Scientology Axioms

The word "axiom" has several definitions. The most common is a proposition that is self-evident and therefore assumed to be true. However that is not the one used here. The definition of "axiom" in "Scientology Axioms" is "an established rule, principle, or law" or "a statement of natural law on the order of those of the physical sciences."

The Scientology Axioms are the basic truths of life and form the foundation upon which Dianetics and Scientology were built. In the next few weeks I will be examining these axioms in an attempt to communicate the fundamentals of Scientology.

Why is Scientology a religion?

From the Scientology FAQ:

Scientology meets all three criteria generally used by religious scholars when examining religions: (1) a belief in some Ultimate Reality, such as the Supreme Being or eternal truth that transcends the here and now of the secular world; (2) religious practices directed toward understanding, attaining or communicating with this Ultimate Reality; and (3) a community of believers who join together in pursuing the Ultimate Reality.

Scientology’s beliefs in an Ultimate Reality that transcends the material world include its concepts of the thetan, the spiritual world (the seventh dynamic) and the Supreme Being (the eighth dynamic). Scientology holds in common with all great religions the dream of peace on Earth and salvation for man. What is new about Scientology is that it offers a precise path for bringing about spiritual improvement in the here and now and a way to accomplish it with absolute certainty. The second element can be found in Scientology’s life-rite ceremonies such as naming, marriage and funeral services, but predominantly in the religious services of auditing and training, through which Scientologists increase their spiritual awareness and attain an understanding of the spiritual world and, ultimately, their relationship with the Supreme Being. As to the third element, a very vital community of believers can be found at any church of Scientology at almost any time of the day.

Scientology is thus a religion in the oldest sense of the word. Scientology helps man become more aware of God, more aware of his own spiritual nature and that of those around him. Scientology Scripture recognizes that there is an entire dynamic (urge or motivation in life) devoted to the Supreme Being (the eighth dynamic) and another dynamic that deals solely with one’s urge toward existence as a spirit (the seventh dynamic). Acknowledgment of these aspects of life is a traditional characteristic of religions.

What is Dianetics?

From the Scientology FAQ.

Dianetics spiritual healing technology can help alleviate such ailments as unwanted sensations and emotions, irrational fears and psychosomatic illnesses (illness caused or aggravated by mental stress). The word Dianetics comes from the Greek words dia, meaning through and nous, soul. The full and proper definition of Dianetics is what the soul is doing to the body through the mind.

Before L. Ron Hubbard published the fundamentals of Dianetics in 1950, prevailing scientific thought held that man’s mind was his brain, nothing more than a collection of cells and neurons. IQ was considered unimprovable and personality fixed.

Dianetics technology changed all that. Its effectiveness, astonishing in many cases, has been documented in a multitude of case histories over more than half a century of application.

Dianetics uncovers the source of unwanted sensations and emotions, accidents, injuries and psychosomatic illnesses, and sets forth effective handlings for these conditions. Further research into the spiritual aspects of Dianetics led to the discovery of Scientology.

Scientology, on the other hand, is the study and handling of the spirit in relationship to itself, to universes and to other life. Through the practice of Scientology one can increase his spiritual awareness and ability and realize his own immortality.

What is Scientology?

From the Scientology FAQ:

Scientology is a religion which recognizes that man is basically good and offers tools anyone can use to become happier and more able as a person and to improve conditions in life for himself and others, and to gain a profound understanding of the Supreme Being and his relationship to the Divine. Developed by L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology technology provides exact principles and a practical technology for improving spiritual awareness, self-confidence, intelligence and ability.

The word Scientology comes from the Latin word scio, meaning "know" and the Greek word logos, meaning "the word or outward form by which the inward thought is expressed and made known." Thus, Scientology means knowing about knowing.

Scientology comprises a body of knowledge which extends from certain fundamental truths. Prime among these:

Man is an immortal spiritual being.

His experience extends well beyond a single lifetime.

His capabilities are unlimited, even if not presently realized.

Scientology further holds man to be basically good, and that his spiritual salvation depends upon himself and his fellows and his attainment of brotherhood with the universe.

Scientology is not a dogmatic religion in which one is asked to believe anything on faith. An individual discovers for himself that Scientology works by applying its principles and observing or experiencing the results.

The ultimate goal of Scientology is true spiritual enlightenment and freedom for the individual

Another Search Engine of Directories about Scientology

Here is another search engine that gives you directories about Scientology. Just FYI a directory differs from a plain old search engine in that directories have been put together by people by checking out sites. This means that a directory doesn't contain a huge list of random links that the search engine robot has decided has something to do with the words you entered. A directory is a list of sites that have been checked out and found to actually have something to do with what you are looking for.

V8GO: Scientology

Interesting to see how a Christian intends to convert a Scientologist

I found this funny little page on the web site of a Christian Church in England. The writer doesn't seem to have the concept that a religion can be inclusive rather than exclusive (by "exclusive" I mean having the idea that one's religion is the only "right" one). In fact, a person can be a Scientologist and a member of any other religion, because Scientology doesn't conflict. Anyway, it's sort of cute: Scientology from a Christian's viewpoint.

Found My Home Town Church of Scientology On The Web

I was looking in the 999Washington DC directory, which has a link to an article about the opening of the Washington DC Church of Scientology on its front page. Anyway, I got curious and used their search engine to do a search for "Scientology" and a link to the website of my home town church came up: Church of Scientology of Sunderland. Sunderland is in the mighty North East of England.

The church is still in the same location, just off the High Street. Although I got into Scientology further south, I attended the Sunderland church after I moved back home in the early 1980's.

PS: Sunderland also has a great football team (that's "soccer" to you Americans): Sunderland AFC.

A directory of searches for Church of Scientology

This link is to a page on a search engine that gives you links to other search engines on the subject you are searching for - Does that make it a meta-search engine? Scientology at OnTheWeb UK.

Excellent Directory of Scientology Resources

It's amazing how many excellent Scientology directories there are. Here is another: Scientology at LinkSpider UK.

Scientology: French Links

My Italian friend also speaks French so she also sent me a page containing a directory of links to Scientology related sites that are in French. So here is where to go if you are French: Scientology

Scientology: Italian Links

A friend of mine who is Italian sent me a page that contains a directory of links to Scientology related sites that are themselves in Italian. So if you are Italian here is where you should go to find out about Scientology.