 
   Another is the Code of a Scientologists, guidelines which Scientologists
agree to follow in order to achieve the aims of Scientology.
 
   There is an ethical code, called the Code of Honor, that Scientologists
use in dealing with their fellow man.
 
   L. Ron Hubbard has also written a nonreligious moral code
called "The Way to Happiness" which gives basic precepts for a
happy life.  This moral code is used by Scientologists and non-
Scientologists alike, with tens or millions of copies distributed in
communities all around the world.
 
21. What is Scientology's view on drugs?
 
   Scientologists consider that drugs cause damaging effects on a
person - physically, mentally and spiritually.  They decrease
awareness and hinder abilities.  They are a "solution" to some other
problem, which they themselves become a problem.
 
   Scientologists do not take street drugs or mind-altering
psychiatric drugs.
 
   Scientologists do use prescribed drugs as part of medical
programs from competent physicians, but have found that as a result
of auditing, they need to take medical drugs much less frequently
and also that medications such as antibiotics seem to work more
rapidly when being audited.
 
   For more information about drugs and what can be done about
them, the book Clear Body, Clear Mind:The Effective Purification
Program is recommended.
 
22. Do you have any special dietary laws or rules against smoking or
    drinking in Scientology?
 
   No.  There are no dietary laws whatsoever and no general
prohibitions against smoking or drinking.  The only guidelines in
Scientology are that no alcohol is allowed twenty-four hours prior to
or during auditing sessions, and that no drinking is allowed twenty-
four hours prior to or during study.  The effects of the alcohol would
make it impossible to get the gains one can get from auditing and
training.
 
   Smoking is forbidden in course rooms or during auditing
sessions, as such would distract oneself and others.  Rules for student
behavior are laid out in a Church policy called the "Students' Guide to
Acceptable Behavior."
 
23. In Scientology does one have to sacrifice one's individuality?
 
   No.  People are unique, even though they have in common
certain problems and aberrations.  As they become disentangled
from the stimulus-response part of their mind, they become more
themselves, more unique, more individual and learn to believe in
themselves.  In fact, becoming more aware of and able to express
one's own unique beingness is encouraged in Scientology.
Scientology teaches one to maintain his personal integrity to develop
fully as an individual.
 
24. What benefits can one get from Scientology?
 
   In reviewing success stories written by Scientologists, there are
a few common themes that stand out.  One is that many people have
attained the ability to communicate in relationships, whether with
family members and spouses, friends, or even mere acquaintances;
another is that they are freed from stress at work and in other areas
of their lives; another common one is that they can expand their
potential and do things they never thought possible.
 
25. What is Scientology's system of ethics?
 
   L. Ron Hubbard has defined ethics as "reason and the contemplation of
optimum survival."
 
   In Scientology, ethics is a rational system based on a number of
codes of practice.
 
   L. Ron Hubbard has pointed out: "Dishonest conduct is nonsurvival.
Anything is unreasonable or evil which brings about the destruction of
individuals, groups, or inhibits the future of the race."
 
   Man has long postulated a means by which he could put
himself on the right path.  As long ago as 500 B.C., religions
recognized that confession frees a person spiritually from the burden
of sin.
 
   In Scientology, it has been found that a Confessional(a type of
auditing) assists the person who has transgressed against his own
and his group's moral code to unburden himself and again feel good
about himself and be a contributing member of the group.
 
   L. Ron Hubbard has written: "No man who is not himself honest
can be free - he is his own trap.  When his own deeds cannot be
disclosed, then he is a prisoner; he must withhold himself from his
fellows and is a slave to his own conscience."
 
   In addition to the Confessional, Scientology's ethics system
includes a body of technology called conditions formulas.  Mr.
Hubbard discovered that there are various states of existence in
which an individual operates (called "conditions") and that there are
exact formulas connected with these operating states.  Each formula
has a number of exact steps.
 
   A person can determine what condition or operating state any
area of his life is in and apply the conditions formulas to mode it into
a higher condition.
 
   While very simple, such actions are quite powerful and have
enabled millions of individuals to improve conditions in their lives in
ways they never thought possible.
 
   These are just two of the tools from the wealth of ethics
technology that exists in Scientology.  Complete information on this
subject in contained in the book Introduction to Scientology Ethics by
L. Ron Hubbard.
 
-----
 
Questions/Answers 7-25 were quoted from articles originally posted by
David Bonnell (davidb@engin.umich.edu) on alt.religion.scientology
with minor changes made in spacing.
 
Other text quoted directly from the books mentioned at the beginning of
this FAQ.
 
 

Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology