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An Introduction to Scientology

Scientology is a system of beliefs started in 1952 by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard and described by the Church of Scientology in 1953 as "applied religious philosophy."

Scientology grew out of self improvement techniques first published by Hubbard in his 1950 book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health.

Hubbard (who died in 1986) believed persons are immortal spiritual beings who possess a mind and a body that has lived through past lives. People are basically good but are harmed by pain and unconsciousness in life. What is true for you is what you have observed. No "truths" are forced on anyone. The tenets of Scientology are tested by practitioners and either found to be true or not.

Scientology is controversial. Some see it as a cult. Some scientists object to it's psueudoscientific medicine and psychological practitioners. Some governments have characterized it as a corrupt commercial organization. It is popular with some celebrities (Tom Cruise is one), but has been criticized for exploiting members. Tom Cruise has criticized psychotherapy as a psuedoscience (it's not) and he has criticized Brooke Shields for using a drug to treat her post partum depression after the birth of her third child. His insistance on other means than drugs is probably healthy to a point, but most drugs are an accepted part of science.

There's a good article on Scientology in Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Scientology ) and the official site is located at (http://www.scientology.org ).

Learn more about this author, Roy Max Dalrymple.
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