Yesterday, as I was on my way to smoke my favorite cigar and strolling along a road in south St. Petersburg, FL, I was accosted by three gorgeous women, all conservatively dressed and handing out their Church's reading material.
There it was, the cross of Jesus Christ on the pamphlet and with the footer stating elegantly, "The Church of Scientology."
Since I am a Pentecostal preacher, just for kicks, I read one of their tracts, a piece written by L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientology. In this manual for living I read all about the universal human moral code that Hubbard and Scientology espouses. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not kill. Do not bear false witness.
Hmm . . . well, as a Professor of Religion I quickly could see the obvious. What is being perpetrated by those scientologists in all of their wacko literature is actually nothing other than Judeo-Christian morality, albeit through the scientological spectrum of belief and practice.
In TV Pentecostal preacher, Rod Parsley's top-selling book Culturally Incorrect, Pastor Parsley takes on many of the various "isms" that compete for public acceptance. Materialism. Marxism. Humanism.
Interestingly, in a move common to my own thought, Parsley conceptually connects Humanism with Marxism as both being human-focused essentially atheistic philosophies that demand total submission to their authority. Basically, as a Born Again Christian Believer, the world that Parsley describes is a world at constant battle, a world in which whomever controls the dominant world-view, essentially can control the thought, livelihood and even family practices of literally millions of people.
Here is why I love the scientologists!
Contrary to popular stereotypes that label them as a "cult," most scientologists I know are much closer to Judeo-Christian morality than most child psychologists are. In that alternative worldviews such as secular humanism claim that "man is essentially good" or that "child-rearing from a Christian perspective is a criminal activity" the scientologists although they do tend to stick together are much closer to Christian Teaching than almost any social worker in the United States of America.
Here, there is now a clarion call for a NEW CHRISTENDOM. If you are in positions of authority (political, academic, etc.), then please ONLY Promote the CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW. If you try to be "nice" these secular humanists will destroy your marriages, steal your children and then hand you the bill for their crimes.
If you happen to find yourself living under an evil secular humanist regime (for example, Massachusetts) then yes, like the great Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., begin the equivalent of Christian bus boycotts. If businesses promote the humanist perspective, withdraw ALL MONEY from them! If government leaders will not take you seriously due to your Evangelical or Conservative Catholic worldview tell them you will attempt to VOTE THEM OUT OF OFFICE, and if they are still elected anyways, then tell them you will lead petition drive after petition drive in favor of Judeo-Christian Moral Teaching with WHOMEVER will listen and assist your efforts, whether they are Mormon, Scientologist or even Jehovah's Witnesses. Whomever is not against me is for me sayeth Jesus Christ!
If we as a unified Christendom (for example, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, a faithful conservative Catholic!) do these things, Christianity will not only survive, but prosper in the United States of America for this and the next generation.
Blessings in Jesus,
Rob J. King, friend of all, lover of Jesus
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2 comments:
Rob J King for President, huh? Scientology is far from Christianity. Any non-believer knows and most believe that "thou shall Not Kill, Steal and so on" Those are characters of living morals but based on the OT that many other cults and religions base their doctrine.
Please read the reseach that I did for fun and personal knowledge.
Scientology was founded in 1953 by novel author L. Ron Hubbard, only four years after he had commented, "I'd like to start a religion. That's where the money is." Mr. Hubbard became a multi-millionaire from the movement. Over the years, many people have wondered about any similarities between Christianity and scientology. The answer to that question is simple: “None!” Scientology is definitely a cult, one based on harassment, foolishness and money.
Currently, Scientology teaches that mankind is an everlasting being, something called a Thetan. The cult's belief is that man is not originally from this world. He is trapped by matter, energy, space and time, collectively called MEST. Scientology teaches that salvation comes through a development called “auditing,” using a process called “engrams.” By it, memories of past pain and unconsciousness that create energy blockage are removed.1
Auditing is a very long process and can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per person. It is a corrupted way of finding salvation. When all pain and unconsciousness are removed, the person or thetan can once again control his
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1. Hubbard. L. Ron; Scientology Fundamentals of Thought; (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1988), 145.
MEST, instead of being controlled by it. Until his salvation is achieved, each person is continuously reincarnated.2
Scientology is a very expensive religion. Every aspect of Scientology has some sort of fee associated with it, and the payment is mandated. This is why the cult's "pews" are filled only with the wealthy. It is, also, a very strict religion, very punitive against those who would try to desert its teachings and membership. Its "scriptures" are limited solely to the writings and teachings of L. Ron Hubbard.
