Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
From: eastin@locus.com (Dick Eastin)
Subject: Re: Frequently Asked Questions
Message-ID: <1991Aug31.165532.335918@locus.com>
Summary: FAQ information
Organization: Locus Computing Corp, Los Angeles
Date: Sat, 31 Aug 1991 16:55:32 GMT
Lines: 112

              FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS                  Rev. 8/30/91
              SCIENTOLOGY & DIANETICS

1) What is Scientology ?
2) What is Dianetics ?
3) Why is Scientology called a religion ?
4) Who is L. Ron Hubbard ?
5) What is the E-meter ?
6) Why doesn't the E-meter cost only $35 or less ?
7) What is Clear ?
8) What is a Thetan ?

Caution: There may be some humor herein, denoted by :-); e.g. if humor
offends you, do not read any further. :-)  Personally speaking, many
Scientologists consider excessive and inappropriate seriousness to be
a "downer" and a symptom of some spiritual problem.

1) What is Scientology ?  a) An applied religious philosophy dealing with
the study of knowledge, which through the application of its technology,
can bring about desirable changes in the conditions of life. (1971)
b) An applied philosophy designed and developed to make the able more
able. (1964) c) An organized body of knowledge concerning life, life
sources, and the mind and includes practices that improve the intelligence,
state, and conduct of persons. (1959) d) The science of knowing how to
know answers - from Latin scio, meaning know; and Greek logos, meaning
study of or meaning 'the word.' (1954)

                  THE TRUE STORY OF SCIENTOLOGY

     The true story of Scientology is simple, concise and direct.  It is
quickly told:

     1. A philosopher develops a philosophy about life and death;
     2. People find it interesting;
     3. People find it works;
     4. People pass it along to others;
     5. It grows.
                      (excerpt from New Slant on Life, by L. Ron Hubbard)

2) What is Dianetics ?  a) DIA (Greek) through, NOUS (Greek) soul deals
with a system of mental image pictures in relation to psychic (spiritual)
trauma.  The mental image pictures are believed on the basis of personal
revelation to be comprising mental activity created and formed by the
spirit, and not by the body or brain. (1973)  b) a system of coordinated
axioms which resolve problems concerning human behavior and psychosomatic
illness. (1951) c) It is a science of mind. (1950)

3) Why is Scientology called a religion ?  Scientology is a religion by
its basic tenets, practice, historical background and by the definition
of the word "religion" itself.  Scientology is a religious philosophy
in its highest meaning as it concerns itself with Man and his relation
to the Supreme Being and life, bringing Man to total freedom and truth.
It deals with Man, the spirit, and is distinguished from material and
nonreligious philosophies which believe Man is a product of material
circumstances.  Scientology does not demand blind faith but endeavors
to help the individual discover past experiences and shed the trauma
and guilt which encumbers him.  He or she finds as they progress that
they can confidently express the ceretainty they are a spiritual being.

4) Who is L. Ron Hubbard ?  He is an American educationist, philosopher,
researcher, writer, explorer and Founder of Scientology and Dianetics.
Born March 13th, 1911.  Retired in 1966 from an active role in running the
Churches and continued his research and writing.  Left his body to further
his spiritual researches in 1986.

5) What is the E-meter ?  The E-meter is a shortened term for electro-
psychometer.  It is a religious artifact used as a spiritual guide in the
Church confessional and counseling session.  It is an aid to the pastoral
counselor in two-way communication with the individual, locating areas
of spiritual travail and indicating spiritual well-being in other areas.
In itself, this aid does nothing.  It is an electronic instrument that
measures mental state and change of state in individuals, as an aid to
precision and speed in spiritual counseling.  The E-meter is not
intended or effective for the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of any
disease.  The E-meter is used to disclose truth to the individual who
is being processed and thus free him spiritually.

6) Why doesn't the E-meter cost only $35 or less ?  Simple, you can't
buy the parts for that much. :-)

7) What is Clear ?  Clear is a state in which an individual is now in
control of his own mind.  Or to put it another way, he no longer reacts
unknowingly, but acts knowingly.  Total absence of the reactive mind is
the definition of Clear.  The reactive mind is a portion of a person's
mind which works on a stimulus-response basis, which is not under his
volitional control, and which exerts force and the power of command over
his awareness, purposes, thoughts, body and actions.  This is what the
procedures of Scientology are devoted to disposing of, for the reactive
mind is only a burden to an individual.  The completely cleared individual
would be completely self-determined.  One shouldn't under-valuate that the
reactive mind is quite an adversary and therefore you can't over-value
the state of Clear.  It has never been achieved before.

8) What is a Thetan ?  a) The personality and beingness which actually
is the individual and is aware of being aware and is ordinarily and
normally the "person" and who the individual thinks he is.  b) The person
himself - not his body or his name, the physical universe, his mind, or
anything else; that which is a aware of being aware; the identity which is
the individual.  The thetan is most familiar to one and all as YOU.
c) The word "thetan" in Scientology comes from the Greek word theta
meaning soul or spirit.

Dick Eastin
(Mainly consisting of abstracts from the Scientology and Dianetics
Dictionary and the book, "What is Scientology.")

Submit sincere questions by e-mail.