 |
|
Dialogues@RU is published
annually
by the
Writing Program at
Rutgers, The State
University of New Jersey
Volume 4
Fall 2005
Scientology and its Potential for Dominance as a World Religion - Page 2
By Stephen Linguito
It exploits such forces by adjusting its belief system to each individual country it enters, while still maintaining its fundamental emphasis on financial and spiritual well-being. Kent illustrates this well in explaining Scientology's entry into Japan: "Scientology was willing to compromise its 'demanded designation' of religion that it uses almost universally in Western countries when attempting to enter a country whose culture might not respond favorably to a foreign religious incursion" ("Globalization" 155). Marketers of Scientology are willing to cater to potential followers because they know that Scientology still maintains the concepts compatible with globalization, such as the fundamental principles of capitalism, self-improvement, and goal-directed spirituality. Moreover, globalization, and consequently Scientology, advocates the combination of these principles into one effective system, which Heelas describes when he quotes Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh who says, "I don't condemn wealth, wealth is a perfect means which can enhance people in every way, and make their life rich in all ways . . . [t]he materially poor can never become spiritual" (66). We can conclude from this particular point of view that a relationship between materialism and spirituality does not only exist, but must exist if a person wishes to reap the benefits of either of them. We must realize that many people hold this viewpoint, which is intimately bound up with globalization, and that Scientology strives to take advantage of it. By keeping this principle of combining materialism and spirituality at heart, while still making small modifications to its belief system along the way, Scientology displays a willingness to be all things to all people, that quality of wide appeal not currently held by traditional religions.
Yet Scientology does not focus strictly on cultures and countries as a whole; it also targets people as unique individuals. As Jon Atack explains in his book, A Piece of Blue Sky: Scientology, Dianetics, and L. Ron Hubbard Exposed :
Most cults have a single selling future, and so tend to appeal to a specific public. Scientology claims to be all things to all people: a psychotherapy, a religion, twentieth-century Buddhism, an educational system, a drug rehabilitation therapy, a human rights and social reform movement, or a business management system. It is spiritual, mental or material according to the mindset of the person being approached. (379)
Scientology does not simply try to take a broad look at the prevailing attitudes of the world and then attempt to fall in line with them. Instead, Scientology also tries to recruit members on an individual basis by conforming to what each person needs or wants in a religion. In this way, it goes above and beyond other traditional religions in terms of how it expands. Dawson explains that "New religious movements . . . are not in the strict sense revivals of a tradition: they are more accurately regarded as adaptations of religion to new social circumstances" (4). With each new culture that Scientology encounters, adaptations must be made in order for it to be accepted. In addition to making minor adjustments tailored to each culture, Scientology also looks at "new social circumstances" when determining how it will approach expansion ( Dawson 4). Heelas discusses how society is changing and points out that these societal changes are being absorbed into New Age belief systems. He asserts, "Since the 1960s, prosperity teachings have come to occupy an increasingly important role within the New Age Movement as a whole" (Heelas 60). Though prosperity teachings were not popular in the past, New Age religions such as Scientology have now incorporated this new aspect of society to advance themselves. Unlike New Age religions, religions like Christianity do not adapt to their societal surroundings. A specific set of beliefs is endorsed and if a person cannot relate to these specific beliefs because they do not align with social values, then these religions will not go to great lengths to ensure that this person is satisfied. At most, they attempt to take a broad look at life and how people approach it and try to conform to that. Therefore, Scientology seems to have a better chance in the future because it is willing to adapt to changes within society, and to be flexible during the expansion process.