Scientology is not a religion; it is, absolutely, nothing but a cult. Its teachings come from science fiction and eastern legends. The cult promotes man as the final power in the universe, but he is not aware of it.3
As already mentioned, scientology salvation, through its development of head games, or “brainwashing,” is enormously costly. It firmly denies the existence of God, Heaven and Hell. The cult believes that Jesus Christ was
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2. Hubbard, 53.
3. Gaustad, Edwin; A Documentary History of Religion in America. (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 183), 244.
just another person who did good deeds and who, unfortunately, was wrongfully put on the Cross. As the adherents of Scientology do not believe in God or the Son of God, they maintain that Jesus' life ended at the Cross.
The cult claims alignment Christianity, but that is not true.4 Any person can read the Bible and see that it rejects each point postulated by Scientology. First, God is God. Men are not gods. Look at the Biblical account:
Genesis 1:1 God is the sovereign and only creator of the universe.
Genesis 1:27 Mankind was created by God.
Ephesians 2:8-9 The only salvation available to man is by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ and salvation is a free gift that mankind can do nothing to earn.
Acts 2:33, Ephesians 1:20, Hebrews 1:3, 10:12, 12:2 Jesus Christ is alive and well, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father even now.
John 14:2-3 Christ has gone to prepare a place for us and will come and receive us unto Himself.
Revelation 20:15 Everybody else will be cast
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4. Gaustad, 245
into a very real Hell, separated from God.
The differences between scientology and Christianity are stark. For one thing, Scientology believes in numerous gods, with some greater than others. Christianity, though,
recognizes the existence of the one True God, who revealed Himself to the world and souls through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. True Christians who believe and walk in Him cannot even consider the false theory of a lack of God as taught by Scientology. That theory has no basis, no foundation and no salvation.
The belief of Jesus Christ: Just like any other cult, Scientologists deny the divine being of Christ. Instead of believing in the Biblical view of Christ and who He is and what He did, Scientology casts Christ in the character of some sort of lesser god, one who has gained a degree of legendary status over centuries. The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus was God in the flesh and through His incarnation He could act as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. Because of Christ's obedience, love and purity, the world can have eternal life and pardon from any sin. Scientology avoids this area completely.5
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5. Gaustad, 246.
The issue of sin: Scientology believes in the natural goodness of man. It is, therefore, shameful and absolutely beneath disapproval to tell a man that he must repent, that
he is evil, that he is a sinner. The Bible teaches just the opposite that man is a sinner because he disobeyed God. Man's only hope is to repent of all sins and to proclaim Christ as his personal Lord and Savior.
The difference in Salvation: Scientology claims reincarnation. One’s salvation is the person’s lifetime of freedom from the phases of birth and death connected with recreation of his body.6 Scientology also requires rigorous observance of all tenets of the doctrine. That, with money, is the only way to wisdom, understanding and salvation. Again, the Bible stands to the contrary, teaching that the only way to salvation is through Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
When one compares the teachings of Scientology with the words of the Bible, he will see that the two have
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6. Hubbard, L. Ron; Dianetics; (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, Inc., 1950, 2000), 303-307.
little, if anything, in common. Scientology will only lead a person away from God and eternal life, but the Bible will guide a person directly to God and His eternal life. A person has absolutely nothing to gain by associating with Scientology, but he does have his own soul to lose.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hubbard, L. Ron; Dianetics. Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, Inc. 1950, 2000.
Gaustad, Edwin; A Documentary History of Religion in America. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 183.
Hubbard. L. Ron; Scientology Fundamentals of Thought.
Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1988.
Pastor J,
Thank you for your STRONG Evangelical CONVICTIONS!!! I am not saying that I agree, nor approve of all of scientology's beliefs nor practices. I was just struck by how their moral code really is nothing other than the TORAH! Granted, salvation is ONLY through the BLOOD of Jesus, BUT, if the scientologists can come to Jesus through their own version of the TORAH, then I am open to talking with them.
Please pray for me as I continue such evangelistic work. I also seek to evangelize the lesbian population through befriending them, but they obviously know that I do not agree with homosexual acts.
So, just Rob doing the normal evangelistic work of any Christian.
Blessings in Jesus,
Rob
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