This Day In History

Feb 18: First Scientology Church is opened

In 1954, some "out-there" Californian types started a revolution; they built a Scientology Church and became the first followers of L Ron Hubbard.

It's a "religion" scorned the world over, and about to be cheaply mocked by us, but do we actually really know what L Ron Hubbard and his Scientologists are all about?

Well, from what we've learned "Scientology is the study and handling of the spirit in relationship to itself, others and all of life". Hubbard, naturally, believes that it is is the most vital movement on Earth today and that it will never betray people’s faith as long as you are "one of us".

They believe that man is immortal and his capabilities are unlimited, even if not presently realised. Proper realisation can be apparently be garnered by paying for the books and various other spiritual awareness classes they hold.

Followers part with vast sums of cash to hear that 75 millions years ago, an evil alien, Xenu, murdered millions of other aliens, and their souls are in our ‘meat’ [bodies]. Scientologists believe that if they rid themselves of these souls, then they will be healthier and will gain special powers like ‘mind-over-matter.’

Scientology is labelled a "cult" by the media, with undercover investigations revealing inexpensive beginnings but, as the months roll by, it gets more and more costly to attain the "secrets". Sounds cultish to us.

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The Aims of Scientology as set out by Ron L Hubbard:

A civilisation without insanity, criminals and without war.

It welcomes any individual or any creed, race or nation.

They seek no revolution, only evolution to higher states of being for the individual and society.

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Five Famous Scientologists:

Tom Cruise – The pint-sized Top Gun star is probably the most famous follower, and has even converted his poor wife Katie Holmes.

John Travolta – The 70s King of Cool now believes that we were once extraterrestrial beings.

Lisa Marie Presley – Elvis’ daughter went to a Scientology affiliated school when she was young. And married Michael Jackson. Nuff said..

Jason Lee – Not only a follower but on the board of advisors for their ‘citizens commission on human rights.’

Peaches Geldof – Would probably leap off a cliff if that was the in fashion at that precise moment. Hardly a standard bearer.