Scientology was started in 1954 by L. Ron Hubbard, a popular science fiction writer. In 1950 he wrote a book called Dianetics: A Modern Science of Mental Heath, and he published excerpts of the book in a magazine called Astounding Science Fiction. The book sold very well, and a church was incorporated to promote and operate Dianetic therapies.

Hubbard died in 1986. Millions have been influenced by his books, but those who actively participate in Scientology number perhaps 200,000. Many are college graduates. Notable supporters include Priscilla Presley, John Travolta, Tom Cruise, and Chick Corea.

Scientology has been controversial. It has been accused of abusive tactics. Psychologists disagree with its teachings about mental health; Christians disagree with its theological ideas. Scientology stresses mental health and self-improvement more than it does morality or theology. Narcanon, its drug rehabilitation program, has been a successful program.

Unlike most churches, most of the money is collected through counseling fees rather than donations, and church attendance is not stressed. But it is incorporated as a religious organization (which gives it tax benefits and freedom from mental health/medical regulations), and it does have religious teachings and spiritual goals.

Their Creed states, "All men have the inalienable rights to think freely, to talk freely, to write freely on their own opinions and to counter or utter or write upon the opinions of others." In the spirit of religious freedom, we will express our opinion on Hubbard's ideas.

Scientology makes no claim to be biblical. Their scriptures are Hubbard's writings.

Some of Scientology's teachings are similar to Hindu or Buddhist teachings. They have no particular teaching about God, and they allow members to have their own ideas about how many gods there are and what God is like. Members may continue to be active in their previous churches. Worship does not seem to be part of this religious organization.

Truth is relative, Hubbard says. What is true for you may not be true for another person. Goodness and badness is a matter of opinion. Jesus was more enlightened than most people, but not as much as Hubbard.

Humans are re-incarnated beings. Trillions of years ago, beings called Thetans created matter, energy, space and time; they eventually became animals and then humans, and continue being re-born as other humans. Humans need to escape this cycle of rebirth, and become a god-like Thetan that is freed from limitations of matter, energy, space and time.

Humans are basically good, partly divine already. Hubbard wrote, "It is despicable and utterly beneath contempt to tell a man he must repent, that he is evil."

To achieve mental health and spiritual potential, a person must clear away all negative memories (called engrams). These are cleared not by repentance and forgiveness, but simply by remembering them. This is done in counseling sessions (which can involve large auditing fees) with the aid of a E-meter (a galvanometer similar to a lie detector machine). There are various areas of life to deal with, and several levels to achieve.

A person must clear not only memories acquired in this life, but in previous lives as well, perhaps millions of them. It may take many years and much money to become "clear."

Scientology leaders may wear a cross, but Jesus' crucifixion seems to have no relevance to them.

Scientology supports good ethics, but ethics does not have a prominent role in this religion. The focus is on improving one's own mental state and spiritual status.

· It offers an explanation for all fear, anxiety, depression and mental troubles.

· It offers exclusive information, and a simple solution to mental health.

· It offers self-confidence, and some people are indeed freed of troublesome memories.

· It appeals, in part, to troubled people who have not been helped by psychology.

· It offers salvation without repentance. Problems are blamed on the past.

It is a self-help program that leaves God out of the picture. Scientology does not care who He is, what He says, or what He wants us to do. Yet we believe that God is important.

Dianetics is based on polytheism, reincarnation, and a belief that matter is an obstacle to our spiritual health. Thus the system is built on what the Bible identifies as incorrect.

Theories about engrams (whether from this life or previous lives) are unproven; evidence is disputed, so Scientology requires faith that Hubbard has explained mental health accurately.

Humanity's basic problem is not negative memories or mental health — it is sin, guilt, and alienation from a personal Creator God. He defines what is right and what is wrong, and humans have done wrong. Our nature is tainted by evil, and we are not able to fix ourselves.

Our guilt is real, and our conscience must be cleared by Jesus Christ. We are set right with God — forgiven all our sins — by his gift, his grace, through faith in what Jesus did on the cross. It is only through the Holy Spirit that we can have a new birth, a new life that is right with God. Ephesians 2:1-10; Romans 3:21-26; 5:6-11.