Jesus in Scientology

Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard described Scientology as "the Western Anglicized continuance of many earlier forms of wisdom", and cites the teachings of Jesus Christ among belief systems of those "earlier forms".cite book | last =Rhodes | first =Ron | coauthors =Lee Strobel (foreword) | title =The Challenge of the Cults and New Religions: The Essential Guide to Their History, Their Doctrine, and Our Response | publisher =Zondervan | date =2001 | pages =155, 164 | isbn = 0310232171] Jesus is recognized in Scientology as part of its "religious heritage," [cite book | last =Hutson | first =Steven | title =What They Never Taught You in Sunday School: A Fresh Look at Following Jesus | publisher =Tate Publishing, LLC | date =2006 | pages =57 | isbn = 1598863002] and "is seen as only one of many good teachers." [cite book | last =Shellenberger | first = Susie | title =One Year Devotions for Teens | publisher =Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. | date =2005 | pages =189 | isbn = 0842362029]

Hubbard states in "Volunteer Minister’s Handbook": "Man is basically good but he could not attain expression of this until now. Nobody but the individual could die for his own sins -- to arrange things otherwise was to keep man in chains." [cite book | last =Ankerberg | first =John | coauthors =John Weldon | title =Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs | publisher =Harvest House Publishers | date =1996 | pages =Section: Beliefs Behind the “Seens” - A New Age Way of Seeing | url =http://www.simplechurchhappens.net/Resources/Books/Encyclopedia%20of%20New%20Age%20Beliefs%20-%20John%20Ankerberg%20&%20John%20Weldon.doc ]

In Scientology, Jesus is classified as below the level of Operating Thetan, [cite journal | last = Urban | first = Hugh B. | title = Fair Game: Secrecy, Security, and the Church of Scientology in Cold War America | journal = Journal of the American Academy of Religion | volume = 74 | issue = 2 | pages = 356-389 | publisher = Oxford University Press |date=June 2006] and a "shade above" the condition of "Clear". The highest level yet-revealed Scientology scriptures portray Jesus and Christianity as fictitious implants.

Memory implants

In the 2008 book "Vintage Jesus: Timeless Answers to Timely Questions", authors Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears write: "According to Scientology, Jesus is an "implant" forced upon a thetan about a million years ago",cite book | last =Driscoll | first =Mark | coauthors =Gerry Breshears |authorlink=Mark Driscoll | title =Vintage Jesus: Timeless Answers to Timely Questions | publisher =Good News Publishers | date =2008 | pages =14, 183 | isbn = 1581349750] Tony Ortega writes in a 1999 article in the "Phoenix New Times" that the Church of Scientology "believes Jesus Christ is a figment of the imagination."cite web|url=http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1999-12-23/news/double-crossed/full|title=Double Crossed:The Church of Scientology has a reputation for ruthlessly going after its enemies. Robert Cipriano claims Scientologists rewarded him for helping them do just that. Now he's turned on them|work=Phoenix New Times|date=December 23, 1999|publisher=www.phoenixnewtimes.com|accessdate=2008-04-24|last=Ortega|first=Tony] Ortega writes that according to Scientology, Jesus was a false memory implanted into humans as a result of the Xenu space opera. When Ortega asked Church of Scientology spokeswoman Karin Pouw about this theology, she responded: "So what if we believe Jesus is a figment of the imagination?" [cite web|url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2008/05/scientology_rea.php|work=Runnin' Scared|title=Scientology Reacts to the Voice|publisher=The Village Voice|accessdate=2008-05-16|date=2008-05-16|last=Ortega|first=Tony]

Hubbard is quoted as stating that Christianity evolved from the "R6 Implant": "The man on the cross. There was no Christ! The Roman Catholic Church, through watching the dramatizations of people picked up some little fragments of R6." [cite book | last =Corydon | first =Bent | coauthors =Brian Ambry | title = | publisher =Barricade Books | date =1992 | pages =353 | isbn = 0942637577] On another occasion, Hubbard remarked that "there was undoubtedly a Christ" who achieved lasting fame due to the effect of an implant.Hubbard, L. Ron. "Philadelphia Doctorate Courses". Lecture 24.]

Jesus in the Fishman affidavit

When Steven Fishman included descriptions of the Operating Thetan levels in a 1993 affidavit, it alleged that the OT VIII level included revelations from Hubbard that Jesus was hateful, ill-tempered, and a pederast:

"For those of you whose Christian toes I may have stepped on, let me take the opportunity to disabuse you of some lovely myths. For instance, the historic Jesus was not nearly the sainted figure has been made out to be. In addition to being a lover of young boys and men, he was given to uncontrollable bursts of temper and hatred that belied the general message of love, understanding and other typical Marcab PR. You have only to look at the history his teachings inspired to see where it all inevitably leads. It is historic fact and yet man still clings to the ideal, so deep and insidious is the biologic implanting." [Citation | first = Steven | last = Fishman | title = Affidavit of Steven Fishman - Church of Scientology International v. Fishman and Geertz. (Case No 91-6426), citing "OT VIII Series I Confidential Student Briefing" | year = 1993 | pages = 129 | place = California, USA | publisher = US District Court, Central District of California | url = http://www.xs4all.nl/~kspaink/fishman/ot8b.html] [cite web|url=http://www.lermanet.com/scientologynews/washingtonpost/lermaraid091995.html|title=Church in Cyberspace: Its Sacred Writ Is on the Net. Its Lawyers Are on the Case|work=The Washington Post|publisher=The Washington Post Company|date=August 19, 1995|last=Fisher|first=Marc]

The Religious Technology Center accused Fishman of infringing the copyrights of all eight OT levels, but later dropped its claim with respect to OT VIII and called Fishman's description libelous.Fact|date=April 2008

Scientologist views

In an interview with the "Sacramento Bee", actress Mimi Rogers explained how her identity as a Scientologist helped her with the role of "Sharon" in the 1991 psychological/religious drama film "The Rapture".cite news | last =Masullo | first =Robert A. | title =Mimi Rogers Finds Strength in "Rapture's" Heavy Role | work =Sacramento Bee | page =EN14 | date =1991-12-22 ] "I don't, for example, have a Jesus Christ definition of God ... And I have no views on heaven or hell. To me they're alien concepts. If I were a practicing Christian or a Jew, with all the hang-ups of those religions, I don't think I could have done Sharon justice" said Rogers.

ee also

*Christianity and other religions
*""
*Passion (Christianity)
*Religious perspectives on Jesus
*Scientology and other religions
*Scientology beliefs and practices
*Scientology cross

References

External links

*cite web|url=http://www.sweenytod.com/cos/Theology/Theology/peik.htm|title=L Ron Hubbard and Jesus Christ|publisher=sweenytod.com|accessdate=2008-04-24|date=1996|last=Strömsholm|first=Peik J
*cite web|url=http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Library/Shelf/wakefield/christians.html|title=What Christians Need to Know about Scientology|publisher=David S. Touretsky, Ph.D.|accessdate=2008-04-24|date=1981|last=Wakefield|first=Margery
*cite web|url=http://www.scientology-kills.org/jc_page.htm|title= CoS Religious Philosophy - L. Ron Hubbard on Jesus Christ |date=2008|publisher=scientology-kills.org|accessdate=2008-04-24
*cite web|url=http://www.gotquestions.org/scientology-Christian-cult.html|title=Is Scientology Christian or a cult?|date=2008|publisher=www.gotquestions.org|accessdate=2008-04-24