Scientology… in the closet? :: Wessex Scene Online

Scientology… in the closet?

14th May 2006
Thomas Harrington

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The recent episode of South Park that parodied the religion of Scientology has once again brought the cult-like church to the world’s attention. We have had to deal with high-profile celebrities such as Tom Cruise and Lisa-Marie Presley yack on about this mysterious religion and hear as they denounce psychiatry as ‘pseudo-science’ and slag off fellow celebs such as Brooke Shields who, Heaven forfend, takes antidepressants.

What is the truth behind Scientology? And why are its members so secretive and defensive when talking with journalists?

As the hilarious send-up depicted on South Park notes, a science fiction writer named L. Ron Hubbard founded The Church of Scientology (yes, that was science fiction writer). At the core of its beliefs there is the notion that our souls (thetans) are billions of years old and the galactic warlord Xenu sent them to earth where they were trapped in human shells (vessels). Included in their beliefs is the idea that most human illnesses can be treated without medicine and that high level Scientologists who are further along the path to the "route to total freedom" can leave their bodies and move physical objects with their minds.

All these claims made about the religion’s beliefs (made by previous Scientology members who have dared to oppose the church) may seem just as silly or just as plausible as any other religion that takes your fancy. However on closer inspection it becomes quite clear what the whole thing is really all about. When you go to the official Scientology website (that’s www.scientology.org) and try to get involved in any services the church has to offer, you are presented with a rather large blow to your bank balance. Every service that Scientology offers, whether it be a course on getting over drug addiction or simply getting the churches foundational book Dianetics, comes at a price, and a lot of the services don’t come cheap. Scientologists will strenuously deny that L. Ron. Hubbard was once quoted as saying that religion was the way to make money, but as the church is a religion you do wonder why they have to charge such extortionate prices for their services (an ‘auditing’ session can cost up to $9000).

It is not clear whether Scientology is just a moneymaking scheme conning vulnerable people out of their hard earned cash, but one thing to consider about the whole tabloid frenzy that surrounds Mr Cruise, Katie Holmes and that pregnancy is the Scientologist view on sexual behaviour. Cruise has always emphatically refuted claims regarding the rumours that he is in fact homosexual. The church is clear with all issues such as this, it is what they call sexual deviation and shouldn’t be considered normal. Now if I were a closeted gay celebrity what better way to suppress my true homosexual nature than by joining a self-help religion that will convince me that I can be cured of my ‘deviant’ thoughts? Of course nobody is suggesting this about the charismatic Tom Cruise, and I’m sure everyone wishes him and Ms Holmes a happy marriage.