Dianetics

Scientology Video on Dianetics

L. Ron Hubbard’s Dianetics is the system from which Scientology is based. According to the site, Dianetics “could be said to be what the soul is doing to the body” (http://www.scientology.org). In other words, Dianetics is the complicated emotional being that inhibits and affects every individual. In order to assuage the problems of daily life caused by emotional turmoil, one must get rid of undesired “spiritual conditions.” The way to do this is through a therapy called auditing, a part of Dianetics, which is now a major component of Scientology. Through auditing, a Scientologist is said to be: “(1) helping the individual rid himself of any disabilities and (2) increasing individual abilities” (http://www.auditing.org). During auditing, an auditor, the counselor or “listener,” listens to the “preclear,” a follower who seeks the therapy who has not yet reached the state of Clear. Being in the state of Clear means having “erased one’s reactive mind” (http://www.auditing.org/13-clear.htm). With a reactive mind, a person can still feel the effects of the traumatic experiences from the past. The auditor is trained by the Church of Scientology. The auditor, during the session, asks the preclear many questions that are supposed to help lead to clarity and awareness. Of the infinite questions, however, it is stated that “L. Ron Hubbard isolated the exact questions and directions to invariably bring about improvement” (http://www.auditing.org). During an auditing session, an Electropsychometer, or E-Meter, is used. This device measures the mental state of a person and its changes throughout the session. The instrument does not actually do anything to the user—it simply reacts to “mental activity” (http://www.scientology.org).


Picture of E-meter. (Credit to: http://img2.scientology.org/pics/en_US/religion/presentation/auditing2.jpg)

In my experience in the Catholic faith, we too have a similar practice: Confession. It involves a one on one meeting with a priest that results in the absolving of sins for the time being. Afterwards, one could be considered “clear” or pure. However, no devices are used of any kind. In this way, this one element of Scientology does seem to vaguely resemble at least one branch of Christianity.

http://www.auditing.org/wis5_2.htm
http://www.auditing.org/13-clear.htm
http://www.scientology.org/religion/presentation/pg012.html