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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 9
By Stephen Linguito
Response
Stephen Linguito
As I began my research on Scientology, the idea of incorporating science, materialism, and spirituality into one system seemed appealing to me. However, as Courtney Borack suggests, the more I uncovered what Scientology actually represents, the less favorable its image became. This was definitely a case in which one could not judge a book by its cover. In my paper, I chose to research and report on current trends and situations both within and surrounding Scientology, and then, with these findings, I contemplated the needs of the future. I believe that this task was fulfilled adequately, given that things change over time, and that trends can rise and fall without warning.
As I collected information on which to base my paper, I found that most opinions and analyses in reference to Scientology are generally biased, whether they be testimonials from satisfied Scientologists, analysts completely removed from the religion, or unsatisfied victims. I attempted to find the least biased sources, and play the role of moderator in any instance where an unbalanced opinion was offered. In an endeavor such as this one, it is important to make sure that all positions of the debate are explored; if one cannot fully understand the present, looking ahead is much more difficult. As Borack so aptly explains, Scientology displays an "extreme elasticity," and I further believe that this elasticity will eventually be stretched to the breaking point. However, I do find it very intriguing that Scientology's conformity to many different beliefs represents a double-edged sword, in which it may either help or hurt the religion based on the specific situation.
This paper uses the present to better understand what lies ahead for Scientology. But another approach might be to look back at the past. Anyone with a general understanding of history knows that people generally do not react well to coercion. Scientology seems to have been successful thus far in both persuading people to join the religion, and also in keeping them entangled in it afterwards. We may conclude that this is the result of Scientology's ability to make its members feel as if their needs are being considered and respected. However, as Borack argues, what may actually be happening is that Scientology is using empty promises and other persuasive tactics to exploit potential members and keep membership rates high. I contend that eventually, orientations and other methods of psychological persuasion will fail, because people will figure out that it is not their salvation that Scientology is concerned with, but rather with its own. One only needs to look at the highly disturbing cases of Martin Samuels, or the abused victims in the RPF program to see that financial well being for the religion is a top priority.
In my opinion, Scientology will likely be around for a while, but not long enough for it to become completely embedded in global society. Ancient religions such as Christianity do not always keep up with "society's progressive changes," as Borack puts it, but they do offer an established set of beliefs that people can cling to without fear of persecution or coercion. If someone is no longer satisfied with a religion such as Christianity, that person can leave the Church and go elsewhere. This is not quite the case with Scientology. Scientology makes every attempt to keep disgruntled members under its wing. If nothing else, this may be Scientology's downfall, for if it were a truly feasible and acceptable religion, its leaders would not have to browbeat its members into submission. In my opinion, a religion that finds it necessary to brainwash followers in order to prevent them from leaving may be better regarded as a cult, and although Scientology is already seen as such by many people, it will take more media exposure for this conclusion to become universal. In the meantime, Scientology will continue to pour on the charm as it attempts to convert the world to its belief system, and I will be interested to see just how far it gets.