Scientology

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Scientology

In today's society it is evident that the worlds of science and religion are in a constant battle to explain many of life’s mysteries. Whereas science fields have their theorems and hypotheses, religions have doctrines and dogmas that frequently conflict with a scientist’s view. The age old question of whether science and religion will ever merge positively has been answered by the new religion Scientology.

Scientology is described as an applied religious philosophy that began in the 1950's. It is an all denominational religion which helps an individual to reach his or her fullest potential, and because of its emphasis on self improvement, Scientology has drawn people from 113 countries including a number of celebrities. Scientology considers the individual a spiritual being (a thetan, from the Greek letter theta meaning "thought or spirit") and the goal of the religion is to create a world in which everyone is living fulfilling lives peacefully.

The word Scientology comes from the Latin "scio" meaning "knowing in the fullest sense of the word" and "logos" meaning "the study of". Scientology is symbolized by a capital letter S that is entwined with two triangles, one that represents affinity, reality, and communication, and one that represents knowledge, responsibility, and control.

Scientology finds its roots thousands of years ago when man first realized his spirituality. Since then, Scientology has been influenced by religions such as Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, and Christianity, as well as the teachings of Socrates, Mohammed, Leonardo da Vinci, and Galileo. Although Scientology does not have a dogma concerning God, Scientologists do believe that a divine spirit exists but it is interpreted individua...

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...ogy.org/p_jpg/wis/wiseng/39/39-idx.htm (8 March 1999).

13. Church of Scientology International, What is Scientology?, 137.

Bibliography

Church of Scientology International. The Holidays of Scientology (1996): n. pag. Online. Internet. 8 Mar.1999. Available <http://www.scientology.org/p_jpg/wis/wiseng/39/39-idx.htm.

Church of Scientology International. The Story of the Church of Scientology of Los Angeles (1996): n. pag. Online. Internet.23 Feb. 1999. Available <http://www.scientology.org/p_jpg/world/worldeng/vrla/ladayt01.htm#photo.

Church of Scientology International. What is Scientology?. Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, Inc., 1992.Hubbard, L. Ron. Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. Los Angeles: The American St. Hill Organization, 1950.

Malko, George. Scientology: The Now Religion. New York: Delacorte Press, 1967.

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