Example research essay topic: L Ron Hubbard Sense Of Morality - 1,287 words

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Scientology in Today's World (1) Scientology is a religious movement, closely related to the rise of New Age philosophy, in the second part of 20 th century. In the period from 1952 to 1986, religions founder L. Ron Hubbard had formulated the main principles of Scientology, which define this religion as the way to achieve self-transcendence, rather then self-actualization. Unlike Christianity or Islam, Scientology does not exploit the concept of revelation as the ultimate tool of getting to know God, which is why this religion does not refer to its own theological core as such that is being contained in some holy book. During the course of his life, L. Ron Hubbard had written close to 3000 articles, which now serve as ideological foundation, upon which Scientology's practices are based.

This is one of the reasons, why defining the essence of Scientology, as religion, represents a challenging task. Hubbard refers to Scientology as study and handling of the spirit in relationship to itself, others and all of life. The objective studies of Scientologist concepts allow us to refer to this religion as mixture of various ethical concepts that imply the transcendent essence of spirit, as such that defines persons existential mode. Scientologists believe that physical reality is only one of the realms where Universal Divine manifests itself. Even though, in time of their birth, people are being given physical identity, their true-self has purely spiritual essence.

Scientologists believe in reincarnation, while suggesting that the concept of sin cannot be associated with redemption in principle, as they view sin within a context of circumstances it draws. The main theological thesis of Scientology is that homo sapiens is nothing but God in making. Therefore, this religion suggests that, instead of looking for God up in the skies, the individual will be much better off looking for the God within. Scientology views man as intermediary link between ape and the super-man, which corresponds to the main conceptual premise of biological evolution. This is why Scientology is being rightly referred to as scientific religion, as its main notions correlate with latest scientific discoveries in the field of biology. In his article Scientology: a Comparison with Religions of the East and West, Per-Arne Berglie is making a good point, while suggesting that: Scientology possesses a theology, an anthropology and a doctrine for salvation of inner coherence which is well thought through (Berglie).

Scientology has been traditionally discussed within a context of New Age philosophy; as such, that views surrounding reality as being inseparable from the process of peoples realization of their true destiny. Scientologists believe that the sense of morality, which should define peoples behavior, has biological rather then ideological nature. They suggest that the reason why monotheistic religions failed to make people more tolerant is that these religions promote the notion that people are only capable of behaving in socially appropriate manner, if they are being threatened by the prospect of eternal damnation. Thus, Scientology can also be described as teaching that instills its adherents with high sense of morality, which it views as something that comes naturally out of biological essence of every individual. (2) Despite the fact that Scientology, as religious doctrine, does not contain ideas that might pose threat to society's well-being, in recent years, it is been surrounded with much of political controversy.

Religions critics suggest that the Church of Scientology is nothing but a commercial enterprise, because it is closely associated with various commercial activities, on the part of people who exploit their religious affiliation with Scientology as such that allows them to avoid paying taxes. Even though that Church claims of possessing the ultimate truth, it does not strive to share this truth with other people for free, as it is the case with majority of other religious organizations. In his article The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power, Richard Behar provides us with the insight on Church's internal activities, as such that do not have much in common with religion, in the first place: Today, the Church invents costly new services with all the zeal of its founder. Scientology doctrine warns that even adherents who are cleared of engrams face grave spiritual dangers unless they are pushed to higher and more expensive levels.

According to the church's latest price list, recruits raw meat, as Hubbard called them -- take auditing sessions that cost as much as $ 1, 000 an hour, or $ 12, 500 for a 12 1 / 2 -hour intensive (Behar). There is no doubt as to the fact that other religious denominations also consider extracting money from naive people, as their main priority. However, Church of Scientology does it in particularly cynical manner. It is being estimated that in 2007, the Church received $ 25 million in donations alone.

Given the fact that Scientologists do not participate in charitable activities, it is perfectly understandable why IRS pays particularly close attention to Scientologists financial dealings. It is not a secret that, in order for the individual to qualify for Church's membership, he must have a social prominence. In its turn, it explains why Hollywood celebrities are particularly attracted to Scientology, as such that allows them to celebrate their spirituality, along with making it possible for them to indulge in tax evading activities. John Travolta and Tom Cruse have officially been given the status of Church's spokespersons, despite the fact that these individuals can be the least described as highly spiritual. Thus, we can conclude that Scientology, just as any other religion, is aimed to exploit peoples spiritual idealism for the purpose of making financial profit. Such practice can hardly be described as immoral after all, Scientologists do attain an emotional comfort, in exchange for money.

Everything in this world has a price, including the provision of spiritual guidance to people, on the part of those who claim being in close touch with divinity. Therefore, people who criticize Scientology from position of conventional morality, often miss a point, while suggesting Church of Scientology is nothing but a destructive cult. Every mainstream religion had started as an obscure and socially dangerous religious cult, including Christianity and Islam. However, unlike these religions, Scientology does not promote Jewish tribal god Jehovah as a benefactor of human kind, which in its turn, significantly increases the value of Church's theological doctrines. Scientology is nothing a but a first attempt to create a religion of post-modernity and only future will show whether this attempt is going to be successful or not.

Bibliography: Abel, J. and Farley, R. 2008. Scourge of Scientology Dies in Apparent Suicide. St. Petersburg Times. [Online] Available at: web [ 1 May 2008 ] Berglie, P. 1996. Scientology: a Comparison with Religions of the East and West.

Scientology Media Information. Neu Religion. De. , [Online] Available at: web [ 1 May 2008 ] Brunero, T. 2008. Scientology is not a Cult. Live News. [Online] Available at: web [ 1 May 2008 ] Behar, R. 1991. The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power.

Carnegie Mellon School of Computer Science. [Online] Available at: web [ 1 May 2008 ] Cooper, P. 2007. The Scandal behind "The Scandal of Scientology. Operation Clambake. [Online] Available at: web [ 1 May 2008 ] Scientology, Travolta and Gays. 2005. Exposing the Con. Laermanet. Com. , [Online] Available at: web [ 1 May 2008 ] Wheeler, D. 1982.

Son of Scientology. Exposing the Con. Laermanet. Com. , [Online] Available at: web [ 1 May 2008 ] Zanin, J. 2005. Scientology: A Religion Unmasked.

The Ross Institute Internet for the Study of Destructive Cults, Controversial Groups and Movements. [Online] Available at: web [ 1 May 2008 ] Abstract: This paper discuses different aspects of Scientology as religious movement. Outline: Part one Part two

Research essay sample on L Ron Hubbard Sense Of Morality