THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY (3)

General Teachings of Scientology (1)

Victor M. Eskew

 

          Those who embrace Scientology, practice what are known as “The Eight Dynamics.”  “Scientologists use these principles in their daily lives and their use alone can often make the difference between success and failure. Moreover, the principles greatly clarify what is so often confusing and bewildering” (Eight Dynamics of Life, Dianetics, Improving Life Harmony: Official Church of Scientology Video). 

          The Eighth Dynamic expresses Scientology’s view of God.  On their website, this dynamic is expressed as follows:

 

“The Eighth Dynamic is the urge toward existence as INFINITY.

The Eighth Dynamic also is commonly called God, the Supreme Being or Creator, but it is correctly defined as infinity. It actually embraces the allness of all. That is why, according to L. Ron Hubbard, ‘when the Seventh Dynamic is reached in its entirety, one will only then discover the true Eighth Dynamic’” (Ibid.).

          There are three important factors in Scientology’s view of God.  First, there are no set of dogmas that define who God is.  “Unlike religions with Judeo-Christian origins, the Church of Scientology has no set dogma concerning God that it imposes on its members” (www.scientology.org).  The question that needs to be answered by the Scientologists is:  “Who is God?”  Scripture is clear that God is an actual being.  He is a living substance, a living being, who exists.  We often refer to Him as a person because He has a personality.  Jesus describes God in John 4:24.  “God is a Spirit.”  David reveals that “our God is in the heavens” (Ps. 115:3).  Daniel echoes the psalmist’s words, saying, “But there is a God in heaven” (Dan. 2:28).  Dear readers, God is not a concept developed in the minds of men.  God is a self-existent being.  He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.  He has revealed Himself to humanity by means of His creation, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the written Word.

          The second factor involved in Scientology’s view of God is that each man must discover “who” God is for himself.  “…Scientology does not ask individuals to believe anything on faith.  Rather, as one’s level of spiritual awareness increases through participation in Scientology auditing and training, he attains his own certainty of every dynamic and, as he moves from the seventh (spiritual) dynamic to the eighth, will come to his own understanding of infinity and God and his relationship to it” (www.whatisscientology.org).  In essence, each man is free to make up his own view of God.  There can be as many gods in Scientology as there are individuals.  Paul contradicts this notion.  He tells us:  There is “one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”  When man departs from the true and living God, his view of God is limited, warped, and extremely shallow.  The Gentiles of the first century refused to retain God in their knowledge (Rom. 1:28).  They, too, developed their own concepts of God.  “And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, though the lust of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:  who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever.  Amen” (Rom. 1:23-25).  Would a Scientologist tell the Gentiles they were wrong in their concepts regarding God?  If God is not a person who has revealed himself to man, then man is free to believe anything he desires about God.

          The third factor regarding God that is affirmed by Scientology is that each man can become God.  This happens when the individual understands and is in touch with the entire Universe.  Death does not impede the process because man is a being composed of both flesh and spirit.  The spirit continues after death.  In this respect, Scientology has some resemblance to the religions of the Far East.  The Word of God teaches us that man is not God and will never be God.  Man is created.  God is eternal.  Man is sinful.  God is sinless and holy.  Man is a fleshly being.  God is all Spirit.  Man must die.  God is life, and death has no power over Him.  Man dwells in a time continuum.  God exists within and outside of time.  He sees both the beginning and the end at the same time.  Man’s wisdom is extremely limited.  God’s wisdom is unsearchable.  In Numbers 23:19, we have these words from the pen of the lawgiver of the Old Covenant:  “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent:  hath he said, and shall he not do it?  or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”  Dear readers, man cannot “think” himself into being God.  Such a concept is filled with both foolishness and pride. 

          In Scientology, each adherent becomes his/her own god.  Perhaps this is one of the appeals of this religion.  Those in Scientology would do well to consider a man named Herod who allowed himself to be called god.  “And upon a set day Herod arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.  And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.  And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory:  and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost” (Acts 12:21-23).  God is a jealous God.  He will have no other gods before Him.