Part of the reason I have become obsessed with fantasy and science fiction is due to the vast amount of creation that it takes to write, far more than just "writing a story", although that can be difficult enough in its own right. To write science fiction and fantasy is to create your own rules, sometimes religion and politics, geography, and more.
Enter Scientology, by science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. I've read some of his books, and I didn't mind them. Yet Dianetics and Scientology never sat well with me. Maybe it's just the background of "science fiction writer"- and a very successful one at that, that L. Ron Hubbard has, that throws me off. I'm well aware that he had the creative ability to conjure up a religion of his own, and yet I have the skepticism to wonder if it wasn't just for the sake of doing so. Perhaps it was just a creative writing journey that has been taken out of context.
On a trip to downtown Buffalo, to an art show, with my sister, we walked past the Church of Scientology on Main Street- an imposing building dominating the corner of the street. The Church had chosen to utilize the passersby to their advantage, and had set up displays outside the Church. Being open-minded, and curious, I talked my sister into going inside to check out their video and doctrines. "Dianetics" had long since passed from my possession without great consequence, but I decided to give them a chance.
We were followed into the building by a woman who handed us a lot of literature and explained that there was an office still set up for L. Ron Hubbard, despite that he was dead. I got the impression it was in a different building than the one we were in, but it struck me as odd. We watched about 45 minutes of video, with the woman peering in at us occasionally, before both of us decided we weren't buying the message. I have great faith in the abilities of mankind and humanity in creating and controlling their own energies and lives, but the Church of Scientology in my opinion, was pushy and off-base.
I'd done a little research for a report on cults back in high school, and had studied the likes of the Moonies, Charles Manson, and others. Maybe L. Ron Hubbard hadn't intended to create a cult, but I think that's what the result has been. The Church seemed to worship him and his teachings, saying that he could return or use his office despite his death, and the people they attract of wealth and fame seems to me a bit manipulative. The message feels like Sci-Fi to me, and all I can think of when I encounter a Scientologist is "don't you know you're organization was started by a Science Fiction writer?"
To me, religion should be a little more accessible, and a little easier to understand. I know that basically every religion starts as a cult, and that even beginning Christianity had all the telltale signs of a cult until it became more mainstream. Yet Scientology has the strange earmarks of a group that might be a little out of touch with the reality and humanism it seeks to portray. I have respect for L. Ron Hubbard as an author, but as some sort of a prophet/religious founder, I'm not sure. All I ask is that anyone seriously interested in joining takes a moment to ponder- was this creation a sincere effort at finding a deeper truth, as religion tends to do, or is it just the thoughts and creative mind-rumblings of a writer driven by the urge to create?
As a (albeit amateur) writer myself, I have to wonder.