Cults

Lesson 7The Church of Scientology

Bible

In recent history, Tom Cruise and others have provided a degree of notoriety and publicity surrounding the Church of Scientology, and this is the cult that we will be examining in this lesson. So let’s have a look at yet another of man’s ideas regarding how to achieve happiness and salvation through the power of the mind.

Get your research tools handy; you might find the Internet extremely helpful, as well as Dr. Martin’s book, "The Kingdom of the Cults", and answer the following questions:

  1. The founder of the Church of Scientology was L. Ron Hubbard. Can you find out what the "L" stands for?
  2. Born in 1911 in Nebraska, what was his vocation in the 30’s and 40’s?
  3. In 1949 what did he announce in New Jersey at the Science Fiction Convention?
  4. What is "Dianetics" and when did he publish his book about it?
  5. When was the Church of Scientology Incorporated, and where?
  6. See if you can find what he lists as his personal accomplishments during his life leading up to the founding of the church?
  7. Of all the above "accomplishments," which are true?
  8. What do we know about "Sequoia University?"
  9. What does Scientology hold as their basic doctrine? What is the basic instinct of all people, and how can they improve on that?
  10. What does Scientology teach is the primary cause for our troubles, problems and difficulties in this life?
  11. What does Scientology teach about Christ?
  12. What does the Bible say about reincarnation? (Hebrews 9:27)
  13. What does Scientology teach about God?
  14. What does Scientology teach about "Man?" What does Romans 3:10 say about Man?
  15. What does Scientology teach about the creation?
  16. How does Scientology define "salvation?"

Again, we have examined at a religion that offers its followers freedom from the pain and struggles of this life and one that says we can define our own gods, make our own salvation, and explain away our mistakes as something that was caused in a "prior life."

We see a focus on mankind’s actions for achieving salvation through "the mind," along with a message that replaces God’s Holy Word with man’s fiction.

Today we see famous and popular people commending the teachings of L. Ron Hubbard and the doctrines of the Church of Scientology. They think that this false teaching permits them to follow after all manner of pleasure, ignore God’s original plan for man, and blame their troubles on others and theirpast lives. It allows them to be completely unaccountable for anything bad, take credit for everything good, and to avoid thinking of death—as they believe that, upon death, they will either join aliens on another planet or galaxy, or return here to try it all over again. Don’t fall for this folly, and by all means pray for those who have.

As Bible–believing Christians, we are challenged at every turn to know the truth and to guard the truth with all diligence. Christ tells us that He is the Truth; believe in Him, and the Truth will set you free. I pray that our studies in these lessons have helped you in this quest, and in the daily battle to keep God’s Word pure and in your heart.

Please continue to pray for all of us that God will lead us to take what we are learning from these studies and use it to witness to the millions of lost and dying all around us. May He help us grow each day as we continue together studying and working in His kingdom.

Thanks again for studying with us.

In Christ,

Wes

[2019]

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