Sometimes, it seems, we are quick to criticize what we don\u2019t know \u2014 or rather, we judge behavior in which our perspective is limited. It\u2019s as if we feel our limited perspective is enough to cast firm and stern judgment.<\/p>\n
Note Sunday night at the Golden Globe awards. When talented actress Elizabeth Moss accepted her award for \u201cBest Actress in a Drama TV Series,\u201d she utilized her allotted time by honoring \u201call of the women\u201d who were \u201cbrave enough to speak out against intolerance and injustice and to fight for equality and freedom in this world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Almost immediately (because the secular American public has for some reason concluded that this is an acceptable way to respond),<\/em> Moss was harshly hammered on social media for her perceived hypocrisy. She was criticized because the 35 year old is a practicing Scientologist, and many believe that Scientology is an unjust, abusive, especially-oppressive-of-women ideology.<\/p>\n But it\u2019s easy to jump on a bandwagon \u2014 via both criticism and praise. I would simply ask this: do we know what Scientology actually is? Besides visions of Tom Cruise jumping on couches in our heads, what do Scientologists believe? What\u2019s at the core of their thinking?<\/p>\n Public promotions and statements from the organization provide nice-sounding offerings such as \u201cthe way to happiness,\u201d \u201cincreasing spiritual awareness,\u201d and making \u201clife-enhancing improvements.\u201d Let us also acknowledge the root of the religion, as it is not quite as publicized.<\/p>\n Scientology was created by L. Ron Hubbard in the 1950\u2019s. While first publishing what he identified as a \u201cscience,\u201d Hubbard later invoked a more religious approach, claiming to have uncovered the deep secrets of the spirit and mind. He professed to have been enlightened, and he also avowed that he had acquired knowledge that no other person has ever possessed, calling himself a \u201ccelestial mediator.\u201d<\/p>\n Be aware that prior to establishing the religion, Hubbard was a career science fiction writer. Hence, among his teachings, armed with his fantasy and fictional vernacular, \u201cIncident II\u201d is included in the origin of Scientology.<\/p>\n \u201cIncident II\u201d is a far more ambiguous description of the actual teaching\u2026<\/p>\n In knowledge gleaned only by him, Hubbard asserted that 75 million years ago, Xenu, the dictator of the \u201cGalatic Confederacy,\u201d brought billions of his people to \u201cTeegeeack.\u201d \u201cTeegeeack\u201d is what we now call Earth.<\/p>\n According to Hubbard, Xenu brought these billions in a DC-8-like spacecraft. He then stacked the people around volcanoes, and killed them all with hydrogen bombs. The immortal spirits of these aliens adhere to humans, causing spiritual harm.<\/p>\n This teaching is at the core of Scientology.<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to look at the core teachings of any religion when attempting to discern what is good and right and true; they cannot all be good and right and true.<\/p>\n Who is the key religious leader? And key for me \u2014 especially when considering the veracity of Scientology, for example \u2014 is the onset of this religion unexplainably miraculous?<\/p>\n Or was it made up by man?<\/p>\n In order to verify any religion as good and right and true, we need to investigate the origin of a faith as opposed to simply observing the followers of a faith. Followers can be imperfect.<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to comprehend the core of the thinking.<\/p>\n Respectfully\u2026 Sometimes, it seems, we are quick to criticize what we don\u2019t know \u2014 or rather, we judge behavior in which our perspective is limited. It\u2019s as if we feel our limited perspective is enough to cast firm and stern judgment. Note Sunday night at the Golden Globe awards. When talented actress Elizabeth Moss accepted her … <\/p>\n
\nWhat is the faith based upon?
\nHow did it begin?<\/p>\n
\nAR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"