I recently watched a documentary called “Going clear- scientology and the prison of belief”, which is basically about the origins of Scientology, and criticism towards it. Clicking on the title, when it showed up on Netflix, was funnily enough the reaction of a total misinterpretation of it.
When I read the title, I actually thought that Scientology was meant to be like a synonym for science, and going clear meant to reach another level of consciousness. The words “Prison of belief” made me think that this was a religion critical movie, which actually turned out to be true. However, just a few hours before, I was reading about becoming more alert and ways people try to reach a higher state of consciousness. One of them was through spirituality, religion and belief. And this is where scientology actually had something to do with the area I was exploring.
If we just forget the part about their ridiculous stories about “Xenu”, who apparently was the dictator of the Galactic Confederacy, if you want to believe the products of L. Ron Hubbard’s mind, then there are actually some things that can be quite useful. Scientology was the first western religion I had heard about, that’s based on many practices eastern philosophies and religions are about. Scientologists’ goal is to reach spiritual enlightenment and freedom, something that sounds quite similar to what Hindus or Buddhists believe in. It even reminds me of Nietzsche’s idea of the “Übermensch”. Additionally, the methods that Hubbard used look a lot like psychoanalysis. Here I have to say that it logically is not even close to the theories and methods of Sigmund Freud, but I have to admit that it reminded me of the same ideas.
Nevertheless, if Hubbard’s ideas, methods and founding of this new religion isn’t even based on science, why did people actually feel better? Furthermore, how could Hubbard collect so many people, even though his stories should have probably sent him to a psychiatry or madhouse instead? This could be a sign of how strong the power of belief can be. In addition to that, the church of Scientologists is extremely cohesive; willing to do everything from lying to causing serious harm, just to hold it together. Being part of something greater than yourself, having a religion or belief to do the thinking for you, feeling like you have reached your clearest state of consciousness, this all could make someone stay in their congregation.
No matter how ridiculous and illogical some beliefs, religions whatsoever might seem to one, there is at least one thing we have in common: we all want to understand the reality and ourselves better. We all want to find the truth. Whether you use Buddhism, meditation, yoga, psychoanalysis or whatsoever to become more alert, I believe doesn’t even matter. Because in the end it’s not even about what you feel is being real, but if what you feel makes you happy.
[Model: My brother, Nils. Click on the picture to see more of him ;)))]